“Joyfully learning, living, and sharing God's Word”

The Fire Shall Be Kept Burning

Many, many years ago, I was in the middle of teaching a Sunday School class at Gethsemane when the fire alarm went off. We evacuated but were told almost immediately to come back in the build-ing. It wasn’t until my family was in the car (a 90’s minivan, of course) to go home that I mentioned I had forgotten to ask what caused the sudden drill.

Katie was about 9 years old at the time and said she’d heard that a kid in the nursery had pulled the alarm. Alarmed (pun intended), we all looked at James, who was nearly three and had been in the nursery. Mike asked, “James, did you make the fire alarm go off?” We all let out a sigh of relief when he answered, “No.” Until he added proudly, “I made it go on.”

This story is funny, but fires and fire alarms are no joke - especially when they are not planned or expected. Suddenly you are forced to stop and quickly assess how to keep yourself and those around you safe. What will you take with you? What is most important to you?

With the loss of our pastor and faced with planning for our future, Gethsemane is preparing for changes that will keep us safe and protected. We will decide as a congregation what is most im-portant to us. Please actively participate in these surveys and discussions. Your voice needs to be heard as we face this fire of change - taking what is important and leaving what is not.

If you think about it, James was right. He did make the fire alarm go on. Levitius 6:12-13 states:

"The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not go out. The priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and he shall arrange the burnt offering on it and shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings. Fire shall be kept burn-ing on the altar continually; it shall not go out."

The fire in this verse emphasizes the continuous and unextinguished presence of God and ongoing worship of the Israelites. The Israelites are like us. At times they are faithful, but they can also be whiny and quick to turn against God in word and deed. Let us be like the faithful Israelites. Thankfully, like them, we are promised the loving presence of God as we keep our altar fire “on.”

Kim Toohey, 

Congregational Life Chair

Wasn’t it a wonderful Easter Sunday this year. Great weather, a well attended Easter brunch, and an inspiring Easter service, filled with the message of the risen Christ. We are certainly blessed!

For those of you who do not already know, the process of identifying and calling our next pastor has already begun. The Call Committee has been elected, with Carol Stuckert in the lead. Bishop Tim will be here on Thursday, May 8 to meet with the Church Council and the Call Committee. The call process will inevitably appear slower than we would like, but be patient and prayerful.

Meanwhile, a new Long Range Planning Committee has been formed to evaluate a number of Big Ideas that have been put forward to enhance our ministry here at Gethsemane. Bob Jacobsen is chairing this effort and has committed to work with the Call Committee to engage the congregation in evaluating these ideas.

The Congregational Life Committee is in the midst of updating the church membership rolls. The requirements for membership are few, but important. According to our constitution, one must make a contribution of record and partake of holy communion once in the last two years. Those few for whom we have no record of either will be contacted.

Congregational Life is just one of eight standing committees that are active at Gethsemane. For more information or to contribute ideas or time, see the listing of Committee Chairs elsewhere in this Guidepost.

Finally, I hope you can make Pastor Jerri’s retirement reception after our joint worship with Hope on May 18th. This will be one of the last opportunities to celebrate her service to Gethsemane, to the ELCA, and to the Lord over the past years.

Blessings,

Dave Leverenz, President

david.leverenz@mail.com