First Timers at
Gethsemane Lutheran Church
Experience Community
Visiting a new church can be intimidating if you don’t know what to expect.
As soon as you enter the doors of Gethsemane Lutheran Church, you will be welcomed by a diverse group of believers. We sing, pray and worship together. We have services for all ages and even our youngest devotees are catered to with our youth activities.
We’re excited you’re thinking of visiting Gethsemane and look forward to you coming to worship with us. There’s a lot going on in our busy church and we want you to be comfortable feel free to get in touch to find out more and to discover how to make the most of your initial visit for you and your family. We can’t wait to meet you.
Membership at Gethsemane, ELCA
Membership means more than a person’s name on a church roster. Membership is about relationships. There’s a “together” aspect of being at Gethsemane which enjoys being together with a merciful God through faith, growing together as lifelong learners of Jesus, spending time together with one another in Christian friendship and support, and going out together into our communities and circles of friends to make a meaningful difference.
Our new member process aims at nurturing those relationships, which includes but is not limited to an agreement together on the truths of the Bible. Unity of belief is not the end, but a powerful beginning to an active church life at Gethsemane.
Togetherness in beliefs, then leads to a new member process that nurtures togetherness in relationships with God, church and community.
Interested in Membership?
Because scripture tells us that the Church is the Body of Christ, membership is an important and special gift and opportunity to grow and serve alongside others. The Church draws new people into itself as it seeks to remain faithful to its commission to proclaim and exemplify the gospel. Membership involves an answer of faith as well as a commitment to discipleship, to one another, and to the ministries of the church through one’s prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. If you are interested in officially joining Gethsemane, ELCA as a member, there are a few avenues you can take depending upon your church background.
What’s Next
Gethsemane encourages you to get involved in the life of the church and offers several ways for you to grow together with your fellow Christians and also to share your talents and gifts.
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Pray: One of the most important ways you can get involved is to make a commitment to pray regularly.
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Worship: Regular attendance and participation in worship is important for you as a growing Christian and also for the church as a whole. Worship is a powerful and important part of the life of any believer in Christ, as God’s true grace and forgiveness flow to the people attending, while their praise and thanksgiving is returned. In light of the Bible’s teaching that God’s grace is delivered to us through the Word and Sacraments, we value worship as more than just praise and thanksgiving.
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Study: Being “in the Word” regularly and growing as a Disciple of Jesus Christ is not only beneficial but commanded by our Lord. Besides our Sunday Christian Education classes for all ages, we offer various Bible studies and Small Group opportunities throughout the week, month and year. These classes and study groups provide not only opportunity to grow in God’s Word but also the chance to meet others and grow together in Christian friendship. Get connected to one or more Christian education classes or study groups by visiting our Get Involved page.
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Serve: As Disciples who seek to follow in the way of Jesus Christ, we need to do as Jesus did to nourish and strengthen our relationship with God. At Gethsemane, members serve in many and various ways to provide ministries to one another. We hope each person will discover an area of service which brings them joy and strengthens their faith. There are many opportunities to become involved in Ministry Opportunities at Gethsemane. Visit our Ministries page for information on some of the service opportunities available and be sure to fill out a Time & Talent form.
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Give: All that we have comes from God. Learn more about giving by visiting our Ministries/Mission page.
Interested in learning more about becoming a member?
Contact Pastor Perrie Dralle at Pastor@Gethsemane-elca.org
or call the church office at 262-782-8370 for more information
What We Believe
At the Heart of Everything We Do
As devoted members of Gethsemane Lutheran Church, we are constantly pursuing the calling to be fully devoted followers of Christ. To build a true heaven on Earth, we live life based on the teachings of the Bible, are passionate about prayer and are grounded in spiritual accountability. If you are interested in joining our Church and grow in faith, please reach out. We would love for you to visit and get to know you.
Welcome Our Newest Members at Gethsemane
Fall 2023
