Mount Olive Lutheran Church

Welcome

Welcome to the web site of Mount Olive Lutheran Church, a congregation of the ELCA. The site is intended as an introduction to the Mount Olive faith community. As with any faith community, the best way to be introduced is through worship on a Saturday night or Sunday morning. Faith is relational. Faith in God is about a relationship with Jesus Christ. Faith in God is about relationships with family, friends, neighbors and fellow members of a local congregation.

So click around and explore some of the short introductions to life at Mount Olive. More so, please respond to the invitation to worship this weekend. God is here for you in the Word and Sacraments, and so are wonderful people of faith who call Mount Olive their Church home.

The Season of Pentecost

¹When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. ²And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. ³Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. ⁴All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
(Acts 2: 1-4)

Pentecost is the birth of the Christian Church after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Before Jesus ascended into heaven he promised to send his Holy Spirit. On the 50th day after Easter Sunday (the Festival of Pentecost), the Holy Spirit did come upon the early followers of Jesus. The Spirit empowered them for mission and ministry. This year the day of Pentecost is celebrated on the weekend of May 22-23. The season of Pentecost then continues until the last Sunday in November.

In the lesson from Luke's Book of Acts, one of the amazing moments is when all those gathered heard one another, each speaking in their own native tongue. What the Spirit facilitates is hearing, even as each person spoke in their own language. Folks often compare this moment to the days before the fall of the Tower of Babel in Genesis, when all humanity had a common language. The comparison breaks down because this is not a moment when a common language, world view or ideology creates community. More so, it is a moment when the Spirit facilitates listening, where God empowered hearing creates community.

We are often tempted to yearn for a common language, world view or ideology in the hope that it will bring peace. Scripture reveals that these yearnings, in the hands of broken people, often create modern day Towers of Babel. On the top of these towers we are tempted to follow the pathways of power, self-sufficiency and idol worship. Better to yearn for the Holy Spirit to open our ears and hearts to one another. Better to ask God to empower our hearing, and give us patience when we do not understand one another. Better to remember that all “who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved,” even those we cannot understand.

May these early days in the Season of Pentecost be days for renewed listening to God and to one another.

"I am like a growing olive tree in the house of the Lord." Psalm 52:8

The tree of life image guides our reflection on faith and life. God roots us to grow and serve. We respond by tending the roots of faith through weekly worship and daily prayer. We grow in faith by joining educational offerings. We serve by sharing from the abundance of what God first gives to us: our time, talents and finances.

News

• Rally Sunday September 12:
  The program year begins on Sunday, September 12, Rally Sunday. Saturday evening worship continues at 5:00 pm, Sunday morning worship resumes the Fall service schedule of 8:00 and 10:30 am worship. The 9:15 am faith growth hour returns with learning opportunities for all ages.

• 50th Anniv. Homecoming Weekend September 24-26: As part of our 50th anniversary homecoming weekend, Mount Olive will be hosting some special guests and events, beginning with the Peter Mayer concert on September 24. On September 26 our guest preacher will be SE Minnesota Bishop Harold Usgaard. Also that day, everyone is invited to an old-fashioned potluck following the 10:30 service. Former pastors of Mount Olive will be our special guests and will share their memories of their time with our congregation during a short program. To help with the potluck, see the signup sheet on the volunteer table in the gathering area or talk to Peg Whitley.