Praying this finds you and your families doing well. I'm in Chicago this week, moving Hayley back to (hopefully) finish Pastry School! I'm having some extra time while she's back in class to do some reading and reflecting.

The Peacemakers:

This article from the Source4Parents is a really great one for reminding us how to be talking with our kids about becoming Peacemakers. Take some time this week to read

https://thesource4parents.com/parenting-help/talking-with-your-kids-about-difficult-news/

Girls Virtual Bible Study:

Starting on Sunday, July 12th at 7:00 pm we will start a virtual girls bible study using Zoom. It's a Right Now Media study titled, "What the Women Saw" I just finished this study and it was so good that I thought our girls would love it too. It will be 6 weeks long and include a video teaching and discussion afterwards. Please pre-register here so we know who's coming:

http://z.umn.edu/SrYouthGirls

Welcome Alex!

As I type, Alex is making his way to MN after spending some time with family and friends. His official start date as our Director of Christian Education is Monday, July 6th. He and I will have some time to meet and talk about all of your wonderful youth and our programs at Mt. Olive. Join us next Wednesday, July 8th at 7:00, for a Zoom meeting to welcome Alex! We'll send those details out next week!

Alex Irwin will be installed as our DCE on Sunday, July 12th at 9:30 am. Join us for worship in person or online to celebrate Alex! A full congregation celebration and welcome will be planned later in the year.

Welcome to our Incoming 9th graders:

In a normal youth year, our 8th graders would have been confirmed and then transitioned their way to Senior Youth by means of a welcome night on a Wednesday. They haven't been confirmed, but are working on finishing their lessons this summer and will hopefully be confirmed this fall officially.

We are welcoming them here-to this space and to all the information included in this email!

So welcome to: Megan, Makeala, Annabelle, Kyle, Jacob, Erin, Nyandit, Marissa, and Taylor! We pray blessings over each of you as you finish Confirmation and we're so excited to have you join us in Senior Youth this year!

Lastly, stay informed with the most up to date information about church and all that's happening at https://www.mtolive-anoka.org/

Blessings,

Penny Walsh

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth" 3 John 1:4