Accent on Worship
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
It has been a full year. Well, not quite. A full year minus a few weeks. But my time at Mount Olive as your Vicar has been full of challenges and opportunities and learning and growth. I am thankful to you and I am thankful to God for all of it. I am thankful for you, each of you. Thanks to Cha, thanks to the Vestry and to Cantor Cherwein, and to William, our sexton. Thanks, especially, to Pastor Crippen, and to my intern committee members, for their specific guidance and support during my vicarage. I have grown in my skills and perspectives and hopes. I am not the same person who sat in the pew on September 4, 2011. And I suspect you are not the same congregation that I first encountered that day! I trust that the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, has been actively working in all of us. Thinking about God active in us is a bit scary and a lot inspiring, don’t you think? Imagine where God will bring us next!
That same Triune God will hold all of us in grace and will and guide all of us — me, as I return to Luther Seminary for my senior year; and also you, the congregation of Mount Olive, as you welcome Vicar Neal Cannon to the Vicar’s office and ministry. I know you will be as gracious to him as you were to me.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
– Vicar Erik Doughty
Sunday Readings
August 5, 2012 – Time after Pentecost, Sunday 18
Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15 + Psalm 78:23-29
Ephesians 4:1-16 + John 6:16-35
August 12, 2012 – Time after Pentecost, Sunday 19
1 Kings 19:4-8 + Psalm 34:1-8
Ephesians 4:25—5:2 + John 6:35, 41-45
August 19, 2012 – Time after Pentecost, Sunday 20
Proverbs 9:1-6 + Psalm 34:9-14
Ephesians 5:15-20 + John 6:51-58
Phil Knutson Reception This Sunday
Phil Knutson, the ELCA representative in South Africa and friend of Mount Olive, will be visiting the Twin Cities. All Mount Olive members and friends are invited to a reception for Phil Knutson at the home of Donn and Bonnie McLellan, Sunday, August 5, 5:00 p.m.
Mount Olive has sponsored Phil Knutson’s work in South Africa for many, many years. He has experience working for the ELCA during the apartheid era as well as now in post-apartheid South Africa. He has been a good friend and partner to Mount Olive. Phil will share information about his work and answer questions, and we, in turn, can offer him encouragement, support, and hospitality.
All who are interesting in attending the reception at Donn and Bonnie McClellan’s home should please RSVP to Donn and Bonnie at agathach@bitstream.net or call 952-452-2049.
Donn and Bonnie McLellan will send directions. It will be a very fun, very casual reception. Thank you to Donn and Bonnie for hosting.
Book Discussion Group
Mount Olive’s Book Discussion group regularly meets on the second Saturday of each month at 10:00 a.m. For the August 11 meeting they will read The Razor’s Edge, by W. Somerset Maugham, and for September 8, The Sparrow, by Mary Doria Russell. All readers welcome!
Mary, Mother of Our Lord
Wednesday, August 15
Holy Eucharist, 7:00 pm
Gethsemane Episcopal Church
Minneapolis, MN
For a number of years Mount Olive has joined with our sisters and brothers at Gethsemane Episcopal Church in downtown Minneapolis for a shared liturgy on the feast day of St. Mary, the mother of our Lord, August 15. Every year one congregation hosts and the other provides a preacher. This year we are at Gethsemane, Wednesday, August 15, at 7:00 p.m. for this Eucharist.
Men’s Ensemble
Men are invited to join together to sing for the August 12 Eucharist. There will be one rehearsal, on THURSDAY, August 9, at 7:00, for one hour. This group will also sing several liturgical things and an anthem for men’s voices. Cantor Cherwien will lead this ensemble.
Garden Party and Picnic
Mark your calendars now for Wednesday, August 29, the date set for the annual Mount Olive Women Garden Party and Picnic, to be held at the home of Gail Nielsen, 4248 12th Avenue South, Minneapolis, starting about 4:30 p.m. In order to plan for enough food, please RSVP to Leanna Kloempken at 952/888-1023, or to the church office, by or before Monday, August 27. And yes, Gail says “men are welcome too!”
Keep the Vestry in Prayer
The Vestry will meet on Saturday, Aug. 11, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. for conversation and discernment regarding the direction God is leading Mount Olive. This visioning session will consider our mission and ministry in this place, and what God would have us become. Please keep your Vestry in prayer as they do this important and exciting task!
Wingspan Uganda Project Benefit
Peterson Toscano, a highly regarded theatrical performance activist, will perform twice to benefit Wingspan’s Uganda Project, supporting Bishop Christopher Senyonjo’s efforts to secure safety & dignity for GLBT persons in Uganda. Events are on August 9 and 10.
For more information and tickets, visit www.stpaulref.org/wingspan
