Accent on Worship

Crazy news we have seen in the last few weeks! Historic decisions came from the Supreme Court, including same-gender marriage and changes to the Voting Rights Act. Donald Trump was fired, and escaped convicts captured.  Greece faces financial ruin, and acts of terror and the spread of ISIS threaten people across the world. And President Obama eulogized Reverend Clementa Pinckney, and the FBI is investigating fires at several black churches in the south (3 confirmed arson at last count). Taken all together, it feels pretty chaotic. I find myself getting overwhelmed, and wonder, when is God going to straighten out this crazy world we live in?

And then, in this week’s reading from Mark, after describing how Jesus’ childhood neighbors resisted believing that Jesus has power from God, there is this: “And he could do no deed of power there . . .” What? Jesus can’t perform miracles because people don’t believe? This sounds like a “fake preacher” movie starring Steve Martin!

Matthew 13:58 reads differently: “And [Jesus] did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.” Not that he couldn’t, but simply did’t. Either way, it hints of a requirement of belief for miracles to take place! With the reality of the violence of racism revealed at Emanuel AME fresh in my mind, I wonder . . . if belief is required for miracles, whose belief, exactly?

The words of African American theologian and minister Crystal St. Marie Lewis echo in my mind: “Is it possible that our prayers for God to somehow “fix” the world seem unheard because we don’t yet see ourselves as the answers to those prayers?”

We—not “we” as in white-people-only or “we” as in Mount-Olive-members-only, but an all-encompassing corporate “we” that propels us into the community. God has created each human being to work for the realization of the kingdom of God. “We” are the answers to our prayers. God is waiting on us. Are “we” ready?

– Vicar Meagan McLaughlin

Sunday Readings

July 5, 2015: 6th Sunday after Pentecost, 14 B
 Ezekiel 2:1-5
Psalm 123
2 Corinthians 12:2-10
Mark 6:1-13
______________

July 12, 2015: 7th Sunday after Pentecost, 15 B
Amos 7:7-15
Psalm 85:8-13
Ephesians 1:3-14
Mark 6:14-29

Meet Our Missionary July 12

     After church on Sunday, July 12, grab some coffee and a seat and spend some time getting to know Karen Anderson, our ELCA missionary to Chile. We support Karen through the ELCA and her community health work through our support of EPES/ (Educación Popular En Salud) Action for Health in the Americas. Karen had wanted to be with us when we celebrated the Taste of Chile a few years ago, but at that time her delayed flight kept her away. Now is our chance to catch up with Karen, learn about her commitment to developing strong community health organizations that meet the real needs of the communities they serve, from strengthening prenatal health to helping rebuild after a community fire to campaigning to end smoking. And even more: Karen and her team are now reaching out to teach com-munity health techniques to community workers through-out Central and South America, and even to those working in Africa. Through our support of Karen we have real impact in improving health and lives in Chile.

     Save the date. Save the time. Join the conversation.

Olive Branch Summer Publication

     During the summer months of June, July, and August, The Olive Branch is published every other week. The next issue will be published on July 15.

     If you have information to be published in the July 15 issue, please have that information to the church office by Monday, July 13.

 July Vestry Meeting Rescheduled

     To accommodate Pr. Crippen’s schedule, the Vestry will have its July meeting on Monday, July 20, rather than the regularly scheduled date of July 13.  Pr. Crippen will be accompanying youth to the ELCA 2015 Youth Gathering in Detroit during the week of July 13.

     The Vestry meetings are always open to congregation members, and are usually held on the second Monday of each month at 7:00 pm.

Book Discussion Group Update

     Mount Olive’s Book Discussion Group meets on the second Saturday of each month, at 10:00 am in the West Assembly Area at church. All readers are welcome!     For July 11 meeting, they will read, Bleak House, by Charles Dickens, and for August 8 the collection of essays, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, by David Sedaris.

Spiritual Gifts Workshop

     Have you been asking yourself these questions? What gifts has God given me?  Where is God calling me now? How can I be the presence of God for those around me?

     Explore these questions and more at this workshop!

Unwrapping Your Spiritual Gifts:
Saturday, July 25, 8:30 a.m.–noon
Mount Olive Lutheran Church
Workshop Leaders: Connie Marty and
Vicar Meagan McLaughlin

Before the workshop, take an online gifts inventory: www.elca.org/Our-Work/Congregations-and-Synods/Faith-Practices/Assessment-Tools
 
RSVP Required: Vicar McLaughlin at 612.827.5919 or vicar@mountolivechurch.org.

The Diaper Depot Needs You!’

     The Diaper Depot is open Tuesdays (4:30-6:30) and Thursdays (1:30-3:30) each week. Dozens of families make their way to Mount Olive each week for this extra support. Please consider if you can help any day this summer – just two hours of greeting families and neighbors who need diapers! Call Anna Kingman 612-827-5910 for more info and thank you.

Mark your Calendars for Wednesday, August 5: Transitions Support Group

     All are welcome to visit the Transitions Support Group meetings if you’ve been hoping to find new ideas or encouragement to meet the challenges or uncertainties that are before you. This is an opportunity to share in fellowship, prayer, and discussion with others in the Mount Olive community.

     The next session meets on Wednesday, August 5, from 6- 7 pm at Mount Olive in the lower level Youth Room, and will be facilitated by Amy Cotter and Cathy Bosworth.  

     If you have questions, please contact Cathy at 612-708-1144 or marcat8447@yahoo.com.

Donations Needed!

     Mount Olive and another ELCA congregation will be assisting Pr. Helge Voigt and his family from Leipzig, Germany, (friends of this congregation), as they spend a year in Minneapolis to study and work beginning in August.        

     Please click on the link below (or cut and paste, if needed), to be taken to the wish list of items.   You can sign up on line and then we’ll get in contact with you with details.

     Scour your closets and donate to the Voigts!  Cash and gift cards are also welcomed, as noted on the sign-up sheet.

     We also need moving vehicles and people to help, dates TBD.   For questions, contact Lora Dundek at 651/645-6636 or by email to lhdundek@usfamily.net.

http://www.jooners.com/guest?l=45905ed6-a225-4f5e-a7ba-b7e7edad8a64

Flour, Sugar and Oil, Oh Yeah

A request from our ACTS summer program kids and helpers:      

     After working at the Community Emergency Services food shelf this week, we noticed totally bare shelves above the flour, sugar and oil labels. We asked. We found out that these are items most needed and least donated. We encourage you to fill those shelves!  

     Place your donations in the marked spot in the coat room. Thanks.

Bargain Box

     What’s better than the start of a new school year? Making sure that all children have clothes and school supplies to make school something to look forward to!

     On Saturday, August 1, Bargain Box will sell new and gently-used clothing for kids. School supplies will be distributed to all children at the Community Meal. Each year, we are able to supply about 100 students with clothes and school supplies, which makes going back to school fun for kids and much easier for parents!

     You can help by volunteer-ing a few hours on that day, by bringing donations of gently used kids’ clothes, by donating new and gently used back-packs, or by making a mone-tary donation to purchase school supplies.

     On Sundays July 5, 12, and 19, someone from the Neighborhood Ministries Committee will be outside the lounge during the coffee hour to receive your donations.

     Thank you for making this annual ministry so successful!

News From the Neighborhood     
                                     
Profiles: conversations

     Having the role of Coordinator of Neighborhood Outreach and Ministry is a really amazing position. It’s challenging to walk through hardships with others and learn how to best support people. It’s immensely gratifying to see relief and hope and abundant blessings. It’s also really fun to chat with moms at the Diaper Depot or get to sort food with ACTS kids or play games after tutoring. But the most wonderful part of this role is the ability and (dare I say) call to actively pursue positive change and betterment for the neighborhood that Mount Olive is a part of and each one that our members and sojourners goes home to. It’s been all about conversations; talking with Meagan about how to recognize and address the complicated subject of racism, or to an Ethiopian Muslim man from LSS on respectful behavior at a mosque, to chatting with a forlorn woman over a bowl of soup after she literally bathed in the bathroom sink after days of unpaid work. All of these things, and so many more good, meaningful conversations make this job a ministry.

     We all have this opportunity within our lives. We all come across people we do not know or do not understand or do not appreciate, and we have an opportunity to start conversations in good faith with open hearts. It’s how we will all, in this big, broad, broken world, go about healing and hoping with one another. Where, when, and how are you starting new conversations and being a good neighbor?

P.S. I’m learning how to do that well, so any conversations or advice are always welcome.

Summer ACTS

     Summer ACTS is providing jobs for 19 neighborhood youth and it’s going great! It’s a fun group of youth, helped and mentored by some wonderful adults and we still need mentors to make it through the end on July 16. Yet to come: Stone’s Throw Urban Farm, the Minneapolis Police Dept., Handyworks home help, and an art project. If you can be a part in these kids’ life and this program any Monday – Thursday through July 16, from 10am – 2pm, please let me know: neighborhood@mountolivechurch.org or by calling 612-827-5910. Thank you.

Celebrate Ramadan with our Muslim Neighbors!

     Ramadan is the month on the Islamic lunar calendar during which Muslims abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset, each day the fast is broken with a meal called Iftar. The Minnesota Council of Churches and the Muslim American Society of Minnesota is hosting a series of open houses at area mosques. Attend an iftar dinner in your area! There is no charge, but RSVP required.

     Anna Kingman and Vicar Meagan will attend the dinner on July 7, at Dar al-Hajira Mosque. The link below will take you to registration for all the events scheduled for Ramadan this year. Hope you can join us!

http://mnchurches.org/respectfulcommunities/interfaithprogramming/takingheart/registration.html

Open Space Event on June 20, 2015: The Neighborhood Garage Sale

     Mount Olive hosted a community-wide garage sale in the OPEN SPACE of our church parking lot on June 20. Thank you to all who participated and made this activity a success. There were 12 vendors selling their goods; 5 members and 7 neighbors. There were 16 Mount Olive member volunteers whose main role was to be the presence of God for our guests! They put up handmade signs to draw in the guest shoppers, offered assistance to the vendors as they unloaded and set up, directed cars for parking in the lot, welcomed at our south church door to greet guests for tours of the building, and joined in the community meal over the lunch hour. Here are some comments from those who volunteered:

“I liked the mix of Mount Olive vendors and neighborhood vendors.”
“I didn’t hear any complaining from anyone – the feeling was almost celebratory.”
“The comments I heard as they came in to the church were positive. They liked having it in the area.
Also gave people a chance to come in to the church which many of them liked.”

     Yes, we literally opened our doors and our space which gave us a chance to show that we are part of the neighborhood, not just talk about it. Check out photos from the day in the main display case and watch for the next Open Space event coming up in August!

– Connie Marty and the Open Space Leadership Team

Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Conference

July 31-Aug 2, 2015 – Augsburg College, Minneapolis

     At the end of July we have an opportunity to show our support and commitment to the RIC program and to be a voice to the many other congregations in the ELCA who have not become RIC congregations.

     The National Reconciling Works Assembly and RIC conference is being held at Augsburg College July 31-August 2. If you would like to attend, visit www.reconcilingworks.org to register. If you cannot attend the entire conference, consider attending the July 31 gala. Gala tickets are $40 there will be a dinner and silent auction.  If you or you and your spouse would like to attend the gala please call or email me so I can get you on the list.  (Paul Nixdorf – 612-296-0055; pn@paulnixdorf.com )

     We are collecting items for the silent auction, asking each RIC congregation to assemble a set of items to be placed in the silent auction at the gala.  If you have ideas or know of that we can assemble for the silent auction please call me.
– Paul Nixdorf

Accent on Worship

Crazy news we have seen in the last few weeks! Historic decisions came from the Supreme Court, including same-gender marriage and changes to the Voting Rights Act. Donald Trump was fired, and escaped convicts captured.  Greece faces financial ruin, and acts of terror and the spread of ISIS threaten people across the world. And President Obama eulogized Reverend Clementa Pinckney, and the FBI is investigating fires at several black churches in the south (3 confirmed arson at last count). Taken all together, it feels pretty chaotic. I find myself getting overwhelmed, and wonder, when is God going to straighten out this crazy world we live in?

And then, in this week’s reading from Mark, after describing how Jesus’ childhood neighbors resisted believing that Jesus has power from God, there is this: “And he could do no deed of power there . . .” What? Jesus can’t perform miracles because people don’t believe? This sounds like a “fake preacher” movie starring Steve Martin!

Matthew 13:58 reads differently: “And [Jesus] did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.” Not that he couldn’t, but simply did’t. Either way, it hints of a requirement of belief for miracles to take place! With the reality of the violence of racism revealed at Emanuel AME fresh in my mind, I wonder . . . if belief is required for miracles, whose belief, exactly?

The words of African American theologian and minister Crystal St. Marie Lewis echo in my mind: “Is it possible that our prayers for God to somehow “fix” the world seem unheard because we don’t yet see ourselves as the answers to those prayers?”

We—not “we” as in white-people-only or “we” as in Mount-Olive-members-only, but an all-encompassing corporate “we” that propels us into the community. God has created each human being to work for the realization of the kingdom of God. “We” are the answers to our prayers. God is waiting on us. Are “we” ready?

– Vicar Meagan McLaughlin

Sunday Readings

July 5, 2015: 6th Sunday after Pentecost, 14 B
 Ezekiel 2:1-5
Psalm 123
2 Corinthians 12:2-10
Mark 6:1-13
______________

July 12, 2015: 7th Sunday after Pentecost, 15 B
Amos 7:7-15
Psalm 85:8-13
Ephesians 1:3-14
Mark 6:14-29

Meet Our Missionary July 12

     After church on Sunday, July 12, grab some coffee and a seat and spend some time getting to know Karen Anderson, our ELCA missionary to Chile. We support Karen through the ELCA and her community health work through our support of EPES/ (Educación Popular En Salud) Action for Health in the Americas. Karen had wanted to be with us when we celebrated the Taste of Chile a few years ago, but at that time her delayed flight kept her away. Now is our chance to catch up with Karen, learn about her commitment to developing strong community health organizations that meet the real needs of the communities they serve, from strengthening prenatal health to helping rebuild after a community fire to campaigning to end smoking. And even more: Karen and her team are now reaching out to teach com-munity health techniques to community workers through-out Central and South America, and even to those working in Africa. Through our support of Karen we have real impact in improving health and lives in Chile.

     Save the date. Save the time. Join the conversation.

Olive Branch Summer Publication

     During the summer months of June, July, and August, The Olive Branch is published every other week. The next issue will be published on July 15.

     If you have information to be published in the July 15 issue, please have that information to the church office by Monday, July 13.

 July Vestry Meeting Rescheduled

     To accommodate Pr. Crippen’s schedule, the Vestry will have its July meeting on Monday, July 20, rather than the regularly scheduled date of July 13.  Pr. Crippen will be accompanying youth to the ELCA 2015 Youth Gathering in Detroit during the week of July 13.

     The Vestry meetings are always open to congregation members, and are usually held on the second Monday of each month at 7:00 pm.

Book Discussion Group Update

     Mount Olive’s Book Discussion Group meets on the second Saturday of each month, at 10:00 am in the West Assembly Area at church. All readers are welcome!     For July 11 meeting, they will read, Bleak House, by Charles Dickens, and for August 8 the collection of essays, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, by David Sedaris.

Spiritual Gifts Workshop

     Have you been asking yourself these questions? What gifts has God given me?  Where is God calling me now? How can I be the presence of God for those around me?

     Explore these questions and more at this workshop!

Unwrapping Your Spiritual Gifts:
Saturday, July 25, 8:30 a.m.–noon
Mount Olive Lutheran Church
Workshop Leaders: Connie Marty and
Vicar Meagan McLaughlin

Before the workshop, take an online gifts inventory: www.elca.org/Our-Work/Congregations-and-Synods/Faith-Practices/Assessment-Tools
 
RSVP Required: Vicar McLaughlin at 612.827.5919 or vicar@mountolivechurch.org.

The Diaper Depot Needs You!’

     The Diaper Depot is open Tuesdays (4:30-6:30) and Thursdays (1:30-3:30) each week. Dozens of families make their way to Mount Olive each week for this extra support. Please consider if you can help any day this summer – just two hours of greeting families and neighbors who need diapers! Call Anna Kingman 612-827-5910 for more info and thank you.

Mark your Calendars for Wednesday, August 5: Transitions Support Group

     All are welcome to visit the Transitions Support Group meetings if you’ve been hoping to find new ideas or encouragement to meet the challenges or uncertainties that are before you. This is an opportunity to share in fellowship, prayer, and discussion with others in the Mount Olive community.

     The next session meets on Wednesday, August 5, from 6- 7 pm at Mount Olive in the lower level Youth Room, and will be facilitated by Amy Cotter and Cathy Bosworth.  

     If you have questions, please contact Cathy at 612-708-1144 or marcat8447@yahoo.com.

Donations Needed!

     Mount Olive and another ELCA congregation will be assisting Pr. Helge Voigt and his family from Leipzig, Germany, (friends of this congregation), as they spend a year in Minneapolis to study and work beginning in August.        

     Please click on the link below (or cut and paste, if needed), to be taken to the wish list of items.   You can sign up on line and then we’ll get in contact with you with details.

     Scour your closets and donate to the Voigts!  Cash and gift cards are also welcomed, as noted on the sign-up sheet.

     We also need moving vehicles and people to help, dates TBD.   For questions, contact Lora Dundek at 651/645-6636 or by email to lhdundek@usfamily.net.

http://www.jooners.com/guest?l=45905ed6-a225-4f5e-a7ba-b7e7edad8a64

Flour, Sugar and Oil, Oh Yeah

A request from our ACTS summer program kids and helpers:      

     After working at the Community Emergency Services food shelf this week, we noticed totally bare shelves above the flour, sugar and oil labels. We asked. We found out that these are items most needed and least donated. We encourage you to fill those shelves!  

     Place your donations in the marked spot in the coat room. Thanks.

Bargain Box

     What’s better than the start of a new school year? Making sure that all children have clothes and school supplies to make school something to look forward to!

     On Saturday, August 1, Bargain Box will sell new and gently-used clothing for kids. School supplies will be distributed to all children at the Community Meal. Each year, we are able to supply about 100 students with clothes and school supplies, which makes going back to school fun for kids and much easier for parents!

     You can help by volunteer-ing a few hours on that day, by bringing donations of gently used kids’ clothes, by donating new and gently used back-packs, or by making a mone-tary donation to purchase school supplies.

     On Sundays July 5, 12, and 19, someone from the Neighborhood Ministries Committee will be outside the lounge during the coffee hour to receive your donations.

     Thank you for making this annual ministry so successful!

News From the Neighborhood     
                                     
Profiles: conversations

     Having the role of Coordinator of Neighborhood Outreach and Ministry is a really amazing position. It’s challenging to walk through hardships with others and learn how to best support people. It’s immensely gratifying to see relief and hope and abundant blessings. It’s also really fun to chat with moms at the Diaper Depot or get to sort food with ACTS kids or play games after tutoring. But the most wonderful part of this role is the ability and (dare I say) call to actively pursue positive change and betterment for the neighborhood that Mount Olive is a part of and each one that our members and sojourners goes home to. It’s been all about conversations; talking with Meagan about how to recognize and address the complicated subject of racism, or to an Ethiopian Muslim man from LSS on respectful behavior at a mosque, to chatting with a forlorn woman over a bowl of soup after she literally bathed in the bathroom sink after days of unpaid work. All of these things, and so many more good, meaningful conversations make this job a ministry.

     We all have this opportunity within our lives. We all come across people we do not know or do not understand or do not appreciate, and we have an opportunity to start conversations in good faith with open hearts. It’s how we will all, in this big, broad, broken world, go about healing and hoping with one another. Where, when, and how are you starting new conversations and being a good neighbor?

P.S. I’m learning how to do that well, so any conversations or advice are always welcome.

Summer ACTS

     Summer ACTS is providing jobs for 19 neighborhood youth and it’s going great! It’s a fun group of youth, helped and mentored by some wonderful adults and we still need mentors to make it through the end on July 16. Yet to come: Stone’s Throw Urban Farm, the Minneapolis Police Dept., Handyworks home help, and an art project. If you can be a part in these kids’ life and this program any Monday – Thursday through July 16, from 10am – 2pm, please let me know: neighborhood@mountolivechurch.org or by calling 612-827-5910. Thank you.

Celebrate Ramadan with our Muslim Neighbors!

     Ramadan is the month on the Islamic lunar calendar during which Muslims abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset, each day the fast is broken with a meal called Iftar. The Minnesota Council of Churches and the Muslim American Society of Minnesota is hosting a series of open houses at area mosques. Attend an iftar dinner in your area! There is no charge, but RSVP required.

     Anna Kingman and Vicar Meagan will attend the dinner on July 7, at Dar al-Hajira Mosque. The link below will take you to registration for all the events scheduled for Ramadan this year. Hope you can join us!

http://mnchurches.org/respectfulcommunities/interfaithprogramming/takingheart/registration.html

Open Space Event on June 20, 2015: The Neighborhood Garage Sale

     Mount Olive hosted a community-wide garage sale in the OPEN SPACE of our church parking lot on June 20. Thank you to all who participated and made this activity a success. There were 12 vendors selling their goods; 5 members and 7 neighbors. There were 16 Mount Olive member volunteers whose main role was to be the presence of God for our guests! They put up handmade signs to draw in the guest shoppers, offered assistance to the vendors as they unloaded and set up, directed cars for parking in the lot, welcomed at our south church door to greet guests for tours of the building, and joined in the community meal over the lunch hour. Here are some comments from those who volunteered:

“I liked the mix of Mount Olive vendors and neighborhood vendors.”
“I didn’t hear any complaining from anyone – the feeling was almost celebratory.”
“The comments I heard as they came in to the church were positive. They liked having it in the area.
Also gave people a chance to come in to the church which many of them liked.”

     Yes, we literally opened our doors and our space which gave us a chance to show that we are part of the neighborhood, not just talk about it. Check out photos from the day in the main display case and watch for the next Open Space event coming up in August!

– Connie Marty and the Open Space Leadership Team

Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Conference

July 31-Aug 2, 2015 – Augsburg College, Minneapolis

     At the end of July we have an opportunity to show our support and commitment to the RIC program and to be a voice to the many other congregations in the ELCA who have not become RIC congregations.

     The National Reconciling Works Assembly and RIC conference is being held at Augsburg College July 31-August 2. If you would like to attend, visit www.reconcilingworks.org to register. If you cannot attend the entire conference, consider attending the July 31 gala. Gala tickets are $40 there will be a dinner and silent auction.  If you or you and your spouse would like to attend the gala please call or email me so I can get you on the list.  (Paul Nixdorf – 612-296-0055; pn@paulnixdorf.com )

     We are collecting items for the silent auction, asking each RIC congregation to assemble a set of items to be placed in the silent auction at the gala.  If you have ideas or know of that we can assemble for the silent auction please call me.
– Paul Nixdorf

Accent on Worship

“Cantor”:  What does this mean?

     I was called to Mount Olive with the title “Cantor.”  I’ve learned that we (Lutherans) have a particular understanding of that role which is not shared among all who use the term.  A Jewish “Cantor” is one who act-ually sings.  In current Roman Catholic practice, a “Cantor” stands in front of the assembly and sings and gestures, with the goal of inviting the assembly to join the singing.  Verses may be sung by this person, with every-one joining for a refrain.

     For us (and for me), “Cantor” is better defined as the steward of the congregation’s song.  The Lutheran Cantor doesn’t sing for you, but facilitates (encourages/enables) and cares for the assembly’s song.

     First, this involves decisions about what is sung.  Those decisions have many contributing factors.  Of course it means making sure we offer the best we can – discerning what is worth the time and effort to offer up to God in song or, over the long haul, what is worth adding to the communal memory bank.  Another factor is ensuring that a sense of “we” remains important, so that we are not tempted to have the goal of satisfying individual’s subjective preferences – including those of Cantors themselves!

     Then it is the Cantor’s task to be sure the assembly has what they need to sing the song, clearly knowing what it is they are to sing,  and when they are to sing it.  This means access to both text and music.  It is inhospitable to provide words only as there are always folks in any given assembly who DO know how to read music and can do their part to help.

     Any directions for unified singing and maintaining vitality are also the Cantor’s responsibilities.  Tempo, when to breathe, and even “how” to sing a particular melody and text meaningfully can be encouraged by the Cantor.  Gregorian chant with its mystical flow is quite different from Renaissance Chorale with its rhythmic dance!  Some texts are full-bodied praise, others are muted prayer.

     Most of these “unifications” occur with the help of the organ, sometimes the piano, choir, or even drums!  This Cantor feels best, however, if these tools feel almost unnecessary –because it means the congregation has understood and is able to clearly and vibrantly sing.  The singing is always the point.  When that is going strong, the organ is free to bring out the text and its meaning.

     As always, I pray for full-bodied singing every time we gather.  It’s like nothing else and it is very hospitable to folks who aren’t used to singing in public.  Do your part: sing out!

– Cantor David Cherwien

Sunday Readings

June 21, 2015: 4th Sunday after Pentecost, 12 B
Job 38:1-11
Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32
2 Corinthians 6:1-13
Mark 4:35-41
______________

June 28, 2015: 5th Sunday after Pentecost, 13 B
Lamentations 3:22-33
Psalm 30
2 Corinthians 8:7-15
Mark 5:21-43

Quick Look: Our General Fund Giving

+28% = May giving, compared with May 2014
+9% = Year-to-date giving, compared with the same period in 2014
98% = Year-to-date expenses covered by gifts
122% = May expenses covered by May gifts

Yes, May was a very good month! Thanks for generous and faithful giving. Our challenge remains: to have that second percentage (here 9%) at or above 7% at the close of the year. Remember, we’ve often experienced a summer slump in giving. Regarding that 122% above note that Mount Olive’s general fund expenses can and do vary from month to month.

     Credit for the above way of showing trends in our general fund giving goes to outgoing treasurer Kat Campbell-Johnson. She’s for some time provided this information on the first page of her detailed monthly treasurer’s reports, and it’s my sense that vestry members and other leaders have found it clear and helpful. Miss the dollar figures? Don’t worry. We’ll continue to provide them from time to time.

– Donn McLellan, director of Stewardship

Olive Branch Summer Publication

     During the summer months of June, July, and August, The Olive Branch is published every other week. July issues will be published on July 1 and July 15.

     If you have information to be published in the July 1 issue, please have that information to the church office by Monday, June 29.

Communion Ministers Needed!

     Every week, parishioners bring the Eucharist to Mount Olive members who are unable to join us for liturgy.  

     Additional communion ministers are needed, especially for the summer months. If you are willing and able to bring communion to Mount Olive members in their homes, please contact Tom Graves and Ginny Agresti.

Book Discussion Group Update

     Mount Olive’s Book Discussion Group meets on the second Saturday of each month, at 10:00 am in the West Assembly Area at church. All readers are welcome!

     For July 11 meeting, they will read, Bleak House, by Charles Dickens, and for August 8 the collection of essays, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, by David Sedaris.

Mark your Calendars for Wednesday, August 5: Transitions Support Group

     All are welcome to visit the Transitions Support Group meetings if you’ve been hoping to find new ideas or encouragement to meet the challenges or uncertainties that are before you. This is an opportunity to share in fellowship, prayer, and discussion with others in the Mount Olive community.

     The next session meets on Wednesday, August 5 from 6- 7 pm at Mount Olive in the lower level Youth Room, and will be facilitated by Amy Cotter and Cathy Bosworth.  

     If you have questions, please contact Cathy at 612-708-1144 or marcat8447@yahoo.com.

Meet Our Missionary July 12

     After church on Sunday, July 12, grab some coffee and a seat and spend some time getting to know Karen Anderson, our ELCA missionary to Chile. We support Karen through the ELCA and her community health work through our support of EPES/ Action for Health in the Americas. Karen had wanted to be with us when we celebrated the Taste of Chile a few years ago, but at that time her delay-ed flight kept her away.

     Now is our chance to catch up with Karen, learn about her commitment to developing strong community health organizations that meet the real needs of the communities they serve, from strengthening prenatal health to helping rebuild after a community fire to campaigning to end smoking. And even more: Karen and her team are now reaching out to teach com-munity health techniques to community workers through-out Central and South America, and even to those working in Africa. Through our support of Karen we have real impact in improving health and lives in Chile. Save the date. Save the time. Join the conversation.

News From the Neighborhood         

Come to the Neighborhood Garage Sale This Saturday!

     The sale is this Saturday, June 20, from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm in the parking lot. Come and see what treasures you might find! We have ten vendors signed up so come support our community and neighborhood.

     If you would like to sell a few items at the sale, please mark the price along with some way to identify your goods (i.e. initials/name). Your “earnings” will be returned to you along with unsold items.  If you choose to donate this money to Mount Olive, you can do so on your own, after the sale.  We will follow the general plan that has been put in place for neighbors selling their goods for personal profit.  Since this sale is an effort to get to know our neighbors, it seems we who are joining them by selling personal items should follow the same protocol so that it doesn’t have the appearance of being a fund-raiser.

Summer ACTS

     Summer ACTS program begins on Monday, June 22, and runs Monday to Thursday for four weeks. Eighteen kids ages 9-14 are ready to come do jobs around the community and learn valuable life skills. Mentors (you!?) help build relationships and provide positive role models. Do you have a day or two between 10 am and 2 pm to come be a mentor or a kitchen crew member and help this program make an impact in the community? Call or email Anna Kingman, 612-827-5910 or neighborhood@mountolivechurch.org.

     We will partner with organizations such as: Community Emergency Services, Stone’s Throw Urban Garden, HandyWorks, Courageous heARTS, and the Minneapolis Police Department.

Extra Hands Needed at the Diaper Depot This Summer! 

     The Diaper Depot program runs Tuesdays (4:30-6:30) and Thursdays (1:30-3:30) each week. Dozens of families make their way to Mount Olive each week for this extra support. Please consider if you can help any day this summer – just 2 hours of greeting families and neighbors who need diapers! Orientation for volunteers will be offered on Tuesday, June 30, at 4:00 pm. Call Anna Kingman 612-827-5910 for more info and thank you.

The Bargain Box

     Saturday, August 1 will be a busy day at Mount Olive as we help to get neighborhood children ready for the school year with the Bargain Box!  We need donations of cash, new and gently used children’s clothes (no adult clothes, please), school supplies, and backpacks.

     If you have time to help with the meal, or assist with clothing or school supplies distribution, please plan to come to the August Community Meals!

Church Library News

     A special display in our church library includes specific books that are meant to help revise and upgrade our current Reference section.  Before Pastor Crippen left for his sabbatical, he came to the library with two arm-loads of books (donated to our library by Robert Gotwalt) and he challenged us to find room for them in our already crowded Reference section, plus 3 or 4 in other related categories as well.  The display will be available for about three Sundays, and then each item will be incorporated into our present shelving.

 Nave’s Topical Bible, by Orville J. Nave, editor
 Lutheran Questions, Lutheran Answers (Exploring Christian Faith), by Martin Marty
 The Dead Sea Scrolls and the First Christians, by Robert Eisenman
 Principles of Lutheran Theology, 2nd Edition, by Carl E. Braaten
 A Compend of Lutheran Theology, by Hugh T. Kerr, editor
 The Promise of Lutheran Ethics, by Karen Bloomquist and John R. Stumme, editors
 The New International Dictionary of the Bible, (Pictorial Edition) by Merrill Tenney and J.D.                       Douglas, editors
 Selected Writings of Martin Luther (1517-1522), by Theodore Tappert, editor
     Also same (1520-1523)
     Also same (1523-1526)
     Also same (1529-1546)
 Martin Luther, Selections from his Writings, by John Dillenberger, editor
 Luther’s Spirituality, by Philip and Peter Krey, editors
 Martin Luther’s Basic Theological Writings, 2nd edition, w/CD by Timothy Lull, editor
 The Complete Sermons of Martin Luther, Volume 1, by Nicholas Lenker, editor
     Also same, Volumes 2, 3, and 4
 The Complete Sermons of Martin Luther, Volume 5, by Eugene and F.A. Klug, editors
     Also same, Volumes 6 and 7
 The Seven Storey Mountain, by Thomas Merton

     Last September I wrote about a “Floating Library,” built on an 8′ square raft and holding approximately 80 unusual book titles, that would appear on Cedar Lake during the weekends during the month of August.  This unusual library is the brain-child of Sarah Peters, a teacher at the Minnesota Center for Book Arts.  Watch for this special library again this August (weather permitting), and be one of those privileged to check out a book or two from a different kind of library!

– Leanna Kloempken

Twin Cities Gay Pride Festival

     Again this year, Mount Olive will be one of the area churches who will staff an information booth at the Twin Cites Gay Pride Festival, June 27-28, 2015.

     Would you be interested in staffing a one or two hour shift at the booth?  If you can help, call Andrew Andersen at 763-607-1689 or the church office at 612-827-5919.  Times are open:  Saturday 10–6, and Sunday 12-6.  If you would be willing to share information about Mount Olive with folks who stop by the booth, please call.

Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Conference
July 31-Aug 2, 2015 – Augsburg College, Minneapolis

     Mount Olive has been a long standing RIC congregation and we have been exemplary in our welcome of the LGBT community.  At the end of July we have an opportunity to show our support and commitment to the RIC program and to be a voice to the many other congregations in the ELCA who have not become RIC congregations.

     The National Reconciling Works Assembly and RIC conference is being held at Augsburg College July 31-August 2.  I want to encourage any member of Mount Olive who would like to attend the entire conference to go to the www.reconcilingworks.org website and get information and register for the conference. If you cannot attend the entire conference I would like Mount Olive to have a delegation at the July 31 gala (Friday night) for the Assembly.  Tickets are $40 and it would be great if we are represented at the gala.  There will be a dinner and silent auction.  If you or you and your spouse would like to attend the gala please call or email me so I can get you on the list.  (Paul Nixdorf – 612-296-0055; pn@paulnixdorf.com )

     Second!  I am chair of the Twin Cities ReconcilingWorks board for the two ELCA synods and we have been asked to gather items for the silent auction.  We are asking each RIC congregation to assemble a set of items to be placed in the silent auction at the gala.  If you have ideas or know of items from Mount Olive that we can put together for the silent auction please call me.

     I hope you will consider coming to the gala on July 31, and also please help me with Mount Olive’s Auction Items.

– Paul Nixdorf – Chair, Twin Cities Reconciling Works Board