TWIG – Page 2

4/27/20 TWIG: Cantor’s Corner #6

April 29, 2020 By office

On the heels of this past Sunday’s Gospel narrative “The Road to Emmaus,” this week’s Cantor’s Corner focuses on a hymn which begins with a quote from that story: “Abide with us, fast falls the eventide…”

This could be another among those we could consider “rehearsing” throughout our lifetimes – both for the road along the way, and for when “eventide” comes for ourselves, as the text writer experienced. We are never alone. Never.

-Cantor David Cherwien

“Abide With Me”

Godly Play at Home, 4/26/20

April 26, 2020 By office

Godly Play at Home

The Third Sunday of Easter

April 26, 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.

Be Not Afraid

Tell a story and talk about it together:

This week’s story is:

Circle 1 (taught by Patsy Holtmeier and Matt Crosby) is scheduled to hear about The Road to Emmaus
Circle 2 (taught by Sue Browender, Larry Duncan, and Judy Hinck) is scheduled to hear the story Jesus and the 12 You can either watch the video of the story together, or talk to your child(ren) about the different apostles. You may refer to bibles verses Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:16-19, Luke 6:14-16, and Acts 1:2 and 13 for your discussion.
Circle 3 (taught by Tricia and Chandler Molbert, Mary Dodgson, and Amy Thompson) is scheduled to hear about the twelve disciples (Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:16-19, Luke 6:14-16, and Acts 1:13). There isn’t a complete Godly Play video for this, but you could tell what you know about the twelve disciples (or read to the next bullet point!)
Everyone is welcome to simply read together or re-tell the Gospel lesson for this week, about The Road to Emmaus: Luke 24: 13-35. If you have a Sparks Story Bible, read the story, The Road to Emmaus (p. 388-341).

After whatever story you tell, in whatever way you tell it, try asking the children:

I wonder what there is in this room that can help us tell more of this part of the story. Look around and see if you see something you can bring to help show more of this story.
If they aren’t able to think of something to bring, consider inviting them into discussion with these questions, or make up your own:

I wonder where you see yourself in this story?
I wonder what your favorite part of the story is?
I wonder if there is any part of this story we could leave out and still have it be a complete story?

Close by saying the Lord’s prayer together (if the children are younger, perhaps the adults can say it and help the children to learn as they go on).

Love Made Visible #2

April 24, 2020 By office

Love Made Visible Challenge

April 24, 2020

Love Made Visible Challenge—Celebrating Earth Day #50

Week 2 of 4

As we celebrate the Easter season and the new life spring brings, we call on all Mount Olive members to participate in daily expressions of 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 2!

Friday, April 24—Food Source Locally

Worship: God of provision, you gave to your people manna and quail in the wilderness. Open our eyes to the food that is right in front of us, that we may support our neighbors and be kind to creation. Amen

Inform: “Local food supports the local economy. The money that is spent with local farmers and growers all stays close to home and is reinvested with businesses and services in your community.” (MSU Extension)

Act: To support local producers, buy local products. For example, look for the Minnesota Grown label. Minnesota Grown is a partnership between the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and producers of specialty crops and livestock in Minnesota. More information is available at www.minnesotagrown.com.

Saturday, April 25—Water

Worship: “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” Isaiah 12:3

Inform: Trash and organic pollutants flow through storm drains and into waterways. Organic pollutants encourage algae to grow, which blocks sunlight. Plants can’t grow. Fish and wildlife lose their habitat. When a lot of algae die, they create a dead zone. (Adopt-a-Drain)

Act: (1) Sweep leaves, trash, and other debris off a storm drain and nearby surfaces. Join Minnesotans in Adopt-a-Drain to celebrate Earth Day’s 50^th birthday. (2) Capture your efforts in photo(s), video, and/or writing to share with others on Tuesday. More information is available at https://mnearthday.org/event/minnesotans-invited-to-adopt-a-drain-in-honor-of-50th-earth-day-birthday/

Sunday, April 26—Do with Your Family

Worship: “Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.” 1 Corinthians 4:2

Inform: “Environmental photographer James Balog captures the lives of everyday Americans on the front lines of climate change. With . . . compassion and heart, The Human Element relates captivating stories from coast-to-coast, inspiring us to reevaluate our relationship with the natural world.” (MNIPL)

Act: Be inspired by the documentary The Human Element. It’s available for free online viewing through today, April 26. If you haven’t signed up yet to receive the password, visit this page: https://www.interfaithpowerandlight.org/2020/01/the-human-element/

Monday, April 27—Meatless Mondays

Worship: “The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:12

Inform: Waste from hogs, chicken, and cattle in factory farms puts dangerous levels of nitrates into groundwater.

Act: A few options . . . (1) Visit this link to see meatless recipes shared by Mount Olive friends in response to last week’s invitation. (2) Keep it going – reply to this week’s email to share your favorite meatless recipe(s). (3) Explore this web site all about Meatless Mondays and pick a recipe to make.

Tuesday, April 28—Influence People

Worship: “Then all the assembly replied with a loud voice, “That’s right! As you have said, so it is our duty to do.” Ezra 10:12

Inform: Jana Larson, director of the Adopt-a-Drain program, said, “Even though many community cleanup events have been canceled, we can still honor Earth Day by taking joint action to protect Minnesota’s lakes and rivers. Adopt-a-Drain invites everyone to participate in a safe way during social distancing.”

Act: Help increase participation in Adopt-a-Drain by posting your experience, through writing, photo(s), and/or video, on social media with the hashtags #adoptadrain and #earthdaybirthday2020.

Wednesday, April 29—World Connectedness

Worship: Gracious God, we are thankful for our neighborhood, city, state, and country. Help us to be mindful of the ways in which our political and organizing voice can influence our government to improve our planet. Give us courage and hope. Amen

Inform: With “the emergence of COVID-19, … our country has gone from low unemployment and steady growth to a situation in which it is clear that government stimulus will be necessary to ensure that people can put food on the table and pay rent. … Investments in renewable energy, clean transportation, energy efficiency, and sustainable agriculture can put people back to work once the pandemic is behind us and lead to a greener future.” (MNIPL).

Act: Advocate for a green recovery. Send one or more letters to elected officials encouraging prioritization of programs that both strengthen our economy and address the climate crisis. Template provided here: https://www.congressweb.com/MIPL/4#/4/

Thursday, April 30—Energy

Worship: Loving God, give us wisdom in our homes and hearths, that as we care for our own bodies and households, we also care for the earth. Amen (Creation Care).

Inform: On average, more than half of energy use in U.S. homes is for heating and air conditioning. (Energy Kids)

Act: Adjust your thermostat setting by two degrees (lower in winter, higher in summer) to lower energy bills by four percent and prevent 500 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere each year. Fully open your shades in the winter to allow the sun to heat your home. In the summer, make use of the shades to block the sun and keep your interior cool.

Do you want to do more? Check the Additional Resources page. It will be updated and added to weekly.

4/21/20 TWIG: Cantor’s Corner #5

April 21, 2020 By office

How about a little joy?

-Cantor David Cherwien

“Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee “

Love Made Visible #1

April 17, 2020 By office

Love Made Visible Challenge

Christ is risen. Christ is risen, indeed! How wonderful to proclaim this virtually together last Sunday.

As we enter the Easter season and the new life spring brings, we call on all Mount Olive members to join in daily expressions of a Love Made Visible Challenge as we care for our precious world: a time of stewardship, of challenge, a time to move forward together.

Each of the next four Fridays you will receive an email with daily suggestions for worship, information, and action. This next month we join with people of faith around the world in committing to making our love and care for creation visible. Let’s begin today!

Friday, April 17—Food Source Locally

Worship: God of the harvest, your earth brings forth harvest in due season. Help us, in our eating, to honor the earth, the farmers and our bodies. Amen

Inform: Food in the U.S. travels an average of 1,300 miles from farm to supermarket. Almost every state in the U.S. buys 85% of its food from someplace else.

Act: In this time of social distancing and supporting local farms, find a local restaurant that sources food locally as much as possible and order a take-out dinner from them.

Saturday, April 18—Water

Worship: “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.” Revelation 22:14

Inform: Appliances account for about 20 percent of a typical household’s energy use. Up to 90 percent of the cost of washing clothes comes from heating the water.

Act: Run that load of laundry with cold water. Use hot water only for very dirty clothes, and always use cold water in the rinse cycle.

Sunday, April 19—Do With Your Family

Worship: “Cry aloud; do not hold back, lift up your voice like a trumpet. “ Isaiah 58:1

Inform: From the BBC: “There are many ethical reasons to use nonviolent strategies. But compelling research by Erica Chenoweth, a political scientist at Harvard University, confirms it is the most powerful way of shaping world politics – by a long way…she has shown it takes around 3.5% of the population actively participating in the protests to ensure serious political change. Once around 3.5% of the whole population has begun to participate actively, success appears to be inevitable.”

Act: Plan and make a poster or video answering this question: Why do you stand for climate justice? Take a photo or make a video of you sharing this message. We’ll put together another great Mount Olive montage.

Monday, April 20—Meatless Mondays

Worship: “Whether you eat or drink, do all of God’s glory.” 1 Cor. 10:31

Inform: It takes 12 pounds of grain and 2,500 gallons of water to produce one pound of hamburger.

Act: Meatless Monday. Do you have a favorite meatless recipe to share? Reply to this email, and we’ll share it with others. Click here for a favorite: https://www.greensnchocolate.com/vegetarian-quinoa-burrito-bowls-avocado-cream-sauce/

Tuesday, April 21—Influence People

Worship: Holy God, we are thankful for the ways in which our system allows the voices of many people to be heard. Give us the will to use our voices that creation might have abundant life. Amen

Inform: From our partner Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light: “One way you can help make this Earth Day livestream powerful is to take a photo of yourself answering this question: Why do you stand for climate justice? We’ll be sharing this visual mosaic on the Earth Day livestream and with candidates and decision-makers throughout the year!”

Act: Send the video or photo your family made on Sunday to Mount Olive at missions@mountolivechurch.org and to Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light at chariss@mnipl.org. Post it on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with the hashtag #MNEarth Day. We’ll make a Mount Olive montage and share it with you.

Wednesday, April 22—World Connectedness

Worship: The Earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world and all who dwell therein. Psalm 24:1

Inform: From MNIPL: “This moment of pandemic reminds us how deeply connected we are to each other and to the earth. On the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, join us for a virtual gathering of prayer, storytelling, art, and wisdom. We invite you to connect and support one another and to send a powerful message to decision-makers that climate justice is a top priority. Sign up here.

Act: Two actions: 1) Sign up for and join the Call to Collective Care livestream and join others around the country in prayer. 2) Sign up for next Sunday’s family movie (The Human Element) here: https://www.interfaithpowerandlight.org/2020/01/the-human-element/

Thursday, April 23—Energy

Worship: Holy God, with the waters of baptism you have claimed us as your children. Give us the commitment, as we heat the water that washes us, to conserve energy and your precious water. Amen.

Inform: We could cut the cost of heating, cooling, and lighting our homes and workplaces by up to 80% just by using energy efficient technologies. In a world of finite resources, for all to have enough means that those with more than enough will have to change their patterns of acquisition and consumption.

Act: Right now—Set your water heater to 120° F. Take shorter showers. Don’t let the water run when you are washing the dishes or even during the 20 seconds that you suds your hands!

Do you want to do more? Check these resources. This page will be updated and added to weekly.