July 6, 2025
Flowers on the altar for Sunday, July 6, are given to God’s glory in gratitude to Him for the many blessings He has bestowed upon our country.
People We Are Praying For (We included prayers for these individuals in our recent church services): Bob Stelter, Pastor Mike Barlow, Katie Tweit, Lorena Merseth, Larry Fredericks, Kelsey Espeland, Megan Wehrwein’s mother, and for Jane Zibrowski and her family, whose mother Ruth Duehlmeyer passed away on June 20. Please keep these brothers and sisters in your prayers.
Thank you so much to all who helped with our VBS Art Camp this year at Mt. Olive! We were blessed to have so many volunteers lend their time, talents, and help to make our Art Camp possible. A huge shout-out to: Jason Jaspersen, Don Moldstad, and Lydia Kratz for being our guest artists; Rachel Ulrich and Jenna Thompson for leading the group art projects; Becky Bequette and Soren Masrud for leading outdoor activities; Cindy Barlow and Janet Wassman for heading up the service projects; Laura Koepsell, Sara Strom, Laura Marzolf, and Sophi Ulrich for leading the individual art projects; and for Graham Parsons, David Reagles, and Scott Fassett for teaching the Bible stories. Thank you also to all of our youth helpers who helped lead groups of kids from one station to the next. We are so grateful for your help! We rejoice in God the Master Artist, our Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier!
A Note of Gratitude and Next Steps for Our School Ministry:
We give thanks to God for His guidance and grace as both Mt. Olive and Peace Lutheran congregations have now voted in strong support of moving forward with a new governance structure for our shared school ministry.
We are grateful for the faithful engagement of so many throughout this process, those who supported the proposal and those who brought thoughtful questions and alternative perspectives. Each voice helped shape a more thoughtful and transparent discussion about the future of Mt. Olive Lutheran School.
With the vote now complete, an exciting new chapter begins. Seven selected members from each congregation, along with Pastors Ulrich and Wiechmann, will serve on the newly formed Governance Implementation Committee (GIC). Together, they will work with a mediator to design the framework for a new entity that will oversee our school’s mission, operations, and long-term direction.
These are indeed exciting times. With increasing enrollment and strong demand from both church families and the broader community, we are already beginning to plan for additional capacity, starting with the incoming kindergarten class of 2026.
Please continue to keep this process, our leaders, and our entire school ministry in your prayers as we take these next important steps, united in faith, purpose, and vision.
—Mark Smith & Bill Bohning
Vision 2030 Committee
Please note: Additional copies of the 2024-25 Annual Report and handouts from the voters’ meeting are available on the narthex table.
North Mankato Fun Days 2025 Parade: Saturday, July 12 at 11am. Join us on the Mount Olive float. Staging is at St. Paul’s parking lot by around 9:30am. Parade participants are asked to be at the parade assembly point by Spring Lake Park by 10:30am. The parade begins at 11am. Water will be provided. Wear your Mt. Olive gear. Mount Olive youth participating in the parade will receive FREE ride tickets.
Trinity Lutheran in Nicollet invites you to their annual Ice Cream Social to be held on Wednesday, July 23, from 4:30- 7pm in the Trinity Fellowship Hall. Barbecues, pie and assorted desserts & more are on the menu.
Mount Olive’s Church Family Picnic: Sunday, July 27, from 3pm-7pm, at Duck Lake Pavilion. Please bring a dish to share; meat, buns, water, and condiments will be provided. Also, please bring your family’s life jackets, kayak/canoe/boat, tubes, lawn chairs, fishing gear, lawn games, etc.
Red Cross Blood Drive: Friday, August 1, 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. A QR code for appointment scheduling is available on the poster on the narthex bulletin board.
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. A sign-up sheet for Saturday, August 2, is available on the narthex table. Sign up or call New 2 You at 507-385-1455 if you can help.
Mount Olive Night at the MoonDogs! Join us on Sunday, August 3, at 5:05pm as the MoonDogs take on the Bismarck Larks. Tickets to the Dog House Suite Loft (which includes food & drinks) have been generously donated! Instead of a set cost, please give a generous donation towards Mount Olive Lutheran School's Tuition Assistance Fund. Stop into the church office to drop off your donation and to pick up your tickets before they are gone!
2025 Summer Recital Series: The Sioux Trails Chapter of the American Guild of Organists presents its annual Summer Noontime Organ Recitals at 12:10pm on Tuesdays in Mankato. The next three recitals are at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 222 Pfau St., Mankato, with performances by Nicholas Liese (7/8), Mark DeGarmeaux (7/15), and John Baumann (7/22). The series then moves to Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 720 S. 2nd St., Mankato, for performances by Kraig Windschitl (7/29), Elisabeth Urtel (8/5) and Christine Schulz (8/12). Each recital is free. Visit www.agosiouxtrails.org for more details.
Traveling this summer? As you travel for vacation or work, it is good to spend time hearing and learning God’s Word. Sometimes, distance, time or other factors make it difficult to attend a Divine Service at a Lutheran church of our fellowship. Last year, the ELS’s Worship Committee assembled a “Summer Worship for Travelers” booklet designed for worship in any setting. Copies are available on the narthex table.
"Midsummer With Matthew" Reading Plan: Several ELS Pastors (including Pr. Ulrich) are collaborating to produce a summer devotional series on the book of Matthew. Each day, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, you are invited to watch the introductory devotional video that is shared on our church Facebook page, or you can pick up a "Midsummer With Matthew" weekly devotional booklet to read before opening your own Bibles to read the selection of verses from Matthew. Devotional booklets for the weeks of June 30-July 5 and July 6-12 are on the narthex table.
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LAST WEEK’S ATTENDANCE/LORD’S SUPPER
Sunday: 8:30am, 209; 10am, 197; Post-Service Communion, 46; Monday: 30/24
Live Online Viewing, Sunday: 6
WE THANK THOSE SERVING OUR LORD THIS WEEK
Greeters: Tom & Joni Bode
Offering Counters: Beth Hoffman, Joni Bode
Altar Guild: Terri Westphal, Brenda Garbers, Sheila Ruschmeyer
WEEKLY FINANCIAL UPDATE
Given Last Week (excluding Year of Jubilee and Vision 2030): $28,883.61
Year of Jubilee Debt Reduction Given Last Week: $3,875.66
Year of Jubilee Debt Reduction Total (July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025): $168,295.49
Fiscal YTD Actual Expenses vs. Budget Surplus (Deficit) as of 5/31/2025: $2,583.25
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