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Accent on Worship

I'm no theologian, but I would bet that the Church in all its wisdom ends the Season of Light, Epiphany, with the most spectacular light show of them all, the Transfiguration, for a reason. Then it goes into a time most of us would think of as dark, Lent. When I was reawakening to my own Christianity in the late 1970's, the Charismatic movement was sweeping the nation. Its energy captured my imagination and I could have sworn that the excitement I was feeling for the love of God was going to be with me always. In this "higher state of being,” I just knew that this is what I was missing the first time around. I can just hear myself saying the same words spoken by Peter, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." It is good, that's for sure, but it's not sustainable.

God gives us these glimpses of his glory occasionally, but that is exactly what they are, glimpses. We were never meant to stay in that place, because if we could - and for sure, most of us would - we would not grow. We would make our dwelling in that place and never come away from it. 

Jesus had things to do. He was on a mission. He calls us to follow, like he told his apostles to pack up and leave with him. We are invited along on this great and wonderful mission to bring the love of God and the salvation of Jesus to the world. We can't do that by sitting in awe and wonder over the feeling of being loved by God. Even Jesus, God's own Son, could not do that. We, like Jesus, have to roll up our sleeves and engage in a world full of sin and messiness. It is in that place of mission where we grow in faith.

Sometimes faith is the only thing to which we can cling. Much has been said and written about the last few years of Mother Theresa's life and her dark and despairing letters to friends, but I have no doubt she is a great and shining saint in heaven. She had the faith to continue to follow Jesus, by giving of herself so selflessly to the end of her life, even though in the end her cry was the cry of Jesus, wondering why God had forsaken her. 

The Transfiguration is often the beginning of a Christian awakening in this life, but it is not an end in itself. To follow Jesus is to glimpse his glory, and then follow him to the cross.

- Donna Pususta Neste

Important February Dates to Note

 Saturday, Feb. 2: The Presentation of Our Lord – Holy Eucharist at 7:00 p.m.
 Sunday, Feb. 3: Taste of Nigeria
 Tuesday, Feb. 5: Shrove Tuesday -Youth-sponsored Pancake Supper at 6 p.m. (Bring your palm branches from last Palm Sunday anytime between now and then! Please place them in the basket in the narthex).
 Wednesday, Feb. 6: Ash Wednesday - Holy Eucharist, with the Imposition of Ashes at Noon and 7 p.m.
 Sunday, Feb. 10: MFA Event: Music for Trumpet and Piano, 4 pm – Timothy Lovelace, piano and Charles Lazarus, trumpet
 Wednesdays, Feb. 13, 20, 27: Midweek Lenten Worship, Noon (Eucharist) and 7:00 p.m. (Evening Prayer).

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper

Join your friends from Mount Olive on Tuesday, February 5 at 6:00 p.m. for our annual youth-sponsored Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper. We’ll celebrate “Fat Tuesday” with a traditional pancake feed (this year with French toast, too!), after which we will burn palm branches from last year’s Palm Sunday observance. The burned palms will be used to make the ashes for the following day’s Ash Wednesday services.

First Sunday Food Collection

Mount Olive Neighborhood Action Committee reminds us that this Sunday, February 6, is the first Sunday of the month food collection. Non-perishable food items are gathered each first Sunday to help stock neighborhood food shelves. Please bring your donations to church with you this Sunday and place them in the grocery cart in the cloak room. Thanks for whatever help you can lend to this important effort. The need is greater than ever.

Taste of Nigeria

The Missions Committee will host Taste of Nigeria this Sunday, February 3. Plan to attend worship services, education hour and a banquet celebrating Nigerian culture, music and food and learn more about the missions in Nigeria. 

February Book Discussion

For it’s meeting on February 9, the Book Discussion Group will read The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman. All who would like to discuss this book are welcome to attend, beginning at 10:00 a.m, in the Chapel Lounge.

Church Library News

The church library is in need of a 12-inch table-top American globe (in good condition only). If you have one to donate, please speak to Leanna Kloempken. Thank you!

Adult Education for Sunday, February 3

In the Chapel Lounge: “Introducing Nigeria: Islam, Christianity, and Oil” led by Rev. Sekenwa Moses Briska and Brad Holt;
In the East Assembly Room: “Reading Matthew Together” (continuing).

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