After thoughtful discernment and careful consideration, we have made the decision to move from two Sunday services to one Sunday service at 9:45 am, beginning on October 4. Hopefully, you will receive this news with anticipation and excitement. However, we acknowledge that there may also be a range of emotions, and we want to honor that. And so, we want to tell you why this change is happening.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
About One Sunday Worship Service

Why are we making this change?

At its heart, this change is about bringing our congregation together. When we worship as one community, we have more opportunities to know one another across generations, build relationships, welcome newcomers, and experience the energy and joy of a fuller gathering. Rather than spreading our community across two Sunday services, we want to bring our gifts, voices, music, children, and ministries together in one shared experience of worship. We believe this is an important step toward strengthening Mount Olivet for the future and living more fully into our commitment that everyone is welcome, everyone is loved, everyone belongs, and everyone has a place in God’s unfolding story.

What will worship look and sound like?

It will look and sound like Mount Olivet! Our new service will draw upon the strengths of both of our current worship experiences rather than simply choosing one over the other. The first and third Sundays will be band led, the second and fourth will be piano-led. Fifth Sundays, we will try something new, like Bluegrass. You can expect Lutheran liturgy and Holy Communion alongside a variety of music, strong congregational singing, choir and musicians, meaningful preaching, participation by children and youth, and opportunities for creativity. Some things will feel familiar, and some things may feel new. Our hopeful vision is to create worship that is joyful, beautiful, participatory, welcoming, and recognizably ours.

Will we continue to celebrate Holy Communion every Sunday?

Yes. Holy Communion will continue to be at the heart of our Sunday worship. Gathering around Christ’s table every week is an important expression of who we are as a Lutheran community. We are one body, gathered and fed by God’s grace and sent into the world.

What will happen with the choir?

The choir will continue to be a vitally important part of our worship and music ministry. Moving to one service creates new possibilities for bringing together the many musical gifts of our congregation, since the commitment will be twice a month rather than weekly, which has proven to be a limitation in asking new choir members to join. Choir, instrumentalists, ensembles, soloists, children and youth, and congregational singing will all have a place in shaping a rich and varied worship life.

What will fellowship time look like?

One of the exciting possibilities of a single service is creating a stronger congregational gathering time. Coffee and fellowship will expand, with opportunities to linger, meet someone new, reconnect with friends, and build relationships across the congregation. We want Sunday mornings to feel like more than just attending a service. We want them to feel like gathering as a community.

How will MOtalks and adult faith formation fit into the schedule?

Adult faith formation will be a huge part of Sunday mornings as we move into a one service Sunday schedule. We are planning a Dwelling in the Word around the reading for the day prior to worship and an adult education hour after worship. Our goal is to create a rhythm that makes it easier for people to participate in both worship and formation.

Will outdoor worship continue in the summer?

Yes! Outdoor worship in the Grove is a beloved part of summer at Mount Olivet, and we plan for it to continue. Gathering outdoors gives us a beautiful way to worship together, experience creation, and welcome our neighbors. The deck provides more accessibility for everyone. Hopefully, the earlier time will help with some of the issues we’ve had with the temperature being too hot to be outdoors on several Sundays this summer.

What about the people who simply can’t worship outdoors?

In the summer, we will move to two services to be sensitive to this very real need. The additional service will be at 8:30 am, and it will be in our beautiful historic chapel, which is accessible and air conditioned.