The Olive Branch. What s So Divine About The Divine Call? Read Jeremiah 1:5-10, Acts 14:23, and Acts 20:28)

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1 The Olive Branch October 2012 Published Monthly Volume 8 Issue 10 From the Pastor: What s So Divine About The Divine Call? Read Jeremiah 1:5-10, Acts 14:23, and Acts 20:28) 7809 Tieton Drive Yakima, WA (509) Web Address: mountoliveyakima.org Info4me@qwestoffice.net 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 October 2012 Published monthly Volume 8 Issue 10 It s always the bucks that determine everything! exclaimed the frustrated church member. We just couldn t afford him! he stated as he lamented over the recently returned call from the last pastor that the congregation had called. In his opinion, this must have been the reason that the pastor had declined their call, their divine call. The pastor was surprised to receive the phone call, informing him of his election to the call from a particular congregation. After the phone interview, he felt, for certain, that the congregation would issue the call to one of the other men on their short list. He felt that he had interviewed poorly and that his answers to their questions were not what they were looking for. What had happened to bring this call to him? Oh, those people! They seem to control everything in this church! They never listen to anyone outside of their group. Well, I guess they got their man! I hope they are happy! uttered the frustrated church member after the vote for the new pastor had been taken. Oh, if I could serve that church and live in that place, thought the young pastor to himself. Have you ever heard the old adage, It s not what you know, but whom you know that counts? People learn how to pull strings, apply pressure, call back favors, etc. in order to get their man for any job or position Cont d on pg. 2 1

2 that is important to them. Employers often finagle to get a certain employee and employees can finagle to secure a certain job. This is the way of the world. With God s people it should be different. However, too often our call process (as it is lived out) looks extremely similar to the world s way of finagling. There does not seem to be anything divine at all about the process. God calls His people to humble yourselves before the mighty hand of God and He will exalt you at the proper time (I Peter 5:6). Believers can, with the Lord s help, act differently than the unbelieving world. Instead of coercion; empathy, listening to others, and compromise can happen, (even in and through the call process in a congregation). Also, God is an expert at working with saint-sinner church members. He promises to cause all things to work together for good for those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Yes, people can be tempted to, sinfully, finagle to get the pastor that they want for their church as they ignore the overall needs of the church and needs of others in the church. Pastors can, sinfully, desire to serve a particular church. Yet, when we humble ourselves before Him, thinking of our neighbor as more important than ourselves, God can work a miracle of harmony and blessing. However we act, in our faith or unbelief, God is an expert at working good among sinners. He truly, is God, and His purposes will be carried out. His pastors will be sent to where He wants them to be and to serve. His calling His workers through His people does occur. His sending His servants (pastors, teachers, missionaries, etc.) does happen. He is God and He knows how to work through us and in spite of us in order to accomplish His purposes. Soli Deo Gloria! Rev. Craig A. Patterson, I.I.P. ATTENTION TO ALL! We have a new policy in place and need those of you that stop by the church to LOG IN during Preschool hours which are 8:30 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. Monday through Friday. You will find the LOG IN SHEET on the Church office door. This is for security purposes! Thank you all for your follow through on this new policy. 2

3 Mt Olive s Adult and Children s Sunday School will soon start a new curriculum, entitled, ANSWERS BIBLE CURRICULUM. Using the initials ABC, the curriculum emphasizes: A Apologetics. In a practical way, all ages will b equipped to answer the skeptical questions of this age, leading to a full confidence in the authority of God s Word. B Biblical authority. Each age level is taught chronologically through the Bible (with many references to the New Testament), building a strong Christian worldview. C Christ Centered. All ages are taught to focus on Christ and His gospel message. All members and friends of Mt Olive are invited to participate in this exciting and innovative approach to solid Bible teaching! Mt Olive, Sunday School Staff. A BIT OF HISTORY ON OUR LWML RESOURCE CENTER The LWML Resource Center was started in early 1990 s by Norma Robish, one of our departed saints. She had the vision and ability to start a Christian Center making Christian theme items available for our members and friends. In those early days it was located where the nursery is now, in the narthex. When the Laborers In Christ added our new wing, they gave us the current prime location. The Resource Center is run by LWML and we hope it serves you by supplying Bibles, books, gifts, greeting cards, etc, to help in your devotional life and witnessing to others. We thank God in the many ways He has given us ways to minister and for mission efforts through your support. LWML THANKS YOU! Nola Treece 3

4 Mt. Olive Holiday Bazaar is coming soon: Saturday, November 3 rd, 9:ooam-3:oopm We are looking to the congregation for help in this venture; baked goods are always appreciated. They can be delivered either Friday during set up or early Saturday morning before the Bazaar opens. Please mark all items with pricing and note if there are any nuts used in the ingredients. perfect time to utilize that abundant garden produce now for later We have appreciated in past years all those who made baskets for this event and are asking for your support once again. Any and all themes are welcome i.e. pet/kitchen/ bath/children/holiday themes. Be as creative as you like. If you have any baskets you want to donate for others to assemble-we will have a table in the fireside room for those to take from or add items to create a basket. We will shrink wrap them for you. Please have them at the church oneweek before the bazaar. Our family of Mt. Olive has been a continuous blessing to us for this mission work and our heartfelt Thanks go out to all of you. We love you. The ladies of LWML! DON T FORGET TO PICK-UP YOUR BASKET TO ASSEMBLE For Instructions & some ideas see page 5! 4

5 INSTRUCTIONS FOR HOLIDAY BAZAAR BASKETS (ALL FUNDS RAISED GO TO MISSIONS) If you have a basket to use that is fine otherwise you can pickup a basket or box container from our supply. Check with Nancy Dexter, Opal and Barbara. Fill with theme items. Be creative! (examples: Women s spa basket could have soaps, lotions, oils and scented candles) Family Movie Basket : Popcorn package, candy, soda, a DVD movie etc. Pet basket: feeding dishes, treat, toys, etc. Golf Basket: balls, tees, golf tower, etc Gardening Basket: seeds to plant, trowel, gloves, etc. Make a list of items so it can be included on each package. Bring the basket or box back to the church and the LWML ladies will shrink wrap it and put a nice holiday bow on it. PLEASE BRING THE BASKETS/BOXES ON OR BEFORE OCT.28 TH Available Digitally!!! Thank you so much for the prayers, cards, and phone calls during my recent illness with a suspected stomach flu. A week of being ill truly makes one appreciate the dear friends at Mt. Olive. Diann Graham For those of you that already are receiving the printed magazine you now have complete access to the digital version. For more information please visit or check in your September issue on page 36, you may also call Press Option 2. 5

6 October 2012 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Circuit Forum Wenatchee 7 L.W.M.L. Sunday Salt for Service & Blessing of the Quilts Worship Service: 8:00AM & 10:30AM Bible Study 9:15AM 8 Kneeling Camels 12:30PM AMEN 7PM 9 10 Beckett 7PM NO SCHOOL! 13 L.W.M.L. 8:30AM LLL Fireside Room from 10:30AM- 2:30PM Worship Service: 8:00AM & 10:30AM Bible Study 9:15AM Beckett s 7PM Transition Teams final Pumpkin Patch Field Trip 4 yr old Men s Breakfast 8AM@ Mt. Olive Worship Service: 8:00AM & 10:30AM Bible Study 9:15AM B.I.B.L.E. Borst s Kneeling Camels 12:30PM AMEN 7PM Pastor Fall Conference Idaho Pastor Fall Conference Idaho Beckett s 7PM Pastor Fall 28 Worship Service: 9:30AM ANNOUCEMENT SUNDAY! ONE SERVICE ON Beckett s 7PM L.W.M.L. Bazaar Saturday November 3rd 9:00 am-3pm 6

7 Elena Boyd October 4 Ron Crider October 4 Opal Myhres October 8 Beata McGuire October 10 Rob Johnston October 12 Cindy Moore October 12 Erin Joeckel October 13 JoAnne Strader October 13 Brooke Qunell October 15 Marley Upton October 16 Amy Padavich October 17 Ellen Rowley October 17 Ferne Garrison October 19 Susann Lowary October 19 Geri Sali October 19 Elizabeth Mitchell October 21 Bill Shelton October 21 Max Domschot October 26 Craig Padavich October 29 Elaine Evans October 30 Alyson (Suchland) Kilgus October 30 Dennis & Connie Herrick October 1 Warren & Penny Fordyce October 2 Richard & Sharon Thomas October 11 Gary & Rosalyn Nelson October 19 7

8 TEN PRINCIPLES OF FORGIVENESS Forgiveness begins when you 1.) Accept that life is not fair and that others may play by a different set of rules than you do. 2.) Stop blaming others for your circumstances. 3.) Understand that you cannot change the person who hurt you; you can only change you. 4.) Acknowledge the anger and hurt that some unpleasant or even harmful event is causing you. 5.) Reframe your story of hurt-your grievance story - by placing the hurtful events in a broader context than your current point of view. 6.) Recognize that only you can make the choice to forgive. 7.) Shift your view of the offender by humbly choosing to empathize with his or her life situation. 8.) Intentionally move from discontent toward contentment. 9.) Understand that forgiveness will take time and cannot be rushed. 10.) Take responsibility for your life and your future. If you want to live, at some point you must choose to forgive. 8