Mount Olivet UMC

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Welcome to Mount Olivet on this Easter Sunday! We are gathered to celebrate our risen Lord! We hope that you find a warm welcome, a moment of inspiration, and the courage to live into our identity as Easter people.

Welcome to Mount Olivet this Palm Sunday, the first day of Holy Week. We commemorate Jesus' entry into Jerusalem amid crowds of people waving palm branches and singing "Hosanna!" It is hard to imagine, in the midst of such celebration, that the praises will turn to jeers, and that Jesus will share one last meal with his disciples before being betrayed.

Welcome BACK to Traditional worship in the very “cool” sanctuary of Mount Olivet! We hope you feel the presence of Christ among us this morning. We are continuing our Lenten journey with Jesus and Bonhoeffer, contemplating the natureof discipleship for the individual and within community.

Welcome to Mount Olivet, a community of hope, reconciliation and love. The message of today's scripture challenges us to do good, to give without expecting anything in return, and to love our enemies. The first two are hard enough, but the third? What could Jesus have meant by love enemies. Certainly not tolerate abuse or ignore wrongdoing. As we ponder the question, let us reflect on the words of 13th-century friar, St Francis of Assisi: "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love...for it is in giving that we receive."

Welcome to worship at Mount Olivet! Together we are listening to and exploring the words of Jesus. These are some of the core teachings of Jesus and his revelation of the values of God for human community. God's favor and care is always on the sideof those who are oppressed and in need. Our priorities in faith are always to protect the vulnerable and care for those in deepest need.

Welcome to worship at Mount Olivet! May we find room for hope and joy together this morning. We are out on a boat with Jesus today, casting our nets, hauling in more fish than imaginable. We are thinking of scarcity and God's amazingabundance as well as the ways that we can help provide sustenance for a hungry world.

Welcome to Mount Olivet, a haven for all who seek rest and who long for justice. The call of the prophet Isaiah, millennia ago, is as urgent today as it was then: to preach good news to the oppressed, to tend to the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and to comfort all who mourn. May you find respite here, may you be stirred to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God.

We hope you find warmth (literally!), belonging, and peace in this time together. We are thinking about unity in Christ and what it means to be the body of Jesus. May God bless and inspire us this day!

As Jesus turns water into wine, we are thinking about miraculous transformations in our own life and in our world. The "arc of the moral universe may be long," but as Martin Luther King, Jr. reminds us, it bends toward justice. In the days ahead, may we bravely embrace hope and work toward the justice we long to see.

Today we travel to the banks of the River Jordan where Jesus was baptized and where he received a blessing from God: “you are my beloved son.” May you know yourself loved by God—no matter what—and that you are welcome here.

As we enter into this new year, we are thinking about the ways that God is made known to us in our daily lives. This season of Epiphany is a time of recognizing Christ in the midst of our turmoil and stress. May we come together in this season of uncertainty to embrace our faith anew.

Welcome to worship at Mount Olivet! We hope you feel the warmth and peace of Christ among us this morning. While Christmas Day has come and gone, we are embracing the season of Christmas and delighting in the ongoing presence of Jesus!

Welcome to Mount Olivet this Christmas Eve! We are filled with joy to celebrate the story of the birth of Jesus together. Please settle in as we hear this familiar story, sing these ancient songs, share the holy sacraments, and delight in the mesmerizing flicker of candlelight.

Welcome to worship at Mount Olivet! On this last Sunday of Advent, the gospel recalls Mary and Elizabeth, each of whom has received news that she is expecting a child. When Mary enters the house, Elizabeth's baby "leaps in her womb," as though he somehow senses the significance of the one Mary carries: Jesus Emmanuel, God-with-us. As you prepare your heart for worship today, ask yourself, "Does anything leap for joy within me? Can I feel the stirring of new life?"

Welcome to worship at Mount Olivet! This second Sunday of Advent, we light the peace candle. As we contemplate John's message of repentance, we will think about what true peace might look like in our lives and in our world.

Welcome to worship at Mount Olivet! Today is the first Sunday of Advent. Jesus was born into and continues to abide with us in a world of fear and uncertainty. As we enter into this season, we hold the tension of cheer and anxiety. May we find space together for gentleness and hope.

Amid the swirl and uncertainty of life today, we find comfort and hope in the truth of Jesus Christ, and the promise of a kingdom of righteousness and peace beyond the challenges of this world.

Welcome to worship at Mount Olivet! In this season of change and unrest, we are mindful that Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever. May you find a respite here. May you be met by Jesus here. May you be strengthened here to meet the day ahead, boldly and courageously, undergirded by the love of Christ.

Welcome to worship at Mount Olivet! We are mindful, today and always, that God is bigger than any nation, that Jesus is our ultimate leader, and that the Spirit sustains us in gentle ways both great and small. We gather this morning as a community of faith to offer our prayers and praise to God. We are together and God is with us.

Welcome to worship at Mount Olivet! We are remembering our saints and the rich history of those who have come before us. As we begin a season of stewardship, we are mindful of the generations of faithful people who came before us to bear a witness of Christian community on Glebe Rd. We hope you find the spirit of Christ among us in this place!

Welcome to worship at Mount Olivet! We hope you experience the presence of Christ among this congregation. This Sunday we are contemplating the offering of Christ's life and sacrificial love. In what ways might God be calling us to give of ourselves?

Welcome to worship at Mount Olivet! We are continuing to ponder the Book of Job. The suffering of Job is so great and his anger and frustration toward God is palpable. Regardless of what we endure, we can offer up both our praise and our grumblings to a God who will hear and receive them.

Welcome to worship at Mount Olivet! Today and next Sunday we are going to consider the story of Job. This story gives us a chance to challenge our thinking about suffering, faith, God and divine justice.

Welcome to worship at Mount Olivet! We are celebrating World Communion Sunday today when Protestant churches around the world contemplate our unity around the Table of our Lord. As we receive the bread and cup this morning, we are mindful that we are part of a world wide body of believers, united in our love of Christ.

Welcome to worship at Mount Olivet! Today we are exploring the story of Esther. This fairy tale of the Bible informs us of the various ways that God is at work, sometimes undetected, in our lives and in the world. Esther is “called for such a time as this.” What are the ways God might be calling you today?

Welcome to worship at Mount Olivet! In today's scripture passage, the disciples are caught in a power struggle, arguing over who among them is the greatest. In response, Jesus draws a little child to himself, teaching that greatness comes from serving those who are most vulnerable. Let us draw near to God, trusting that God will draw near to us.

Our scripture today uses various images to illustrate how damaging and hurtful the way we speak to and about others can be. Not only are we to control our speech, but what we say and how we say it are to reflect our faith.

Welcome to worship at Mount Olivet! As we approach these cooler, crisper days, we are thinking about our faith and actions. The book of James encourages us to have a faith of works and action. As we enter into this space, how are we greeting and treating one another? Are there ways we can love our neighbors better? Are we showing our love of God with our lives?

Welcome to Mount Olivet! Today we are thinking about Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus. He encourages them to take on the “armor of God.” While we might think of military images, Paul is brilliantly overturning tools of oppression. May we also hold strong to faith in the face of stress and despair, knowing that God is with us and we are together!

Welcome to worship at Mount Olivet! We are contemplating Jesus' claim that he is the bread of heaven. We are hungry and we long for that which sustains us. Jesus reminds us that, just as God did so long ago, he continues to take care of us and nourish us. As we celebrate worship together and celebrate Communion, we are thinking of our call to be one bread and one body.

Welcome to worship at Mount Olivet! In today's scripture Jesus refers to himself as the Bread of Life, making the connection back to the manna the Israelites ate as they wandered in the dessert. We are hungry and we long for that which sustains us. Jesus reminds us that, just as God did so long ago, he continues to take care of us and nourish us.

Welcome to worship at Mount Olivet! In today's scripture Jesus refers to himself as the Bread of Life, making the connection back to the manna the Israelites ate as they wandered in the dessert. We are hungry and we long for that which sustains us. Jesus reminds us that, just as God did so long ago, he continues to take care of us and nourish us.

Welcome to worship at Mount Olivet! This morning we are thinking about Jesus multiplying loaves and fishes to feed the multitude. We often have an attitude of scarcity rather than abundance, but out of small gifts Jesus is able to feed a crowd. We hope you find spiritual nourishment and strength for the journey of life.

Good morning and welcome to worship! We are glad you have joined us. Thanks for your patience with the heat here in the sanctuary. Our lesson today will take us out on the water! Maybe that will help cool us off!

Welcome to worship at Mount Olivet! We thank you for your patience in bearing with us through this unusually warm season. Today we are thinking about Mark's account of John the Baptist's death. This is not a fun, breezy story for summer, but a story of failed opportunities for courage and justice. Together we hope to find courage to stand for justice and work for peace in our world. May God's grace be with us!

Welcome to worship at Mount Olivet! We are so glad you have joined us this morning. We are journeying with Jesus through the gospel of Mark. As we worship this God of abundant love, may this time together be an encouragement to you.

Welcome to worship at Mount Olivet! We are journeying with Jesus through the gospel of Mark. As Jesus teaches and preaches, he gives us a lesson on the ways that God's healing love crosses our human-imposed boundaries. As we worship this God of abundant love together, we hope you feel the warm welcome of this community of faith!

May you find a welcome here: a place to quiet your mind and to rest for a while. May you experience the deep, abiding peace of Christ, which has the power to soothe your soul and to spur you to act for justice and mercy in the world.

Welcome to worship at Mount Olivet! We are thinking about the mustard seed growing into a large plant. It may be surprising that Jesus finds the power of God better imaged in a tiny, no-account seed. It's not the way we expect divine activity to look. Yet the tree of life is here, in the cross around which we gather, the true vine that nourishes us with its fruit in the cup we share. It may not appear all that impressive, but while nobody's looking it grows with a power beyond our understanding.

Welcome to Mount Olivet on this special Pride Sunday! We are proud to be a welcoming and affirming church. Today, we celebrate the first Pride Month since the UMC reversed its 40-year ban on queer clergy and same-gender weddings. Join us as we explore how Scripture guides us in seeking justice and adapting ancient laws to modern contexts, drawing inspiration from the story of the daughters of Zelophehad. We have much to celebrate together!

Welcome to worship at Mount Olivet! We are so glad you are joining us in fellowship and praise as we begin the transition towards Summer. Marked by the graduations and departures this season is one of transitions in the life of our community. Yet even in the midst of great change we remain convinced that nothing can separate us from the love of God we have in Jesus. We pray blessings upon you and your family and hope that this time of worship, prayer, song, and story is one of restoration and peace.

Happy Birthday Church! Today is Pentecost, the birthday of the church. Pentecost marks the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the early church, empowering them to boldly proclaim the Gospel. We celebrate with our confirmands as they profess their faith and commitment to being part of our church family. We are reminded that we are all called to be a witness to the love and hope found in Christ.

Welcome to this community of faith; all are welcome!

Welcome to worship at Mount Olivet. This Sunday we are contemplating our emotional wellness in light of the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus.

Welcome to worship at Mount Olivet. This Sunday we are honored to welcome our District Superintendent the Rev. Dr. Sarah Calvert as our guest preacher. This Sunday we are contemplating our emotional wellness in light of the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus.

As we continue to celebrate the resurrection of Christ, we are thinking about our sense of wellness this season of Eastertide. This week, we will contemplate the physical wellness of our bodies, our physical selves, which God has deemed good. As we prepare our hearts and minds for worship, know that you are fearfully and wonderfully made!

Welcome to worship at Mount Olivet. Our scriptures remind us that, though we are many, we are one body in Christ. May we be a source of compassion, encouragement and love for one another and for our community, lifting each other up and "holding fast to what is good" (Romans 12:9).

Welcome to worship at Mount Olivet. In this season of Eastertide, we will explore the holistic nature of humanity reflected in the fullness of Christ's resurrection. Understanding that wellness encompasses the spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional aspects of our being, we will think about what the resurrection tells us about our wholeness as bearers of God's image.

This Sunday we celebrate the joyful mystery of the Resurrection of our Lord. Let us center ourselves for a time of praise and thanksgiving that, “He is risen! He has risen, indeed!”