May 25, 2025
Summer church office hours: Beginning Tuesday, May 27, the church office will be open from 9am-3pm on Mondays – Thursdays and from 9am-12pm on Fridays.
Flowers on the altar for Sunday, May 25, are given to God’s glory by Mark & Sharon Madson.
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, Katie Tweit, Roger Holtz, and Christina Harmon. We also prayed for Janet Wassman and her family as they mourn the passing of Rhea. Please keep these brothers and sisters in your prayers this week.
Mt. Olive member Rhea Wassman passed away on Sunday, May 18. The funeral service will be at Mt. Olive on Saturday, June 21, at 11am, with visitation beginning at 10am.
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.
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 offer 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.
Year of Jubilee: Final Push! We give thanks to God that our $250,000 goal for 2023–2024 was met! Now, as we near June 30, we face a final challenge: we’re $100,000 short of our 2024–2025 goal. Please prayerfully consider a one-time gift to help us close the gap. Your support is especially critical as we contemplate future changes in our school’s governance and mission. Let’s finish strong—together, for the future of our kids, grandkids, and God’s Kingdom!
--Board of Budget and Finance and Board of Stewardship
"Midsummer With Matthew" Reading Plan: Several ELS Pastors (including Pr. Ulrich) are collaborating to produce a simple, summer devotional series that invites you to read through the book of Matthew. Each day, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, you are invited to watch the introductory devotional video that will be shared on our church Facebook page, or you can pick up a "Midsummer With Matthew" weekly devotional booklet from the Narthex table to read through before opening your own Bibles to read the selection of verses from Matthew. Over the course of 100 days (between Memorial Day and Labor Day), we will take an in-depth look at this Gospel and of the life and work of our Savior, Jesus.
Sponsor a Summer Outdoor Planter: Traverse Des Sioux Garden Center in St. Peter has provided arrangements for our six large outdoor planters by the Marsh and McConnell St. entrances. 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!
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.
Volunteers Needed: Mt. Olive provides volunteers at New 2 You on the first Saturday of each month to run the cash register and check out customers. The sign-up sheet for Saturday, June 7, is available on the narthex table. Sign up or call New 2 You at 507-385-1455 if you can help.
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/.
Participate 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
“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.
Mount Olive’s Vacation Bible School is June 30-July 2, from 8am-12pm, for children ages PreK through 4th grade. The theme is “Rejoicing in God – The Master Artist.” 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.
Church Library Update: On the table on the way to the social hall, you will find some old-looking books. Fern Haugen was the librarian here for many years. She read every book that came in to the library. You may find a treasure in these nondescript, old books. If you do check one out and enjoy reading it, please let us know!
Mount Olive Lutheran Church had a special voters’ meeting on Sunday, May 18, to make a decision on Blueprint School’s recommendations to address our school capacity issue. Go to https://rb.gy/kiha8o to view a recording of that meeting.
Thank you, Mt. Olive members:
1. for providing personal care items to help our After School Care students stuff 20 cinch sacks for homeless individuals in the Mankato area.
2. for graciously donating several pairs of shoes for Soles for Jesus. Your generosity is appreciated!
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/.
_____________________________________________________________
LAST WEEK’S ATTENDANCE/LORD’S SUPPER
Sunday: 8:30am, 227/165; 10:45am, 170/136; Monday: 19/14; Tuesday: 12/8
Live Online Viewing, Sunday: 13
WE THANK THOSE SERVING OUR LORD THIS WEEK
Greeters: 1st Service — Mark & Vivian Smith, 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): $14,549.30
Year of Jubilee Given Last Week: $1,314.16
Year of Jubilee Debt Reduction Total (July 1, 2024 to May 22, 2025): $151,084.63
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