A Family in Christ Caring for All People | |
November news & updates at Gethsemane | 11/02/2024 | Volume 131 | Issue 10 | | |
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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October Attendance
October 6th: In-Person 115, Online 46
October 13th: In-Person 79, Online 21
October 20th: In-Person 85, Online 53
October 27nd: In-Person 154, Online 33
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Birthdays
Anniversaries
Feel free to send a greeting to those who have celebrated a birthday or anniversary recently! (Addresses are available to Gethsemane Members only through the Instant Church Directory App.)
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*Remember to set your clocks back - Fall Back - when you go to bed on Saturday night!
Daylight Saving Time ends Nov. 3rd!
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“For surely I know the plans I have for you, says God, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.”
--Jeremiah 29:11
When have you encountered in your life such a monumental event that you could not see beyond it? Perhaps it was a graduation, or marriage, or birth of a child, or a surgery…you could get lost in preparation for the event itself, and you could not even imagine what your life would look like afterward.
Read the full article
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Early Voting has begun!
Democracy only works if we do our part! Voting in the General Election has begun.
St. Louis City polling place info.
St. Louis County info on polling places.
On Election Day, November 5th, Gethsemane is a Polling place. If you are a St. Louis resident you can vote at any city polling place!
**Once the election is over, be sure to recycle your yard sign! Click here for more info on how to do that, including a helpful list of the "Ws": when, where, and what!
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Welcome Eve Cooney - New Office Manager!
Eve and her family joined Gethsemane in 2016. She is in the bell and voice choirs, Social Action committee, and she created the South Lawn Committee to brainstorm ways to utilize Gethsemane's green space now that the big tree is gone. Eve recently retired from the Saint Louis Zoo where she directed Camp KangaZoo and the teen volunteer program, Zoo ALIVE.
Fun Fact - Mr. Bauer (a long-time Gethsemane member) taught her physics class at LHSS in the 80's and this May her son, Joe, received his BS in physics at Utah State. Coincidence? She thinks not!
Eve and her husband along with their youngest child, who is a senior in High School, live in South City.
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Gethsemane Children's Christmas Program
Rehearsals for the Gethsemane Christmas Program (scheduled for December 15 at 11am) begin and continue throughout November and part of December! If you have an elementary-aged child who would like to have a speaking role, be sure they are in Sunday School four of the five Sundays leading up to the Christmas Program which is scheduled for December 15th.
If you have any questions please contact Matthew Christian.
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Joel Frederick and Bill Birlidis | | |
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Gethsemane welcomed new members on Sunday, October 27th. Introduce yourself when you see them! Don't forget to wear your nametag. If you need a new nametag you can indicate as such on the bulletin insert found in the bulletin every Sunday.
Are you curious about Gethsemane or what it means to be a member? Gethsemane hosts a 'Get to Know Gethsemane' class about two to three times a year. If you are interested in learning more, fill out this "New Member" form and someone will reach out. (Filling out the form is not a commitment, it is just one step of the process.)
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Congratulations Confirmands! | |
On Reformation Sunday, October 27th, Gethsemane welcomed and celebrated two Confirmands who affirmed their Baptism!
Welcome William and Maxwell!
We are proud of you.
You are now voting members of Gethsemane!
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Youth Lending Library is here!
We are happy to introduce our new church youth library which is located in the library room at Gethsemane.
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There you can find books for the littlest ones and all the way up to teens exploring diverse topics in fresh ways that include: who is God, how we should treat one another, who is the Church, the environment, as well as devotions for the family and older children and teens.
Special effort has been made to provide youth Christian books that are inclusive and depict people of different races, cultures, abilities, and identities.
These books were purchased through a Thrivent grant with a few extra donations and we hope to expand over the next two years. Families, teens, and Sunday School teachers are encouraged to check out what's offered.
The instructions for paper or electronic sign-out are currently in the library along with a QR code to access the catalog of books thus far. You can also find the catalog by clicking on the link below.
For more information (or to share a suggestion), please contact: Courtney Baxter-Annis.
Youth Lending Library Catalog
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Hurricane Response - Lutheran Disaster Response | | |
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"In late September, Hurricane Helene hit the coast of Florida as a Category 4 hurricane, dropping heavy rains on the southeastern United States and leaving millions of people without power. As the storm has moved inland, it has caused dangerous flooding and landslides, as well as downed trees and power lines."
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November Highlights at Gethsemane and beyond | |
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The Bridge Pop-Up Shop!
The Bridge will be back at Gethsemane with their Pop-Up shop in time for you to do your Christmas Shopping while doing good!
Sunday, November, 24 9am-12pm. (Between Services in the Fellowship Hall.)
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You are welcome to join the women of Gethsemane for lunch. We meet the 4th Monday of each month. (Except holidays) We rotate restaurants and welcome new people! | | | | |
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November - Thanksgiving drive - brownie mix and oil: Gethsemane has committed to collecting 200 boxes of brownies and 200 bottles of cooking oil (16oz or 32oz ONLY!) for Isaiah 58's annual Thanksgiving supplies drive (serving hundreds of families each year).
Help us hit our target by Sunday, November 10 by placing donations on the shelves in the hallway.
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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Get a head start on the (Christmas) holiday spirit!
We know it was just Halloween, and it may seem a little early to think about Christmas. But it IS coming (quickly!)--and you have the chance to help make the holidays a bit brighter for families in need in St. Louis by adopting a person (or two or three!) through St. Anthony's Adopt a Family Program.
Gethsemane has committed to adopting 40 people this year through St. Anthony's, one of our social ministry partners, and we hope you and your family will consider providing a gift and clothing items for Christmas to one of these people.
We are once again using SignUpGenius. Individuals to be adopted (and their "wish lists") will be available on Sunday, November 10th. You can sign up to provide gifts for someone on SignUpGenius (the link will be provided soon). Or, if you would rather talk to a real person, please sign up between services on Sunday, November 10, in the narthex, or call Maryn Olson at 563.419.1885 or Angie Fulton at 618.410.6986. We ask that people spend about $75/person. Not sure what to buy for that teenager? Gift cards are a great option!
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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LuMin - Lutheran Campus Ministry
LuMin is asking for meals for their “Dinner and Jesus” nights at their campus house on Forsyth near Wash U. Gethsemane has agreed to provide food on the following Sundays: 11/10, 12/08. More information, including detailed instructions, can be found on the sign-up page. 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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Live Nativity
Saturday, December 7, 4-5pm
Gethsemane will once again host a Live Nativity with animals, hot cocoa, a Holy Family, music, and more as a way to get into the spirit of Christmas.
This event is always free and open to the public. Invite your friends and click here to sign up to volunteer!
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Red Cross Blood Drive
The Red Cross will return to Gethsemane on Monday, December 2, from 1-5pm. All types are needed! Click here to schedule your appointment!
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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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Thanksgiving Dinners
St. Joan of Arc is once again (rumor has it this will be the last year) providing meals to those individuals and couples who are home alone for Thanksgiving.
Gethsemane will provide the green bean casseroles. Watch the weekly news for an opportunity to sign up to provide a casserole or two. Responsibilities will include making the casserole, baking it, and dropping it off the evening of Wednesday, Nov. 27 or early Thanksgiving morning to St. Joan of Arc. Complete instructions will be given to those who sign up.
We will also need people to deliver the meals to the Gethsemane folks. Watch for those opportunities as well!
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Children's Christmas Program
This year's Children's Christmas Program will be on December 15th at the 11am service.
(See the notice about rehearsals found earlier in this newsletter!)
If you have any questions please contact Matthew Christian.
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Budget and Committee Reports - Reminder!
Your budget requests for 2024 are due to Dan Flaxbart by Monday, December 2nd.
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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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: Vary - please call first
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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