The Parking Lot Study Committee has issued its quarterly report to the congregation consistent with the motions passed at the May 21, 2022 Mount Olivet Church Conference. This status report is for the quarter ending September 30, 2022.  The committee is now referred to as the Parking Lot Study Committee to better reflect the nature of their work. The report can be found here.

As we wrap up Hispanic Heritage Month, we will learn about some members of the Latinx community who have made significant contributions to American life but whose names may not generally be known. View Resources

Suggestions that we should move to renewable energy sources are often met with arguments about what would happen in a worst-case scenario. The devastation caused by Hurricane Ian, as terrible as it has been, provided a real world look at sustainability. Babcock Ranch, about 12 miles from Fort Myers, was built as a sustainable town exclusively powered by solar. They maintained their water, electricity and internet despite the winds and surge. 

On October 6 at 7:30 PM, Waycroft Woodlawn Civic Association along with County Board members will have a meeting at Mount Olivet in Fellowship Hall. The agenda will cover Missing Middle Housing, Stormwater, making Washington Blvd a county roadway and the site plan for the Holiday Inn on North Fairfax Drive. All are invited!

Get your bike ready to ride to church! This is perfect biking weather for Bike to Church day on October 9! Caretakers of God’s Creation will have folks to watch your bikes while you attend worship and Sunday School from 8:15 AM to 12:15 PM. Electric bikes and scooters are welcome, too. We will also have materials from Bike Arlington at the table.

Weekly Wednesday Night Dinners are back! Our good friends at La Cocina will be preparing all of our favorites. We are so excited to begin this ministry again and look forward to seeing you!

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Cost: Adults $8 | Children $5 | Families $25

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So that we can prepare a place for you, reservations and payments will be open through the Sunday.  

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October 12 Menu
Beef Tacos (3)
Beans
Pico de gallo

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‍Kids Menu
Mini Tacos (2)
Sour Cream
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Join the Mount Olivet team to help fight hunger in the annual Arlington CROP Hunger Walk. Sign up on the CROP Walk webpage. Then find friends and family to sponsor your walk to help support Arlington Food Assistance Center and global food programs supported by Church World Service. Let’s get walking! In 2022, we’re walking to continue to fight against disease, disaster, displacement and other challenges that leave people hungry.

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The need is especially great this year. With prices skyrocketing, food pantries are struggling to keep up with increased demand. Last year, Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) provided more than 3 million pounds of food to 5,583 families. Worldwide, the number of displaced people has surpassed 100 million for the first time. Millions of refugees fled Ukraine and Afghanistan. Hunger and food shortages are growing.

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Join with us to help neighbors near and far get the meals they need for today and sustainable food security for tomorrow! 75% of the funds we raise support food programs around the world. 25% helps feed hungry people here in Arlington through AFAC. This year, we return to an in-person Walk on a 6K route. It is estimated that women and girls in developing countries walk an average of 6 miles to get and carry water. Let’s reflect on this as we walk together in the 44th Arlington CROP Hunger Walk.

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Contact Kenn Speicher if you have any questions.

It's that time of year and Mount Olivet's Fall Clean-up Day is scheduled for Saturday, October 22 from 8:30 am to about noon. All our projects will be outdoors, consisting mostly of cutting back bushes, trees, & vines, digging out weeds, mulching walkways, and raking and bagging leaves. We are blessed with a big, beautiful property, so there will be plenty to do. And it's fun when we do it together! The Scouts will join us again. A preliminary list of projects is attached. 

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Contact Ann Speicher if you can participate and a list of specific projects.

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Some helpful details to provide:

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1. If you can participate on October 22 (including family members and friends)

2. If you have a preferred type of project

3. What yard tools you might bring

4. If you know how to repair the section of parking lot asphalt at the bottom of the walkway

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The yard tools we'll need include: leaf and bow rakes, trowels, weed eaters, loppers, clippers, pruning poles, pruning hand clippers, shovels, and wheelbarrows (to haul mulch and leaf bags). 

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Before hurricane season, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) prepares to deploy flood buckets to vulnerable people affected by storms. As UMCOR prepares the meet the needs of the 2022 hurricane season, its supply of flood buckets is at a critically low level.

Flood buckets offer critical support to families in crisis – providing them with basic cleaning supplies to begin to muck out their houses and stop the spread of mold.

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Because Mount Olivet is committed to the mission and ministry of UMCOR, we are committed to helping stock UMCOR's warehouse ahead of hurricane season by filling buckets and collecting buckets from neighboring churches.

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How can you help?

1. Donate the cost of a flood bucket. The cost of each bucket is $78. You can donate below.

2. Sign up to fill a bucket on October 23. This is the PERFECT activity for a family.

3. Volunteer a few hours to receive buckets dropped off at Mount Olivet by neighboring churches.

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Sign-Up to volunteer here.

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The generosity of Mount Olivet will ensure those affected by the impact of the 2022 hurricane season can quickly get back on their feet.

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The education working group of the Racial Equity Team is pleased to announce the appearance of Ms. Whytni Kernodle, president of the Black Parents of Arlington and CEO of Arlington Independent Media. She will address a virtual meeting of the Racial Equity Team and the Mount Olivet community on Monday, October 24 at 7 PM.

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She is an attorney in private practice in Arlington and well known within the racial justice community. She will discuss the recent findings from the Arlington Public Schools assessment conducted by the Black Parents group and describe the strategies and actions that have been established to address racial inequities in our local schools.

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Please RSVP below to receive a link to the Zoom meeting.

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Contact: Monte Campbell | montecampbell@earthlink.net

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Did you know that buried in our cemetery are the unmarked graves of Union soldiers who died when Mount Olivet was commandeered and used as a hospital by retreating Federal troops from the First Battle of Manassas. Also found inside the gate is the grave of an early church trustee who rode with JEB Stuart at Gettysburg. Step inside the gate to find the grave of Lemuel Marcey, a local constable,  who lead the Good Citizen League posse that broke up the saloons and brothels in what is today Rosslyn. And lying beside her sister, is Sue Landon Vaughn, one of the women who it is thought helped establish Decoration Day.

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We hope everyone in the congregation – children and adults – will find that a visit to our cemetery provides an opportunity to pause and reflect on the rich history of our church, the perseverance of our forefathers and the natural beauty of this historic piece of land. We think of our cemetery as a museum without walls that offers a glimpse into the lives and challenges of those who came before.

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Come and be guided by costumed members of the history team on Sunday, October 30, before or after worship to learn more.  

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Let us know you are coming so we may be sure to have enough hot cider.

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