Monday morning the 21st, some very good friends of mine were scheduled for an induction to have their 7-day overdue baby. Upon arriving at the hospital at 7:00 am, they were told that there is a “flurry of babies” already that morning and their schedule was pushed back a few hours. All of the anticipation and anxiety that they are already holding is now postponed, if only hours, while many other families participate in the same miracle and cycle of life all around them. As of this moment that I’m writing they are still waiting at the hospital, and we do not know how this will all turn out for them. It makes me ponder many things, especially how some of these stories may not turn out so well, or that by tomorrow the lives of my dear friends will be incredibly different than today.
They do not know the gender yet, but of course everyone has their guesses. They have a few names picked out, but are waiting to see their baby to find one that fits. How different it was for Mary, who, being told she would have a son, and his name would be Emmanuel, was then left to wait and to wonder. What would he be like? What does the son of God look like? Will he have his father’s nose, or his heavenly father’s eyes? What will the day after he comes be like? It reminds me of “Mary, did you know?,” my sister’s favorite Christmas time song. It asks the questions that may have fluttered in Mary’s mind, though she could not have known the answers. “Did you know that your baby boy is heaven’s perfect Lamb? This sleeping child you’re holding is the great I am.”
The time will come for my friends today, and soon enough all the waiting will seem like a distant dream and hopefully, Lord willing, they will hold their new baby with a new sense of hope and anticipation, just like Mary did. Tomorrow will come and they will get to wonder about their baby, its future, and the world that will surround all of them. But those are all thoughts for tomorrow.
May we all find peace amidst our anticipation, whatever it may be, trusting that God is working in us, through us, and all around us. Amen.
- Anna Scott
Christmas at Mount Olive
Christmas Eve: Thursday, December 24
Choral Prelude at 9:30 p.m.
Holy Eucharist at 10:00 p.m.
Christmas Day: Friday, December 25
Festival Eucharist at 10:00 a.m.
First Sunday of Christmas: Sunday, December 27
Holy Eucharist at 8:00 and 10:45 a.m.
The Name of Jesus: Friday, January 1, 2016
Festival Eucharist at 10:00 a.m.
Second Sunday of Christmas, January 3, 2016
Holy Eucharist at 8:00 and 10:45 a.m.
The Epiphany of Our Lord: Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Festival Eucharist at 7:00 p.m.
The Baptism of Our Lord: Sunday, January 10, 2016
Festival Eucharist at 8:00 & 10:45 a.m.
Sunday’s Adult Forum
December 27: A Christmas Carol and hymn sing, led by Cantor Cherwien.
Christmas Carry-In Breakfast
Celebrate the Feast of the Nativity, December 25, with a carry-in breakfast preceding the liturgy.
Bring a favorite Christmas food and enjoy a time of conversation with fellow Mount Olive worshipers from 9:00 to 9:45.
New Opportunity for Ministry
The Congregational Life Committee is looking for people who would be willing to assist members who have difficulty or are more cautious walking from the south parking lot to church.
For more information, contact Sandra Pranschke at spranschke@gmail.com, or 612-859-5448.
Winter Gear Drive Continues
Neighborhood Ministries is receiving donations of winter gear for children and adults.
New or gently used items can be donated in the box near the coat room. There is designated space for coats in the coat rack. Items will be given away at the Community Meal throughout the winter or brought to the Central Lutheran Free Store. Thank you!
Give Stock or Mutual Fund Shares
Instead of using cash, make your year-end gift to the church or Mount Olive Foundation with appreciated stock or mutual fund shares. In addition to receiving an income tax deduction for 2015, transferring these assets to the church or the Foundation enables you to avoid capital gains taxes on their appreciation. Giving stock or mutual fund shares also allows many people to make a larger gift than might have been possible with cash.
To learn more about stock or mutual fund gifts, please contact Andrew Held, Thrivent Financial, at (952) 475-9700 or andrew.held@thrivent.com. With all gifts of appreciated assets, you are encouraged to consult with your tax advisor prior to making any gift.
Book Discussion Group Update
Mount Olive’s Book Discussion Group meets on the second Saturday of each month, at 10:00 a.m. in the West Assembly Area at church. All readers are welcome! For the January 9 meeting, they will read Grand Opening, by Jon Hassler, and for February 13, they will read God's Hotel, by Victoria Sweet.
Help Wanted for Our Saviour’s Meals
It's sign-up time for serving at Our Saviour's Shelter!
Mount Olive serves on the second Sunday of every month. If you have served before you know how rewarding it is to meet the residents and to have dinner with them. There is a 2016 calendar where you can put your name down for the month that is best for you.
More hands are always welcome!
Advent Centering Prayer
Centering prayer is offered on Wednesdays during Advent, from 6-6:30 pm, in the north transept (near the columbarium) prior to Advent Vespers services.
Dec. 23 will be the last session until Lent. Centering Prayer will resume in Lent, on Wednesday, February 25 and continue throughout Lent.
Questions? Call Sue Ellen Zagrabelny at 612-875-7865.
Olive Branch Publication Schedule
There will no Olive Branch published during the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Regular weekly publication will resume on Wednesday, January 6.
Thanks!
Many thanks to Steve Manuel, Gary Pagel, Dan Adams and Peggy Hoeft, for procuring the greens and organizing their hanging this past Sunday as we prepare the nave for Christmas.
Thanks also to the many volunteers who gathered to decorate the trees, and to Paul Nixdorf who organized the display of Nativity scenes in our public spaces.
News From the Neighborhood
Anna Scott, Coordinator of Neighborhood Outreach & Ministry
The Mount Olive Youth and a few neighbors spent a Sunday afternoon making lefse and Christmas cookies together. The cookies were served at the last Community Meal where they received high praises from our guests, along with the place mats the kids had decorated. Thank you!
Nextdoor is a website built to connect neighbors with one another to share news, information, and help. Mount Olive is participating in Nextdoor for the Powderhorn Park neighborhood and it has given us a unique insight in to what are the needs and concerns of our neighbors. To be involved in your own neighborhood, go to Nextdoor.com to see if there is already a network going and register to get connected!
Thank you for continuing to pray for our neighborhood throughout Advent. If you have any thoughts or insights please share them with me over the phone, an email, or I would love to get tea or coffee to discuss what you've discovered! Contact me at neighborhood@mountolivechurch.org
Nativity Set Display
During the Christmas Season and for a short time after Epiphany there will be a display of Nativity sets in the display case, the West Assembly area and in the Chapel Lounge. All of the sets have been graciously loaned to us from Mount Olive members and friends. Also, please check out the Christmas tree in the West Assembly area which is filled with Nativity ornaments and the hanging German Christmas Pyramid. There is a card with each Nativity set with a description and origin.
Because these sets are on loan to Mount Olive and are fragile we are please asking that no one touches or moves any of the pieces. They are there for viewing only.
Leanna Kloempken has assembled a set of books from the church library about the Nativity and they will be part of the display, too.
If you own or know of other Nativity sets that could be displayed next Christmas please let me know.
A Blessed Christmas to all.
- Paul Nixdorf, Aesthetics Committee
Hennig Endowment Fund
Near the end of Gene Hennig's life, he and Kristie created the "Gene H. and Kristin C. Hennig Endowed Fund for Mount Olive Lutheran Church." Annual income from the Fund is unrestricted and may be used to address any ministry and/or need of the Church. In their fund agreement, Gene reflected that Mount Olive “has allowed us to worship God throughout our marriage in a way that has been a great blessing to us.” Creation of this fund remained a high priority through Gene's final days.
Gene and Kristie made it clear that the announcement of the Hennig Fund was not an opportunity for self-promotion but instead a chance to highlight the Mount Olive Foundation and to encourage others to establish a similar fund. This is now the fifth such fund created for the Foundation's benefit, joining those established by Eleanor Krumerich, Harold and Marie Sulzbach, anonymous donors, and Warren and Anne Bartz. With a gift of $25,000 or more, donors can establish a fund which provides perpetual unrestricted support or benefits a specific Mount Olive ministry. All fund assets, like the Foundation's overall endowment, are managed by the ELCA Foundation.
If you would like to learn more about this opportunity, please contact Keith Bartz at albsinmpls@yahoo.com or (612) 823-3572.
Give Stock or Mutual Fund Shares
Instead of using cash, make your year-end gift to the church or Mount Olive Foundation with appreciated stock or mutual fund shares. In addition to receiving an income tax deduction for 2015, transferring these assets to the church or the Foundation enables you to avoid capital gains taxes on their appreciation. Giving stock or mutual fund shares also allows many people to make a larger gift than might have been possible with cash.
To learn more about stock or mutual fund gifts, please contact Andrew Held, Thrivent Financial, at (952) 475-9700 or andrew.held@thrivent.com. With all gifts of appreciated assets, you are encouraged to consult with your tax advisor prior to making any gift.
Study of Daniel Begins Jan. 7
Pr. Crippen will begin a six-week series on the book of Daniel Thursday, Jan. 7. “Singing the Lord’s Song in a Strange Land” will be the theme, considering the richness and strangeness of these stories and of this prophet’s ministry and reflect on faith in an alien culture.
The Thursday Bible studies begin with a light supper at 6:00 p.m. and end at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome!
Transitions Support Group
All are welcome at the Transitions Support Group. If you’re looking for new ideas or encouragement to meet the challenges or uncertainties that are before you, please consider joining us on January 13, 2016.
This is an opportunity to share in fellowship, prayer, and discussion with others in the Mount Olive community.
Transitions Support Group meets on Wednesday, January 13 from 6- 7 pm at Mount Olive in the lower level Youth Room, and will be facilitated by Cathy Bosworth and Amy Cotter.
For more information, please contact Cathy 612-708-1144, marcat8447@yahoo.com or Amy 612-710-1811, agate651@gmail.com.
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