For several years teams of 4 or 5 people from GLC have journeyed to downtown Minneapolis on the 3rd Sunday of the month to serve supper to approximately 250-300 people housed temporarily at a building near Met stadium.
A nutritious meal is prepared by the staff at PSP, and our team of volunteers with the help of several staff spend approximately 2 hours serving and then cleaning up. The entire endeavor lasts about 3 hours including travel time to and from church.
Volunteers who come from churches and organizations all over the city are needed for the success of this program. We at Gethsemane are gratified to serve in this small way, and those who do benefit greatly.
GLC has committed to serving again this year on the 3rd Sunday of the month. You may volunteer for a specific date or just indicate that you'd like to help, and someone
will assign you. Please take this opportunity to reach out to those in need, to answer Christ's call, to "Go and serve."
If you have questions or times to discuss, please call Barbara Krig, 952-474-2041 or email bkrig@bitstream.net
Our Thursday After School for Kids program begins October 27 and runs through March 15 on weeks that school is in session. The program is free and open to all 3rd— 6th graders. A.S.K. starts at 4:10 and includes a snack, group activities, homework time and a 5:30 family dinner. Alice Smith students should be bringing the registration form home very soon. However, GLC children from other schools are also welcome to attend. Last year’s registration limits were reached very quickly, so early sign-up is strongly advised.
Volunteers Welcomed and Needed
The success of A.S.K. is entirely due to a wonderful volunteer team, many of whom have served since the program began. However, we’re always looking for additional adults and teens who would enjoy interacting with kids and welcoming their families to GLC. Volunteer opportunities include helping students with homework, assisting with or leading activities, serving dinner and handling cleanup. You can come one time to lead a craft or game; or you can come on a regular basis to assist with homework or meals. A special perk is the chance to eat a delicious dinner and meet wonderful families from our community.
For more information contact Donna at 952-933-0453 or Carol at 952-938-5105.
A.S.K. is an initiative of the Social Ministry Team. Funding for this program continues to be through a combination of grants and donations. This 11th year is made possible due to generous gifts from GCW and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.
Volunteers are needed to staff the church nursery on Sunday mornings in one-hour shifts. Sign up under "volunteer opportunities" in Access Gethsemane, or contact Sari Johnson at sari@silverimages.com or 952-908-0790.
Are you looking for a way to serve at Gethsemane but don't have a lot of time? Consider becoming one of our Sunday Scripture Readers. Contact Amy in the church office if you are interested in getting on the list.
Gethsemane offers transportation to individuals who need a ride to and from church for our traditional worship service on Sundays. We have a need for more volunteer drivers. A driver usually drives about once a month. Please consider volunteering for this important ministry. Questions? Call Sally Haugen at 952-935-5611 or e-mail her at sallymhaugen@live.com
Hospitality is more, much more, than saying “Good Morning!” Still, being greeted with a sincere “hello” when you arrive for worship is an important part of hospitality. Thank you to everyone, from adults to youth and children, who has stepped forward to serve as a greeter for worship. An additional thank you to those who have been willing to commit to a specific time in the effort to establish a regular yearly schedule and minimize the need for telephoning.
Still, there are openings. Please check, regularly, the sign-up chart under the Welcome Kiosk in the Gathering Space and help when you can. If you haven’t served in this way before and feel like being a greeter is a fit for you, please call Bev Paterson at 952-476-1340.
“Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” Romans 15:7
Gethsemane has a dedicated group of Caring Visitors who commit to making monthly visits to members who are unable to attend worship or are a bit isolated for some other reason. Their time and compassion extend the pastoral care of this congregation and maintain important connections with some of our less visible members.
We would like to increase the number of visitors so that we are able to respond more quickly as needs become known. There is a particular need for more men to serve as visitors.
If you think this ministry is a fit for you or would like more information about it, please contact Bev Paterson at 952-476-1340, or make your interest known to one of the pastors or someone in the church office. Each visitor undergoes a background check as a safeguard for both the members being visited as well as the visitors themselves.
Are you looking for a way to enhance your worship experience? Why not assist in the serving of communion? We are currently looking for additional volunteers to assist in this important sacrament. Instruction will be provided. If interested contact the church office at 952-935-1753.
Dinner at Your Door substitute drivers are needed to fill in when someone cannot make their 2nd Monday or 2nd Tuesday shift. Time commitment begins at 11:15 a.m. and takes 60-90 minutes. Contact Jan Quist at 952-474-8194 to get on the contact list.
Nearly every Sunday, a volunteer or two go to the homes of first-time worship visitors to deliver a greeting, information and a fresh loaf of bread. These volunteers are the GLC Ambassadors for Christ.
This ministry of welcome has been happening since early 2001. Panera Bread in Knollwood has donated each and every loaf. This generous gift has truly enabled our ministry of welcome to continue for so many years. As one current Ambassador said,
"You can’t imagine the surprise on people’s faces and the thanks they express for both the personal visit and for the delicious bread. It’s definitely what keeps me participating in this ministry. When I see people return for worship or even become members, it’s an added bonus."
We need a few more people to be Ambassadors and make periodic visits. An individual or a couple or even a family can do this. Currently there are four rotating teams, but it would be preferable to have six or more. You can control the time commitment because you get to choose the Sundays that are most convenient for you. If you’d like more information about joining the Ambassadors for Christ team, please check with Pastor John. With your assistance, this program can continue in 2012 and, hopefully, for years to come.
And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” Jesus - Luke 22:19
Volunteers are needed to help serve communion during worship service on Sunday mornings. If you are interested in joining the team or want more information, please contact Lisa Shelstad at lshelstad@comcast.net or 952.938.2270.
It's always a great time to think about how you can engage in new opportunities at Gethsemane. A tool that can help you match your interests with opportunities is the Serving Attributes Survey. Use your gifts and strengths to make a difference in our church and in our world! Log in to Access Gethsemane and complete the survey on your profile page.
