Announcements

Join us for the Youth Concert on July 10 at 7 PM in the Phoenix Room (third floor). Featuring Didi Kumalo, Thomas Joyce, and Brent Baxter from The Way Band and our youth singers, Sebastian Keeling, Emma McDonnell, Jesse Brown, and Marta Carlson. They have all worked really hard and would love to see you there. Refreshments served! No charge for the concert, but reserve your spot!

It’s time to volunteer for Community Assistance! Please volunteer to help our neighbors in need receive some much-needed help with food and gift cards. Slots to volunteer are available from 8 AM through 12:45 PM. Sign up on the SignupGenius.

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You can make a financial contribution to Community Assistance, at mountolivetumc.com/giving and indicate Community Assistance. Thanks for your continued support of our Community Assistance Ministry.

We have all heard of Susan B. Anthony and the fight for women's suffrage but our history lessons did not delve into the personal lives of suffragists. As we wrap up Pride Month. learn more about Susan B. Anthony and other queer or gender-nonconforming women who fought for the right to vote.

You’ve heard of fast fashion, generally referring to inexpensive and poorly made clothes not designed to last and leading to immense quantities of textile waste. Fast fashion’s sibling, fast furniture, shares many of the same attributes–inexpensive and not designed to last or be repaired. (Think of those particle-board items you have assembled if you need an example of fast furniture.)  It is estimated that about 10 million tons of furniture are sent to landfills every year in the US.

As we head into the summer break, the Outreach Committee would like to share with the congregation some of the highlights from our church-wide engagements:

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Lenten and Advent contributions totaled $40,000. This generous amount was distributed among the Arlington Free Clinic, NOVA Friends of Refugees, Just Neighbors, Offender Aid & Restoration and the United Methodists Apportionment Fund. Many of these community-based organizations are providing critical services to the immigrant population in Arlington - our theme for this year, and           Mount Olivet is happy that we can assist them.

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Youth Outreach Committee Representative Roxanne Carnahan organized a clothing drive to benefit Arlington Clothesline, a clothing bank that helps prepare low-income students for success in school.

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Outreach Committee members assisted Sarah Whiddon in starting an Access Small Group designed to welcome congregation members with disability challenges. The initiative has been well received. It meets every two months and all congregation members are welcomed to attend.

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The Outreach Committee also provided oversight for Mount Olivet’s annual participation in the Arlington CROP Hunger Walk, which raises funds for Arlington Food Assistance Center and global hunger relief programs. We also oversee activities of Mount Olivet’s refugee response ministry and Haiti education project.

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We continued to provide financial support for a number of Methodist Church Ministries (UM Family Services, UM Special Offerings) Local United Methodist Ministries (ESL, Just Neighbors, All God's Children’s Camp, Refugee Relief) and other Local Ministries (Kitchen of Purpose, Friends of Guest House, Meals on Wheels, Alternative House, VA Interfaith Center for Public Policy, Doorways, and Offender Aid and Restoration OAR).  

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This summary does not include all of the outreach activities undertaken by other groups and committees at Mount Olivet - such as Community Assistance, Youth Group mission trips, and more.

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Please contact the Committee Chair Jose Collazo if you have a suggestion or a deserving community-based organization the Outreach Committee could work with. We also encourage you to get involved in some of the activities mentioned here. Serving others is a vital part of our spiritual growth.

As a reminder, Mount Olivet is a secure building and the building is locked at all times. Church office hours (when you can meet with staff/clergy or need access to the building) are Tuesday-Friday from 9 AM – 2 PM, no office hours on Monday. Staff/clergy will continue to work flexible hours and have other meetings and appointments, so it is best to make an appointment as needed. You can email an individual staff member or clergy or call the church office at 571-447-3619.

As a reminder, Mount Olivet pastors, staff or congregation members will never ask individuals for financial assistance, gift cards or any kind of personal information through email. Always look at the actual email address of any email you receive regarding these issues. Pastor and staff emails will always come from the mtolivet-umc.org exchange. If you have any question about an email you receive that you think is questionable, always reach out to us. Contact Tina.

Please join us for Coffee Fellowship in the Gathering Space (exit the doors on the right of the Sanctuary towards 16th Street) on Sunday mornings after Traditional worship. Enjoy our new space, coffee, snacks and fellowship.

The end of Mount Olivet’s fiscal year is upon us (June 30). If you have not already done so, catch up on your pledge, make a donation or make a pledge. Give Now. Thank you for your continued support of Mount Olivet’s ministry and mission.

Clothesline is an organization that takes donations of “cool” school-ready clothes for kids and teenagers whose families are struggling. This is a great opportunity to donate like-new clothes your kids have grown out of, and they especially need coats, pants, shoes, and pajamas. Adult sized clothes are also welcome. Twice a year Clothesline has a free store where kids can shop in a retail environment. You can drop off your donations on Sundays in the Youth Area through the summer.

During these difficult times, we are helping the families at Glebe Elementary School put food on their tables by donating canned goods. Place your items in the basket in the Preschool Lobby on Sunday or leave in the bin on the 16^th Street porch (entrance door #1). The following low sugar and low sodium items are needed:

• Canned fruits

• Canned tuna

• Canned soups

• Canned vegetables

• Canned tomatoes

• Peanut butter (in plastic jars)

• Cereal

Contact Linnea Carlson with any questions.