This Week at Mt. Olive

Good evening, fellow redeemed!

Be ye therefore perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect. So said Jesus in the Gospel from Matthew 5 today. Perfect, complete, whole, fulfilled, that's the sense of the Greek word used for perfect here. Yet, in retrospect, in the description of life as Jesus has described, where obedience goes beyond outward performance, all the way into words, all the way into thoughts, we are uncovered to be sinners. In today's Adult Bible Class video, Dr. Beiermann said that, as sinners, we are less than human because we are not the way God created us to be in the beginning. Thus, we are not complete or whole or fulfilled - not perfect.

It is only in Christ, the perfect God-man, that there is wholeness. The forgiveness of sins we enjoy now points to the return of our Lord in glory, the day in which all who have trusted in Christ as Lord will be restored to the way God created us to be: whole, complete, fulfilled - perfect.

Lord Jesus Christ, we have made ourselves incomplete and imperfect by our sins. Forgive us, and give us the great comfort and assurance of restoration on the day of resurrection. Hear us for Your mercy's sake. Amen

This afternoon, many of the young people, some of their guests, and some of the parents enjoyed Fear Factor Games, what has become an annual tradition for Mt. Olive's Youth! This year, Jello, eggs, shaving cream and water balloons, oranges, pudding, mustard, toast-margarine-jelly all dotted the games enjoyed by all. Hopefully, we'll have some pictures up on the web site before the end of the week.

Back after a three-year hiatus, the Fellowship Committee is sponsoring a Fondue is Fun night on Saturday, March 5. This is the Saturday before the beginning of Lent - a good time to enjoy before the beginning of the fast. Tickets are $10 each and may be purchased from Stephanie Waterman.

Mt. Olive is now in week 3 of giving for the Ten for Ten stewardship plan - giving 10% for 10 weeks.

This is the time to plan for summer camp at Camp Lone Star. Information and instructions for registration are located on the table in the narthex at the church. For each of the past couple of years, Mt. Olive has sent 17 or 18 young people to this excellent week of summer fun.

The Lutheran Book Club meets this week on Tuesday evening at the home of Dru and Tammy Blanc. The book of study is "Mere Christianity" by C. S. Lewis. Last week, we discussed some of the main themes of Book 1. This week, we hope to tie up any loose ends from Book 1 and discuss the some of the themes of Book 2.

Prayer Concerns:
Those who serve in our armed forces and their families: Rob Vadney (Afghanistan), Richard Rhode (North Carolina), John Sorensen, Ryan Radtke, Dru Blanc (Corpus Christi)
Emma and Emmett Wright, Ann Cleveland, Ruby Reider, Norene Estes, Walter and Pearly Theiss, our home bound members
The Church throughout the world as she prepares to enter the great fast of Lent
Those who have wandered from the faith, that they may be returned to the fold of the Church
Our nation and her leaders as we deal with the changes and economics of this world

This Week at Mt. Olive:
Monday, February 21
6 p.m.
Zumba Aerobics

6:30 p.m.
Board of Elders

Tuesday, February 22
7 p.m.
Lutheran Book Club

Wednesday, February 23
8:30 a.m.
School Chapel

9:30 a.m.
Bible Study

6:00 p.m.
Zumba Aerobics

7:00 p.m.
Choir Rehearsal

Thursday, February 24
6:30 p.m.
Cub Scout Pack 278

7 p.m.
STARC

7:00 p.m. or so
Guitar Worship Rehearsal

God bless!
PKJ