August 17, 2025
Flowers on the altar for Sunday, August 17, are given to God’s glory by Michael & Kristin Litynski.
People We Are Praying For (We included prayers for these individuals in our recent church services): Owen Saidler, Jim Tessien, Larry Rude, Pastor Mike Barlow, Katie Tweit, Lorena Merseth, Ruth Faye, Jeanette Koberg, Larry Fredericks, Kelsey Espeland, Marsha Natvig, and Megan Wehrwein’s mother Cheryl as they deal with infirmities. We also prayed for comfort for Emily Goetzke and her family on the passing of her mother, former Mount Olive member Ruth Orvick. We also included prayers of thanksgiving for the birth of Madelyn Soule and for the 45th wedding anniversary of Rev. Thomas and Debra Ann Fox.
Back to School Sunday is August 17. We resume our regular schedule, with worship services at 8:30am and 10:45am. Join us for our school faculty installation/rededication at the 8:30am service.
Special Reception, Sunday, August 17, at 9:30am in the Social Hall. Enjoy coffee and cake as we celebrate Pastor Petersen’s 40th year in the ministry. Get to know our new school teachers and families and welcome our college students as they return to school.
Baptized on Sunday, August 17, at 2nd service: Madelyn Edith Soule, infant daughter of Pastor Andrew and Catharine Soule, was born August 7, 2025. Sponsors are Graham & Rachel Parsons and Elisabeth Urtel. May Madelyn ever be blessed through this Sacrament.
Jesus’ Lambs at Peace Preschool’s Back-to-School Picnic is Tuesday, August 19, from 6-8pm. Please call or text Joslyn Moldstad at 507-594-8929 for information or to enroll your 3, 4, or 5-year old in their preschool.
Confirmation classes for the 7th and 8th grade Mount Olive Lutheran School students will begin on August 20. Confirmation classes for the 7th and 8th grade public school and home school students will begin the week of August 27 at Mount Olive. Parents of 7th and 8th grade students: you should have received a letter during the past week regarding the start of confirmation classes this fall. Please contact the church office if you did not receive this letter. Thank you.
The Back to School Supply Drive is going on now through August 20. School supplies, such as glue, scissors, notebooks, folders, backpacks, markers, pencils, etc. will be donated to clients of The REACH, a drop-in center for homeless and at-risk youth in the Mankato area. Check the poster on the narthex bulletin board for more information. There are boxes for your donations in the Youth Room Hallway.
The Mount Olive Booster Club Spirit Wear Sale is open from now until Friday, August 22, at noon. Orders will be delivered to the school on Friday, September 5. Click here to view and order!
The funeral for Ruth Orvick, former Mount Olive member and mother of Emily Goetzke, is Saturday, August 23, at Holy Cross Lutheran in Madison, WI. Visitation begins at 1pm, followed by the funeral at 2pm.
Join us for our outdoor service and Back-to-School picnic on Sunday, August 24, at 10:45am on the West lawn. Please bring lawn chairs or a blanket, a side dish to share, and your friends and family. A bounce house and a dunk tank will be available.
Pastor Patrick Ernst will be installed on Sunday, August 24, as an ELS home missionary to Peace--Eagle Lake. The installation service will be in Trinity Chapel on the campus of Bethany Lutheran College at 3pm, with a cake reception to follow in Honsey Hall.
Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School Tailgate Party: Thursday, August 28, at Johnson Field. Enjoy a hamburger or brat meal grilled by HyVee. Cost: $9. Meals are available from 3:45pm through halftime of the football game.
Encouragement Needed! Mount Olive member Owen Saidler recently had a heart transplant. We are hoping that you will take a little time and write Owen a note, draw him a picture, or send a photo of you and your family to cheer him up. Please address mail to:
Ronald McDonald House
Owen Saidler, Room 222
850 2nd Street SW
Rochester, MN 55902
If you want to draw a picture, some of Owen's favorite things include Speed Cubing, Dungeons and Dragons, Zelda, Sonic, Mario, Portal, Geometry Dash, and Genshin Impact. Owen will enjoy seeing your artistic abilities in whatever you draw. Please also include your favorite scripture verse.
The Saidler family thanks you for all of your prayers. They are definitely working! God is good!
Keep saving your pop can tabs to benefit the Ronald McDonald House. You can bring them to the church office.
Could you provide a ride? If you are a second service attendee and would be willing to provide transportation periodically for a church member who lives close to Mount Olive, please contact the office for more information.
"Midsummer With Matthew" devotional booklets for the weeks of August 10-16 and August 17-23 are available on the narthex table.
Neighbors to the Nations: Bethany International invites you to join their outreach program, Neighbors to the Nations! Welcome their international students to Mankato with simple acts of hospitality: offer a ride, share a meal, or invite them to a church event. Help them feel at home in our community and churches. Interested? Contact Rachel Kerkow, International Student Coordinator, at 512-767-0975 or rachel.kerkow@blc.edu. You can also sign up at this link: Neighbors to the Nations.
Mount Olive Band Students serve an important part of the school culture, performing several public concerts and equipping them with the life-long skills to serve future school music programs and beautifying church services. For some families, the cost of an instrument, supplies, and band tuition fees might prevent access to this important activity. Would you consider donating to the Mount Olive School Band Tuition Support Fund? You can make a gift in the following ways:
Online:
--Go HERE, or mtolivelutheran.org and then select the Online Giving tab. Choose the "Other" option and make your gift securely using a credit card or banking information. Please specify where you would like your donation to go in the note box by putting "Mt. Olive School Band Tuition Support Fund.“
In Person or Mail:
--please make checks payable to Mount Olive Lutheran Church and School and put in the memo line "Mount Olive School Band Tuition Support Fund.”
--mail your check to Mount Olive Lutheran Church and School, 1123 Marsh St., Mankato, MN 56001, or
--bring your check to the church/school office
Thank you in advance for helping the Mount Olive School Band!
An Historical and Faith Journey: From Prague to the Luther Lands of Germany: May 12-22, 2026. The Bethany Lutheran College Seminary would be honored to have you join them for this tour. The first ten individuals to register will receive $300 off the actual cost to insure early registrations. This tour can accommodate a total of 30 passengers. A brochure describing the trip is on the Bethany Lutheran College bulletin board in the narthex hallway. If you have questions, please email Prof. Adie Harstad at aharstad@blc.edu or contact him at 507-351-9333.
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LAST WEEK’S ATTENDANCE/LORD’S SUPPER
Sunday: 8:30am, 225/176; 10am, 190/143; Post-Service Communion, 35; Monday: 41/25
Live Online Viewing, Sunday: 17
WE THANK THOSE SERVING OUR LORD THIS WEEK
Greeters: Dean & LuAnn Shoop
Offering Counters: Seth Tweit, Keith Anderson
Altar Guild: Dawn Klebig, Joni Bode, Terri Westphal
WEEKLY FINANCIAL UPDATE
Given Last Week (excluding Year of Jubilee): $18,185.56
Year of Jubilee Debt Reduction Given Last Week: $781.38
Year of Jubilee Debt Reduction Total (July 1, 2025-August 7, 2025): $7,420.61
Fiscal YTD Actual Expenses vs. Budget Surplus (Deficit) as of 7/31/2025: $8,387.27 (preliminary)
2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
To give your offering online, go to mtolivelutheran.org and click on the “Online Giving” tab.
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LAST WEEK’S ATTENDANCE/LORD’S SUPPER
Sunday: 8:30am, 239; 10am, 161; Post-Service Communion, 32; Monday: 45/33
Live Online Viewing, Sunday: 21
WE THANK THOSE SERVING OUR LORD THIS WEEK
Greeters: Dean & LuAnn Shoop
Offering Counters: Seth Tweit, Keith Anderson
Altar Guild: Dawn Klebig, Joni Bode, Terri Westphal
WEEKLY FINANCIAL UPDATE
Given Last Week (excluding Year of Jubilee): $9,310.49
Year of Jubilee Debt Reduction Given Last Week: $329.63
Year of Jubilee Debt Reduction Total (July 1, 2025-August 14, 2025): $7,790.52
Fiscal YTD Actual Expenses vs. Budget Surplus (Deficit) as of 7/31/2025: ($33,933.63)
Final 2024/2025 Year End Actual Expenses vs. Budget Surplus (Deficit): $8,387.27
2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
To give your offering online, go to mtolivelutheran.org and click on the “Online Giving” tab.
Mt Olive Lutheran Church Mission Statement