May 24, 2026
Flowers on the altar for Sunday, May 24, are given to God’s glory by Michael & Cindy Barlow in honor of Michael’s 70th birthday.
People We Are Praying For (We included prayers for these individuals in our recent church services): Jeanette Koberg, Ann Thompson, Pastor Glenn Smith, Marsha Natvig, Katie Tweit, Lorena Merseth, Gretchen Olson, Kathy Koth, Asher Graham and all our loved ones who have been sick and facing ongoing health challenges.
Our Summer Worship Schedule begins on Sunday, May 24 (Memorial Day Weekend/Pentecost Sunday), with worship services and Holy Communion at 8:15am and 10am. On Sunday, May 31 (and continuing through the summer months), Holy Communion will be available at 11:15am on the 2nd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of the month.
On Memorial Day, we pause to remember the sacrifices of those who served in our military. The Lutheran Military Support Group consists of WELS and ELS veterans and active-duty members of all branches of the military. Your support helps provide spiritual care, mental health resources, scholarships, and more for WELS and ELS military service members, veterans, and their families. If you are interested in providing financial support for this group, please place your donations in the ammo can on the table near the usher stand.
Summer church office hours: Beginning Tuesday, May 26, the church office will be open from 9am-3pm on Mondays – Thursdays and from 9am-12pm on Fridays.
Red Cross Blood Drive: Friday, May 29, from 12pm-5pm in the Mount Olive gym. Please call 1-800-733-2767 or visit redcrossblood.org and enter MTOLIVEKATO to schedule an appointment.
Parents of Lutheran Island Campers: Email Lance Johnson (lgustavj77@gmail.com) by May 31 if your child is planning to take the bus to camp.
Sponsor a Summer Outdoor Planter: Traverse Des Sioux Garden Center in St. Peter has again very kindly offered to arrange for the planting of our seven large outdoor planters by the Marsh and McConnell St. entrances. Sharon Madson will take care of these planters throughout the summer season. Mount Olive is offering individuals, families, or groups the opportunity to “sponsor” a summer planter at $135 each. A sign-up sheet and “Sponsor a Planter” envelopes are available on the narthex table. Pick up an envelope as you sign up, insert a check (written to Mount Olive) for $135 in the envelope, and place it in the church office Flower Box by Sunday, May 31. Thank you!
Mount Olive’s 2026 Vacation Bible School is June 29-July 1, from 8am-noon, for children ages 4 - entering 4th grade this fall. Bible stories, guest artists, and art projects will be featured under the theme “Rejoicing in God, the Master Artist.” To register, scan the QR code, or use this link: https://form.jotform.com/bizwizm/mt_olive_vbs_registration_form_2026.
The registration deadline is June 5.
Cornerstone Moving Day: June 6. Meet at the Hilltop Campus (1123 Marsh St.) at 8am with your truck, van, trailer, or simply your helping hands. We will load classroom materials and furniture, band equipment, and other school items and transport them to the Hillside Campus (110 N. 6th St.). Around noon, we will gather at Hillside to enjoy a pizza lunch together. There’s a sign-up sheet on the narthex table, or you can contact Greg Costello at costello@blc.edu. Thanks for your help!
New 2 You Volunteers Needed on Saturday, June 6: If you can help, a sign-up sheet is on the table in the narthex, or you can call New 2 You at 507-385-1455. There are morning and afternoon shifts available. Main duties include ringing up sales on the cash register and bagging customer purchases. We also need help with other miscellaneous projects such as price tagging clothing items and hanging them on the racks. We are also looking for volunteers to help during the week...mostly on Thursday or Friday. This would be great opportunity for MVL students to get some volunteer experience during the summer months and support N2Y by giving back and showing appreciation for the assistance received for transportation costs. Please call New 2 You at 507-385-1455 or stop in at the store to sign up. New 2 You Family Thrift Store provides 75% of its quarterly profits to MVL to help fund student busing. Your willingness to help is greatly appreciated!
A Young Men's Bible Study Group is being organized by Pastor Soule. The group will meet monthly and focus on becoming more deeply rooted in the truths of God's Word, appreciating our confessional Lutheran heritage, and encouraging one another through the challenges of life as Christian men. Young men (20's-40's): if you're interested in being part of this group, please take the following survey: https://forms.gle/jXqPShV9CjGzSgwcA. Our first meeting is Saturday, June 13, at 9am in the Social Hall.
Lime Creek Decommissioning Service: Saturday, June 20, at 10:30am. Following the service, there will be a meal and a program. Please RSVP to attend the service and meal at FriendsofLimeCreek.org. A charter bus will be available for transportation between Mankato and Lime Creek for $26.00 per seat. It will depart Bethany College at 9am and return after the program in the afternoon. If you plan to ride the bus, please register for that at FriendsofLimeCreek.org.
Lutheran Youth Honor Choir ‘26: June 20-24, on the Bethany campus. Registration is available from now through June 1 at https://els.org/honorchoir/; cost: $300. Professor Dennis Marzolf created the camp in 1986 and is serving as choir director. He is joined by Professor Mark DeGarmeaux (accompanist) and Professor David Paulson (handbells). The five-day camp is an immersive study and performance in our rich Lutheran Musical Heritage, and high school students will be collaborating with both current and alumni members of the Bethany Concert Choir. The Lutheran Youth Honor Choir plans to sing and ring at several performances during the ELS Synod Convention.
Mount Olive is once again hosting Theatre Bible School, June 22-26, at Bethany Lutheran College. Registration is open to students entering 3rd-8th grade. There is a $50 registration fee (with family discount options) to cover costs of food, costumes, and props and help compensate directors for taking time out of their work week. A deposit of $20 per child is due by June 1 and can be paid to Abby Bloedel by check or by Venmo, @AbigailBloedel. The remaining balance will be collected upon arrival on the first day at camp. For more information and to register, go to https://forms.gle/XrtAUWUZPDjYDt9z7.
The Eighth Annual Apologetics and Worldview Conferenceis June 24-25 at Bethany Lutheran College. This year’s theme is “Artificial Intelligence,” with presentations by Rev. Jonathan Conner, Rev. Dr. Adam Brasich, and Dr. Brandon Steenbock. The conference is free, but please register at2026 Conference - Apologetics Center.
Lutheran Youth Association Convention: July 23-26, at Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH. High-school aged youth (completed 8th grade) are encouraged to attend. The theme is “In the Beginning” and includes trips to the Ark Encounter and the Creation Museum. Early registration is $375 until June 1, and $425 after June 1 until July 1. Go to els.org/lya/ for more information and to register. Bus transportation is being coordinated by Mr. John Spivey (520-600-8764) at King of Grace Lutheran Church in Golden Valley. To sign up, use this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdNrGLNIGfRVKlu4JHgrkk7lFgx30IT28I-L72yayJzZ0LSTw/viewform?usp=dialog.
Mount Olive Social Hall Chair Drive: Donations are being taken for the purchase of new chairs for our Social Hall. Sponsor a chair for $25. Drop off your donations in the church office, or please list “chairs” on your offering envelope or on the check memo line. So far, ~$1150 has been received. Thank you!
The Parsons family is moving to Vero Beach, Florida as Graham completes his vicar assignment. They are looking to store some items that they will not need over the next year. If you have a corner of a dry basement or other storage area available, please contact either Graham at 850-532-2309 or Rachel at 757-334-5534.
Thank youto everyone who generously donated personal care items to help fill cinch sacks for homeless individuals in the Mankato area. The After School Child Care students filled 40 cinch sacks, which will be delivered to the Connections Drop-in Center.
The Sioux Trails Chapter of the American Guild of Organists presents its annual Summer Noontime Organ Recitals at 12:10pm on Tuesdays in Mankato. In June, the series begins at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 222 Pfau Street, with performances by Chad Winterfeldt (6/2), Kaleb Schmidt (6/9), Tom Andrews (6/23), and David Mertesdorf (6/30). Each recital is free. Visitwww.agosiouxtrails.org for more information.
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LAST WEEK’S ATTENDANCE/LORD’S SUPPER
Sunday: 8:15am, 242/182; 10:45am,155/90; Monday: 37/29
Wednesday: CDS 8th Grade Graduation, 275
Live Online Viewing: Sunday: 15
WE THANK THOSE SERVING OUR LORD THIS WEEK
Greeters: Jim Gullixson, Margaret Gullixson, Diane Gullixson
Pete Schuch, Taylor Lundgren
Offering Counters:Bruce Gratz, Craig Christiansen
Altar Guild: Peggy Harstad, Carol Petersen
WEEKLY FINANCIAL UPDATE
Given Last Week (excluding Year of Jubilee): $19,947.66
Year of Jubilee Debt Reduction Given Last Week: $3,512.17
Year of Jubilee Debt Reduction Total (7/1/2025 to 5/21/2026): $131,472.38
Fiscal YTD Actual Expenses vs. Budget Surplus (Deficit) as of 4/30/2026: ($13,074.82)
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
To give your offering online, go to mtolivelutheran.org and click on the “Online Giving” tab.
Mount Olive Lutheran Church Mission Statement
The mission of Mount Olive Lutheran Church is to proclaim the Gospel of Christ through God’s Word, so that souls are called into and kept in the Christian faith unto eternal life.