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THIS MONTH'S GUIDEPOST: Following our local ministries & activities at Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church and other Lutheran churches in Lexington, KY.
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FOR ONGOING ACTIVITIES, CHECK THE CALENDAR IN THE TOP MENU
LENTEN SOUP SUPPER AND DISCUSSION
Wednesdays during Lent, 6:00 p.m.
Join us for our Lenten Supper & Seminar Series, with Synod Approved Minister Kathy leading discussions on Wednesday nights. Please consider helping with the suppers. There's a sign-up sheet in the narthex where you can volunteer to clean up or bring a dish. Contact Cindy with questions at 917-572-4702. Thanks! Hope to see you there!
PALM/PASSION SUNDAY
Sunday, March 29, 9:30 a.m.
Palm/Passion Sunday marks the first day of Holy Week, when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. Although the people cried, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” and greeted Him with anxious expectation, by Friday, they would crucify Him. The name comes from the palm branches waved by the crowd to greet and honor Jesus as he entered the city. Palm/Passion Sunday is celebrated by the blessing and distribution of palm branches (or the branches of other native trees), representing the palm branches that the crowd scattered before him. Palm branches are a symbol of victory (Revelation 7:9).
MAUNDY THURSDAY HOLY COMMUNION
Thursday, April 2, 7:00 p.m.
Maundy Thursday receives its name from the Latin “mandatum” or the “new commandment” given by our Lord. We remember tonight and commemorate the joy of the love and service which Jesus lived and taught.
The Last Supper which Jesus and his disciples celebrated that night was a Passover Seder, a holy meal which emphasizes remembering and retelling the story of liberation from slavery, along with themes of service and sacrifice.
GOOD FRIDAY MUSIC AND MEDITATION
Friday, April 3, Noon–1 p.m.
Good Friday is a solemn day that commemorates the death of Jesus Christ
on the cross for the sins of the world.
Join us for silent contemplation of Jesus' sacrifice which "...has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won me from all sins, from death and from the
power of the devil, not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with his
innocent sufferings and death; in order that I might be His own, live under Him in His
kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness..."(Luther's Small Catechism)
EASTER FESTIVAL WORSHIP
Sunday, April 5, 9:30 p.m.
Rejoice in the Lord, for He is risen! In Matthew 28:6, the angel at the tomb declares, “He is not here; He has risen, just as He said.” This event is foundational: it affirms the promise that those who believe will share in resurrection life.
Join us at Gethsemane for festival worship recalling how the Risen Jesus offers us peace and then asks us to pass on that peace and forgivenness to others.
LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF 2026 ANNUAL FUND CAMPAIGN
Become a Faithful Neighbor monthly donor and send critically needed aid to God’s children who have nowhere else to turn. By becoming a Faithful Neighbor monthly donor today, you are showing God’s most vulnerable children that you are with them when they need you most. Each month, your love is poured into your monthly gift — delivering lifesaving food, water and shelter to children and their families.
give.lwr.org
LUTHERAN DISASTER RESPONSE / FLOODING
Flooding is one of the most common disasters in the United States. Across the country, the ELCA, through Lutheran Disaster Response, supports communities as they recover from devastating floodwaters.
As ever and with your support, our church stands ready to walk with our neighbors around the country as floodwaters recede, cleanup begins and communities rebuild after flooding events. May we be bearers of the hope found in Christ alone and help shoulder the burden for those who grieve.
Lutheran Disaster Response works with synods and partners to respond to urgent needs, give emotional and spiritual care, support long-term recovery (including disaster case management and meeting unmet needs) and provide educational training for synods and partners in affected regions.
Please pray for communities impacted by flooding. May God’s healing presence give them peace and hope in their time of need. Pray that God will deliver comfort to those who mourn and strength to those who work diligently to care for affected communities.
Your gifts to Lutheran Disaster Response equip us to accompany communities affected by flooding and related disasters. These gifts also empower us to respond to disasters whenever and wherever they strike. Gifts to “U.S. Flooding” will be used in full (100%) to assist those affected by floods.
TORNADO RELIEF
Across the country, Lutheran Disaster Response supports communities recovering from devastating tornadoes, including areas such as Western Kentucky, Selma and Prattville, Ala., Amory and Wren, Miss., Rocky Mount and Battleboro, N.C., Pulaski County, Ark., and Central Tennessee. This support is vital for many, including members of faith communities as they work through the aftermath of destruction.
In the aftermath of tornadoes, Lutheran Disaster Response collaborates with ELCA synods, social ministry organizations, and community-based groups to support local responses. Together, we accompany impacted communities through disaster case management, construction management, providing relief supplies, and addressing other unmet needs in areas served by Lutheran churches in Lexington, KY, and beyond.Please pray for the people impacted by these destructive tornadoes. May God's healing presence give them peace and hope in their time of need, reinforcing their faith through this challenging period.Gifts designated for "U.S. tornadoes" will be used entirely (100%) to assist those affected by tornadoes, ensuring that support reaches communities directly.
To learn more about the situation and the ELCA’s response:
- Sign up to receive Lutheran Disaster Response alerts.
- Check the Lutheran Disaster Response blog.
- "Like" Lutheran Disaster Response on Facebook, follow @ELCALDR on Twitter, and follow @ELCA_LDR on Instagram. Stay informed and join the conversation on how we can uplift those in need during this critical time.
JUSTICE AND PEACE IN PALESTINE
Sumud is the ELCA Churches' response to occupation and injustice in Palestine and Israel, reflecting the core values of faith and devotion that resonate within the community of Lutheran churches in Lexington, KY. In Jesus Christ, all of life—every act of service, in every daily calling, in every corner of life—flows freely from a living, daring confidence in God’s grace.
Freed by the transformative life of Christ, the ELCA is committed to accompaniment, advocacy, and awareness-raising with our partners in the Holy Land and in the United States. For the past two decades, that work has been organized through the ELCA Peace Not Walls campaign. In October 2023, the ELCA announced that, following an in-depth review by ELCA staff and leadership from the Palestinian Lutheran church, Peace Not Walls would be renamed and reconfigured as a new initiative, Sumud: For Justice in Palestine and Israel.
Sumud, an Arabic word meaning 'steadfastness,' is a term widely used by Palestinian theologians and others to signify Palestinian resistance to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands and people. This resistance takes the form of nonviolent advocacy for political change as well as 'resistance through existence,' embodied in education, social work, the arts, and one’s relationships with the land and community—principles that align with the mission of Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church and other Lutheran churches in Lexington, KY. Together, we can foster a culture of mental health and awareness, especially during the Christmas season, where the message of hope and steadfastness is vital.