...For your Thought, Prayer, and Concern....

Glen Geurkink (hospitalized), Paul & Phyllis Chapin (loss of Paul's sister, Ruby Bestul), Dennis Foerster (recovery--surgery), Eileen Anderson (nursing home), Jody Olson (recovery), Donna Gould (recovery--eye surgery), The People of Haiti, Habitat for Humanity, Brian & Kristin Konkol (our missionaries in South Africa), among the many we are aware of that need our prayers and support; hunger stations in Malawi; those throughout the world suffering under oppression; our military personnel -- Joe Russett, Justin Benck, Jeff Wolske, Ryan Zillmann, Jake Esanbock, Tom Marcotte (deployed); Nkhota Parish in Malawi (our sister parish/synod); peace in the World, our country's leaders and others.

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A REMINDER--Contribution statements are available in the office for you to pick up!

ELCA PRESIDING BISHOP'S NEXT TOWN HALL FORUM SEPT. 19 – The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), will answer questions on a variety of topics from members of the denomination on Sunday, Sept. 19. Hanson will take questions during an hour-long "Town Hall Forum" beginning at 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The forum will be the second with the ELCA presiding bishop this year, and the third since December 2009. The forum will be webcast live from Chicago, where Hanson will be joined by an audience of ELCA members. The audience will be able to ask questions of the presiding bishop. Online viewers will be invited to submit questions at http://www.ELCA.org/townhall on the ELCA website. Participants can also post comments about the forum using Facebook Connect and Twitter.

RALLY SUNDAY for all Faith Trek (Sunday School) students will be September 12th at 9:30. Mark your calendars because your children will not want to miss the fun as this new year of Faith Trek begins. Since September 12th is also Grandparents’ Day, we are encouraging grandparents to attend Faith Trek with their grandchildren, special activities and a snack are planned. Pastor Paul will be making a dedication to parents, grandparents and teachers during the church service that day, so we would also like grandparents to sit with their grandchildren during the service. All school age child(ren), including age 4 preschoolers, are eligible to join Faith Trek. Registration forms are available in the church office. The fee is $5 per child/max $10 per family. A parent or other adult must remain in the church building during the Sunday School hour if your child is 7 years of age or younger.

TEACHERS AND SUBS NEEDED FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL START THIS FALL – Teachers and subs are needed. Sign up on sheet in Fellowship Hall bulletin board or in narthex. Needed Pre-K & K, Grades 1-2, and those willing to substitute teach.

LOOKING FOR PERSON TO LEAD MUSIC FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL – We will need someone to help with music for the coming year on Sunday mornings. If you are interested or know of someone who might be, contact the church office (715.684.2984). This would not be an every-Sunday situation.

ADOPT A GRANDCHILD FOR RALLY SUNDAY – A fun hour of Grandparent/Grandchild activities is planned on Faith Trek’s (Sunday School) Rally Sunday. However, not all children will be able to have a grandparent present. If you are interested in adopting a grandchild for this hour (9:30 – 10:30) on September 12th, please contact Jennifer Pollitt at 688-6207. Please consider this opportunity to put a smile on the face of one of our young church members.

Kids Club Volunteers Needed! – Wednesday, September 15th will be the first Kids Club of the 2010-2011 school year. Anyone who is available to help with this once-a-month event for our children should contact a member of the Education Committee (Nicole Burge, Lisa Lovestrand, Allison Spradley, Kari Hoefer, Lori Hillstead or Jennifer Pollitt) or look for the sign-up sheet at church. The children are walked to the church after school where they have a snack, play games or do a craft and then have a short lesson or bible story. The program ends at 4:30. Your help will be greatly appreciated. Sign up sheets are in the Fellowship Hall bulletin board. Dates for the 2010-11 school year for you to sign up: September 15/October 20 November 17/December 15/January 19 /February 16 /March 16/April 20/ May 18. Look for the sign-up sheet in the Fellowship Hall.

CONFIRMATION BEGINS WITH ORIENTATION FOR PARENTS & STUDENTS, SEPT 15TH AT 6:15 PM. – The first night of confirmation for this year will be an orientation for parents and students, in which expectations will be shared, introductions made, small groups formed, a confirmation $20 fee gathered, books handed out, and any questions hopefully answered.  Please note that in the September newsletter the date of Sept 8th that was listed on the calendar for the first day of class was a mistake. Confirmation’s first night will be the orientation on Wed. Sept. 15th. See you all there.

FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN – Gethsemane Lutheran Church has the opportunity for a mission project with Feed My Starving Children in Eagan, MN on Saturday, October 2 from 11:30 am-1:30 pm. Feed My Starving Children is a Christian organization committed to "Feeding God’s Starving Children Hungry in Body and Spirit." They use high quality food ingredients that are packaged through the use of volunteers and distributed to starving children throughout the world. They are also committed to long-term feeding programs that ensure the continued growth of the children who receive their food. Gethsemane has reserved 20 spots (15 adults and 5 children in grade 3 or older) for packers on Saturday, October 2 from 11:30 am-1:30 pm. Sign up is available in the narthex, or see Cindy Wall for more details. Anticipate that we can carpool/caravan at about 10:00 am and have a wonderful time that day! "Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor. Proverbs 22: 9."

THE GETHSEMANE BELL CHOIR IS LOOKING FOR RINGERS! Have we got a spot for you! If you can help us out part time or full time or subbing for a month, you are welcome to join us. If you have any questions, talk to a member or Greg Birdwell, director. Ringing in the bell choir is a fun learning experience, very rewarding educationally and spiritually and a fun, caring group to be around! Did we mention we are flexible if you can't play every month? Prayerfully consider this opportunity! 

TUESDAY COMMUNITY SUPPER NEEDS FINANCIAL HELP – Since the Tuesday Community Supper started in 2004, it has gone real well. WE serve around 200-225 people every month – sometimes more, sometimes less. Financially we have done really well, but now gifts have been fewer and we are gradually using our excess funds. We are asking if any of you might want to make a donation so we can continue to keep serving these suppers every month on the first Tuesday. There are envelopes on the worship center for you to use.

COMMUNITY PANTRY ALWAYS IN NEED of all items such as soups (all kinds), crackers, jelly, mac & cheese, ketchup, canned fruit, boxed dinners, Ramen noodles, Jell-O and puddings, cookies, pancake mix, syrup, cake mixes, beef stew, Spaghetti’Os, canned spaghetti, ravioli, etc. Also, toilet paper, paper towels, facial tissue, handsoap. Donations can be left in the shopping carts in the narthex.  Especially needed at this time is "Moolah" for milk coupons for families. Financial contributions accepted. Make checks payable to: The Salvation Army. . The Pantry could use a boost in monetary gifts to fill in the gaps. As we know in this day, there is a greater need than there are funds to meet them.

 NEW CAREGIVERS NEEDED .....Interfaith Volunteers are needed to provide the following assistance to individuals over age 60. The needs are urgent and new: drivers between Hammond and Stillwater dialysis M, W, or Fr at noon or at 4:30 pm; light housekeeping and companionship for a woman in Baldwin, transportation to Amery occasionally from Baldwin or New Richmond for dialysis, and transportation for errands in Baldwin from Baldwin. For information about volunteering contact Nancy at 715-381-4360 or 1-800-372-2333. Or you may email nancya@co.saint-croix.wi.us

MOOLA FOR MILK CAMPAIGN – Moola for Milk is a fundraiser to supplement the Salvation Army’s supply of milk coupons distributed at food shelves throughout Pierce and St. Croix Counties. Thank you for your generosity last year here at Gethsemane. With your support and the support of 72 other congregations in Pierce and St. Croix Counties, we raised more than $12,000. However, due to the increased demand at our local food shelves and the rising cost of milk, we distributed milk coupons worth over $40,000 during the last year. We will be collecting donations during the month of September in empty milk jugs here at Gethsemane. With your help and the help of other local churches, we hope to raise the funds needed to support this valuable program. Checks should be made payable to: The Salvation Army—Grace Place. Please feel free to contact Evelyn Peterson at 715.684.2981 with any questions. Thank you for helping!

Workshop for Managing Chronic Conditions to be Held beginning Sept. 22nd - Need to Register – People struggling with chronic health issues can learn ways to cope with these challenges and improve their quality of life through an upcoming workshop: Living Well with Chronic Conditions. The workshop empowers those living with conditions like arthritis, heart problems, asthma, stroke, pain, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, emphysema, and cancer and allows them make the best of their situation.  This workshop meets for 2 ½ hours, once a week, for six weeks. Two trained leaders facilitate the workshop, which will be held at the Baldwin Area Medical Center—Mattison Room, Wednesdays beginning September 22 and ending October 27, 2010 from 3:30 to 6:00 pm. Chris Veenendall and Stella Berry will co-lead this evidence-based workshop. This workshop, created at Stanford University, is designed for people who have one or more chronic conditions. This is open to anyone but re-registration is required. There is a $10 registration fee which is refundable upon completion of the series. To register, please call Nancy Abrahamson at 715-382-4360 or email nancya@co.saint-croix.wi.us or contact Chris Veenendall at 715-222-9403. The Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) is dedicated to empowering and support older adults, people who have a disability and their families by serving as a central source of information, assistance, support and access to community resources. To contact the ADRC use 1-800-372-233 or www.sccwi.us

A Word from our Missionaries.... Again we are delighted to hear from the Konkols - the missionaries we help sponsor who are presently serving in South Africa. Their life in South Africa is much like ours. They face the same challenges only in a different context. We have said that the bible is ‘ageless’ as it speaks historically to people of all times and places. The inclusiveness, or lack thereof, is the topic of their letter to us this time. He uses the illustration to get into the subject of a conversation he once heard in a kitchen that helps put all perspective. They write...... When trying to better understand the nature of differences, denominationalism, and division within Christian churches, the best lesson I received came from a group of women in a local kitchen. I was in the midst of a cultural cooking lesson when I overhead a discussion about one of the favorite local dishes: chicken fried rice. As I listened to the animated conversation, I soon learned that nearly every person in the community had her/his special style of chicken fried rice, to the point that one could eat the dish each day at a different home and it would never taste the same (and yes, I can speak from personal experience on this matter!). However, while each dish had its own unique spices and side ingredients which added to the overall flavor of the chicken and rice (and nearly each person was convinced their own style was best!), what remained essential to the dish of chicken fried rice was, of course, chicken and rice. It was essential. While the ingredients surrounding the chicken and rice could be altered depending upon individual taste and availability of resources, the dish required chicken and rice. This culinary reality, and the subsequent discussion amongst the cooks that day, provided a fresh method to interpret Christian denominations and ecumenical cooperation in our world today.  We invite you again to pick up a copy of their full letter in the office. Copies will be available as you enter on the desk before you.

Need assistance due to water/flooding .... or know of someone who does? The Salvation Army can help with the following: cleaning, furniture, emergency funds, food, clothing, housing referrals, and any other flood related needs. Salvation Army phone number is: 715.247.2944. It is Important to report any flood damage on the St. Croix County Emergency Management Flood Damage report line: 888.305.3555, even at this time.

Mentor Ministry with New Members – As a new member joins Gethsemane a mentor will help orient them into life in the congregation. These mentors will be linked up with a new member on the Sunday they join. From that time on, the expectation is that the mentor would make regular contact, keeping them informed about activities within GLC, where they might become active, as well as, introducing them to people, etc. We are looking for people in the congregation who would be willing to be one. Let us know. Very simple guidelines have been assembled to guide the mentors in this process. Let us know your interest and we will share them with you.

Increasing difficulty getting people/groups to serve coffee – The Mission Committee is in charge of Sunday Morning coffee time. We rotate each month in getting people to sign up for coffee time. It has become increasingly difficult to get people to serve, with a smaller group of people serving more often. The committee has decided that if there is a given Sunday in which noone comes forward to serve, coffee would simply be plugged in on a given Sunday, and people would have to help themselves. This time provides a valuable time for each of us to gather and build our relationships with each other over coffee and a simple treat. We ask that each of us might take our turn serving with others to keep this valued time in tact.

GET YOUR WALKING SHOES READY – The 2010 Mid St. Croix CROP Walk will be held at the First Reformed Church in Baldwin on Sun., Oct. 10. Rain or shine, registration starts at 1:15 and the walk will start at 2 p.m.  CROP Walk is neighbors from different faiths, cultures, and ages, walking together to take a stand against hunger in our world. Together we raise awareness and funds for international relief and development, as well as local hunger-fighting agencies. Some 2,000 communities across the country take part each year. For more information contact Gerard and Sheryl Beuchter, 715.684.2997, or on line at gsbuechter@yahoo.com.