Gethsemane Lutheran Church

Transcription

1 January 2018 Volume 51,, Issue 1 The Leaf a monthly publication of GLC Gethsemane Lutheran Church The Leaf 35 East Stanton Avenue Columbus OH Pastor Rev. June A. Wilkins pastorjune@gethsemane.org Music Ministries Dr. Timothy E. Guenther tguenther@gethsemane.org Mission Developer Rev. Ipyana Mwakabonga ipibonga@hotmail.com Child Care Center Brenda Weilbacher bweilbacher@gethsemane.org Children s Ministry Assistant Joel Wildermuth jwildermuth@gethsemane.org LIC Student Debbie Pinnegar dpinnegar@tlsohio.edu Parish Secretary Diane Gutgesell glcoffice@gethsemane.org Custodian Brian McLean In this Issue From the Pastor P. 2 Dates to Remember P. 3 Adult Education P. 4 Small Groups P. 5 Prayer Concerns P. 6 Council Highlights P. 7-9 Serving Schedule P.9 Calendar P.10 Puzzle P. 11

2 FROM THE PASTOR 70 Years Sent to Serve In February of 1948, several families got together in a house on West Lincoln Avenue for an evening Lenten service because it was too far to drive to the Zion Lutheran Church downtown. They decided to keep meeting after Lent and quickly grew into a full-fledged mission church called Worthington Lutheran Church. About 20 years later, the congregation changed their name to Gethsemane Lutheran Church and here we are today, 70 years later! Lots of things have happened and many people have come and gone over the years, but we are all part of this community. Whether we have been here for decades, or we just got here, Gethsemane s history is part of our history. Early gathering in Ruth and Bill Mackensen s living room. Gethsemane is a forward thinking congregation, but occasionally, it s good to take a look back. The history of this community has made us what we are today and it s something that we all have in common. It binds us together. So that is what we re doing during Epiphany this year, we will be celebrating 70 years of Gethsemane, taking a look at where we ve come from and celebrating together. During worship, we ll be focusing on different parts of our 70 years, we ll be able to look at pictures from our past all during Epiphany, and on February 11 th (one day before the official day of the first service, February 12 th ) we will have a celebration pot-luck meal with a fun program for everyone! Take the new year to look back and celebrate Gethsemane! Rev. June Wilkins 2

3 DATES TO REMEMBER 70 YEARS SENT TO SERVE! Now it is 2018, and the planners of the 70 th Anniversary activities are all working quite busily. You will be asked by several people to help us make this a very special event. In the upcoming weeks please: ANSWER Deidre Hooley s request about why you came to Gethsemane and what you especially like about this community. The Program Committee has some interesting ideas up their sleeve. (Nancy Feole, Mark Keller, and Deidre) READ the historical tidbits in your bulletin announcements. If Judy Reuning, Terri Siebert, or Paula Sauer ask you for an interview, please search your memory for some fun incident. WATCH Atrium Way and the Atrium for pictures of our 70 years together. HELP IDENTIFY folks in the mystery pictures. BE AWARE that our celebration meal (February 11) will be partly church provided, and partly potluck. Later you will be asked by Wendy Luedke and her Meal Committee (Donna Darlage & Jan Davis) to add your name to the list of those who plan to come to the Celebration Event. HELP (SAY YES!) when asked to work on this or that as we get closer to the celebration day. ENJOY the History Temple Talks! You will no doubt learn something you never knew, even if you have been here forever! We give thanks for God s love, care, and guidance these past 70 years. We are grateful to all those who have been a part of this community and now have a heavenly home. We look forward to being God s church into the future. Celebrate the past, hold dear the present, and look with faith to the future! SYNCHRONICITY TRIO SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25 AT 4 PM Save the date for this concert and reception for Faith Mission here at Gethsemane. Invite your friends. THRIVENT BUILDS WORLDWIDE EL SALVADOR MARCH Joe and Bonnie Reilly will make their annual Thrivent Builds Worldwide trip March 17-25, 2018 to work with Habitat for Humanity El Salvador. Registration is now open if you d like to join their team. If you think this sounds like an awesome way to #LiveGenerously, and you d like to transform the lives of a hardworking family while basking in the warmth of the Salvadoran people and tropical sunshine, please contact the Reillys for more information. 614/ or bonnie.reilly@thrivent.com 3

4 LEARN Jan. 14 Opiate Epidemic in Central Ohio Dr. Anahi Ortiz Dr. Ortiz, Franklin Co. Coroner and member of the Franklin Co. Opiate Crisis Coalition, will speak on this epidemic that is affecting our state, cities, suburbs and neighbors. Jan. 21 Alcoholism Kitty, secretary of AA group LIFETIME LEARNING HOUR Christian Education about life, for life, and for a lifetime SUNDAYS at 10:45 AM January Social Issues This month we will have the opportunity to learn about several societal issues facing us today and to meet people closely involved in serving those dealing with these issues. We will learn about risk factors, preventative factors, treatment, recovery, general statistics and about ways community and churches can help. Jan. 7 Christian Prison Ministry David Foster, 20-year volunteer at Marion Correctional Institute David has served with Kairos and is currently active with Embark, a group helping prisoners who will be reentering society. David will share his knowledge and experience in this much needed service. Our guest speaker will share her story, addiction and what we should know and how to help... and take questions. This is the 44th year of Gethsemane hosting their group. Jan. 28 Human Trafficking Michelle Hannan, MSW, LISW-S Michelle is the Anti-Human Trafficking Program Director and Divisional Director of Social Services for the Salvation Army. She will speak on this growing problem in Columbus and across our country. Resumes on Wednesday, Jan. 10, at noon for lunch and discussion in the library. All are welcome to join the group. Bring your lunch. 4

5 SMALL GROUP MINISTRIES Small Group Ministries First Reflections Monday Bible Study Paula Sauer Every Monday at 8:00am at La Chatelaine-Worthington Second Saturday of the month at 8:00am at TeeJaye s Brown Bag Bible Bunch Dick Lyndes rhlyndes32@outlook.com Connections: Faith at Work Judy Reuning jreuning@lifecrossings.com Every Wednesday at 12:00pm in the church library Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 8-3:00pm. Book Group Sharon Walton skrwalton@gmail.com Barbara Ford bandbford@columbus.rr.com Men s Breakfast Bob Davis rjdjr@wowway.com Thrivent Builds Bill Darlage darlage_bill@hotmail.com First Friday of the month at 7:00am at Bob Evans on Olentangy River Road Quilting Saturdays to be announced from 9-12:00pm in Trinity Hall LWR Quilts Terri Siebert tsiebert@columbus.rr.com Prayer Shawls Emilie Hagerdorn rdhekh@att.net Last Wednesday of the month at 7:30pm in the church library. Third Monday of the month at 7:30pm in the church library. 5

6 PEOPLE NEWS January Birthdays 1 David Lagerberg 3 Dick Reuning 4 Joy McLemore 5 Bob Davis Wendy Luedke 9 Parker Burdette 10 Steve Gutgesell 16 Teresa Perin 18 Christy Feldman 23 Margaret Murphy 24 Lucia Murphy 28 Jon Ankrom 30 Eric Walton 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 New Concerns: Wayne Brengman (father of Jill Woods) Arlene Hendrickson Janice Lord (cousin of Patti Nelson) Carol Savolaine John Woods. We celebrate with joy the birth of Grayson Henry Darr (son of Michael and Carrie Darr) born on Nov. 26. Joe and Bonnie Reilly are the proud grandparents. Our love and compassion to the family of Maury Drum (father of Andrea Mayer) who passed away Nov. 19 to the family of Fred Grodecki (friend of Jeff and Wendy Luedke) who passed away Nov. 29 to the family of Lenore Lutz (mother of Brian Lutz) who passed December 8. Members with ongoing concerns: Donna Baer Alice Gerken Bob Hagerdorn Tyler Hagerdorn Elaine Haines Arlene Hendrickson David Kibble David Lagerberg Gary Rader Howard Spring. Friends and family with concerns: Joan Anderson (mother of Char Jessie) Mary Drum (mother of Andrea Mayer) Pat Reilly Exner (mother of Joe Reilly) Jack Karako (father of Linda Mackov) Chris Kasselmann and her daughter Maura (friends of Joanne Leussing) Monica McLean (daughter of Brian McLean) Megan Ottesen (relative of Patti Nelson) Kevin Reilly (brother of Joe Reilly) Susan Wilkins (aunt of Pastor June and sister-in-law of Carole Wilkins. Homebound: Marie Cooper Beryl Cumberland Carolyn Fergus (Wesley Glen) Alice Gerken (Mayfair Village) Sue Jones (Mayfair Village) Phyllis Nelson Becky Oldaker (Bennington Glen) Joanne Vollrath (Worthington Christian Village) Phyllis Wei Reva Woodruff (Columbus Colony). Would you like to add a name to the Sunday prayers? Contact the church office at or glcoffice@gethsemane.org before 10:00 am on Thursday to have the name printed in the bulletin. After that time, you will have the opportunity in worship to name those silently or aloud during the prayers. You may also have the name sent out to the congregation via our E-Prayers ( ). 6

7 COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS Congregation Council OFFICERS: President Mike Siddall Vice-President Paul Feldman Secretary Jane Sieberth Treasurer Jeff Luedke MEMBERS: Pam Hagerdorn Hono Lyatuu Jim Siebert Celia Conlon Bill Darlage Highlights of Council Meeting December 11, 2017 Copies of the Council minutes and Financial Report are posted in Atrium Way. PLEASE READ BUT LEAVE POSTED. Facilities Task Force Recommendations (Jim Sauer) The recommended improvements will: 1. Increase the safety of Play & Learn s children and the people who come to GLC in the evening hours. 2. Increase the GLC facility s ability to accommodate a variety of programs simultaneously without jeopardizing the safety of Play & Learn s children. 3. Update the 55 year old kitchen downstairs used by Play & Learn. 4. Make the facility more functional, flexible and welcoming for GLC s members and visitors. Don requests that an Ad Hoc committee be put together to determine next steps for future improvements that includes incoming President, Vice President, Treasurer and Pastor June. Pastor s Report 1. Christmas Season is Here! a. December 10, Congregation went Caroling to shut ins b. December 17, Christmas Play and Decorating c. December 24, Christmas Eve 7:30 pm d. December 25, Christmas Morning 10am 2. Congregation is collecting for giving tree (Play&Learn, CRC, Faith Mission) 3. 70th Anniversary is approaching a. January 7, Pr. Fred Wiese will be preaching b. February 11, Potluck Party for Congregation Officers Reports President s report Request to make contribution for staff gift has been sent out to congregation and due back on 12/17/17. Gifts will be distributed equally to staff as has been done in prior years. Don will be calling group of individuals together that have used downstairs kitchen to discuss and determine proper care and cleanliness for future uses. Secretary s report Heidi Hiller took notes at November Business meeting and sent minutes to Don. Minutes will be sent to Secretary (Anna) to have in notes to be approved at the June 2018 Congregation Meeting. November Council minutes were taken by Vice President Mike Siddall, and approved. continued 7

8 COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS continued Purpose Statement The people of Gethsemane Lutheran Church Sing God s good news Share God s unconditional welcome Care for each other Serve those in need Guiding Principles The life, words, and actions of Jesus Christ are the inspiration for all we do and are. We recognize the uniqueness of each individual. We welcome and value everyone. Treasurer s report (Preliminary November Financials) As of November 30, 2017, GLC is five months into its 2018 fiscal year. Year-to-date, GLC has a net surplus of $1,196. Unfortunately, this modest surplus is $24,800 unfavorable to budget. While Property expenditures are over budget, other expenditures generally are under budget. The big problem is contributions. At $118,326, year-to-date contributions (without IYK) are $34,500 under budget. Liaisons reports: Adult Education - January Series on Social Justice Issues Lent begins February 14. Lenten Service and Soup Supper will continue on Wednesdays. Unfinished Business Annual reviews recommendation from Personnel Committee Deferred until January 2018 Background checks for Caring Companions Health Ministry Team has been researching this information. Jim recommended consistency (and to determine what current policy is) for the youth program background check. If policy changes, it must be modified. New Business Giving Page on Website Updated information: Kreig Spahn researched (and recommended) a vendor for giving page information to be placed on website. Recommendation is for Vision2. Cost for fee for donation is 3.9% of transaction with $0.20 fee for each transaction. Organization is based out of Dallas, and works specifically with churches and nonprofits. Jim moved to accept the recommendation from Outreach team in regards to direct giving opportunity via Vision 2. Mike seconded. Motion passed. Play & Learn and outdoor security lighting Brenda Weilbacher Within the past month there have been 2 vehicle break ins during drop off at P&L. P&L has researched security cameras for safety with the assistance of P&L parent. With camera purchases and installation, cost may be $6,000- $7,000. In the meantime, P&L has looked into security guard services, for visual presence in the morning and afternoon for parent comfort. ($20/hour for 4 hours a day = $80/day). 8

9 COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS continued Jeff asked for clarification on the security guard s responsibilities in response to questionable activity. Brenda was to follow up and respond back to council with this information. Council gave consensus to Brenda for purchase of security cameras and security guards. Announcements Next Meeting: January 15, 2018 Council will meet on the third Monday of the month Jeff motioned to adjourn the meeting. Jim seconded. Meeting adjourned SERVING THIS MONTH JANUARY 2018 January 7 January 14 January 21 January 28 February 4 Assisting Minister Jeff Luedke Jeff Luedke Jeff Luedke Jeff Luedke Jeff Luedke Projectionist Jim Sauer Kreig Spahn Mark Geary Kate Lutz Paul Siebert Sound Monitor Brian McLean Mike Siddall Eric Walton Paul Siebert Kreig Spahn Readers Erin Carlile Bill Darlage Howard Feole Nancy Feole Hugh Geary Joyce Geary Heidi Hiller YOUTH Don Huiner Jeff Klukas Ushers (*Captain) Nursery Jim Siebert* Brian McLean GottfriedMaeffert Manfred Maeffert Tim Mayer* Andrea Mayer* Judy Reuning Mike Siddall Mark Hagerdorn* Eric Walton Jeff Luedke Wendy Luedke Imma Lyatuu* Paul Siebert Joe Reilly Dave Whitesell Bob Abdou Kreig Spahn Jim Driver Barb Driver Communion Bread Joyce Geary Joanne Leussing Carole Wilkins Brian Lutz Joyce Geary Communion Care Betty Guenther Terri Siebert Betty Guenther Terri Siebert Betty Guenther Cathy Jung Betty Guenther Cathy Jung Jane Sieberth Counters Joyce Davis Joanne Leussing Hugh Geary Imma Lyatuu Kreig Spahn Dave Reutter Brian McLean Jeff Luedke WendyLuedke 9

10 JANUARY 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 7 Worship 10:45 AM Education 4:00 PM IbadaYaKiswahili 1 CHURCH OFFICE & DAY CARE CLOSED 8 8:00 AM Reflections A.A. & Al Anon 2 P&L Chapel 10:30 AM Staff Meeting 6:45 PM Swahili Choir 9 P&L Chapel 10:30 AM Staff Meeting 6:45 PM Swahili Choir 3 6:30-8:00 PM Food Pantry 10 12:00 PM Brown Bag Bible Bunch 6:30-8:00 PM Food Pantry 4 NO Handbell Choir 7:15 PM Vocal Choir 11 NO Handbell Choir 7:15 PM Vocal Choir 5 7:00 AM Connections: Faith at Work :00 AM Men s Breakfast 6 14 Worship 10:45 AM Education 4:00 PM IbadaYaKiswahili NEWSLETTER DEADLINE 21 Worship 10:45 AM Education 4:00 PM IbadaYaKiswahili 15 8:00 AM Reflections 6:00 PM Day Care 7:00 PM Congregation Council Prayer Shawl A.A. & Al Anon 22 8:00 AM Reflections A.A. & Al Anon 16 P&L Chapel 10:30 AM Staff Meeting 6:45 PM Swahili Choir 7:00 PM CAC District 9 23 P&L Chapel 10:30 AM Staff Meeting 6:45 PM Swahili Choir 17 12:00 PM Brown Bag Bible Bunch 6:30-8:00 PM Food Pantry 24 12:00 PM Brown Bag Bible Bunch 6:30-8:00 PM Food Pantry 18 6:00 PM Handbell Choir 7:15 PM Vocal Choir 25 6:00 PM Handbell Choir 7:15 PM Vocal Choir :00 AM Swahili Ministry Team 26 11:00 PM Mkesha Worship 10:45 AM Education 4:00 PM IbadaYaKiswahili 29 8:00 AM Reflections A.A. & Al Anon 30 P&L Chapel 10:30 AM Staff Meeting 6:45 PM Swahili Choir 31 12:00 PM Brown Bag Bible Bunch 6:30-8:00 PM Food Pantry Book Group 10

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