Mount Olive Lutheran Church

The Olive Branch, 10/29/14

By

Accent on Worship

All Saints Sunday

     In the adult forum some weeks ago, I recalled a scene from the movie “Places in the Heart” – a story full of terrible things people did to each other in 19th century rural America: murder, prejudice, stealing, and at the same time, grace. It begins with the death of a farmer. The presumed murderer was a black slave who was immediately brutally murdered as well. The movie continues with the farmer’s wife trying to run the farm, with the help of an escaped slave she takes in, neither given respect by society. It was tough.

     The ending scene is one that I get chills even thinking about: it’s a Eucharist, where people are passing the bread and wine to each other on trays. Men, women, Black, White, young, older, those who were dead passing to those still alive who had murdered them, folks still alive once again dining with their loved departed partners.

It’s a scene of the fullness and equal nature of souls, a scene of forgiveness, of grace, and of the wide and equal inclusiveness of that love of God.

     To me this is a beautiful depiction of the Eucharist, and is a scene that All Saints Sunday especially brings to mind.

     All Saints Sunday reminds me that the Holy Meal is one at which we sing and eat with a much larger picture of God’s people. Those who have passed sing “Holy, Holy, Holy,” too, and also eat the bread and wine of our Lord along with those of us still alive “on earth” as we say, still in need of physical sustenance (food and water). “So with all the saints, with the choirs of angels and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn: Holy, Holy, Holy…”

     We … join them!

     It reminds us who is really the host of this meal, and reminds us of an extended family as diverse as it can be with time AND space. And it is all-inclusive.

     This year we have experienced the death of loved family, friends and colleagues, spouses of friends, parents and grandparents, friends themselves. We grieve, and we gratefully remember. At our house, Susan puts out pictures of friends and family who have died along with votive candles. All week we remember stories from the intersection of our lives with these people.

     This Sunday, All Saints Sunday, come early and light a candle, and leave it by the Baptismal font or in the Columbarium in their memory, in thanks for our having intersecting journeys with these people and in thanks for their gifts to us and God. This collage of flickering lights illustrates again that we share in the baptismal promise that death is not the last word. Drops of water are sprinkled on all of us and send that chill of remembrance: “You are mine,” God says, “along with all these others here with me.”

     Then we sing and eat with them in the Eucharist.

     I look forward to singing and eating with everyone again this Sunday.

– Cantor David Cherwien 

Daylight Savings Time ends this weekend!
Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour on Saturday night.

Sunday Readings

November 2, 2014: All Saints Sunday
Revelation 7:9-17
Psalm 34:1-10, 22
I John 3:1-3
Matthew 5:1-12
______________________

November 9, 2014: 22nd Sunday after Pentecost, Lect. 32 A
Amos 5:18-24
Psalm 70
I Thessalonians 4:13-18
Matthew 25:1-13

There will be no Adult Forum
this Sunday, November 2.

All Saints Sunday, November 2

     During this Sundays’ prelude, as we gather to remember the saints who have gone before us, everyone will be invited to light a candle in memory of loved one.

     If you wish to light candles in memory of loved ones, please come to the columbarium in the north transept or to the baptismal font either before or during the prelude.  An assistant will be on hand to help you.  The candles are lighted and placed in recognition of the eternal life promised to all the baptized in the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Reformation Commemoration

     On Thursday, October 30 (Reformation Day eve), one hundred singers from St. Olaf College will join the Cathedral Choir of the Basilica of St. Mary to lead a service based on the Lutheran Liturgy of Vespers. The combined choir will present a number of anthems which will be interspersed with hymns and psalms and meditations read by author and poet, Susan Palo Cherwien.

     This service will take place at 7:30 pm at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis, and it is free and open to the public.

     Plan to join in this celebration of common faith in an amazing space.

Thanksgiving Day Eucharist
Thursday, November 27, 10:00 a.m.

Book Discussion Group’s Upcoming Reads

     For their meeting on November 8 the Book Discussion Group will read Flight Behavior, by Barbara Kingsolver, and for their meeting on  December 13, they will read Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen.

Crafting Project with a Purpose

     Strands of Hope is a beading project, done in community education. Each participant follows easy directions to create a necklace from a kit. Each contains everything you need to make a finished necklace to keep for yourself or give away as a heart to heart connection. The beauty of the project is that the necklace you make is meant to be given away. During the beading hour, your hands are working while your heart is connecting to the person to whom you will give the necklace. Some beaders have given it to a person in need of support while going through hard times of illness or grief. Sometimes a necklace is given in celebration!  The person and the way you wish to give it away is up to you.

     Mount Olive member Connie Marty, along with 2 friends, created this small business from an idea over breakfast seven years ago. The mission is to connect hearts and build hope, hence the name, Strands of Hope. Our faith gives us hope.  

     The time spent together beading with friends is social and community building. Connie will be available to assist as needed. Please visit her website at www.strandsofhope.com for more information or a look at the necklaces and colors.

     You are invited to bring a friend, a neighbor, or relative. Each kit is on sale for only $14, cash or check, to be paid as you arrive. No credit cards. There will also be a basket for donations should you wish to contribute to the fund for extra necklaces to be presented to Mount Olive members who might need one in the future. You will then choose a kit. There are many color combinations to choose from. Connie will give instructions and be there to help us.

     We will meet Friday, Nov. 21, 6:30 -8:30 pm in the East Assembly Room at church. Wine, soft drinks and a light snack will be provided. Bring a snack or treat to share.

     Since Connie and her colleagues will close down this business at the end of the year, this might be the last chance to participate in a Strands of Hope event. Please RSVP or send questions to Julie Manuel at julie.a.manuel@gmail.com so that we can have enough kits and refreshments. We hope to see you there!

National Lutheran Choir All Saints Concerts: “The Souls of the Righteous”

     This All Saints weekend, the National Lutheran Choir invites you to honor the saints in your life by gathering to reflect through song and prayer. Prior to our two concerts, guests are encouraged to add the name of a friend or family member that has passed away to the Book of Names (also available online at www.nlca.com). Candles will be lit in remembrance, and the Book of Names will be read aloud throughout the concerts. Artistic Director, David Cherwien, conducts.

     Musical highlights include: Funeral Ikos by John Tavener, When David Heard by Thomas Weelkes, O Tod, wie bitter bist du (O Death, how bitter are you) by Max Reger, This is My Father’s World and Stars by Eriks Esenvalds, Angels Hovering Round by Kevin Siegfried, and The Souls of the Righteous by David Cherwien.

When & Where:
• Saturday, November 1, 2014 – 7pm
Normandale Lutheran Church (6100 Normandale Rd, Edina, MN 55436)

• Sunday, November 2, 2014 – 4pm
St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church (900 Stillwater Rd, Mahtomedi, MN 55115)

Tickets: $25 Adult | $23 Senior | $10 Student | 17 & under – FREE. For additional information or to purchase tickets, visit www.nlca.com or call 612-722-2301.

Gloves and Such

     IT’S COMING!

     Cold weather is on its way to Minnesota, and you can help keep precious hands and ears and bodies warm. Please bring new or gently used (and clean) hats, gloves, and scarves to the collection box outside the upstairs kitchen. There is also a great need for winter coats before it gets unbearable. The nearest Coats for Kids drop-off is at:  Salvation Army, 1604 East Lake St., Minneapolis, MN 55407 (612-721-1513) or any Kowalski’s or Cub Food Store.

     You may also bring coats to church and drop them off in the corner near the grocery cart for food donations. Thank you.

Neighborhood Participation Opportunity: Empty Bowls 
Friday, November 7, 2014
11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Powderhorn Park Building (3400 15th Avenue S)
 
     Empty Bowls is a local project that gathers neighbors and community members to help end hunger. Come and choose a hand-made artisan bowl, fill it with homemade soup and bread, and share in a meal in recognition of those whose bowls are empty.

     Proceeds from Empty Bowls go to support local food shelves.  The suggested donation for regular bowl is $20, but any donation is accepted and appreciated. Gather some friends, family or neighbors and support this effort in our neighborhood! I’ll be there myself around 4pm if you want a buddy.
     For more information, visit the Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association’s website at
http://ppna.org/peb/

– Anna Kingman  

The Book of Esther: Bible Study on Thursday Evenings Starting November 6

     The second Thursday Bible study series of this year begins on Thursday, November 6, and runs for six weeks in the Chapel Lounge from 6:00-7:30 pm. (Note that we will skip Thanksgiving.)

     Vicar McLaughlin will lead a study on the Book of Esther, exploring the historical context and many issues raised in this book, including justice, violence, power and privilege, the role of women, the presence of God, and what it means to be called “for such a time as this.”

     As usual, there will be a light supper when we begin.  If anyone wishes to provide the first meal, please let Vicar McLaughlin know.

Bowing to the Holy: Reverent Worship and Justice in an Irreverent Age
Saturday, November 22, 2014, 9:00am – 4:30pm, Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, St. Paul, MN

     This one-day event is an ecumenical conference celebrating the organic connection between liturgical worship and communal justice organized by Lutheran Church of the Redeemer (St. Paul) and her three daughter churches: Lutheran Church of the Resurrection (Roseville), Pilgrim Lutheran (St. Paul), and Mount Olive Lutheran (Mpls.). The keynote presenter will be The Right Reverend Melissa Skelton, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of New Westminster, British Columbia.

Share the warmth: share your clothes with Minneapolis homeless

     Those who had gathered to hear him at the river asked John the Baptist, “what should we do?”  He told them if they had two coats they should give one to someone who had no coat.

     This past month Mary was clearing out closets, partly to prepare for fall, and partly to set aside clothes no longer used to be given away.  This time, instead of dropping them off at Goodwill, where they are sold, even to wealthy people, we took them to Central Lutheran Church, our sister congregation in downtown Minneapolis.

     Central is running a deeply important and vital ministry called The Restoration Center for the homeless of Minneapolis.  They offer fellowship, worship, and Bible study opportunities, do job-interview training, and provide free clothing.  They have health care and financial services, and provide computer access.  One of their inspirations is to have a separate room of dress clothes specifically for people they’re coaching for interviews, so they can shower at the church and then dress up well for their interview.  If you have dress clothes you no longer use, this is a wonderful way to help someone find a path out of homelessness with a job.  But they also give all kinds of clothing away for free, so the closets and dressers are all fair game!

     It’s very simple to give; just drive up to their entrance off of Third Avenue, and right inside the entrance, in the gathering area, are large bins for donations.  The person at the desk can give you a receipt.  It couldn’t be easier, and more importantly, starts moving toward John’s vision of the kingdom.

 – Pr. Crippen

The Truth Shall Make You Free

By

Jesus promised his followers, and promises us today, that we will know the truth, and the truth will make us free. When we embrace the truth of our human limitations, and recognize our dependence on God, the slavery of our fears, addictions, and sin will die and we can live in freedom as children of God.

Vicar Meagan McLaughlin
   Reformation Sunday
   Texts: Jeremiah 31:31-34, Psalm 46, Romans 3:19-28, John 8:31-36

Grace and peace to you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

I was sitting in a restaurant, eating dinner, when I heard several thunks. I turned and saw a bird flying around inside the restaurant, banging into windows in her frantic attempt to get outside. When she landed on the floor, exhausted, I laid my jacket gently over her and carried her through the door. I opened the jacket cautiously, expecting her to burst out, but she clung for dear life, her tiny talons hooked into the lining, afraid to let go and be free. As I held her, I wondered, how often do we do that? Struggle to be free from that which confines us, and then cling to our cage when we are freed? What does it really mean to be free, and why are we, when we are really honest with ourselves, terrified of it?

We in the United States pride ourselves on being a free country, and in many ways we are free, especially those of us with good health, steady income, solid education, and the privileges that come along with being white, middle-class, American-born. We can travel, study, walk our neighborhoods without fear, eat knowing we will have enough food for another meal, send ourselves and our loved ones off for the day with the belief that we will all come home safely. Most of the time, we have the luxury of living in the illusion that we are in control of our lives, even if it is only through the false security of believing we know what our future holds. Jesus in Matthew promises freedom, and his followers protest, saying they are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone, and we might well make the same claim. We live in a free country, slavery was abolished almost 150 years ago! What do you mean by saying “You will be made free?”

Jesus’ reply to his followers is for us, too: “Everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.” 19th century Lutheran theologian Rudolph Bultmann defines sin as the brokenness that comes from dependence on worldly things instead of God. By relying on our own efforts or on what we can take from the world for our well-being, we forget our ultimate dependence on God; in other words, we forget what our true relationship with God is. Because of this we feel anger, jealousy, and judgment, and as Bultmann says, the “slavery of anxiety that oppresses all of us (Romans 8:15)—the anxiety in which we each seek to hold on to ourselves and what is ours in the secret feeling that everything, including our own life, is slipping away from us.”  [1]

We are free in one sense, but at a much deeper level, we are all slaves to our own brokenness. As a nation we spend a great deal of time obsessed with how to keep ourselves safe—closing our borders, taking off our shoes at the airport, debating who is to blame for Ebola coming to this country. We labor under the illusion that we can create perfect safety. If the danger is far enough away, and we can build a high enough wall, we feel separated, and protected. When the threat comes too close, we are afraid. Afraid of change, of those we don’t understand, of death. And when we depend on these actions to protect us, and ground our hope in our own efforts instead of trusting in God, we go beyond reasonable steps to take care of ourselves, and build walls that not only separate us from our neighbors, but from God.

On a personal level, we exercise and eat well expecting that this will guarantee our health, to the point where we feel surprised and angry when are sick. We are slaves to addictions that tell us the lie that everything will be OK if only we have enough alcohol, or sex, or food. We buy in, without even being aware, to the idea that growing old, rather than being a normal part of the cycle of life, is something that can and should be prevented, or at least slowed down, with the right lotions or vitamins or procedures. We act out of the illusion that life is a competition for success, love, and resources that only a few will win, and work furiously to be sure we will be one of them, secretly convinced that we are not good enough. We remain confident in the idea of our own power and ability to control our lives, until unexpected events wake us up, and we begin to understand the truth. We are slaves to our own brokenness, and we, like the bird, find ourselves trapped by our own fears, exhausted from our efforts to escape a prison we cannot even see.

We are slaves to our own brokenness, but Jesus made his followers a promise—makes us a promise today. “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” And the truth that Jesus talks about, the truth that will free us, is precisely why we are so afraid of freedom. The truth, as Paul proclaims it, is simply this: we have all sinned, and we all fall short of the glory of God. Every one of us, without exception. What terrifies us about this truth is that when we embrace it, it takes us completely out of the driver’s seat. We can no longer cling to an illusion of safety that is built on our own efforts or beliefs that we are in control. We are vulnerable, exposed for who we are, face-to-face with our own humanity. This is the truth that leads to freedom, the freedom to be exactly the people God created us to be.

We are freed by this truth, because grounded in our own humanity, we can understand Martin Luther’s claim that we are simultaneously sinner and saint. The very truth of our own weakness reveals our need for God, and our place as God’s children. The promise of the covenant Jeremiah talks about is our promise. God’s law has been written on our hearts, God is our God, and we are God’s people. In the core of who we are, God has written the law of love, faithfulness, forgiveness. And as our illusions, addictions, and sinfulness die in the light of this promise, we can see that we have been enslaved. And we can see that we are free.

Like the bird with its talons hooked into my jacket lining, we tend to cling to what we feel sure of, certain that there is nothing to catch us if we let go. The psalmist describes in vivid images the chaos we sometimes feel in this unpredictable world—earthquakes and roaring waters, nations at war. The chaos, as the psalmist sings it, does not go away. Illness, job loss, wars, death, are all a part of this life we live. Promise and hope and certainty come from the presence of a loving God who never abandons us, regardless of the circumstances. “God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble. . . . . The LORD of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. . . . Be still and know that I am God.”

By seeing clearly the truth of our own powerlessness, our own brokenness, our own humanity, we are freed from our illusions. We live as people of the covenant, knowing that we belong to God, and we can do that because God has written God’s promise on our hearts. We know the truth. God is our refuge, and will be with us, no matter what may come. Jesus calls us to embrace the truth, and by doing this, we can, like the bird, unhook our talons from the lining of the jacket, and live in freedom.

[1] Rudolf Bultmann, New Testament and Mythology and Other Basic Writings, trans. Schubert Miles Ogden (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1984), 17

The Truth Shall Make You Free

By

Jesus promised his followers, and promises us today, that we will know the truth, and the truth will make us free. When we embrace the truth of our human limitations, and recognize our dependence on God, the slavery of our fears, addictions, and sin will die and we can live in freedom as children of God.

Vicar Meagan McLaughlin
   Reformation Sunday
   Texts: Jeremiah 31:31-34, Psalm 46, Romans 3:19-28, John 8:31-36

Grace and peace to you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

I was sitting in a restaurant, eating dinner, when I heard several thunks. I turned and saw a bird flying around inside the restaurant, banging into windows in her frantic attempt to get outside. When she landed on the floor, exhausted, I laid my jacket gently over her and carried her through the door. I opened the jacket cautiously, expecting her to burst out, but she clung for dear life, her tiny talons hooked into the lining, afraid to let go and be free. As I held her, I wondered, how often do we do that? Struggle to be free from that which confines us, and then cling to our cage when we are freed? What does it really mean to be free, and why are we, when we are really honest with ourselves, terrified of it?

We in the United States pride ourselves on being a free country, and in many ways we are free, especially those of us with good health, steady income, solid education, and the privileges that come along with being white, middle-class, American-born. We can travel, study, walk our neighborhoods without fear, eat knowing we will have enough food for another meal, send ourselves and our loved ones off for the day with the belief that we will all come home safely. Most of the time, we have the luxury of living in the illusion that we are in control of our lives, even if it is only through the false security of believing we know what our future holds. Jesus in Matthew promises freedom, and his followers protest, saying they are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone, and we might well make the same claim. We live in a free country, slavery was abolished almost 150 years ago! What do you mean by saying “You will be made free?”

Jesus’ reply to his followers is for us, too: “Everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.” 19th century Lutheran theologian Rudolph Bultmann defines sin as the brokenness that comes from dependence on worldly things instead of God. By relying on our own efforts or on what we can take from the world for our well-being, we forget our ultimate dependence on God; in other words, we forget what our true relationship with God is. Because of this we feel anger, jealousy, and judgment, and as Bultmann says, the “slavery of anxiety that oppresses all of us (Romans 8:15)—the anxiety in which we each seek to hold on to ourselves and what is ours in the secret feeling that everything, including our own life, is slipping away from us.”  [1]

We are free in one sense, but at a much deeper level, we are all slaves to our own brokenness. As a nation we spend a great deal of time obsessed with how to keep ourselves safe—closing our borders, taking off our shoes at the airport, debating who is to blame for Ebola coming to this country. We labor under the illusion that we can create perfect safety. If the danger is far enough away, and we can build a high enough wall, we feel separated, and protected. When the threat comes too close, we are afraid. Afraid of change, of those we don’t understand, of death. And when we depend on these actions to protect us, and ground our hope in our own efforts instead of trusting in God, we go beyond reasonable steps to take care of ourselves, and build walls that not only separate us from our neighbors, but from God.

On a personal level, we exercise and eat well expecting that this will guarantee our health, to the point where we feel surprised and angry when are sick. We are slaves to addictions that tell us the lie that everything will be OK if only we have enough alcohol, or sex, or food. We buy in, without even being aware, to the idea that growing old, rather than being a normal part of the cycle of life, is something that can and should be prevented, or at least slowed down, with the right lotions or vitamins or procedures. We act out of the illusion that life is a competition for success, love, and resources that only a few will win, and work furiously to be sure we will be one of them, secretly convinced that we are not good enough. We remain confident in the idea of our own power and ability to control our lives, until unexpected events wake us up, and we begin to understand the truth. We are slaves to our own brokenness, and we, like the bird, find ourselves trapped by our own fears, exhausted from our efforts to escape a prison we cannot even see.

We are slaves to our own brokenness, but Jesus made his followers a promise—makes us a promise today. “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” And the truth that Jesus talks about, the truth that will free us, is precisely why we are so afraid of freedom. The truth, as Paul proclaims it, is simply this: we have all sinned, and we all fall short of the glory of God. Every one of us, without exception. What terrifies us about this truth is that when we embrace it, it takes us completely out of the driver’s seat. We can no longer cling to an illusion of safety that is built on our own efforts or beliefs that we are in control. We are vulnerable, exposed for who we are, face-to-face with our own humanity. This is the truth that leads to freedom, the freedom to be exactly the people God created us to be.

We are freed by this truth, because grounded in our own humanity, we can understand Martin Luther’s claim that we are simultaneously sinner and saint. The very truth of our own weakness reveals our need for God, and our place as God’s children. The promise of the covenant Jeremiah talks about is our promise. God’s law has been written on our hearts, God is our God, and we are God’s people. In the core of who we are, God has written the law of love, faithfulness, forgiveness. And as our illusions, addictions, and sinfulness die in the light of this promise, we can see that we have been enslaved. And we can see that we are free.

Like the bird with its talons hooked into my jacket lining, we tend to cling to what we feel sure of, certain that there is nothing to catch us if we let go. The psalmist describes in vivid images the chaos we sometimes feel in this unpredictable world—earthquakes and roaring waters, nations at war. The chaos, as the psalmist sings it, does not go away. Illness, job loss, wars, death, are all a part of this life we live. Promise and hope and certainty come from the presence of a loving God who never abandons us, regardless of the circumstances. “God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble. . . . . The LORD of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. . . . Be still and know that I am God.”

By seeing clearly the truth of our own powerlessness, our own brokenness, our own humanity, we are freed from our illusions. We live as people of the covenant, knowing that we belong to God, and we can do that because God has written God’s promise on our hearts. We know the truth. God is our refuge, and will be with us, no matter what may come. Jesus calls us to embrace the truth, and by doing this, we can, like the bird, unhook our talons from the lining of the jacket, and live in freedom.

[1] Rudolf Bultmann, New Testament and Mythology and Other Basic Writings, trans. Schubert Miles Ogden (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1984), 17

The Olive Branch, 10/22/14

By

Accent on Worship

     Just in the last week, every-where I turn, brilliant color is pouring out of the trees, greens giving way to reds, oranges, yellows. The world has a newness about it, life emerging brightly and boldly from what is in comparison monochromatic summer. Paradoxically, the vibrancy of fall’s colors is actually a harbinger of death, a sign of the coming winter that will banish all visible plant life, for a time, necessary preparation for spring buds and flowers.
   
     In Jeremiah, the LORD proclaims a new covenant, one that, unlike the old covenant, will not be broken. The LORD promises to put the covenant within us, to “write it on our hearts,” making it core to who we are as God’s people. God promises that we will know God, because God will forgive all our sins. Because God forgives our iniquities, we know God. God will be our God, and we will be God’s people, the living cove-nant within us.  As with the changing leaves, there is a letting go, a kind of death, inherent in welcoming the new covenant. We surrender the old covenant—slavery, sin, broken-ness, unfaithfulness—and embrace who we are as children of God, with the covenant written on our hearts. We are all, as Paul proclaims, sinners who have fallen short of God’s glory. And, our sins have been forgiven, and we are claimed as God’s children, not through any efforts or virtue of our own, but through the grace of God.

     Fall brings death and change as the leaves drop, leaving a landscape of barren trees and brown grass that will soon be frozen and covered with snow. Hidden deep in that dying process is the life that will emerge in the spring as green buds, grass, and flowers. God promises us that the new covenant is laid on our hearts, so that as sin and brokenness die, faithfulness and love are born within us and we live as children of God.

– Vicar Meagan McLaughlin

Sunday Readings

October 26, 2014: Reformation Sunday
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Psalm 46
Romans 3:19-28
John 8:31-36
______________________
November 2, 2014: All Saints Sunday
Revelation 7:9-17
Psalm 34:1-10, 22
I John 3:1-3
Matthew 5:1-12
 

Names of the Departed Saints Invited

     As a part of our All Saints liturgy on Sunday, Nov. 2, members are invited to submit the names of loved ones close to them who have died in the past year, since last All Saints Sunday, who weren’t members of Mount Olive.  (Members of the parish who have died are always named.)  These other names submitted will be included in the prayers of intercession.  There will be one more opportunity to write these names this Sunday,  or you may simply contact the church office with the names.  Please keep this to just those who have died this past year, so we can have a more manageable list.

Meals for the Roegges

     While the birth of a child is always a time of joy and celebration, it is also a time of adjusting to new routines – and sometimes getting a meal on the table can be challenging.      If you are so inclined to offer a welcome, dinner might be just the ticket.

     Meals are most definitely welcomed by the Roegge family; thanks to those who have inquired about scheduling a delivery.  There is no pre-determined schedule so it is suggested that contact be made directly with Brooke and Matt at 612-332-2856, to see what works best for them.  When you agree on a date, please call Marilyn Gebauer at 612-306-8872 or contact her via email to gebauevm@bitstream.net  so a calendar entry can be made for purposes of future planning.

    The Roegge’s are vegetarians but eat fish, eggs, cheese etc. (word has it that  they aren’t picky at all!)  Matt and Brooke live in St Paul at 1604 Beechwood Ave.

Transitions Support Group

     All are welcome to drop in and visit the Transitions Support Group to see if this is a place where you might find some solace and reassurance for 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.    

     Please note the following change in time and location for our next meeting.  The next session meets on Saturday, November 22, 9:00 am at 3120 E. Minnehaha Parkway, Minneapolis 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.

Meals for the Manuels Schedule Update

     The calendar to date is filled through to December 5.  If you can bring dinner on December 12 or on any Friday from that date on, please let Marilyn Gebauer know at gebauevm@bitstream.net or 612-306-8872.

     Julie’s treatment will continue for at least the next several months. The family is very grateful for the support of prayers and meals during this difficult time.

Reformation Commemoration

     On Thursday, October 30 (Reformation Day), one hundred singers from St. Olaf College will join the Cathedral Choir of the Basilica of St. Mary to lead a service based on the Lutheran Liturgy of Vespers. The combined choir will present a number of anthems which will be interspersed with hymns and psalms and meditations read by author and poet, Susan Palo Cherwien.

     This service will take place at 7:30 pm at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis, and it is free and open to the public.

     Plan to join in this celebration of common faith in an amazing space.

Wedding Invitation

     In gratitude for the community that is Mount Olive, we invite you to join us in celebrating the marriage of our daughter, Siri Rebecca Hellerman, and John Michael Guari, and for light refreshments in the Chapel Lounge, following the liturgy.
     This Saturday, 25 October 2014, 2:00 pm.

– David and Diana Hellerman

Crafting Project with a Purpose

     Strands of Hope is a beading project, done in community education. Each participant follows easy directions to create a necklace from a kit. Each contains everything you need to make a finished necklace to keep for yourself or give away as a heart to heart connection. The beauty of the project is that the necklace you make is meant to be given away. During the beading hour, your hands are working while your heart is connecting to the person to whom you will give the necklace. Some beaders have given it to a person in need of support while going through hard times of illness or grief. Sometimes a necklace is given in celebration!  The person and the way you wish to give it away is up to you.

     Mount Olive member Connie Marty, along with 2 friends, created this small business from an idea over breakfast seven years ago. The mission is to connect hearts and build hope, hence the name, Strands of Hope. Our faith gives us hope.  

     The time spent together beading with friends is social and community building. Connie will be available to assist as needed. Please visit her website at www.strandsofhope.com for more information or a look at the necklaces and colors.

     You are invited to bring a friend, a neighbor, or relative. Each kit is on sale for only $14, cash or check, to be paid as you arrive. No credit cards. There will also be a basket
for donations should you wish to contribute to the fund for
extra necklaces to be presented to Mount Olive members who might need one in the future. You will then choose a kit. There are many color combinations to choose from. Connie will give instructions and be there to help us.

     We will meet Friday, Nov. 21, 6:30 -8:30 pm in the East Assembly Room at church. Wine, soft drinks and a light snack will be provided. Bring a snack or treat to share.

     Since Connie and her colleagues will close down this business at the end of the year, this might be the last chance to participate in a Strands of Hope event. Please RSVP or send questions to Julie Manuel at julie.a.manuel@gmail.com so that we can have enough kits and refreshments. We hope to see you there!

National Lutheran Choir All Saints Concerts: “The Souls of the Righteous”

     This All Saints weekend, the National Lutheran Choir invites you to honor the saints in your life by gathering to reflect through song and prayer. Prior to our two concerts, guests are encouraged to add the name of a friend or family member that has passed away to the Book of Names (also available online at www.nlca.com). Candles will be lit in remembrance, and the Book of Names will be read aloud throughout the concerts. Artistic Director, David Cherwien, conducts.

     Musical highlights include: Funeral Ikos by John Tavener, When David Heard by Thomas Weelkes, O Tod, wie bitter bist du (O Death, how bitter are you) by Max Reger, This is My Father’s World and Stars by Eriks Esenvalds, Angels Hovering Round by Kevin Siegfried, and The Souls of the Righteous by David Cherwien.

When & Where:
• Saturday, November 1, 2014 – 7pm
Normandale Lutheran Church (6100 Normandale Rd, Edina, MN 55436)
• Sunday, November 2, 2014 – 4pm
St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church (900 Stillwater Rd, Mahtomedi, MN 55115)

Tickets: $25 Adult | $23 Senior | $10 Student | 17 & under – FREE. For additional information or to purchase tickets, visit www.nlca.com or call 612-722-2301.

Gloves and Such

     IT’S COMING!

     Cold weather is on its way to Minnesota, and you can help keep precious hands and ears warm. Please bring new or gently used (and clean) hats, gloves, and scarves to the collection box outside the upstairs kitchen. There is also a great need for winter coats before it gets unbearably cold. The nearest Coats for Kids drop-off is at:

Salvation Army
1604 East Lake St.
Minneapolis, MN 55407
612-721-1513

     If you like, you may bring coats to church and drop them off in the corner near the grocery cart for food donations. Thank you!

Neighborhood Participation Opportunity: Empty Bowls 
Friday, November 7, 2014, 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Powderhorn Park Building (3400 15th Avenue S)
 
     Empty Bowls is a local project that gathers neighbors and community members to help end hunger. Come and choose a hand-made artisan bowl, fill it with homemade soup and bread, and share in a meal in recognition of those whose bowls are empty.

     Proceeds from Empty Bowls go to support local food shelves.  The suggested donation for regular bowl is $20, but any donation is accepted and appreciated.

     For more information, visit the Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association’s website at  http://ppna.org/peb/

The Book of Esther: Bible Study on Thursday Evenings Starting November 6

     The second Thursday Bible study series of this year begins on Thursday, October 6, and runs for six weeks in the Chapel Lounge from 6:00-7:30 pm. (Note that we will skip Thanksgiving.)

     Vicar McLaughlin will lead a study on the Book of Esther. We will explore the historical context and many issues raised in this book, including justice, violence, power and privilege, the role of women, the presence of God, and what it means to be called “for such a time as this.”

     As usual, there will be a light supper when we begin.  If anyone wishes to provide the first meal, please let Vicar McLaughlin know.  All are welcome to this study opportunity!

The Olive Branch, 10/22/14

By

Accent on Worship

     Just in the last week, every-where I turn, brilliant color is pouring out of the trees, greens giving way to reds, oranges, yellows. The world has a newness about it, life emerging brightly and boldly from what is in comparison monochromatic summer. Paradoxically, the vibrancy of fall’s colors is actually a harbinger of death, a sign of the coming winter that will banish all visible plant life, for a time, necessary preparation for spring buds and flowers.
   
     In Jeremiah, the LORD proclaims a new covenant, one that, unlike the old covenant, will not be broken. The LORD promises to put the covenant within us, to “write it on our hearts,” making it core to who we are as God’s people. God promises that we will know God, because God will forgive all our sins. Because God forgives our iniquities, we know God. God will be our God, and we will be God’s people, the living cove-nant within us.  As with the changing leaves, there is a letting go, a kind of death, inherent in welcoming the new covenant. We surrender the old covenant—slavery, sin, broken-ness, unfaithfulness—and embrace who we are as children of God, with the covenant written on our hearts. We are all, as Paul proclaims, sinners who have fallen short of God’s glory. And, our sins have been forgiven, and we are claimed as God’s children, not through any efforts or virtue of our own, but through the grace of God.

     Fall brings death and change as the leaves drop, leaving a landscape of barren trees and brown grass that will soon be frozen and covered with snow. Hidden deep in that dying process is the life that will emerge in the spring as green buds, grass, and flowers. God promises us that the new covenant is laid on our hearts, so that as sin and brokenness die, faithfulness and love are born within us and we live as children of God.

– Vicar Meagan McLaughlin

Sunday Readings

October 26, 2014: Reformation Sunday
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Psalm 46
Romans 3:19-28
John 8:31-36
______________________
November 2, 2014: All Saints Sunday
Revelation 7:9-17
Psalm 34:1-10, 22
I John 3:1-3
Matthew 5:1-12
 

Names of the Departed Saints Invited

     As a part of our All Saints liturgy on Sunday, Nov. 2, members are invited to submit the names of loved ones close to them who have died in the past year, since last All Saints Sunday, who weren’t members of Mount Olive.  (Members of the parish who have died are always named.)  These other names submitted will be included in the prayers of intercession.  There will be one more opportunity to write these names this Sunday,  or you may simply contact the church office with the names.  Please keep this to just those who have died this past year, so we can have a more manageable list.

Meals for the Roegges

     While the birth of a child is always a time of joy and celebration, it is also a time of adjusting to new routines – and sometimes getting a meal on the table can be challenging.      If you are so inclined to offer a welcome, dinner might be just the ticket.

     Meals are most definitely welcomed by the Roegge family; thanks to those who have inquired about scheduling a delivery.  There is no pre-determined schedule so it is suggested that contact be made directly with Brooke and Matt at 612-332-2856, to see what works best for them.  When you agree on a date, please call Marilyn Gebauer at 612-306-8872 or contact her via email to gebauevm@bitstream.net  so a calendar entry can be made for purposes of future planning.

    The Roegge’s are vegetarians but eat fish, eggs, cheese etc. (word has it that  they aren’t picky at all!)  Matt and Brooke live in St Paul at 1604 Beechwood Ave.

Transitions Support Group

     All are welcome to drop in and visit the Transitions Support Group to see if this is a place where you might find some solace and reassurance for 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.    

     Please note the following change in time and location for our next meeting.  The next session meets on Saturday, November 22, 9:00 am at 3120 E. Minnehaha Parkway, Minneapolis 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.

Meals for the Manuels Schedule Update

     The calendar to date is filled through to December 5.  If you can bring dinner on December 12 or on any Friday from that date on, please let Marilyn Gebauer know at gebauevm@bitstream.net or 612-306-8872.

     Julie’s treatment will continue for at least the next several months. The family is very grateful for the support of prayers and meals during this difficult time.

Reformation Commemoration

     On Thursday, October 30 (Reformation Day), one hundred singers from St. Olaf College will join the Cathedral Choir of the Basilica of St. Mary to lead a service based on the Lutheran Liturgy of Vespers. The combined choir will present a number of anthems which will be interspersed with hymns and psalms and meditations read by author and poet, Susan Palo Cherwien.

     This service will take place at 7:30 pm at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis, and it is free and open to the public.

     Plan to join in this celebration of common faith in an amazing space.

Wedding Invitation

     In gratitude for the community that is Mount Olive, we invite you to join us in celebrating the marriage of our daughter, Siri Rebecca Hellerman, and John Michael Guari, and for light refreshments in the Chapel Lounge, following the liturgy.
     This Saturday, 25 October 2014, 2:00 pm.

– David and Diana Hellerman

Crafting Project with a Purpose

     Strands of Hope is a beading project, done in community education. Each participant follows easy directions to create a necklace from a kit. Each contains everything you need to make a finished necklace to keep for yourself or give away as a heart to heart connection. The beauty of the project is that the necklace you make is meant to be given away. During the beading hour, your hands are working while your heart is connecting to the person to whom you will give the necklace. Some beaders have given it to a person in need of support while going through hard times of illness or grief. Sometimes a necklace is given in celebration!  The person and the way you wish to give it away is up to you.

     Mount Olive member Connie Marty, along with 2 friends, created this small business from an idea over breakfast seven years ago. The mission is to connect hearts and build hope, hence the name, Strands of Hope. Our faith gives us hope.  

     The time spent together beading with friends is social and community building. Connie will be available to assist as needed. Please visit her website at www.strandsofhope.com for more information or a look at the necklaces and colors.

     You are invited to bring a friend, a neighbor, or relative. Each kit is on sale for only $14, cash or check, to be paid as you arrive. No credit cards. There will also be a basket
for donations should you wish to contribute to the fund for
extra necklaces to be presented to Mount Olive members who might need one in the future. You will then choose a kit. There are many color combinations to choose from. Connie will give instructions and be there to help us.

     We will meet Friday, Nov. 21, 6:30 -8:30 pm in the East Assembly Room at church. Wine, soft drinks and a light snack will be provided. Bring a snack or treat to share.

     Since Connie and her colleagues will close down this business at the end of the year, this might be the last chance to participate in a Strands of Hope event. Please RSVP or send questions to Julie Manuel at julie.a.manuel@gmail.com so that we can have enough kits and refreshments. We hope to see you there!

National Lutheran Choir All Saints Concerts: “The Souls of the Righteous”

     This All Saints weekend, the National Lutheran Choir invites you to honor the saints in your life by gathering to reflect through song and prayer. Prior to our two concerts, guests are encouraged to add the name of a friend or family member that has passed away to the Book of Names (also available online at www.nlca.com). Candles will be lit in remembrance, and the Book of Names will be read aloud throughout the concerts. Artistic Director, David Cherwien, conducts.

     Musical highlights include: Funeral Ikos by John Tavener, When David Heard by Thomas Weelkes, O Tod, wie bitter bist du (O Death, how bitter are you) by Max Reger, This is My Father’s World and Stars by Eriks Esenvalds, Angels Hovering Round by Kevin Siegfried, and The Souls of the Righteous by David Cherwien.

When & Where:
• Saturday, November 1, 2014 – 7pm
Normandale Lutheran Church (6100 Normandale Rd, Edina, MN 55436)
• Sunday, November 2, 2014 – 4pm
St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church (900 Stillwater Rd, Mahtomedi, MN 55115)

Tickets: $25 Adult | $23 Senior | $10 Student | 17 & under – FREE. For additional information or to purchase tickets, visit www.nlca.com or call 612-722-2301.

Gloves and Such

     IT’S COMING!

     Cold weather is on its way to Minnesota, and you can help keep precious hands and ears warm. Please bring new or gently used (and clean) hats, gloves, and scarves to the collection box outside the upstairs kitchen. There is also a great need for winter coats before it gets unbearably cold. The nearest Coats for Kids drop-off is at:

Salvation Army
1604 East Lake St.
Minneapolis, MN 55407
612-721-1513

     If you like, you may bring coats to church and drop them off in the corner near the grocery cart for food donations. Thank you!

Neighborhood Participation Opportunity: Empty Bowls 
Friday, November 7, 2014, 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Powderhorn Park Building (3400 15th Avenue S)
 
     Empty Bowls is a local project that gathers neighbors and community members to help end hunger. Come and choose a hand-made artisan bowl, fill it with homemade soup and bread, and share in a meal in recognition of those whose bowls are empty.

     Proceeds from Empty Bowls go to support local food shelves.  The suggested donation for regular bowl is $20, but any donation is accepted and appreciated.

     For more information, visit the Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association’s website at  http://ppna.org/peb/

The Book of Esther: Bible Study on Thursday Evenings Starting November 6

     The second Thursday Bible study series of this year begins on Thursday, October 6, and runs for six weeks in the Chapel Lounge from 6:00-7:30 pm. (Note that we will skip Thanksgiving.)

     Vicar McLaughlin will lead a study on the Book of Esther. We will explore the historical context and many issues raised in this book, including justice, violence, power and privilege, the role of women, the presence of God, and what it means to be called “for such a time as this.”

     As usual, there will be a light supper when we begin.  If anyone wishes to provide the first meal, please let Vicar McLaughlin know.  All are welcome to this study opportunity!

MOUNT OLIVE LUTHERAN CHURCH
3045 Chicago Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55407

Map and Directions >

612-827-5919
welcome@mountolivechurch.org


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