“Welcome to Jerusalem.”

With these warm words of greeting Gethsemane women, for more than 50 years, have been invited to a special time of worship, the service of the Upper Room. This devotional highlight of the Lenten season, the Upper Room Supper, will be held this year on Tuesday, March 11, at 6:30 p.m.

The service, designed by a Gethsemane member, the late June Baugh in 1957, transports the guests to the Holy City on that first Holy Week, carrying them in spirit to the room where Jesus at his Last Supper with his friends. The experience comes to life with the focus on a scene remiscent of DaVinci’s famous painting.

Scripture passages from the Passion story and special Lenten music will enrich the service. Music for the event will be by harpist Raenay Rock. Ms. Rock, an employee of the Minneapolis Area Synod of the ELCA, performs widely at church and community events.

Following supper, in an intimate sharing of Holy Communion, the women will serve the sacramental bread and wine at individual tables.

Program arrangements have been made by Rebekah Circle. Supper will be prepared and served by members of Deborah Circle.

A free will offering will be received, but reservations are necessary. Please call the church office at 952-935-1753 before Sunday, March 9.

Light lunch follows in Fellowship Hall

Light lunch served following Lenten worship in Fellowship Hall.

Light supper served preceding Lenten worship in Fellowship Hall.

Sanctuary

Breakfast will be served from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The 9th graders will be serving up a hot breakfast as a fundraiser for the Montana trip in July. Bring a good appetite! Suggested donation is $5-$10 per plate.

Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday

Music is from the Lutheran Book of Worship as well as other sources. Organ and Choral music leads the liturgy and hymns. Holy Communion is celebrated the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month.

Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday

Third Tuesdays from 7-8 p.m. in the Fireside Gallery

March 2008: White Ghost Girls by Alice Greenway

Fireside Gallery

Sanctuary

Sanctuary

The Easter Festival is an opportunity for young and old to gather together for an interactive walk through Holy Week.

Kids will experience foot washing, carrying of the Cross, the Last Supper and more.

Crafts, games and a pizza lunch round out the morning. This is a great way for grandparents to share Gethsemane with their grandchildren. Mark your calendar and make this a part of your Easter traditions!

Click here to view a slideshow from the Easter Festival

Christ is Risen!

Christ is Risen!

Christ is Risen!

It’s the 10th Anniversary of our community’s annual fundraiser for local foodshelves. Empty Bowls is held at the Hopkins Center for the Arts, 1111 Mainstreet. It’s a fun event for a very worthwhile cause! GLC is a sponsoring organization.

Everyone is encouraged to stop by and choose a handmade ceramic bowl as a reminder of all the empty bowls in our community. Enjoy local entertainment and a simple meal of soup and bread donated by local businesses. Perhaps make a bid on a unique Celebrity Bowl in the silent auction. Free will donations go entirely toward supporting the work of ICA Foodshelf and the Hopkins Minnetonka Family Resource Center.

Click here to visit the Empty Bowls website

Fans of rinky-tink, honky-tonk, vintage old-fashioned piano music will want to tap their toes to the energetic keyboard rhythms of Jim Shannon who returns after his entertaining performance celebrating St Patrick`s day previously.  Jim has performed in many U.S. states and in sixteen foreign countries.  Locally Jim has provided a variety of musical programs throughout the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area (and in Greater Minnesota), teaches piano at a school of music in Richfield, is Minister of Music at a church in Maple Plain, MN and for seventeen summer seasons as a pianist at Centennial Lakes Park in Edina.
 
Those who enjoy ragtime and other early styles of U.S. popular piano music will not want to miss Jim Shannon`s concert. Of course you know that Marlene and Eileen will serve another delicious dinner at 5:30PM.  All are welcome to attend Saturday Night events. Reservations are a MUST. Please call Dorothy to make your reservation at 952-938-5858 by Tuesday prior to the event.

Second Sunday of Easter

One Sunday each month there is no Sunday School, and families are encouraged to worship with their children.

At Traditional Worship the music is from the Lutheran Book of Worship as well as other sources. Organ and Choral music leads the liturgy and hymns. Holy Communion is celebrated the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month.

There will be a Welcome Reception for our new Senior Pastor John Nelson, Stephanie and their children, Sarah and Tyler on Sunday, March 30 between services. Join us in welcoming them into the Gethsemane family.

Read Pastor Nelson’s bio.

Second Sunday of Easter

One Sunday each month there is no Sunday School, and families are encouraged to worship with their children.

At Contemporary Worship the congregational songs are led by our contemporary choir, Voices of Praise, and instruments. The style is eclectic, drawing from folk, gospel and contemporary sources. Holy Communion is celebrated every week.

Sung to Row, Row, Row your Boat:

Roll, Roll, Roll your skates all around the rink.
Come and Join Gethsemane friends at Roller Garden’s Rink.

No one is too old or young to join into the fun; just say you’re with Gethsemane and you’ll get the cheapest rate.
Five bucks per person covers the skates and fees, or if you choose you can bring your blades instead. The fun begins at one 1 pm on March the 30th sharp. Wear your Gethsemane t-shirt and show your Gethsemane pride! The skating ends at four o’clock but don’t even fret! The fun you’ll have will last for days…or at least the blisters will!

If you have any questions call Tiphanie at 952-935-1753.

The next King’s Men’s Breakfast will serve a hot breakfast with a $6 contribution requested. Our speaker will be Michael Swecker, a Pastor at Hosanna Lutheran Church in Lakeville. Prior to that position he was Minnesota State Coordinator for the Lutheran Via de Cristo, a ministry of intense 3-day retreats used by many denominations. He also leads a motorcycle ministry. His topic will be “Smiley Face Church People.” If you are planning to attend, please sign up in the Sunday Friendship Folder.

Family Ministry Group April Gathering…Family Fun Night!

Come for dinner and family fun and get to know Pastor John and his family!

Friday, April 4th, 6:00-8:00 p.m. in Gethsemane Fellowship Hall. A meal will be served at 6:00 p.m.

New families are always welcome! It’s a great way to connect with other families at Gethsemane!

Please sign up for the meal by calling the church at 952-935-1753 or email kfuran@comcast.net.

Third Sunday of Easter

Music is from the Lutheran Book of Worship as well as other sources. Organ and Choral music leads the liturgy and hymns. Holy Communion is celebrated the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month.

Gethsemane’s Web Team has been hard at work revamping our website to provide accurate and current information about our ministries and events, and we would love to “show you around!”

Come to the Adult Forum on April 6 at 10:10 am in Fellowship Hall. Our Web Team will take you through the site, point out some exciting new features and talk with you about our ideas and goals for the future. Would you like to know how your Ministry Team could use the site as a communications tool? Do you have questions or ideas? Mark your calendar; we would love to hear your input and field your questions!

Third Sunday of Easter

At Contemporary Worship the congregational songs are led by our contemporary choir, Voices of Praise, and instruments. The style is eclectic, drawing from folk, gospel and contemporary sources. Holy Communion is celebrated every week.

You Are Invited…

• To attend a spirit-filled concert featuring Libby Turner, gospel and jazz vocalist!
• To be part of growing our mission work at GLC!

Before and after the performance, everyone is encouraged to browse at display booths representing Gethsemane groups involved in outreach or mission. Find out what’s happening and how you might put your faith into action. See what might interest you or make a suggestion. Representatives will be at each table to answer questions. The evening’s schedule is:

6:30-7:00 p.m. Browse the Outreach Booths and nibble on a tasty treat

7:00-8:15 p.m. Concert by Libby Turner

8:15-8:45 p.m. Dessert, Coffee and More Browsing

This event is for everyone of all ages. It’s designed to be family-friendly. There will be no charge; however, a freewill offering will be collected to defray the cost of the performance. Any additional donations will be used for our Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity Project support.

Each of us is called to action by our faith. It’s time to move outside the walls of our church and get serious about “Reaching to Serve.” A number of Gethsemane groups are joining together in organizing this musical event to lift up and energize our Christian call to mission. You and your family are encouraged to come and BE PART OF IT! Invite others. Let’s make April 10 an evening to remember!

About Libby and Thom
Libby Turner is one of the most recognizable and active musicians in Minnesota. She is dedicated to sharing her love of music with people of all colors, cultures and musical tastes. A native of St. Paul, Libby graduated from St. Paul Academy H. S. She won a full scholarship in voice to the College of Wooster in Ohio, and earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Classical and Operatic Vocal Performance in 1986.

Today Libby combines her administrative skills and musical abilities as an educator and coordinator of arts-based activities in the Twin Cities area and is currently a Program Assistant at Twin Cities Initiatives Support Corporation. Other professional activities include vocal coaching, choral coaching, and directing, studio singing, and stage performing.

Libby will bring her powerhouse voice and will be accompanied by jazz keyboard virtuoso, Thom West. Libby’s performances are always enlightening as well as musically inspired. Her vocals and delivery are distinctly polished, smooth and classy; her range and dexterity are no less than incredible. Libby and Thom West are nationally recognized as superb musical partners. They have been combining their talents for gospel, jazz, blues, pop and R & B audiences for over 23 years.