THE HOUSE THAT LOVE BUILT

            We could write for days on how much love has been poured intoGethsemane over the past couple of years.  From donations, to out-of-town volunteers, to die-hard members, we have seen an outpouring beyond anything I could have ever envisioned.  Some would argue that this was the results of where we were prior to Katrina.  But, if we focus on these areas, I think we are missing the point.  Long before Katrina, before any of us thought about Gethsemane, before there was a Chalmette, a Louisiana or even an Earth, God had a vision for all of creation.  We were and are a part of that vision.  This house was built with love that started at the very beginning of our concept of time.  We were a part of the plan from the outset.  And it is only through the divine love that God has shown throughout the ages that we can ever exist and continue to exist.  It does not matter what this world throws at us- from natural devastation, to man-made resistance- with the love of God on our side we can face any calamity, big or small. 

Mike J. Perez, elder

EARLY COMMUNION

            On Thursday, March 20^th at the Maundy Thursday service we will have 3 young people who will be celebrating their first communion.  They are Emma Miller, daughter of Kelly (Grose)& Darrin Miller and Joshua & Jeremy Lancon, sons of Kim (Dougherty) Battaglia and Ronnie Lancon.

Emotional and Spiritual Care

Lutheran Social Services Disaster Response

By Deaconess Loraine Rathman, Ph.D.

            "You have made my days a few handbreadths, and the span of my years is as nothing before You.  Each man's life is but a breadth."(Psalm 39:5)     How true it is!  Our time living out God's purpose for our lives passes so quickly!  It doesn't seem possible that it has been nearly two years that the Emotional and Spiritual Care team began serving you.  We know definitively now our positions with Lutheran Social Services Disaster Response will end March 31, 2008.  What a privilege it has been?and continues to be until then?to serve God and you! 

            As most of you know, February was Black History Month where the history of a rich culture is honored and achievements celebrated!  While watching the numerous informative and interesting programs regarding Black History, one movie struck me in particular.  It is entitled "Road to Freedom: The Vernon Johns Story."  Vernon Johns was pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, from 1947-1952.  Many of you are likely familiar with him, but I was not. 

            With an attitude of respect, Reverend Vernon Johns pioneered the Civil Rights movement.  Though his words and actions were strong but nonviolent, he created turmoil not only in his church but in his family.  For the first time I realized what tremendous inner turmoil and anguish a family endures in the face of blatant injustice and such unwarranted discrimination.  Not wanting to "rock the boat" or suffer repercussions because of Pastor John's "radical" words and actions, his family was often stressed and frustrated with him amid the utterly unkind treatment and even threats to their lives.  Eventually, Pastor John's family came to support him.  However, his church did not and dismissed him.  But guess who the next pastor called to Dexter Avenue Baptist Church was?  Martin Luther King, Jr.!   And the church eventually became committed to the Civil Rights movement, too!  How amazing our God is!

            What a meaningful purpose our Triune God had for the life of Reverend Vernon Johns.   And what a meaningful life and plan God has in mind for each of His creation and in each person's brief moment in time.  In spite of all differences, may all of us here in Louisiana continue to reach out to one another as we face the long and difficult recovery from the devastating hurricanes of Katrina and Rita.  Grounded in Scripture, may we all exemplify the qualities and character of Reverend Johns?love for God and one another, mutual respect, kindness, integrity, sound reason, and trust in our merciful God for His wisdom, His direction, His strength.

Rev. Walt Ehrhardt, Ed.D., and Deaconess Loraine Rathman, Ph.D., offer the following services:  counseling; facilitating small groups; conducting Bible studies; making presentations pertaining to disaster; providing programs for church-related community events, conducting retreats.

Emotional & Spiritual Care is here to serve you.

Call Loraine 504-481-4095 or Walt 504-481-4573.

VIA DE CRISTO

            April 17 - 20 is your chance to experience one of the most rewarding weekends ever.  You are invited to join us for a weekend of experiencing God's grace in a way you never have before.  It is a weekend you will never forget.

            We will gather at Judson Baptist Bible Camp in St. Francisville, LA, beginning around 7 on Thursday, April 17.  The weekend ends around 5 on Sunday, April 20.  The cost is $135 and includes room and all meals (and plenty of snacks).  If the money is a problem, please let Pastor Jim know.  We will be able to help out.

            If you have any questions about the weekend, ask Pastor Jim.  He will be on staff , as he is every year

            We would love to have you come.

WEDDING

           Mr. & Mrs. Ronnie Pohlman were married at Southern Oaks Plantation in New Orleans on Saturday, March 8, 2008 with Pastor Jim officiating.  Mrs. Pohlman is the former Ashley Nicole Chutz.  Ashley is the step-daughter and daughter of Larry & Julie (nee Monroe-Chutz) Houpy.

GABY'S SENIOR MOMENT

            A Sense of Belonging: it is right in the middle of the famous Hierarchy of Needs by Maslow in his 1943 paper "A Theory on Human Motivation".  This need for a sense of belonging has been sorely highlighted by the effects of Katrina, as she stripped us of contact to family and friends, even permanently displaced many of us.

            The task of finding a group to which to belong includes finding a church body to continue our Christian life with worship and fellowship.   Where to go to church? Should I change membership? Retain Gethsemane membership? Many say they still ?belong' to Gethsemane but want to become a part of wherever they made a new home. It is healthy to assimilate in the new home and join the church congregation that is now part of one's new life. However, it can be painful to sever old ties.  

     There is a compromise that some already have made: Associate Membership

From our constitution:

            "Associate members are persons holding a membership in other Christian congregations who wish to retain such membership but desire to participate in the life and mission of this congregation or persons who wish to retain a relationship with this congregation while being members of other congregations. They have all the privileges and duties of membership except voting rights and eligibility for elected offices or membership on the Congregation VPT of this congregation."

            So go ahead with your life. Fulfill that need of belonging and consider associate membership as a way to make that step a little easier for now.

      Gaby, always your Sister in Christ

EMAIL MUSINGS        ACTS 2:38

            An elderly woman had just returned to her home from an evening of church services, when she was startled by an intruder.  She caught the man in the act of robbing her home of its valuables and yelled: "Stop! Acts 2:38!", which is (Repent and be Baptized, in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins may be forgiven.)  The burglar stopped in his tracks.  The woman calmly called the police and explained what she had done.   As the officer cuffed the man to take him in, he asked the burglar: "Why did you just stand there? All the old lady did was yell a scripture to you."  "Scripture?" replied the burglar. "She said she had an Ax and Two 38s!"

            Knowing scripture can save your life - in more ways than one!

FAIR TRADE COFFEE & CHOCOLATE BARS

          Coffee and Chocolate Bars are for sale in the narthex of the church.  Prices are listed for coffee, organic chocolate bars & hot chocolate. You can place your money in the envelope provided. The LWR Fair Trade Coffee & Chocolate Project ensures that more of the money you spend on coffee and chocolate reaches the farmers who actually grow it.  Fair Trade coffee is a simple solution that means the difference?quite literally?between surviving and not surviving for small-scale coffee farmers.  For more information you can visit http://www.lwr.org/fairtrade/index.asp

A DAILY DEVOTIONAL OPPORTUNITY

            I want to alert you to a wonderful website that has brief Bible studies, suitable for individuals or small groups.  The studies are written by John & Robin McCullough-Bade from Baton Rouge.  They are based on each week's Gospel lesson and are only 2 pages long.  You can go directly to the devotions at the following website: 

www.elca.org/evangelizingChurch/DailyDiscipleship

May God bless you as you delve into his Word!

Pastor Jim

HE WILL KNOW YOU BY YOUR NAME

            Visitors? Old friends? your own kids? Admit it. You forget names just like most of us.  Thanks to a generous donation from a fellow member, we now have materials to print name tags. This would help us all. Please be sure to write down your name as you would like it to appear on your name tag on the list provided in the narthex or you can email it to Gaby at gabyhaze@aol.com

             Only God will remember all of us by our name. For the rest of us, we can wear a tag.