May 11, 2025
Parents of Sunday School Children: The Sunday School Choir is singing for the first service on Sunday, May 11; please have your children in the gym by 8:20am. Thank you!
Flowers on the altar for Sunday, May 11, are given to God’s glory by John & Kari Sehloff in honor of Kari’s 30 years of teaching ministry.
People We Are Praying For (We included prayers for these individuals in our recent church services): Bob Stelter, Owen Saidler, Katie Tweit, Lois Otto, Jeanette Koberg, Pastor Mike Barlow, Hal & Marsha Natvig, Rhea & Janet Wassman, and Pastor Roger Holtz. We also prayed for the family of John Foede who was called home on May 2 and for Chad Sorensen and his family as they mourn the passing of his mother, Diane Sorensen. Please keep these brothers and sisters in your prayers this week.
The funeral for John Foede was held this past Saturday, May 10.
Join us on Sunday, May 11, at 9:40am in the Social Hall for the conclusion of a two-part presentation entitled “Lessons From the Lives of the Saints—St. Augustine’s Confessions”, by Dr. David Reagles. To learn more about St. Augustine, you can sign up to join a reading group that will be going through Augustine’s “City of God” this summer. Check the poster on the narthex bulletin board for more information.
Softball Umpires Needed: Mt. Olive Lutheran School is sponsoring a grade school co-ed softball tournament on Tuesday, May 13, at Caswell Park. Games begin at 8:30am and finish around 3:30pm. We are looking for volunteers (or paid individuals) for umping. Umps do not need to worry about balls and strikes, since they just call the bases. Each batter gets 4 pitches to attempt to get a hit. Batters may still strike out. Umps will need to know the basic softball rules. If you can help on this day (all day or partial), please contact Mr. Zibrowski by calling the school office at 345-7927 or by emailing Mr. Zibrowski at mrz@mtolivelutheran.org.
“Disney: the Movies, the Music, the Magic”: Come and join the Mt. Olive Kindergarten class as they pay tribute to the movies, music, and magic of Disney on Wednesday, May 14, at 6:30 pm at Mt. Olive.
Personal Care Items Needed: After School Care is collecting personal care items for homeless individuals in the Mankato area. Please bring donations of trial size shampoo, condition, body wash, deodorant, hand sanitizer, socks, lotion, tooth brushes, and toothpaste to the office by May 14.
Norseland Lutheran Church’s Annual Syttende Mai Smørgåsbord is Saturday, May 17, from 4-7pm at the church at 37777 MN Highway 22, northwest of St. Peter. Check the poster on the narthex bulletin board for more information.
Celebrate 10 years of Christ-centered military ministry with Lutheran Military Support Group! From now through May 17, your gift will go twice as far—thanks to a $10,000 matching challenge. Your support helps provide spiritual care, mental health resources, scholarships, and more for WELS and ELS military service members, veterans, and their families. Give today at www.lutheranmilitary.org. Alternatively, you can place your donation in the basket by the ammo can on the narthex table.
Special Voters Meeting on Sunday, May 18, at 12pm in the Sanctuary to make a decision on Blueprint School’s recommendations to address our school capacity issue. The Vision 2030 team, along with the Mount Olive Board of Education and Church Council, has dedicated countless hours to compiling key information into easy-to-read documents to help you research and make an informed decision. These documents were emailed to all church members this past Wednesday; paper copies are available on the narthex table. If you have questions, a question submission form is now available on the Mount Olive School website. You can submit questions anonymously, and a Vision 2030 committee member or another appropriate representative will respond.
Submit your question here.
The Mount Olive CDS 8th Grade Graduation is Wednesday, May 21, at 6:30pm.
Plan to attend Mount Olive CDS’s annual spring play, Peter Pan, Jr. Performances are Thursday, May 22, and Friday, May 23, at 6:30pm each evening in the Sig Lee Theater at the BLC Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center.
Sponsor a Summer Outdoor Planter: Traverse Des Sioux Garden Center in St. Peter has very kindly offered to arrange for the planting of our six large outdoor planters by the Marsh and McConnell St. entrances. Sharon Madson will take care of these planters throughout the summer season. Mt. Olive is offering individuals, families, or groups the opportunity to “sponsor” a summer planter. These six planters are available to sponsor at $125 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 Mt. Olive) for $125 in the envelope, and place it in the church office Flower Box by Sunday, May 25. Thank you!
Come and celebrate the Ascension of Our Lord on Thursday, May 29. A barbeque featuring hot dogs, hamburgers, carrots, chips, and lemonade will be served from 5-6:15pm; please bring a side dish to share. Free-will donations will benefit the Connections Shelter in Mankato. The worship service with Holy Communion begins at 6:30pm.
Red Cross Blood Drive: Friday, May 30, from 12pm-5pm in the Mt. Olive gym. Please call 1-800 RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter MTOLIVEKATO to schedule an appointment. QR codes for appointment scheduling are available on the poster in the narthex.
Theatre Bible School: June 16-20, on the Bethany campus, hosted by Mt. Olive. Registration is open to students entering 3rd-8th grade. There is a $40 registration fee (with family discount options) to cover costs of food, costumes, and props, as well as to help compensate directors for taking time out of their work week. Payment will be collected upon arrival of the students; registration closes on June 1. Go to https://forms.gle/CiXNFQyViMmSHTcLA to learn more or to register.
LYA National Youth Convention ’25: July 24-27 at Eastern Washington University in Spokane, WA. Early registration is available until June 1; cost is $300. Late registration is June 2-July 1; cost is $350. Register early to ensure your top picks for classes. Check the poster on the narthex bulletin board for more details. Additional information and registration are available at www.els.org/LYA. There may still be seats available on the bus for youth looking to travel with our group; if interested, speak with Pastor Ulrich.
The 7th Annual Apologetics and Worldview Conference is June 18-19 at Bethany Lutheran College. This year’s theme is “Unsurpassed Christian Apologists”, with presentations by Dr. Adam Francisco, Dr. Joel Heck, and Attorney Craig Parton. The conference is free, but please register at apologeticscenter.org/.
“From Generation to Generation” Parenting and Teacher’s Conference:
What: A one-day conference to teach Confessional Lutheran Theology to Lutheran elementary, high school and home school teachers and parents
Purpose: To provide ongoing Confessional Lutheran theology training for teachers and parents so that they can pass on the truth of God’s Word to their children and students.
When: Friday, June 20, from 8:40am-3:10pm
Where: Mt. Olive Lutheran Church
Cost: Free - Requests for food donations and other help will be publicized closer to the conference date.
RSVP at this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfNGd8JpsRTZuJcVud8kZ_NOhQzuOYp1wGg6jFuIOihCvzSJQ/viewform If you have any questions, please contact the event organizer, Jake Beilke, at jbeilke@mtolivelutheran.org or 507-420-7804.
Counselors and junior counselors are still needed for Camp Indianhead during the second week of camp (held July 13-18 at Camp Omega) for middle school-aged children. Applicants for counselors (ages 18+) and junior counselors (ages 16-17): please apply within the next week or so on the website campindianhead.com/counselors. 16- and 17-year-old campers from the first week of camp are encouraged to apply to serve as junior counselors during the second week. Adults (including parents!) are also welcome to apply as counselors. If you have any questions, email Pr. Shawn Stafford at sstafford@blc.edu.
Camp Indianhead Campers: If you registered for camp, but were unaware of the Mt. Olive discount code at the time of registering, please contact Lance Johnson (507-720-2130 or lgustavj77@gmail.com) by May 26 (Memorial Day) so that you can receive the discount on your camp registration. We apologize that this information about the code was not more widely disseminated before registration began.
Camp Indianhead Bus for LIC: Pre-registration for the bus to Camp Indianhead Lutheran Island Camp (LIC) is now open at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0B4AADA722A1FB6-camp. Please fill in camper information for each camper in your family by July 1. The cost per camper is $60 ($70 per camper after June 21). Payment will be collected on July 6 prior to departing for camp.
Save the Date: Vacation Bible School at Mount Olive will be held on June 30-July 2.
Mt. Olive members donated 26 pounds of food to the ECHO Food Shelf in April.
New Position: St. Mark’s Lutheran in Mankato is hiring a manager of ministry to help support and advance their continued growth. A job description is posted on the community bulletin board in the Social Hall. For more information, go to this link or contact Zachary Scharlemann at 507-276-1742.
Happening at Bethany Lutheran College
Lutheran Youth Honor Choir ’25: June 14-18, on the Bethany campus. This five day camp for high school-aged youth (completed 8th grade) is an immersive study and performance in our rich Lutheran musical heritage; students will be collaborating with both current and alumni members of the Bethany Concert Choir. Registration is open until June 1; cost: $250. Check the poster on the Bethany bulletin board in the narthex for more details. Additional information and registration are available at https://els.org/2025-els-honor-choir-registration/.
Summer Art Camp: June 16-20, on the Bethany campus. There will be a morning camp for students entering grades 5-8, and an afternoon camp for students entering grades 9-12. For more information and to register, click here. You may also contact Jenna Thompson at jennathompson@blc.edu with questions. Space is limited, so register now to secure your spot for this enriching camp!
Registration for BLC’s 2025 summer camps is now available at blc.edu/campus-life/camps-and-community-education/.
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LAST WEEK’S ATTENDANCE/LORD’S SUPPER
Sunday: 8:30am, 241/188; 10:45am, 192/119; Monday: 25/20; Tuesday: 9/8
Live Online Viewing, Sunday: 18
WE THANK THOSE SERVING OUR LORD THIS WEEK
Greeters: 1st Service — Mark & Michelle Graham, Paul & Mary Jane Tweit
2nd Service — Steve & Sue Beilke, Mark & Sharon Madson
Offering Counters: Bruce Gratz, Craig Christiansen
Altar Guild: Jane Zibrowski, Brenda Garbers
WEEKLY FINANCIAL UPDATE
Given Last Week (excluding Year of Jubilee): $18,473.00
Year of Jubilee Given Last Week: $1,737.49
Year of Jubilee Debt Reduction Total (July 1, 2024 to May 8, 2025): $148,938.30
Fiscal YTD Actual Expenses vs. Budget Surplus (Deficit) as of 4/30/2025: $14,437.03
Romans 8:31-32: What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
To give your offering online, go to mtolivelutheran.org and click on the “Online Giving” tab.
Mt Olive Lutheran Church Mission Statement