Announcements

For the past year and a half, Peter Joyce has been fighting metastatic melanoma that spread to his brain and abdomen. After being confined to a wheelchair, he regained strength and mobility, progressing to a walker and eventually training to ride a three-wheeled recumbent bike! Today, he continues monthly immunotherapy and quarterly scans, and for now, his cancer remains stable.

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Throughout this journey, the Mount Olivet Congregation has been a tremendous source of strength through meals, transportation, companionship, and prayers. Peter would like to share a brief reflection on his journey and personally thank everyone for the love and support shown to him and his family. Please join him on Sunday, November 1, at 10:30 AM in the Phoenix Room.

Monday, November 2, 7 PM‍

Join our friends at Mount Olive Baptist Church (1601 13th Road South) for a prayer vigil. Come be a part of a powerful moment of faith and unity with other churches, including our own Pastor Sara.

Sunday, November 8, 4-6 pm, Phoenix Room (3^rd floor)
Everyone is invited to join us and other board game enthusiasts on a quest to be the best (or have the most fun)! Bring your favorite board game or just your game face and use one of ours. Witness and Welcome will provide hot cider and popcorn. Click here to RSVP so we know to expect you!

The Immigration Response Team and the Center for Belonging & Advocacy are hosting a virtual session with the Northern Virginia Immigrant Rights Collective on Friday, November 13, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Zoom. It is free and open to anyone in our congregation.

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The Collective runs ICE Watch and post-detention community care across Northern Virginia. Their team will walk us through the work and the many ways people help: frontline rapid response, scheduled patrols, remote roles supported from home, technology and security, and the care that follows a detention - getting cars back to families, connecting them to resources, and helping raise funds for legal aid or rent when the breadwinner is the one taken.

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There is something here for everyone. Come hear it and ask questions. The session is free. Hosted by the Immigration Response Team and the Center for Belonging & Advocacy with Revs. James Page & Minoo Kim. Questions: belonging@vaumc.org or 804-521-1137. You Belong & You Matter.

This month we are changing to a digital format (instead of paper) for data entry of our guests. We will need a lot of volunteers to help with this change. Please sign up for a slot on the Sign Up Genius.

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Our next event is on Saturday, November 14.  Please volunteer to help our neighbors in need receive some much-needed help with food and gift cards. Slots to volunteer are available from 8:00 am through 12:45 pm. We are averaging around 500 guests each month, so if you know anyone that might want to volunteer, please pass along the link or contact Tina at tmarcus@mtolivet-umc.org. Thank you for your continued support!

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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.

November 22, 2-4 PM, St. George’s Episcopal Church
Save the date! Mount Olivet's refugee ministry is co-hosting an afternoon of music and stories. This is the first of three planned gatherings at participating churches, featuring music, poetry, and art as sources of refuge and hope. Contact Kenn Speicher for details.

A couple of times per year we mention that Arlington County is having an electronic waste dropoff but do you ever think about the environmental ramifications of e-waste? On November 12 you can join Arlington’s eWaste Warriors at Lubber Run to learn how e-waste is related to climate change. Bonus:  you can bring unused electronics for the Warriors. For more information about the November 12 event check EcoAction Arlington. For more information about eWaste Warriors read this article How eWaste Warriors is Saving Arlington's Stranded Tech | Arlington Business Observer

November is Native American Heritage Month. Did you know that the first allies in the Patriots' war for independence from the British were from the Oneida Nation?

Better Together is a group of Mount Olivet folks who are concerned for our democracy and the civil rights of all. We meet occasionally after church and share information on ways to contribute to the cause. If you are interested, contact Holly Fletcher at 703-855-2547 or email holly_berkley@yahoo.com. 

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This week's protests/activist events:

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THANK YOU MOUNT OLIVET!! Our church community sent out 1,000 postcards to voters!!! These were non-partisan reminders to get out and vote on November 2. 

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We are in the last big push to Stop the Arch, which is likely to get final approval at the National Capitol Planning Commission meeting on November 5. Ways you can help:

1) Register to speak at the meeting 

2) Submit written remarks online

3) Protest at Memorial Circle, every weekday from 4-6 pm. Email Bob robert.fasick@verizon.net for more information.

4) Contact your Reps/Senators. Rep. Don Beyer has already been working hard on this, so contact him to say thanks! An easy way to email all your representatives at once is at https://democracy.io/

EARLY VOTING IS ONGOING! BE SURE TO VOTE! 

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Ongoing: 

The Trump administration has cancelled Temporary Protective Status for Haitian and other refugees, changing their status to undocumented overnight, denying them the ability to legally work, and making them subject to deportation to countries that are still dangerous to and to which they may have no enduring ties. Please contact your Senators and Representative to demand the White House restore TPS. 

• An easy way to email all your representatives at once is at https://democracy.io/

Freedom Vigil: Chantilly ICE Processing Center, Sundays, 4-5 pm. ICE’s Washington Field Office

14797 Murdock St, Chantilly. 

Bridge Brigades, weekly protests on overpasses. 

• Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4-5:30 pm, 1644 N Lincoln St, Arlington

• Wednesdays, 12-1:30 pm. 1006 N George Mason Dr, Arlington 

• Sundays, 3-4:30 pm. 2100 21st St N, Arlington 

Indivisible weekly zoom, Fridays, noon. 

Indivisible Arlington, weekly rally, Saturdays, 2-4 pm, 2710 S Glebe Rd., Arlington

Freedom Vigil: Sundays, 4-5 pm. ICE’s Washington Field Office, 14797 Murdock St, Chantilly. 

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If you want to support partisan campaigns, there are plenty of opportunities on http://www.mobilize.us and at campaign websites. You can also sign up to write postcards to voters here: https://postcardstovoters.org/ or https://www.signsofjustice.com

Last Saturday morning, Mount Olivet fielded a team in the 49th Arlington CROP Hunger Walk. The annual event sent participants from seven congregations on a 6K trek around Arlington, beginning and ending at First Presbyterian. Participants raise funds to help feed hungry people here in Arlington and around the world.

This year’s walk has raised nearly $25K so far, of which 25% goes to Arlington Food Assistance Center and 75% to international food programs of Church World Service and its partners. Thank you to our Mount Olivet Walkers: Jim Coates, Elizabeth Rhyne, Mary Giliberti, and Ann & Kenn Speicher. And, thank you to Jim for his wonderful photos.

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It’s not too late to sponsor a Walker or our team with a donation. Here is the link to the team page 2026 CROP Hunger Walk - Mount Olivet & Walker Chapel UMCs. 

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Next year is the 50th Anniversary of this historic Arlington event. Look for more announcements in the year ahead about how you can participate.

Did you know you can access our Membership Directory online? The instructions to download to your desktop or phone can be found at this link on our website under “How Do I Create an Account?” And…make it easy for people to recognize you and your family by adding a photo! Go to your account page and click on Edit to upload a photo or send a jpeg picture to Tina at tmarcus@mtolivet-umc.org and she will add it for you.

Every month, we have guests at Community Assistance who arrive in need of a reuseable bag or two to help carry produce. Beginning in November, we’d like to start making available reusable grocery bags to guests in need of them. This is a great excuse to clean out closets and kitchen drawers. Please put donated bags in the designated bins in the Gathering Space, Fellowship Hall lobby and on the 16^th Street porch on Sundays.

Did the trick-or-treaters leave you with more candy than you know what to do with? Put those leftover treats to good use! Community Assistance is collecting individually wrapped Halloween candy to share with neighbors in our community.

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Collection bins will be in the Fellowship Hall lobby and Gathering Space, with donations accepted now through November 11. Please donate only individually wrapped candy — no produce, non-food items, or loose/unwrapped food, please.

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Have questions, or a larger donation to arrange? Contact Holly Carr at hollyfrog@gmail.com. Thank you for your continued support of our growing community assistance ministry — every wrapped treat makes a difference!

It is hardly a secret that the last few years at Mount Olivet have brought many opportunities for resilience. We have recovered from a fire. We have made many changes and upgrades to our property. We have rejuvenated Community Assistance. Our clergy team and staff have seen changes, bidding farewell to some and welcoming new.

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Our UMC denomination has weathered the sorrow of schism, while Mount Olivet has remained a place of inclusivity and welcome.

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Throughout these shifts, our Mount Olivet community has responded with grace, hospitality, creativity, and flexibility.

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It is time to refresh our strategic plan which was completed in 2017.

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We begin our next season together with a time of dreaming, visioning, and planning that will allow us all to be proactive rather than reactive. And to be all God is calling us to be.

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With Council approval, a small team: Rudy Barnes, Jim Coates, Cindy Huber, Pastor Sara Keeling, Didi Kumalo, Kevin Togashi is in consultation with Rev. Dr. Jason Stanley of the Virginia Conference office on discerning a visioning and strategic planning process. We will begin this work late summer and through the fall to help focus our ministry and mission for the next few years.

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While there will be ample opportunities for congregational feedback and participation, our first step is very simple. We are beginning this process not with our own opinions and ideas and hopes, but by listening to God.

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We will begin with prayer.

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We are inviting all of the congregation to find a time each day for the month of July to pray the prayer that you’ll find below. This is a prayer that we have crafted inviting us to listen, to center down, to welcome God’s Spirit.

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Holy Spirit, quiet our hearts

   to hear Your voice.

Hold us in Your love,

   so that all are welcomed and valued.

Guide our discernment

   and shape our plans with compassion and courage.

Light a fire within us

   that renews and unites our church for joyful service.

Send us out in the light of Christ 

   to follow faithfully wherever You lead.

Amen.

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.

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.