The Way of Jesus: Living the Resurrection Together

An Easter season reflection from Pastor Desirée

Easter does not end when the lilies fade or the alleluias quiet. It continues, unfolding in our lives as hope, newness, and transformation take root among us.

In these past months, many of us have felt how hope can ebb and flow. There are seasons when it feels strong and steady, and others when it seems to recede, revealing the weight of what we carry. And yet, Easter meets us right there. It reminds us that hope is not dependent on perfect circumstances.

Our hope is grounded in the living Christ, who meets us in our fragility and stays with us. The good news of Easter is not that everything suddenly becomes easy or resolved. The world is still the world. We still carry grief, fear, and uncertainty. But something has changed. Christ is risen. And because of that, we trust that God is always at work bringing life out of death, making all things new, even when we cannot yet see it.

This is the promise of new creation. Not a return to what was, but the unfolding of what God is still doing among us. As a community of faith, we are invited to look ahead with expectation. To follow the Spirit into places of connection, healing, and belonging. To trust that we are part of something larger than ourselves, a story still being written in love.

And this is where transformation begins. Not all at once, but in small, steady ways. In moments of courage. In acts of compassion. In choosing hope when it would be easier to give in to despair.

On that first Easter morning, the women went to the tomb expecting death, and instead encountered life. They ran with fear and great joy to share what they had seen. In many ways,

they were the midwives of hope, helping bring this new reality into the world. That is our calling now.

We are invited to live as people of the resurrection. To stand in the space between what is and what could be, grounded in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, and guided by the Spirit forward.

As you view these Easter Sunday photos in this LINK, may you see more than moments captured. May you glimpse signs of hope rising, new life emerging, and transformation already underway among us.

Christ is risen. And the story is still unfolding.

With love and gratitude ~ Pastor Desirée

Hosanna in the Sanctuary & the Streets: A Church That Shows Up

Pastor Desirée Reflects on the Palm Sunday March for Justice and Love

Palm Sunday always sends us somewhere. We gather, we hear the Word, we share the meal and then Jesus says, Go. This year, that sending was especially meaningful as more than 100 people from Mount Olivet Lutheran Church of Plymouth climbed onto school busses and made our way to the Capitol, joining 10,000 other Christians for the March and Rally for Justice and Love.

We are living in a time when truth is distorted, fear is amplified and power is too often used to harm the very people Jesus centers. We see policies and systems that neglect the hungry, abandon the sick and turn away the stranger. We see Christianity used as a cover for domination rather than a call to love. This is not the Way of Jesus.

And so, we went.

We went because following Jesus is not passive. It is embodied. It is public. It calls us to live what Jesus names so clearly in Matthew 25: feed the hungry, care for the sick and welcome the stranger. Love of neighbor is not a private belief. It is a lived witness.

Palm Sunday was never meant to be safe. The cries of Hosanna mean save us. Save now! It is a protest prayer rising from people who refuse to accept injustice as the final word. Jesus rides straight into the heart of empire, and he still does. And he invites us to go with him.

What mattered most was not just the size of the crowd, though 10,000 voices carry power. It was the clarity of our witness. Mount Olivet showed up with courage, with joy, and with a deep commitment to the kind of world God is bringing into being. You can view photographs of our time at the Capitol HERE. You can view photographs of our Palm Sunday worship HERE.

This is what the church is called to be. Not silent. Not neutral. But a people who follow Jesus into the world, trusting that love, justice, and mercy will have the final word.

With love and deep gratitude ~ Pastor Desirée

Compassion in Action:

Continuing Bob Carlson’s Legacy

This week, we remember Bob Carlson, whose birthday is March 25, and we give thanks for the legacy of compassion he left among us. After Bob’s passing, a special fund was created through memorial gifts, and today it continues because of your generosity. If you feel called, I invite you to join in this ministry, whether with a one-time gift or ongoing support. You can use this LINK to give. If you prefer a check or cash, please include a note to direct it to the Bob Carlson Compassion Fund. Checks or cash may be dropped off at the office.

I want to share just two glimpses of what that compassion looks like in real life.

Not too long ago, a woman and her teenage son reached out. They had been evicted, and everything they owned was in storage, about to be auctioned off. They asked for just enough help to buy a little more time. Because of this fund, we were able to pay it down to zero and give them breathing room to begin again.

Another family, with a young child, had been displaced by a medical crisis. They were staying in a hotel and needed just one more week before moving into a new home and starting a new job. Without help, they would have been sleeping in their car during that last snowstorm. Because of this fund, they didn’t have to.

This is what Bob’s compassion looks like, alive and moving among us.

My husband and I have made the decision to give to this fund on a recurring basis, in addition to our regular offering, because I see firsthand the profound relief and gratitude it brings to our neighbors in moments of real crisis.

Thank you for being a part of Bob’s vision and caring for God’s beloved ones. ~ Pastor Desirée

Youth and Children Lead Mount Olivet in Worship

This past Sunday, March 8, and Wednesday, March 11, youth and children led the Mount Olivet community in worship.

Youth Council, the Faith Formation Co-Op Team, adult leaders, Pastor Desirée, Pastor Michelle, Kim Capel, Rich Holleque, Tim Strommen and Beth McGrew-King planned together for weeks leading up to worship.

Thank you to student leaders who shared their gifts on Sunday and Wednesday, and thank you to Pastor Desirée, Pastor Michelle, staff and adult volunteers who invested in building relationships and sharing their wisdom in support of young people leading at Mount Olivet. And a shout out Bridgette Weber and the kitchen volunteers for feeding a full Community Room of 182 people a delicious pancake breakfast -- with bacon, sausage, and fruit! So much gratitude for the Mount Olivet community’s generous support of high school students attending the Denver, Colorado service learning trip this summer with over $1,000 raised for the trip so far.

Mount Olivet values being a place where children and youth lead, and where everyone can find their place to participate in God’s unfolding story. On Sunday and Wednesday, as a community, we experienced the Spirit bringing us together as students led in new ways, discovered new possibilities, and built intergenerational connections through volunteering and meals together.

Check out more photos from Sunday and Wednesday below.

Holy Week Resources for Families

Talking with children about the stories of Holy Week — the triumphal entry, the last supper, Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection — can be difficult due to the heaviness and violence of the stories. Here are a few resources for talking with children about these stories in an age appropriate way.

• Look-and-Find Easter Stories for Young Children: This children’s book tells simple stories for the triumphal entry through Jesus' ascension along with look-and-find pictures for each story. Read one story per sitting, and go at the pace of your child's curiosity.

• Mary and the Gardener: Brings to life the Easter story as experienced by Mary Magdalene, the first person to see the risen Jesus.

• Faithful Families for Lent, Easter & Resurrection: Offers theological notes for parents for talking about Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection in age appropriate ways along with at-home activities for Holy Week.

• Woven: Nurturing a Faith Your Kid Doesn't Have to Heal From: This book provides simple and concrete tools for talking about God and the Bible in developmentally relevant ways and adaptable for your family's particular values, interests and schedule.

Take a peek through Mary and the Gardener, Look-and-Find Easter Stories for Young Children, or Woven the next time you're at church. All three books are on the featured books cart in the Kids' Sensory Space. While we ask that books remain in the building for all to enjoy, you’re welcome to take them into the worship center with you or curl up with one in the living room or alcove when you’re on site.

Faith Formation Co-Op Announcement

Rich Holleque, on behalf of Mount Olivet, applied for and was selected to be part of the Faith Formation Co-Op.

The Faith Formation Co-Op, an initiative of the ELCA Youth Ministry Network in partnership with the ELCA, explores new frameworks for youth ministry in order to root young people in a lifelong and transformative faith in Jesus.

Each year a growing number of congregations are selected to be part of a co-hort. Each congregation is supported by a Guide, who accompanies the Congregation Team over the course of two years, as they listen, learn and experiment with new youth ministry practices in their congregations and communities.

A team of Mount Olivet members, council and staff has begun this two year process focusing on ministry with 5th-12th graders, and we will commission the team during the 10:45am worship this Sunday (11/3). Team members include Dan Roff, Tori Selzler, Kirsten Scheller, Adia Capistrant, Quinn Himmelberg, Feven Harder, Zac Harder, Rich Holleque, and Beth McGrew-King.

Join the team for a Listening Session and share your insights on the challenges today’s youth face and how we can support their future at Mount Olivet!

• Sunday, November 17 at 10am

• Wednesday, November 20 at 6:30pm

• 5th-8th Students, Wednesday, December 11 at 7pm

• Other dates coming soon!

Come and hear an update from the Faith Formation Co-Op Team about the listening process on Sunday, February 23 at 10am!

Find out more about the Co-Op HERE. Have questions about the process? Contact Rich Holleque.

ELCA Youth Gathering Recap

Mount Olivet students and adult leaders made it back from the Gathering in New Orleans this week — in the midst of all the flight delays! Come hear their stories in person on Sunday, July 28 at 10am in the Fireside Room!

Wednesday (by adia)

Today was synod day, and it started off with a quick breakfast in the hotel to prepare us for a scavenger hunt against all the other churches from the Minneapolis Synod. We split off in groups and took off towards the French Quarter, hunting for things such as the St. Louis Cathedral, big murals, gas lamps, and my personal favorite: a local New Orleans dish. My team stopped at Cafe Du Monde for the second time this week because the beignets were so good, once wasn’t enough.

We returned to the hotel for a quick lunch before heading to the hotel for a quick lunch before heading to the convention center for worship with our synod. We prayed and danced and had communion.

We returned to the hotel for some down time. We then had dinner at the mall food court and walked to the Smoothie King Arena for our second mass gathering. The theme was “Created to Be Seen,” and we listened to the incredible speakers Emily Harkins, Rebekah Bruesehoff and Jacqueline Bussie. We finished the night with some great music by Blessing Offor, and then went to bed.

Thursday (by Sarafina)

We started off the day with breakfast after getting to sleep more than other days. Our main activity of the day was interactive learning in the convention center. The convention center is huge, so you can imagine all the different things packed in the mile long room.

We got blessed by a drag queen, played human hungry hippo, and overall had a ton of fun learning and interacting with others. Fast track to later after the gathering some groups were playing music on speakers and some of us snag along until we got to the hotel. Finally getting to the hotel we found we have to get up at 6am for Friday, but Thursday was an overall great day!

Thursday (by Kenley)

Day 5 of our trip we enjoyed a fun interactive learning morning at the convention center full of booths, games, prizes and loving people. We also enjoyed a fun friendly dinner at the convention center full of laughter and silly tattoos. Later that night we enjoyed lots of singing and dancing with our friends and spending time with the Lord at mass gathering. Today was full of meeting and spending time with new people and learning more about who we were created to be.

Friday (By Carly & Megan)

Friday was our accompaniment day. We had planned to volunteer and spend time in the community on a service project, but our plans were disrupted by weather and we had some extra time to spend at the convention center before it was our time to listen to speakers and music and play trivia. So we explored the interactive learning area. Even though Friday morning wasn’t what we expected it to be, we still were able to explore our faith and spend time with our community, listening to stories of faith, and connecting with each other. We then had some free time which we used to explore the other side of the river by taking a ferry. Ironically, the word for Fridays’ mass gathering was “disruptive.” When we have a plan for ourselves, God disrupts it and shows his plan for us.

Saturday (By Quinn)

Today was our last day in New Orleans. While we were quite sad about our short time left, we did start the morning with optimism from the sunny weather and one last hyped mass gathering. This time the event was set up much more similar to Mount Olivet’s Sunday church worship: with a sermon from the Bishop of the ELCA, announcements about the next ELCA Gathering (coming to our home turf in Minneapolis, 2027!), and even an appearance from our own church on the big Jumbotron! As the band put it, we '“rocked it out for one last time.”

The second half of the day saw the weather turn to match our mourning mood over the adventure ending. And after a long drive to the airport and a few delays in our flight — we finally set out to our Minnesota home. The entire journey was an amazing opportunity for us all, and we are so thankful for the support from everyone in the church community along the way.

ELCA Youth Gathering Midweek Update

Monday (by Ella)

Today was our first full day in the city of New Orleans. We started off with breakfast and departed from the hotel at nine as we walked along the river through the city. With all the sightseeing, we stopped for beignets at Cafe Du Monde. Afterwards we spent some time walking the shops and soaking in the city life.

At two we met up at the hotel to split to either go to the World War II Museum or the Audubon Aquarium. Having spent lots of time outside, we then ventured off further into the city to the Hard Rock Cafe for dinner and a show.

Tuesday (by Evelyn)

Today we woke up and had a quick breakfast, and then we headed to the trolley. We took a beautiful ride on the trolley to the cemetery. Our tour through out the cemetery was very interesting. Then we took a quick break at a local coffee shop to rest in the AC and get some fuel. We took the bus and walked back to the hotel and had plenty of free time, which was spent in the mall, at the pool and lots of siestas. We then headed to Champions Square for food, then walked across the street to Smoothie King Arena for our first mass gathering, which was a new and exciting experience! Then we walked back to the hotel for community life or headed off to bed.

Come and hear more stories from students and adults in the Fireside Room on Sunday, July 28 between worship services!