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

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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!

The Story of the Advent Concert

As a 1999 Luther College graduate, I can safely say my absolute favorite week of each school year was the one after Thanksgiving: a week where I’d spend 20+ hours rehearsing for Luther’s JULETIDE Christmas concerts.

Carpooling back to campus, still stuffed with turkey, we’d pull-up shortly before the rehearsal each group had been prepping for all fall – the FIRST rehearsal with EVERYONE in the huge Center for Faith and Life.

Each choir would wear their carefully selected matching shirts. We’d sing through the concert from top to bottom, privileged to be the first to hear all the hard work from the other groups.

The most magical moment of the evening was when a petite figure almost glowing with joy would step to the podium, eyes wide and smile even wider.  Nearly 800 students stopped all we were doing to rehearse the candlelight hymn under the direction of the one and only Weston Noble.

In my first years at Mount Olivet, talk of a Christmas concert caught my attention. So, in 2008, a group of 12 formed to plan and produce our very first Advent Concert at Mount Olivet.  It was entitled Tell Me the Story of Jesus and featured 2 bands, adult choir, small ensembles, soloists, children’s choir, youth choir, handbells, narrator (Thad Lightfoot!) and a drama team. Phew!

 As the congregation sang the words of Away in a Manger during our own candle-lighting, my heart skipped a beat as I remembered Weston and Luther College and all those have inspired my love for sacred music.

I am so very grateful to Pastor Beth and the whole Mount Olivet faith community for embracing the idea of an Advent concert and celebrating the ways music continues to bring us together!

Soli Deo Gloria

Angela

P.S. Check out the photos from this year’s Advent Concert HERE, or watch it online HERE.

Until the Story is Told - Young Adult Summer Trip

This summer provided an unforgettable opportunity for post-senior high congregation members. After growing up and worshiping under the roof of Mount Olivet, as well as exploring and serving communities together on faith trips, the chance arose to reunite and seek Christ in Denver, Colorado.

In the midst of my Freshman year at college, Joe Kaatz, reached out to me regarding the possibility of spending a week in the Denver area with my childhood church friends and peers. In the past, such an opportunity hadn’t been offered to young adults at Mount Olivet, so I was beyond excited. Without question, I decided that this was something I wanted to be a part of.

As the very first trip of its kind for MOPLY, there were a lot of logistical arrangements that had to be figured out. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church was kind enough to host our group for the week, providing us with a kitchen, bathrooms, and rooms to sleep. Local community centers and gyms allowed us to utilize their showers. We will forever be grateful for such accommodations.

We volunteered at a local Arc thrift store by cleaning up their vast clothing racks, and we were led by a retired volunteer named Ed, who had been selflessly dedicating freetime to helping out at the store and inspiring everybody with his optimism. It is to be noted that he also often spends his weeknights working with youth and families struggling with substance use disorder.  We all felt the glory of God shining through this man.

At the Samaritan House, we worked on tasks such as yardwork, meal prep, and facility
tidying to facilitate comfort for incoming guests. This was truly an eye-opening experience. I had the privilege of serving lunch to residents. It was a blessing to interact with a diverse group of residents, across multiple languages, learning about their stories. During this opportunity, I met someone similar to Ed from the Arc store. This volunteer was also a man dedicating time during his retirement to giving back to his community and God. For the past 10 years, he served meals at the Samaritan House at least once a month. His kindness radiated to our entire group, even though only a few of us had much time to connect with him.

Between volunteering, we explored various neighborhoods in the metro area. During these exploration periods, we had the privilege of interacting with locals and truly getting a glimpse into life in the area. While wandering through the streets, I spontaneously walked into a sock store. I exchanged greetings with the owner, which unexpectedly turned into a 10-minute long conversation. A complete stranger had turned into a friend. I mentioned our trip and plans for the week, which resulted in receiving blessings from the owner and feeling empowered about our upcoming week of service.

The week ended and we had all been changed. God had truly been felt by all and inspired us to bring our experiences back home to Minnesota. As I reflect on our trip, Colorado surely demonstrated the capabilities of the Lord.

Upon reading this, you have been able to gain insight into our journey and the amazing people I had encountered. Every single person I met taught me new things about giving and living a faith-led life. They increased my awareness of how unforgettable goodwill and amiability go. These people may not remember me for long, but I will never forget how kind and life-changing they were for me.

Overall, each member of our group could provide you with such stories. We were all touched by wonderful people- many even having their own connections to Minnesota. All in all, getting to reunite with my peers from Mount Olivet and share such Godly experiences was absolutely unforgettable. Being part of the first trip of its kind for our church is something I will always cherish.

Within one metro area, we discovered Christ in many places. I believe this holds true everywhere. No matter where life takes you, you will find God.

 By Aleah Anderson