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www.mountofolives.net

June 1, 2015

The ‘Olive Press’ June Events Wednesday, June 3 ~ Summer Dedication Prayer Meeting

Wednesday, June 10 ~ Arrow Sharpening BBQ Kick-off Friday - Sunday, June 12-14 ~ Grand Portage Prep Retreat

Saturday, June 13 ~ Mugs & Muffins Sunday, June 14 ~ Celebrating Duncan Ross’ 25 Years a

Pastor Wednesday, June 24 ~ Family Night VBS

Sunday, June 28 ~ Wordsower Ministries at both services Sunday, June 28 ~ Members’ Meeting

Are we all that God would have us be here at Mount of Olives? No. Are we doing every bit

of ministry we are engaged in perfectly? No. Are we meeting every need of every member of Mount

of Olives? No. Are we a Body without fault? No. We could probably develop quite a lengthy list of

“no’s” if we wanted to. But, we are a Body that demonstrates a Christ-like love and concern for the

well-being physically, spiritually and emotionally of those within the Body. I have seen it clearly and

I expect you have too.

All too often, as Pastor Troy reminded us, it is too easy to see the "no's" around us and la-

ment over the “no’s” we may see, in this case in the Body as it relates to our spiritual health and prac-

tical ministry of the church. I encourage you to take a look at all God has provided within the Body

and praise God for the work he is doing amongst us. Oh, and by the way, when you see a deficit, pray

about it; ask God to intervene and be willing to be the hands and feet to get the ministry done.

What a privilege, what a blessing it is to be part of the Body we call Mount of Olives. Thank

you for serving God by allowing Him to work through you. He is being glorified by the fruit he is pro-

ducing in your life! God bless you as you continue to serve him.

The Elder Corner By: Pastor Paul Anderson

One of the responsibilities given to the Pastor Elders by our constitutional by-laws is to provide in-

struction to new members related to “distinctives of the Church and the Purpose and Statement of

Faith” prior to those candidates being considered for membership. The course generally is about 14

weeks long and is comprised of classes on various topics taught by your Pastor Elders. I have had

the privilege the past few courses to present, among other classes, a class entitled "Why Church

Membership." In that particular class a biblical basis for church membership and a biblical basis of

church member responsibilities is established.

The primary reason to become a member of a church is to bring glory to God. One way we

bring glory to God, one of the responsibilities of church membership is to minister to other mem-

bers within the body of believers that make up the church. A healthy church is marked by acts of

love and a willingness of members to serve one another.

Over the past 6-8 weeks (and longer; I am simply thinking of recent examples) I have per-

sonally witnessed many acts of service / ministry by many of you to one another. You have "blown

me away" with the examples I have witnessed. Without citing specifics --- for several reasons --- I

have seen a group of members come together joyfully and without hesitation to accept responsibil-

ity of ministering to individuals who needed specific and unique ministry. I have seen others eager-

ly involve themselves in walking through trying times other families within Mount of Olives are go-

ing through. I have seen some of you selflessly serving in hospitality settings, both at church and

outside of church many times within a week or so period of time. I have seen you stand by grieving

families. I have seen compassion lived out in small group efforts. Space prohibits me from going on,

but I could! I have also heard people from outside of Mount of Olives express amazement at the love

they have seen and received as they have interacted with the Body at Mount of Olives.

On Mother's Day we heard Pastor Troy challenge us to avoid looking at the "no's" in our

lives and instead, focus on and praise God for what he has provided. I think there is application here

for us.

(Continued on Back)

The Elder Corner By: Pastor Paul Anderson

Summer Ministry with the Youth Group By: Jase Tunell

This time of year is an exciting time for many reasons. The temperatures get warmer, the scenery be-

comes green and grills are brought out from the garage. But one of my favorite things about summer is

the change of pace we see in our youth ministry. Summer holds many opportunities for our youth to

grow in their walk with God as well as in their relationships with each other. We transition from our

normal Wednesday night youth group to Arrow Sharpening. This year, however, we are changing

things up a little bit. During the school year we have been intentional toward growing specifically in 3

areas: our love for Christ, His Church and His mission. Everything that we do falls under one or more of

these categories. Therefore, when looking at what our summer is going to look like, I want to continue

to push these three categories, focusing on specific areas that I think we are weaker in.

Therefore we’ve adopted a new look to our Arrow Sharpening ministry. Every other week we will do

one of two things, alternating each week. One week we will gather together in the afternoons or eve-

nings for a very informal time to hang out. This might be having a barbecue down at Park Point, biking

the Munger Trail, Hiking the superior Hiking Trail, playing games at someone’s house or any other num-

ber of things. Our purpose behind this change is really 2-fold.

First we want to grow in our relationships as a group. Relationships are an essential part of any minis-

try. They build trust and open doors for students to both share the things that they are wrestling

through, as well as listen to the advice that people have to offer (not only leaders, but other students

as well). But because of the dynamics of our group, our students really don’t see each other outside of

church on Sunday and youth group on Wednesday nights and therefore it can be hard for them to real-

ly invest into these relationships with each other. So the first reason for these hang out nights is to

build into the relationships that we have with the students and provide opportunities for them to build

into their own relationships as well. (Continued on next page)

Assimilation Ministry By: Keven Johnson

Assimilation Ministry Team: a group of Christ-followers seeking to welcome the “sojourner” God has drawn to this body of believers in a winsome and Christ-exalting manner, with the love and hospitality we have been shown by our God himself until such time as they are called elsewhere or become part of our membership. Throughout the Word, God has called His people to welcome the alien, the foreigner, the so-journer {Deuteronomy 10:19, Hebrews 13:2}. In fact, it is for Israel, and later Judah’s, lack of obedience in this area that they, individually and as a nation, are regularly condemned {Exodus 23:9, Deuteronomy 27:19, Ezekiel 22, Malachi 3:5}. Much like other commands given to God’s people in the Old Testament, the Redeemed this side of the cross find expectations elevated, not disregarded. Christ-followers are commanded to {Hebrews 13:2} and commended for wel-coming and caring for visitors. Both of Paul’s letters giving explicit guidance on selection of el-ders {1 Timothy 3 & Titus 1} include “hospitable” as an attribute. What does that look like in today’s church community setting? For Mount of Olives, Greeters, Ushers, Welcome Table volunteers, and Connectors prayerfully, joyfully, lovingly, and intention-ally offer a seamless welcome to visitors. Greeters extend warmth and offer direction in what is an admittedly confusing entryway. Ushers reinforce this hospitality, offering both assistance in seating and helpful information when needed (ex. For families with babies, this may be notifying the parents of the cry room, overflow area, and nursery options). Connectors, individuals enlist-ed in each service to identify and engage with newer attenders, attempt to bridge the awkward-ness that often comes when throwing oneself into the midst of a few hundred unknown people. Welcome Table volunteers, hopefully assisted by several of the former groups, provide addition-al church information and ministry opportunities. Beyond these, Cottage Dinners are organized monthly following second service in the fellowship area to provide community building experi-ences for these new attenders with those well-seasoned souls of MOBC. Marcie Orville-Romans, one of our Connectors, said recently, “Being a part of the Connector’s Ministry at Mount of Olives is a real blessing to me. Not only am I able to meet new people but I have also had the wonderful opportunity to greet old friends who have been visiting. Some of them have even decided to make our church their home. During the past few years I’ve also been encouraged by the college students who choose to worship with us while they are in Du-luth. Their presence is such a gift!” Linda Dobs, one of the Cottage Dinner organizers, relayed her heart for that ministry, rooted in 1John 3:11-18, “I view the cottage-dinner potlucks as a tiny DEED to help folks feel loved and in-cluded. It's nothing fancy or complicated, just a simple meal. But sharing a meal next to some-one in our church family that perhaps you have never met or maybe never chatted with before starts and strengthens relationships. It encourages love. It's hard to love someone that we don't know. These potlucks are simply about getting to know and love one another better.” So, in closing, whether you would like to formally join this ministry team as Greeters, Ushers, Connectors, facilitating Cottage Dinners, or informally by sharing the love of Christ by extending yourself toward our present version “sojourners,” I adjure you as Paul does likewise in Romans 15:7, “welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”

SUMMER DEDICATION PRAYER MEETING

Everyone is invited to come to a prayer event on Wednesday evening, June 3 from 7-

8:30 pm. Summer is one of God’s many gifts to us, and we want to spend those days in

a way that pleases Him. Let’s join together in prayer for God’s direction, protection and

empowering for this coming summer, for His glory and our joy!

Teaching in China By: Ralph & Julie Seelke

Dear Mount of Olives Family, We have been keeping up with some of you, and we also appreciate the chance to be part of MOBC through the Olive Press. As many of you know, we are both teaching at Yanbian University of Science and Technology (YUST) in Yanji, China. We have been here for about 3 months, and will be coming back on July 1. Ralph is also teaching high school biology at Yanbian International Academy (the K-12 school for the faculty/staff at YUST), as well as two upper-level biology courses at YUST. Julie is teaching an English conversation course. YUST is a unique place. While not a Christian University, all of its 300 faculty are believers. We live on campus with the students, eating lunch frequently with them and only a short walk from where they live. The students (about 2,000) mainly come from the Northeast region of China, and most are Cho-senjok- Korean-Chinese, ethnic Koreans who have lived in this part of China for centuries, most of whom are comfortably bilingual in Korean and Chinese. Others are internationals or exchange stu-dents, mostly from S. Korea. The faculty, except for the English instructors, are mostly Koreans (Ralph is the only American in his department of 10 faculty, but thankfully teaches in English). It is a place where the students hear the Good News from many sources. We try to meet weekly with our advisees, and Ralph studies Mark with 7 students, a combination of English and J., with both Eng-lish and either Korean or Chinese on the same page. Julie and I meet with another student to study John, and Julie also meets regularly with two girls. It is deeply satisfying to tell the Good News to stu-dents who have really, really never heard. It is also very good to be part of a team, where students hear from many sources; I was able to tell the story of the Cross to one student. He had seen the Nar-nia movie in his English conversation course, discussed it with his advisor, and then discussed Aslan with me in more detail. He appeared clueless about the real Aslan, really giving it much thought as he took it all in. He then had further conversation with his English teacher. We also discuss the Truth with Daniel, our Chinese tutor (no- we're NOT fluent in Chinese! I can tell the cab driver how to get back, but not much else.). Daniel is a very bright and thoughtful young man who is wrestling with the atheist worldview of his Communist father and the profoundly different one that he as seen from many sources here at YUST, mostly in the English department. We have been changed in many ways by our time here. We have met many wonderful godly people, many who are making real sacrifices to serve here. The students have become dear to us. It is good to see how the Father is working in this area of the world. Ralph & Julie

The second reason we are excited for these afternoon/evening activities is that they provide a very

non-threatening environment for our students to invite their unsaved friends to. Many of our students

said that their friends would be much more open to coming to something like this as opposed to some-

thing like youth group. There are many false ideas of what church is, and because of that many people

are unwilling to even step foot inside a church. In addition to that, it is uncomfortable for people to

jump into a situation where they don’t know anyone and they don’t understand what is going on. I

think that by inviting them to something fun and relaxed begins the process of changing those wrong

perceptions. At our hang out nights, they’ll begin to build relationships with other people from our

church and come to realize that some thoughts about Christians were misinformed. Again I think it

comes down to relationships. If these friends build more relationships with people from our youth

group, they would feel much more comfortable coming to church or youth group.

The other weeks what we are going to do is follow what we’ve done in the past for Arrow Sharpening.

We meet together for breakfast Wednesday mornings at 9:00. We have a short devotion and then

jump into doing work projects around the neighborhood. We pass out flyers our first week and then

throughout the summer different people will call the church with projects they could use help with,

and we as a youth group go out and help them. The projects range anywhere from mowing a yard to

painting a deck. The reason we do this is 1) to show our community that we are a church that loves

them, cares about them and wants to help our community without any strings attached and 2) to begin

building relationships with some of these people looking for opportunities to talk to them or invite

them to church. Last year, because of the simple fact that a couple of us were helping her out with

many work projects, one woman said she could tell we loved her and had the love of God in us, and

even said she might come to our church sometime. She never ended up coming, but we did have the

opportunity to explain why we serve and love; it’s not because we are just “good people”, it’s because

we have been shown so much grace and love, we want to extend it to those around us.

Like I said, the summer brings many exciting things to our youth ministry, and we pray that God would

use this summer to draw us closer to Him, grow our relationships with each other and passionately

pursue His mission for the world around us.

GRADUATION OPEN HOUSE Anna Ross

June 6 1:00-4:00 pm

Here at Church

Strangers to Sons and Daughters By: Jana Tunell

Church history is filled with believers rescuing exposed infants, taking in orphans, caring for the sick and the elderly and sheltering pilgrims. Hospitality has come to be seen as offering cookies and cake after church, or entertaining friends at home. However if you take a closer look at the teachings in scripture, the hospitality of the Bible is dangerous, demanding, and takes intentionality. The Bible calls all of us to live lives characterized by hospitality, and what I love is that it’s a call to simply live out the heart of our Father. Psalm 68: 5-6 “Father of the fatherless and protector of the widows is God in his holy habitation.” Most of us are happy to serve, as long as we can remain safe and comforta-ble, but the Bible calls us to something different. Biblical hospitality is radical, far differ-ent than the lifestyle most of us are used to. Leviticus 19:34 “You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” We don’t love and serve because of a superior status, we love because when we were strangers and even rebels, we were loved and accepted by our Father God, invited into his family. Now we get to turn around and extend that same love to others in our community and around the globe. Hebrews 13:2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. I encourage you to study scripture and pray to see and understand more clearly our Father’s heart for the most vulnerable among us. Safe Families for Children (SFFC) is a movement of compassion set up to help the church to care for some of the most vulnerable in our society, parents in crisis situa-tions and their children. Last fall I heard through a friend about Safe Families and the work they are doing in Chicago and looked it up to see how I could get involved. (Continued on the next page)

When she called her parents to see how he was doing after his diagnosis, he shouted across the room to her mother, “Tell her we’re doing fine!” Brenda said he was positive and preached the gospel at all of his doctor appointments. In fact, Brenda discovered her father had a heart ailment the previous year and that her parents had prayed and decided that God had been so good to them, they were ready to go whenever they were called. She said her father felt like God had already given him more time. “I think about heaven more, now that my dad is there,” Brenda said. She asked if I had read C.S. Lewis’ book called, “The Last Battle” from the Narnia Trilogy. She explained the book de-scribed heaven from Lewis’ eyes, like seeing grass blades for the first time. Heaven was de-picted as an experience like here on earth, but even better because she said they moved into more and more layers of experience. Brenda said she wanted to want heaven more. “I have a friend who used to say she was homesick for heaven,” she said, “I want to be at that point some time when I’m thinking, ‘This is not my home.’ ” Brenda gestured with her hand and dismissed the room while she smiled. Then she began to talk about why that made the resurrection so wonderful. She cited John 20:11 as her favorite scripture. John 20:11 11But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16Jesus said to her, “Mary.” “He just says her name ‘Mary.’ It’s so wonderful. And she knows this is someone I’ve known and he is personal to me and he knows my name. He’s alive. I just think that is so marvel-ous,” she said. We got quiet and sat there smiling and tearing up a bit. “If I were a painter, I would paint that moment, and if I was a song writer, I would write that song,” Brenda said. Amen. Her testimony was such a blessing. I couldn’t help but think about the loved ones in my life that had passed and the joyful exam-ple of Brenda’s father. It all gave me so much hope. C.S. Lewis encapsulated this hope, in his book, "The Last Battle": "…now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on forever: in which every chapter is better than the one before." Brenda’s thoughts toward the glory of heaven filled me with anticipation and wonder. How fitting to have begun a conversation about the number infinity and have ended our discussion on the hope of eternity. All Praise and Glory to Christ Jesus forever and ever. Amen.

Faith, Family & Fellowship By: Rachel Hart

Brenda Florestano smiled wider and sat taller when she talked about her role as a math teacher. “I love, love working with high school kids. I get so much energy from them,” Bren-da said. Her spirit was peaceful and comforting. I could see how she had a talent for gaining the trust necessary to help her students.

“When I talk about the number infinity, I get excited about it,” she said. Brenda explained that infinity is something she thinks God planted on our hearts. “It just goes on forever and ever, and they know it, and they want to grasp it with their brains, but it’s really hard to grasp,” Brenda said.

Early in her teaching career, she moved to Manhattan, KS to work as a high school teacher and to work with Navigators, a Christian-based ministry that serves to bring the gospel to col-lege believers. It was there where she met her husband Tom, who was stationed at nearby Fort, Riley. His aunt, a solid Christian and mentor insisted he participate in Navigators while he was away from home. She felt he would keep his faith, if he were with Christians his own age.

It was during this time that the two got to know each other better. Brenda said she won a bet on the Super bowl game when the Bears won and Tom took her to dinner as payment for the debt. It was their first official date. Not long after that, Tom proposed and they got mar-ried before moving back to Duluth.

The couple and their children, Matt, Andrew, Joseph and Thomas have attended Mount of Olives for the last two years. Brenda joined the choir. “I’ve always loved to sing. It’s won-derful to be with a group of people who want to sing and praise God in that way and want to work so hard for it,” she said.

Brenda said she liked Mount of Olives right away and knew she was in the right church when she got to know people better. “There’s an honesty about people’s lives. I went to the wom-en’s retreat that summer and people were very, very open about the things going on in their lives. And it’s wonderful to know how God is at work in their lives,” Brenda said.

When the family first started attending the church, Brenda said they were healing. Her father had just passed away from cancer and they needed a supportive church and Mount of Olives gave them that support. Brenda recalled her father’s fight with cancer and how he showed extreme courage and peace during his illness.

I love their vision for the church to be the hands and feet of Jesus by coming alongside families and kids in crisis situation. However, the closest location is in the Twin Cities so since October I’ve been partnering with the director there and a couple other women from other churches to get Safe Families started up here in Duluth. SFFC hosts children and creates extended family-like support for their parents through the community of devoted volunteers in the church with the goal of keeping children safe and ultimately together with their families. This isn’t something that a family can do on their own; it has to be a network of people working together. Some can host kids in their home, some can provide resources and support for those host families or the placing parents who are in crisis. Some can be on the ministry team and help with background work like communication, organization, encouragement, and recruitment. I believe every one of us as God’s children has a role to play in ministering to the “least of these” and Safe Families is an opportunity to do that here in our own community. Pray about if and how God might be leading you and if you are interested, come talk to me. You can also spread the word to friends in other churches, we need the entire community of the church in Duluth to work together to get this going. We do this not because we are the saviors, but because we have been saved, made part of God’s family, and now we are on a mission to extend that love. Next Info Meeting: June 8th Contact Info: 218-409-5642 Duluth@safefamiliesmn.org

Thank You

Dear Church Family, Thank you so much for the money cards, emails, phone calls

and hugs sent our way during my Mom’s illness and time in hospice. Thank you also

for the beautiful flowers, the many cards and to all who attended her memorial ser-

vice. Your love has been such a huge encouragement to us and we are thankful for

your prayers for our family.

With love, Steve & Lindy Barta

Thank you to all who welcomed our baby Micah with the wonderful shower and

gifts. We appreciate everything very much and have been blessed by you all.

With Love, David & Sarah Tuttle

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 3

9-11 am Women’s Bible Study

7:00 pm Summer Dedica-tion Prayer Time

4

7:00 pm Praise Team Rehearsal

7:00 pm Young Adult Study various locations

5

6

1-4 Anna Ross Open House

7

8:00 am 1st Service

9:15 am Fellowship

9:30 am S. School

10:45 am 2nd Service

8

6:30-8 pm Safe Families Forum

9

6:30 Men’s Bible Study & Prayer

9:00 am Women’s prayer

10

9-11 am Women’s Bible Study

6;00 pm Arrow Sharpening Summer Kick Off

11

7:00 pm Praise Team Rehearsal

7:00 pm Young Adult Study various locations

12

GP Prep Retreat

13

9:30-11:00 am Mugs & Muffins

GP Prep Retreat

14

8:00 am 1st Service

9:15 am Fellowship

9:30 am S. School

10:45 am 2nd Service

6:00 pm Duncan’s 25th Anniversary Service

15

16

6:30 Men’s Bible Study & Prayer

9:00 am Women’s prayer

17

9-11 am Women’s Bible Study

9:00 am Arrow Sharpening

7:00 pm Missions Prayer

18

7:00 pm Praise Team Rehearsal

7:00 pm Young Adult Study various locations

19

20

21

8:00 am 1st Service

9:15 am Fellowship

9:30 am S. School

10:45 am 2nd Service

22

23

6:30 Men’s Bible Study & Prayer

9:00 am Women’s prayer

24

9-11 am Women’s Bible Study

Family Night VBS

25

1:00 pm Viewcrest Service

7:00 pm Praise Team Rehearsal

7:00 pm Young Adult Study various locations

26

27

8:00 am Men’s Breakfast

28

8:00 am 1st Service

9:15 am Fellowship

9:30 am S. School

10:45 am 2nd Service

Member’s Meeting

29

4:45 pm Union Gospel Mission Serving

30

6:30 Men’s Bible Study & Prayer

9:00 am Women’s prayer

June Birthdays June 2 Lydia Avey, Isaac Bogatzki,

Karen Symczak

June 3 Natalie Lepien, Anna Ross

June 4 Noah Streblow

June 5 Jack Burklund,

Chloe Gustafson

June 7 Owen Simonson

June 9 Conrad Hjort, Bonnie Peter-

son, Kayla Stephenson

June 10 Bella Gunthert-Hinz, Jacob

Ruhl

June 11 Duncan Ross

June 12 Kyle Gustavson, Rachel Hjort,

Erin Streblow

June 14 Heidi Johnson, Jenna Johnson

June 15 Joji Ginete, Nathan Hjort,

Kiersten Loban, David Ruhl

June 16 Pam Roper

June 17 Julie Seelke, Jase Tunell

June 18 Tom Florestano

June 19 Calvin Filmore, Daniel Preiner

June 25 David Hjort, Lulu Watczak

June 26 Rian Kalkbrenner,

Katie Hipsher

June 27 DeLaney Rautio, Jori Watczak

June 28 Eliza Shelton

June 30 Joy Sorenson

June 2014