Worship Opportunities

Please join us for Sunday Worship at 9:15am

in Person and also Live Streaming on YouTube.

Log on to www.Gethsemane-ELCA.org 

> One Click Link on the Home Page. Look for the YouTube button. <

 From the Pastor’s Desk

If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – John 8:31 

Happy September Beloveds! 

Attending the Youth Gathering in July was truly an experience of The Holy in action!  There is nothing like being in a city with 16,000 others - all called to listen, learn and act – while guided by The Spirit of God.  The week was full of surprises, it was HOT, full of beauty, and at times – exhausting.  

And, it was full of … The Holy.   

Our attendees, Ty Kraft, Kara Moehlenpah, Phoenix Spears and their chaperones Leigh Anne Spears, Heidi Swartz and Doug Dralle were remolded in their faith by things that were seen and things that were unseen… by a total experience of what it means to be a disciple.   

Discipleship is most often not a cake walk.  When you sign up to follow Jesus in the world, it’s not like the usual day to day that the world offers.   

It’s so much more than that. 

The days in New Orleans were long.  They were hot.  Working outside for the betterment of a neighborhood in the July New Orleans heat was exhausting.   And moving as a group of 6-7 was sometimes frustrating.  

 But if you ask the group… it was also LIFE GIVING!  

The experience in New Orleans that I had as a chaplain for the event reminded me often of what it means to be a disciple.  To listen to the needs of people I didn’t know, to calm the anxiety of kids who were overwhelmed, to wink at a weary chaperone as they paraded in for the evening festivities at the Smoothie King Center… to leave my hotel at 7:30 am and return at 11pm.   

But if you ask me… it was LIFE GIVING!  

Discipleship is life giving in a way that the world cannot give.  Because when you live in the truth of love and light – it doesn’t get much better than that!  

I know that you know what I am speaking of, Gethsemane, because you are living, breathing 21st century disciples of Jesus Christ – serving at Mr. Bob’s, giving to organizations to help others you don’t even know, teaching our children, loving each other, and loving others beyond the doors of your church.   

We continue to ask the question, the same question you asked when you called me as your pastor:

“Spirit of God, where are you calling us…. now?”   

May the Spirit of God continue to richly bless you as we walk together in truth and love.   

In love and light!  

Pastor Perrie  

Fellowship craft day is being moved from September 21st to Oct 19th from 10am to 2pm. Bring a project to work on and join us. If you would like to bring a dish to pass that would be great. There is a sign up in the narthex. If you have any questions please reach out to Laurie Thalacker. 

The Next Volunteer dates for Mr. Bobs are October 19th, November 16th and December 21st.

Please see sign-up sheet in Narthex if you are interested in volunteering your time!

Lunch Bunch will meet Tuesday, October 1st at 11:30am at Mama Mia’s 8533 W Greenfield Ave in West Allis. If interested in joining please sign up in the Narthex. This group is open to all Gethsemane women. Feel free to invite your friends and neighbors. Please contact Joni Tombari 414-412-9410 with any questions.

Gethsemane Fall Craft Fair September 28th!

Join us on September 28th from 10am-3pm for the annual fall craft fair held here at Gethsemane Lutheran Church. Many Vendors will be here, perfect way to find some original gifts for your family and loved ones for the holidays!

If you or someone you know would like to be a vendor please reach out to the office – office@gethsemane-elca.org or Patti Kittson pattiahnert@gmail.com

We hope to see you all there!

ELCA Good Gifts Program

Hi everyone 

This year we are introducing ELCA Good Gifts to the congregation and the Sunday School kids as the charity that we will work with this year. The program is very much like Heifer International, in that there are amounts for different things we can do to help people overseas or even in the US. ELCA Good Gifts is part of the ELCA World Hunger ministry. 

More than 85% of what we will give to Good Gifts will go directly support ELCA programs, with less than 15% going to administration and fundraising. To compare, the percentage of money given to Heifer.org that goes to their programs is 75%. The difference I think is that there are many ELCA congregations throughout the world that are already in the communities we seek to help. As a part of the community, these churches are trusted, and they know what their neighbors need.  

Good Gifts has so many areas where they help people that we didn’t want to overwhelm the kids with choices. I asked Pastor and Ashley to narrow our focus a bit regarding what we will present to the kids. As the Good Gifts coordinator, I’m going to have the kids vote on three categories 

·         Global Barnyard, which is very similar to the Heifer animals ministry  

·         Help at Home, which includes things like stocking a backpack with food, feeding people at a soup kitchen, time in a shelter for a vulnerable LGBT youth, or necessities for a disaster survivor. 

·         Agriculture, which includes fruit-tree seedlings, creating a community garden, and seeds and gardening tools. 

I’ll let you know what the kids decide. 

I’m excited about this change to ELCA. They provide so many more resources for the congregation and for the kids. I have stickers, coloring books, a cute piggy bank for each child, and even a vacation bible school curriculum if we want to use it. 

If you have any questions about this change or about ELCA Good Gifts in general, I’d be happy to answer them. 

Erica Woollums 

Sunday School World Hunger Coordinator

Office updates with Jenny!

Hello!

I am excited to be the new Office Administrator at Gethsemane. I have been to Gethsemane multiple times with my mom and nieces (Skylar and Morgan) and I look forward to meeting everyone over the next couple of weeks.

I guess this is a good place to share a little about myself. I am married and have 2 children. Ian is 19 and attends MSOE and Ariana (Ari) is 15. I have been a stay at home mom the majority of the past fifteen years and it has been amazing. I am grateful to have had that time with my kids.

In my spare time I enjoy reading, walking, going to the gym and spending time with my family.

Stop in to say ‘Hi’ anytime!

Please keep our Gethsemane Family & Loved ones in your prayers!

… Dian Ferch … Paul Johnson … Aaron Kittson … Judy Piotrowski

… Pat Lambrecht … Anne Frost  … Tracy … Mikey

… Melissa … Community of St. Camillus … Aimee … Jessica

 … Peg & Vicki … Brian … Dave Wolber … Joshua … Emily … Jeff Hupfeld

… Dan Boyd … Zachary … Community of Mr. Bob’s Under the Bridge

… Women of the Freedom House

If you need prayer requests added or removed or

would like it sent to the Prayer Chain Group,

please contact the office at 262-782-8370 or

send an email to the church office.

Save the date for Gethsemane Lutheran Events this year 2024!

September 22nd Noisy Can Sunday

September 28th Craft Fair 10-3pm

October 6th Pet Blessing Outdoor Service

Craft Day Fellowship October 19th 10-2pm

October 27th New Berlin Food Pantry Bags for Thanksgiving

October 31st Trunk or Treat

November 14th ERAS Knitting Tree going up!

Harmony Club playing welcome to all 11:30am

November 27th Pie Fest

December 6th Live Nativity

December 15th Cookie Walk

September 2024 Calendar

September 2nd - Monday

Labor Day – office closed

September 8th – Sunday

Youth/Backpack Blessing Outdoor Service 9:15am

September 9th – Monday

Community Chapel 10:30am at St. Cam’s - Worship & Music Team Meeting 6:30pm

September 10th - Tuesday

Busy Bees 9:30am-12pm

September 11th – Wednesday

Bible Study History with Clarla 10-11:30am – Pre confirmation meeting with Pastor Perrie 6:30pm

September 12 - Thursday

Faith Connections 1pm-4pm

September 13th – Friday

55 + Club 1-4pm

September 14th – Saturday

Property Meeting 8:30am

September 15th – Sunday

First Day of Sunday School and Pre-confirmation – Synod Young Adult listening event 5pm

September 16th – Monday

Community Chapel 10:30am at St. Cam’s

September 17th – Tuesday

Council Meeting 6:30pm

September 18th – Wednesday

Bible Study History with Clarla 10-11:30am

September 21st – Saturday

Mr. Bobs Under the Bridge meet at park at 7:45am – Craft Fellowship day 10-2pm

September 22nd – Sunday

Noisy Can Sunday

September 23rd - Monday

Dartball Begins

September 24th - Tuesday

Busy Bees 9:30am-12pm - Endowment Committee Meeting 1:30pm

September 25th – Wednesday

Bible Study History with Clarla 10-11:30am

September 27th – Friday

55+ Club 1-4pm

September 28th – Saturday

Fall Craft Fair 10am-3pm – Men’s Breakfast 8:30am

Please note all events are as of 9/1/2024, please double check that your event/meeting has not changed or confirm with the Here at Gethsemane email weekly to make sure nothing has been rescheduled within the month.

Thank you! Have a beautiful September!

Our Mission Statement

To Spread God's Life Changing Message,

We will

Keep God's Word

Reflect God's Love

Preserve God's World

Share God's Bounty

Do God's Work

Office@gethsemane-elca.org

Pastor@gethsemane-elca.org

Musician@gethsemane-elca.org