Announcements

Mount Olivet’s history and racial equity teams in conjunction with the Arlington Historical Society will present an afternoon of history on Sunday, September 28 from 3-5 PM. Three local historians will join us to tell the story of early Mount Olivet and Arlington heroes, pioneers and leaders. The latest research on local enslavers will also be presented. After the Fellowship Hall program, a tour of our cemetery will be hosted by costumed character interpreters. Tombstone rubbings and scavenger hunt for the children makes this a perfect family Sunday afternoon outing. Register by email.

Sign Up today for the Mount Olivet / Walker Chapel CROP Walk team. This is the first year we will have a joint team, so a new era begins!

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The 6K fundraiser starts and ends at nearby First Presbyterian Church, 601 N. Vermont St., Arlington, VA. Sign-in starts 8-8:30 AM, and the Walk begins at 9 AM, rain or shine. Walkers follow a 6K route around Arlington’s Ballston and Virginia Square areas. Route maps are available, and there are refreshments and rest rooms at the half-way point (Saint George’s Episcopal).

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Organized by Church World Service (CWS), this is a fundraising event to help fight hunger globally and here in Arlington. Like similar events, walkers are asked to seek friends, family, employers, and associates to sponsor their walks with donations. 75% of funds raised support food relief and sustainable agriculture programs worldwide; 25% goes to Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC), which now provides groceries each month to an average of 3,850 families facing food insecurity. One-third of those served are children, and 12% are seniors.

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To register, go to our team page and scroll down to the Join The Team button and follow the instructions. You will receive a personal webpage where your sponsors can make donations. Online donations are highly encouraged, but you can have a CWS envelope for donations of checks or cash (which are turned in to the team captain or when you check in).

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Have questions? Contact Kenn Speicher.

Mark your calendar for Mount Olivet’s Fall Clean-up Day on Saturday morning, October 25. We’ll have lots of outside projects around our property – raking leaves, weeding, pruning bushes and trees, and generally sprucing up our grounds—and maybe some projects in the newly renovated wing of the church. We’ll work from 8 AM – noon. No experience necessary and kids are welcome. For more information, contact Ann Speicher.

Save the Date - Mount Olivet Foundation is hosting a celebration event on Saturday, November 1 from 2:30 to 4 PM in the Fellowship Hall. The event will recognize several outstanding members of the Foundation's board as emeritus members. In addition, several of the recipients of the Foundation's grants have been invited to join us. Plan to come and learn more about the work of the Foundation, which was established in 1967 to support education with scholarships and loans as well as worthy non-profit organizations. Refreshments served. RSVP by October 25 to Tina Marcus.

Hispanic Heritage Month has begun! While most of us are familiar with Ellis Island and many are aware of Angel Island, the "Ellis Island of the West," fewer are aware that El Paso has historically been a significant entry point for immigrants. Find out more about the "Ellis Island of the Southwest." 

Has the dry weather taken a toll on your landscape? If you need to make some adjustments due to plantings that just couldn’t quite survive, you may want to visit a native plant sale for replacements. This Sunday, September 21, is the open house at Earth Sangha in Springfield https://www.earthsangha.org/wpn and the Northern Alexandria Native Plant Sale will be September 27 https://northernalexandrianativeplantsale.weebly.com/ And for help in deciding what plants to consider, consult Plant Nova Natives. https://www.plantnovanatives.org/

Can you provide a ride for Latifa, the Afghan single mom recently diagnosed with cancer who needs transportation to her chemo appointments? Latifa lost her husband in the airport suicide bombing during evacuation in Afghanistan and is unable to work currently due to her illness. She has limited access to transportation and often spends 3-4 hours taking buses to get to her appointments. 

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Drivers are needed for Friday, 9/26 and Friday, 10/3. You can sign up here or reply to Kenn Speicher. Pick up of the patient is at the Skyline Tower in Alexandria; the appointment is at Kaiser Tysons Corner. To those who have already offered help - huge thanks from Mount Olivet’s refugee ministry team!

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 Marcus.