2nd Annual Gethsemane Women's Retreat

Join us as Pastor Laurie Eaton leads us in an exploration of The Story of Ruth; Twelve Moments in Every Woman’s Life, by Joan Chittister. We will reflect on our own lives, and those of other women, through the ancient story of Ruth and Naomi. Though written thousands of years ago, this story helps us to think about what it means in each generation for women to be whole, spiritual beings: a creative part of God’s creative power.

Join in conversation as we move through Loss and Change, Aging, Independence, Insight, and more.

The retreat begins at 6:00 p.m. Friday evening, September 12, with a potluck supper and concludes by 3:00 pm Saturday, September 13.

We are returning to the St. Paul Monastery to embrace the calm peace and contemplative environment of the Sisters of St. Benedict. Those who participated last year know that we did not have enough time to fully appreciate our time at the Monastery.

The cost is $72 per person, which includes your private room, breakfast and lunch on Saturday. The Monastery is located on Larpenteur Avenue in Saint Paul, close for driving or carpooling. Space is limited. Please contact Mary Ofstie 952 933-1950 or Marion Stumo 952 938-8856 to indicate your interest in joining us.

Arden Haug visit

Arden Haug, a former associate pastor at Gethsemane, will be speaking at our Wednesday night worship service on August 6th.

Arden has been serving a call to Global Missions in Lithuania for three years. He is currently the ELCA Global Mission Regional Representative for Europe and will be speaking about his work and the work of the Lutheran church Europe. His family is living in Bratislava, Slovakia, but they will be traveling back to Minnesota in August to visit friends and family, and share their work with the larger church.

Please join us for dinner at 5:30 p.m., worship at 6:30 p.m., and a brief reception following.

Need of the Month: School Supplies

Gethsemane members make a habit of responding generously to Need-of-Month appeals.

August is the traditional month for collecting school supplies for needy students in the West Suburban area. This year, however, that collection will begin mid-July and will continue through August.

And this year it will be a dual benefit. Some of the items will be used for the school bags sent to foreign missions by the Dorcas Circle while the rest will be distributed locally through the Family Resource Center.

So, in mid-July shop for those pencils and spiral notebooks, ballpoints and backpacks and drop them off in the yellow barrels at at church near the entry.

Lutheran World Relief speaker at Spring Supper

Gethsemane women and their guests at the GCW Spring Supper will hear stories of how Lutheran World Relief has changed lives for those in need in third world countries.

Joanne Negstad, who has served as director of LWR, will tell some experiences she has had traveling to Kenya and Peru where LWR supplies have come to change lives. She will share how LWR has enabled women to put faith into action by providing quilts, school kits, midwife kits, layettes and sewing kits. You will hear how women of Gethsemane are involved with Lutheran World Relief.

Reservations should be made by calling the church office by Tuesday, May 13. Cost is $8.00.

Click here to visit the Lutheran World Relief website

Women’s Book Discussion

Third Tuesday of the month from 7-8 p.m. in the Fireside Gallery

This get-together is for all women who love reading and would like to connect with others who do too. All are always welcome. Simply read the book and show up in the Fireside Gallery at 7 p.m.

A good site to find out more about these and other ‘good reads’ is www.readinggroupguides.com. Upcoming selections and discussion dates are:

• April 15: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne. A story about two boys, one the son of a commandant in Hitler’s army and the other a Jew, who come face-to-face at a barbed wire fence that separates, and eventually intertwines their lives.
• May 20: The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar.
• June 17: Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult.