NOVEMBER 2006
Pastor's Page
Looking for a unique way to decorate
your home this holiday season without opening
your home to an invasion of ghosts and goblins?
Try a Reformation Day design instead. (See
back of this page.) This letter from Martin Luther
to a friend explains the
symbolism behind Luther's
seal (also known as the
Luther Rose).
8 July 1530
To my friend and honored, kind Lord:
Grace and Peace in Christ!
Since you want to know if my seal is drawn correctly, I will write down cheerfully the first thoughts I have about my seal, which is a witness to my theology.
First, there should be a black cross set in a heart, which should keep its natural color. This will remind me that faith in the Crucified saves us. Because: "If you believe in your heart, you will be justified." Even though it is a black cross, which
kills us and causes pain, yet it allows the heart to remain its natural color; it does not destroy the heart's nature, that is, it does not kill the heart, but keeps it alive. Because "The just will live by faith" - but faith in the Crucified,
Such a heart is set in center of a white rose to show that faith gives joy, comfort and peace. In other words, God places believers in a white, happy rose, where they have peace and joy, "not like the peace and joy the world gives." So the rose should be white, not red, for white is the color of spirits and all angels.
Such a rose is set in a sky-blue field, because such joy in the Spirit and in faith is the beginning of future joy in heaven. It is already here in part, and is grasped by hope, even though it has not been revealed.
Around this field is a gold ring, because in heaven these blessings last forever and never end and are also more precious than every joy and good thing, just as gold is the highest and most precious metal.
May Christ our dear Lord be with your spirit until life everlasting comes. Amen.
Martin Luther(1)
For an online resource to help with your Luther Seal pumpkin carving or other uniquely Lutheran ways to celebrate this time of year visit: www.oldlutheran.com/pumpkins.shtml
What does it really mean to be Lutheran? It's more than decorations. It's about believing what the Bible says. Join us for our next Sunday morning Bible study, starting November 5. We'll study the Smalcald Articles-part of the Lutheran confessions, and gain a deeper understanding of what the Bible teaches.
Pastor Enderle
PRINCIPAL'S PORTION-SCHOOL NEWS.
Thank the Lord and sing His praise! Tell everyone what He has done! Let all who seek the Lord rejoice and proudly bear His Name! He renews His promises and leads His people forth in joy with shouts of thanksgiving. Alleluia!
If you keep your church newsletters, you could page back to November 2001 and see the same introduction in this very portion of that newsletter. The first two sentences of the song above also found themselves atop the November 2003 newsletter in this very portion of that newsletter. This fact either makes me look somewhat predictable this time of year, or it makes God look perfectly predictable (and able) this time of year (and all other times of the year).
Let's go with the latter. To that point, we often take for granted that God's message doesn't change. And it doesn't need to either! Who would want to change a message that says that God takes care of each and every single thing that we need for our body and life from the salvation to our souls down through making sure hair doesn't fall out of our heads unaccounted for? Why bother altering a message that identifies a wonderful loving God that met us while we were His enemies and loved us to the point of sacrificing His one and only Son? And even beyond our reconciliation, God also takes care of all our other needs. As Paul tells the Romans, "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?"
Thank God that He has blessed us in our lives, in our homes, in our congregation, and in our country. With your knowledge of God's goodness, live a life of thanksgiving to our gracious God. Let His 10 Commandments be an instruction manual for the perfect "Thank You" to Him. And consider all that you can do with all He has given you.
A Blessed Thanksgiving (and November) to God's people,
Mr. Pederson
++++++++++
Thanks to everyone who helped make
our 2nd annual Reformation Revelry great.
Special thanks to Miss Kolb for coordinating the
activity.
Christmas preparations will be starting soon - hard to believe the school year is running this fast! Look for announcements in regards to a PreK-K Thanksgiving program for later this month.
Our basketball student-athletes will again be joining their brothers and sisters from Good Shepherd for basketball starting November 7.
For those that attended the Faith Stepping Stones workshop last year, note that Good Shepherd is looking to get that program started in their congregation and have asked if we want to split costs with them. Contact Pastor Enderle if you have any questions, or if you are interested in helping to bring that program here.
On a personal note, we eagerly await the birth of our 4th child later this month. Please keep us in your prayers.
W.I.N.G.S
Women IN God's Service
We were able to assemble 13 gift baskets for the Women's Rally in Aurora. They were used as door prizes. Thanks again to all of you who donated items and those who turned the baskets into works of art.
The Silent Auction dates have been set! Get those crafts, themed baskets, homemade goodies, and other items ready. Set-up will be Saturday, November 18th. Bidding will start Sunday, November 19th and run until noon on December 3rd. There's sure to be something for everyone!
We have been invited to Good Shepherd on Thursday, November 2nd, at 7 p.m. by their Women's Group. Betsy Oblender will be the speaker and light desserts and beverages will be served. Betsy and her husband were WELS missionaries in Russia.
Due to the speaker at Good Shepherd we will be rescheduling our next meeting for Thursday, November 9th, at 7 p.m. in the fellowship hall. We will be discussing Advent by Candlelight and the Silent Auction. Have a great idea for us to try? Come to the meeting and let us know. There will be a devotion, business meeting, and fellowship. Refreshments will be provided by Sue H and Leslie K. We would love to see you there!
Don't forget! The annual Christmas Party at Fernando's Restaurant (114th & Dodge) has been set for Thursday, December 7th, at 6:30 p.m. Bring that white elephant gift for the great present exchange! No meeting just fellowship and food!
Nickie L
.
(Lutheran Women's Missionary Society)
The Nebraska/Iowa Circuit of the Lutheran Women's Missionary Society (LWMS) hosted a Women's Retreat at the Leadership Center in Aurora, Nebraska, October 6-7, 2006. The 80 persons attending included the Nebraska/Kansas Circuit members and from Gethsemane, Angela E, Sue H, Dorthy K and Kathy P. Sleeping accommodations were in the lodge and the Kiewit Motel and meals were furnished by the Leadership Center.
Friday evening was a social evening of various games and a spa which was enjoyed by many. Table decorations, drinks and treats were provided by the various congregations in the NE/IA circuit. Gethsemane provided thirteen gift baskets. Thanks to anyone who provided contents for the baskets and those who prepared them. A book fair was displayed by Northwestern Publishing House.
Saturday began with a communion worship service. The collection taken at this service was designated to the Home Missions Information Outreach.
Karen Harmon, co-founder of Jars of Clay Ministries (JOCM) was the guest speaker. JOCM is a self-supporting, non-profit "support system" founded to equip and encourage spiritually mature laywomen to recognize and respond effectively to gospel outreach opportunities. It was pointed out , we can make a difference, one person at a time, by sharing God's timeless truth with words and the witness of loving lives that reflect this message: But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." (2 Corinthians 4:7)
This workshop offered an excellent opportunity to renew oneself spiritually and socially. Time spent with the Lord is precious as is being with Christian friends, renewing friendships and making new friendships.
Dorthy K
LWMS Reporter
Nebraska Evangelical Lutheran High School)
Check out the NELHS bulletin board in the narthex for the latest posters pertaining the activities at Nebraska Lutheran! You will also note the names around the outside of the bulletin board. These are Nebraska Lutheran alumni who are members of Gethsemane-WOW!
The fall sports seasons are wrapping up for 2006-07 at Nebraska Lutheran. The football team competed hard and won two games this year. The biggest loss came when Roman T broke his ankle in the final football game of the season. The good news is that he should be back on both feet for part of the basketball season. The volleyball team continues to compete hard and will be going into subdistrict play on October 30 and 31.
The Honor Roll for the first quarter has been published. Congrats to Katie S, Jaxon T, Dani B, Roman T, Michael C, Paula S, and Dusty M on their success!
On Sunday, October 22, a Silent Auction was held. Around $9,000 was netted from the auction. Proceeds will go toward dorm renovation for the girls' dorm, concentrating on updating the closets .
Following the Silent Auction, the music department put on a secular concert. The large crowd was entertained by the Freshman/Sophomore Choir, the Concert Choir (juniors and seniors who choose to take choir), the Knights of the Round Table, and the band.
Several students will be taking the ACT on October 28th, while others will be entertaining our Lutheran Elementary School students for the volleyball tournament. Matches run all day in both gyms.
We have felt Pastor and Mrs. Beckmann's absence at NELHS, but hopefully they will return to school soon. We continue to keep the Beckmann family in our prayers.
November brings the beginning of the powerlifting and basketball seasons, the WELS Regional Choral Festival @ Northland Lutheran High School, the PLAN test for sophomores and juniors, UNL Math Day, Parent/Teacher conferences on the 12th, Conference play production @ OCA, Conference Vocal Honors hosted by NELHS, Thanksgiving, and the first basketball game at Shickley on the 30th.
Please remember to recycle your empty printer ink cartridges by putting them in box #21 so they can be taken to NELHS. We also appreciate your support by using the search engine (and choosing Nebraska Lutheran as your "charity"), www.goodsearch.com for all of your internet searches.
Above all, keep the students and staff at Nebraska Lutheran in your prayers. We appreciate your support.
Pray continually!
Karen S
.
.
OWLS
Organization of WELS Lutheran Seniors)
The monthly River City OWLS meeting was held October 13, 2006 in the Fellowship hall at Gethsemane. The devotion was given by Den and
Lorraine M. After the business meeting the OWLS viewed a video entitled, "The Holy Land," provided by Lorraine M.
The OWLS continue to collect Meditations and any greeting cards to be used in the Prison Ministry project. The items may be placed in the box marked "Meditations" located in the old kitchen at the bottom of the fellowship hall steps.
The next meeting will be November 17, 2006, with the members attending the play "Bootstrapper's Christmas" at the Grand Olde Players theatre.
A Christmas dinner is planned for the December 8, 2006 meeting.
Treats were served by Mary Ann B, Adena K and Evelyn S.
Dorthy K
.
(Friends Of Christian Education)
The days seem short and the weather is cold. Snow flurries have visited us! Does it seem impossible to you that we are already making plans for the holidays? Where has the first quarter of the 2006-07 school year gone? Okay - so it's time for us to meet as an organization!
F.O.C.E. will hold its first meeting of the school year on Sunday, November 12th at noon. Lunch will be hosted by the 5-8th grade families. So - parents of 5-8th graders if you're reading this - yes - can you volunteer?????? Contact Becky G - ASAP! We'll be serving a sloppy joe lunch which will be followed by a brief business meeting -- we will be updating you on the status of our weekly Hot Lunch Program, our task force on Playground Equipment, and where we are with fundraising as well as getting updates from staff about what's happening in their classrooms!
This is a great opportunity to continue to the fellowship that was begun in September at our "Welcome/Welcome Back" pot luck supper. Remember - F.O.C.E. isn't just for families of children currently enrolled in Gethsemane. Friends of Christian Education is about the education of the young people who are currently members of our congregation as well as the education of children from our sister congregations and mission families as well as the laying of the foundation of the future leaders of our congregation - potential pastors and teachers in WELS or your future employee here in Omaha. Come - join us - see what God is providing for Gethsemane's future!
For those of you looking for something to do occasionally (uh huh, right???!!!) please watch the school calendar. Basketball season is quickly upon us and your children will be participating with Good Shepherd's children in both a girl's league as well as a boy's league. Once the schedule of games is announced, it will be posted. The kids love having any and all Gethsemane members come watch and support them!
This month we celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday! We, Gethsemane Lutheran Church and School members, have much to be thankful for!
Please take the time to say 'thank you' to our called workers, to our administrative staff, and to the members of our various boards (Board of Education, Elders, Deacons, etc.). I personally want to say thank you - to each and every one of you who cares about the future of Gethsemane! THANK YOU!
Becky G
.
.
Moms & Dads In FellowshipWe figured out something new in October that works out well for our little storytime group ....the basement is a kind of fun place to meet! We were not able to use the fellowship hall last time because of school needs, so we met in the basement of the school. It was kind of comfy and cozy, so we decided to make it a habit.
So, the next meeting of Moms & Dads in Fellowship will commence at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 8th in the basement. We'll talk about Thanksgiving and being thankful, say a prayer and play a game or two.
Please bring any books or music about Thanksgiving to share! Contact me if you have any questions or if you'd like to bring treats this month.
Stephanie W
.
Campus Ministry
A costume party/get-together is planned for the weekend of October 28th. Stay tuned for details!
Women's RetreatThe Nebraska/Iowa Circuit of the Lutheran Women's Missionary Society is sponsoring a Women's Retreat to be held October 6-7 at the Leadership Center, Aurora, Nebraska.
A report on the retreat should appear in next month's newsletter.
High School Youth Group
The high school youth group's October activity was a hayrack ride at the P's on the 28th. At the time of this writing, plans are made to ride for a couple of hours, EAT, and do a short Bible study.
The youth will be selling Christmas cards again this year. The inventory will be displayed by Sunday, November 12th. All checks should be made payable to Gethsemane Lutheran Church. We are also going to have a sign-up sheet for the Christian calendars that we sold last year. A sample will accompany the sign-up sheet. Proceeds go toward funding activities of our youth. Some of the possible activities include attending youth rallies. This year's regional rally was in Wisconsin Dells, WI; next year's national rally is in Dallas, Texas.
The next outing for the high school youth group will be on Saturday, November 18th. Mark your calendar and stay tuned for details. We will be discussing what activity to do at the hayrack ride on October 28th.
Karen S
Weekday Women's Bible Study
The daytime Women's Bible Study will begin to meet again on September 7, the Thursday after Labor Day. In order to have study materials for everyone on that day, we will need to place our order to Northwestern Publishing House soon. The exact cost is never known until the order arrives, because of shipping costs, but the two books for each participant will be approximately $15. We will be using The People's Bible Commentary and Study Guide for the book of 1 Corinthians.
Sixteen participants have signed up. We welcome more. We meet on Thursday mornings at 9:30 for coffee in the fellowship hall. The hour-long study begins at 9:45.
If you would like to join us, please call the church office (493-2550). We hope to see you there!
Evelyn S
Weekend Women's Bible Study
Too Busy?
Have you caught yourself saying these words about your life lately? Between work, family and friends, is it hard to fit Jesus into an already busy schedule? This fall we would like to help you make time for personal Bible study by offering a new women's Bible study group!
We welcome all the women at Gethsemane to grow in faith and fellowship while studying God's Word together. The new group will meet on the second Saturday of each month at the Panera Bread located on 132nd and Maple at 8:30 a.m.
God tells us in Leviticus 11:44: "Be holy, because I am holy." We know how impossible it is for each of us to live perfect, blameless lives and we rejoice each day knowing that Jesus has already paid the price for our sin, earning a home for us in heaven. Because of this joy, we are motivated to serve each other in love and holiness. Our group will use lessons from the book Time Out for Holiness at Home. Each month we will look at God's advice on how to live in holiness with everything from our husbands and children to our finances and recreation.
In addition to our group study, we would like to give you optional homework during the month. Using the book Women of the Bible, you will be responsible for reading about four women each month. Through this personal study you will see how God used these women to carry out his plan of salvation and apply spiritual truths to your own life. When we meet as a group we will share our thoughts on these women of the Bible.
If you are interested in joining the group, please take a few minutes to look at both books located in the fellowship hall by the mailboxes. If you would like to order a book, please sign up on the list by August 15th. Our first meeting will be on September 9th at 8:30. Questions can be directed to Pastor Enderle. We look forward to studying with you!
The daytime Women's Bible Study meets on Thursday mornings at 9:30am in the Gethsemane fellowship hall.
We meet in the fellowship hall at about 9:30 a.m. for coffee and .... We begin to study at 9:45 and work for an hour using The People's Bible commentary and study guide for the book of Acts. We each pay the cost of our own materials which are ordered through the church office. The cost of the two books is just under $15.00. Anyone who would like to join us on Thursday mornings, but has not yet placed her order for the books, can still be accommodated. Please call the church office (493-2550) to place an order
The men's Bible study group meets on Wednesdays at 6:00 a.m. at the HyVee on 108th and Fort.. Jump Start your Wednesdays with a taste of God's Word! All men are invited to join us!
Wednesday Evening Bible Study It's not too late to join us for our Wednesday evening journey through the Bible. We meet at 7:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall.
Amazing Treasures
The Amazing Treasures store (thrift store that helps supports NELHS) is looking for volunteers to help sort through donations, tag items, and work the store. Two to four hour (or longer) shifts can be arranged. Store hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day, with extended hours on Thursdays to 7:30 p.m. The store is closed on Sundays and Mondays. The primary store operator is a teacher at Good Shepherd school, so once school starts, the store will be closed during the day if we don't have sufficient volunteers. Please call Laurel C at the store number (306-8509) for more information or to volunteer your time. Amazing Treasures is located at 5103 Center Street, right across 51st Street from Good Shepherd Church and School.
If anyone needs help transporting any items to Amazing Treasures, please contact Jay C at 677-2799. Currently, the store is over-stocked with clothes, so for the time being, please donate clothes to Goodwill or another charitable agency. Amazing Treasures also does not take large appliances, as there is limited storage and no maintenance or testing facilities. All donations should be good quality, "sellable" items. Good, sturdy furniture and various knickknacks are big sellers.
Volunteer members are on hand each week to help supervise infants and toddlers in the "cry room" during the Bible Class hour (Sundays, 9:15 a.m.), and the late service (10:30 a.m.) as needed.
If your child becomes restless during the service, if you would like to attend communion, or if you just need an extra set of arms, you may bring them to the cry room so you can hear the service.
Recycle, Recycle, Recycle
There are boxes and containers available for you to recycle your stuff. They are located on the table in the fellowship hall near the member mailboxes.
The O.W.L.S. want your used greeting cards and outdated Meditations. They use them for their prison ministry.
HyVee Cash
Register Receipts
How do you turn paper into gold? No it's not some strange science experiment that Mr. P has the students working on. We've turned $3,204.77 of paper Hy-Vee receipts into $21.36 of "gold" for the school so far. Thanks to the school and church members. Keep those receipts coming! The program runs until Dec. 31st. Envelopes for the register receipts are by the mailboxes and by the school office.
Sally B
**Please continue saving your Box Tops for Education and your Campbell's Soup Labels. The Box Tops are worth essentially a dime apiece. Not bad for trash!
Service Opportunities
Greetings from the Board of Deacons!
Thanks to everyone who helped move the furniture around for the floor refinishing. The extra hands helped make a big job smaller.
We really need people to help with the mowing of the church lawn. Would you consider a donation of a couple of hours of time to help in this task. Please check out the sheet on the Deacons bulletin board and sign up!
The Deacons Board meets the first Thursday evening of each month. If you see something that needs some attention, please let the church office know, so it can be passed on to the Board.
Out of Africa...
At the time that I am writing this, 17 July, I hear that you all have had temperatures over the 100 mark. For once, I can actually say that we are cooler here. The temperatures get down to the low 60s during the night. There have been a couple of days when the sun was clouded over and the temperature didn't get much above 70 outside and the inside stayed in the 60s. I even pulled out a space heater and wrapped in a blanket.
I recently had an opportunity to talk to a group of youth associated with some churches to the east of Lusaka. We talked about relationships and communication. We talked about how when God made the world there were no problems with communication or relationships. Then we talked about how God fixed our relationship with Him and how He makes our communication with Him perfect, but that still leaves the problem of how we talk to and behavior towards others. So we pulled out our Bibles and found God's answers for fixing our relationships and communication. I am not sure who gets more out of the lessons, me or the ones I present to. It is really a Bible Study when I go to prepare a presentation, because I am opening the Bible and learning how God wants us to live day by day in this world. At times I still get additional information from the internet or from text books, but the real lesson always starts with God's Word on the subject.
Our staff at Mwembezhi Lutheran Rural Health Center was not happy about hearing that I will be leaving. I explained to them that no nurse stays forever and that when I am gone there will be Mr. Kalekwa, Mr. Paltzer and Mr. Voigt to make sure that things continue just as they do now. However, there were those who just shook their heads and hung their heads. I guess change is hard in ANY culture. I have to admit that I will miss them as well. They are really a good group of people and really do put the patient first, which is very out of the norm over here. Recently, we had a visit from the First Lady of Zambia. She was really doing some campaigning for her husband, but the visit was nice. However, our clinic was the only one of the three that she visited that had staff in attendance. Of the other two clinics, at one the clinical officer was at the local tavern and no one knew about the staff and at the other it was just closed. This was on a Tuesday, so they should have been opened. I can definitely say that I will bring memories back with me.
Jean R
My address is Lutheran Mission Zambia; P.O. Box 310005 Chelston, 15301; Lusaka, Zambia, Africa.