Lent & Easter

Wednesday, March 5, Ash Wednesday

Mpls Campus: 8am, 12noon, 5pm, & *7pm
West Campus: 5pm & *7pm

*The 7pm service at both campuses will be youth-led
Mpls Campus services will be livestreamed at 12noon & 7pm. Livestream here

As we continue to read through Luke’s Gospel, we’ll offer a sermon series based on several affirmations about God. Please note that this focus is important. Many religious traditions focus on what we should do, what the Christian life should be, what we need to do to merit God’s grace, attain salvation, whatever. Lutherans, however, focus on God and what God has done through Christ for us and is still doing in and through our lives.

March 9: “Because God Wants Us to Love One Another.”
Mpls: Pastor Dixon
West: Pastor Freeman

March 16: “Because God will not give up on us.”
Mpls: Pastor Grangaard
West: Pastor Cieslik

March 23: “Because God is more like a parent than a king.”
Mpls: Pastor Lose
West: Pastor Olson Popp

March 30: “Because God loves sinners.”
Mpls: Pastor Kalland
West: Pastor Hammersten

April 6: “Because God intends to forgive and restore us.”
Mpls: Pastor Olson Popp
West: Pastor Dixon

The Words of Institution
Wednesdays, 12noon at the Mpls Campus and livestreamed here

This year we are reflecting on Jesus’ words to his disciples as he initiated and instituted what we call the Lord’s Supper. Each Wednesday, we’ll hold a brief service with music, a sermon focused on one part of Jesus’ words, and an opportunity to share Communion together. It’s a perfect break in the middle of the week and a chance to go deeper into our understanding of the importance and role of Holy Communion in our lives.

Schedule:
March 12: Pastor Olson Popp
March 19: Pastor Freeman
March 26: Pastor Hammersten
April 2: Pastor Dixon
April 9: Pastor Grangaard

During this Lenten season we are inviting everyone to participate in Easter for All (formerly Angel Gifts)! This event is a service opportunity where small gift items are collected, assembled into baskets, and distributed to families and individuals in need. Our community partners: CES, VEAP, Love INC, and Pastor Scott’s Ministry identify families who will benefit from donations. Each family also receives an Easter basket and groceries to make a healthy family meal for Easter.

How Can You Help?
Donate
Monetary Donations: Help Mount Olivet offset the cost of groceries for the families receiving Easter baskets. By donating $100 you can cover the grocery costs for one family of four. Donations can be dropped off or mailed to church labeled “Easter for All” or online here.
Basket Items: All items need to be small enough to fit into a standard Easter basket.

Volunteer
Friday, April 11, 3-6pm, Mpls Campus
Friday, April 11, 4-6pm, West Campus
Help is needed organizing and shelving food and item donations by category for the Saturday event. 
Saturday, April 12 , 10am-12noon, West Campus
Saturday, April 12, 1-3:30pm, Mpls Campus
Volunteers will assemble baskets or select food to deliver to families designated by one of our community partners: Love INC, VEAP, CES, or Pastor Scott’s Ministry. 

Volunteer Sign-up

THANK YOU!
Thank you in advance for your time and generosity in making Easter for All a success! Without your donations and time we would not be able to make such an impact in our communities. 

Questions? Contact Laurie Hancer lhancer@mtolivet.org or 612.767.2267.

Sunday, April 13, Palm Sunday: Why Lutheran? Because God will pay any cost to save us.
Mpls Campus: Pastor Freeman
West Campus: Pastor Cieslik
Service Times are at 9, 10, & 11am at both campuses
This morning’s worship will be a festive service with brass quartet, timpani, and choirs all celebrating Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem. Come to lift your voice and wave palm branches with Senior, Cathedral, Hosanna, and Chapel Choirs for the Palm Sunday processionals. Join with the whole congregation in singing, “Hosanna to the King!” Communion services to remember the sacrifice that was made on our behalf in the crucifixion of our Lord. Livestream here.

Wednesday, April 16, The Seven Last Words of Christ Concert
Service at 7pm at the Mpls Campus
This beloved Holy Week musical event is a special tradition for many during the Lenten season. All Cathedral Choir alums are invited to support this important tradition by joining in vocally. The adult presence in this concert serves as a powerful witness to our high school singers and demonstrates the importance of faith practices. Rehearsal will be held at 6pm in the Rehearsal Hall, all are welcome. Choir singers, please wear dark clothing.
Watch the service here.

Thursday, April 17, The Living Lord’s Supper
Service at 7pm at the Mpls and West Campuses
livestream here
Join in this unique service of Holy Communion that represents the night Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper. We will observe a live portrayal of this important event, and come to receive the gifts and commit ourselves once again to the way of Christ.

Friday, April 18, Good Friday
Mpls Campus: 8am, 12noon, 5pm and 7pm (Tenebrae service)
West Campus: 5pm and 7pm (Tenebrae service)
The 12noon and 7pm service will be livestream here
These meaningful communion services are offered as a way to remember and reflect on the sacrifice that was made on our behalf in the crucifixion of our Lord. The Tenebrae service, sometimes referred to as the service of shadows, is a moving experience in hearing once again the story of Jesus’ painful journey to the cross. 

Sunday, April 20, Easter Sunday Worship
Mpls Campus: 7, 8, 9, 10, & 11am.
West Campus: 7, 8, 9, 10, & 11am.

Join us for a joyful worship service celebrating the risen Christ! We hear God’s word and join in song with the choirs and brass in proclaiming that “Christ has risen indeed!”

Livestream the services here.

Easter Chancel Garden Ordering

Thank you for purchasing a plant for our Easter Chancel Garden. Your purchase helps beautify the sanctuaries on Easter Sunday, as well as honor or memorialize your loved ones. Personal dedications for these gifts will be listed in the Easter Sunday bulletin on Sunday, April 20.

At the end of the form you will be redirected to a link to purchase your plant(s). Each plant is $30.

Easter plants can be picked up at both campuses on Sunday, April 20 after the 11am service until 12:30pm or on Tuesday, April 22 from 10am-12noon.

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Jody Barbee at 952.767.1501 or at jbarbee@mtolivet.org.

Each day during Lent, your pastors will reflect more deeply on themes of the previous Sunday by offering devotions on other biblical passages that also have something to say about the affirmation about God we heard on Sunday. Hard copies are available at church or using the link below. You may also sign-up to received a daily email with the devotion sent right to your inbox.

Download the PDF version

Sign up to receive a daily email that includes the daily devotion.

If you wish to help with Easter Gifts this year, here are ways you can give!

Via Envelope: send back the remittance envelope that was mailed to you in your Easter mailing.

Via Realm: Give here

If you have any questions, contact us! We are here to help. Contact Tricia Lerohl-Morgan in our finance office at 612.767.2255 or by email at tricial@mtolivet.org.