May 18, 2025
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 on May 7; paper copies are available on the narthex table. You can also find information at https://www.mtolivelutheranschool.org/vision2030. Following the two Town Hall Meetings that were held at Mount Olive (on April 22 & May 4), great questions about the options presented before us have continued to come in. To provide answers, an electronic submission form was provided on the Vision2030 webpage so that answers might be given in writing for all to consider. Please be sure to read through these questions and answers (found on the bottom half of the Vision2030 webpage) in preparation for Sunday's meeting.
People We Are Praying For (We included prayers for these individuals in our recent church services): Bob Stelter, Owen Saidler, Lois Otto, Jeanette Koberg, Pastor Mike Barlow, and Rhea & Janet Wassman. We also prayed for Nada Foede and her family as they mourn the passing of John Foede 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.
Flowers on the altar for Sunday, May 18, are given to God’s glory by Brenda Garbers on what would have been 50 years of marriage with Duane on May 18.
Join us on Sunday, May 18, at 9:40am in the Social Hall for Professor Pete Bloedel’s LYA 2024 Keynote Presentation entitled “Our JUSTIFIED Identity.”
Participate in in a reading group led by Dr. David Reagles that will be going through St. Augustine’s “City of God” this summer. Check the poster on the narthex bulletin board for more information. To sign up for the class, use the QR code on the poster or click on this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSes1v3HKbj_effAJtDwz8hrY3jx8F9A1_LNNs_fJmoRtLFilQ/viewform
Future Communion Offerings at Mt. Olive:
The Tuesday morning Matins Service is being discontinued, with the last service on Tuesday, May 20. Beginning Sunday, May 25, with the start of our summer schedule, we will be offering the Sacrament of Holy Communion every Sunday. On the first and third Sundays of the month, communion will continue to be offered during our regular 8:30 and 10am services. On the second, fourth, and fifth Sundays of the month, we will have a separate, short, spoken communion service following the second service (11:15 am during the summer months, 12:05 pm during the school year) for those who would like to receive the Sacrament every Sunday. This service will last about 15 minutes and will use the Communion liturgy. We will also continue to offer Communion every Monday night during our Monday night services.
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 Theatre 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. Mount 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 Mount Olive) for $125 in the envelope, and place it in the church office Flower Box by Sunday, May 25. Thank you!
As Memorial Day approaches, 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 narthex table.
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 Mount Olive gym. Please call 1-800 RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter MTOLIVEKATO to schedule an appointment. A QR code for appointment scheduling is available on the poster in the narthex.
Theatre Bible School: June 16-20, on the Bethany campus, hosted by Mount 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.
Help pay down MVL’s “Built on the Rock” (BOTR) mortgage! Any new gifts received between now and June 10 will be applied as a special payment to the BOTR loan. Contribute by going to MVL’s website at mvl.org, or by mailing a check to 45638 – 561st Ave., New Ulm, MN 56073. A letter with more information is posted on the narthex bulletin board.
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: Mount 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.
ECHO Food Shelf is once again in need of your empty egg cartons; drop them off in the basket in the narthex. Thank you.
Mount Olive’s “Art Camp for Kids” Vacation Bible School is June 30-July 2, from 8am-12pm, for children ages PreK through 4th grade. Adult volunteers are needed; please contact Pastor Soule if you can help.
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. Please note that this bus is for the Lutheran Island Camp only; at this time, there is no bus for Camp Omega.
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, 375; 10:45am, 158; Monday: 20/16; Tuesday: 15/12
Live Online Viewing, Sunday: 26
WE THANK THOSE SERVING OUR LORD THIS WEEK
Greeters: 1st Service — Mark & Michelle Graham, Paul & Mary Jane Tweit
2nd Service — Rachel Ulrich & Family, 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): $10,414.15
Year of Jubilee Given Last Week: $311.16
Year of Jubilee Debt Reduction Total (July 1, 2024 to May 15, 2025): $149,412.40
Fiscal YTD Actual Expenses vs. Budget Surplus (Deficit) as of 4/30/2025: $14,437.03
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.
Mt Olive Lutheran Church Mission Statement