Quick Links
Kids Fall Kickoff
Sunday, September 11
Join us outside on September 11 for our fall kickoff! We will have bouncy houses, glitter tattoos, donuts and lots of fun from 9:30 until 11 AM.
Backpack Blessing
Sunday, August 28
We invite all children to bring their backpacks to church and participate in our back-to-school backpack blessing on August 28. During all worship services, all students, teachers, administrators, bus drivers, custodial staff, and everyone associated with our school system will receive a back-to-school blessing.
Children's Choir: Save The Date
On Wednesday, September 14 from 5:15-6:15 PM, the Music Ministry of Mount Olivet UMC will begin a new season of music instruction, games, and choral singing for children in kindergarten through Grade 5. Both age groups will meet during this time. Sessions will be led by Dr. Bryan Holten (grades 3 through 5) and Ms. Cindy Newcomb (kindergarten through grade 2). More details to follow!
Contact: Bryan Holten | Minister of Music | bholten@mtolivet-umc.org
Flat Jesus is Back!
Flat Jesus is a way to keep our church connected over the summer. Pick up your Flat Jesus at the Connecting Point or download Him off the website. Color him and bring him to the Connecting Point on Sunday to be laminated. Take him everywhere you go this summer. Take pictures with him and send them to Linnea at lcarlson@mtolivet-umc.org. We will post them on our private Children’s Facebook page and will decorate a wall in the Gathering Space with photos. It will also be a great way for our new pastor, Rev. Sara Porter Keeling to get to know you. If you find yourself without the Flat Jesus cutout, visit our website to download another one. May the peace of Christ be with you every day this summer!
Contact: Linnea Carlson | Director of Children's Ministry | lcarlson@mtolivet-umc.org
Art Camp for Adults is Back!
August 17 and 31 from 7-9 PM
Mount Olivet & Annandale UMC
Join us for an opportunity to explore fun art projects and meet new people! No art experience required! This year Art Camp for Adults will be co-hosted by Mount Olivet UMC and Annandale UMC.
August 17 | Mount Olivet UMC | Indigo Dyeing
Bring pre-washed white t-shirts, socks, dish towels, napkins or fabric (or get creative) to dye.
August 31 | Annandale UMC | Paper Sun Catchers
We will be making tissue paper sun catchers!
A nominal kit fee of $5 per evening covers the cost of supplies, which you can bring when you come to join the fun.
Contacts:
Karen McElfish (Mount Olivet) | 703-772-7924 or James.McElfish@verizon.net
Meredith Lamarche (Annandale) | 703-256-8330 (ext 104) or Mbond@annandale-umc.org
Racial Equity Resources
Nat Turner's Rebellion or Revolt was generally mentioned in history classes but rarely in context or detail. This week we will look in more depth at the man, the brutality, and the consequences, including the fact that Virginia actually considered abolishing slavery in its aftermath. Also, note that the Reston Museum has a traveling exhibit ending this month from the Virginia Museum of History and Culture on "The 400-Year Struggle for Black Equality."
Bobby Mitchell Piano Concert
Wednesday, September 7 at 7 PM
Mount Olivet
On Wednesday, September 7, pianist Bobby Mitchell will present a recital. He sends this greeting to the congregation: "It will be a great pleasure for me to return to Mount Olivet to perform some of my favorite piano masterworks for you. I'll talk about the music during the concert, especially about Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, of which the finale perfectly depicts the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and its resilient people. I look forward to seeing you at the concert and talking with you afterwards!" This free recital is presented as a benefit for the music ministry of Mount Olivet UMC.
Fall Clean-Up Day
Saturday, October 22
Mark your calendars for Mount Olivet’s Fall Clean-Up Day on Saturday, October 22. We will be working on spruce-up projects inside and outside the church from 8:30 AM – 12 PM.
Unique Ministry Practices with Karen McElfish
Ministry comes in all shapes and sizes. God uses the gifts and graces given to us and then uses them to further God's Kingdom. Check out Karen McElfish using the gifts and graces she has been given by God to minister to the Methodist clergy in Virginia and beyond.
Caretakers of God's Creation
EcoAction Arlington has been administering the Tree Canopy program through which more than 3000 trees have been planted since 2009. Their new adjunct is the Tree Canopy Equity Program with a goal of increasing the number of trees planted by 500 per year in areas documented to have lower tree canopy coverage and higher heat island effects. See more and consider contributing to the fund at Tree Canopy Equity Program.
Prayer School with Brian Zahnd
Join Pastor Brian Zahnd for Prayer School Online. Pastor Brian is the founder and lead pastor of Word of Life Church in St. Joseph, Missouri. Prayer School Online gives you the opportunity to learn and actively engage in the prayer liturgy that Pastor Brian has developed during a lifetime of pastoral ministry. This prayer school will help you gain a fresh perspective on the purpose of prayer and will provide you with a sustainable framework for personal prayer using Pastor Brian's Liturgy for Morning Prayer. You can download the liturgy at wolc.com/morningprayer. Download the liturgy, print it if you are able or have it available on a digital device that is separate from the device you will be watching Prayer School. Recordings of this online event will NOT be available.
Tickets to the online Prayer School are available for a donation of any amount. We will send you the ZOOM meeting ID and password before Prayer School Online begins.
Dates:
Sunday, August 28, 2022, 9 PM eastern time
Monday, August 29, 2022, 9 PM eastern time
Tuesday, August 30, 2022, 9 PM eastern time
If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Derek Vreeland at derekvreeland@wolc.com.
