the O C T O B E R 2 0 1 4 OLIVE BRANCH MOUNT OLIVET LUTHERAN CHURCH 34 Prospect Street. Shrewsbury, MA 01545-2339 -Radical Hospitality/Neighborliness Rebirth through Innovation: Reflections on the 2014 New England Synod Assembly June 5 - 7, 2014 And 100 congregations in the middle, characterized as: Rebirth: the action of reappearing or starting to flourish or increase after a decline; revival. Innovation: can be viewed as the application of better solutions that meet new requirements, in-articulated needs, or existing market needs. The most consistent theme I heard at the Annual Assembly was one that churches need to innovate to be spiritually healthy. All the keynote speeches and many of the workshops stressed this point. And then, Bishop Hazelwood, in his keynote on Saturday, passionately argued that innovation is the ONLY way that the churches in the New England Synod can accomplish the rebirth they need to be relevant in the 21st century. The Bishop had apparently observed in his keynote last year that rebirth in the New England Synod was needed, but, last year he forgot that birth is a long, and painful process. (He observed that only a man would forget that birth is painful.) The Bishop has now visited all 183 congregations in the New England Synod and has categorized them into 3 groups: 40 congregations that are fragile, characterized as: -Attendance less than 30 on a Sunday -Older Buildings with LOTS of deferred maintenance -Located in a changed community 40 congregations that are healthy, characterized as: -Outward orientation -Strong Lay & Pastoral Leadership -Flexibility, Openness, Experimentation -Living Faith that is expressed -Strong enough to keep it going -Many are tired, few are chosen -Practice convenient hospitality -May resist experimentation -Suffer from a dictatorship of consensus And although the Bishop did not identify which congregations were in each segment, I think it is pretty clear that Mt Olivet is among the 100 in the middle. So what did the Bishop suggest that those in the middle should do: -Create a sense of Urgency -Connect to your community -Re-Discover your Jesus purpose -Stop doing everything, Do one thing -Experiment, Experiment, Experiment -Know you will not get 100% buy-in -Smile I heard two main messages in this “to-do” list: Focus Externally, and Experiment. The Bishop gave us this same message when he visited Mt Olivet this past spring – the spiritually healthy congregations are focused externally, not internally. I think we are moving, or trying to move, in a more externally focused direction. We had great momentum and support for the program to help the transition families in the Day’s Inn. But now, it appears that we will need to find another external mission for our church-wide focus because currently there are no transition families living at the Day’s Inn. If families return, we should once again provide leadership. But I believe we need to find another church-wide mission focus so our efforts are not completely controlled by decisions from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. And I certainly know that we have much good mission work going on from quilting to food pantry support, but, when we www. mtolivetlutheran.org 1 O C T O B put the energy of the whole congregation behind the Day’s Inn Program it was amazing what we accomplished in a very short period of time. I believe we need another whole-congregation type mission to focus our energy, create a sense of urgency, rediscover our Jesus purpose and connect to our community. So now to the second theme of the Assembly – innovate – or as the Bishop put it experiment, experiment, experiment. I actually prefer “experiment” to “innovate.” I don’t think innovation happens through thought but through trying things. So, we need to try new things until we find one that really motivates the congregation and connects us with our “Jesuspurpose.” The Assembly speakers did not provide the silver bullet to get congregations focused but they did provide ideas and examples of things that have worked in other congregations. Ideas such as: Experiment outside the main worship service Try different venues and different times Look for ways to be visible Publicize our missions with signs and flyers Outdoor services – in the Park for instance Dinner or lunch services with others invited Expand the definition of our congregation to include groups that use our building The scouts SCDC AA OEA Others?? Warm up the snack cookies in the microwave so that visitors (and members) smell fresh baked cookies as they leave a service – maybe more will stay for coffee time Hold the book club in a restaurant or coffee shop Record all the service hours (inside or outside the church) of everyone in the congregation and publicize the number annually to get visibility. Partner with other organizations, but, find our own focus or program to support those partners Concordia Veterans, Inc. Shrewsbury Council on Aging Schools Trinity Episcopal Etc. We need to approach this challenge as a congregation. It is not up to the Mission Committee or even just the Council to define, plan, and implement the experiments. We need everyone involved. I do think we suffer from the, “Many are tired, few are chosen,” problem that Bishop Hazelwood had on his list of characteristics of the 100 Congregations in the middle. We need to break through that characterization if we are to create a sense of urgency, focus and find our JesusPurpose. Looking forward to great new ideas. Don Harbert E R 2 0 1 4 Happy Anniversary This month marks the 60th anniversary of Mount Olivet Lutheran Church. (October 3rd is the date on the charter, in case you are curious.) As you’ve likely heard, we will be celebrating this milestone with a dinner party at the Manor on October 25th. It’s a somewhat strange feeling to celebrate such longevity having been here less than three years. Really, I’m still among the newest members of this community. Yet one of my favorite parts of being here has been spending time with you all hearing stories from Mount Olivet’s history. When I think back over the many ways in which you have welcomed me into this community, perhaps the most significant has been by welcoming me into your lives and traditions, helping me to understand where this community came from and what it is all about. Certainly there will be some time for that sort of thing at the dinner celebration. There are even some of you who, in contrast to me, have been here for the whole history of the congregation. There will be time for reminiscing through stories and photographs to celebrate the good times this community has had. (And yes, I do have that picture of a certain previous pastor wearing a tutu that may have to be shared.) This won’t be only a chance to look back at the past, however. As we celebrate, let us not think that Mount Olivet is defined only by its history. We will also take time to celebrate our future together. New challenges call us in new directions, and together we are off on new adventures. (Or, at the very least, some of you manage to tolerate that new pastor and his crazy ideas.) So, we will take time to look both back and ahead at good times that have been shared as well as the good times we still have ahead of us in fulfilling God’s purpose for our community. I look forward to celebrating with you on the 25th. You should receive your invitation very soon if you haven’t already. (By the way, contrary to previous announcements, there will be no cost to attend the party, thanks to a generous donor, so that should not stand in the way of attending. Also, if for some reason you don’t receive your invitation, please contact me so we can sort it out.) I look forward to hearing stories of the past and pondering the future. And I look forward to what I’m confident will be plenty of wonderful years to come. In Peace, - Pastor Heisen www. mtolivetlutheran.org 2 O C T O B E R 2 0 1 4 Prayer List Cookie Walk/Bake Sale We of Mount Olivet hold in prayer Margaret Rauscher (Ursula’s sister), Diane Cyr (friend of Cathy Sheehan), Ina Bischoff, Charles Murray, Kurt Jauron, Lisa Pellegrino (friends of Michael LeBlanc), Bill Schaetzke, Liesl Voosen Fields, Meredith Lumb (friend of Nina), Alan Johnson, Dwight (friend of Joyce), Ed, Patti S. and Nancy (friends of Joyce Danielson), Mark Cote (Dave’s son), Fran Johansen, Edie S., Rick, Lee Webb (relative of Cathy Sheehan), Julie Dawes (Marlene Ekstrand’s niece), Neil (friend of Doug Behm), Dave Maniero, Mary Morgan, Sarah Dalzell, Richard Aikens, Janine Gill, Joyce Straub, Ann (relative of Stephanie Ruggiere), Lee (friend of George Bergstrom), Deb Brousseau, and Michael LeBlanc. ………….….…….......……………...…....……....……… Mount Olivet will be having its annual Cookie Walk and Bake Sale on Saturday, December 6th from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM. We will need lots and lots of cookies and baked goods. And, of course, please save your coffee cans! Feedback Wanted Every year, the Mutual Ministry team produces “performance reviews” for the church staff, including myself. The primary purpose is to help each of the staff understand our gifts and growing edges and to develop into ever better servants in the offices that have been entrusted to us. We will be conducting this exercise early in October, and we can use your help. If you have feedback or constructive criticism that the Mutual Ministry committee should consider, please bring it to the attention of Stephanie Ruggiere, co-chair of Mutual Ministry, or myself or any other member of that team. Your input is appreciated. ………….….…….......…………...…..…..……....……… IHN November 2nd - 8th is Mount Olivet’s week at IHN. Please mark your calendar. Please consider being an evening host from approximately 6:00 - 8:00 PM or an overnight host from 8:00 PM - 6:30 AM. Thank you in advance for your attention and cooperation in this matter. Women’s Reading Group The group will meet Tuesday October 21st at 12:00 Noon. THE DARING LADIES OF LOWELL by Kate Alcott will be discussed. Set in a textile mill in Lowell, Massachusetts in 1832, this historical novel interweaves the industrial revolution, feminism and workers' rights. All are welcome. ………….….…….......……..….…...…..……....……… Neighbor Helping Neighbors If you have a neighbor who is elderly, housebound, or just having a streak of bad luck, maybe we can help. What about forming a “help as needed” group? Sign up to volunteer: wash windows, mow grass, cut shrubs, paint steps, weed flower gardens, vacuum, dust, or fix a fence or an appliance. When someone needs a helping hand, a few volunteers could make short work of a problem that may be overwhelming to someone in the community. If interested, please contact Peg Harbert. ………….….…….......……….…...…....……....……… Give Us Your Tired, Your Poor... - Pastor Heisen - George Bergstrom ………….….…….......…………………………...……… Wanted: Old blankets in any condition to be used as filling for charity quilts. Holes can be mended, shaggy edges can be trimmed, size can be cut to fit existing quilt tops. Drop off blankets at Mount Olivet, or make arrangements to have them picked up. Call Nina Behm or Peg Harbert. Thanks! ………….….…….......…………...…..…..……....……… Online Calendar Did you know that the church calendar is on our website with all the most up-to-date changes?  Rather than rely on the enclosed snapshot, check http://www.mtolivetlutheran.org for the latest version! www. mtolivetlutheran.org 3 O C T O B E R 2 0 1 4 Notes from the Financial Secretary Mount Olivet on SPAC Mount Olivet’s worship services are broadcast on Shrewsbury Public Access Channel (SPAC), channel 28 during the following time slots:                                            Wednesdays - 8:00 PM Thursdays - 1:00 AM Thursdays - 10:00 AM                ……….…..…….......…………...…………..……....……… Vigil for Victims and Survivors of Domestic Violence Contribution Statements Contribution Statements, for January through August, were mailed on September 19th. Please take a moment to review your statement and let me know if you have any questions or concerns. While on the topic of contribution statements, I would like to discuss some “housekeeping” issues with respect to amounts eligible to be included on your contribution statement. For monetary contributions to Mount Olivet or for the benefit of an organization or program that Mount Olivet supports, if you would like for the contribution to be included on your statement, the contribution needs to be processed by the counters. For example, if you would like to donate $100.00 to IHN in November and would like for that to be recorded on your statement, then the cash or a check made out to Mount Olivet needs to be placed in the offering plate, mailed to the church to the attention of the counters, dropped into the safe in the office, or given to the counters on Sunday morning. And as always, please be sure to include a note or envelope with your contribution that indicates your name and the amount and purpose of your contribution. A vigil to remember victims and survivors of domestic violence and to raise awareness for issues of domestic violence in our communities will be held on Wednesday, October 15, 2014 from 6:30 PM to 7:15 PM in the Shrewsbury Town Common at the intersection of Main Street and Route 140. The rain location will be the First Congregational Church of Shrewsbury located adjacent to the Town Common. The vigil, which is co-sponsored by ADVISE (Against Domestic Violence in Shrewsbury Educational Project) and Saheli (Support for South Asian Women), is supported by religious and civic organizations in the Greater Shrewsbury area. Domestic violence is an issue that affects a broad spectrum of our society, but is largely unrecognized or worse, tolerated. Raising awareness and eliminating tolerance of violent behavior against women can prevent future tragedies. The Greater Shrewsbury community is invited to join in the vigil to both honor those who have suffered domestic violence and to express a unity of purpose to eliminate tolerance of domestic violence. Additional details and updates on this event may be found by calling the ADVISE Hotline, (508) 842-0056. ……………….….......………………..………......……… Line Item Sponsorship / Deficit Reduction Remember the Number 20!!! As of the end of August, Mount Olivet had received contributions for line item sponsorship or general deficit reduction, from ten families, in the amount of $4,651.00 Many, many thanks to these families for their generosity! Without these contributions, the current deficit would be over $12,000.00. With that said, I would like to take this opportunity to remind all members and friends of Mount Olivet that your continued offerings through the end of the year are extremely important to Mount Olivet’s financial well-being. The deadline for all submissions to The Olive Branch are due on the 20th of each month. Submissions for the November edition are due in the office by Monday, October 20th. Thank you! Respectfully Submitted, Holly Pavlak, Financial Secretary Office Hours Office hours are Monday - Thursday from 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM. Please be aware that if you e-mail me after 1:00 PM on Thursday, I will not read your e-mail until the following Monday morning. Thank you! - Eileen www. mtolivetlutheran.org 4
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