December 8, 2024
Flowers on the altar for Sunday, December 8, are given to God’s glory by Dottie Kunkel in memory of Jim Kunkel.
People We Are Praying For (We included prayers for these individuals in our last church service): Claudia Eisberg; Jody Lieske; Bob Heidenreich; Mercedes Hansen; Mark DeGarmeaux; and Richard Zibrowski (father of Craig Zibrowski).
Your help is needed! Mt. Olive Lutheran School has engaged a company called Blueprint Schools to help us conduct a review of our school program. Your responses will be used to help our school consider how it might grow and improve. All responses will be confidential. The survey will take about 10 minutes to complete. Mr. Springer, our school principal, will be in the narthex between services on Sunday, December 8, with tablets for you to use to complete the survey online. Alternatively, you can complete the survey using this link: https://tinyurl.com/MountOliveSurvey. We appreciate your time and honest feedback. Please complete the survey by Friday, December 20.
How did Jesus apply Law and Gospel during His public ministry? Join us for a two-part Bible study on Sunday, December 8 and 15, at 9:45am in the Mt. Olive Social Hall. Prof. Shawn Stafford will be presenting on the topic “Evangelism Approaches of Jesus and the Apostles.
The ELS Ottesen Museum’s Annual Open House is Tuesday, December 10, from 2:30-5:30pm, at 4 Browns Court in Mankato. See the poster on the narthex bulletin board for more information.
Our next Midweek Advent Service is Wednesday, December 11, with sloppy joes served by the Evangelism Committee beginning at 5pm, and a worship service at 6:30pm.
Mt. Olive and Artemis Youth Caroling: Join us on Saturday, December 14, for an evening of caroling and holiday fun! We will meet at 4pm at Mt. Olive. Our caroling stops are Oaklawn, Old Main Village, and Laurel’s Peak. Then, we will wrap up at David Roemhildt’s house with a Christmas party, including a sock exchange (funny and clean socks preferred!). Parents can pick up their kids at 221 Mayan Way (note correction in street address), Mankato, at 7:30pm. Contact Jon Basel at 512-373-9064 if you have questions. We hope to see you there for a festive evening!
The Mt. Olive Lutheran School Children’s Christmas Service is Sunday, December 15, at 3pm.
Plan to attend our Jesus Cares Ministry Christmas Service on Tuesday, December 17, at 7pm in the Mt. Olive Social Hall.
Volunteer at Kiwanis Holiday Lights! Mt. Olive’s 6-9pm shift on December 17 needs seven more volunteers. A sign-up sheet is on the table in the narthex. Contact Matt Holt at mholt@blc.edu if you have questions.
Christmas Poinsettia Baskets: If you would like to contribute towards Christmas poinsettia basket arrangements to help beautify our sanctuary this Christmas, a sign-up sheet and envelopes are available on the table in the narthex. Indicate if your donation is in honor or in memory of someone. Suggested donation is $15; however, any amount is acceptable. Make your check payable to Mt. Olive Lutheran Church. Insert your check or cash in the provided envelope and place it in the Flower Box in the church office. The last day to order is Wednesday, December 18.
December Cocoa & Coffee Drive, December 1-22: Support the Mankato Area Connections Shelter with your donations of cocoa and coffee. A donation box is available in the Narthex.
The Year of Jubilee “Match Challenge” Is Back! Great news! An anonymous member has pledged up to $30,000 for the Year of Jubilee debt reduction drive. All donations received between November 24 and December 31 for the YOJ campaign will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to $30k! Donations can be made through the offering plate or online at mtolivelutheran.org. This is a fantastic opportunity to reduce our debt by $60,000 or more by the end of 2024 and would put us closer to reaching our goal of $250k for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Please be sure to earmark your donations as “Year of Jubilee” so they can be counted for the match.
Mt. Olive Strings: Any violin, viola, cello, or double bass instrumentalists that would like to play for the Christmas Eve Service--please email Madeline Gutzke at magutzke@blc.edu.
Advent Devotions are available for adults and families on the narthex table. Take one or both, and share with family and friends.
Two Winter Outdoor Planter Sponsorships are still available. A sign-up sheet and envelopes are available on the narthex table. Pick up an envelope as you sign up, insert a check written to Mt. Olive for $125, and place it in the church office Flower Box. Thank you!
Mt. Olive Lutheran School is seeking an individual(s) to serve as an athletic director(s), either individually or as part of a team. The current athletic director, Mr. Zibrowski, is stepping down from the AD position after the 2024-2025 school year. If you are interested, contact Principal Springer.
Save the Date: Teacher Call Meeting - Sunday, January 12, at noon in the Mt. Olive Social Hall. If anyone has names of individuals that they would like to be considered for a Divine Call as a Teacher that would be serving in next year's Kindergarten, please share that name with Board of Education Chairman, Jake Krier, or any Board of Education member.
Happening at Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School:
MVL Christmas Concert: Friday, December 20, at 6:45pm in the MVL Fine Arts Center. This year's program, themed Be Near Me, Lord Jesus, will celebrate the Advent and Christmas seasons with performances by the A Cappella Choir, Freshmen Choir, MVL Chargaliers, and the Symphonic Band. A freewill offering will be collected.
Installation of Pastor Stephen Kuehl: Monday, January 6, at 2:26pm. Pastor Kuehl will be installed as a teacher at MVL. Light refreshments will be available following the Installation.
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LAST WEEK’S ATTENDANCE/LORD’S SUPPER:
Sunday: 8:30am, 249/196; 10:45am, 178/134; Monday: 30/23; Tuesday: 24/18
Wednesday: 216
Live Online Viewing: Sunday (8:30am): 22
WE THANK THOSE SERVING OUR LORD THIS WEEK:
Greeters: 1st Service—Art & Terri Westphal, Mark & Vivian Smith 2nd Service—Emily Christensen Offering Counters: John Baumann, Jana Finken Altar Guild: Sharon Madson, Heidi Graham
WEEKLY FINANCIAL UPDATE:
Given Last Week (excluding Year of Jubilee): $20,791.52
Year of Jubilee Match Challenge Given Last Week: $497.38
Year of Jubilee Match Challenge Total (November 24-December 5): $3,698.43
Fiscal YTD Actual Expenses vs. Budget Surplus (Deficit) as of 11/30/2024: ($40,373.35)
2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
To give your offering online, go to mtolivelutheran.org and click on the “Online Giving” tab.
Mt Olive Lutheran Church Mission Statement