This Week at Mt. Olive

Greetings, fellow redeemed!

This evening, I brought the sermon you all heard this morning to Trinity, Refugio. We same the sang Christmas carols, but without accompaniment - that's a capella for you music types. With the singers present, seven in all, we filled the sanctuary with the sounds of God's promises at Christmas. Talk about belting out Christmas songs!

That's what is so powerful about old (I'm talking centuries here) Christmas songs - the words of the carols recite God's promises fulfilled in Christ. Look at Hark the Herald Angels Sing; all the truths of the Second Article of the Creed are contained in that hymn. Go to Of the Father's Love Begotten and you get the truth of God the Son, begotten from eternity. Sing From Heaven Above to Earth I Come and the earth-changing words of the angel to the shepherds are recited yet again. Praise God for those early hymn writers and the powerful hymns they produced!

The food pantry at Mt. Olive continues to provide individuals and families. While we cannot provide huge amounts of food, we do provide for at least a meal or two. Over the past week, I've filled at least three or four requests for food, and Mary has filled a couple more. What this means is that our food pantry has an ongoing need for certain items: breakfast cereals; canned soups, vegetables, and fruits; plastic shopping bags for food distribution.

This week is filled with Christmas opportunities and services.

Monday is time for ONE LAST CHRISTMAS PROGRAM REHEARSAL at 7 p.m. Musicians and singers, please try to be there somewhat earlier.

Tuesday is a great opportunity for Jr. Youth. Mixing some work and fellowship. the Jr. Youth continue the tradition of Christmas cookie baking, and then taking those cookies to some of shut in members. Needed for this service are: sheet pans, rolling pins, cooling racks, sprinkles. More info will be coming tonight or tomorrow morning.

Wednesday, choir rehearsal will be held at the regular time. Also on Wednesday, we'll get together to have a quick look at the Candlelight Service with available Sr. Youth.

Thursday, services begin! Here's the Schedule

Christmas Eve Christmas Program, 6:30 p.m.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, 11 p.m.

Christmas Day Divine Service, 9:30 a.m.

One group that I ask you to keep in your prayers during this Christmas week is the Altar Guild. These women of faith perform a great service to the Church of our Lord Jesus, getting the proper appointments ready and readying the elements for the Holy Eucharist. With the many color changes over the next few days, the Altar Guild will again perform their duties with distinction.

Please remember in prayer:
Those who serve in our armed forces, especially Andrew Epley (Iraq), Michael Baker (returned from deployment), Rob Vadney (Ft. Sill), Edwin Rodriguez and Richard Rhode (North Carolina), William Worley (Kingsville), Ryan Radtke, John, Sorensen, and Dru Blanc (NAS Corpus Christi)

The families of those who serve in our armed forces

Those who have lost loved ones recently, for whom this holiday season will be difficult

Those who travel

The poor, the unemployed, the underemployed, and the homeless

In Christ,
Pastor Kevin Jennings

This Week at Mt. Olive:
Monday, December 21
Zumba Aerobics, 6:30 p.m.
Girl Scouts (?), 6:30 p.m.
Christmas Program rehearsal, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, December 22
Jr. Youth Cookie Baking and Christmas Caroling, 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday, December 23
Choir Rehearsal, 6 p.m.
Candlelight Service practice and music practice, 7 p.m.

Thursday, December 24
Children's Christmas Program, 6:30 p.m.
Lessons and Carols Candlelight Service, 11 p.m.

Friday, December 25
Christmas Day Divine Service, 9:30 a.m.