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Welcome to Mount olivetOur worship services are being held in person. We are still a vibrant and diverse congregation. We are still loving and serving God and our neighbors. We still welcome ALL to join us as we seek to deepen our faith. Join us in our parish hall on the West Bank for Holy Eucharist 9 AM every Sunday You may also watch our sister parish's live stream at 11am, Free Church of the Annunciation - Episcopal Click here for live stream! |
A pastoral message
from Rev. Duane Wiggin-Nettles
Dear friends,
I am writing to you today as we face a world-wide pandemic. Many of us are feeling anxious, angry, confused, frustrated, and overwhelmed, to name a few emotions.
It is ironic this is happening during Lent, a time in which we are called to change and embrace new ways of living. Lent interrupts our lives. The liturgy shifts in a major way. The quietness of our services can be jarring and unnerving. Our city which throws the largest public party in America, suddenly dons ashes and goes quiet the next day. Lent calls us to step out of our old comfortable ways. It calls us to sacrifice. It calls us to recognize our interdependence on God and one another.
When we give up things during Lent, the things we give up are not meant to become our obsession and focus. Rather, we walk away from old habits in order to focus on things we have overlooked. As we find our daily lives constricted in this crisis, I challenge us to discover who we are without all our busyness. Maybe the cancellation of that large public event you were planning to attend is an invitation not to stay home binging on the news cycle but to sit on your porch and chat with your neighbors. For some who are in a vulnerable population group, there may be a need to keep some distance, but you can still get within ear shot for a good conversation. And maybe don’t spend the whole time talking about COVID-19, but instead talk about what you ate, how your garden is doing, how are their kids, and the other things we used to do when we all sat on the front porch.
There is a saying, “Never miss the opportunity to use a crisis for good change.” If any place in America has been prepared for unexpected change, it is New Orleans. We got ‘dis, darlin’, as my great-aunt would say.
Stay calm and keep praying, friends. Jesus is Lord.
Your pastor,
Duane+
I am writing to you today as we face a world-wide pandemic. Many of us are feeling anxious, angry, confused, frustrated, and overwhelmed, to name a few emotions.
It is ironic this is happening during Lent, a time in which we are called to change and embrace new ways of living. Lent interrupts our lives. The liturgy shifts in a major way. The quietness of our services can be jarring and unnerving. Our city which throws the largest public party in America, suddenly dons ashes and goes quiet the next day. Lent calls us to step out of our old comfortable ways. It calls us to sacrifice. It calls us to recognize our interdependence on God and one another.
When we give up things during Lent, the things we give up are not meant to become our obsession and focus. Rather, we walk away from old habits in order to focus on things we have overlooked. As we find our daily lives constricted in this crisis, I challenge us to discover who we are without all our busyness. Maybe the cancellation of that large public event you were planning to attend is an invitation not to stay home binging on the news cycle but to sit on your porch and chat with your neighbors. For some who are in a vulnerable population group, there may be a need to keep some distance, but you can still get within ear shot for a good conversation. And maybe don’t spend the whole time talking about COVID-19, but instead talk about what you ate, how your garden is doing, how are their kids, and the other things we used to do when we all sat on the front porch.
There is a saying, “Never miss the opportunity to use a crisis for good change.” If any place in America has been prepared for unexpected change, it is New Orleans. We got ‘dis, darlin’, as my great-aunt would say.
Stay calm and keep praying, friends. Jesus is Lord.
Your pastor,
Duane+
Sunday Formation for Children (ages 3-10)
Dear Families of Younger Ones,
At Mount Olivet, our Children's Sunday School follows the Godly Play program. Children have an innate sense of the presence of God. The Godly Play approach helps them to explore their faith through the stories of the Scriptures, to gain religious language, and to enhance their spiritual experience though wonder and play. It is based on Montessori principles.
Our Godly Play storyteller, Valeria, is looking forward to welcoming your children to Godly Play. She and the other folks who assist with Godly Play love the children at Mount Olivet and the children love them! They seek to respect all children. They warmly welcome kids of all abilities and backgrounds.
Some helpful notes:
Learn more about Godly Play at godlyplayfoundation.org
*Our Sunday School teachers and volunteers receive a thorough and professional background check as well as training in the Episcopal Church's Safeguarding God's Children.
Dear Families of Younger Ones,
At Mount Olivet, our Children's Sunday School follows the Godly Play program. Children have an innate sense of the presence of God. The Godly Play approach helps them to explore their faith through the stories of the Scriptures, to gain religious language, and to enhance their spiritual experience though wonder and play. It is based on Montessori principles.
Our Godly Play storyteller, Valeria, is looking forward to welcoming your children to Godly Play. She and the other folks who assist with Godly Play love the children at Mount Olivet and the children love them! They seek to respect all children. They warmly welcome kids of all abilities and backgrounds.
Some helpful notes:
- The Children start in church with their families for the 9:00am service.
- After the opening hymn and opening collect (prayer), children are dismissed for Sunday School.
- The Godly Play classroom is right off the parish hall next to the church.
- The children will rejoin their families in the church before the Peace (the mid-point in the service) and stay for Communion and the final hymn. We believe communion is important for families to share together.
Learn more about Godly Play at godlyplayfoundation.org
*Our Sunday School teachers and volunteers receive a thorough and professional background check as well as training in the Episcopal Church's Safeguarding God's Children.
Formation for Adults
There are two opportunities for adults to participate in formation during the week:
There are two opportunities for adults to participate in formation during the week:
- Sundays after the service, a group gathers at one of the cafes near the church and discusses the readings and sermon over brunch.
- Thursdays from 12pm-1pm, a group gathers in the parish hall for a Bible study over lunch (BYOL - bring your own lunch)
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Mount Olivet Episcopal Church
530 Pelican Avenue corner of Pelican Avenue and Olivier Street New Orleans, Louisiana 70114 504-366-4650 |