Gethsemane Lutheran Church
Lemay, MO 63125

News N Notes

KITCHEN NOTES
In order to keep adequate supplies of paper ware and drink mixes on hand please notify Mabel Jennewein through the church office  whenever your group is planning an event that will require a large usage of supplies.  Also, it is the responsibility of the user to discard any perishable unused food items.  If items are left in the refrigerator for use by another group, they must be tagged as such.  Finally, please be considerate to others and clean the kitchen thoroughly when you are finished.

ALTAR GUILD
The Ladies Altar Guild would like to extend an open invitation to all members.  We are always looking for ladies to join us in the small, but important part we do here at church each week caring for Our Lord’s Table.  For more information about our Altar Guild, please call Roberta Pearson through the church office. 

What are you THANKFUL FOR this Year? – When I ask myself that question, a host of blessed answers quickly flood my thankful mind and my heart beats with thankful joy .  Yes, Lord, I’m thankful most of all for You, my Truine God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—and for all You have done and have promised to do for me.  But, I can quickly think of at least 50 more important blessings from You that I sure would not want to go through even one day here on earth without.  At our Thanksgiving Worship Service at 9:00 A.M. on Thanksgiving Day, you will be encouraged to write down specific blessings for which you are thankful and to place them in the offering basket.  Hope to see you there!    Pastor Sievers               

NEW HYMNALS ORDERED – Thanks to special gifts made in memory of Evelyn Hartmann, Mickey Herring, Larry Schlimpert, and our Quilters, we have ordered 225 copies of the new Lutheran Service Book.   Perhaps any leftover monies should be placed in a Hymnal Replacement Fund.  We hope to have them in the pews by Epiphany weekend—January 5-6, 2008.  Some Questions—Should we print out the entire service in our bulletins including all the hymn verses and musical notations?  Or, should we only print out the scripture lessons and announcements in the bulletin?  Or, should we continue to use our hymnals only for the hymns as we presently do?  What do you think?                     

A Special Monday Morning $$$ Surprise – In addition to the usually large amounts of junk mail that we always get this time of the year, the mailman brought us a registered letter on Monday, October 29, 2007 from John F. Bild, Attorney-At-Law.  Opening it cautiously, we found it to contain a check in the amount of $34,475 from the estate of our departed sister in Christ, Merlee Haefner.  What sweet icing on the cake of her faithfulness to Jesus this unexpected gift to Gethsemane is. 

My 2020 A.D. Vision For Gethsemane – What is our vision for the future?  What is our plan?  What are our specific goals as a Gethsemane church family right now?  As a possible first step in leading us to discover the God’s blessed answers to these important questions, I have prepared a one-page vision statement for our Board of Elders to discuss later on this month.  Hopefully, the Holy Spirit will use it in some helpful way—like as a discussion starting point for a congregational leader retreat sometime next year.         

2007 Advent/Christmas Worship Schedule – You’ll find a copy of it printed on the back of this report.  It will also be published on the back of the Advent Devotional Calendar in the December-January GOODNEWSLETTER.  Please note the special days and times of these special worship opportunities.  Your pastors and elders urgently encourage you to fill your hearts and minds again and again this year with the Advent and Christmas Gospel.    

Updated Shut-in List Coming – Please look for and save the copy of the updated shut-in list that will be published in the next newsletter.   Although I visit them and bring them Holy Communion almost every month, our shut-ins tell me they deeply appreciate your cards and letters and are especially cheered by your occasional visits. 

YEAR 2008 ENVELOPE PACKETS
Church communicant members (some couples and families only use one set) are issued a numbered packet of offering envelopes each year.

The packet contains one envelope for each Sunday and for each special worship day in the year.  The packet also contains 12 blank envelopes one per month.  These envelopes are to be used for making special gifts to special causes and funds.

Using your envelopes helps our Finance Committee to do its job of keeping good financial records and it helps our Treasurer make sure your gifts are used the way you want.  Pick up your 2008 envelope packets in the church basement beginning December 1-2.  Please use them with joy and in good spiritual health in the New Year.

SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS

The Sunday School children are working hard to get ready to lead worship on December 22 and December 23.  The Children will be leading the worship using the Jesse Tree to lead the worship.   Please come and worship with us that weekend.  The children work hard for this worship and want to share with their church family what they have learned.  

Some dates to be aware of for Sunday School –

December 2 – We will have Sunday School but we will meet in the Church basement due to the Ladies Christmas Bazaar being in the Parish Hall.  We will be going up into church to work on our worship service as well on that Sunday. 

December 16 – after the late service the children will have lunch and practice our worship service in church.  The practice will end at 2:00 P.M. 

December 30 – There will be no Sunday School. 

The Sunday School Staff appreciates all of your support and pray you have a Christ filled Christmas season.

 IMPORTANT DATES and DOINGS to REMEMBER           

 THANKSGIVING DAY WORSHIP, Thursday, November 22, 9:00 a.m.
  Ladies Aid Breakfast and Bazaar, Sunday, December 2, 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
  Midweek Advent Worship begins on Wednesday, December 5, 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
  Christmas Tree and Church Decoration, Saturday, December 15, 9:00 a.m.
  Caroling to Shutins, Sunday, December 16, 2:30 p.m.
  Children-Led CHRISTMAS WORSHIP, Saturday, Dec 22, 5:00 p.m. & Sunday, Dec 23, 9:00 a.m.
   Installation of Church Leaders, Saturday-Sunday, January 5-6, all services
   2008 Get-Togethers Planning Meeting, Sunday, January 6, 6:30 p.m.
   Next Voters’ Meeting, Sunday, January  13, 2008, 9:15 a.m.
   Green Park Lutheran School Auction, February 29, 2008 at The Royale Orleans  

 This page last updated on Monday, January 28, 2008
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