Welcome to the Gethsemane Lutheran Church Newsletter. As this year unfolds, and we continue to bring you information virtually, we welcome all who are members of Gethsemane, as well as those who are discovering us for the first time, to join us in our mission journey. We hope to keep you up-to-date in these times of amazing change for our church community. Feel free to forward the newsletter to others and give us the emails of those you think my wish to connect with us and see what great things God is doing with our church each week! |
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To contact staff: Please click email links on names to the right! |
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Who's Who At Gethsemane
Minister of Music: Beverly Timpton-Hammond
Food Shelf Volunteer Coordinator: Jean Bailey
Children's Ministry: Brittany Schiebe
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It is school supplies drive time! We are hoping to collect a wide variety of school supplies in time for those in need of it for the coming school year. The items we are looking for are as follows:
Backpacks, Spiral Notebooks, Pencils, Glue, Pencil Pouches, Colored Pencils, Markers, Crayons, Folders, Whiteboard Markers, Hand Sanitizer, Tissue/Kleenex Boxes, Bandaids, Scissors, Headphones.
If you have any of these items, or know others that would be willing to donate, please feel free to direct them to Gethsemane.
You may also bring these supplies to Gethsemane as well as contact us with any other questions via email to Pastor Jeff (email linked above) or call by phone at 612- 618-8186.
Spread the word, and thank you for your support!
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The Camden Shop is now open! After a short prayer of blessing, we opened the doors and shoppers found clothing and housewares that they needed. We are so excited about how this place will help our friends in the Camden neighborhood! Spread the word, and come say hello!
We are open the 1st & 3rd Saturday’s at Gethsemane from 12-3pm
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Food Giveaway Schedule into 2021:
The Camden Promise Food Shelf feeds boxes of food to community families 6 days a week at noon: Monday through Saturday.
All are welcome!
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Luke 8:22-25
22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out.
23 As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
24 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”
He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.
25 “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.
In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”
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Writer's Corner: Always Be Prepared |
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Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people. (Ephesians 6:13-18)
Well, here I am packing for my MFA writing residency in Tacoma, Washington, at Pacific Lutheran College. For a couple weeks I will be “back in school” living in a dorm, walking the campus, and in classes from 8 to 5 everyday. It is an intensive residency. I feel ready. I’ve read most of my assigned readings, prepared my presentation, and gathered all my academic essentials, even paperclips and highlighters. I’ve sent some items like a air filter (for my lung issues), frying pan (to cook my allergy-free food), and a mattress pad (oh, the dorm-hard mattress and my older body!) to a friend in Seattle who will bring them with her. Note: her parents just happen to be dropping her off at campus with all her (and my) stuff; she said its like she’s 18 again.
Yes, I’ve overpacked, I always do. I somehow got it in my head early on in life to “always be prepared.” I don’t think my Girl Scout motto was anything like that—I just remember the song that went: “make new friends and keep the old, one is silver, the other gold.” But I’m always the one who has the sewing kit, the first aid kit, and extra toothpaste. Everyone who travels with me knows that if they need it I most likely will have it. And if I don’t on that trip, then sure enough you better bet I will pack it for the next one. After decades, you can only imagine what is in my luggage. But this time I have to bring linens and towels and blankets and pillows and of course my nebulizer, all sorts of charge chords and a desk lamp, too. And of course, the weather in Washington is between 50 and 90 right now, and changes every few days. So I have sweaters, and sleeveless shirts, a couple jackets and tank tops, short and jeans and everything in between. When I stand back and look at the pile in my guest room and the two suitcases it is all to fit in…well, hmmm. I’m not so sure it’s gonna happen. But I will try my best. Sit on the suitcases while I zip them if I have to.
Then, I think about the spiritual and psychological things I must also pack to get me through the next 14 days. Some confidence to assuage my natural anxieties; some added energy because I don’t tend to sleep well away from home; some solid memory to hold all the information that I will try to absorb from all the talented faculty (and not forget what I’ve read so far); an extra measure of health to avoid getting sick while away. But if I read Ephesians, I am reminded that in addition to the pounds of luggage I will carry with me, the self-talk I will do to boost my self-esteem, I need to continue to wear the most important outfit in the Northwest (and this world). The armor of God.
So I will don on the breastplate of righteousness, the buckle of truth, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit, and put on my feet —along with my comfy Birkenstocks—the readiness of God’s word and the Gospel of peace. Then there is prayer along the way for all things I encounter of need on my journey. A chance to talk with my creator and my savior.
And guess what? Although the armor of God does amazing things to protect us in the world that is oh-so-chaotic and feels unpredictably unsafe right now, it doesn’t feel heavy, it works in all kinds of weather, and doesn’t cost anything extra when you travel. Because the cost and the weight and the burden has already been paid by Jesus on the cross. And because of God’s promise and salvation in Christ, we can all be ready for anything no matter where we find ourselves or where we go in this life. The knowledge that God loves us, that God has defeated death, and still continues to protect us in all our comings and goings is the biggest confidence booster, the best anti-anxiety medication, our daily bread of extra strength and peace that passes all understanding.
So I will not forget to pack the armor of God, wear it everyday—with my sunscreen and shorts (or packable parka)—and I will definitely be the most prepared that I can be for my journey. So too, should you put on your armor and be prepared! Always and forever,
Amen!
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Thank you, Lord, for the blessings you have bestowed on my life. You have provided me with more than I could ever have imagined. You have surrounded me with people who always look out for me. You have given me family and friends who bless me every day with kind words and actions.
Amen
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Please join us every Sunday for our Virtual Zoom Worship Service. Online "fellowship starts at 10:00 am and Worship Service Starts at 10:30 am. |
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Gethsemane Lutheran
Building Hope Together
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4656 Colfax Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55412
612-521-3575
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