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.

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!

A New Partner: Mis Amigos

MOUNT OLIVET WELCOMES MIS AMIGOS PRESCHOOL

Who is Mis Amigos?

Mis Amigos is an established Spanish Immersion childcare with four locations in the metro area and 23 years of experience. Mis Amigos’ mission is to teach children a second language while also providing quality early childhood education. Mis Amigos has the highest rating of 4 Stars from Parent Aware© and accreditation from The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Mis Amigos was recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace in 2022 and 2023.

Starting in the summer of 2024, Mis Amigos plans to open a Plymouth location at Mount Olivet with aspirations to serve 100+ students.

How Does Mis Amigos Match Mount Olivet’s Guiding Principles?

- Mission Alignment – Mis Amigos is a natural extension to Be Open (Open Grounds, Open Tables, Open Doors and Open Hearts). Mis Amigos’ mission is to provide a quality preschool that teaches students a second language. In addition, Mis Amigos provides support for native speaking Spanish teachers who are immigrants.

- Community – There is a definite need for daycare in Plymouth and many families will choose Mis Amigos, and perhaps discover and become part of Mount Olivet’s community. Mount Olivet has an opportunity to partner and support early childhood education with Mis Amigos as a tenant. A Spanish immersion daycare fits well with the Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion school.

- Building Usage – Mis Amigos will occupy 12,000 square feet of the lower level and Mount Olivet will retain 3,000 SF of the lower level (MO space). Shared space will be the restrooms, elevator, hallways, and stairs. The Mount Olivet space and shared space will allow continued use of the lower level for Sunday and Wednesday church programming, although some adjustments will need to be made. Mis Amigos will cater food and will not use our commercial kitchen.

- Capacity – A major benefit of Mis Amigos is the ability to offer a preschool without the impact on church staff for management. Mount Olivet’s Director of Operations, Amanda Wrangham, (who conveniently speaks Spanish) will manage the lease and be the leadership liaison with Mis Amigos.  Mis Amigos will provide its own janitorial service.

Finance – Mis Amigos will generate long term rental income. Financial due diligence by the Vision Team concluded that Mis Amigos is a viable and stable business.

What led to Renting the Lower Level?

At the February 2023 annual meeting, the council was tasked with balancing the budget for the Mount Olivet Child Learning Center (MOCLC) given that COVID relief funding was ending and the MOCLC was operating at a deficit. Over the spring and summer of 2023, the Mount Olivet Church Council determined that continued operation of the MOCLC was not sustainable. Not only did the MOCLC require funding from church reserves to stay afloat, but the MOCLC required ongoing staff resources that pulled focus from essential church operations and programming.

In August 2023, the Council announced the closure of the MOCLC. The students and teachers were provided a three-month transition period to find new care for students and new opportunities for teachers. The Council held a congregational meeting in August 2023 and MOtalks during the fall of 2023 to provide updates on the closure.

In January/February 2024, the Vision Team was appointed by the Council and commissioned by the congregation to lead the selection of a new partnership tenant for the Lower Level.  We should celebrate the discernment and leadership that led to securing a new building partner within six months of the MOCLC closure!

What Did the Vision Team Do?

The Vision Team appointed by the church council, (Linda Baumann, Ron Frehner, Pastor Beth, Anna Quady, Cathy Schmidt and Jeff Shellberg), met regularly from January to May 2024. A non-profit/faith community consultant, guided the Vision Team through the discernment. Guiding Principles were developed, not just for the Lower Level, but for all building or property use.

The Vision Team identified factors to consider in the areas of Mission Alignment, Community, Building Usage, Capacity and Finance. Tours of the lower level were completed to reacquaint the congregation with the large space and assets of the lower level. Comments and questions raised during the tours were incorporated into the Guiding Principles. In April 2024, the Vision Team provided an update and informed the congregation on the progress toward finding a partnership tenant.

The Vision Team evaluated the Mis Amigos proposal and conducted due diligence of the business. After completing the review, the Vision Team made a recommendation to Church Council to enter into an agreement with Mis Amigos. The Mis Amigos lease was subsequently approved by Council.

How was the Property Marketed?

Mount Olivet retained Christianson and Company as our commercial broker in February 2024 and placed the Lower Level on the market. Over a two-month period there were eight showings. Most of the interest came from preschools because the space is move-in ready as a daycare. There was a little interest from charter schools but no offers. Two Letters of Interest (non-binding offers) were received in April 2024 from for-profit preschools. One of the offers was retracted because the owner wanted to focus on the east metro rather than Plymouth. Mis Amigos was the other offer.

Discussions started with a “get to know each other meeting” with the owner of Mis Amigos, Dawn Uribe, her husband, Pastor Beth, and Ron Frehner, Council President. That meeting revealed an alignment of mission and vision as well as mutual partnership opportunities to be more than landlord-tenant.

Negotiations on the terms of the lease were completed in April 2024 and the lease was drawn up in May 2024.

 How will this new lease impact our Commercial Kitchen and Loaves & Fishes?

There is no impact to the Monday night community meal.  Mis Amigos will be catering in food service and will not need to access the commercial kitchen

 What can I do to help welcome and support our new partners?

 Please look for them in the building or parking lot and introduce yourself. Practice your Spanish with the teachers, staff, and students. Consider enrolling your children or inviting folks in your circles to check out Mis Amigos. Watch for upcoming joint events to meet one another! Keep the questions coming to Council@moply.org    

How will Mount Olivet manage the shared space of the church with Mis Amigos?

Director of Operations Amanda Wrangham will collaborate closely with the Executive Director of Mis Amigos on building details and relationships.

A Letter from Pastor Beth: Why Does Mount Olivet Exist?

My first draft of this letter included the sequenced events, meetings, decisions, balances, projections, accomplishments, changes, and outcomes of this last year.  These details are necessary, important, and included in the pages of the annual report. We also need to consider a wider view and ask the existential questions:

  •  Why are we here?

  • What difference does Mount Olivet make to you?

  • What difference does it make to our neighborhood, the city of Plymouth, and the connecting communities that Mount Olivet exists?

The Book of Acts chronicles the movement of the church after Jesus’ death and resurrection. It begins with the rush of the Holy Spirit pushing followers of Jesus from a closed room into the streets. The Spirit of God gave people the ability to speak of Jesus in different languages so all who were gathered could hear in a way they could understand.

 There wasn’t a building for people to encounter God, people encountered God in people. Faith spread when people spoke and shared what Jesus had taught them. Talk about an inefficient, risky plan.

The first followers of Jesus took the next step, trusting God would help them find the next person, place, and opportunity.  Other than Baptism and Holy Communion, practices that Jesus commanded and instituted, there was no set way of being church.

A community was formed uniquely by the gifts of the people and needs of the community.  Each person offered what they could give, and the collective gifts were used to build a community to care for people, form faith, and extend it.

It was not easy; there were disappointments, death, interruptions, setbacks, and chaos. And the Holy Spirit, sometimes obviously and often subtly, led and walked alongside, somehow creating a way.

We are here because someone spoke of God’s love through Jesus, and it led to the next thing and the next thing after that. It is our call to do the same with the Holy Spirit walking alongside,  in a way unique to Mount Olivet.

We have expectations that church should be without flaws, a well-run show that we can watch to find inspiration. But this is not what God calls the church to be.

Mount Olivet exists because the Holy Spirit moved within specific people to create a community nestled in East Plymouth. There was a need and call to be a place where people could gather to hear that God is alive and present in the world and invites us all to be a part of shaping the world in love and compassion.

Mount Olivet has grown as the community has grown, and we have a clear vision that we still want to be a community partnering with God in the world. We cannot do this alone; we need God to lead and to connect us with other people who are also doing God’s work.

Just think what you would miss if Mount Olivet was not here. Think of what the community would miss if Mount Olivet was not here.

We exist because God is present within all of creation and calls us to be a community where we can gather to hear again that nothing can separate us from God’s love and that we have a part to play to make this a just world where all people can flourish.

We have articulated our call to specifically feed, house, and walk with people in transition, to welcome and care for each other in all life stages, and create space where all people are welcomed just as they are.

What may be next for Mount Olivet because of these specific things?

God has a preferred future for Mount Olivet. It is found when we articulate why we exist, and then when we go and do just that, offering what we each have to make it happen, trusting that the Holy Spirit is still here, moving and breathing life into the tired lungs of this world.

We each have a place in this future to contribute and to receive. The details will change each year, but God is still present.

Why does Mount Olivet exist? ________________________________________

I am eager to hear your answer and to read the collective answers as a community. Our future will be found there, God promises that.

With you as we go the next place,

 Pastor Beth

Until the Story is Told: Older Wiser Lutheran Seniors (OWLS)

When we moved to the Plymouth area 12 years ago, we had left many friends, neighbors, community and church connections and relatives that we had regular contact with.  The trade off was being close to our immediate family and grandchildren. 

Missing was a connection with people of our generation.  We found that with our connection with Mount Olivet Lutheran Church of Plymouth which has become our church home. 

That connection led to our involvement in a number of social and  outreach opportunities. It also led us to become involved with the OWLS as an additional social outlet and through that involvement we were able to meet many wonderful friends and enjoy great social gatherings and other activities. 

OWLS has become an important social piece to our lives, and we encourage others to also consider being part of the OWLS.

By Barb & Curt Schoenrock

All seniors are welcome to participate in the Mount Olivet OWLS (Older Wiser Lutheran Seniors) events! No membership is required. We are a group who enjoy gathering for good conversation and occasionally food and activities (plays, tours, potlucks, service projects, etc). Most important is the time spent being with each other. OWLS usually meet once a month.

If you haven’t attend an OWLS gathering before, please consider this great opportunity to check us out, and maybe even bring new opportunities for the OWLS to experience. If you’re interested in finding out more about the OWLS, please contact Barb and Curt HERE, or to sign up for our email list for future events, contact Beth Mc-K.

A beginning before the end…

As we begin a new church year, we begin reading a new Gospel.

The Gospel of Mark is coming, and it doesn’t mince words. The first verse declares, “The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ the Son of God.”

Good news is coming; Jesus is here. There is no need to tell a birth story. This gospel hits the ground running as Jesus’ ministry begins—it is time to go. Something is new, it is time for change.

It seems like this gospel message hits home for us as a church too. God is declaring this a new time—there is a future ahead.  

What time is it for Mount Olivet? That is a question worthy of considering. A new vision team is forming whose work will be to listen and discern how we will use the lower-level space and the kitchen during the week.  How else could our building space, grounds and presence benefit the community among us?  Who are we meant to partner with?  What good news will take root in this beginning?

How about you?  What is emerging in your life?  Is it work, your relationships, a change in health or roles, a nudge to something that needs tending a prayer?  Whatever it may be, God is near and moving.  The Gospel of Mark will bring to light how urgent it is for Jesus to interact with the world. God won’t stay away and calls us to join in—to begin here, wherever we are right now.

You are invited into a conversation about beginnings on Sunday, January 7th at 10:00am and Wednesday, January 10th at 7:00pm.  Bring an artifact that represents something new in your life. We will share stories in community.    

Pastor Beth and Pastor Kristin


Until the Story is Told - The Welcome Teams

Some of the Sunday Welcome Team Members

I’ve heard one member describe volunteering with the Welcome Team as
enjoying the full meal.
Somehow this intention of noticing and connecting
with new and new-to-me faces
Makes the whole experience of church feel more like church—
that connection makes this time of gathering for worship
Meaningful and rich.
Not just for others, but FOR US too.
And also while name tags can be awkward and inefficient
sometimes the awkward and inefficient can be a place for connection,
conversation and an excuse to be curious,
to learn a name and make a friend.

Photo and Poem by Beth McGrew-King

The Welcome Teams greet, connect and help people around worship on Sundays and Wednesdays.

Interested in joining one of these fun teams on Sunday or Wednesday? Contact Beth McGrew-King. Volunteering with the Welcome Team is flexible — once a month, every six weeks, or even just as a substitute when your schedule permits. It’s a fun way to meet new friends!