Announcements

Mark your calendars for The Mysterious Murder at Manchester Manor presented by the Mount Olivet and Walker Chapel Youth on February 7, 8, 14, and 15 at 7 PM. The matinee will be held on Sunday, February 9 at 3:30 PM. Ticket price: $0. Donations for youth missions encouraged.

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It’s time to volunteer for Community Assistance. Our next event will be on February 8. 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. Please note that we have changed the distribution to start an hour earlier at 10 AM instead of 11 AM so check the time slots carefully as they have changed. 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.

The Arlington Coalition of Black Clergy cordially invites you to a special event honoring the life, legacy, and vision of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for a community celebration on Sunday, February 16 at 4 PM at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, (1601 13^th Road South, Arlington). This year’s program promises to be a day of enlightenment, inspiration, and fellowship as we reflect on the dream of building a Beloved Community.

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Mrs. Willie Pearl Mackey King will be the featured speaker. Mrs. King is an extraordinary figure who played a pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement. She had the distinct honor of typing the historic Letter from Birmingham Jail for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and served as an administrator at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) during his leadership. Her firsthand accounts and experiences will provide invaluable insights that inspire and empower us for 2025. Dr. King once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'” This event will not only honor his legacy but also inspire us all to carry his vision forward into our communities.

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We encourage you to plan now to be present for this impactful event and to share this invitation with others. Let us join together as community leaders to reflect, learn, and be empowered to continue the work of building a Beloved Community. We look forward to welcoming you to this meaningful celebration. Livestream available at www.mtolivebc.org

A new year is here and, for many of us, that also means it is time for New Year’s resolutions or intentions. Many popular resolutions are about improving your own life — like starting a new exercise routine, eating a more nutritious diet, creating an improved work-life balance, or lowering your average screen time. These are worthwhile resolutions. But what about resolving to change the lives of others, too? Did you know that over 735 million people worldwide suffer from hunger, a number that has been rising due to conflicts, economic downturns, and climate change? Commit to taking action this year!

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Join Mount Olivet as we host a “whole congregation” worshipful service event to pack 10K meals with Rise Against Hunger on Sunday, March 2. Rise is a recipient of this year’s Advent offering and aims to end hunger.

The VA Board of Church and Society’s Creation Justice Team is holding the 1st VAUMC Climate Summit on Saturday, March 8, 9:30 am – 4:00 pm at Randolph-Macon College, Ashland, VA. YOU ARE INVITED!  We are gathering VAUMC leadership (stakeholders) at Conference, District and Church levels to rethink our understanding and action around Climate change/justice and its intersection with racial justice. We will gather to connect and learn why we are the key to VAUMC response to Sustainability in climate change, and our response to the Net Zero by 2050 resolution passed at 2024 Annual Conference. We are also asking our youth to come-special workshops for them and for youth leaders at a reduced price of $5.

We have a nationally known Keynote Speaker (Michele Roberts-Scientist turned Climate Activist,) time to connect with other conferees and the choice of two workshops in the afternoon. Lunch at Randolph Macon’s cafeteria is included in the $25 registration fee.

If you have questions, or would like to carpool, please contact Karen McElfish (james.mcelfish@verizon.net) or Jaydee Hanson (jaydeehanson@gmail.com)

“Would you like paper or plastic?” has been replaced in the checkout aisle with “How many store-provided plastic bags did you use?” If you have wondered whether the relatively minor charge for plastic bags could possibly make a difference, Fairfax County has the answer for you. Since the introduction of its 5-cent bag tax, Fairfax has seen a reduction of 3.6 million plastic bags and the tax from plastic bags still being used is funding environmental programs.

Martin Luther King, Jr. had hoped that President Johnson's War on Poverty would provide economic support to the poor but saw that "war" de-emphasized as the Vietnam War escalated. What was the War on Poverty and why do many consider it a failure?

If you would like to make a donation for the victims of the California wildfires, you can do so through the Mount Olivet giving page on our website at mountolivetumc.com/giving and designate UMCOR California Wildfire Relief.