This Week at Mt. Olive

Good evening, fellow redeemed!

Today, a colleague of mine was installed as pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Deer Lodge, Montana. Installation Sunday is always a significant event for a pastor. He is placed into the Office of the Ministry to serve a specific group of people at a specific place.

I once heard a person say that the pastor's task is to give good, sound advice to those with problems. That may be what is desired, but it's not the pastor's job. Unfortunately, this is the idea prevalent in our world.

The pastor is Christ's called and ordained servant. He is called by Christ through the congregation, and he is ordained, meaning that he is sent under orders. These are not orders from the congregation to be their hired gun something of that nature. The orders under which a pastor is sent are from Christ Himself. The pastor is to preach the Gospel and administer the Sacraments. His task is to forgive the sins of the penitent and to retain the sins of the impenitent.

In other words, the place where the pastor does his work isn't the couch, it's the altar, the chancel rail, the pulpit, and especially in the pages of Holy Scripture.

Congratulations, Bob! God's richest blessings to you as you serve in His Church!

Coming up quickly next Sunday is the Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML) Coastal Bend Zone Rally at Our Savior Lutheran Church. Registration begins at 2 p.m. This is an opportunity for Christian women to gather, hear about mission efforts, and participate in missions themselves. This time, younger Christian women, teens and tweens, are invited for special activities.

Also next Sunday, First Year Confirmation begins at noon. Four young people will be gathering. The first year of instruction will be spent reviewing and learning key accounts of Holy Scripture, as well as memorizing parts of Holy Scripture and learning hymns. The second year of instruction pairs the learned accounts of Scripture with key teachings of the Christian faith.

Prayer Concerns:
Those who serve in our armed forces and their families: Rob Vadney (Afghanistan), Dru Blanc, Ryan Radtke, John Sorensen (Corpus Christi)
Those recovering from surgery, undergoing therapy: Helen Placke, Ruth Prytz, Donnae Blake, Burt Nelson
The Lutheran Women's Missionary League, which supports pastors, seminarians, and the proclamation of the Gospel around the globe
The Sunday School teachers of Mt. Olive and the students committed to their care

This Week at Mt. Olive:
Monday, September 27
6 p.m.
Zumba Aerobics

Wednesday, September 29
8:30 a.m.
Chapel

9:30 a.m.
Bible Study (Deuteronomy)

6 p.m.
Zumba Aerobics

God bless!
PKJ