The Olive Branch,. 3/25/15

Accent on Worship

     Where would I have been standing on that day when the palm branches and shouts of adoration both raised in to the air? Would I have been along the path to spread out my cloak or run to my neighbor’s house to pass along the news that the Savior was in our midst? Would I have even noticed or stopped long enough in my day to pay attention?  Palm Sunday presents a quandary of wonder about our nature as Christians. There was celebration and joy at the hope in the form of a man that humbly rode a donkey through town – this was the time that was desperately needed.  How did people know that this was cause for some ruckus, to bust out the alabaster perfume and the home team foam fingers to cheer this wandering prophet in to home plate? Would I have known then? Would I know now? And where would I be on Friday?

     Palm Sunday is a shining piece to the Easter story because it reminds us of ourselves as both the faithful and the faith-less and just how precariously we sway between them. Even Peter the rock took his waving palm branch and hid it behind his back when pressed. It makes me ask myself all the questions that the world asks all the time, but I’m not as inclined to overtly answer like, “Is Jesus the Savior? Yes? Are you willing to scream and yell and wave things around? Are you willing to speak up to claim him or speak out when he is wrongly accused?” This weekend pushes us to evaluate the answer to those questions, just as our broken, human Christian ancestors were presented with their options that Sunday and Friday long ago.

     It would be nice to think that we know more now than people did back then, but that doesn’t show to be the case or maybe we wouldn’t still be struggling with the same difficulties and battles as we were back then. No, still human, still sinners, still working on it. What we do have though is the rest of the story, a redemption story that shows us what those choices lead to. There is hope and encouragement that God gave us the outcomes so that we could choose our answers to the questions. Come and wave that palm like a Brazilian soccer fan on Sunday, but keep it in the air on Monday, and the next day, and the next…

- Anna Kingman



Holy Week at Mount Olive

Sunday of the Passion/Palm Sunday - Sunday, March 29: Holy Eucharist, 8 & 10:45 am

Monday-Wednesday of Holy Week - March 30-April 1: Daily Prayer at Noon, in the side chapel of the nave

Maundy Thursday, April 2: Holy Eucharist at Noon; Holy Eucharist, with the Washing of Feet, 7 p.m.

Good Friday, April 3: Stations of the Cross at Noon; Adoration of the Cross at 7 pm

Holy Saturday, April 4: Great Vigil of Easter at 8:30 pm, followed by a festive reception

The Resurrection of Our Lord, Sunday, April 5: Festival Eucharist at 8 & 10:45 am
Easter Brunch at 9:30 am



Sunday Readings

March 29, 2015: Sunday of the Passion
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 31:9-16
Philippians 2:5-11
Mark 14:1—15:47


April 4, 2015: Resurrection of Our Lord
Isaiah 25:6-9
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
Acts 10:34-43
John 20:1-18



There will be no Adult Forum
on Palm Sunday, March 29, 
or on Easter Day, April 4.



Paschal Garden

     Volunteers will be on hand for one more Sunday (Palm Sunday, March 29) before, between, and following the liturgies to receive your donations to purchase Easter flowers for this year’s Paschal Garden.



March is Minnesota FoodShare Month!

     Donate cash or groceries to the local food shelf during Minnesota FoodShare month in March!
     A donation of money more than doubles the amount of food available to food shelves, because food shelves can purchase food at discounted prices.  If you choose to give in this way, make your check payable to Mount Olive and write Food Shelf on the memo line. If you prefer to donate non-perishable groceries, they may be brought to the grocery cart in the coat room.



Can You Help? 

     Mount Olive’s Congregational Care Committee wants to help what has been a “naturally occurring experience” become more inclusive and available to all of its members. The goal is to increase awareness and responsiveness to needs such as:

• A new baby in the family. (A few starter meals can ease the adjustment.)
• A spouse suddenly alone. (A meal, coffee or lunch out, and/or companionship can ease the loneliness.)
• An unexpected illness in the family. (Meals to drop off or share can provide a needed break for caregivers.)
• The loss of job and income. (Meals, a listening ear, and supportive conversation may help lessen feelings of discouragement.)
• A single person experiencing a significant life change. (Help with meals, transportation, etc. can support continued independence.)

     How will this work? The hope is to develop a list of people who would be willing to bring a meal, take someone out for lunch, and to participate in the sharing of food and conversation. Think about it! The opportunities are wide open.

     Can you help? Please call or email Marilyn Gebauer (phone: 612-306-8872, email: gebauevm@bitstream.net).



Book Discussion Group Update

For the April 11 meeting, the group will read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain; and for May 9, The Boat of Longing, by O. E. Rølvaag.



TRUST Young Adult Grief Group

     Are you a young adult who has you experienced a significant loss?  Connect with other young adults who’ve lost someone due to death, in a supportive group environment. A 4-week support group is meeting at Allina Health, 1055 Westgate Drive, Suite 100 in St. Paul, MN. Food is provided and there is no cost to attend,  but the leaders of this group request that participants R.S.V.P. so they know how many to expect.

The group will meet on  Wednesdays, April 15 – May 6, 2015, from 4:00 – 5:30 pm

RSVP/questions may be addressed to:  Michele Dettloff at 612-262-7596 or Michele.Dettloff@Allina.com



Night On the Street

     Need a Tax Deduction for next year? Donate to Night On the Street!  On Friday, April 17, TRUST Youth will once again participate in raising awareness and funds to help alleviate youth homelessness. Sponsored by Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative, hundreds of youth from around the Twin Cities will participate in an overnight in the parking lot of Plymouth Congregational Church near Downtown Minneapolis. The youth (and chaperones) will get their own cardboard box to sleep in for the night, have a soup line meal, and learn from former homeless youth and those that help them what can be done to help.

     Donations (which are tax deductible!) from Night On the Street go to help fund the interim housing facilities run by Beacon Interfaith. If you would like to help make a difference, you can make a tax deductible donation through April 16. Please make checks payable to “Night On the Street.” You can give your tax deductible donation to Julie or Eric Manuel or leave it in the church office. If you have any questions, please contact Julie or Eric Manuel.




Proofreader Needed!

     Ethiopian Pastor and Luther Seminary student Dinku Bato is almost finished with his dissertation and needs a proof-reader before his oral defense.  Dinku Bato helped lead the "Taste of Ethiopia" activities at Mount Olive three years ago and has maintained a relationship with us.

     He is asking whether someone from Mount Olive would be willing to help proofread his dissertation--or even a part of it.  He would need the proofreading finished by April 4.  His total dissertation is 220 pages but someone could agree to tackle a section and help him reach the finish line.  If you are interested, please contact Dinku Bato directly at dbato001@luthersem.edu



Benefit for Our Saviour's Community Services

     Caritas Vocal Ensemble will present a concert on behalf of Our Saviour's Community Services on Sunday, April 19, at 3 pm. It will be held at Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church, 2020 W. Lake of the Isles Pkwy. in Minneapolis. Admission is free, though donations are gratefully accepted to support the work of OSCS—ending homelessness and educating immigrants. Light refresh-ments provided. Please come and bring your friends!

     Caritas Vocal Ensemble is a non-profit choral group with a special mission: to share their music with the community for the purpose of raising money and awareness for people in need. You’ll experience a concert of exquisite a capella chamber music from virtually every genre—madrigals and folk tunes, sacred, pop, and international. Great for all ages!

Through two distinct programs—Our Saviour’s Housing and the English Learning Center—OSCS provides dignified shelter and housing for those without a home and free English classes to immigrants and refugees.



May Day Parade:  Sunday, May 3, 2015

     The May Day Parade and Festival has become a joyous annual rite of spring. More than 2,000 participants, along with amazing puppets and floats, parade down Bloomington Avenue telling a story and creating a moving theatrical performance. Thousands more line the streets to watch the parade and participate in day-long activities. Following the parade, a pageant and tree of life ceremony in Powderhorn Park ushers in the renewal of a new spring season.

     For more information or to get involved check the HOBT website: http://hobt.org/mayday/



Selma Anniversary Rally at the Capitol

     On March 8, a few of us from Mount Olive with some friends participated in a rally commemorating the 50th anniversary of the rally lean by Martin Luther King in Selma.  This rally wasn't simply a celebration, but it was also to support the Black/All Lives Matter campaign, and bring an end to discrimination.  We were surrounded by people who also had the desire to bring an end to discrimination and intolerance.  After a few speeches at the State Capitol, we walked from to Central Presbyterian Church, singing "We Shall Overcome" as we entered.

      Once we entered into the church, we got seated near the back of the pews.  We joined hands with one another and sang together.  We heard several great speeches from several wonderful speakers.  Many of them had great stories to share.  The speech that had the biggest effect on me was from Dr. Rev. Barbara Holmes, a woman who actually was at the original Selma rally.  This anniversary rally was very safe.  However, I started to cry, thinking of how people were hurt and injured at the original rally.  Holmes also asked those who were at the 1965 rally to stand up.  We think about all the harm and pain those at the rally faced, but 50 years later, it is remembered, but we saw them seemingly healed physically.

     We may have made much progress, but there is still much work to be done.  However, we shall overcome, and, as we sang at the rally, we shall not be moved.

- Robin Rayfield



Opportunities to BE involved

Check out the information located in front of the main office for more details.

     Needed: Food donation deliverer! Is anyone available and willing to take a load of food to CES at 1900 11th Ave. S.? A drop-off time can be arranged and helping hands to load. Please let Anna K. know.



Give the Gift of Independence

     You can help Meals on Wheels by volunteering to deliver meals in your neighborhood once a week or once a month.  It only takes about an hour to bring a hot meal and a warm greeting to homebound individuals who cannot prepare meals on their own.

     Please consider donating your lunch hour and give the gift of independence.

     Interested? Contact TRUST Meals on Wheels at 612-822-6040.



Transitions Support Group

     All are welcome to visit the Transitions Support Group meetings if you've been hoping to find new ideas or encouragement to meet the challenges or uncertainties that are before you. This is an opportunity to share in fellowship, prayer and discussion with others in the Mount Olive community.

     The next session meets on Wednesday, April 15, from 6:00 - 7:00 pm at Mount Olive in the lower level Youth Room, and will be facilitated by Amy Cotter and Cathy Bosworth.    
     If you have questions, please contact Cathy at 612-708-1144 or marcat8447@yahoo.com.



Action Alert

     Sign up now to visit Guatemala and our Common Hope partners. One or two groups will be going. Pick your dates and get in on the action. Leave your name at the office, sign a yellow info sheet or contact Judy Hinck either by email to judyhinck@gmail.com or by calling 612-824-4918. Teams will be set by Easter.



Koester Presentations Now Available Online

     The first of the four lectures from the Adult Forum series presented by Dr. Craig Koester is now on YouTube! It can be viewed at:  https://youtu.be/gA-tRFB1FKk.

Stay tuned for links to the other three presentations.



 National Lutheran Choir to Presents Gretchaninoff’s Passion Week

     The National Lutheran Choir brings Alexander Gretchaninoff's glorious Passion Week to the majestic Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis and Zumbro Lutheran Church in Rochester.
     Each year, Christians around the world remember and re-experience the seven days leading up to Easter Sunday through worship and music. Gretchaninoff developed his Passion Week, a magnificent representation of 13 sacred musical settings, for this ‘Great and Holy Week.’  Join us for a transcendent journey of the soul that you won't soon forget.

Thursday, April 30, 2015 – 8pm
Basilica of Saint Mary (88 N 17th St., Minneapolis, MN 55403)

Saturday, May 2, 2015 – 7pm
Zumbro Lutheran Church (624 3rd Ave. SW, Rochester, MN 55902)

Tickets: $25 Adult - $23 Senior - $10 Students aged 17 and under FREE. For tickets or more information, call (888) 747-4589 or visit www.NLCA.com