The Olive Branch. THE OLIVE BRANCH August Tieton Drive Yakima, WA (509)

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1 The Olive Branch August 2012 Published Monthly Volume 8 Issue Tieton Drive Yakima, WA (509) Web Address: mountoliveyakima.org Info4me@qwestoffice.net Pastor Sunday Worship 8:00 A.M. & 10:30 A.M. Sunday School 9:15 A.M. Adult Bible Study 9:15 A.M. THE OLIVE BRANCH August 2012 Published monthly Volume 8Issue 8 For Pastor: If The Lord Wills, We Shall (Read James 4:13-15) In Round 1 of Phase III of the Intentional Interim Process, we have been doing a Bible Study in which we listen to God s Word in order to all get on the same page as to what God says His people should be doing. We might call this God s Job Description For The Church. As we conclude Round 1 (Bible Study) and enter Round 2 we will sit together in small gatherings and ask ourselves (and God) What should we be doing in order to carry out the Great Commission here in Yakima? What, specifically, should we be focusing on right now here at Mt. Olive Lutheran? What do we have to get it done? Where do we need help? Beginning on August 15 th, we will begin Round 2 of Phase III - Brainstorming. After listening to God s Word regarding who we are, whose we are, and what does He (God) want us to do?, we now get down to specifics as to what we can and should be doing. In this part of the process, like the other phases, we desire to include as many individual members in the discussion. We desire to listen to each other. Some ideas that will be shared may be very different than what we would suggest. Yet, we will listen to each other. We need to listen to each other. We want everyone to kick in to the discussion of what can and should we be doing, now, to carry out the Great Commission. The brother of our Lord, James, offers good counsel regarding the listening to each other. He writes, But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger (James 1:19). The goal for each cottage meeting will be to come up with 4 or 5 Future Ministry Goals/Priorities for Mt. Olive Lutheran Church. Each cottage group will turn in their report to the Transition Team. The Transition Team will then filter down, like each cottage group, to 4 or 5 Future Ministry Goals. The cottage groups reports will all be turned in in October with the Transition Team announcing the final 4 or 5 Future Ministry Goals/Priorities for Mt. Olive Lutheran near the end of October.

2 We are not writing a Mission Statement. Rather, we are taking stock of our membership, our history, our community, our Lord s commission for us, and then agreeing upon (by consensus) some key emphases/ priorities for future ministry here at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church and Preschool. These emphases will come out of a very healthy process of listening to our Lord first (in the Round 1 Bible Study) and then listening to each other (in the Round 2 Brainstorming). The intentional interim process is designed to invite and assist the members of the congregation to see, embrace, and then carry out their own individual ministries under the umbrella of the Great Commission of our Lord alongside of the called pastor. The pastor is called to equip the saints (that s every individual member of the Body of Christ here at Mt. Olive) for works of service, to the building up of the Body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12). The Great Commission (making disciples of all nations by baptizing and teaching) is our central work as a congregation. The Future Ministry Priorities/Goals that we set as a parish can help us focus a little more on specific ways to carry out the Great Commission now and in the future in Yakima. Still, before, during, and after this intentional interim process, we are only wise to remind ourselves, that If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that (James 4:15). We labor hard, yet it is God, and God alone, who does the real work in people s hearts. Paul put it this way, I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth (I Corinthians 3:6-7). God will bless our labors in this process. He will seek, rescue, and pour new life into many souls through the saints who gather in Jesus name here at Mt. Olive Lutheran. He has in the past. He is doing so now. He promises to seek and to save the lost, also, in the future. Yours In Christ, Pastor Craig A. Patterson If you have children or grandchildren that love to read- did you know that Focus on the Family provides a website that reviews the content of books for teens? There are also Plugged In reviews of movies- current and past. Just enter FocusontheFamily.com and enter which you would like to search. There is also a wealth of other resources on their site. For the Home Groups that took the summer off, they will be staring back in September. We need someone from the groups to call the office and give that start up date so we can get it in the next newsletter and in the Sunday bulletins. After your first meeting in September we need you to call the office with the names of those who will be attending your Home Group. Remember if you do not have a Home Group please feel free to visit (or join) one that fits your schedule.

3 Lessons from Veggie Tales- Now in- For kids (and adults) The Princess and the Pop Star and Abe and the Amazing Promise Veggie Tale DVD s. These Veggie Tale videos have characters and stories that offer valuable life lessons from a biblical perspective. Round 2 If you would be interested in hosting one of these meetings there is a sign up sheet in the Narthex. Please be sure to mark down Name, date and time. Thank you to those of you for opening up your home for this last Phase of our Interim. STARTING AUGUST 12th Ministry Council will holding their first meeting with the new Board in place on August 8, 2012 in the Fireside 7:00 P.M. All are invited!!! Thank you to all the volunteers and LutherHaven for making this another AWESOME year!!! We would like to thank all of you that donated to the food list, are little campers were fed well.

4 We at Mt. Olive Lutheran believe in the power of God to answer prayers. The Lord Himself encourages us to call upon Him. Our Prayer Chain is an opportunity to offer prayers for the needs of others and for others to pray for us. Prayers can be for anyone- members of Mt. Olive, people in our community or around the world. We also like to get follow up on the status and how the prayers were answered. To start a prayer request or thanksgiving, you can call the first person on one of the (Day or Evening) groups. If that person is not available at the time, call the next person on the list or the church office. Prayers may be made anonymously, general or specific. If requested, prayers will be held in confidence. Or at church service time, there are attendance cards in the pews with space for a prayer -- or on the narthex guest book podium there are cards in the basket. Cards can be placed in the offering plate or put in the office. If you would like more information to join the Prayer Chain, call the church office or Nola. July 2011 Daytime Group Gert Allen John Skuza Jan Roose Rosalyn Nelson Kathryn Cornelison Patty Borst Nola Treece Philippians 4:6 (ESV) Do not be anxious about anything, But in everything by prayer and supplication With thanksgiving let your requests Be made known to God. Evening Group #1 Joan Lillich Celia Beckett Kim Crider Heidi Minnich Ginny Lundeen EVENING GROUP #2 Ruby Bruns Colette Keeton Shereen Stocker Nancy Dexter Debbie Armstrong Gary Treece

5 DIRECTIONS TO OUR FATHER'S HOUSE. Make a Right onto Believeth Blvd. Keep straight and go through the Green Light, which is Jesus Christ. There, you must turn onto the Bridge of Faith, which is over troubled water. When you get off the bridge, make a Right turn and Keep Straight. You are on the King's Highway - Heaven-bound. Keep going for three miles: One for the Father, One for the Son, and One for the Holy Ghost. Then exit off onto Grace Blvd. From there, make a Right turn on Gospel Lane. Keep Straight and then make another Right on Prayer Road. As you go on your way, Yield Not to the traffic on Temptation Ave. Also, avoid SIN STREET because it is a DEAD END. Pass up Envy Drive, and Hate Avenue. Also, pass Hypocrisy Street, Gossiping Lane, and Backbiting Blvd. However, you have to go down Long-suffering Lane, Persecution Blvd. And Trials and Tribulations Ave. But that's all right, because VICTORY Street is straight ahead! AMEN!!!!! From: The website of Gary Treece s mothers side- Baptismal Church in Breitenberg, Germany

6 Occasionally there is a need for meals or transportation (to doctors appointments, etc.) in unplanned situations for families or individuals in our family of Christ here at Mt. Olive. If you are able to provide help, contact Nola or the church office to sign up. This is for future needs and you can say no at the time asked or remove your name at any time. Thank you! Mt. Olive Lutheran Church Birthday by Month Mt. Olive Church Anniversaries by the Month Deborah Berkley August 2 Katelin Sillery August 5 Diana Brown August 6 Mike Shuel August 6 Virginia Wickham August 6 Joan Lillich August 7 Dennis Sillery August 7 Carolyn Hope August 8 Megan Anderson August 9 Emily Splawn August 10 Terry Fortier August 11 Beverly Splawn August 11 Cindy Hope August 13 Jerry Cox August 14 Connie Herrick August 14 Anthony Padavich August 14 Ruby Bruns August 16 Gary Nelson August 19 Karen Rath August 19 Edna Durham August 21 Linda Clark August 23 Chris Furr August 23 Garrett & Erin Joeckel August 1 Ken & Kay Hunziker August 2 Ken & Enid Frazier August 3 Micah & Laurel Cawley August 6 Dr. Gary & Nola Treece August 10 Leroy & Mary Zarn August 11 Mike & Jan Shuel August 13 Richard & Joyce Haubrich August 16 Rob & Katrina Johnston August 18 Johann & Chris Furr August 22 Aaron & Brooke Qunell August 23 Gary & Jan Roose August 27 Donald & Gina Holloway August 28 Rod & Ruby Bruns August 31

7 Mt. Olive PreSchool is gearing up for another great year! Our school year begins September 4th!!! We offer 7 classes and we are almost full!!! Our ChildCare enrollment for the fall is close to being full also. We expanded our ChildCare last year! We turned the old youth room/garage into a classroom and it worked out great. We ran our Extended Learning Class for 5/6 year olds in Kindergarten from that classroom. This year we will either run the Extended Learning Class again or add another 4year old class Also this year in the Preschool we are looking at hiring a Called Teacher. We have several names we are setting up interviews with. Hopefully we will find a great fit and have a new called worker to add to our staff. We are also looking for volunteers to help with chapel this school year! Chapel takes place on Tuesday A.M. & P.M. & Wednesday A.M.! It runs from 10:30-10:45 in the A.M. s and 2:30 2:45 in the P.M.. Please contact if you would be willing to help. The children would love to see you!!! Through out the school year we have several events for our little preschoolers, this year we are asking for parent involvement and would like to invite any of Mt. Olive s members to help as well. Towards the end of August if you go down the Preschool hallway (right next to the church office) you will see the events and the dates for these events along with a sign up sheet. We would love to see your name on the sign up sheets. ALERT CONFIRMATION CLASS ALERT Youth and Adults interested in getting confirmed, Pastor Patterson is willing to start classes this Fall. Youth ages are 12 years old to 15 years old. Please call the office if you are interested or have a child that is ready to start!

8 August SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT Pilgrim Youth staying the night. 11 Worship Service: 8:00AM & 10:30AM Bible Study 9:15AM Home Discipleship Classes Keeton s 7PM Home Discipleship Classes Thomas s 7PM 7:00 P.M Worship Service: 8:00AM & 10:30AM Bible Study 9:15AM Home Discipleship Classes Keeton s 7PM Round 2 starts 1st Cottage Mtg. Round 2 Thomas s 7PM Worship Service: 8:00AM & 10:30AM Bible Study 9:15AM Home Discipleship Classes Keeton s 7PM Preschool Teacher s first day back! Worship Service: 8:00AM & 10:30AM Bible Study 9:15AM Home Discipleship Classes Keeton s 7PM