Thanks to all of you for the witness you gave to our community of faith and to our neighborhood as you worshiped God with your service to all his creation on October 3-4. There was an amazing energy and sense of fellowship as over 125 people gathered in our fellowship hall to work together. There were people from three different congregations, ninety-year-olds and nine year-olds, men and women, all focused on making a difference.
Click here to view a slideshow.
Look at what we accomplished together:
- 16 quilts, 29 layette sets, and 21 sewing kits for Lutheran World Relief
- 5 uniquely-designed quilts for the new family moving into the Hopkins Habitat House
- over 400 bandage rolls for Global Health Ministries
- 17 knitters sparked a new joint venture of our Prayer Shawl Ministry to launch a similar group at Faith Presbyterian.
- 52 volunteers at Feed My Starving Children packed 60 boxes of food that will feed a crew of kids for a whole year.
- A team of creative people painted a 30-foot world map on the playground at Alice Smith Elementary; others cleaned up the grounds and painted a staff work room.
- Painted two picnic shelters and a fence in Hopkins
- Door-to-door collection of over 20 bags of winter clothing for Resource West
- Clean-up crews on Main Street and the Blake Corridor in Hopkins
Even with a cold day that kept our numbers down, the day was capped off with a great meal and celebration at Central Park that featured Dixieland music and city leaders connecting with our congregations.
I want to extend a big thank-you to the planning team and especially our very own Tiphanie Dirnberger, Karen Eckenrode, Amy Furan, and Beth Jones who did so much to make this day happen as well as the staff at Faith Presbyterian and Pastor Buck Day.
One fitting piece is that as we went out to serve God, God came out and found us there. Pastor Laurie brought communion to all as they worked at Gethsemane and Alice Smith School to let us know we do not go out alone, but we go with the Grace of God.
Early this spring when Doris Seward brought one of her loads of fabric to the Quilters, a huge piece of royal blue cotton was in the delivery. We estimate it was 75 feet by 15 feet. From this we created 15 quilt backs with the trimmings becoming squares.
The story Doris shared when she delivered the materials is very interesting. The fabric was reported to have been a backdrop at St. Olaf during the choir concerts at some time in the past. She found it at a garage sale in Excelsior.
Through the spring we worked to complete the quilts and on July 29 took a field trip to the LWR warehouse in South St. Paul. Nine church members accompanied the 21 quilts and 18 layettes we delivered that day.
Click here to view the photos showing the work in progress through the spring and the process of folding, compressing, wrapping and labeling of a bundle of quilts in preparation for shipping. The supply of bundles we saw filling the warehouse were to be placed in a container in early August for shipment to Africa. We were invited to autograph and send a message on the synthetic burlap covering of the bundle, which held our special quilts.
We hope the folks who receive them will feel the love and warmth we send as we live the ELCA motto, "Gods Work. Our Hands."
Visit www.lwr.org for more information about Lutheran World Relief.
What happened on June 18, 2006? This was the date, only three years ago, of Opening New Doors, our Dedication Celebration to mark completion of our facility addition and remodel. After years of talking and dreaming, a building project was launched in May 2003 and the vision became reality three years later.
Today we’ve become so accustomed to living in our new spaces that it’s probably difficult for even those of us who were here before the Project to recall how things were different. Remember? No Gathering Space, no Fireside Gallery, no Kid’s Room, tiny narthex, and very different areas for Youth and Music? Check out the photos. It should help all of us to appreciate and give thanks for our wonderful facility.
One very specific way to demonstrate this appreciation is through financial support for our Capital Appeal. Our monthly mortgage for the project loan is $9603; and contributions during 2009 have averaged $9687 through May. While this is not bad news, it’s certainly not allowing us to accumulate a balance in order to make additional principal payments.
We encourage everyone to consider celebrating the 3rd anniversary of Opening New Doors with a Gift of Thanksgiving to our Building Fund. Envelopes are found in your My Offering packet and in the pew racks at church.
I was glad when they said unto me, "Let us go to the House of the Lord." Psalm 122:1
Click here to view "before and during" photos of our Building Project.
As people of God, we are given the task of being stewards of the earth and all that He has created. You don’t have to go too far in the Bible to find this message. “And God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves over the earth.” Genesis 1:28
This is a powerful statement, and in truth a huge responsibility – we are in charge of taking care of the entire world! As stewards of God’s creation, it is our responsibility to do all that we can to follow His message. It is in this spirit that we at Gethsemane have decided to no longer use or advocate the use of Styrofoam products here at the church. As an alternative, we ask that you strongly consider using the ceramic and glass dishes and cups, and to factor in the washing of dishes when organizing an event and cleanup. (If you are interested in volunteering to help with dishwashing, please let us know.)
Styrofoam is cheap, convenient and easy to use, but is also one of the worst products that can be introduced into our environment. Some facts about Styrofoam:
- By volume, Styrofoam products take up 25 – 30 percent of our entire landfill space.
- One Styrofoam cup takes 500 years to dissolve – not decompose, but dissolve into the earth where its effect on the ecosystem is unknown.
- Every year, America alone uses 25 billion Styrofoam cups – enough to circle the globe 436 times.
- A 1986 report from the EPA named the Styrofoam manufacturing process as the 5th largest creator of hazardous waste on the planet.
Styrene, the basic component of Styrofoam, has been classified as a possible human carcinogen by the EPA
In addition to the environmental impact, Styrofoam has been linked to health concerns such as skin, eye and respiratory irritation, gastrointestinal problems, depression, kidney function, fatigue and even links to cancer Styrofoam has been completely outlawed in Taiwan, Portland, and Orange County, California due to its harmful nature.
By not using Styrofoam, we are taking a small but important step toward providing a better environment for our future generations, and are setting a good example for our children and grandchildren to follow. Any questions or concerns you may have regarding the use of Styrofoam can be directed to the Pastors, Gethsemane staff, or Brian Furan at Bfuran@glconline.org
Something remarkable happened. The welfare of a lovely four-year-old child was discussed among seven caring adults – mother, early childhood educator, early childhood speech therapist, and four preschool teachers. This is the embodiment of Minnesota’s vision of what investments and activities are required for all children to have opportunities to reach their full potential. Gethsemane is part of that vision through its support of the Todos los Santos preschool program.
The State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care has indentified assets needed for healthy, thriving children. Included in those assets are early learning opportunities in nurturing environments where children learn what they need to succeed in school and life, and family support surrounding parenting and economic issues.
Specifically Gethsemane has:
- Six volunteer members teaching and assisting in twice-weekly classes.
- Six volunteer van drivers transporting children and families.
- Purchased educational materials for 30 at-home learning kits to be shared between child and parent.
- Provided healthy snacks each school day for 8 children.
- Subsidized materials needed to enrich curriculum.
- Hosted an open play date for families in Fellowship Hall.
Todos los Santos, serving at-risk preschoolers, is a collaborative effort among All Saints Lutheran Church and Preschool, Hopkins Early Learning Childhood Center, Park Nicollet Foundation, and Gethsemane.
Gethsemane began our Latino Outreach Ministry in the program year 2007/08, in connection with a portion of the Capital Appeal Tithe set aside for ministry initiatives. The approved proposal contained a three-phase plan, centered on developing relationships with one of the fastest growing immigrant populations in the Hopkins area.
During the past two years we have been part of gradual, but growing interaction and partnership with St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in the Phillips neighborhood in Minneapolis, and with our Latino neighbors here in our own area. Various members have participated in different portions of this growing ministry. What follows is a recap of the whole range of connections and activities we have experienced, and a glimpse of some upcoming opportunities and hopes for the future.
Early on several members of Gethsemane attended the Anniversary celebration of St. Paul’s by attending their Spanish worship service and the fiesta that followed. During December 2007 almost 40 members attended the interactive performance of La Natividad, a cooperative telling of the journey of the Holy Family at the birth of Christ, shared by St. Paul’s and In the Heart of the Beast Puppet Theater. In the Spring of 2008, Pastor Luisa, from St. Paul’s was our guest preacher on the day Pastor John was installed as our Senior pastor.
Several children have participated in the Arts Alive program along with Gethsemane kids and other children from the community. Last summer we shared an intern with St. Paul’s, Killa Martinez, who spent several weeks exploring the resources and community connections available to the Latino population in Hopkins. In the fall approximately 25 Gethsemane members participated in “Taste of Phillips” and shared in gardening projects around St. Paul’s, painting a mural created by the summer youth program of St. Paul’s, and experiencing the food and culture of the Phillips neighborhood.
Out of that experience Jean Seaburg responded to an expressed need at St. Paul’s and began teaching sewing to members of the Latina women’s group. The women, who meet regularly for support, friendship, cooking classes and Bible study were looking to learn a skill by which they could earn some income to help support their families. Your financial support made it possible for the Latino Ministry team to purchase 6 new sewing machines, as well as some storage cabinets for their supplies. Jean, along with Naomi Chinn and Laree Shebeck have taught sewing, developed friendships and had fun as these women are gaining valuable experience! An additional class, specifically for younger girls, is in the works, and will make room for more volunteers to join in.
Here in Hopkins our congregational connections and commitment to education has created opportunities to engage with Latino neighbors close to home. In partnership with Harley Hopkins and the Hopkins Public schools, we helped provide 25 “Learning Kits” to families with children preparing to attend kindergarten in the coming year. The kits contain supplies and activities to teach basic letters, numbers, and other school-readiness skills.
Gethsemane’s combined value for education and commitment to children made a partnership with a creative new program at All Saints Lutheran Church Preschool a natural fit. A retired kindergarten teacher recognized the significant difference between Latino children and their Anglo classmates in school readiness, out of variations in cultural expectations. That grew into “Todos los Santos” – a two-day a week program aimed at Latino children that will be attending kindergarten in the coming school year.
Volunteer teachers and assistants, and the generosity of All Saints preschool in sharing their space gave 14 children valuable preparation for success in elementary school. This year Gethsemane helped expand that program to double its size. Retired teacher, Mary Ofstie, donates her time and skill, along with classroom volunteers Beth and Heather McCarthy. The Gethsemane van is used to transport children that live off the standard bus route, and Jim and Mary Shirley, Bob Shebeck, and a variety of “ride-along” partners have been driving children to preschool two days a week. Once a month the parents are invited to a Parent’s Day, to inform them about expectations and assumptions that are outside of their cultural norm. The children are excited to go to their school, the mothers are forming new friendships and networks, and the schools benefit from the enhanced readiness of English-language learners when they arrive at school. This partnership is receiving a lot of public interest and recognition, and has been written up in several local newsletters.
Several of the “Todos los Santos” moms and kids have attended our “Open Play” program that Tiphanie Dirnberger coordinates as part of Gethsemane’s Children’s Ministry. Informal playtime and conversation has unearthed more members of our congregation that are fluent in Spanish and interested expanding our connections!
Lots of good things are happening, and we are becoming known as a safe and welcoming place for people who do not always find a warm welcome. Pastor Luisa is hoping to learn from us to provide similar opportunities for children in her neighborhood.
The Latino Outreach Ministry team continues to plan and dream for ways to reach out beyond our walls. Upcoming events include a Music Festival at St. Paul’s on May 17, 4:00 pm, along with other partner congregations. Our own Bell Choir will be part of the performing groups. Mark your calendar now!
Other possibilities are in the planning stages, including a summer sports camp in Hopkins, perhaps working with the School and Community Partnership to sponsor dances with Latino music (for adults) at Eisenhower Community Center, summer programs at St. Paul’s, teaching, leading games, art activities, mural painting, gardening, etc. Pastor Luisa wants to offer a Spanish language class here at Gethsemane for those who might be interested, along with conversation partners from her women’s group “Mujeres de la Palabra” (Women of the Word).
Education and action around issues and concerns, both legal and human, on immigration will be publicized as they become available. And in the coming year we will begin to explore the feasibility of an international mission and cross-cultural experience in a Central or South American country.
The possibilities continue to expand! We’ll do our best to get the word out about activities and events, and if you are interested in becoming more involved we can do even more. Contact Pastor Laurie, or Norm Hendrickson, chair of the Latino Outreach ministry team, or any of our current members: Jim Shirley, Beth McCarthy, Mary Ofstie, Curt Van Buren, Scott Reinertson, Bob and Laree Shebeck, Bob Windels. Maybe you could be our next member!
Access Gethsemane
Connect. Serve. Grow.
Access Gethsemane is a new web tool that will enable members to:
- Complete your Serving Skills Set
- Change your personal information
- Register for events
- Sign up for volunteer opportunities
- Stay connected with your groups
- Request your newsletter be delivered via email
- View your giving history
- Check your pledge
- Give online
- and much more!
We need your email address. Place an Access Gethsemane postcard (found in the friendship folders and near the nametags) in the offering plate on Sunday, drop it off at the church office during regular business hours, or email your information to keckenrode@glconline.org. All email addresses and membership details will be securely protected and will not be distributed outside of the church office.
Click here to send us your e-mail address
By Brian Furan, Facilities Supervisor
These days, you can’t turn on the news, go online or open a newspaper without seeing more and more about global warming, the environment and being ‘green’ (environmentally friendly.) By doing what we can to conserve energy here at Gethsemane and at home, we are contributing to a much larger effort that can produce massive results!
For instance, if every household in America replaced just one normal, incandescent bulb with an EPA certified compact fluorescent bulb (available at all hardware stores), it would save enough energy in one year to light more than 3 million homes and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equal to more than 800,000 cars!
So what can we do here at Gethsemane? Replacing light bulbs is a great idea, but not inexpensive. To replace the bulbs in the Sanctuary and Narthex areas (about the only area in the building that does not use fluorescent lighting) would cost around $1,800 and provide a savings of about $200 year – requiring 9 years to recover the initial cost! However, it’s not just about the cost savings. Replacing those same lights would reduce our energy use for those fixtures by 60% - a big step toward reducing overall energy consumption!
We can ALL make an immediate difference by just doing a few simple things when we are at church.
- Simply wiping your shoes well on the way in can make a difference in the energy and resources needed to keep the carpets clean.
- Turn off lights and air conditioners when you are finished using a room.
- Recycle instead of just tossing in the nearest garbage can. We have can recycling containers around the building, and containers for paper, glass and plastic are located next to the walk-in cooler in the kitchen, as well as a large red barrel for paper in the work room.
- Ink cartridges, cell phones and cell phone batteries can be recycled in a container located next to the front desk.
- Cardboard can be recycled in the paper dumpster located behind the garage, or left next to the maintenance office downstairs.
Other steps being taken include using paper products such as towels and tissues from recycled materials and certified ‘green’ industries, and researching bio-degradeable cleaning products and methods to reduce cleaning waste.
In addition, we have applied for an Energy Audit from Centerpoint Energy, who will evaluate our entire facility and make recommendations to improve our energy use and hopefully cut energy costs.
Together, we can all take little steps towards making a big difference at Gethsemane, and hopefully be an inspiration for others in our community to work toward a cleaner, better environment for our future generations to enjoy!
Lutheran World Relief Fair Trade chocolate, coffee and tea is sold every 3rd Sunday of the month in the Lobby at Gethsemane.
Gethsemane serves Fair Trade Coffee every Sunday during fellowship time in the Gathering Space. Fair Trade ensures that more of the money spent on coffee reaches the farmers who actually grow it. Visit www.lutheranworldrelief.org to learn more.
Special orders can be sent by email to kwilliams57@comcast.net.
