This Week At Mt. Olive

Good evening, fellow redeemed!

In observation of Mother's Day, I offer the following from the Small Catechism:
Honor your father and your mother.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God so that we do not anger or despise our parents or others in authority, but honor them, serve and obey them, love and cherish them.

From the Large Catechism:
To this estate of fatherhood and motherhood God has given the special distinction above all estates that are beneath it that He not simply commands us to love our parents, but to honor them. For with respect to brothers, sisters, and our neighbors in general He commands nothing higher than that we love them, so that He separates and distinguishes father and mother above all other persons upon earth, and places them at His side. For it is a far higher thing to honor than to love one, inasmuch as it comprehends not only love, but also modesty, humility, and deference as to a majesty there hidden, and requires not only that they be addressed kindly and with reverence, but, most of all, that both in heart and with the body we so act as to show that we esteem them very highly, and that, next to God, we regard them as the very highest. For one whom we are to honor from the heart we must truly regard as high and great.

Secondly, notice how great, good, and holy a work is here assigned children, which is, alas! utterly neglected and disregarded, and no one perceives that God has commanded it, or that it is a holy, divine Word and doctrine. For if it had been regarded as such, every one could have inferred that they must be holy men who live according to these words. Thus there would have been no need of inventing monasticism nor spiritual orders, but every child would have abided by this commandment, and could have directed his conscience to God and said: "If I am to do good and holy works, I know of none better than to render all honor and obedience to my parents, because God has Himself commanded it..."

Have a happy Mother's Day!

A few changes for the schedule this week at Mt. Olive.
Monday, there is a Church Council meeting, but no Zumba Aerobics.

Tuesday, there is no Bible Study to address the whole May 21 thing, but the Lutheran Women's Missionary Leauge (LWML) is headed to Golden Kitchen for their Spring Dinner. They invite the women of Mt. Olive (and those who have been worshiping there) to join them for a night at the Asian buffet. If you're not already signed up and wish to attend, please call the Church Office MONDAY, as Mary needs to get a count for the reservation.

Wednesday, Bible Study on 1 John resumes.

Thursday, Guitar Worship practice will be at 7 p.m., and, yes, there will be Guitar Worship Sunday morning! For those who haven't been to the guitar services, hymns are sung with guitar accompaniment and the liturgical elements are preserved.

Looking ahead, May 15, Sunday after next, will be a Youth Outing night. The night will be either a movie (an appropriate one) or a night of dogs and suds (the "root" kind) with games. I'll keep you posted through online updates.

Finally, and very importantly, thirteen very important weeks are approaching rapidly. Those thirteen weeks are Summer Sunday School. Volunteers are needed to teach classes in a convocation style setting - usually grades K-2, and 3-8, with high school help. There is also the possibility of teaching all grades - trust me, it's not all that difficult. Lessons are available, as is help and support. Currently, the first volunteer has already signed up - me! I urge you to consider prayerfully this important ministry opportunity and sign up - often!

Prayer Concerns:
Those who serve in our armed forces and their families: Rob Vadney (Ft. Campbell, KY - yes, he's back!), Richard Rhode (North Carolina), Dru Blanc, John Sorensen, Ryan Radtke (Corpus Christi)
Those who are sick: David Simonds, Emmet Wright
The homebound: Anne Cleveland, Walter and Pearly Theiss (Houston), Norene Estes (Oklahoma), the Wrights, Ruby Rieder
Students in our midst who will be taking final exams in the near future
Mt. Olive Lutheran School as we end the of the school year

This Week at Mt. Olive:
Monday, May 9
7 p.m.
Church Council meeting

Tuesday, May 10
6:30 p.m.
LWML to Golden Kitchen

Wednesday, May 11
8:30 a.m.
School Chapel

9:30 a.m.
Bible Study, 1 John

Thursday, May 12
6:30 p.m.
Cub Scout Pack 278

7 p.m.
Guitar Worship practice

God bless!
PKJ