The Olive Branch, 11/22/10

Accent on Worship

It is the first Sunday in Advent,
first Sunday of the church year.
This cycle, the church year –
shaped by the life
of Jesus Christ,
Built on the Jewish festival cycle
drawn from earlier religions,
culled from the natural seasons of the northern
hemisphere -
this cycle, this circle confronts us anew at each turning
with Life’s deepest questions
Life’s most necessary truths
We enter each turning
as different people
changed people
and thus the confrontation
is different
changed
at each time,
at each turning
of the year.
Now the natural world
is dormant
now is the time of darkness
sunlight is waning
life is in seeming stasis
and in this dark time
this time of dormancy
and twilight
the church
moves into Advent.
Longing is at
the heart of the
darkness
in Advent.
Longing
for possibility
longing
for fulfillment
As children
it is a longing
for Christmas
and the birth of the baby Jesus
and that is enough
But as we age
the longing
broadens
deepens
includes
more than ourselves
and family
it is a longing
for completion
for justice
for peace.
In the dark time of the year
woven in the darkness of time
fulfillment is growing a body
in the dark time of the year
in the dark.

Susan Palo Cherwien
(From Glory Into Glory, MorningStar Publishers)


Thanksgiving Day Eucharist: Thursday, November 25, 10:00 a.m.
Bring non-perishable food items to help restock local food shelves. Monetary donations are especially welcome (for every $1 donated, food shelf personnel are able to buy $9 worth of food!)


Sunday’s Adult Forum, November 28
9:30 am in the Chapel Lounge
“Making a Good Death,” part two of a two-part series,
led by Rob Ruff.


Thanksgiving Offerings
The offering received at the Eucharist on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, will be given to
Sabbathani Community Center and Community Emergency Services.


Sunday Readings
November 28, 2010 – First Sunday of Advent
Isaiah 2:1-5 + Psalm 122
Romans 13:11-14 + Matthew 24:36-44

December 5, 2010 – Second Sunday of Advent
Isaiah 11:1-10 + Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19
Romans 15:4-13+ Matthew 3:1-12


Advent Procession Service
This Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010 - 4:00 p.m.
Join us for the annual Advent Procession Service, a liturgy of lessons and carols for Advent, sponsored by Mount Olive Music & Fine Arts. Leading the music will be the Mount Olive Cantorei and Cantor David Cherwien. A reception will follow in the Chapel Lounge.

All are warmly invited.


New Members to Be Received This Sunday, November 28
Interested in becoming a member of Mount Olive? New members will be received on Sunday, Nov. 28, the First Sunday of Advent.

Please talk to Pastor Crippen if you would like to consider joining at this time, or if you simply would like to talk about membership for a future time.


2011 Conference on Liturgy
Mount Olive’s ninth annual Conference on Liturgy will be held on Saturday, January 8, 2011. The theme for this year’s Conference is, “Holy Death: The Parish and its Liturgy at the Time of Death.”

Keynote speaker for the conference will be The Rev. Dr. Thomas Long. Conference brochures will be available at the church beginning later this week, and a copy of the brochure with registration is attached (for those who are receiving The Olive Branch via email).

Cost for Mount Olive members to attend is $35/person.

Please share this brochure widely with all of your friends who may be interested.


Christmas Plant Sale
The annual Youth Christmas Plant sale is on now!

Order forms are available at church. Please pick up a form, place your order, and leave the completed forms in the box provided or in the Youth mailbox in the church office. The pick up date for Christmas plants is Sunday, December 5.


Sexton Position Open
The Properties Committee is currently receiving applications and resumes for the position of Sexton. This is a full-time position with benefits. A complete position description is available on the homepage of the church’s website, www.mountolivechurch.org.

Applicants are asked to submit a resume of previous experience with their contact information to the church office at welcome@mountolivechurch.org, or via snail mail to Mount Olive Lutheran Church, 3045 Chicago Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN, 55407.

Once a number of resumes are received, the committee will review them all and contact
those persons they wish to interview for the position.


Meals on Wheels
Thanks to those from Mount Olive who delivered Meals on Wheels during the week of November 15-19: Elaine & Art Halbardier, Margaret & Al Bostelmann, Mary Rose Watson, Connie & Rod Olson, Bob Lee, Naomi Peterson, John Cegielski, Gary Flatgard, Marian & Walter Cherwien, Liz & Joe Beissel, Andrew Andersen, and Dan Adams.


Farewell and Godspeed
It is with sadness that we say goodbye to Mount Olive member, Joe Fryer. Joe recently started a new job as a reporter for KING5 news, the NBC affiliate in Seattle. (He already had a story on NBC Nightly News last week!)

While we will all miss Joe, we heartily congratulate him on his new position and wish him all
the best.


The Lutheran Magazine Subscription Renewal Request
In an effort to be the best stewards of the gifts of God’s people, a motion was made, seconded and passed at a recent Congregation Meeting to ask members and friends of Mount Olive who wish to continue receiving The Lutheran magazine to contact the church office. We are very happy to continue to provide this excellent publication to those who enjoy and benefit from it. Similarly, if we can redirect funds for subscriptions that would go unread to other ministry needs, that also is a good thing.

If you wish to continue receiving The Lutheran magazine, please call (612) 827-5919 or email
(welcome@mountolivechurch.org) and let Cha know by December 1, 2010.


The Wish List
The Mount Olive Wish List is up and running and we’ve had a few donations come in. Please consider donating even just a single item on the Wish List. Banner stands, Godly Play items, and furnishings are on the list.

The sign up sheet is in the office next to the altar flower donation board. Please indicate which item you wish to donate and put your name and contact number beside the item you are donating, and you will be contacted about total cost and how to pay. Your donation will be reflected on your giving statement for tax purposes.

–Brian Jacobs, Vice President


Midweek Advent Worship
Evening Prayer will be prayed each Wednesday during the season of Advent: December 1, 8, 15, and 22, at 7:00 p.m