The Olive Branch, 9/5/11

Accent on Worship

I’m excited to be your vicar this year!

I grew up on five acres outside a small central-Illinois town (Brimfield, population 850). My Dad was employed by the Federal Aviation Administration as an air-traffic controller, then a supervisor, until he retired a few years ago. Mom was a part-time teacher aide until she retired at the end of last year’s school year. I do have one older brother, who is married and lives with his wife and their kids in Sterling, Illinois.

I graduated from Augustana College, Rock Island, IL, in 1995 with my B.A. in Religion (and a minor in Geography). I was active in Campus Ministries there, and my campus job was “Sacristan”! The campus minister at the time, Rev. Richard “Swanie” Swanson, was a mentor to me, and was one of the first people who got me thinking about ordained ministry.

Once I graduated, I volunteered full-time for a year through Lutheran Volunteer Corps. That 1995/1996 year was the first time I visited Mount Olive, too! After my LVC year, I entered Luther Seminary.

I studied at Luther, then went on an early internship, and it was not good. I made mistakes, the congregation was extremely conservative, it was in a dim climate (Western Washington), and I felt I had to be closeted. It just was not a good fit! So I came back at the halfway point, dropped out of seminary, and worked in retail for about 8 years.

But the call to ministry didn’t go away, and the ELCA has changed to allow for partnered gay and lesbian clergy. Therefore, here I am with some added life experience, ready to learn from you, my teachers this year.

My partner, Scott, and I live in the Linden Hills neighborhood of Minneapolis. We share our home with three cats and our chocolate-lab puppy, Molly. In spare time you will usually find me gardening, reading books, cooking, and taking pictures (which I send to my Grandma through e-mail).

I’m delighted to meet you all!

- Vicar Erik Doughty


Regular Worship Scheduleto Resume This Sunday

Beginning this Sunday, September 11, and continuing through May 20, 2012, Mount Olive will resume its regular Sunday worship schedule: two liturgies each Sunday morning at 8:00 and 10:45 a.m. Sunday church school resumes that day as well.


Mount Olive Invited to LSSCelebration for Changing Lives

Saturday, September 17, Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota are holding their annual celebration and dinner, and have asked if Mount Olive congregation would be willing to provide a table of guests. The reception and dinner begin at 5:30 p.m. at the downtown Hilton, and include a program of entertainment by The Steeles and a “Fund-the-Need” auction. Mount Olive recently contributed $20,000 to the capital campaign for the Center for Changing Lives, benevolence giving from our own capital campaign. The cost is $90 per person, and a table is made up of 10 people. If any are interested in being a part of this as a group from Mount Olive, please contact Pr. Crippen by September 6.


Next Olive Branch Deadline

Beginning with this issue of The Olive Branch, we resume weekly publication. The deadline for information for the newsletter is Mondays at Noon.


MFA’s 2011-2012 Series

Mount Olive Music and Fine Arts has an exciting series planned for this year. Brochures for the upcoming season should arrive in the mail near the beginning of September.

The season kicks off with a concert by the Minneapolis Guitar Quartet on Sunday, September 25 at 4 p.m.

Music and Fine Arts Committee members will be on hand between liturgies on Sundays, September 11 and 18, seeking your support of this year’s series. Please be generous!


Book Discussion Group

For its meeting on September 10 the Book Discussion Group will read Invisible Man, by Ralph Ellison. And for the October 8 meeting they will read Ethan Frome, by Edith Wharton.


Did You Know …

… that MONAC is now serving Community Meals twice a month at Mount Olive? The second meal is served on the 3rd Saturday of the month. Although mid-month meals have just begun, attendance has increased, which is an indication of the need for this kind of service.

If the Spirit moves you to be involved in this ministry, this is a perfect opportunity! Food preparation begins several hours before serving time (Noon to 1 pm). During that hour, volunteers dish up food, serve beverages, etc. Mount Olive workers, when having their lunch, are encouraged to sit and converse with the people from the community. Naturally, clean-up follows the meal and volunteers are needed for this, too. You may choose to work during the whole or any part of this operation, on either the first or third Saturday of the month. Those who have been involved in this ministry find it a rewarding experience, and enjoy the camaraderie with fellow workers. No need to sign up or give notice, just come!


First Sunday Food Ingathering

Mount Olive Neighborhood Ministries (MONAC) continues its monthly ingathering of non-perishable food items for area food shelves. On the first Sunday of each month, worshippers are encouraged to bring food items to church and place them in the grocery cart in the coat room. They will be delivered to our local food shelves.

MONAC also receives donations of travel-sized toiletries to be distributed to area homeless persons. These can also be placed in the coat area in the box provided.

Thanks for your support!


MICAH Fundraiser Event

MICAH, a faith-based organization that works for affordable housing for all, has been supported by Mount Olive for seventeen years. They would like to invite Mount Olive members to join them on Sunday, Oct. 16, to realize a vision for a metropolitan area where everyone has a safe and affordable place to call home.

Professional musicians and spoken word artists will inspire and motivate each of us to take action and raise funds for MICAH. The event includes a reception (with drawing for special prizes) at 2:30 pm, and a program at 3:30 pm at Capri Theatre in Minneapolis. Tickets are $30.00 each, available at www.micah.org or by contacting Paul Stoll at paulstoll@charter.net. You may also purchase tickets from Donna Neste by calling her at church (612-827-5919) or by sending an email to her at d_nestea@yahoo.com.


Greetings from Mount Olive Neighborhood Ministries

If you missed the summer issue of the Neighborhood Ministries newsletter, (distributed by the greeters after liturgy on Sunday, August 29) and would like to have a copy, extras are available at the church office. An electronic version is also attached to this Olive Branch.


Thank You to Jobs After School Volunteers

Many thanks to Judy Hinck and Mike Edwins for their invaluable help this summer with the Summer Jobs After School program. With their help, we were able to accomplish much and together created opportunities for 21 kids to grow and be challenged during these summer months.


Volunteer Tutors Needed

The Way to Goals Tutoring Program for students from second through sixth grade, will resume on Tuesday, October 4. We will meet every Tuesday evening (except for the days that Minneapolis Public Schools are not in session) from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. for tutoring, a snack, and an activity. The program will end for the year on May 29, 2012. Consider being a part of this wonderful program, by volunteering to be a tutor.

There will be a dinner and short training session for new tutors on Thursday, September 22, at the home of Donna Neste, beginning at 6:30 p.m. If you would like more information, would like to volunteer, or need directions to Donna’s house, call her at church 612-827-5919.


Office Need

As we welcome Vicar Erik, and hopefully the next string of vicars, to the new office space, we find we are in need of an appropriate desk chair that offers comfort and one-size-fits-all adjustability. I've ordered a new chair from our furniture supplier and will pick up the chair to save on delivery charges. The chair is in the $100-200 range. It will be added to the Wish List by current Vice President Lisa Nordeen. If anyone would care to donate toward the chair, please do so by writing a check to Mt. Olive and placing it in an envelope marked Vicar's Chair-Wish List.
Respectfully,
Brian Jacobs


Attention Alb-Wearers!

Although we look angelic while performing our liturgical duties, some of our albs look like they have been vacationing in hot spots!

Carol Austermann is organizing and treating and rejuvenating these albs, but tags and hangers temporary and the assignment list will be updated.

If you are having “alb issues,” please call Carol at 612-722-5123. Any ideas you might have about labels and laundry will be gratefully received!

Thanks for your service to Mount Olive, and for your attention to our worship attire.


Every Church A Peace Church Potluck

The next Every Church a Peace Church potluck meeting will feature Dr. Terry Nichols, professor of Theology at St. Thomas University and co-director of the Muslim-Christian Dialogue Center. He will address the topic, "Are Muslims our Enemies?"

This event will take place on Monday, Sept 12, at 6:30 pm at Annunciation Church, 509 West 54th Street, Minneapolis (612 824-0787). The potluck begins at 6:30 and the program begins at 7 pm. All are welcome.


A Stewardship Opportunity for All Women of Mount Olive

The Minneapolis Area Synod of the Women of the ELCA will hold their 2011 Annual Fall Gathering at Nativity Lutheran Church of St. Anthony on Saturday, September 17th. Theme for this meeting is "We Renew Our Call to Inclusivity." The keynote speaker is Vivian Jenkins Nelson, Director of Inter-Race, a non-profit think tank set up to encourage diversity education.

A stewardship response of in-kind gifts to two agencies will be received at this event. Alexandra House Women's Shelter provides 24 hour emergency shelter to victims of domestic or sexual violence across the State of Minnesota. They are collecting personal care items, such as full size shampoos, soaps, conditioner, deodorant, unopened cosmetics, new women's socks, underwear, gift cards and phone cards. The second agency, Northeast House for Learning Disabled Adults, is part of NE Residence, a responsive and innovative non-profit organization providing services for children and adults with disabilities. They are collecting items to be put into Christmas stockings for developmentally delayed adults, such as small stuffed toys, mirrors, combs, socks, soaps, hats, scarves and mittens.

Leanna Kloempken from Mount Olive is planning to attend this Women of the ELCA gathering and would be pleased to bring our donations to the above location. If you can help provide these donations, please bring them, clearly marked for either of the two designated recipients above, or just “WELCA,” to either the church office or the church library on Sunday, September 11, or no later than Wednesday, September 14.

Thanks for whatever help YOU can offer!


Bread for the World Action

It is important that members of Congress hear from you as they make decisions about spending cuts over the next months.

Please call or write senators and your representatives with the following message (addresses below):

Please create a circle of protection around funding for programs that are essential to hungry and poor people---especially foreign aid programs needed by our neighbors facing famine abroad. It is critical that these program be exempted from cuts.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar and/or Al Franken
US Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Rep.___________________
US House of Representatives
Washington DC 20515