April 2011
Volume 44, Issues 4
The LeafThe LeafThe LeafThe Leaf – a monthly
publication of GLC
Gethsemane Lutheran ChurchGethsemane Lutheran ChurchGethsemane Lutheran ChurchGethsemane Lutheran Church The LeafThe LeafThe LeafThe Leaf
35 East Stanton Avenue ♦ Columbus OH 43214 ♦ 614-885-4319
www.gethsemane.org
Interim Pastor
The Rev. Dr. John Stroup [email protected]
Music Ministries
Dr. Timothy E. Guenther [email protected]
Learning & Family Ministries
Terri Siebert [email protected]
Swahili Ministry
Carl Bjork [email protected]
Child Care Center
Brenda Weilbacher [email protected]
Parish Secretary
Diane Gutgesell [email protected]
Custodians
Mike and Kate Bumster
In this Issue
Holy Week Schedule─P. 2
Swahili Service─P. 3
Adult Education─P. 4
Vacation Bible School─P. 5
Faith Mission Concert─P. 6
Shack City─P. 7
In Our Prayers─P. 8
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at worship onat worship onat worship onat worship on Sunday, April 10, at 9:30 am.Sunday, April 10, at 9:30 am.Sunday, April 10, at 9:30 am.Sunday, April 10, at 9:30 am.
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Bishop, will Bishop, will Bishop, will Bishop, will officiate atofficiate atofficiate atofficiate at the the the the installation.installation.installation.installation.
The Search Committee will host a The Search Committee will host a The Search Committee will host a The Search Committee will host a
reception in Tim’s honor reception in Tim’s honor reception in Tim’s honor reception in Tim’s honor ffffoooolllllllloooowwwwiiiinnnngggg wwwwoooorrrrsssshhhhiiiipppp....
2
WORSHIPWORSHIPWORSHIPWORSHIP
7:30pm Maundy Thursday, April 21 Eucharist
To serve rather than be served is a concept made visible in this sense-engaging worship.
Hear our Lord’s command to be servants of one another and gather around the table of grace.
7:30pm Good Friday, April 22 Quiet contemplation, candles, prayers around the cross
This reflective service, empowered by candlelight throughout the space,
gathers the community around the cross.
7:30pm Easter Vigil, April 23 Familial, creative
Worshipers gather informally around an open fire outside followed by a candlelight procession, the
telling of Old Testament stories, and the transformation of the sanctuary into the Easter celebration.
9:30am Easter Sunday, April 24 Festive, Eucharist, music
Come and sing new songs and old as we give thanks for the life of Jesus and share in the meal of our
Resurrected Lord. Easter! What a glorious day to celebrate God’s limitless love for us!
3
WORSHIPWORSHIPWORSHIPWORSHIP
Swahili Eucharist Service
for the Columbus Community
Sundays, April 3 & 24, 2011, 3:30pm
Gethsemane Lutheran Church [email protected]
(a joint ministry of Gethsemane and Ascension Lutheran Churches)
Haleluya! Yesu amefufuka! Hallelujah! Jesus is risen!
Please join us on Sunday, April 3, 2011, for a Eucharist Service in Swahili, then again on Easter
Sunday, April 24. The services begin at 3:30pm with African music. Holy Communion will be
served and all baptized and believing Christians are invited to the Lord’s Table to share in this
meal. There will be a food and fellowship time after the service. Gethsemane Lutheran Church
is located at 35 E. Stanton Ave., ¼ mile off North High Street behind Tim Horton’s. If you have
any questions or would like more information, please call the church at 614-885-4319 or email
4
LLLLEARNEARNEARNEARN
Adult Education Opportunities
Adult Bible Study – Sundays at
8:15AM in the Library This study is currently discussing “Joseph's Story"
following the outlines in the Lutheran Study Bible. We
welcome new attendees at any time. Each week
stands on its own so you'll not miss anything. Grab
some coffee and join our "family". We'd enjoy having
your thoughts added to our discussions. Or if you
prefer, just sit back and listen. The class meets in the
Library or the Conference Room on the upper level
each Sunday. For more information contact Dick
Lyndes at [email protected] or 885-6061.
Lifetime Learning – Sundays at
10:45AM in the Multi-Purpose Room
“Lenten Discipline:
Caring for God’s Creation” Led by Environmental Stewardship Team
April 3
Local response to Environmental Issues Paul Feldman
April 10
Restoring Biodiversity in Your Backyard Joanne Leussing
A perfect companion to this Sunday morning series is
“Ecological Spirituality,” the Wednesday evening
Lenten Series in the Great Hall at 6:30 pm. Pr. Kurt
Keljo, who has a graduate degree in environmental
studies, will lead us on a journey through the Bible
and into the Christian tradition, exploring the
foundations of Christian earthkeeping and spiritual
practices built on those foundations.
Lenten Discipline
At the beginning of Lent everyone was invited as a
Lenten discipline to pledge to a new action to care
for creation. Replace an old refrigerator? Take
cloth bags to the grocery store? Turn off some
lights? Take shorter showers? Rethink food
choices?
Did YOU make a pledge yet? How are you doing
with it? Remember to write your action or your
intention on a leaf and hang it on the tree in the
narthex. Let’s encourage each other to care for
God’s Creation.
Palm Sunday, April 17
Israel Today
Langknechts and Gearys will share their impressions
from their trip to the Holy Land in January 2011 – the
coming alive of Biblical texts in the land where the
events occurred, past and present brought together in
life today, walking in the shoes of both Israelis and
Palestinians, awaking to the call of the minarets while
living in the Muslim Quarter of the Old city of
Jerusalem. Come share and ask questions.
Easter Sunday, April 24
No Class
May 1
Tanzanian Worship Ministry Team
Everything you wanted to know about Tanzania: the
culture, customs, education, and worship practices as
told by our Tanzanian members.
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LLLLEARNEARNEARNEARN
What’s a food that every kid
(well, almost every) loves?
Mac and cheese!
Our elementary Sunday School class is asking
for your help during Lent in collecting boxes of
macaroni and cheese for our food pantry. A
collection table is in the atrium coffee area.
Please help us make a tower of boxes. Final
collection day will be Easter Sunday
Experience Lutheran Outdoor
Ministries in Ohio – (LOMO)
LOMO’s mission is to bring people together to
experience Christ through our natural settings
and programs. This mission is carried out
through summer programs for youth and
families, year round retreats and enviromental
education. We serve people of all ages in all
seasons. Check out www.lomocamps.org for
information about camps throughout Ohio –
Lutheran Memorial Camp, Camp Mowana, and
Camp Luther.
You may also register for camp online.
Children ages 3 – grade 5
Watch the newsletter for more
information.
Mark your calendar and plan on coming!
Invite friends, neighbors, relatives!
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SERVESERVESERVESERVE
Souper Bowl Sunday Report
Report on the 2011 Souper Bowl: Along with the $523 sent to the LSS Food Pantry as the
result of the Souper Bowl collection February 6, we also took 186 units of food and
personal products to the Pantry! That included lots of macaroni and cheese, canned
fruits and vegetables, soups, baby food, noodles, canned meats and other meals, snack
items and beverages as well as toothpaste, soap and other personal items. Baby food
(cereals and jars) was extremely limited when we were there this week and personal
items are always welcome. (One woman whispered to me, "Do you have any pads?" We
didn't and usually don't) Actually just about anything is welcome. Bring it to GLC anytime.
And thanks for all of your generosity. It was much appreciated last Tuesday when we
were at the Pantry!
Thank you! $7063 for Faith Mission!
Dick Reuning, Sharon Walton, Bruce Posey with Denise Spires
Darlene Norman and Terri Rowe,
LSS Development Director
Over 120 generous Gethsemane members and guests attended the Benefit Concert given by Synchronicity Trio on
March 13. Including the funds from Thrivent, a record $7063 was raised for Faith Mission Homeless Shelters,
funds greatly needed to provide food, safe shelter, clean clothing, medical care and job placement programs. In
addition to beautiful music in the sanctuary, there was a lovely reception in the Atrium with a cake from Mozart’s
Bakery in celebration of 35 years of leadership service by Gethsemane members on Faith Mission advisory boards.
Thanks to Synchronicity and to Gethsemane members who helped move the piano and assisted with the
reception.
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CONNECTCONNECTCONNECTCONNECT
Small Group
Ministries
First Reflections
Monday Bible Study
Paula Sauer
Saturday Bible Study
Connections:
Faith at Work
Judy Reuning
Men’s Breakfast
Bob Davis
Habitat for Humanity
Bill Darlage
Mom’s Group
Doris Ing
LWR Quilts
Ruth Fortis
Prayer Shawls
OR
Call the
Church Office
614-885-4319
Spring into Action with
the Gethsemane
Quilters
On Saturday, April 30 from 9:00am to
1:00pm we will knot the quilts you
make up until that date. We need
sewers to piece squares together all
month long. Take a bundle of 48
squares from the basket at the
Welcome Center in the narthex and
arrange them in 6 rows by 8 rows. Sew
them together with ¼” seams. Return
then to the Welcome Center where
they will be picked up for backing.
Shack City -- Saturday,
April 16, 8:00pm
Area church groups, including
Gethsemane’s youth, will gather on
Worthington’s Village Green to set up
cardboard boxes to serve as their
“neighborhood” within Shack City.
There will be a presentation about
Habitat for Humanity and the houses
the youth are supporting, information
about a Habitat homeowner’s
experience, and an educational activity
to increase understanding of the lack of
affordable housing.
Quiet time begins at midnight when
everyone will return to their box and
sleep. Sunday morning the groups will
take down their boxes and have closing
devotions.
Watch for the display in the church
narthex on ways you can support Shack
City/Habitat for Humanity.
The blood drive scheduled in April has
been canceled. We regret to inform you
that due to low participation in the last 3
blood drives here at Gethsemane, our
drive for April 9 has been canceled by
the Red Cross. We are presently working
on a plan to stimulate participation to
insure greater success. Stay tuned for
more information!! Thanks to all of you
who have been supportive over the past
several years.
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PPPPEOPLE NEWSEOPLE NEWSEOPLE NEWSEOPLE NEWS
April
Birthdays 3 Philip Carringer
Emilie Hagerdorn
8 Paul Carringer
9 Denise Luksic
Rachel Murphy
10 Shirley Cochran
12 Heidi Hiller
14 Ruth Thinguldstad
16 Ralph Portzline
Carolina Smith
17 Meaghan Reilly
22 Eliya Mashambo
Elisha Mashambo
Kathy Montgomery
25 Barb Driver
Jenn Bogan
Kathy Goetsch
Darlene Norman
28 Jessica Lagergren
Our Prayers and
Concern Are With . . .
“Pray in the Spirit at all times in every
prayer and supplication. To that end
keep alert and always persevere in
supplication for all the saints.”
Ephesians 6:18
Members:
Donna Baer (Whetstone Care Center)
… Marilyn Bosen (Arlington Court) …
Sibylle Custis … Jean Fritchen … Ken
Gerken ... Arlene Hendrickson … Mark
Keller … Manfred Maeffert … Mary
Manship (Wesley Glen) … Eleanor Nagy
… Rob Needham … Phyllis Nelson …
Rebecca Oldaker … Rosalie Taylor …
Reva Woodruff.
Family and friends:
Nancy Dowling (friend of Bonnie and
Howard Spring) … Doris Forward (sister
of Dick Jones) … Jim Hursey and Kim
Valerino (friends of Anita Gardner) …
Lenore Lutz (mother of Brian Lutz) …
Alex Nagy (son of Eleanor Nagy) …
Debbie Swan and Sandra Thiguldstad
(daughters-in-law of Ruth
Thinguldstad) … Ruth Vollrath (cousin
of Jane Sieberth).
Hospitalized: Peg Croswell (Riverside)
Congratulations to Jill and John Woods
on the birth of their daughter, Sela
Esther, on March 6
Our love and sympathy to the families
of: Ed Langner (father of Rick Langner)
who passed away Mar. 3 … Ben Nelson
who passed away Mar. 11.
Family and friends serving overseas:
Chaplain Jess Abbott (friend of Jen Tatz)
… Grady Driver (nephew of Jim Driver) …
Mark Fields (friend of Anita Gardner) …
Theresa Kulikowski (niece of Dave
Kulikowski) … T.J. Smith (friend of
Morgan Melton) … Colin Steffa (son of
Meredith Dobyns) … Nick Swenson
(nephew of Barb Driver).
Would you like to add your
prayers?
For Sunday Prayers:
Contact church secretary, Diane, at 885-
4319 or [email protected]
before 12:00 noon on Thursday. After
that time, you will have the opportunity
in worship to name those silently or
aloud during the prayers.
For prayers during the week:
Call Beryl Cumberland (471-0408) or
Barbara Nelson (888-6257).
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COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTSCOUNCIL HIGHLIGHTSCOUNCIL HIGHLIGHTSCOUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS
Congregation
Council
OFFICERS:
President
Carol Prigan
Vice-President
Mark Hagerdorn
Secretary
Heidi Hiller
Treasurer
Rick Langner
MEMBERS:
Janice Dunham
Harry Lyatuu
Morgan Melton
Dave Norman
Joe Reilly
Highlights of Council Meeting – March 10, 2011
A copy of the Council and Committee minutes and Financial Report is posted in
Atrium Way. PLEASE READ BUT LEAVE POSTED. Take home copies (minus
attachments) are available in the Welcome Center.
PASTOR’S REPORT
-Pastor Stroup maintains his regular Tuesday and Wednesday hours.
-He continues to visit homebound and hospitalized members, and holds regular
Tuesday staff meetings.
-Staff has expressed concern with the number of meetings immediately following
worship which interrupt the education hour. This takes away from the adult
education hour, as well as the available Sunday school teachers. Please be mindful
when scheduling to NOT interrupt the education hour.
-Staff would like to be kept informed. Please include staff, especially when making
decisions which directly affect them.
-New members may be received, and Hilda Lyatuu’s son will be baptized on Easter
Sunday.
ELECTED OFFICERS’ REPORT
President
-The selection of Dr. Timothy Guenther for Director of music Ministry was made
following a congregational vote on March 6th. All necessary paperwork was
submitted to the Synod Office on March 7th. Installation will be April 10th. Dr.
Guenther began on Ash Wednesday.
-Carol Prigan will attend the Congregational Officer’s Day at North Community on
3/19.
-Dave Kulikowski was appointed to the Audit Committee via electronic vote by
Council.
FINANCIAL REPORTS- Rick Langner
GLC -- Jeff Luedke continues to volunteer as advisor to the treasurer during
the time of transition. Dan Erwin is the assistant to the treasurer, however, unable to
sign checks. Financial results for the month of February were favorable. For the
month of February, GLC had a net surplus of $4,805. At the end of February GLC’s
working cash totaled $104,382. If GLC were paying for permanent rather than
interim staff, financial results would not be favorable. Both expenditures and
contributions are down.
Play & Learn -- Reports for February are not yet available. P&L and the
bookkeeper are currently operating with two different software systems creating
discrepancy in monthly reporting. P&L is in the process of changing their software.
Enrollment is up, cash flow is good, and they continue to work on building reserves.
MINISTRY TEAM UPDATE
Council members are being assigned as ministry team liaisons. Carol Prigan will send
the list electronically to all Council members so they can volunteer where they see
the need. Continued
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COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTSCOUNCIL HIGHLIGHTSCOUNCIL HIGHLIGHTSCOUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS
OLD BUSINESS
-The HS youth spaghetti dinner raised over $1000 for Jacob’s Porch. The HS youth will undertake serving dinner at
Jacob’s Porch sometime in the next few months.
-Adult Ed. Ministry Team organized the Ash Wednesday Soup Supper. Worship Ministry Team agreed to do
March 23rd. Volunteers are needed to coordinate Lenten Soup Suppers. Council liaisons will be contacting
ministry team leaders for their support.
NEW BUSINESS
-Personnel Committee is conducting Staff reviews. Recommendations of congregants to be part of this review
process are welcomed.
-The budget for the next fiscal year will be presented at the Congregational meeting in May. R Langner and M.
Hagerdorn will be sending letters to the ministry teams and committees requesting their input by April 1st.
-The Pastoral Call Committee has been doing a remarkable job. They have three candidates scheduled for second
interviews. A negotiating committee for call of a new pastor will be put in place shortly.
-The Ohio Synod Assembly will be held May 21st -22nd at Wittenburg University. The agenda is posted on the
website. GLC will be sending two representatives. See Carol Prigan if interested.
-The Swahili community has requested additional services on Easter Sunday and May 29th. They are raising funds
to bring over a Pastor from Tanzania to preside at worship on the 29th. Pending availability, Council agreed to the
additional services.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
-The next regular Swahili Worship Service is scheduled for April 3rd @ 3:30pm.
-The next regular Church Council meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 14th @ 7pm.
-The Swahili Easter Worship Service is scheduled for April 23rd @ 3:30pm.
Heidi Hiller, secretary
Gethsemane Lutheran Church
Congregational Meeting
March 6, 2011
A Congregational Meeting was held immediately after the church service today regarding the call of Dr. Timothy
Guenther as Director of Music Ministry. Following a question and answer period conducted by Carol Prigan,
Council President and Barbara Ford, chair of the search committee, a paper ballot vote was taken with the
following results:
66 YES in favor of calling Dr. Timothy Guenther as DMM
1 NO
2 Abstentions
Carol Prigan will submit the necessary paperwork to the Synod to complete the call. Dr. Timothy Guenther will
begin at GLC at the Ash Wednesday service, March 9th.
The meeting adjourned at 11:06 am.
Heidi Hiller, secretary
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Serving This Month – April 2011
April 3
9:30 AM
April 10
9:30 AM
April 17
9:30 AM
Maundy
Thursday
7:30 PM
Good
Friday
7:30 PM
April 24
9:30 AM
Assisting
Minister
E. Haines E. Haines E. Haines E. Haines E. Haines E. Haines
Readers D. Reuning
J. Reuning
B. Murphy
D. Jones
G. Rader
J. Reilly
J. Sauer
P. Sauer
M. Siddall
M. Needham
H. Langknecht
S. Langknecht
Ushers
E. Savolaine
B. Hagerdorn
R. Murphy
H. Feole
K. Hiller
R. Langner
D. Langner
J. Siebert
J. Tatz
P. Siebert
D. Reutter
J. Sieberth
DCumberland
H. Geary
J. Geary
M. Geary
J. Reuning
J. Reilly
E. Savolaine
B. Hagerdorn
B. Driver
J. Driver
Communion
Bread
J. Geary W. Melton Worship
Team
Lutz Family
Communion
Care
D. Norman
J. Geary
D. Norman
J. Geary
D. Norman
J. Geary
D. Norman
J. Geary
D. Norman
J. Geary
D. Norman
J. Geary
Counters J. Leussing
H. Geary
M. Bardach
H. Lyatuu
D. Reutter
J. Lyimo
J. Davis