Sunday, May 20. Gethsemane Lutheran Church 10:45 PM Enjoy a Cajun-style dinner following. Approve the budget for May 2012.

Transcription

1 May 2012 Volume 45,, Issue 5 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 ies Dr. Timothy E. Guenther tguenther@gethsemane.org Learning & Family Ministries Terri Siebert tsiebert@gethsemane.org Child Care Center Brenda Weilbacher bweilbacher@gethsemane.org Parish Secretary etary Diane Gutgesell glcoffice@gethsemane.org Custodians Kate and Shana Bumster In this Issue Church Music Sunday - P. 2 Pledge Drive - P. 3 SynodFest - P. 4 Quilt Project - P. 5 Vision Quest P. 6 Cajun Dinner P. 7 Council Highlights - P. 9 Sunday, May 20 10:45 PM Approve the budget for Enjoy a Cajun-style dinner following

2 WORSHIP & MUSIC Church Music Sunday Celebrated May 6 The church at large has historically set aside a day to give thanks for the musicians who give the gift of their musical talents to enhance our weekly worship services. Typically this recognition takes place during the Easter season, on one of the 2 weeks each year when the historic Introit texts began with Psalms celebrating the gift of music: either "Jubilate - O Be joyful in the Lord" from Psalm 100 (Easter 5) or "Cantate - Sing to the Lord" from Psalm 96 (Easter 6). This year we pause in worship on Sunday, May 6 to give thanks for the gifts of choir singers and vocal soloists, handbell ringers, instrumentalists, and contemporary worship musicians who regularly enhance our worship life here at Gethsemane Lutheran Church. Soli Deo Gloria -- to God Alone Be the Glory! Through the Church the Song Goes On : Cantor Connection presents fourth annual citywide spring hymn festival Sunday, May 20, 2012 at 7pm Epiphany Lutheran Church, Pickerington ALCM Columbus: Cantor Connection, the only active local chapter of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians (ALCM), is presenting its fourth annual spring hymn festival celebrating the great music of the Lutheran church. This year s theme is Through the Church the Song Goes On and celebrates ALCM s first quarter-century. It takes place Sunday, May 20 at 7pm at Epiphany Lutheran Church, 268 Hill Rd North, Pickerington, OH, This year s hymn festival features creative settings of a number of favorite hymns, including Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, Voices Raised to You We Offer, Come to Us, Creative Spirit, Listen, God is Calling, Thy Strong Word, Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart, Thine the Amen, O, That I Had a Thousand Voices, along with a newly commissioned hymn by Susan Cherwien, What Joyous Song Unfolding. It will also include reflections written by key figures in ALCM s history. Like Cantor Connection s previous events, the evening showcases a broad array of musicians from across the region and a festival choir. We are delighted this year to be able to include music by all three subjects of our previous hymn festivals, Paul Manz, Carl Schalk and Donald Busarow. Founded in 2008, ALCM Columbus: Cantor Connection provides networking, resources and support for Lutheran church musicians throughout Central Ohio. It produces three events annually a fall workshop, a service of lessons and carols for Epiphany, and a spring hymn festival. Cantor Connection is run entirely by volunteers and operates on contributions. Choir members from Gethsemane will be participating in the massed choir. The Swahili choir from our Swahili language congregation will also be participating in 2 of the hymns. Join us in singing together as we celebrate the gift of song in the church in this festival. 2

3 STEWARDSHIP Pledge Drive of Trust So much good comes out of the financial gifts you give to Gethsemane: we fund our ministry needs, we give to outside ministries and social assistance organizations, we pay our utility bills, pay our staff, buy supplies, make repairs...the list is long! But giving money to Gethsemane is about more than just making a budget or paying bills. Giving to the church is a matter of faith. Giving to a church or another social organization requires us to give to something beyond ourselves. Giving to something else helps us enter into God s economy of abundance. It helps us grow in commitment to our community of faith. It helps us live in trust that God will provide our needs. Giving strengthens our faith. It helps God s Garden to Grow in us! If you don t give to Gethsemane regularly, please consider making a regular gift part of your faith life. If you already give please consider increasing your pledge by a few dollars each week. In God s Garden, everyone has a green thumb! Everyone s gifts count! To lead in the spirit of faith, in May, Gethsemane is going to have a Pledge Drive of Trust. We will have a normal pledge drive, but your pledge will be private - just between you and God. There will be pledge cards that you can fill out in prayerful consideration. You will put that card into a self-addressed envelope and seal it. You will have an opportunity to offer these cards to God in our worship on May 20. The stewardship committee will only keep track of who has given a card the amount will be between you and God. (Think of it as a Thank You Card to God!) After about six months, we ll return your pledge card to you and you can see how you are doing with your commitment. This year, we are going to put our trust in God s abundance! 3

4 LEARN SYNODFEST 2012 Cincinnati, June 6 10 Lifetime Learning Hour Sundays at 10:45AM in the Multi-Purpose Room Christian Education about life, for life, and for a lifetime SPRING OF CHRISTIAN LIFE: UNDERSTANDING THE FAITH JOURNEY OF YOUNGER ADULTS Led by Dick and Judy Reuning Sundays at 10:45, May 6, 13, 27 and June 3 The series Spring of Christian Life continues with discussions on the topics: Sexuality God s Good Gift; Values for a Technological Age; Another day, another dollar Is that all there is?; and Developing Faith amid Questions. The goals of Spring: Understanding the Faith Journey of Younger Adults are both individual and communal: (1) to help individual Christians of all ages grow in understanding of the unique issues and concerns of adults after high school or college; (2) to foster relationships within our Gethsemane community across generations; (3) to develop attitudes and a list of activities designed to help our community become a place of acceptance, refuge and support for the faith journey of all younger adults. May 20 No Class Congregation Meeting The Southern Ohio Synod Assembly this year will be a special event for everyone called SynodFest It is not just for delegates to the annual business meeting as in the past. It begins June 6 and 7with a Global Mission Event at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 7701 Kenwood Rd, Cincinnati. SynodFest 2012 will continue June 7 10 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Blue Ash, north of Cincinnati. The synod website describes SynodFest as follows: It s a synod festival for all members of Southern Ohio Synod Congregations. A time to come together as one body to celebrate, worship, learn, share, serve and take care of synod business. It will offer families, couples, singles, young, and young-at-heart opportunity to meet, share and grow with others in our synod while serving, learning, worshiping and celebrating side-byside at a variety of events offered over several days. Gethsemane members to lead workshops has a link to SynodFest where you will find a description of all the SynodFest events as well as a list and descriptions of the many interesting and helpful educational workshops for church members. Dick and Judy Reuning are co-chairs of the Education Committee. They and two other Gethsemane members, Joanne Leussing and Joyce Geary, are among the workshop leaders. Joanne s workshop titled Caring for Creation is in the Earthkeeping section of the workshops. In the section called Personal, Spiritual and Congregational Growth are Stories? In Church? Yes? led by Joyce Geary and Following Jesus: Did Someone Say It s Easy? led by Judy and Dick Reuning. Registration information is posted now. For a very reasonable price, you can register just for the event(s) that interest you. You can even make the trip in one day if you don t wish to stay overnight. Why not consider attending SynodFest this year? You will learn a lot and have fun too. 4

5 SERVE Quilt Project Receives Thrivent Grant Our on-going quilt project has received a grant of $1600 for the 2012 year. This affirmation of the wonderful things that Gethsemane members and friends are doing comes from the West Franklin County Chapter of Thrivent. The money will help us purchase fabric for quilt backings and batting for the inside of quilts. We continue to receive donations of fabric pieces and knotting thread. These donations help us to stretch our Thrivent dollars to maximize its value to our project. Thank you to all who have donated and continue to do so. We can use any size pieces of fabric; we cut it to squares ranging from 12 inches to 4 inches; even tinier pieces can be made into a beautiful quilt! We take all kinds of fabric except those that are stretchy (double knits). It takes 5 yards to make a quilt back - cottons make the best, but we can use tapestries, corduroys, and denims. We can sew together pieces so even odd lengths are workable. Sometimes creative solutions make the most interesting quilts! Our quilting group continues to grow! You can help: take a roll of squares (found in a basket on the narthex sign-up table) and sew them into a top (directions are on each roll); come to a quilting Saturday to help knot quilts, cut squares, and pin quilts; take a pinned quilt home to sew all 3 pieces (top, batting, and backing) together. We teach too! Other ways to help - keep an eye out for fabric sales and purchase fabric, tell you friends and neighbors about our quilt project so they know they can donate as well. Several members of Ascension Lutheran Church have been a great help to us by donating boxes of fabric. We have even had out-of-state sew-ers! Our quilts will be sent to the Baltimore, Maryland warehouse of Lutheran World Relief next October in a shipment of quilts from area Lutheran churches. There they are sorted, packed, and shipped to places overseas and U.S. disaster areas as well. We will celebrate our project on Quilt Sunday, September 30. For information, call Ruth Fortis at or Terri Siebert at Next Quilt Workday is Saturday, May 5, 9am-1pm. Come join us!! THANK YOU to all the worship planners, processional participants, table-setters, bulletin preparers, dishwashers, story-tellers, audio-visual technicians, readers, table hosts, flower arrangers, altar strippers, communion preparers, eucharistic ministers, fire-starters, cross-bearers, cantors, singers, assisting ministers, ushers, candle-lighters, musicians, baptismal font movers, banner hangers, lighting control operators, footwashing station attendants, and everyone else who assisted with the Holy Week services and helped to make them as meaningful and spirit-filled as they were. On behalf of the Worship Ministry Team, I offer our sincere thanks. Don Dell 5

6 CONNECT Small Group Ministries First Reflections Monday Bible Study Paula Sauer Connections: Faith at Work Judy Reuning Men s Breakfast Bob Davis rjdjr@wowway.com Habitat for Humanity Bill Darlage Darlage_bill@hotmail.com LWR Quilts Ruth Fortis ruthfortis@sbcglobal.net Prayer Shawls glcoffice@gethsemane.org OR Call the Church Office Gethsemane s Vision team is already hard at work! We have an exquisite team of people who are focusing on Gethsemane, our surrounding community and God s hopes for us. This excellent team is: Lisa Ankrom Bob Davis Janice Dunham Mark Keller Jackson Lyimo Dave Norman Scott Prigan Paula Sauer Jill Woods Bill Darlage Don Dell Elaine Haines Joanne Leussing Andrea Mayer Lee Ann Perin Dick Reuning Mike Siddall We have been working every Wednesday since April 18 th. But we can t do it alone, we need the help of the whole congregation! On Saturday, May 12 th, at 9:30am we re asking the whole congregation of Gethsemane to come out for a Vision Quest! On that day, we ll read some from the book of Acts and see what the early church of Peter and Paul were up to and use that to help us figure out what God is doing in our community. The day should be fun and the Vision Team will use the feedback we get from the Vision Quest to help us on the rest of the journey towards a vision for Gethsemane. We need to hear everyone s voice in this, so please plan on coming! SAVE THE DATE! LSS DAY with the CLIPPERS Saturday, July 28 Game time is 7:05 pm. More information to come. 6

7 CONNECT High School Youth Serve Dinner May 20 On Sunday, May 20, the high school youth will provide lunch in the Great Hall immediately following the Congregation Meeting. Since this year s National ELCA Youth Gathering is in New Orleans, the lunch will have a Cajun theme including Jambalaya and Red Beans and Rice. There will be a free will offering. All proceeds will help fund the trip to New Orleans this summer. Is It Soup Yet? For all of you who asked for the recipe for the soup we had at the Agape meal on Maundy Thursday, here it is in a version that serves 4-6 people. Tortellini Soup: 1 pkg. fresh spinach (stemmed and torn) 1 can (14 oz.) stewed tomatoes (you may want to dice these) 32 oz. chicken broth 1 lb. package frozen cheese tortellini Salt and pepper to taste (won t need much if stewed tomatoes are used) Minced garlic (1 or 2 tsp.) Olive oil (approx. 2 Tbsp.) Heat olive oil in soup pot, add garlic, heat for 30 sec., add spinach and sauté until wilted. Add tomatoes and chicken broth, bring to boil. Add tortellini and cook according to package directions (probably 2 3 minutes). Enjoy! Don Dell 7

8 PEOPLE NEWS May Birthdays 1 Arlene Hendrickson Dory Shoemaker Pastor June Wilkins 3 Brian McLean 4 Tyler Kulikowski Dorothy Tyrrell 21 Cathy Jung Karl Koch 22 Krista Nesser 26 Carrie Sevin Chris Gaines Brian Murphy 27 Mark Geary Katlin Hiller 30 Brian Sieberth 31 Anna Conrad David Perin 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: Bob and Elaine Dean (parents of Pam Seidelmann) the family of Bill McCallem (step-father of Janice Dunham) who passed away Violet Meek hospitalized Apr. 12 the family of Asta Sieberth (mother-in-law of Jane Sieberth and grandmother of Brian Sieberth) who passed away on Apr. 18 Drew Thomas (brother-inlaw of Pastor June) hospitalized Brenda Thompson (sister of Bob Davis) hospitalized. Members with ongoing concerns: Sibylle Custis... Jeff Luedke Rob Needham Phyllis Nelson Howard Spring Harry & Vickie Lyatuu and their children Ian & Evelyn for immigration issues. Family and friends with concerns: Mary Laipply Eric Portzline (son of Ralph Portzline). Homebound: Marilyn Bosen (Arlington Court) Dotty Edwards (Laurels-Worthington) Carolyn Fergus (Wesley Glen) Jean Fritchen (Worthington Christian Village) Ken Gerken Mary Manship (Wesley Glen) Eleanor Nagy Becky Oldaker (Bennington Glen) Reva Woodruff. Family and friends serving overseas: Kirk Lloyd (step grandson of Doris Devine) Colin Steffa (son of Meredith Dobyns). Would you like to add your prayers? For Sunday Prayers: Contact church secretary, Diane, at or glcoffice@gethsemane.org 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. 8

9 COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS Congregation Council OFFICERS: President Mark Hagerdorn com Vice-President Joe Reily Secretary Alice Siddall Treasurer Rick Langner MEMBERS: Morgan Melton Dave Norman Donna Darlage Tim Mayer Gary Rader Highlights of Council Meeting Apr. 19, 2012 A copy of the Council minutes and Financial Report is posted in Atrium Way. PLEASE READ BUT LEAVE POSTED. Take home copies (minus attachments) are available at the Sign Up Desk in the narthex. PASTOR S REPORT The Vision Team will be installed April 22. Pastor lead the discussion of how council would like to present a monthly income report to the congregation. MOTION: (D. Norman, D. Darlage) to approve the format set up by the committee to report weekly on Gethsemane s monthly income. Carried. Imma Layatuu requested time for a ten minute presentation on the Swahili service and the outreach program they are working on for Tanzania Flood Relief. Pastor June asked council if before the congregational meeting would be an appropriate time. Council members suggested the presentation would serve as a temple talk during stewardship drive. Pastor will talk more with Imma about what he would like to discuss. Reminder that Chris Lutz Ordination is Saturday, April 28 at 6 p.m. Pastor will check to see if any help is needed for the reception following. PRESIDENT S REPORT A request through Terri was made by Faith Trek (a leadership course for high school youth in our synod) to use the great hall for two seminars in A request from Terri that no usage fees be charged because this is an ELCA and synod sponsored event. MOTION: (R. Langner, J. Reilly) Allow Faith Trek use of the great hall and kitchen with the exception of any janitor fees that maybe incurred. Carried. VICE PRESIDENT S REPORT The budget is complete and will be up for vote by council later in the meeting. SECRETARY S REPORT Thanks to all who helped with the Easter services, especially the Pastor, Music Director, Choir and Worship team. TREASUER S REPORT Rick would like to amend his request at last month s meeting for a full fledge financial committee or team. He believes having help when needed is enough. Pastor June disagreed. By having a financial committee she feels the council 9

10 COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS would be freed from lengthy budget discussions and become a more visionary based group. Joe Reilly feels that if we do put together a financial committee that this group should include work for Play and Learn along with the church. No decision was made with discussion to continue at a later date. Audit report is complete with only small procedure changes suggested. FINANCIAL REPORTS -- GLC March contributions were down but all committee/mission teams are staying under budget. Currently the surplus is still up at $5000. However, if contributions for the last few months of the year are as expected the church will not be at 11% to 12% increase as discussed at last council meeting. The end of year will end somewhere between projected budget and a balanced budget. Gary Rader questioned the high bank fees the church is being charged. Rick Langner is looking into how to these fees lowered and would appreciate any ideas council members may have. Gary Rader and Joe Reilly will check with other vendors. May is stewardship month. The proposed budget was presented to the council. Council was given the option of two budgets. The first was based on an 11.5% increase in contributions. The second was based on 8.5% increase in contributions and the option to move $8500 from the remembrance fund in order to balance the budget. Discussion followed the presentation. MOTION; (J. Reilly, D. Norman) Approve the balanced budget plan which uses the $8500 from the remembrance fund to be placed before the congregation for vote. Carried. Tim Mayer questioned how this would be worked into the stewardship talks. Joe Reilly and Rick Langner will be available for one on one discussion in the library on May 13 and May 20 in order to address any questions or concerns from the congregation. ANNOUNCEMENTS The next regular Church Council meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 7pm with Executive Council meeting prior at 6pm. Morgan Melton will provide devotions. Meeting adjourned at 9:08 pm. Submittted by Alice Siddall 10

11 Serving This Month May 2012 May 6 9:30 AM May 13 9:30 AM May 20 9:30 AM Assisting Minister Don Dell Don Dell Don Dell Don Dell May 27 9:30 AM Readers Ushers Nursery Heidi Hiller Teresa Perin Bob Hagerdorn Barb Driver Jim Driver Howard Feole Bonnie Spring Howard Spring Howard Spring Jim Siebert Gottfried Maeffert Manfred Maeffert Carol Prigan Scott Prigan Brian McLean Diane Langner Rick Langner Sayuni Kimaro Don Seidelmann Pam Seidelmann Jeff Luedke Wendy Luedke Bill Darlage Paul Siebert Communion Bread Joyce Geary Wayne Melton Howard Feole Lutz Family Communion Care Betty Guenther Cathy Jung Lisa Ankrom Cathy Jung Betty Guenther Darlene Norman Counters Joyce Davis Dan Erwin Jeff Luedke Wendy Luedke Betty Guenther Darlene Norman Joanne Leussing Hugh Geary To fulfill God s mission here at Gethsemane: March, 2012 Fiscal Year to Date (9 months) Needed per month: $35,335 $318,014 Contributions received: $20,612 $229,480 Other Income: $9,863 $79,325 Surplus / (Shortfull) ($4,860) ($9,209) $6,928 in contributions are needed each week through June to balance the budget. 11

12 MAY 2012 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 6 9:30a Worship 10:45a Education 12:00p-5:00p Swahili Seminars and Worship 7 8:00a Reflections 8:00p AA & Al Anon 1 10:30a Staff Meeting 1:00p P&L Chapel 8 10:30a Staff Meeting 1:00p P&L Chapel 2 6:30p Vision Team 7:30p Swahili Ministry Team 9 6:30p Vision Team 3 6:00p Handbells 7:15p Choir 10 6:00p Executive 7:00p Council NO Choirs 4 7:00a Connections 6:00p-10:00p Swahili Seminars 5 9:00a Quilting 1:30p Swahili Choir 9:00a-6:00p Swahili Seminars :00a Men s Breakfast 9:30a CONGREGATION VISION QUEST 1:30p Swahili Choir 13 9:30a Worship 10:45a Education NEWSLETTER DEADLINE 20 8:30 a Health Ministry 9:30a Worship 10:45a Sunday School 10:45a CONGREGATION MEETING 11:45a NOLA DINNER 14 8:00a Reflections 8:00p AA & Al Anon 21 8:00a Reflections 7:30p Prayer Shawl 8:00p AA & Al Anon 15 10:30a Staff Meeting 1:00p P&L Chapel 22 10:30a Staff Meeting 1:00p P&L Chapel 7:00p Worship Ministry Team 16 6:30p Vision Team 7:30p Swahili Ministry Team 23 6:30p Vision Team 17 6:00p Handbells 7:15p Choir 24 6:00p Handbells 7:15p Choir 18 10:00pm Mkesha Prayers Worship :30p Swahili Choir 27 9:30a Worship 10:45a Education 3:30p Swahili Service 28 CHURCH & DAY CARE CLOSED 8:00p AA & Al Anon 29 10:30a Staff Meeting 1:00p P&L Chapel 30 6:30p Vision Team 7:30p Swahili Ministry Team 31 6:15p P&L Preschool Graduation & Dinner 12