Babysitting for Good

Each year, 5th and 6th graders are asked to come up with a year-end mission project that engages them in a way they feel called into the world. Chris Olson and Beth Molitor's group of 5th Grade girls decided to purchase healthcare products for those who are homeless, but they needed help raising the funds to pay for the kits. They came up with the idea of a babysitting fundraising night at MO on a Friday evening; giving parents an opportunity to head out for dinner and enjoy themselves. On Friday April 22^nd, the 1^st annual “Helping Heroes” Babysitting event was held in the Jungle Room. Approximately 20 kids got 2 hours of dancing, musical chairs, crafts, story reading, and games.  Parents got a night out or some time to take care of things.

The initial goal was to raise $100, and they ended up raising over $200 towards healthcare products.

To quote the girls “We had a fun time playing with the kids and we hope the parents had a fun time too!”

Thank you to the kids and parents that participated and were able to donate to the cause!

Special thank you to Addison, Rachel, Morgan, Linnea, Jessica, and Keira from Club 56 “Helping Heroes”  for your leadership in coming up with the idea, working together to make it happen, and making an impact on the Mount Olivet community and beyond!

Moms On A Mission: Valentines Day

Our first mission for Moms on a Mission was a success! We celebrated an early Valentine's Day with the women and children currently at Home Free. We offered Healing Touch sessions (Healing Touch Spiritual Ministry) and spa treatments for the women, while we entertained the children with crafts, games, Valentine making and treats!

We were moved as we shared God's love to these women and their beautiful children. They were so appreciative and we brought so much joy to the children while providing a short break for the moms.

Please continue to pray for all women and children at Home Free. Consider joining us for our next Moms on a Mission meeting, Wednesday March 2nd at 8 pm. We will be discussing our next mission at Home Free in May. We would love to have you join us!

-Michelle and Julie.

Summer Fun & Service: Duluth Mission Trip

Upsidedown Kingdom: Expect the Unexpected Let’s overturn the ordinary and exceed expectations, hope for what is coming, and be part of what is here!

Twenty-two Mount Olivet junior high school students and adults will travel to Duluth in July to work with our host organization, YouthWorks. Participants will serve at a variety of service sites, participate in urban learning experiences, and dwell and worship together. YouthWorks spends many months connecting in the community to insure that our missionaries are meeting true needs and will be making an impact, while also having the chance to connect with one another in safe environments. Possible service sites include local food shelves,clothing distribution centers, soup kitchens, summer children/youth programs, and elderly care facilities.

Some of MO past participants’ favorite activities have been:

• Connecting with local children and youth
• Prepping, serving and “cleaning up” meals
• Experiencing the diversity of the local community through cultural presentations and shared meals
• End the of week foot washing

How can those of us staying at home continue to support and encourage the Mission Trip participants?

The wonderful financial support from the MO community, through MissionStock, Lenten Suppers and the Flower Sale Fundraiser is greatly appreciated! Beyond that, participants ask for prayers. Notes of encouragement are welcome as well. Mission trips are emotionally and physically exhausting, and it is nice to be reminded that people are prayerfully supporting participants.

To support Mount Olivet’s Duluth Mission Trip participants, please contact Summer.      [ Summer · santhony@moply.org ]

Summer Fun and Service: Denver Mission Trip

Interrupted: Let the Holy Spirit Change Lives Have you ever wondered what going on a Mission Trip would be like?

Thirty-six Mount Olivet high school students and adults will travel to Denver in July to work with our host organization, Center for Student Missions (CSM). Participants will serve at a variety of sites, participate in urban learning experiences, and dwell and worship together. CSM partners with local organizations year round, ensuring that our missionaries will participate in service work that will positively impact both them and the community. Possible service sites include Denver Rescue Mission, Urban Peak, Bridge Project, Denver Urban Gardens. Through these experiences, CSM is asking participants to allow God to interrupt their lives.

Some of MO past participants’ favorite activities have been:

• Prayer tours
• Urban Plunge/Poverty Simulation: Youth and adult leaders in small groups are sent into a specific part of the city with a small amount of money and a map. Together they must figure out how to feed themselves with the set amount of money and get back to the home site.
• Meet-a-Need: Small groups spread out in the community with a small amount of money to meet the need of someone they encounter. It’s an exercise in crossing boundaries, being resourceful, and lovingly and bravely connecting in community.
• Dinners at local, authentic, ethnic restaurants.

How can those of us staying at home continue to support and encourage the Mission Trip participants?

The wonderful financial support from the MO community, through MissionStock, Lenten Suppers and the Flower Sale Fundraiser is greatly appreciated! Beyond that, participants ask for prayers. Notes of encouragement are welcome as well. Mission trips are emotionally and physically exhausting, and it is nice to be reminded that people are prayerfully supporting participants.

To support Mount Olivet’s Denver Mission Trip participants, please contact Summer.

[ Summer · santhony@moply.org ]

Connect Groups: Older, Wiser Lutherans

A fellowship/service group for all Mount Olivet members, friends and family who are over the age of 55! Join the OWLs for monthly gatherings planned either at Mount Olivet or off-site excursions. Past events have included ice-cream socials, apple orchard visits, pot lucks, and game days.

I enjoy meeting new friends and connecting with friends. It is a safe group to share your aches, pains, sorrows and joys, and have some young-at-heart fun!

- Dave Iverson

Contact Dave Iverson to be added to the reminder list.

[ Dave · djiverson@frontier.net · 763-479-1094 ]

Northwest Suburban Dinner at Your Door

Northwest Suburban Dinner At Your Door provides nourishing meals to people who are homebound and unable to prepare food for themselves. Because adequate nutrition is vital to health, functionality and the ability to remain independent, this service allows residents to stay in the comfort of their own homes longer. This vital service helps seniors each weekday in three ways—not only by bringing nutritious meals, but also offering a friendly face and a daily check-in for safety. Hot meals are prepared at Crystal Community Center, and delivered by volunteers of 33 churches and community organizations in the northwest suburban area. Substitute drivers are needed—please contact Coordinator Bob Carlson if you are interested in serving the community in this way. [ Bob · pc_dragon@comcast.net · 763-550-1885 ]

Brew Crew

In the tradition of Martin and Katie Luther, this small group likes to brew beer and wine, and welcomes anyone interested in learning more or willing to share their expertise. The group has met for almost eight years, and beyond all the brewing, they have participated in service projects, financially supported other MO service projects, gone on field trips (to better learn their craft, of course) and been leaders in dwelling in the word. Theological discussion does indeed happen as the hops steep - good fellowship and fun happen as well. All are welcome to join! This group meets the first and third Sundays of the month from 1:00pm to approximately 4:30pm. Keep informed and up to date by adding your name to the email reminder list! Contact Paul Nelson, Eric Hansen or Kevin Miller. [ Paul · PaulNelson@allstate.com ] [ Eric · nodakeric@aol.com ] [ Kevin · kevin.miller11@comcast.net ]

Mount Olivet Library

THANK YOU to the Mount Olivet Library volunteers – Pat Daly, Vicki Jackman, and LuAnn Svendsen – who have spent countless hours consolidating and organizing the many resources owned by Mount Olivet into one convenient location. They continue to add to the available resources through member donations. Please stop in and browse. Simply fill out the card in the back of the book and drop it in the box on the desk.  The MO Library makes it easy to access quality books that inspire and challenge, and that you and your family will enjoy reading. Check one out today!

Why volunteer in the library?

We are involved because we love to read, hope to encourage reading in children and adults, and are members of book clubs which expose us to great books we can share.

Why is the library important to Mount Olivet?

We feel the library is important to MO because wonderful books, DVDs and games can be picked up any time people are at church for free. Although we have all types of items, we do have a large amount of faith-based items which are not as available in public libraries. It is a comfortable room to stop in and meet other people.

 My parents, and librarians along the way, taught me about the space between words; about the margins, where so many juicy moments of life and spirit and friendship could be found. In a library, you could find miracles and truth and you might find something that would make you laugh so hard that you get shushed, in the friendliest way. There was sanctuary in a library, there is sanctuary now, from the war, from the storms of our family and our own anxious minds. Libraries are like the mountain, or the meadows behind the goat lady’s house: sacred space. —Anne Lamott

Community Partners: Home Free

Making change possible by understanding that domestic violence is not a private matter.

Since 1980, Home Free has been a safe haven for women and children needing to flee their homes due to domestic violence. The Shelter provides emergency housing and support services to over 500 women and children each year. Usually filled to capacity, the Shelter can accommodate 30 women and children with an average length of stay of 18 days. Services are provided free of charge to all residents.

Women's Advocates work with battered women as they identify needs, set goals, and access services. Advocates assist women in obtaining legal remedies, housing, financial resources, medical care, and transportation and accompaniment to appointments as needed. Home Free also offers a number of education and support groups as well as social and recreational opportunities.

I was supported, listened to, and received the resources I needed. Home Free was a big help to me! Home Free cared, helped, and supported me 24/7.

- In Their Own Words, Home FreeWinter 2013 newsletter

The Home Free children's program assists women with children to identify and meet each child's needs. The children's advocates work with children individually and in groups to help them develop age-appropriate knowledge and skills related to domestic violence. Childcare, groups, activities and one-on-one assistance is provided to Shelter children, including weekend groups and activities. Children's Advocates also assist mothers with placement of children in local schools.

Community and church support are vital to the work we do. We just want the community to know we are here, and anyone who needs help can call us. We so appreciate all the support Mount Olivet gives us—it is a great collaboration.

- Kari Hitchcock, Home Free Community Coordinator

How does Mount Olivet support Home Free?

• Collect cell phones - Home Free recycles them as a fundraiser.
• Provide Personal Care packages: providing these items to residents means Home Free doesn't need to purchase them. The money saved can be used for special needs, such as cultural food for immigrant women, food for those with allergies, helping pay for a child’s field trip or an apartment application fee.
• Provide food, have donated clothing and household supplies to setup new homes and help relocate.
• A portion of Mount Olivet’s annual tithe is allocated to support Home Free.

What else can we do? 

• Re-do rooms (paint, etc.)
• Read to the children
• Provide birthday party supplies
• Raise awareness of this valuable community resource!

Healing Touch Spiritual Ministry

about healing touch               The mission of Healing Touch Spiritual Ministry at Mount Olivet is to extend our hands to others in love as we bless and heal from the heart, join God in His work and become instruments for the healing energies of God.

Healing Touch Spiritual Ministry offers hands-on healing and prayer on the first and third Sunday mornings of each month. Healing Touch is a nurturing and heart-centered energy therapy with the goal of promoting healing on a physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual level.

what to expect

Often, pain is relieved, emotions are released, deep relaxation is felt, spiritual comfort is experienced and well-being is restored. The HTSM team will offer ten-minute seated sessions and 25-minute full sessions on the first and third Sundays of each month from 10am - noon.