What in the World are we Doing?

Each quarter we highlight ministry and outreach efforts at Gethsemane both inside and outside our walls. Here’s a look at our efforts so far this year.

Social Ministry

• After School for Kids (A.S.K.) program completed its 7th year of outreach with 38 children and their families participating, along with 27 GLC volunteers.

• 15 volunteers served Sunday dinner at the Simpson Shelter through March. January recruitment for new people was very successful; 61 people volunteered to serve in this year and 8 people offered to make food.
• Dinner at Your Door volunteers continue to deliver meals to the homebound twice each month.
• GLC was a sponsor for the March 25 Empty Bowls community fundraiser for local hunger
• 32 people volunteered to donate at our Memorial Blood Drive and 24 units of blood were given.
• As a result of our Need of the Month collections, many bags of needed items were delivered to Community Emergency Services in January and the Simpson Shelter in February.
• MN Food share drive was held in March. Complete totals will be announced soon.
• We continue to support local coffee growers through serving Fair Trade Coffee each Sunday and selling it once monthly.

Mission & Outreach Teamwork

• 23 people representing 9 different ministry groups participated in a Mission/Outreach Cooperation Conversation in late January. This newsletter page and the April 10 Reaching Out: Music and Mission event are both outcomes of that meeting.

• The Art Team’s exhibit of Mark Carlson’s “The Wicked Game” reminded us of our Christian responsibility to advocate for justice.
• Sisters in Spirit, our annual day-long retreat for women was attended by 100 women, one third of whom were not members of GLC.

Youth - Confirmation Students

• 80 pounds of foods, supplies and letters were sent to soldiers serving overseas

• Youth went caroling at Chapel View Care Center
• Over $2000 was collected for World Vision during 30-Hour Famine lock-in
• 12,400 nutritious meals were packed by “Kids Against Hunger”
• $601 was collected for I.C.A. Food shelf on “Souper Bowl of Hunger” Sunday
  with donations from the congregation and local businesses

• $10,000 was earned by the Silent Auction event to help kids pay for summer camps/trips. Palm Sunday Breakfast earned $1,200 more for summer youth trips.

Children and Family Ministry

• 20 families came to four separate Open Play times to take advantage of this outreach opportunity for a safe place for young children to play.

• 50 kids participated in Arts Alive with 29 of them from outside our congregation.
• The Easter Festival was attended by 130 people.

St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Outreach

• Five youth from St. Paul’s attended our Arts Alive Event. Tiphanie received a thank-you note signed by the kids.

• Bob Shebeck and Jim Shirley attended the quarterly meeting of the St. Paul’s supporting congregations (Diamond Lake, Advent, St. Barnabas, and Gethsemane.)
• Plans were initiated for a joint event in the Phillips neighborhood for late summer.
• Pastor Laurie and several members of the staff and Outreach Committee had lunch at the Super Mercardo on Lake Street on March 13 with Pastors Luisa and Patrick of St. Paul’s, and then met at St. Paul’s for further discussions on joint activities.
• On April 13 Pastor Luisa from St. Paul’s will be here to preach and lead the forum.

Hospitality Plus Committee

• By invitation of the Hospitality Committee, Paul McKenzie and Tony Pollock attended the November meeting to talk about Gethsemane’s welcoming statement – especially as it pertains to GLBT issues (Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual, Transgender.) With the Hospitality Team’s blessing, HOSPITALITY PLUS was formed. A focus group met in January at the home of Carol and Howard Hanson to view a video and to begin a discussion of raising GLBT awareness.

• Our first event will be on Sunday, April 20. Pastor Lowell Erdahl will be our guest for the 10:10 Sunday Forum to speak on “A Christian Perspective on Homosexuality”. This is the first of several consciousness-raising events here at Gethsemane. Plan to attend and invite a friend.

Core Team Leadership Training

• 37 GLC members attended a Traveling Dialogue conversation with a facilitator from ISAIAH. We discussed our hopes and fears for the future and how we, as people of faith, should address these hopes and fears.

• 2 more members, Jeanne Pavelka & Bob Windels, went to leadership training in March.

Katrina Adult Mission Trip Recap (2/23 – 3/1)

• The Katrina mission team is so thankful for the your prayers and financial support for this week long outreach opportunity. The team members paid for their own travel and room & board. Contributions were used to defray some costs for trip participants plus van rental, gas, etc. The remaining funds ($1,120) were donated to the two recovery organizations with whom we worked: Bethel Lutheran Ministry of Hope and the St. Rose Recovery Fund.

• The Katrina Mission team will be presenting at the forum on Sunday, 4/27.

Textile Ministries

• Through March of 2008 50 quilts and 15 Layettes have been created and sent on to Lutheran World Relief (Global) and Lutheran Social Services (Local).

Opportunities to serve

• Dinner at Your Door Driver: deliver warm meals to community homebound. Time commitment is about 60 minutes beginning at 11 am on either the second Monday or second Tuesday of the month. Contact Jan Quist at 952-474-8194.

• Stewardship Team – we are looking for a few good men and women. We need your talents, gifts and enthusiasm. We promise you it won’t be boring. Please contact Doug Rasmussen at dougnbetty83@msn.com or Mike Paterson at mikebevpaterson@comcast.net
• Textile Ministry - Quilters would welcome many more hands. They meet every Wednesday morning from 9:00 - 12:00. Contact Carol Rodine at 952-935-9457. The Layette Team’s next gathering is Saturday, May 10, 9:00 - 11:00 am. Contact Carol Rodine at 952-935-9457.