Current Events

All of the events for the current month can be found on the Calendar page.  Below are some of the events coming up in the next few months that you may want to put on your calendar:

Calendar
GETHSEMANE LUTHERAN CHURCH

SUNDAY WORSHIP

December 22nd – 4th Sunday in Advent

The scriptures for the fourth Sunday in Advent will be:

Matthew 1:18-25 – The angel visits Joseph in a dream

and Luke 1:46-55 – Mary’s song

Lectionary Readings for Sunday, December 22nd

First Reading: Micah 5:2-5a– From Bethlehem comes a ruler

Psalm: Luke 1:46b-55 – You, Lord, have lifted up the lowly. (Lk. 1:52)

OR Psalm 80:1-7 – Let your face shine upon us, and we shall be saved. (Ps. 80:7)

Second Reading: Hebrews 10:5-10 –  I have come to do your will

Gospel: Luke 1:39-45 [46-55] – Blessed are you among women / My soul magnifies the Lord

 TEXT STUDY 

Monday, December 23rd  – 1st Sunday of Christmas – 10-11 a.m. in the Garden Room and via Zoom will use the following readings:

            Luke 2:10 and Isaiah 9:2-3

            Matthew 2:10 and Psalm 138

            Psalm 126:1-3 and Isaiah 55:12-13

Lectionary Readings for Sunday, December 29th – 1st Sunday of Christmas for your own study are:

First Reading: 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 – The boy Samuel grew in favor with the Lord and the people

Psalm: Psalm 148 – The splendor of the Lord is over earth and heaven. (Ps. 148:13)

Second Reading: Colossians 3:12-17 – Clothe yourselves in love; let the peace of Christ rule your hearts

Gospel: Luke 2:41-52 – The boy Jesus increased in wisdom, and in divine and human favor

Centering Prayer…

…is an ecumenical, non-sectarian practice of silent prayer. Centering prayer groups are hosted by Lutherans, Catholics, Methodists and more. Here in San Diego County, there are Centering Prayer groups meeting every day of the week and all are open to anyone who would like to practice this form of prayer… and ‘practice’ is the right word for it. We are all learning, deepening, maturing in our faith and our ability to enter into the life of Christ through this and other forms of prayer. Each gathering consists of a 20 minute sit, then the balance of the time is spent in spiritual reflection. Starting in October the Zoom group will reflect on Richard Rohr’s book “Everything Belongs: The Gift of Contemplative Prayer. If you would like to participate in a centering prayer practice, look on http://www.contemplativeoutreachsd.org for the complete schedule of San Diego County groups or contact Pastor Karla for details. Our centering prayer group meets on Tuesdays at 11 a.m. via Zoom. Those who prefer to pray and keep silence ‘in person’ meet Thursdays, 11-12:30 in the chapel or the Garden Room. New participants are always welcome. Contact Pastor Karla (858)883-8038 or Diane Langworthy at (619)403-6822 or dlangworthy1952@gmail.com  for the Zoom link or any questions.

NOTE: no inperson meetings on Thursday, December 26 and January 2

GLC Voted YES!

to becoming a Reconciling in Christ Congregation!

The vote was unanimous at the congregational meeting last Sunday. What does this mean? This means that we’ll be listed in the public records of Reconciling Works, our ELCA partners that work for inclusion of our LGBTQIA+ neighbors, racial equity and justice for those who have been marginalized. We will have access to their materials, logo, and other resources to help us in our goal of becoming more inviting to people in our community, especially those who have been pushed out of churches in the past when their full identity or history has become known.

In tandem with our Reconciling in Christ Congregation designation, our Council is working on updating our welcome statement.

THIS WEEK

COUNCIL –  Saturday, December 21st –  10 a.m. in the Garden Room

SUNDAY WORSHIP — December 22, 2024 – 4th Sunday of Advent

Contemplative Communion at 8:00 a.m. in the Chapel

Choir Rehearsal at 8:45 a.m. — Come sing! It is good for what ails you!

Gospel Sunday Service on Facebook Live and In Person in the Chapel at 9:30 a.m.

OFFICE CLOSURE – The Church Office will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

PRESCHOOL Will be closed December 23, 2024 through January 1, 2025

TEXT STUDY — Monday, December 23, 2024 – 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. in the Garden Room and via Zoom 

Christmas Eve – 5:00 p.m. December, 24th, in the Chapel

CENTERING PRAYER — Tuesday, December 24th on Zoom and NO Thursday, December 26th meetingas above

 

LOOKING AHEAD

CHRISTMAS WORSHIP

Christmas Eve Service 5:00 p.m. December 24—invite your neighbors, friends, and family.

LIVING THE RESURRECTION

…is our baptismal calling. It is about living with joy and hope in the midst of real life where we become a blessing to our community and the world around us. It is also an 18 month guided practice of outreach to each other and to our neighbors. During the months of June and July, our Living the Resurrection team will be conducting interviews of (hopefully) every member of our congregation, either in person or by phone or zoom (your choice) to collect your thoughts on what makes GLC unique. 

WELCOME STATEMENT

We humbly welcome all to join us in worship and to participate in the mission of building community, embracing the work of racial, social, gender and economic justice, and equal opportunity for people with differing abilities, seeking equity for all.

We believe in including everyone. We cherish diversity, including your race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, marital status, social or economic state, physical or mental challenge, addiction history, geographical location and whether you are confident or questioning in your faith. There is nothing that separates you from the love of God through Christ Jesus.

Our unconditional welcome is an open and sincere invitation for you to fully participate in all facets of our Christian community: the Lutheran sacraments (baptism and Holy Communion), other sacred rites (confirmations, weddings and memorials), Christian education and fellowship, and congregational leadership and service.

“You are all God’s children through faith in Christ Jesus. All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; nor is there male or female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26-28, Common English Bible)

STOREFRONT: DINNER IS SERVED!

GLC takes dinner to Storefront, the shelter for homeless teens, on the first Monday of each month.

 January and March are covered. Thank you in advance to 

Linda Juhasz and Dave Pfizenmeier.

ARE YOU AVAILABLE TO HELP OR PARTNER WITH A FRIEND?? FEBRUARY is open!

 The need continues for your support – sign up in the Narthex.

Please sign up in the narthex or call the office. (Don’t forget you can team up.) This is one way we serve our youthful neighbors. Thank you all!

Even if you can’t provide dinner on a Monday, perishable and non-perishable breakfast, lunch, and snack items are also needed, such as milk, orange juice, and cereal (teenagers can go through LOTS of cereal!), bread, sandwich meat/cheese and individual bags of chips, cookies, ramen cups, Hot Pockets, frozen breakfast sandwiches, you name it! Bring non-perishables to the office on Wednesday or Thursday, or to worship any Sunday and put them in the Storefront basket, or contact Pastor Karla for pick-up/coordination for delivery of perishable or frozen items. Also, checks made out to San Diego Youth Services (Storefront written in the notes) can be mailed directly to San Diego Youth Services, 3255 Wing Street, San Diego, CA 92110 or if given to Gethsemane, note “Storefront” in the notes line.

MMACC/GLC BOOK CLUB  

This is our book club with an opportunity to mix and mingle with readers from the Mary Magdalene community. It is a wonderful fellowship opportunity. We meet on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. Our next meeting is January 8th, 7:00 p.m. on Zoom.   

“BUTTON MAN” by Andrew Gross

A stirring story of a Jewish family brought together in the dawn of the

women’s garment business and torn apart by the birth of organized

crime in New York City in the 1930s. This novel is equal parts historical

thriller, rich with the detail. A vibrant and family saga, based in part on

the author’s family history.

The Zoom is sponsored by MMACC so the log-in info is different. Please contact Pastor Karla at (858)883-8038 for log-in information.

 

PRAYER QUILT MINISTRY

PRAYER QUILT MINISTRY

The Quilters meet on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. They will next meet on January 21st from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. in the Garden Room.

New participants are welcome and you need not know how to sew. There are lots of tasks that are part of making this ministry function—from prepping fabric for cutting, picking colors to go together, cutting fabric or batting, placing ties—all easy to do. Recipients of prayer quilts, crocheted throws, and prayer squares often express their wonder and appreciation of this ministry of love and healing and you can be part of providing it!

Zoom Information: 

Join any of our Zoom Meetings with this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82522613866?pwd=Tk9vQXN1T09ieFF4SXdzM0xkTEFqUT09
You can also join any of our meetings from the Zoom home page by entering our Meeting ID: 825 2261 3866 and the Passcode: Welcome (capital W, the rest of the letters small case). To join any of our Zoom meetings by phone, simply dial 1(669)900-9128. Once on the line at Zoom, when prompted enter the Meeting ID: 825 2261 3866 and then the Passcode: 3213747