Mount Olivet UMC

We are considering how our call from God invites us to live differently. How does being a child of God inform how we are a neighbor? How do we interact with the “neighbors” in our lives? Take a moment and ponder the lyrics of “The Servant Song” hymn number 2222 in The Faith We Sing as you prepare to worship.

Today’s focus is engaging our neighbors. That’s what salt and light — two keywords from our scripture — do; they engage us. They enhance our foods; illumine our world; provide heat. Listen this morning as we consider ways we become salt and light for God’s creation. If you feel so led, you may even be invited to share a way you or someone you know serves as salt and light.

Who are the blessed ones of God? For the prophet Micah, they are those who do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. For Paul, they are the ones who find wisdom in the weakness of the cross. For Jesus, they are the poor, mourners, the meek, those who hunger for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers. In baptism, we find our blessed identity and calling in this c...

Followers of Christ are called to a different story. Those offended by the scandal of Christ’s ministry will try to show us one thing but then we hear Jesus saying, “I’ll show you…” (Matthew 4: 19, CEB). We have not been left to figure out this story on our own or to write the story for ourselves. The narrative changes because we have been changed by God’s Grace.

Jesus shows up when we reach beyond ourselves and connect with our neighbors. Today we will look at how we are accepted by God’s grace just as we are. And it is when many different people come together — neighborhoods — that we discover Paul’s admonition “that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift.”

Followers of Christ are called to a different story. We have not been left to figure out this story on our own or to write the story ourselves. The narrative changes because we have been changed by God's grace. Where has God changed your narrative? The narrative of your community?

In the waters of the Jordan, Jesus is revealed as the beloved Son of God. Through this great epiphany, Jesus fulfills all righteousness and becomes the servant of God who will bring forth justice and be a light to the nations. In the waters of baptism we too are washed by the Word, anointed by the Spirit, and named God’s beloved children. Our baptismal mission is to proclaim good news to all who a...

Linnea Carlson kicks off the New Year with a message about Epiphany and the revelation of Jesus, Emmanuel.

Today is a day to tilt our heads upward and look into the sky, just as the magi did long ago. There is something both mysterious and humbling about stars. Whether you ‘wish upon a star’ or look up and feel small as you ponder the immensity of the universe, stars grab our attention. Today’s Scripture from Matthew is about God grabbing humanity’s attention to reveal the Messiah, God in the flesh. An...

Sam Riedel preaches in The Way on Sunday, December 29

Our word is ‘dream.’ The reading from Matthew delves into a dream. Only, considering the implications of Joseph's reality, it is more of a nightmare than a dream. His reality is not a vision of sugar plums dancing in his head but of betrayal and shame, both personal and public. His dreams for the future are short-circuited by circumstances. We are reminded that Jesus comes into a family facin...

As the shadows of Advent begin to give way to the Light revealed at Christmas, we recall the beginning of the Kingdom of God in a child and in doing so we await the full realization of a dream bigger than we can imagine but not so big that any of us will be left out.

When we approach God with thanksgiving, knowing that what was needed has been done by Christ, and all left to do is to be a part of the Kingdom Christ inaugurated when he left the grave empty, we realize the story we’ve been trying to write has been written.

Pastor Ed Walker

Pastor Teer Hardy

Who blesses whom? How does blessing relate to steadfast love? What difference does it make in a life that feels blessed?

Keith Nelson, an active layperson in the life of Mount Olivet, speaks about how he has been blessed by Mount Olivet and, out of love, wants to give back so others can be blessed, as well.

We celebrate holy communion with congregations around the globe on World Communion Sunday. Through a piece of bread and a glass of juice, holy communion is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. It is one of the many ways God reaches into our lives to transform us.

This Sunday was all about the Bible. We presented Bibles to our third graders — an age where they can now read a Bible that is translated with their maturity in mind — so they can begin to develop the spiritual discipline of reading Scripture.

Pastor Teer talks about the blessing of Grace in our lives.

We proclaim how we are blessed by the cross of Jesus. The cross appears foolish, weak, low and despised; and yet, God uses it to redeem the world.

As we kick off a new season at Mount Olivet. There are so many activities and events to choose from — Sunday school, youth group, scouts, small groups, Wednesday Dinners, and more. The reason we offer so many different kinds of experiences is because each of us is on a unique journey toward becoming a disciple of Jesus. Where are you on that journey?

Today we are beginning our Blessed To Be A Blessing worship series. It is our hope that through preaching, thanksgiving, and prayer we might consider the blessings in our lives and how they might be shared with others.