Mount Olive Lutheran Church

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TWIG: Cantor’s Corner #8

May 29, 2020 By office

This week’s hymn, “Love Divine All Loves Excelling,” is another of the most well-known hymns, even ecumenically. Its text is another one we could consider committing to memory for that (those?) moment(s) when we will really need it. The text is a gift from one of the early formers of the Methodist Church, Charles Wesley, and the tune we sing it to from the Welsh.
What this points out is how diverse our hymnody has always been. What we call the “Lutheran” tradition has always been open-armed, yet hopefully, fully discerning about what is worthy of our heart, soul, and voices.
As I age myself, the last part worries me less and less, as it is time itself, and the Spirit of God that will do the bulk of the discerning, and will carry what we need to future generations.
Enjoy.
-Cantor David Cherwien
“Love Divine, All Loves Excelling“

Filed Under: TWIG

TWIG: 5/13/20 – Cantor’s Corner #7

May 14, 2020 By office

Today’s hymn includes a text written by Susan Palo Cherwien, with the tune by Robert Buckley Farlee, “O Blessed Spring.” Yet another hymn that would be helpful to commit to memory. Its message will come in handy when we need it! That would include right now!
Enjoy.
-Cantor David Cherwien
“O Blessed Spring“

Filed Under: TWIG

Godly Play at Home, 5/10/20

May 13, 2020 By office

The Fourth Sunday of Easter
May 10, 2020
During this time of physical distancing, the Godly Play teachers wanted to offer families some additional tools to tell Bible stories at home, together, and to remind the children of their time together in Godly Play. Parents and guardians: please feel free to adapt these guidelines to whatever works for your child(ren) and family.
This material, part of a weekly series, is intended to supplement, not replace, worshiping together as a family on Sundays. As such, the Godly Play team thought that Saturdays might be a good time for Godly Play-like story time, but feel free to do what timing works for your family.
Light a candle
Say: Long ago, God told us, “I am the Light of the World.” So, we light a candle together to remind us that God is always near to us.
Sing or listen to a song together.   We loved hearing your voices as you sang with the congregation here. Sing it again; we will be singing too.
Be Not Afraid 
Everyone is welcome to simply read together or re-tell the Gospel lesson for this week, John 14:1-14.
THIS SUNDAY, MAY 10, IS MOTHER’S DAY. ON MOTHER’S DAY WE DO NOT HAVE GODLY PLAY. WE ALL LOVE TO ATTEND THE MOTHER’S DAY YOUTH RECITAL WHERE OUR CHILDREN AND YOUTH SHARE THEIR GIFTS WITH US. THIS YEAR IS NO DIFFERENT. A LINK TO THIS YEAR’S VIRTUAL RECITAL CAN BE FOUND AT THE END OF THE SUNDAY WORSHIP MATERIALS THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE TOMORROW MORNING. WE HOPE THAT YOUR FAMILY WILL JOIN THIS VIRTUAL RECITAL.
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
Please know that Mount Olive’s Youth & Families committee is here to support you. Don’t hesitate to reach out at youthfamily@mountolivechurch.org.

Filed Under: TWIG

TWIG: 5/12/20 – An Update from the Vestry President

May 13, 2020 By office

12 May 2020
It is hard to believe that it has been nearly nine weeks since we last gathered and began physical distancing. Let me begin by saying that I miss your smiling faces, sharing coffee hour with you and mostly worshiping at your side.  With that said, the Vestry still needed to get down to business, dig in and keep the work of the church moving forward. So today, I would like to offer a few updates to the congregation and hopefully answer some questions that you may have about where we are as a faith community.
In April, under more usual circumstances, we would have found ourselves at the Semi-Annual Congregational Meeting. Without the opportunity to gather, we had to consider alternatives for constitutionally required activities such as the election of Vestry officers and Directors. After exploring several options, we felt a mail-in voting process allowed for greatest member participation. The slate of candidates has been officially published in the Olive Branch. Please watch for upcoming communication regarding the voting process.
As a result of the Executive Order from Governor Walz, a small Vestry committee was formed to create the Mount Olive Covid-19 Preparedness Plan. In short, the plan minimizes the opportunity for the Coronavirus to unwittingly infect our staff while conducting business in the church building. Since the implementation of the plan, James Wilkes has returned to work full time, remaining staff is able to work in the building as needed (Organ practice, some administrative functions, recording music, etc.). All staff members, except for our Sexton, will continue to work from home where possible. Here is the crucial part: Until further notice, only Staff, Vestry and essential volunteers may enter the building. Essential volunteers are counters, technical and video support, accounting, payroll, etc. Only those that have been notified by a Vestry member and provided training should enter the building. For the plan to be effective, we are asking all of you to honor these restrictions. If you feel you need to physically enter the building for essential business, you should first contact Cha at welcome@mountolivechurch.org and she will forward your request to the appropriate Vestry member. To enter the building, every Staff member, Vestry member and essential volunteer is required to pass a health screen, sign in, wear masks, maintain constant hand hygiene, mind areas marked as staff only and practice physical distancing.
As you are all acutely aware, this pandemic has created a tremendous amount financial hardship and uncertainly for so many around the world and in our community. With many jobs in limbo or lost altogether, and no historic precedence to rely on, it is impossible to see the economic future. However, the Vestry remains focused on its fiduciary responsibilities, while recognizing the reality that many among us may experience substantial changes in their own financial position. You may be anxious to know more about the financial status of Mount Olive. To be blunt, giving is down significantly. Doug Parish, our Treasurer, has been actively engaged in ways to help balance out some of the shortfalls. You can help by remaining attentive to future Olive Branch communications for updates from Doug and our Stewardship Director, Consuelo Gutierrez-Crosby, as they provide updates and ideas for creative ways to give, if you are able.
There have been regular reminders in the Olive Branch about ways to shift to electronic giving. If you currently give by mail, please consider changing over to an electronic method of giving, as it is more important the ever. The counting process for mailed giving is labor intensive and requires several volunteer counters to be near each other. Ultimately, we would like to minimize risk and exposure to our counting teams as they process your gifts to Mount Olive.
In March, the US Congress passed the CARES Act creating the Paycheck Protection Program. To provide additional budgetary support, we have secured a Paycheck Protection Program loan through Thrivent. While all the details of the program are pending dissemination, the equivalent of eight weeks of payroll will be forgivable. The Vestry will continue to focus on our budget, income, and expenses as we move to continue God’s work.
The Mount Olive Lutheran Church Foundation has also provided Mount Olive with the annual Foundation grant. The 2020 grant was $49,453.00, with a total of $566,764.92 given by the Foundation to date. The Foundation has graciously waived their usual preference for support of non-budgetary projects or programs to stand in support of the Vestry to utilize the funds to support our budgetary needs, as necessary. We are deeply grateful to the Foundation for their flexibility and support during this uncertain time.
I cannot imagine anything in our Pastor’s or Cantors’ experiences that could have prepared them for this moment in time. However, we have seen our Sunday Worship liturgy evolve, the music and learning from Cantor’s Corner come to life and Tuesday Virtual Bible Study grow. Our called leaders and Vicar Reading have wholeheartedly risen to this new challenge. They continue to deliver the Word and music as tools to guide us in our spiritual gardens. The Worship Committee has been diligent and thoughtful, providing support as our journey continues through this time of fasting from our customary liturgy.
Education, Youth & Family, Evangelism and Congregational Life directors have recruited a group of volunteers to call members of our congregation. Through their loving calls, they are checking in with each of us to ensure we stay connected and care for our needs. A simple phone call, a Mount Olive voice breaking through the loneliness that may loom large, cannot be undervalued. Additionally, many eager volunteers are available for shopping or running errands for anyone at Mount Olive who cannot or feel too vulnerable to go out. Please do not hesitate to ask if you have an errand or shopping need- there so are many who would be honored to be of service to you, it truly is a blessing to those who serve. I would encourage each of you to look to The Olive Branch for opportunities to call others or volunteer for errands and/or shopping.
While I realize that this is a lot of information, it only scratches the surface of the work done in the last nine weeks by the Staff, the Vestry and many of you. Much of this work has been difficult emotionally and spiritually simply because it represents our continued physical separation from each other. However, with love and dedication, we persevere with God’s help.
I wish I had a way to adequately express my gratitude to the Vestry and the entire staff as they have embraced new technologies, forced themselves to think outside the box, kindly tolerated my insistence on weekly Vestry meetings, and most importantly, moved expeditiously to continue God’s work. For all these things, I am humbled and honor to serve.
Your Sister in Christ,
Gretchen Campbell-Johnson
Mount Olive Lutheran Church, President

Filed Under: TWIG

Love Made Visible #3

May 1, 2020 By office

Love Made Visible Challenge
May 1, 2020
As we celebrate the Easter season, we call on all Mount Olive members to participate in this Love Made Visible Challenge as we care for our precious world: a time of stewardship, of challenge, a time to move forward together. On to week 3!
Continue to send photos/videos/recipes during our Love Made Visible Challenge to missions@mountolivechurch.org. And sign up now (same link) for next Saturday’s (May 9) Care for Mount Olive’s Rain and Butterfly Gardens. Bring your own mask/glove/tools. You’ll work outside, at a distance from others.
Friday, May 1—Source Food Locally
Worship: “Almighty God, we thank you for making the earth fruitful, so that it might produce what is needed for life: Bless those who work in the fields; give us seasonable weather; and grant that we may all share the fruits of the earth, rejoicing in your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer)
Inform: Twin Cities farmers’ markets—considered “essential” under the governor’s stay-at-home order—are gradually opening, with limited offerings until crops begin to be harvested. The owners of the Minneapolis Farmers’ Market, near downtown, told a reporter they’re increasing spaces between vendors, eliminating samples, and adding sanitizing stations.
Act: Check out the schedule for your favorite farmers’ market, and shop there until it closes in the fall. Try new things. When you shop, follow the latest pandemic rules.
Saturday, May 2—Water
Worship: “You change deserts into pools of water and dry land into water-springs” (Ps. 107:35, ELW).
Inform: Municipal water systems in Minnesota and the nation provide tap water that, with some notorious exceptions, is safe and, in most places, has a pleasant or neutral taste. For most Americans, bottled water is OK in a pinch but not as a daily habit.
Act: Do an internet search for “real cost of bottled water.” If you haven’t already, get a stainless steel bottle and fill up at the tap!
Sunday, May 3—Do With Your Family
Worship: “Triune God, whose will it is that humans live in community, bless family life everywhere and fill all homes with respect, joy, laughter, and prayer. . . .” (ELW, p. 83)
Inform: One of the exceptions to “stay at home” is that we can go walking, running, or biking, whether out our front door or after driving to a park or trail.
Act: Choose a route that’s either new or one you haven’t taken for a long time. With one or more family members, challenge one another to notice significant or interesting things, maybe in nature, architecture, history, or people. Take a picture or video of you and some of your discoveries.
Monday, May 4—Meatless Mondays
Worship: “Let the vineyards be fruitful, Lord, and fill to the brim our cup of blessing. Gather a harvest from the seeds that were sown, that we may be fed with the bread of life” (ELW 182).
Inform: Food writer Michael Pollan (The Omnivore’s Dilemma and other books) says: “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” Following that advice is good for our planet and good for our personal and societal health.
Act: Try one of the recipes shared by Mount Olive friends. More recipes have come in since last week. See the full listing here: Perhaps try the recipe for “Butternut Squash Gratin with Goat Cheese,” from the Mount Olive Lutheran Church Centennial Cookbook (2009).
Tuesday, May 5—Influence People
Worship: But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11).
Inform: “I’m only one person. What difference could I make?” Nearly all of us have had that feeling. The truth is that as individuals we can make a difference. But we have to act.
Act: By phone or email, tell your legislative, congressional, or city council member where you stand on an issue that’s important to you. Give money and/or volunteer for a political campaign. Write a letter to the editor.
Wednesday, May 6—World Connectedness
Worship: “Gracious God, . . . make us quick to welcome ventures in cooperation among the peoples of the world, so that there may be woven the fabric of a common good too strong to be torn by the evil hands of war. In the time of opportunity, make us to be diligent; and in the time of peril, let not our courage fail; through Jesus Christ of Lord, Amen (ELW, p. 76).
Inform: Today individuals, groups, and nations are more globally interconnected than ever, whether we’re talking about flows of goods and services, capital, knowledge and technology, people, or taking on the challenge of climate change.
Act: Reflect on ways global connections and the speed of those connections is affecting you and your family. Do you think of yourself as an actor in this global theater or as playing a mostly passive role?
Make protective masks.
Learn four ways Lutheran World Relief is working to fight climate change.
Help Lutheran World Relief get clean water from rainwater cisterns.
Thursday, May 7—Energy
Worship: “No one after lighting a lamp hides it under a jar, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light” (Luke 8:16).
Inform: The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, signed by President George W. Bush, didn’t ban the sale of all incandescent bulbs but did require about 25% greater efficiency for bulbs that traditionally used 40–100 watts.
Act: Take an inventory of your indoor and outdoor lighting. Your highest priority should be installing efficient LEDs in fixtures that both require high lumens (a brightness measure) and are on a lot. Choose an LED “color temperature,” in Kelvins, that you prefer (3000K is traditional, 5000K is really white)
Do you want to do more? Check these resources. This page will be updated and added to weekly.

Filed Under: TWIG

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3045 Chicago Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55407

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