the olive press - Gethsemane Lutheran Church

THE OLIVE PRESS
Gethsemane Lutheran Church
2825 Paris Road, Chalmette, La. 70043
504-271-4254
www.gethsemane-lutheran.org
April/May 2013
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ -
“I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear
much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
We have produced much fruit this spring! Thank you for all your faithfulness, imagination, strength, patience
and love! We are truly a community now, not just a crowd!
Pressing on in God’s gracePastor Bonnie
Faith Formation
Youth and Family
Night at the Hornets Game
Small Groups have
started again!
Come join the fun!

Mixed Group: Sundays @
9:17 in the Sanctuary with
Lindley

Intergenerational Lunch
group: Sundays after Church
with Janie

Bud lighters: Thursday
nights @ 6:30 at Steve
Brandt’s house
Is the Spirit leading you to start a
women’s group? Talk to Pastor
Bonnie!
Our prayers and sympathy for
the families of:
T.J. Rinkus
(nephew of Janie Fuller)
Chelby Wallace
Deaun Peterson
(aunt of Pastor Bonnie)
Congratulations to:
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Chris and Melissa Brandt on their wedding,
April 6
Saraih and Sean Prater for being car accident heroes!!
YOU’RE INVITED TO Parenting Classes:
May 2/3 Lets talk about FOOD. What’s
good for you and your kids! 7:00 pm
Thursday, May 2 and 9:30 am Friday,
May 3rd.
If you have an idea for a class you’d
like as a parent or grandparent, aunt or
uncle, please talk to Kelly Miller!
If these times don’t work for you,
please suggest alternatives to Kelly, as well!
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First Quarter 2013
Financials
Income:
$15,034.58
Expenses:
$21,089.43
Cash in Bank as of March 31:
$7,834.91
Giving for the First Quarter is
up 15.4% vs our budget
If you would like more details
or have any questions please
talk to Barbara B. or Martin P.
Inreach/Outreach
APRIL
BIRTHDAYS
3-Brittany Calecas
3-Gabriella Perez
8-Ian Parker
12-Marcia Ferrer
17-Ken Lobre
24-Darrin Miller
26-Linda Collin
27-Rhett Pritchard
Anniversaries
6– Chris & Melissa Brandt
19- Tony & Louise Zanca
20– Gaby & Kaki Serpas
It’s never too late to wish someone
happy birthday or happy
anniversary!
THANKS TO:
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Barbara F., Shirley, Karen,
Carol, Louise, Margie, & Mona
for providing soup and sandwiches during Lent
Sean Prater for providing
professional tea making
equipment
Bud Lighters for painting the
crosses
Steve B for replanting our
planters
Gaby and Janie for our new
Easter paraments
Everyone who helped during
Holy Week
Everyone who helped at the
Mardi Gras Combo Fundraiser,
especially the cooks!
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MAY BIRTHDAYS
2-Lindley Tanner
5-Judy Perez
22-Patrick Dotson
23-Cynthia Varnado
25-Gene Bene
26-Debbie Brandt
29-Peggy Seago
Anniversaries
2-Dawn & Vincent Santalucito
10-Mona & Richard Bei
11-Margie & Donnie Dotson
27-Kelly & Darrin Miller
Please let us know if we’ve missed your special day!
Be on the lookout for Baptism Anniversaries coming
EMAIL ALERT!!!
Pastor Bonnie’s new email is
[email protected]
Barbara’s new email is
[email protected]
Please don’t use any
Gethsemane-Lutheran addresses in the future!
fierce fun faith formation
Sunday Mornings @ 9:17
forming faith 50 minutes at a time!
Gethsemane by the numbers
Average Worship Attendance for March: 145
Average Worship Attendance for 2013: 109
Average Worship Attendance for 2012: 64
Only you can make these numbers go up!
Maundy Thursday foot
washing and
stripping of the altar
Seder Meal
Our wonderful band C 3:16
Easter Egg Hunt
First Communion for
Marissa Florane and
Christian Miller
Easter “Children’s”
Message
4
In March we celebrated three Baptisms—Welcome to the family guys!!
Ridley Albert Kidd
March 23
Kaiden James Hemelt
March 17
Justin Cole Tanner
March 31
The minutes from the Church Council meetings on March 17
and April 14 are available in the office. If you’d like a copy,
please ask Barbara.
Don’t forget to:
Like us on Facebook
@ Gethsemane Lutheran—Chalmette, LA
Check out the Website:
www.gethsemane-lutheran.org
Help Wanted:
Cleaning Sanctuary after
worship
 Picking up and stocking
the pew backs
 Getting kids’ bags ready
for Sunday worship
If you can help, please talk to
Barbara or Pastor Bonnie

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Fellowship
Provisions
If you can help by
bringing goodies for
Sunday Morning,
please see the sign-up
sheet in the Narthex.
Men’s Group (plus Janie) Work Day
Mardi Gras Combo
Fundraiser
March 21
Raised $217 for the
youth Mission trip
Thanks Guys!
NEW ZUMBA SCHEDULE!!
James, Shawn, Martin, David, Steve, Janie, Kaki, Richard & Sean
redid landscaping and painted the crosses the liturgical colors of
Green (time after Pentecost), Gold (Easter & Christmas) and
Purple (season of Lent).
Join us In the
Fellowship Hall
MONDAY
THROUGH
THURSDAY
6-7 pm Freewill
donation
PRE-SCHOOL NEWS
The pre-school kids had a great time at the
Grandparents’ Tea Parties and for Dr. Seuss
Day!
I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit,
because apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:5
6
Camp Olive Juice
Discovery Zone
What is Camp Olive Juice?
 It’s a day camp (think VBS)
 It grows biblically literate children
 It’s two weeks this summer:
July15-19 and July 22-26
 It’s leadership training for our youth
We’re looking for:
 High school youth for paid staff
 Junior High youth as support staff
 Adults to mentor the youth
 Campers
 Prayers, prayers, prayers
Questions? Ask:
 Pastor Bonnie. Krista B., Janie F.,
Carol G., Gaby S., Maria S.
At the “End of the World” with Gaby and the
group of Lutheran college kids from Houston and
Texas A&M.
MAY 19TH
Come learn about
managing money
with Mike koorie
after worship!!!
Our band
C 3:16
Has been rocking
worship for a couple
months now and we
love them. If you’d like
to be involved please
talk to Sean V. or
James P.
Cross
Wall
We have started our
cross wall. Please bring
in a cross. It can be
new, old, handmade,
store bought or
whatever.
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LITURGICAL DANCE
We are looking for people of any
age who are interested in being
part of worship through dance.
LaVerne H. is willing to help get
our dance troupe organized. If
you’re interested please talk to
LaVerne or Pastor Bonnie.
MAY CALENDAR
5/2
5/3
5/4
5/6
5/12
5/13-16
5/16-17
5/19
Family Focus on Food (7pm)
Family Focus on Food (9:30 am)
Church Council Meeting (11:30 am)
Lifeline Screening (9-4)
Affirmation of Baptism
(Confirmation) (10:30 am)
Pre-School Closing Programs
Synod Assembly, Camp Allen
Managing Money
with Mike (tba)
Church Council 2013
Steve Brandt, President
Kelly Miller, Vice President
Barbara Brunet, Treasurer
Janie Fuller, Secretary
Karen Salathe, Financial Secretary
Maria Serpas, Youth & Family
Carol Gadwaw, Faith Formation
Kaki Serpas, Property
Gaby Serpas, Inreach/Outreach
Patrick Dotson, Youth rep
Sean Vicknair, Worship and Music
Elders
Janie Fuller
Becky Vicknair
Michael Perez
James Grose
Lindley Tanner
“We are a gathering of God’s people committed to
worshipping God and to sharing His love and salvation
through Jesus Christ by meeting the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of our community.”
Gethsemane Lutheran Church, ELCA
2825 Paris Rd
Chalmette, LA 70043
504-271-4254
www.gethsemane-lutheran.org
Sunday Schedule
Traditional Worship 8am
Faith Formation 9:15am
Contemporary Worship 10:30am
Staff
Pastor 8Bonnie Parker
Barbara Brunet—Secretary