Announcements
Worship
Christmas Eve Worship
Join us for Christmas Eve at Mount Olivet!
Family Worship at 3:30 pm and 5:00 pm in the Sanctuary
No need to worry about wiggle worms here! These are interactive family-friendly services that are sure to engage all ages.
Traditional Worship at 6:30 in the Sanctuary
A classic Christmas Eve service complete with the Mount Olivet Choir, Silent Night by candlelight, and communion.
The Way Modern Worship at 8:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall
A modern, laid-back Christmas Eve service with incredible music and a cozy atmosphere. This is a family-friendly service that will engage all ages!
Festival of Lessons & Carols
During our regularly scheduled traditional worship service on December 14 at 9:15 am, the Mount Olivet Choir and Children’s Choirs will present their annual Festival of Lessons and Carols. The service will include all your favorite traditional carols and MORE! There will be ample opportunity for congregational singing so you can lift your voice in the joy of the season. The children will remain in worship and play Advent bingo. Please plan to arrive early; seats will fill quickly! All are welcome.
Advent & Christmas
Advent Offerings 2025
Make a difference for neighbors in need with a generous donation to the Mount Olivet Advent Offering. This year, three recipient organizations have been selected by the Outreach Committee that serve immigrant newcomers during these challenging times.
Just Neighbors
Just Neighbors is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving and supporting the immigrant community of D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. They provide high-quality immigration legal services to low-income immigrants, asylees and refugees and build community among clients, staff, volunteers and the larger society through education, advocacy, and volunteerism. Learn More
Arlington Free Clinic
Established in 1994, Arlington Free Clinic (AFC) continues to be Arlington’s only provider of comprehensive healthcare services for adults living with a low income and without health insurance. Every year, with the help of over 300 volunteers and 45 full/part-time staff, AFC provides access to comprehensive patient-centered services to over 1,600 of our community’s most vulnerable residents. Learn More
NOVA Friends of Refugees (NFOR)
NFOR is the joint refugee ministry of Mount Olivet and St. George’s Episcopal Church. Now a network of over 1,520 members across the DMV and beyond, NFOR has established an emergency fund to help meet urgent needs of recently arriving refugees and asylees when other sources of aid have ended. Your support of the Advent Offering may help them pay for next month’s rent, groceries, a car repair, driving to English classes, school supplies or a doctor visit. Recently, we organized volunteers to drive a young Afghan widow to her chemo appointments. NFOR’s focus:
- Daily Essentials and Transportation Assistance
- Pathways for Integration
- Community Building and Advocacy
Scout Troop 167 Annual Christmas Tree and Wreath Sale
Mount Olivet UMC and its members have strongly supported the troop’s Christmas sales over the years, the proceeds of which support activities for the troop's boys and girls. Fraser Fir Trees and holiday wreaths will be available. Reserve your tree/wreath now as supplies are limited. Reserve Your Tree Now. Delivery is available!
The sales stand at Mount Olivet will be open December 6-7, 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM (while supplies last).
Cupcakes for Jesus
Our tradition at Mount Olivet is to give each child a cupcake to take home after the Christmas Eve family services, so they can sing happy birthday to Jesus! Please provide individually wrapped cupcakes with a small candle included. We have available freezer space if you would like to make them in advance.
Staff Love Gift
Your Gifts for Their Gifts! One of the easiest and most meaningful items on your Christmas Shopping list is the “Love Gift” for our Mount Olivet pastors and staff. Each year we express appreciation for their gifts, talents and tireless service by making financial contributions during Advent for this special fund. It is given to show that we recognize all that they do throughout the year for our community. So, give generously and note on your check that this is for the 2025 Love Gift. You can use the offering envelopes in the pew rack on Sundays or give online at mountolivetumc.com/giving.
Adult Advent Study
All are invited to join a 4-week (December 4, 11, 18 & 22 at 7:15 pm) zoom discussion series on Kate Bowler’s book, The Weary World Rejoices, a free resource which includes a daily devotional guide and a weekly group guide. Download both at https://katebowler.com/advent/
Christmas Tea
Join us this Saturday, December 6th at 2 PM in the Fellowship Hall, as we welcome in the holiday season with our annual Mount Olivet Christmas Tea. United Women in Faith are again pleased to host this much beloved yuletide event. Everyone is invited. What a perfect time to share a holiday outing. We hope our entire church family will join us to kick off this most joyous month in the church calendar. Reverend Janine Howard will share an inspirational message for the season. Cookies, punch, tea, and Christmas carols await.
Supper & Service + Christmas Cookies for Community Assistance
Cookie Drop-Off Deadline, Monday, December 8
Mount Olivet bakers, fire up your mixers! It’s time to make Christmas cookies for our Community Assistance guests. With over 400 families, we will need thousands of cookies, but we have freezer space available, so you can start baking anytime. Place your cookies in a large ziplock bag labeled “December Community Assistance” and the number of cookies in the bag, then drop them off in the kitchen on Sundays. No nuts or icing please. Cookie questions? Contact Kim Mullin.
Supper & Service
Join us to pack cookies for Community Assistance in festive bags at Supper & Service on Wednesday, December 10 from 6-7 PM in the Youth Area. Each Community Assistance family gets a bag with a dozen assorted cookies. We will begin with supper followed by the service activity. We had over 450 guests at Community Assistance in November so we will need lots of hands to pack cookies. Contact Linnea at lcarlson@mtolivet-umc.org with any questions.
Live Nativity (Not on Christmas Eve)
Sunday, December 21 at 5 and 5:30 PM! Invite family, friends, and neighbors for the Live Nativity on the Green with live animals – including a camel – and a real baby! Start your Christmas week with the Christmas story and hear about the true meaning of Christmas at this beloved tradition. Join the angels singing on high during interactive carol singing. Hot chocolate makes this event great for children and families of all ages. Rain or shine. ALL are welcome!
Community
Handbell Concert at Walker Chapel
Join our friends at Walker Chapel (4102 N. Glebe Road) for a special evening of Handbell Music on Sunday, December 7, 4 PM. Experience the magic of the holiday season with a handbell concert performed by the talented musicians of Bronze Unlimited! This concert is part of Walker Chapel’s Music for Good concert series. Each concert features music and a greater purpose. These concerts bring together musicians and neighbors. The concert is free and open to all in the community. We can't wait to see you there!
Volunteer with Community Assistance
It’s time to volunteer for Community Assistance. Our next event will be Saturday, December 13. Please volunteer to help our neighbors in need receive some much-needed help with food and gift cards. Slots to volunteer are available from 8 AM through 12:45 PM. Sign up on the SignupGenius.
You can make a financial contribution to Community Assistance, at mountolivetumc.com/giving and indicate Community Assistance. Thanks for your continued support of our Community Assistance Ministry.
With the support of great volunteers and generous donors, last month (November) we helped:
479 families
1,559 individuals in those households
492 children in those households
384 people age 60+ in those households
Caretakers of God's Creation
How many ways can you find in this 2023 list of sustainable Christmas tips to make your own holidays greener? At a minimum we can probably all break down shipping boxes and recycle them at home or drop them at a recycling center such as Quincy Park on your way to or from church.
Racial Equity Resources
Virginia has two land grant universities initially funded through the Morrill Acts' mechanism of the sale of tribal land in the west. Virginia Tech did not admit its first Black undergraduate until 1953 and did not permit his participation in campus life, in contrast to foreign students decades earlier who were able to fully engage in college activities. Learn more about the founding of Virginia Tech, its desegregation, and its 21st century efforts to acknowledge its past.
Stewardship 2026
As we look ahead to a new year, we invite you to prayerfully consider what "Why Church" means to you. Please consider how you can financially support our church and submit your Pledge card for 2026. You can place your pledge card in the offering plate on Sundays, mail it to the church or submit online.
Christmas for Others
This Christmas our church will be delivering gifts to 29 children in the nearby community. They have been selected by the Glebe Elementary School and would otherwise not have gifts under their tree. Please use the link to Sign Up Genius and choose up to two (2) gift numbers. Wrap (with gift receipt) and LABEL with the GIFT NUMBER, RECIPIENT AND DESCRIPTION OF CONTENTS as listed on the signup. We ask that all gifts be delivered to the church NO LATER THAN SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14. Collection bins are located in the Gathering Spaces upstairs and downstairs. Thank you for your generosity.
Furlough Loans
The Northern Virginia District of the UMC has agreed to release up to $1 million in no-interest, short-term loans to active United Methodists who are federal workers, and whose pay has been deferred under the federal government shutdown. See attached letter from our District Superintendent Kirk Nave and loan application. Learn More and Apply
Food Drive
During this difficult time for many of our neighbors, help put food on their tables by donating canned goods. Place your items in the basket in the Preschool Lobby on Sunday or leave in the bin on the 16th Street porch (entrance door #1). The following low sugar and low sodium items are needed:
- Canned fruits
- Canned tuna
- Canned soups
- Canned vegetables
- Canned tomatoes
- Peanut butter (in plastic jars)
- Cereal
Contact Linnea Carlson with any questions.
Adults
Adult Advent Study
All are invited to join a 4-week (December 4, 11, 18 & 22 at 7:15 pm) zoom discussion series on Kate Bowler’s book, The Weary World Rejoices, a free resource which includes a daily devotional guide and a weekly group guide. Download both at https://katebowler.com/advent/
Children & Families
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Potluck and Playdate
Our next Potluck and Playdate is this Friday, December 5 from 5:30 – 7:30 PM at the home of one of our church members. Everyone is welcome! This is a chance to bring the kids, have dinner, meet some new folks and relax. There will be activities for the kids. Sign up to bring a dish for the dinner. Once we receive your sign up, you will receive the host's address. Contact Linnea with any questions!
Youth
Youth News
The next Sunday evening Youth Gathering will be on December 7 for a holiday party. No other youth group gatherings on Sunday evenings in December.
Youth Play
We are opening up a couple of smaller roles to fifth graders as well as one adult role this year. Auditions will be held on December 7 after the 11:15 AM worship service in the Youth Area.
Youth Choir
Our fall youth choir concert has been rescheduled from November 23 to December 14 at 6 PM in the Fellowship Hall. All are invited!
Youth Mission Trip
Sign-ups are live for our July 2026 mission trip with Appalachia Service Project. The deadline for sign-ups is November 30. Sign Up Now
Payment Options:
You can either pay the $375 (price-per-volunteer) in full or in installments.
Installment Schedule
$50 due by November 30, 2025
$175 due March 1, 2026
$150 due June 28, 2026
https://www.mountolivetumc.com/giving
Select 'One-Time'
Fund: Youth
Sub-Fund: Youth Missions Trip
Please leave a note specifying who you're paying for
Fire
Fire Update
Progress continues toward finalizing our fire side restoration. We are working closely with our contractor to schedule our last remaining county inspections and work through our punch list. We have encountered a delay with additional modifications needed to our fire alarm system, which is being addressed.
Installation of office furniture and Gathering Space furniture is complete (sneak peek in pics below) and other furnishings are expected to be delivered and installed in the next several weeks.
As a reminder, until the restoration project is finished, we continue to be limited to the sanctuary, preschool, youth area, fellowship hall and L-8 and L-9. Staff continue to work at home. We thank you for your patience as we move through the restoration and remain grateful for your continued support and prayers.
