You're Invited!

Holy Week commemorates the days leading up to Easter. Gethsemane Lutheran Church begins Holy Week with  Palm Sunday, April 13, 9:00 p.m., remembering Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The week continues at Gethsemane with the commemoration of the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday, April 17, 7:00 p.m. "Maundy" comes from the Latin word mandatum, or commandment, reflecting Jesus' words "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." On Good Friday, April 18, 12 noon to 1:00 p.m., Gethsemane opens our sanctuary for silent meditation and Lenten music in commemoration of Jesus' crucifixion and death.

Easter Sunday, April 20, begins with a sunrise service in the GLC Garden at 7:30 a.m., Easter Festival Worship at 9:00 a.m., followed by an Easter brunch.

These services are open to the public. Please join us!

At the February Outreach Committee Meeting, members voted to send two $500 donations: to support people affected by the wildfires in Los Angeles County and to support our Kentucky neighbors affected by the recent floods. These two donations are funded from the monies raised at the December 2024 Christmas Auction & Festival, leaving just a little over $500 in GLC’s Disaster Relief fund that we will be able to use for other unexpected disasters in Kentucky this year. If you’d like to donate directly to either of these causes, please see below for the applicable fund. Outreach identified these two organizations because all donations will go directly to the people & communities affected.

Team Kentucky Storm Relief Fund: All donations to the Team Kentucky Storm Relief Fund are tax-deductible and donors will receive a receipt for tax purposes after donating. Please make your check to Kentucky State Treasurer. 

In the memo line please note the donation is for the "Team Kentucky Storm Relief Fund."

Send check to Public Protection Cabinet, 

500 Mero Street, 218 NC, Frankfort, KY 40601.

Lutheran Disaster Relief (LDR): You can give directly through LDR by phone; call 800-638-3522. Checks or money orders can be mailed to: Lutheran Disaster Response; P.O. Box 1809; Merrifield, VA 22116-8009. 

Please put “U.S. Wildfires” in the memo line.

Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, Presiding Bishop, ELCA  

For eight horrific months war has raged in Gaza. Thousands of people have died, and thousands more are suffering. In recent days we have seen unspeakable images of violence in Rafah and escalating violence in the West Bank. Like the prophet Isaiah, we lament, "How long, O Lord?" (Isaiah 6:11).
 

At times a just peace for Palestinians and Israelis doesn't seem possible, yet as Christians we believe that it is. The psalmist assures us that God "makes wars cease to the end of the earth" (Psalm 46:9). At times it seems that there is nothing we can do, yet through baptism God calls us to be peacemakers. We live out this calling in many ways, including through prayer, advocacy and accompaniment.

As a church, we continue to:

• Pray for all people who are suffering and grieving, and for this war to end diplomatically in a lasting peace, rooted in justice and human rights for Palestinians and Israelis.  
• Advocate for an immediate, bilateral cease-fire and a halt in U.S. arms transfers to Israel, to prevent further loss of life; the release of all hostages and uncharged prisoners; and unimpeded humanitarian aid for all in need. We will continue to advocate for these priorities with the Biden administration and the U.S. Congress. 
• Walk with all who long for a just peace, including especially our Palestinian siblings in the ELCA, as well as Christian, Muslim and Jewish partners here in the U.S. and in the Holy Land.

As Christ taught, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God" (Matthew 5:9). Let us continue to hope and to live our faith.

Lutheran Disaster Response shares God's hope, healing and renewal with people whose lives have been disrupted by disasters in the United States and around the world. When the dust settles and the headlines change, we stay to provide ongoing assistance to those in need. Learn more.

• Eastern Europe Crisis Response
• Horn of Africa Drought
• Middle East Crisis
• Middle East & Europe Refugee Crisis
• South Sudan Relief
• AMMPARO: Protecting Migrants

Lutheran Disaster Response is accompanying our companions in Ukraine,  Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Moldova, Lithuania and the Czech  Republic, as well as such ecumenical partners as this Lutheran World  Federation and Church World Service, in their humanitarian responses to  the crisis created by Russia’s war against Ukraine. These partners  provide refugees with immediate and long-term support. Presiding Bishop  Elizabeth Eaton has joined other religious leaders from Europe and  around the globe in issuing an interfaith call for peace in the region.
Please  pray for those in Ukraine, Russia and neighboring countries that have  been affected by the war in Ukraine. May God's healing presence give  them peace and hope in their time of need.
Your gifts designated for “Eastern Europe Crisis Response” will be used entirely (100%) to provide support for people impacted by conflict in the region.