Pastor Gloria Espeseth

The Pastor Ponders...

August 2013 www.gethsemanesd.org church@gethsemanesd.org

2696 Melbourne Dr., San Diego, CA 92123

Church Office: 858-277-6572 FAX : 858-277-6511

What’s Inside?

August Calendar and Ministry Schedule

Birthdays

Ministry opportunities with our partners

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I’ve been thinking of some of the ways we could approach Strategic Evangelical Missional Planning this fall and am still talking with the Council. What would be the best way to decide, “What’s next?”

This much I have determined...as we decide together what we will do as a community, we also will affirm the individual call each of us has to be a “missional disciple of Jesus” in our daily lives. For we are Gethsemane in two ways...each of us as we live out our faith and life in the many venues our routine takes us, AND all of us together, as Gethsemane Lutheran Church, the people of God in this time and place. Do you need support for your individual ministry? What do we mean by “evangelical” and “missional”? I understood this challenge more deeply when a person said to me, “Pastor, I’m not interested in “missional” or “discipleship”...I’m just interested in faith, salvation, and spirituality.” Did they lack under-standing? Were they exhausted? More on this later.

“The books say” the time after a sabbatical is for a gentle reentry. This was short lived with Helen Bergen’s relocation to Minnesota, and Preschool Director Lee Bergeron’s announced retirement. Then Lee Wolf moved to San Marcos, and Sarah Roselli’s husband got orders to report to Pensacola, FL. Yes, nothing is constant but change and God’s grace!

Have you heard? We will celebrate 30 years of Preschool ministry with an Open House and Picnic on Saturday, August 17, 4-6pm. Spread the word among all former students and parents you know. At that event, we will take time to recognized Lee’s 30 years as Director and her retirement. “Well done, you good and faithful servant,” rings clearly.

Relatedly, we announced that Vicki Coffee and Becky Ackerman, teachers for 24 and 22 years and Co-Assisting Directors for 7 years, were selected to serve as Co-Directors beginning August 12. We are excited to have the ministry continue out of its strengths even as they will bring creative ideas as new staff always do. And the beat goes on!

Briefly Speaking… ...the ELCA Churchwide Assembly will

convene in Pittsburg, PA, August 12-17.

You can watch it live at www.elca.org.

Rich in worship and Bible study, the

business of the ELCA is conducted,

including the election of the Presiding

Bishop and Secretary and a proposed

Social Statement on Criminal Justice.

….the Gethsemane Gardeners will meet

on Saturday, August 10, at 7 or 8 or 9

or whenever to spruce the grounds up

for the 30th Anniversary Open House

and Picnic. Helpers wanted!

...the Friendship Lunch serving soup,

bread, and dessert is next door at

Mission Village Christian Fellowship at

noon on Wednesdays in August. Come

and bring a friend and a can of food

for the Serra Mesa Food Pantry.

...check out the sign-up sheet for our

monthly meal at Storefront Teen

Shelter on the first Monday of each

month. Becky Baker will help out new

volunteers! Also, there’s a basket in

the Narthex for toiletries and/or

snack foods for the teens.

...the Prayer Vigil Light allows you to

remember someone or an occasion. The

sign-up sheet is in the Narthex. The

suggested gift is $10 for oil etc.

...your cans and packages of food are

needed year around for the Serra

Mesa Food Pantry. Thanks to all who

bring cans and packages regularly to

the Food Basket in the narthex!

...the 10:30am Monday Text study

continues, and, since each week stands

on its own, come when you can.

….tune up your voices because the choir

begins the first Wednesday in

September and there’s a seat for you!

Page 2 THE GETHSEMANE WITNESS

Mindy Garcia 8/1

Dianne Finnecy 8/4

Pam Howard 8/5

Sheila Peterson 8/11

Ann Larion 8/15

Scott Miller 8/24

Myrtle Carlson 8/26...she’s 96!!

Ethan Nies 8/30

Lianne Williams 8/31

August Happy Birthdays

Preschool Turns 30! After renting space to several Preschools in the early 1980s, the leader-

ship of Gethsemane Lutheran decided in 1983 to open their own Preschool.

Lee Bergeron, a member and experienced Preschool Director, was hired on

August 1, 1983, to develop the policies and curriculum to meet the state require-

ments for a new school. Members worked on funding, paperwork, furnishings, and

playground. The doors opened September 6, 1983, and the “rest is history,” as

they say. Until we built our office and Garden Room in 2001, the Chapel was

used for Preschool during the week and “turned over” on Friday night. In this new

setup with all four classrooms intertwined with each other and the playground, the

program is more integrated and the children benefit. Over these years, we

estimate that thousands of children have been provided care while their parents

worked, were prepared very well for kindergarten, and experienced “kid-sized”

Christian community. Many of our families return with child number two or three

and bring their friends and other family members, including the second generation.

Lee has decided to join her husband Ray in retirement after dedicating

her entire career to the care of children. In addition to Lee’s 30 years, Vicki

Coffee has taught for 24 years and Becky Ackerman for 22. On August 12

they will begin their new position of “Co-Directors”. Also on staff are Sharlet

Mowrer (11 years) and former students Ashleigh Parker (5 years) and Amanda

Kulp (2 years). The stability of the staff has been one reason people keep

coming back and referring us to others. Our goal has been to have the school be

strong for students/parents, staff, and congregation. We are meeting our goal!

Gethsemane (congregation) will host the celebration of this 30th

Anniversary on Saturday, August 17, with an Open House and Picnic from

4 to 6pm. At 5pm we will pause for a short program where we will recognize Lee

as the founding and only Director and her retirement. Help us spread the word

to former students and parents and/or former Gethsemane members. Dianne

Finnecy (Chair), Jenny Mendoza, Earline Trinkle, and Joetta Muhlenkamp are

planning the celebration. When they ask you to help, we hope you say, “Yes”!

We have received a Thrivent grant to assist with the picnic.

This month’s “thank yous”…

...to Sarah Roselli for her early 4th of July help and Dianne Smalligan too.

...to Jenny and Mark Mendoza, Jerry Albert, and Mindy Arneson Garcia for the Fellowship Meal where we hosted the Kensington Optimists.

...to Roger Nies for splashing the Olive Tree gardens with color, to Carol Stroud who faithfully tends gardens every Sunday morning, and to Roger Nies and Bruce Davidson for pruning and hauling.

….to Debbie and Andy Attwood and Roger Nies for figuring out a solution to our water leak in the Children’s Center...let the rain return!

...to Mary Magdalene Apostle Catholic Community for their gift to help with the purchase of Garden Room carpet.

...to Tami Bergen for setting up and cleaning up after our Wednesday Lunches in July.

Serra Mesa Food Pantry Fundraiser

S.D. PADRES vs. Colorado Rockies

at PETCO Park

on September 7th at 5:40pm,

Section 218, Rows 10-13 (in the shade)

Tickets are $30 with $15 of it going to our Food Pantry.

Contact Jerry Albert for your tickets!

We are grateful to our Thrivent chapter which is providing matching funds for the Food Pantry.

Join in the fun! Serra Mesa Community Garden &

Orchard Work Day August 10

9:00am – noon If you have an

interest, come and see how it is done.

Page 3 THE GETHSEMANE WITNESS

“Bread Upon the Waters” This annual Dinner and Auction to support

TACO at First Lutheran downtown is always an

enjoyable event. This year it is at Southwestern

Yacht Club from 5-8pm on Saturday, August 24.

If we get six people to go, tickets are $50

(individually they are $75). See Tom Templeton,

Mary Erlenborn, or Pastor Gloria for information.

Celebrating the ELCA and 25 Years

"God's work. Our hands." Sunday is an opportunity to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. We understand our-selves to be freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbors. So, we are a church (as the ELCA and as Gethsemane) that rolls up our sleeves and gets to work. On September, 8, 2013, we’ll join with 4 million members from nearly 10,000 congregations, 65 synods, and the Chicago based churchwide expression for a dedicated day of service, learning, and celebrating. We are developing a project to get the word out in the Serra Mesa community about the Serra Mesa Food Pantry and the Community Garden & Orchard ...how to use and how to support them. There are projects being planned by other Lutheran congregations which we are invited to join...quilting, fixing houses for seniors in Santee, beach cleanup, and more. Save the date!

Focus on Mission: be a part of the 2013 HOUSEBUILDING MISSION TRIP

Just a few miles south of us, there are people who live in very humble housing while working to establish themselves. We’ve met families who moved to Tijuana from elsewhere in Mexico to work in factories or have a new opportunity. We have gone twice and been inspired by Lutheran pastors and congregations who live and work there and by the people for whom we have been privileged to build a very basic 10x10 one room house...for them it’s a start and they are very grateful. Here’s the info on this year’s trip.

Dates: Saturday/Sunday, October 12 and 13

Partners: Ascension Lutheran Church and

Lutheran Border Concerns Ministry

Two Plans: Saturday only or overnight at the

Concordia Center to include Sunday

Saturday is the house building day (the materials will already be there), a children’s ministry time with the Lutheran congregation nearby (“VBS”), and lunch with those who live in the community.

Saturday night/Sunday morning adds an evening dinner out to a local restaurant and worship at the local Lutheran congregation and a House Blessing with the family.

There’s a place for you! For inspiration or if you are interested (or even just curious!), talk with Mark, Susan, and Jenny Mendoza or Jerry Albert about their experiences. You will need a U. S. Passport if you want to go. If you can’t be on the trip, you can still help with fundraising…Jenny Mendoza has new, interesting, and fun ideas. The next meeting for in-terested persons will be in late August.

Help build me for a family in Tijuana!

Serra Mesa Community Council presents

The Siers Brothers Band

at a free “Concert in the Park” (classic rock from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s)

Sunday, August 11 11am-3pm

Cabrillo Heights Park (off Murray Ridge Road in Serra Mesa)

Bring a picnic lunch, your family, meet your neighbors, and listen to

great music!

Free but we invite you to bring non-perishable food to donate to the Serra Mesa Food Pantry!

Lutheran Night at the Padres

Padres vs Diamondbacks to benefit ELCA Malaria Initiative

7pm on Tuesday, September 24

Tickets $15 with 20% going to ELCA Malaria Initiative

More to come...

Gethsemane Lutheran Church 2696 Melbourne Dr ive San Diego, CA 92123

Phone: (858) 277-6572 - Fax: (858) 277-6511

Preschool: (858) 277-7710

Want to save postage, a tree, and get your “Witness” in living color via e-mail? Just ask at: church@gethsemanesd.org

Gethsemane Lutheran Church... grounded in the gospel, anchored in Word and Sacrament, traditional yet creative, seeking to be God’s people in this time and place.

Check out our Website

at

www.gethsemanesd.org

Gethsemane Preschool

Open House and Picnic

Saturday, August 17th

4-6pm

Recognition of Lee Bergeron

at 5pm.

Spread the word to former students and parents!

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED