Education for Christians of All Ages

Education Hour at Mount Olive is between services at 9:30 during the fall, winter and spring; and at 11:00 during the summer, following the single worship service. It is a time for members of all ages to gather and learn more about our faith through teaching, discussion and song.

Education for Children

Sunday Church School

At Mount Olive, children are full participants in the worship life of the congregation. Helping them to understand what goes on in the liturgy, and teaching them how to sing and to lead by singing, is one focus of our Sunday Church School.

Children learn about God's all-embracing love for them in Jesus Christ, and grow in knowledge and appreciation of the Bible, worship, music, and discipleship by:

• Learning Bible stories and passages, which includes committing a little of God's Word to memory each week
• The forms and rituals of worship, “sight-singing” (reading music), and other music skills
• Participating with other children and adults in worship, creative activities, ministry opportunities, and fellowship

Sunday Church School begins at 9:30 on Sunday mornings, September through May. All age groups meet together for opening prayer and a period of “worship discovery” and choir time. The children then go to their classrooms for Bible study and craft activities based upon the scripture readings which are being used in the worship service on that day (the “lectionary”). 

As a part of Church School, the children prepare to sing in church as a choir, and about once a month they help to lead congregational song during worship.

Important Church School Dates for 2007-2008

Education for Adults

Adult Forums

The following Forums meet on Sunday mornings, beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the Chapel Lounge.

November 
4 – A Conversation with Richard Bliese, president of Luther Sminary
11 - Seven Days a Week" - presented by Beth Gaede 
18 - "Seven Days a Week"   part 2 
25 – "Love"  - presented by Al Bostelmann

December
2 - "Love"  part 2
9 - A Scandinavian Brunch with a presentation by Susan Cherwien on Scandinavian holiday traditions
16 - "Seven Days a Week"  part 3
23 - No Adult Forum this day ("Reading Matthew Together WILL meet)
30 - No Adult Education this day

January
6, 13 - "Love"  parts 3 and 4
20 - Youth Civic Engagement Project - presented by Donna Neste
27 - Estate  Planning - presented by Dennis Bidwell of the Mount Olive Foundation

Reading Matthew Together

A second Sunday Adult Education opportunity is being held each week. It ise held concurrently with the above offerings, beginning also at 9:30, in the East Assembly Room. Dwight Penas is leading an ongoing Bible study, “Reading Matthew Together.”  This study began Sept 16. and will end when their reading of the Gospel of Matthew is complete. 

“Reading Matthew Together” is not a lecture, but rather a collaborative enterprise. It is a chance for members of the group to read the Gospel of Matthew and to share insights, questions, doubts and ideas about the Gospel. The leader will simply provide background information, questions and challenges to enhance the discussion. Commitment to attend all sessions is not necessary. The format of on-going discussion allows participants the freedom to come and go as they wish. In fact, it is expected that many will attend other Adult Forum presentations and then rejoin the Matthew discussion. Everyone is invited: Bring your Bible and let us study Matthew together.

Listening to Scripture with the Heart

This group has been meeting Thursday evenings to share in Lectio Divina and other meditations. Along this journey of prayerful listening, Elizabeth J. Canham’s book, Heart Whispers - Benedictine Wisdom for Today, is our guide. 

They have only a few sessions left: Nov. 1, November 29, December 6, and December 13.

Additional opportunities for group work in spiritual deepening are being considered. Stay tuned for more information about this in coming months. Contact Diana Hellerman, Director of Adult Education, with queries or expressions of interest in future offerings.

Adult Education

Liturgy Conference

In our Annual Conference on Liturgy, we seek to gather people from every aspect of the church's ministry to convene on a wide variety of topics relating to worship in our world. We have much to learn and much to share, so that the vitality of worship might grow across the church.

Sunday Adult Forum

There's always something new to learn in our regular Sunday morning Adult Forum sessions. There may be a special guest speaker, a film, or a series of bible studies. Upcoming topics are often announced in the newsletter, The Olive Branch.

Theological Discussion Group

Here's a group of theologically curious thinkers with a diverse array of experiences and perspectives. On the first Sunday of each month, after the worship and activities of the morning are over, this group sticks around to share a light lunch and a hearty round of doctrinal and spiritual debate. The topics are usually based upon a book that the group has been reading.