Accent on Worship

“So teach us to number our days so that we might apply our heats to wisdom.”  – Psalm 90:12

     The Psalm today tells us to number our days, and I thought it would be interesting to take a literalist approach to this passage.  The average human being lives about 25,000 days in their lifetime.  How we view this number is entirely a matter of perspective.  To help you understand what I mean, lets put this number in terms of money.  Some of the wealthiest Americans can blow through $25,000 in a single shopping spree!  They can go buy a car, a house, or blow it all on fur coats without thinking twice.  Now consider people who make $25,000 per year.  For these people, every penny counts. The way that they use that money could make the difference between making rent or not the next month.

     Numbering our days helps us to realize the value of every day of our lives.  It’s not a morose proposition, but recognition of the importance of life as a gift.  Looking at life this way, we have to consider how we are spending our time.  What do we devote our lives to?  Would we change anything if we could?  Are there things we would get rid of or reduce in our lives, or other things we would increase?

     In our gospel text today, Jesus reminds us of our finiteness when it comes to salvation, “for mortals, this is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.” We can’t manipulate the number of days we have on Earth, we also can’t manipulate our own salvation.  In the same way, every day of life is a gift that we receive, so too our salvation is a gift from God.  In our own finiteness, we attach ourselves to the infinite grace from Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Thanks be to God!

– Vicar Neal Cannon

Sunday’s Adult Education: October 14, 9:30 a.m.

     This week our forum will be “What Do We Do When We ‘Do This’?” – part 2 of a 2-part presentation on Eucharistic images, led by Dwight Penas.

Congregation Meeting October 28

     The semi-annual meeting of Mount Olive congregation will be held on Sunday, October 28, following the second liturgy (beginning at approximately 12:15 p.m.).  The main purpose of this meeting will be to approve a budget for 2013, and to consider several constitutional and bylaw amendments the Vestry is recommending to the congregation.  These amendments were included with the last two issues of The Olive Branch, and are also available in the narthex at church. All voting members of Mount Olive are encouraged to attend.

Concert This Sunday

     This Sunday, October 14, Mount Olive Music and Fine Arts will present Peter Ostroushko and Dean Magraw in a concert of original music, with some glimpses into the realm of world music. The program is free and open to the public, and a light reception follows the concert.

It’s a Wedding – And You’re Invited

     The Mount Olive community is invited to share in the marriage celebration of Matt McCuen and Katie Krueger this Saturday, October 13, 2012.  The liturgy will be held at 3:00 pm at Mount Olive with light hors d’oeuvres immediately following in the Chapel Lounge.  No gifts please!  If you are unable to attend, Katie and Matt appreciate your prayers and best wishes.

Yarnworking Group

     Don’t forget our monthly gathering at 1:00 pm this Sunday, October 14. Bring a lunch if you haven’t eaten by then, bring a current project, and plan to spend a couple of hours visiting and knitting or crocheting. We have plenty of extra supplies on hand, so if you are interested in learning how to knit or crochet, talented teachers will be on hand to teach you.

     Over the past year, this group has made winter wear – hats, mittens, and scarves –  for distribution through the Twilight Children orphanage in Johannesburg, South Africa, The Minnesota Council of Churches Refugee Resettlement Program, and for The Marie Sandvik Center here in Minneapolis.

Youth News

     Upcoming events for youth include a day of service at Feed My Starving Children on October 26 from 8-9:30 pm with the TRUST Youth.

     Mount Olive Youth and children will host coffee hour this Sunday, October 14, after the early service.  The youth committee will meet afterwards in the upstairs lounge.

     Parents of children and youth at Mount Olive who would like to plan or be involved with activities and events should call or email Beth Sawyer (mikebethsawyer78@gmail.com) to get on the mailing list and to share their vision for their kids at Mount Olive.

Book Discussion Group

     Mount Olive’s Book Discussion group meets on the second Saturday of each month at 10:00 a.m. For the October 13 meeting they will read Remarkable Creatures, by Tracy Chevalier, and for November 10 they will read, Vanity Fair, by William Makepeace Thackeray.

Contribution Statements

     Third quarter contribution statements are available to be picked up at church.

     These are summary statements, reflecting the total given toward various funds from January 1 through September 30, 2012. If you would like a detailed (itemized) statement of giving by week, please call Cha in the church office and she will mail one to you.

     The statements are in a labeled box next to the coat room area, and they will be there through the month of October. Year-end statements will be printed in early January.

Congratulations, Nick!

     John Gidmark joyfully announces the marriage of his son (and Mount Olive member) Nicholas Gidmark, to Stefanie Hyde, this Saturday, October 13, 2012, on the grounds of Stefanie’s mother’s 1689 farmstead in Cumberland, Rhode Island.

     Nick and Stefanie will treasure your spirit and your prayers.

The Way to Goals Snack Chart is Up

     Way to Goals Tutoring began their new season last Tuesday, October 2,  with 15 students and nine tutors. We meet once a week during the school year. The snack chart is posted on the Neighborhood Ministries bulletin board.  If you would like to contribute to this program by bringing a snack and beverage for 25 persons on one of those Tuesday evenings, please sign your name next to the date of your choice and bring your snacks to the church at or before 7:00 p.m. that day.  This is a great help to our tutoring budget.  If you have any questions, feel free to call Donna at church, 612-827-5919.  

Meals on Wheels

     Thanks to the following folks from Mount Olive who delivered Meals on Wheels through TRUST, Inc. this past quarter: Gary and Nancy Flatgard, Art & Elaine Halbardier, Bob Lee, and Rod & Connie Olson.

Amendments Discussion
     Please join members of the Mount Olive Vestry and Pastor Crippen for a conversation about the proposed amendments to the Minnesota State Constitution.

     The gathering will be held in the Chapel Lounge at Mount Olive from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm on Monday, October 22, 2012.

     Pastor Crippen will speak briefly about the proposed Marriage Amendment and the Voter ID Amendment.  Adam Kruger will serve as discussion moderator.

     Refreshments will be served.

     If you are undecided on these ballot issues and need more information, or if you desire to understand the various points of view please feel free to attend.

The Properties Committee Welcomes Your Help

Clean-up Day Saturday, October 20
     On Saturday, October 20, the Properties Committee invites you to help with Fall Cleaning in the Mount Olive building.  Activities start at 8:30 a.m. and wrap up mid-afternoon.  The work tasks, materials and supplies will be ready and waiting in each room for anyone who can volunteer an hour or two (or more!) for a deeper cleaning in all areas of the facility.  Come early or stay late and you can join with Mount Olive’s guests for the Community Meal, too.

Calling all Painters!
     The Properties Committee has a few painting projects on its “To Do” list over the next few months.  If you have enthusiasm or expertise in swinging a brush or pushing a roller and would be willing to help, please contact Brenda Bartz, Properties Director, at 612-824-7812 or rookwd1@aol.com.  Projects will generally be scheduled for Saturdays, but final times and locations of tasks will be scheduled around the team’s size and availability.

Thanks for your time!

Budget Preview Meeting To Be Held October 21

     The Fall semi-annual Congregational Meeting is often filled with budget questions, many of which seem rushed by the press of other business.  So this year we would like to try giving members an opportunity to ask questions in advance of the meeting by having a budget preview meeting.    

     Vestry members will be on hand following the 2nd liturgy (beginning a little after Noon) on October 21 to answer questions and receive recommendations often given at the annual meeting.  Hopefully this will provide continued and necessary transparency into the budget process as well as free up time at the semi-annual meeting to approve the budget for 2013 as well as deal with a number of constitutional/by-law proposals and receive an update on the Capital Campaign Tithe.

     The proposed 2013 budget will be finalized at the October 15 Vestry meeting and will be included with the October 19 issue of The Olive Branch.  Please take time to review the proposed budget, make a note of any questions or recommended changes and bring them with you to church on October 21.  Then after the 2nd liturgy grab a cup of coffee and join Vestry members in the Chapel Lounge to give voice to your questions and recommendations so we can have the best possible information for the semi-annual meeting on October 28.

Blessings,
Adam Krueger, President
Mount Olive Lutheran Church Vestry

Dobson Organ Dedication

     Mount Olive’s own Lynn Dobson is busy building the new Pipe Organ for the Chapel at Merton College, in Oxford England, as we speak.

     This is his first instrument on foreign soil and we rejoice with him in this project.  A contingent from Mount Olive has been invited to attend the dedication of this new organ which will be in late April of 2014.  There are a very limited number of spaces open for this trip. If you are interested in joining this happy band of travelers, please contact Tom Olsen for the details. Tom can be reached at 952-929-9781 or any Sunday morning at coffee hour.

Accent on Worship

     Whenever the people of God take on a task or a leadership role, tackle a problem, or are burdened with grief or life’s problems, they are called to pray. Whenever the people of God celebrate a joyous occasion, a new beginning, or healing, they are called to give thanks and praise.  Prayer should be central to the life of a Christian, the first action, though many times it is “Plan B.”  We have all heard the expression, “When all else fails, pray.”

     Our God is relational, and prayer is nothing other than a relationship with God.  The great leaders and prophets of the Bible had two things in common: they were far from perfect, (most of them would not be the leaders we would choose) and they all had a close relationship with God.  In the first reading for Time after Pentecost Sunday 26, Moses is deep in prayer.  He complains and requests.  It is all prayer and it is all answered.  However, the fact that his prayers are answered is not the most amazing thing about this text.  The amazing thing is that he is so comfortable with his Lord, his Creator and Savior, that he is downright cross with God and not afraid to show it. Our Lord longs for us to share our whole life with him, all our joys, sorrows and frustrations.  This is an honest and true relationship and it is true prayer when we share our whole selves with God.

     James writes in the second lesson for the day, “Are any among you suffering?  They should pray. Are any cheerful?  They should sing songs of praise.  Are any among you sick?  They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord.” Jesus, unlike all the other prophets, was perfect, but he had one thing in common with those who came before him, a close personal relationship with his heavenly Father.  He prayed.  We are called to do the same.  

 – Donna Pususta Neste

Sunday Readings

September 30, 2012 – Time after Pentecost, Sunday 26
Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29 + Psalm 19:7-14
James 5:13-20 + Mark 9:38-50

October 7, 2012 – Time after Pentecost, Sunday 27
Genesis 2:18-24 + Psalm 8
Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12 + Mark 10:2-16

Feast of St. Francis of Assisi
Thursday, October 4, 7:00 pm
Bring your pets to church for
this annual service of blessing!

Sunday’s Adult Education: Sunday, September 30, 9:30 a.m.

     This week our forum will be “Music Ministry in Prison,” presented by Bea Hasselmann, the founder/director of the Metropolitan Boys Choir, who has undertaken a ministry of music among inmates of the Minnesota Correction Facility at Red Wing. In this presentation, Ms. Hasselmann will discuss the power of music and her work with the men at Red Wing.

Book Discussion Group

     Mount Olive’s Book Discussion group meets on the second Saturday of each month at 10:00 a.m. For the October 13 meeting they will read Remarkable Creatures, by Tracy Chevalier, and for November 10 they will read, Vanity Fair, by William Makepeace Thackeray.

Music and Fine Arts Series Launched

     Brochures for the 2012-2013 Music and Fine Arts series have been mailed – hopefully you’ve received yours.  If not, they are certainly available around the church.  Pick one up.  Share one.

     Your support is helpful in offering these gifts to the greater Twin Cities community in two ways:  the first is in attending and assisting us in hosting these events, and second, your financial support is critical.  You may leave your donations in the baskets on Sunday, or mail them to the office.

 The first event is on October 14, 4:00 pm, with Peter Oustrousko and Dean Magraw.  Don’t miss it!

Congregation Meeting October 28

     The semi-annual meeting of Mount Olive congregation will be held on Sunday, October 28, following the second liturgy (beginning at approximately 12:15 p.m.).  The main purpose of this meeting will be to approve a budget for 2013, and to consider several constitutional and bylaw amendments the Vestry is recommending to the congregation.  All voting members of Mount Olive are encouraged to attend.

     The constitutional recommendations were sent to all members via email and snail mail. Extra copies are available in the narthex at church. Please read this document carefully in advance of the meeting.

It’s a Wedding – And You’re Invited

     The Mount Olive community is invited to share in the marriage celebration of Matt McCuen and Katie Krueger on October 13, 2012.  The liturgy will be held at 3:00pm at Mount Olive with light hors d’oeuvres immediately following in the Chapel Lounge.  No gifts please!  If you are unable to attend, Katie and Matt appreciate your prayers and best wishes.

Save Your Manufacturer’s Coupons

     Please save the coupon sections from your newspapers and mailbox (Red Plum, Smart Source, and P & G Savers). Through TRUST, a program called “Store to Door” redeems these coupons for general operating funds. Cut out the coupons you need, leave the rest of the book intact, and bring them to church. These coupon books can be placed in the white box in the coat room.

Prayer Shawl Ministry

     The Prayer Shawl Ministry will gather monthly to work on prayer shawls. We meet the first Saturday of the month from 1-3 p.m.    The location is Blue Ox Coffee Company at 3740 Chicago Av. S.      Please join the fun on October 6.

Vestry Update, Sept. 10, 2012 meeting

     The September 10 Vestry meeting primarily focused on creating the 2013 budget for review and approval at the upcoming Semi-Annual Mount Olive Congregation meeting (October 28).  Each Director presented their area of the budget and the Vestry was able to discuss each proposed line item.  A preview of the 2013 budget is scheduled following the second liturgy on October 21.  During this forum, congregational members may ask questions  of the Vestry.

     The Capital Campaign Tithe has been met and the task force expects to distribute the gifts in 2012.  An update will be given at the Semi-Annual Congregational Meeting in October and a special congregational meeting scheduled to authorize the gifts after the Vestry reviews them at the November meeting.
     The Vestry approved five changes to the Mount Olive Constitution and By-laws to go before the Congregation in October.  Each clarifies the intent or adds new information into the document.  With these updates, the Constitution and By-laws more closely follow what Mount Olive current does in both policy and procedure.

     Please keep your eye out for a proposed meeting to address the Voter ID Amendment and the Marriage Amendment from a faith perspective.  With the upcoming election in November, the Vestry has endorsed a gathering of Mount Olive members to engage in discussion about how to view these amendments through a Lutheran based faith lens.

     The last part of the meeting included updates from Committee Directors and concluded with a prayer by Pastor Crippen.

     Please also note that a draft of the complete minutes from the Vestry meeting is available for review on the bulletin board in the church office.

Accent on Worship

A Teaching Parish

     It’s been nearly a month since Vicar Neal Cannon began with us, and in that month he’s gotten married, so it’s been a busy one for him.  People have had a chance to meet and greet him and his wife Mary in these first weeks, and he seems to be settling in.  This rhythm of saying farewell to one vicar while preparing to welcome another is a new one for me, but not for this parish.  Neal is our 42nd vicar at Mount Olive (if I’ve done the counting properly), so this rhythm is well-established among many in this congregation.

     But it seems good to remind ourselves as we begin another year with another vicar of the nature of this ministry among us.  We are a teaching parish which commits itself to welcome a new seminarian each year and to live with him or her for a year in a relationship of mutual learning and ministry.  This is a crucial year for seminarians, as they explore and experience parish ministry in depth in ways they haven’t before, and learn their gifts and limitations in ways they cannot simply do in class.  It is also crucial for us, as we open our lives and our congregation to welcome these people among us.  They learn from us; we learn from them; together we are privileged to serve God in this place.

     It is worth keeping in mind our congregation’s call to teach.  Sometimes it seems people are nervous about “letting” the vicar do something without someone like me looking over their shoulder or checking everything.  This is part of the learning, that a seminarian tries things out, attempts to do ministry, and the chips fall where they may.  Sometimes things are successful, sometimes they are not.  In all cases learning can happen.  Our job is to help each vicar in that learning.

     To that end, I encourage all members of the congregation to consider offering Neal, and future vicars, feedback and responses to ministry they do.  The Internship Committee (Steve Manuel, Miriam Luebke, John Crippen, Ro Griesse, Warren Peterson, Peggy Hoeft) will be doing a number of formal evaluations, including written evaluations of each of his sermons.  But all of us are called to be a part of his learning and a part of his teaching.  Any responses he can receive will help him learn, and will shape his future ministry as a pastor.  It would be wonderful if when he teaches, a number of folks would write a simple reflection or feedback about how they received it.  It would be helpful if people in the pews (besides the committee) would once in a while give him written feedback on a sermon (we have simple forms if you’d like to use one, printed and in the office), more than “nice sermon.”  If there are things he does well in any kind of ministry here, let him know.  If there are things you think would help him learn and grow, it would be a generous gift to share that as well.

     This can be a wonderful place for a seminarian to learn.  The more intentional we all are to be faithful sisters and brothers to our vicars as well as compassionate teachers, the better we will serve our call to be a teaching parish for future pastors of this church.  Thank you for all you do in this important ministry!

– Joseph

Sunday Readings

September 23, 2012 – Time after Pentecost, Sunday 25
Jeremiah 11:18-20 + Psalm 54
James 3:13—4:3, 7-8a + Mark 9:30-37

September 30, 2012 – Time after Pentecost, Sunday 26
Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29 + Psalm 19:7-14
James 5:13-20 + Mark 9:38-50

Sunday’s Adult Education: Sunday, September 23, 9:30 a.m.

     This week we will view a film, “The Creed: What Christians Profess, and Why It Ought to Matter.” Produced by actor, director, and writer, Tim Kelleher, The Creed is a remarkable film about why the radical claims made in the Nicene Creed are so important to all of us.

     Next Sunday, September 30, our forum will be “Music Ministry in Prison,” presented by Bea Hasselmann, the founder/director of the Metropolitan Boys Choir, who has undertaken a ministry of music among inmates of the Minnesota Correction Facility at Red Wing. In this presentation, Ms. Hasselmann will discuss this project — how she came to it, how it works, what its benefits are.

Prayer Shawl Ministry

     Do you knit or crochet?  Yes?  Then mark This Sunday, September 23 on your calendar because you are needed at the next meeting of the Mount Olive Prayer Shawl Ministry group.   We will meet at 9:30 a.m. in the Undercroft.

     Don’t know how to knit or crochet?  No problem.  We can teach you!    So grab a cup of coffee and join the meeting to learn more about this rewarding ministry.

     If you need additional information or have any questions about this project, contact Peggy Hoeft (peggyrf70@gmail.com).

Book Discussion Group

     Mount Olive’s Book Discussion group meets on the second Saturday of each month at 10:00 a.m. For October 13, they will read Remarkable Creatures, by Tracy Chevalier, and for November 10 they will read, Vanity Fair, by William Makepeace Thackeray.

It’s a Wedding – And You’re Invited

     The Mount Olive community is invited to share in the marriage celebration of Matt McCuen and Katie Krueger on October 13, 2012.  The liturgy will be held at 3:00 pm at Mount Olive with light hors d’oeuvres immediately following in the Chapel Lounge.  No gifts please!  If you are unable to attend, Katie and Matt appreciate your prayers and best wishes.

Feast of St. Francis of Assisi: Thursday, October 4, 7:00 pm

Bring your pets to church for this annual service of blessing!

Save Your Manufacturer’s Coupons

     Please save the coupon sections from your newspapers and mailbox (Red Plum, Smart Source, and P & G Savers). Through TRUST, a program called “Store to Door” redeems these coupons for general operating funds. Cut out the coupons you need,  leave the rest of the book intact, and bring them to church. These coupon books can be placed in the white box in the coat room.

Welcome, New Members!

     We give thanks to God for these new sisters and brothers who will be received into membership at the 10:45 Eucharist this Sunday, September 23:

• Anders & Valerie John-Amala (their son Elijah was previously received by Baptism)
• Cathy Bosworth & Marty Hamlin (associate members, will be received in October)
• Sue Browender
• Martin Connell & Greg Terhaar (associate members)
• Ronald & Barbara French (associate members)
• Marilyn Gebauer
• Jennifer Kaufenberg (daughter Tate will be received by Baptism at a later date)
• Mark Lofstrom
• Julie Manuel
• Marty & Rebecca Melang
• Tim & Amy Reddy
• Janelle East & Bern Youngblood

     Join us for lunch following the second liturgy to greet our newest members!

A Note From the Property Director

     Thanks to all the helping hands for their assistance on the September 8 Clean-up Day!  We made great progress on getting the church ready for the fall activities.  Another Fall Clean-up Day is scheduled for Saturday, October 20.  Watch the Olive Branch for more details.

– Brenda Bartz, Property Director

Accent on Worship

     I remember a scene.  I was at Central Lutheran Church for a worship event, Paul Manz was the organist.  I remember the hymn was “For All the Saints.”  Dr. Manz led us with a stately speed (which I found wonderfully majestic).  The person next to me, however, had a different idea.  She was literally squirming, muttering “Come on …!  Move it!!  A little faster!!” Wow. I also remember thinking,  It doesn’t matter who’s right and who’s wrong about how fast that hymn should go,  her choices at that point were one of two options:  to sing with the rest of us (at the tempo we were singing) or,  not to sing with rest of us.

     The readings for this and next week underscore something I learned in the above situation.

     When we gather for worship with its various activities, including singing, there’s an important dimension that we can be aware of: it’s not about us.  We have to put “self” aside in order to become “us.”  If we are going to express our faith “with one voice” we need to be in the same key, at the same tempo, singing the same song.

     For that person next to me at Central, she probably learned “For All the Saints” at a quicker pace. Perhaps it was jarring for her to slow down.  And I’ve learned that most assemblies are made up of individuals whose experiences and learning sources were elsewhere – all with different understandings of issues like how fast, what key, or even which hymns they know and love.  It’s not that anyone is absolutely right (although I am always right, of course).   For the sake of unity, one decision needs to preside to bring us out of individualism and into community as one voice.  Otherwise each song becomes an aleatory hodge-podge of individuals in competition with each other.

     That is where my mind went with the next couple of Gospel readings. This week, “Deny yourselves and take up the cross,” then next week the disciples arguing about who was the greatest, all speak of setting aside “self” for the sake of the community of Christ.

     Any choir becomes an excellent illustration.  If everyone tries to be a soloist, if everyone sings at their own speed, it’s a mess.  One person decides and all join in as one.  Even if it’s not YOUR favorite hymn, or if it’s a different tempo than what you learned, or if it’s in a key different from your memory – your choices are one of two: to sing, or not.

     We pray for the first.

– Cantor David Cherwien

Sunday Readings

September 16, 2012 – Time after Pentecost, Sunday 24
     Isaiah 50:4-9a + Psalm 116:1-9
     James 3:1-12 + Mark 8:27-38

September 23, 2012 – Time after Pentecost, Sunday 25
     Jeremiah 11:18-20 + Psalm 54
     James 3:13—4:3, 7-8a + Mark 9:30-37

This Week in Adult Education

     This Sunday, September 16, Pastor Crippen will present part 2 of a 2-part series, “An Introduction to the Book of James.”

New Members

     New members will be received on Sunday, September 23. If you are interested in becoming a member of Mount Olive, please speak to Pastor Crippen soon!

Welcome Our New Members

     Please join the Mount Olive Vestry for a welcome brunch with our new members on Sunday, September 23, following the second liturgy (approximately 12:30 pm). We will gather in the Undercroft for introductions, a light meal, and conversation.

     RSVP by Friday, September 21, to the church office (e-mail: welcome@mountolivechurch.org, or call 612-827-5919).

Prayer Shawl Ministry

     Do you knit or crochet?  Yes?  Then mark Sunday, September 23 on your calendar because you are needed at the next meeting of the Mount Olive Prayer Shawl Ministry group.   We will meet at 9:30 AM.

     Don’t know how to knit or crochet?  No problem.  We can teach you!  If you need additional information or have any questions about this project, contact Peggy Hoeft (peggyrf70@gmail.com).

Coffee Hours This Sunday

     This Sunday, September 16, members of the Worship Committee Altar Guild will host the Coffee and Fellowship following each of the morning liturgies. These two committees wish to use this opportunity to acknowledge the countless hours of service provided by the many volunteers at Mount Olive.

     We are still trying to determine just how many consecutive years Marcella Daehn has served Mount Olive on both the Altar Guild and Worship Committee. She has decided to retire and pass the baton to others. Marcella is certainly not the only long serving volunteer in our midst. So we take this opportunity of her retirement to thank her for the example she has set for us all, and to thank all who have served and continue to serve.

     Well done, good and faithful servant(s)!

Book Discussion Group

     Mount Olive’s Book Discussion  group meets on the second Saturday of each month at 10:00 a.m. For the October 13 meeting they will read Remarkable Creatures, by Tracy Chevalier.

October 2 is Drawing Near

     Tuesday October 2, is the first day of Way to Goals Tutoring for this year, and I am looking for a few good men and women to be a positive force in a child’s life by becoming a volunteer tutor.  If you have a heart for children this is the job for you!  This is a once a week commitment on Tuesday evenings from 7:00-8:30 p.m.  You will spend one hour with your student and the last half an hour enjoying a snack and fun activity, or just visiting with the other students and tutors.  The youth are in second through sixth grade.  The season goes from the first Tuesday in October through the last Tuesday in May.  We do not meet when the Minneapolis Public Schools are off and a few other Tuesday evenings. If you would like more information or you are interested in volunteering please give me a call at church, 612-827-5919.

– Donna Neste

Name Change and Request for Helpers

     The Worship Committee recognizes the valuable service the greeters are performing during our worship services, and most of you realize it goes far beyond greeting folks at the door.  Greeters arrive at least thirty minutes prior to the services, ensure bulletins and other informational brochures are available to the worshipers.  As well, they ensure doors are unlocked, lights and fans turned on, and windows opened or closed.  They may also be asked to perform some minor duties for the other worship assistants, depending on the logistics of the service.  They keep track of and record the numbers in attendance. They are also responsible for the offering collection, the procession of the gifts to the altar, as well as coordinating the flow of traffic to the Eucharist.  At the end of the service, they see that the offering is transferred quickly to the safe and conclude their duties by tidying the pews in the nave.  They also often field questions of newcomers, and now and again may have to respond to minor emergencies.  In other words, the greeters are much more than people who just greet at the door.  They are ushers, gracious hosts, ambassadors.  Therefore, it was decided in the most recent Worship Committee meeting that there will be a name change in the servant roster from “Greeter” to “Usher.”

     With all of that in mind, we are always looking for new ushers, especially those who can serve with flexibility for both services, as well as evening services.  Those who serve in the evening would be asked to learn how to close the building, therefore adding some additional duties, similar to the previous “Building Keeper” position. This commitment is available for new and current ushers.  If you are interested in learning the building keeper duties of the ushers and have a flexible schedule that allows you to serve in the evening, please let Brian Jacobs know.

Accent on Worship

     While I’m sure it is not unusual to see the new Vicar aimlessly walking the halls looking lost and confused, your newest Vicar, Neal Cannon (that’s me), will have a little extra of that this year.  That’s because not only am I orienting myself to a new call, church, and people, but I am also adjusting myself to a new marriage and home!  Soon after I began at Mount Olive (August 26), I moved into a new duplex (September 1), and will soon be  married to my beautiful fiancée, Mary (September 8).  This process has been a whirlwind of activity and change, but I have been blessed by God with amazing friends, welcoming neighbors, and the Holy Spirit who has guided me along the way.

     I was born just outside of Crystal Lake, Illinois, four minutes after my identical twin brother Paul (who is also a pastor, now serving his first call in Crystal Lake at the church where we were baptized!), to my mother Julie, a nurse, and father Charles, an airline pilot.  I have one older sister, Susie, and one younger sister, Marybeth.  Together, we moved from Crystal Lake to Cincinnati, Ohio, where I developed my life-long love of the Cincinnati Bengals, my favorite professional football team.  Our stay in Cincinnati was not long, however, and our family moved to Park City, Utah when I was in the third grade, where we remained through high school.

     After high school, I attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD where I received my undergraduate degree in Business Communications.  During each college summer I worked at Voyageurs Lutheran Ministry in northern Minnesota as a counselor, BWCA canoe guide (where I learned to love the outdoors), and on program staff.  After college, I felt a call towards youth ministry and began work as the middle school youth director at Roseville Lutheran Church, where I have worked for the past six years.  While I loved my job there, I began to feel another tug in my life towards seminary and pastoral ministry.  That tug led me to Luther Seminary in St. Paul, where I dived in to theological and pastoral learning these past two years.

Through it all, I have come to love Lutheran tradition, theology, and people.  I am excited to land at Mount Olive Lutheran Church where I will learn from you and with you about this great God of ours, and his Son Jesus Christ.  Praise be to God!

– Vicar Neal Cannon

This Week in Adult Education

     This Sunday, September 9, Pastor Crippen will present part 1 of a 2-part series on “An Introduction to the Book of James.”

New Olive Branch Publication Schedule 

     Beginning with this issue, The Olive Branch schedule returns to weekly publication. The publication date of the weekly newsletter is moving from Mondays to Fridays.  The result will be that members will receive news of the congregation and other information just prior to Sunday’s liturgies and fellowship, which is more timely, and copies of the newsletter may also be given to visitors at worship and still be fresh information that morning.

Name Change and Request for Helpers

     The Worship Committee recognizes the valuable service the greeters are performing during our worship services, and most of you realize it goes far beyond greeting folks at the door.  Greeters arrive at least thirty minutes prior to the services, ensure bulletins and other informational brochures are available to the worshipers.  As well, they ensure doors are unlocked, lights and fans turned on, and windows opened or closed.  They may also be asked to perform some minor duties for the other worship assistants, depending on the logistics of the service.  They keep track of and record the numbers in attendance. They are also responsible for the offering collection, the procession of the gifts to the altar, as well as coordinating the flow of traffic to the eucharist table.  At the end of the service, they see that the offering is transferred quickly to the safe and conclude their duties by tidying the pews in the nave.  They also often field questions of newcomers, and now and again may have to respond to minor emergencies.  In other words, the greeters are much more than people who just greet at the door.  They are ushers, gracious hosts, ambassadors.  Therefore, it was decided in the most recent Worship Committee meeting that there will be a name change in the servant roster from “Greeter” to “Usher.”

     With all of that in mind, we are always looking for new ushers, especially those who can serve with flexibility for both services, as well as evening services.  Those who serve in the evening would be asked to learn how to close the building, therefore adding some additional duties, similar to the previous “Building Keeper” position.  This commitment is available for new and current ushers.  If you are interested in learning the building keeper duties of the ushers and have a flexible schedule that allows you to serve in the evening, please let Brian Jacobs know.

Book Discussion Group

     Mount Olive’s Book Discussion group meets on the second Saturday of each month at 10:00 a.m. For the September 8 meeting they will read The Sparrow, by Mary Doria Russell. For the October 13 meeting they will read Remarkable Creatures, by Tracy Chevalier. All readers welcome!

Olivites in the News

     This month’s edition of Metro Lutheran features an article about Susan Cherwien, written by former Mount Olive member, Mike Sherer.

     (While you’re looking at the newspaper, be sure to check out who was “Caught Reading Metro Lutheran” – you’ll see some familiar faces!)

Prayer Shawl Ministry

     Do you knit or crochet?  Yes?  Then mark Sunday, September 23 on your calendar because you are needed at the next meeting of the Mount Olive Prayer Shawl Ministry group.   We will meet at 9:30 AM.
     Don’t know how to knit or crochet?  No problem.  We can teach you!    So grab a cup of coffee and join the meeting to learn more about this rewarding ministry.

     If you need additional information or have any questions about this project, contact Peggy Hoeft (peggyrf70@gmail.com).

A Word of Thanks 

     Many thanks to Marcella Daehn, Beth Gaede, Peggy Hoeft,  Tim Lindholm and T.J. Schnabel, Bonnie McClellan, and Sandra and Steve Pranschke, who contributed nearly 20 people-hours to clean our chancel, transepts, and narthex, and polish the brass candelabra and fittings. Our worship space positively glows!

October 2 is Drawing Near

     Tuesday October 2, is the first day of Way to Goals Tutoring for this year, and I am looking for a few good men and women to be a positive force in a child’s life by becoming a volunteer tutor.  If you have a heart for children this is the job for you!  This is a once a week commitment on Tuesday evenings from 7:00-8:30 p.m.  You will spend one hour with your student and the last half an hour enjoying a snack and fun activity, or just visiting with the other students and tutors.  The youth are in second through sixth grade.  The season goes from the first Tuesday in October through the last Tuesday in May.  We do not meet when the Minneapolis Public Schools are off and a few other Tuesday evenings. If you would like more information or you are interested in volunteering please give me a call at church, 612-827-5919.

– Donna Neste

Attention All Worship Assistants!

     The new schedule for September-December is now posted on the church website. Please check it soon to find out when you are scheduled: https://www.mountolivechurch.org/worship_servants.html
(click on the red box labeled, “View Current Servant Schedule”).

Every Church a Peace Church September Potluck Supper Meeting

When:   Monday, September 10, 6:30 pm
Where:  Living Table United Church of Christ, 4001 38th Ave. S.; Minneapolis 55406
            612-729-7556;   http://www.spiritucc.org
Who:  You and … someone from your church … or another church? …Your own pastor? …
            interested friend, neighbor or relative?
Why:  Support, networking, delicious food, and an outstanding program!

The program for this month is a presentation and discussion led by Michael Bayly entitled, “Justice, Peace, and the Minnesota Marriage Amendment: Understanding and speaking about the proposed constitutional ban on same-sex civil marriage from a justice and peace perspective.”
     For more Information, please visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MnECAPC/message/157  or send your questions via email to: ecapctc@yahoo.com.

Thank You

     Thank you to all those new volunteers who helped with the Community Meal this past Labor Day weekend (and a continual thank you to those who come faithfully on those special Saturdays.)
– Mount Olive Neighborhood Ministries Committee

Rachel Crippen blog from Austria
     Some folks have asked the Crippens about how Rachel Crippen’s youth exchange year in Austria is going.  The easiest way to find out is have her tell you, since she’s blogging about her experience online, and including lots of photographs.  Go to www.rcrippen.blogspot.com and it’s all there.  Past entries are listed on the sidebar, and people can leave comments if they wish, or even “subscribe,” which means getting e-mail notices whenever she makes new entries.  Pastor Crippen and his family are grateful for all the kind thoughts and all the prayers people are offering as she has this great experience.

Wear Your Nametags!

     As a way to help Vicar Neal become familiar with our names, it would be very hospitable if we could all consider wearing our nametags on Sundays for the next several weeks. If you don’t have a nametag, or if yours has been lost or misplaced, please contact the church office for a new one.

Church Library News

     I am pleased to finally be able to share some news of progress regarding the inclusion of a DVD collection for adults in our library. All summer we awaited the arrival of an ordered media spinner rack and finally accepted a substitute so that we could enter the fall season with something to use to display our newly processed DVD collection.
     So can now announce the following acquisitions in this beginning DVD collection:

• WALKING THE BIBLE — a journey by land through the five books of Moses
• THE QUEST FOR NOAH’S ARK
• JESUS — HIS BIRTH AND MINISTRY (Reader’s Digest Series — Great People of the Bible)
• JESUS — HIS FINAL DAYS AND RESURRECTION
• THE APOSTLE PAUL
• ABRAHAM, SARAH, ISAAC, JACOB AND JOSEPH
• MARY OF NAZARETH
• THE GIFT OF JABEZ
• EARTH FROM ABOVE SERIES — EARTH — Part I
• EARTH FROM ABOVE SERIES — EARTH — Part II
• EARTH FROM ABOVE SERIES — SEAS AND OCEANS — Part I and II
• EARTH FROM ABOVE SERIES — Water
• EARTH FROM ABOVE SERIES — Biodiversity
• SECRETS OF THE OCEAN REALMS SERIES — Encounters of the Deep
• SECRETS OF THE OCEAN REALMS SERIES — Nature’s Amazing Events
• SECRETS OF THE OCEAN REALMS SERIES — Nature’s Incredible Designs
• JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME SERIES — Europe and The Middle East
• JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME SERIES – Africa and Asia
• JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME SERIES – Australia to the Americas
• ADVENTURES IN SEARCH OF THE PAST (Reader’s Digest Series) — Mysteries of the Americas — Vanished Civilizations
• ADVENTURES IN SEARCH OF THE PAST — Mysteries of Europe and the Mediteranean — Myths and Legends
• ADVENTURES IN SEARCH OF THE PAST — Mysteries of the Orient — Ancient Journeys
• JOY TO THE WORLD — featuring The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra
• BRETHREN — by White Knuckle Media
• NBC NEWS PRESENTS — THE GREATEST GENERATION with Tom Brokaw
• THE GREATEST GENERATION SPEAKS with Tom Brokaw (also D-Day, a Leap into History)
• THE GREATEST GENERATION with Tom Brokaw  (Memories of World War II)
• AMERICA — THE STORY OF US
• Disc I — Rebels, Revolution, Westward Division
• Disc II — Civil War, Heartland Cities, Boom Bonus
• Disc III — Bust, World War II, Superpower, Millenium
• NEVER STOP SINGING — A Celebration of Minnesota’s Choral Legacy
• A ST. OLAF CHRISTMAS IN NORWAY
• CHRISTMAS AT ST. OLAF — 2007 (Where Peace and Love and Hope Abide)
• JACK HANNA’S ANIMAL ADVENTURES — On Safari with Jack; Little Seen Africa; Africa on the Edge; Safari Through the Masai Mara; Phinda, Land of Adventure; and Jack’s Camp

     We hope that soon we will begin to acquire DVDs for children as well as update our collection of children’s books.  I would welcome a volunteer (or more) to assist in this process, especially if you have an association as an elementary or special education teacher or would have other expertise with children’s literature to share.  Please contact me at my home or in the Library many Sundays.

     Kudos to Target Corporation and The Minneapolis Star Tribune for presenting “A Family Reading Adventure” this Saturday, September 8, at the Hyland Lake Park Reserve. Details have been in the Star Tribune newspaper the past two weeks and we hope many families will have an opportunity to take part in this special event.

     We close with two appropos quotations —  “Libraries Change Lives” and “In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends” by Ralph Waldo Emerson.

– Leanna Kloempken