AprilAprilAprilApril 2010201020102010
Volume Volume Volume Volume 43434343, Issue, Issue, Issue, Issues s s s 4444
The Leaf – a monthly
publication of GLC
Gethsemane Lutheran Church
The Leaf
35 East 35 East 35 East 35 East Stanton Avenue Stanton Avenue Stanton Avenue Stanton Avenue ♦ Columbus OH 43214 Columbus OH 43214 Columbus OH 43214 Columbus OH 43214 ♦ 614614614614----885885885885----4319431943194319
www.gethsemane.orgwww.gethsemane.orgwww.gethsemane.orgwww.gethsemane.org
Senior PastorSenior PastorSenior PastorSenior Pastor
Rev. Karen Asmus-Alsnauer [email protected]
Music MinistriesMusic MinistriesMusic MinistriesMusic Ministries Lucas Weiss
Learning & Family MinistriesLearning & Family MinistriesLearning & Family MinistriesLearning & Family Ministries Terri Siebert
Child Care CenterChild Care CenterChild Care CenterChild Care Center Brenda Weilbacher
InternInternInternIntern Vicar Carl Bjork
MinistryMinistryMinistryMinistry----InInInIn----ContextContextContextContext Seminarian Mandy Oleson
MinistryMinistryMinistryMinistry----InInInIn----ContextContextContextContext Seminarian Alex Hoops
Parish SecretaryParish SecretaryParish SecretaryParish Secretary Diane Gutgesell
CustodiansCustodiansCustodiansCustodians Bob & Cheryl Miller
In this IssueIn this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue
New Members─P. 4
Swahili Easter Eucharist & Easter
Festival Meal─P. 6
Easter Breakfast─P. 8
Serve! 7:30 Maundy Thursday, April 1
Footwashing, 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.
Love! 7:30 Good Friday, April 2
Quiet contemplation, candles, prayers around the cross
This reflective service, empowered by candlelight throughout the space gathers the
community around the cross.
Celebrate! 7:30 pm Easter Vigil, April 3
Familial, creative, relaxed 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.
Rejoice! 8:15 am Easter Breakfast
9:30 am Easter Sunday, April 4 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 – for the world!
2
STAFF
The Sound of Easter By the Rev. Karen Asmus-Alsnauer
Some ideas are bigger than
our intellectual capacity to
deal with them. Some news
is richer than the words we
have to describe it. When
that happens, we turn
gratefully to art and music and works of the
imagination. That's why on Easter we put the
emphasis on beautiful hymns, stirring songs, beautiful
flowers, liturgical art, enhanced music on organ and
piano and trumpet. Words alone cannot convey the
message.
From his prison cell in Nazi Germany, Dietrich
Bonhoeffer wrote to his parents, "It's a year now since
I actually heard a hymn. But the music of the inner ear
can often surpass what we hear physically. I get on
particularly well with the Easter hymns."
I've always been comforted by the candor of the
biblical accounts of the resurrection: Jesus' closest
friends and followers had trouble understanding and
speaking about what happened. One of the accounts
ends abruptly, almost in mid-sentence: "So they went
out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement
had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for
they were afraid" (Mark 16:8). That ending is so blunt,
scholars tell us, that later writers felt that they needed
to add a more respectable and aesthetically satisfying
ending.
Another account tells us that the first people to arrive
at the empty tomb fell flat on their faces in terror.
Luke adds--and again I am strangely comforted by his
candor--"But these words seemed to them an idle
tale, and they did not believe them" (Luke 24:4, 11).
In his helpful book, What Jesus Meant, Gary Wills
writes: "The first Christians were not expecting the
resurrection. They did not believe it when the women
first announced it to them. They had, remember, all
scattered and hidden when Jesus was condemned and
executed.... Yet this band of cowards was suddenly
changed into an energetic body of effective evangels,
spreading their faith, firmly offering the claim that
Jesus lives."
That old argument for the resurrection is still a
compelling one: some transformation occurred in the
lives of Jesus' followers such that those who were
cowering in fear became fearless witnesses and
martyrs. They became convinced that death did not
defeat Jesus, that he was alive and present in the
world, and that therefore there was nothing for them
to fear, not even their own death.
"Why do you look for the living among the dead?" the
angel asks the women in Luke's Gospel. "He is not
here, but has risen." And so there is no reason to be
afraid or tentative. We can care passionately and love
without reservation. We can give our lives to justice,
to peace, to Christ's church, to his kingdom on earth.
Jesus went into death. But he is not there. He is risen.
May he touch the barren places in your life with his
resurrection newness!
See you in worship.
Thank You, Chris
Our heartfelt and grateful appreciation to Chris
Lutz, who started as a “temp” in her position of
Outreach & Integration and has served in that
capacity for nearly five years. She and her family
will continue to be an integral part of the GLC
community so we are not saying farewell -- but
we are saying “Thank you, Chris” for your faithful
and diligent service and witness to Christ and to
this community of faith!
3
STAFF
“It’s Easter!” By Vicar Carl Bjork
When I was younger, my entire extended
family (on my dad’s side) gathered at my grand-
parents’ house for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter,
and the 4th of July. Some 30 people would share a
meal and a “holiday” or Sunday worship service
depending on the season or day. I have many fond
memories of these great times in my life, and I often
think about these special moments though it seems
like they happened so long ago.
Fortunately, many of these “reunions” were
captured on a VHS video-recorder and my younger
brother and I spent much of our childhood and
teenage years watching these memories on tape.
There are all sorts of great moments on the videos,
like when: my cousin swings a golf-club that
amazingly lands on the roof of my grandparents’
house; kids and adults alike take turns sliding down
“White Water Rapids” in the back yard; my uncle wins
a bet and forces my cousin to run through the snow in
nothing but shorts during Christmas Day brunch; the
majority of the family plays “See-food” with the lens
of the video camera at Thanksgiving, etc. Though it
has been a while since I’ve had a marathon viewing of
the videos, I know right where they are at my
grandparents’ house and I know exactly what I have to
do to preserve them on DVD. I hope to watch them
and edit them in the near future; they are great videos
and awesome records of my family’s life!
However, one clip always “sticks” out more
than the others for some reason. When my dad was
in the Marine Corp reserves, my mother, brother, and
I lived with my grandparents and their three youngest
for a few years (circa 1985-1990). My great-grand-
mother, who battled Alzheimer’s, also lived in the
house for a short period of time before moving to a
nursing center. By then her disease had turned her
into a strong and stubborn woman and everybody did
their best to keep her happy and comfortable. But my
dad has always been a little mischievous and a video
of one Christmas Eve gathering shows my great-grand-
mother stepping down the stairs, confusingly asking
why there are so many people in the house, my dad
responding, “Because it’s Easter grandma, it’s
Easter!”, and her nodding, smiling ,and walking away
from the camera. Eventually, my great-grandmother
was able to discern that it was not Easter, but at that
point in her life, I don’t think she was bothered by the
prank or even realized the mix-up. To this day, the
memory of this incident lives on – it is an odd joke that
has been re-told or re-enacted by many members of
my extended family for years and years.
But somehow, someway when the family
recalls this event, it is never with anger, judgment or
sadness; it is as if the great life of family past lives on
in this funny memory/video. My great-grandmother is
captured alive, my dad’s quirkiness is real, and my
now scattered extended family is together again.
Though the reunions are not held as often nor draw
the same number of people, the videos of the past
allow the love, the memories, and the family to live on
in powerful ways! And through these videos, I am
able to experience my life in an incredibly enlightening
fashion in which I can truly see myself and others!
This Easter season, I hope you experience
God’s gospel in new and exciting ways remembering
always that our Lord and Savior is with us for eternity.
In the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we live on
forever! Take the time to remember the past, to live
in the present, to celebrate the future, and to let your
eyes and ears be opened to the special moments of
life! May you and yours be blessed this Easter and
spring!
How do you capture your
family’s special moments?
How can you preserve your
family’s heritage?
How will you celebrate your
life with Christ this Easter?
4
NEW MEMBERS
Welcome, welcome to those who join us in mission!
Char Jessie
Char was raised a Lutheran. She has two children - son, Curtis and
daughter, Melanie and three grandchildren. She works in the
Controller's Office at The Ohio State University. Char loves to cook (not
bake!) and enjoys hosting most of the holiday dinners or picnics for
their family. She also enjoys bowling, playing Euchre, and spending
time with her grandkids. Congregation Friend: Anita Gardner
Tim, Andrea, and Joe Mayer
The Mayer’s are life-long Lutheran's and Tim and
Andrea are alumni of Capital, of which Joe is currently a
second year student. Tim and Andrea have three adult
children, enjoy hiking, exercising, anything outdoors, as
well as great music and the arts. Tim worked as an IT
manager for 24 years, and is now training to be a
commercial Pilot. Andrea has worked as a pediatric nurse for 24 years, currently at Children's Hospital. Joe is a
religion and history major, and serves as a summer counselor for Lutheran camps. Next December he will take
part in a three-week mission project in India. Congregation Friends: Heidi Hiller, Katlin and Leah
Tracy Moore
Tracy grew up in Zanesville, OH, and although she has lived all over
(Columbus, St. Louis, Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta, Buffalo) she considers
Columbus as her home. She works at the Red Cross in Health/Safety
Education. Tracy is the youngest of 7 children of a very close-knit
family spread out mostly in the south. Her mother is the youngest of 16
children - and she faithfully attends a 3-day family reunion every two
years so that the family can keep up with one another. Hobbies
include reading, walking, movies, travelling, card-making, sometimes
scrapbooking, writing, chatting with friends and family. Congregation
Friend: Sandy Evans
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NEW MEMBERS
Sharon Williston
Sharon is a recent graduate of Ashland Theological Seminary
with a degree in Clinical Pastoral Counseling, and a 1995
alum of The Ohio State University with a degree in
Psychology. She works at Beacon Counseling as a Licensed
Professional Counselor - Clinical Resident. She is single, born
and raised in North Central Ohio and the youngest of four
siblings. Sharon cherishes her relationship with the Lord and
feels blessed to have many close relationships with family
and friends as well as taking her call to the ministry of
counseling very seriously. Sharon enjoys life and laughter
and many recreational activities including sports, reading,
music and the arts. Congregation Friends: Pam, Mark, Payton
and Bryn Hagerdorn
Alex and Emily Hoops
Alex is a first year student at Trinity Lutheran
Seminary, and GLC’s MIC student. He is
married to Emily who is a Kindergarten
Teacher at the Imagine Academy (a charter
school on Sullivant Avenue). Emily and Alex
are both from Southwest Florida. Born and
raised – in a little town called Englewood --
they went to the same high school together
(high school sweet hearts). Hobbies include
cooking, going out to movies, and keeping
up with their dog Bella, who is a rescue pup
they got in Orlando while attending school
at the University of Central Florida.
“We are really excited to be up here in Columbus. We are far from home but we have felt very welcomed into the
community at the seminary and at Gethsemane. We are both excited to be witnesses to and participants in your
worship life at Gethsemane as we discern our vocations in this new environment.”
6
WORSHIP
Swahili Eucharist Service
for the Columbus Community
Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010, 3:30pm
Easter Festival Meal will follow.
Gethsemane Lutheran Church Pastor Karen Asmus-Alsnauer
(a joint ministry of Gethsemane and Ascension Lutheran Churches)
Haleluya! Yesu amefufuka!
Hallelujah! Jesus is risen!
Please join us on Sunday, April 4, 2010, for an Easter Eucharist Service in Swahili. The service
begins at 3:30pm with African music. Salome Mashambo will preach the sermon. 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 meal 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 Pastor Karen at [email protected].
7
LEARN
Adult Education Opportunities
Sunday Mornings 10:45am
Adult Forum meets in the multipurpose room on
the lower level below the church offices. The coffee
pot is on – come on down!
On April 11 the class will follow the theme of our
Wednesday evening Lent supper study “Giving to God’
led by Vicar Carl.
Adult Bible Study meets in the library on the
upper level, past the coffee area. They continue their
study of the Book of Ezekiel. Dick Lyndes is discussion
leader. For more information, contact Dick at 885-
6061 or Bob Davis at 885-9785.
Additional Learning Opportunities
Throughout the Week
Men’s Breakfast
This group of men meet at Tee Jay’s Restaurant every
second Saturday of the month at 8:00am for break-
fast, fellowship, and conversation. Contact Bob Davis
at 885-9785 for information.
Monday Bible Study -- First Reflections
First Reflections meets every Monday morning at
7:30am at La Chatelaine in downtown Worthington,
627 High St. The group uses Daily Discipleship, a
lectionary Bible study designed for small groups which
reflects on the coming Sunday’s text and explores how
to follow Christ daily. Contact the church office at 885-
4319 for more information.
Women’s Saturday Morning Bible Study
This group of women meets every third Saturday of
the month at 10:00am in the conference room on the
upper level. Contact Rosie Mohler at 740-965-1494 or
the church office 885-4319 for more information.
New Women’s Sunday Bible Study
Coming in April
"Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World -- Finding
Intimacy with God in the Busyness of Life" written by
Joanna Weaver is the book that Doris Ing and Chris
Lutz will use to lead a 4-week Bible study for women
starting Sunday, April 11. The group will meet in Doris’
home at 853 Werner way, Worthington, OH. For more
information, please contact Doris Ing at 425-3763 or
Come to a class.
Open your Bible.
Read, study, reflect.
Be a part of the vision!
Gethsemane is a Book of Faith congregation. Our focus for the 2009-10 program year is to encourage, support, and expand our encounters with the Scripture. Conversation over the Word, study together, and personal reflections are all part of the vision to become more fluent in the first language of faith, the language of Scripture.
8
CONNECT
Small Group
Ministries
First Reflections
Monday Bible Study
Saturday Bible Study
Connections: Faith in
the Workplace
Judy Reuning
Men’s Breakfast
Bob Davis
Habitat for Humanity
Bill Darlage
Mom’s Group
Doris Ing
LWR Quilts
Ruth Fortis
Prayer Shawls
Kathleen Addlesperger
OR
Call the
Church Office
614-885-4319
Easter Breakfast
Sunday, April 4
8:15-9:15am
The annual Easter Breakfast will be
served by the High School youth
from 8:15 until 9:15am Easter
morning. There is no charge for the
meal or the fellowship.
A free-will offering supporting the
Gethsemane Youth Ministries will
be accepted.
Health Ministry Team
Sponsoring:
TAI CHI – Gethsemane's Wayne
Melton continues leading a Tai Chi class
through April 29 with no class on April 1,
Maundy Thursday. The time of the class
is 6:00-7:15 pm.
BLOOD DRIVE – Saturday, April 10,
8:00am–2:00pm. in Gethsemane’s Great
Hall. Sign up in Atrium Way.
CPR/AED TRAINING – Saturday,
April 24, 9:00am in the library. Sign up in
Atrium Way.
KOOL Kids
KOOL Kids will meet on Sunday, April 11
at 11:45am for some 'springy' fun. Bring
a sandwich for lunch; drink and dessert
are provided. We'll lunch in the library
and then enjoy God's wonderful gift to
us in the awakenings of Spring. We'll be
finished by 12:45.
Sign up on the Youth board in the
picture hallway!
Save the Date for
Vacation Bible School
June 22, 23, 24
(Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)
from 6:30pm to 8:00pm
Contact Paula Sauer at 888-4625
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PEOPLE NEWS
April Birthdays
2 Kathleen
Addlesperger
3 Philip Carringer
Emilie Hagerdorn
Eric Jurgenson
7 Anna Miller
8 Paul Carringer
9 Denise Luksic
Rachel Murphy
10 Shirley Cochran
12 Pam Bair
Heidi Hiller
14 Ruth Thinguldstad
16 Ralph Portzline
Carolina Smith
17 Mark Michaels
Meaghan Reilly
22 Eliya Mashambo
Elisha Mashambo
Kathy Montgomery
24 Sheri Worrall
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 we continue to pray for:
Ray Alsnauer (Village at Westerville) …
Donna Baer … Scott Bair … Marilyn
Bosen (Arlington Court … Clara Bunk …
Peg Croswell … Jean Fritchen … Ken
Gerken … Mary Manship (The Forum)
… Eleanor Nagy … Phyllis Nelson …
Rebecca Oldaker … Reva Woodruff
Family and friends:
Jennifer Bedner (friend of Don Huiner)
… Christen Coyle and Jason Holton
(friends of Kelly Fleming) … Corey
Grubb (nephew of Brian Lutz) … Nancy
Meloy (mother-in-law of Lucas Weiss …
Linda Mills (daughter of Rob and Marie
Needham) … John Struckhoff (cousin of
Lee Ann Perin) … Ruth Vollrath (cousin
of Jane Sieberth) … Wayne Weiss
(father of Lucas Weiss) … Amy
Williamson and Ronnie Lane (relatives
of Heidi Hiller and Ruth Fortis) … Kenny
Young (friend of Lee Ann Perin).
Hospitalized:
Scott Bair (Riverside)
Our love and compassion to:
Vera Baer and Dede Hunt (daughters of
Donna Baer who passed away on
March 7 and March 8 respectively.
Family and friends serving overseas:
Steve Bair (brother of Scott Bair) … David
Frashier (son of Mike and Denise Frashier)
… Ryan Oldaker (son of Becky Oldaker) …
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 Prayers of the People:
Contact church secretary, Diane, at 885-
4319 or [email protected] by
Thursday. Family and friends stay on the
Gethsemane prayer list for one month.
Please contact the church office if
continued prayers are needed.
For prayers during the week:
Call Beryl Cumberland (471-0408) or
Barbara Nelson (888-6257).
Memorials Received for
the Remembrance Fund
Gifts to Gethsemane’s Remembrance
Fund in memory of Vera Baer and Dede
Hunt were received from the following:
The family of Vera and Dede, Dick and
Judy Reuning, and Bob and Shirley
Fissell.
10
COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS
Congregation
Council
OFFICERS:
President
Don Dell
Vice President
Secretary
Heidi Hiller
Treasurer
Jeff Luedke
MEMBERS:
Janice Dunham
Paul Feldman
Harry Lyatuu
Don Seidelmann
Jim Siebert
Highlights of Council Meeting – March 11, 2010
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.
ELECTED OFFICERS’ REPORT
President: Don Dell and Bill Darlage will conduct a review of Pastor Karen. An
invitation was made to Council to nominate people to be contacted regarding this
review.
Treasurer: Jeff Luedke gave a brief summary of how to read the financial
statements, and offered further tutorial upon request. Jeff Luedke is in the process
of filing the unrelated business income tax return (Tim Horton’s), and he will
coordinate with Pastor Karen in contacting legal counsel regarding obtaining a waiver
of property tax for the Play and Learn house.
PASTOR’S REPORT
The Pastor’s report was included in her comments made during the opening
devotions and orientation.
Vicar Carl’s site visit with Jane Jenkins (Trinity Seminary) and the Internship
Committee went well. He reports that he is still growing accustomed to
Gethsemane, and happy to do ministry here.
FINANCIAL REPORTS (Attached) – Jeff Luedke
Gethsemane’s cumulative shortfall has greatly restricted financial flexibility and has
forced GLC to delay benevolence payments for the last two quarters for 2009-a total
amount due of $11,916. After adjusting financial results by spreading accelerated
contributions (made in February) evenly over the twelve months beginning January
2010, working cash at March 1st totaled $7,810. This is less than half the budgeted
expense for March. GLC must rely on March income to pay March expenses. Action
has been taken by Council to reduce GLC’s operating expenses; however, it will be
April before the expense reductions are fully in effect.
For the month of February, after adjusting for accelerated contributions, expense
exceeded income by $3124, and the cumulative shortfall at the end of February was
$58,006.
Play and Learn
Play and Learn’s income for the month of February was close to budget. P&L
achieved its budgeted reserve set-aside for the month and was able to reduce the
cumulative reserve shortfall. February’s net income is $1,708, and after the
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COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS
budgeted set-aside of operating reserves, the operating income is $308. P&L has sufficient cash to address
immediate needs, and is keeping close track of enrollment (the primary source of income) and expenditures.
OLD BUSINESS
Council would like to address how to follow-up with ministry teams in terms of communication and financial
understanding. A small group consisting of Jim Siebert, Don Dell and Heidi Hiller will meet to sort out these issues
and make recommendations to Council.
Jeff Luedke, Paul Feldman and Pastor Karen will focus on a plan for a special appeal to address the cumulative
deficit and report back to Council at the next meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
MOTION: (Don Seidelmann, Jim Siebert) to appoint Char Jessie to the audit committee. Carried.
It is imperative that the Council Vice President position is filled. Don Dell has offered to run the stewardship
campaign (which is a role traditionally filled by the VP) if that will make the VP position more enticing.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
A CONCERT BY SYNCHRONICITY WILL BE HELD AT GETHSEMANE ON SUNDAY, MARCH 14 TO HELP RAISE MONEY
FOR FAITH MISSION.
THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 8, 2010 AT 7:30 PM.
Heidi Hiller, Secretary
Please note . . . New church office hours for the church secretary: 9-1:00 pm Tuesdays through Thursdays (and other times as needed). Of course you can always leave a voice mail
or email message at anytime to the office and we will get back with you as soon as possible.
Sponsor Flowers and Bulletins
Would you like to sign up to sponsor flowers or
bulletins for Sunday worship? Sign up across the hall
from the church office or call 885-4319 or e-mail
[email protected]. Check below for available
days. Cost $40.00 flowers; $20.00 bulletins.
NEWSLETTER GOES GREEN!
In our continuing effort to live out our
mission and take care of this ole’ mother
earth, the newsletter is going electronic (as
much as feasible). WE NEED YOUR E-MAIL
ADDRESS! Please send it to the office at
[email protected]. More informa-
tion will be shared in a congregational e-
mail, coming to your inbox soon!
NEXT NEWSLETTER DEADLINE—APRIL 11
Submit to [email protected]
Date Flowers Bulletins
April 4 Easter Langner
April 11 Lyatuu Erwin
April 18 Tatz
April 25 Bunk Siddall
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secretary Diane’s desk.