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.
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