A Family in Christ Caring for All People | |
December news & updates at Gethsemane | 12/04/2024 | Volume 131 | Issue 11 | | |
See what's happening this month at a glance. (You can print this calendar!) |
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We still need worship leaders on Sunday mornings! If you are a worship leader you will receive an advance email and an email the week of your assignment.
Click here to sign up to be a worship leader.
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November Attendance
November 3rd: In-Person ?, Online 39
November 10th: In-Person 108, Online 39
November 17th: In-Person 105, Online 33
November 24th: In-Person 108, Online 50
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Birthdays
Anniversaries
Feel free to send a greeting to those who have recently celebrated a birthday or anniversary! (Addresses are available to Gethsemane Members only through the Instant Church Directory website or app.)
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“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom God favors!”
--A Multitude of Heavenly Host (Luke 2:14)
What does peace on earth look like? Oh, wouldn’t we like to see it.
One of my favorite things about the Lutheran church is that we commit to working together—congregations with other congregations, and pastors with other pastors, for example. Partnership allows us to share our gifts, and it turns out that some of our local pastors in the St. Louis area are gifted in the art of worship planning and liturgical language.
Read the full article
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We'll see you on Saturday regardless of the weather for the annual Live Nativity! This event is free and open to the public. It will be outdoors, so dress for the weather!
Baby "Jesus" was just born so we'll get to meet the newest Gethsemane member too!
We could still use some help at the end for clean up - no need to sign up, just stick around to help!
To see a sneak peek at the animals that will be here on Saturday, click here! We will have a goat, horse, sheep, donkey, and a cow!
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The Christmas spirit is alive and well at Gethsemane!
Gethsemane has adopted 40 people this year through St. Anthony's, one of our social ministry partners. Thank you to everyone who has adopted a person and provided gifts and clothing for them this Christmas.
Gifts should be delivered to the church on or before Sunday, December 8th, and our faithful volunteers will organize everything and deliver to St. Anthony's in time for Christmas.
We will also be collecting blankets and gift cards from local stores (Schnucks, ALDI, Walmart, Walgreens, etc.) to be divided between Isaiah 58 and St. Anthony's--know these items are very welcome and appreciated!
Happy holidays, and thank you for helping to make Christmas brighter for our neighbors served through St. Anthony's!
~ Maryn and Angie
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December
Adopt a family and blankets and gift cards. Due to the church on December 8th!
Gethsemane has partnered with St. Anthony's and Isaiah 58 to provide them with food and non-food items. The non-food items are particularly important as these are not covered by food stamps.
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The blanket collection is growing! | |
You will put the gift cards in this secure basket. | |
Christmas Giving
If you would like to make a special Christmas offering in celebration of or in memory of someone and have the dedication printed in the Christmas Eve Sunday bulletin, please use this form or fill out the paper copy that is in your Sunday bulletin.
Forms are due by Thursday, December 12. There is a link for electronic payment once you hit submit, or you may pay by check at the church.
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Children's Christmas Program
This year's Children's Christmas Program, "Lo, the Angel of the Lord. A Sunday School Christmas Drama" by Chris Repp, will be on December 15th at the 11am service.
If you have any questions please contact Children's Christmas Program Director, Matthew Christian.
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You are welcome to join the women of Gethsemane for lunch. In December we meet on Monday, December 16. (We usually meet the 4th Monday of each month.) We rotate restaurants and welcome new people!
This month we dine at Bartolino's South. (5914 S. Lindbergh Blvd.) | | | |
Bel Canto Chorus Christmas Concert Enjoy Christmas music and support local singers (including Ed and Cindy Breed!) on Sat. Dec 7, at 4 pm at First Congregational Church, 6501 Wydown Blvd. in Clayton. General Tickets are $20, Students with ID are $12. Tickets may be purchased online at www.bcchorusstl.com |
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Congratulations!
Congratulations to the Baxter-Annis family on the birth of Aliyah Corinne Annis on Tuesday, November 26th. Courtney and baby are both recovering well and dad, Nathan, and big sis, Amara, are smitten!
Fun fact: Baby Aliyah is this year's baby Jesus during the Live Nativity on Saturday and will be baptized during the 8:30am service on Sunday, December 8th.
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Big News!
Thanks Be To God! The Green Committee received an unexpected and anonymous $20,000 gift to replace the gas stove in the Gethsemane kitchen with an electric stove!
The Property Committee and Church Council will start working on the next steps in January, which will include getting bids to upgrade the electricity in the kitchen to 3 phase electric, and then shopping for the new stove. We will share more updates as they become available.
Who knows what plans God has in store for us with this new resource!
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Caring Casseroles
We are in need of some Caring Casseroles for the freezer! These ready-to-eat meals are ready-to-go when one of our members, friends, or college kids at LuMin needs some love or care and a home-cooked meal. Perhaps a new baby has arrived, or an illness or injury has someone on the mend, or it is finals week with no time to cook. Whatever the need, you can help by bringing a casserole or two to Gethsemane so we have food on hand. Here are links to some handy recipes (Pesto Chicken Casserole or Pasta House Con Broccoli or use your own favorite recipe. Each dish should be in an aluminum casserole pan with a cardboard lid (available at Walmart) and be labeled with the name of the meal, the date you made it, an ingredient list, and reheating instructions.
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HRC’s campaigns are focused on mobilizing those who envision a world strengthened by diversity, where our laws and society treat all people equally, including LGBTQ+ people and those who are multiply marginalized.
Click for "Facing the Future Together: FAQs, Guidance, and Resources" compiled by the HRC to answer questions people may be asking regarding safety and other concerns marginalized groups may have.
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LuMin - Lutheran Campus Ministry
LuMin is asking for meals for their “Dinner and Jesus” nights at their campus house on Forsyth near Wash U. Sunday, December 8th is the last meal for 2024 and it has been covered by the Confirmation students. Stay Tuned for the 2025 spring sign up soon! If you cannot provide a meal please consider a financial donation!
The money is used when there is no one available to provide food. If you wish to give directly to Lumin click here! Pr. Tina is a member of Gethsemane!
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Little Free Pantry
Thank you for your continued support of Gethsemane's Little Free Pantry! The Little Free Pantry Team is requesting more items for the comfort cabinet - chapstick, wipes, bandaids, toothpaste, toothbrushes, pads, etc.
All items can be placed in the cart located in the hallway next to the mailboxes. This is an ongoing endeavor!
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Thank you to Lois and Jack Wind, Joan Williams, and Carolyn Schainker for helping with Thanksgiving meals for Gethsemane members.
Gethsemane partnered with St. Joan of Arc who did all the planning and prep. Gethsemane brought the green bean casseroles and delivered them to four Gethsemane households.
Sadly, this may have been the final year of this endeavor as the future of the program at St. Joan of Arc might not be repeated next year.
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Budget and Committee Reports - Reminder!
Your budget requests for 2024 are due to Dan Flaxbart ASAP!
Committee reports are due to the church
office by Friday, December 6th. Thank you!
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Annual Meeting
Save the date! The Church Council has set the date for Gethsemane's next Annual Meeting on January 26 following one service at 9:30am.
Stay tuned for more details as they get closer.
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Red Cross Blood Drive
The Red Cross will return to Gethsemane on Monday, February 10, from 1-5pm. All types are needed! Click here to schedule your appointment!
In December they collected 25 units which was a little higher than their target!
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Get Connected @ Gethsemane! | |
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Gethsemane Lutheran Church
3600 Hampton Ave., St. Louis, MO 63109 Phone: 314-352-8050
Email Address: office@gethsemanestl.org Church Office Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 10-1
Pastoral Care: Rev. Cheryl Walenta Gorvie 903-918-3992 pastor@gethsemanestl.org
Council President Gary Borkowski
314-489-0937 gvborkowski@gmail.com
Website: www.gethsemanestl.org
YouTube: gethsemanestl
Instagram: gethsemane_elca_stl
Facebook: Gethsemane Lutheran Church - ELCA, St. Louis, MO
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MESSENGER NEWS You can send your news and notes for the Messenger to glcstlsocialmedia@gmail.com. There is also a Messenger drawer by the church office. For best results, news should be in by the 20th of each month.
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Gethsemane Lutheran Church | |
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