Adults

Mount Olivet’s Senior Adult Book Group meets via Zoom at 10 AM on the first Wednesday of each month. Books the group will discuss next are: 

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12/2/2026
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

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1/6/2027
A Christmas Memory, One Christmas, and The Thanksgiving Visitor by Truman Capote

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If you would like to participate in the book group discussions, please contact Jim Dake.

Join us for an evening of contemporary worship music, guided reflection, and prayer in the Fellowship Hall. The gathering will include a brief personal reflection from Rev. Dr. Jo Dietz on her work with community groups. Through music, reflection, and prayer, we will explore themes of belonging, trusting God, and extending Christ’s love to all. Whether you are looking to connect with others, seeking a moment of peace, or hoping to deepen your sense of community, you are welcome to come as you are and share in this time of connection and spiritual reflection.

Better Together is a group of Mount Olivet folks who are concerned for our democracy and the civil rights of all. We meet occasionally after church and share information on ways to contribute to the cause. If you are interested, contact Holly Fletcher at 703-855-2547 or email holly_berkley@yahoo.com. 

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Ongoing: 

The Trump administration has cancelled Temporary Protective Status for Haitian and other refugees, changing their status to undocumented overnight, denying them the ability to legally work, and making them subject to deportation to countries that are still dangerous to and to which they may have no enduring ties. Please contact your Senators and Representative to demand the White House restore TPS. 

• An easy way to email all your representatives at once is at https://democracy.io/

Freedom Vigil: Chantilly ICE Processing Center, Sundays, 4-5 pm. ICE’s Washington Field Office

14797 Murdock St, Chantilly. 

Bridge Brigades, weekly protests on overpasses. 

• Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4-5:30 pm, 1644 N Lincoln St, Arlington

• Wednesdays, 12-1:30 pm. 1006 N George Mason Dr, Arlington 

• Sundays, 3-4:30 pm. 2100 21st St N, Arlington 

Indivisible weekly zoom, Fridays, noon. 

Indivisible Arlington, weekly rally, Saturdays, 2-4 pm, 2710 S Glebe Rd., Arlington

If you want to support partisan campaigns, there are plenty of opportunities on http://www.mobilize.us and at campaign websites. You can also sign up to write postcards to voters here: https://postcardstovoters.org/ or https://www.signsofjustice.com

It is hardly a secret that the last few years at Mount Olivet have brought many opportunities for resilience. We have recovered from a fire. We have made many changes and upgrades to our property. We have rejuvenated Community Assistance. Our clergy team and staff have seen changes, bidding farewell to some and welcoming new.

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Our UMC denomination has weathered the sorrow of schism, while Mount Olivet has remained a place of inclusivity and welcome.

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Throughout these shifts, our Mount Olivet community has responded with grace, hospitality, creativity, and flexibility.

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It is time to refresh our strategic plan which was completed in 2017.

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We begin our next season together with a time of dreaming, visioning, and planning that will allow us all to be proactive rather than reactive. And to be all God is calling us to be.

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With Council approval, a small team: Rudy Barnes, Jim Coates, Cindy Huber, Pastor Sara Keeling, Didi Kumalo, Kevin Togashi is in consultation with Rev. Dr. Jason Stanley of the Virginia Conference office on discerning a visioning and strategic planning process. We will begin this work late summer and through the fall to help focus our ministry and mission for the next few years.

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While there will be ample opportunities for congregational feedback and participation, our first step is very simple. We are beginning this process not with our own opinions and ideas and hopes, but by listening to God.

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We will begin with prayer.

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We are inviting all of the congregation to find a time each day for the month of July to pray the prayer that you’ll find below. This is a prayer that we have crafted inviting us to listen, to center down, to welcome God’s Spirit.

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Holy Spirit, quiet our hearts

   to hear Your voice.

Hold us in Your love,

   so that all are welcomed and valued.

Guide our discernment

   and shape our plans with compassion and courage.

Light a fire within us

   that renews and unites our church for joyful service.

Send us out in the light of Christ 

   to follow faithfully wherever You lead.

Amen.

As a reminder, Mount Olivet is a secure building and the building is locked at all times. Church office hours (when you can meet with staff/clergy or need access to the building) are Tuesday-Friday from 9 AM – 2 PM, no office hours on Monday. Staff/clergy will continue to work flexible hours and have other meetings and appointments, so it is best to make an appointment as needed. You can email an individual staff member or clergy or call the church office at 571-447-3619.

A few years ago we were introduced to the Black women who were instrumental in the success of the US space program. Native American History Month is a fitting opportunity to learn about the Cherokee woman whose contributions to the defense and space industries have similarly been overlooked.

Every year there is a UN conference of the parties who signed the 1992 Framework Convention on Climate Change. This year’s COP is the 31st and Methodists will be there, not as official participants but with other faith leaders to remind negotiators that “the need for climate action . . . is a humanitarian and ethical imperative of the highest order.” Learn more about what our global church is doing in this and other areas in the November Creation Justice newsletter.  November 2026 Newsletter