LIFE EVENTS AT GETHSEMANE
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At Gethsemane Lutheran Church we are excited to be a part of your lives and faith journeys. As life takes you through special moments and sacred events along the way, from baptisms to funerals and anything in between, we are with you. We invite you to learn more about how we view these experiences, and know we are honored to be a part of them with you.
QUESTIONS?
Email or Call us at (952) 935-1753
LUTHERAN BELIEFS ABOUT BAPTISM
Baptism is a sacrament that marks the beginning of a person's journey of faith. We want to make sure that the service is special and that the individual being baptized in the Christian faith is helped and supported by Gethsemane
Child Baptisms are typically held during Sunday morning worship services. For more information, please contact Amy Furan in the church office at 952-935-1753.
Adult Baptisms are for adults who have never been baptized into the Christian faith. If you wish to be baptized at Gethsemane, you will meet with a pastor prior to your baptism. Together, you will explore the meaning of baptism, go over the baptism service and receive tools and resources for continued faith formation. Please contact one of the pastors to schedule an adult baptism.
Baptism Classes
Parents of children that will be baptized and adults who wish to be baptized are required to meet with a pastor prior to the baptism. The purpose of this meeting is to explore the meaning of baptism, to go over the baptism service, and to help equip you with faith formation tools. If you have already attended a baptism meeting at Gethsemane or another Lutheran congregation, you do not need to attend again.
LUTHERAN BELIEFS ABOUT HOLY COMMUNION
At the very core of Lutheran theology is the idea that a person need not have a fully formed faith or even a cognitive understanding in order to receive God's grace. This is the main justification for the practice of infant baptism. Infants are baptized because God chooses us first, before we have understanding or even faith!
To be consistent, the Lord's Supper (as the other Lutheran sacrament) should not be withheld from anyone who seeks to receive, even if they do not understand the theological significance of communion.
Many young children do, in fact, understand that it is God's meal, and Gethsemane practices a model of participation followed by reflection; participate in God's meal and then learn and understand what it means as one grows in faith and maturity.
EARLY COMMUNION
Children have the option to commune if parents and child would like to do this. It is optional, and not in any way expected. There is no age limit concerning when a child may first commune—it is up to parents and child to decide.
At Gethsemane we offer an Early Communion class twice a year. After attending this interactive, hour-long class the child may partake in Holy Communion. At their first communion each child receives a cross necklace from the church.
COMMUNION RETREAT
Gethsemane offers a Holy Communion Retreat in fifth grade because at this age a child can understand communion at a deeper level. This retreat serves to deepen and enrich the experience, and is for all fifth graders and parents whether they have previously communed or not.
The retreat held in March offers parents and their child not only a better understanding of Holy Communion but allows families to deepen spiritual friendships through learning and play. That Sunday morning the 5th graders commune together at the 10:45 service.
QUESTIONS?
Contact Nina Zieska, Director of Children's Ministry, at (952) 935-1116
or Pastor Lydia at (952) 935-1120.
WEDDINGS
Your wedding is one of the most joyous occasions of your life and we are delighted to be a part of your day. All couples, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation are celebrated at Gethsemane. Our desire is to help you not only plan a sacred and meaningful ceremony, but to also help you prepare for marriage.
At Gethsemane, we believe that marriage is a lifelong relationship based on the promise of faithfulness between spouses to each other. We believe that marriage should be rooted in the steadfast love of God and that God’s faithfulness and self-giving love and forgiveness are the model for married couples. Wedding ceremonies are, first and foremost, a worship service where couples gather with family and friends to celebrate God’s love, offer gratitude to God for the gift of marriage, and to speak sacred vows to one another.
For more information, please take a look at our Wedding Brochure and Wedding Guide. To inquire about availability for your wedding, please complete the Wedding Inquiry Form.
FUNERALS AND MEMORIAL SERVICES
It is our desire to provide support and healing to you as you grieve and plan a funeral or memorial service for your loved one. Funerals in the Christian church are an opportunity to worship and be strengthened in God’s promise of love, forgiveness, and eternal life as well as an opportunity to say goodbye and grieve. They are also a time for people to come together, support one another, and remember the lives of their loved ones.
Before we are able to schedule a memorial or funeral service we need to determine the availability of a pastor and the building. We ask that you wait to schedule your service with your chosen funeral home until after you have talked with our staff.
If you would like to start planning now, we have Advanced Funeral Planning Guide both an advanced funeral planning guide as well as a funeral planning form.
For inquiries, please contact Amy Furan in the church office at 952-935-1753.
FUNERAL AND MEMORIAL SERVICE LIVESTREAM
At Gethsemane, we understand that it is not always possibly to be physically present for a memorial service or funeral. When a family makes the request for a service to be live-streamed online, we are able to accommodate that request.
To access the link for a specific service, please look for the name of the person below. If you are searching for a specific service from the past, you can find those on our YouTube channel.
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