Hello dear friends in Christ,
Here we are in August already and life goes on…Lately, I’ve been listening to the Indigo Girls, and this verse spoke to me: “I’m trying to tell you something ‘bout my life; Maybe give me insight between black and white; And the best thing you ever done for me; Is to help me take my life less seriously; It’s only life after all….” Not only
life – it is life! Life and laughter and love – the 3 Ls. In the midst of sorrow and pain and grief we’re called as followers of the Christ to also live into grace, the grace of life and laughter and love. I know it’s too easy sometimes to fall prey to fear even though our Savior says about a gazillion times “Do Not Be Afraid” and yet as humans living human lives – fear seems to get the better of us. And fear sometimes causes us to behave in ways that we wouldn’t behave if we trusted the Peace that Jesus also offers, as when: “Jesus came and stood among [the disciples] and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you…when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20: 19-22) These beautiful words are a reminder to us, sometimes daily, sometimes hourly, sometimes minute by minute...that Jesus is with us in the midst of our confusion, worry, despair, suffering and yes, fear, breathing his peace upon us, as
asking us to breathe too. I’ve begun to use verses in the bible that speak to me at the moment…trying each day to read or memorize the verse(s) – the verse I’m finding useful right now are the words of Jesus after he cautions the disciples and others, ending with these words “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying
heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” So, I guess – Jesus may be asking us to trust him by following him, leaning on him, handing our burdens over to him. Maybe we can begin a daily practice together and see what
happens…taking time each day to hand our burdens over to God. Some use what is known as a “God Box” and in that box we place our worries, our fears, our loved ones…anything that we’re trying to carry alone so that we’re free to live life more fully, more lovingly, with more serenity. Then eventually we may be willing to describe to others how this practice may be changing our lives. Life goes on and we worship the God of life, the One who longs to offer us fullness of life. Yes, it feels as though there is too much suffering in our world, and yet, healing is always possible. Today may we find the peace Jesus offers us and let delight and wonder and curiosity be your guide as Jesus promises to bear your burdens and create in us a lightness and a joy.
Peace to you all – Pastor Laura
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Olivet is always looking for more ideas for fundraisers. If you have anything to suggest, we are always open to new ideas. You can email us at olivetucc.columbus@gmail.com or give the church office a call at 920-623-5140.
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Ushering and Fellowship sign-up
Thanks to Mina Kenevan our ushering schedule is now out for the upcoming 2026 church year. Each member that signed up to help usher will have 2 or 3 Sundays throughout 2026 to usher. If you do not receive a schedule, there are extra copies on the table in the Narthex. If you would like one mailed to you, please call the church office at 920-623-5140 and we will send one to you.
Thank you to all who volunteered.
Worship and Music Committee
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Help others by donating now
The General Fund of the Wisconsin Conference helps us connect, support and resource pastors, leaders, and congregations. Your gift allows the Conference to provide relevant and timely help.
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"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment or the smallest act of caring - all of which have the potential to turn a life around"- Leo Buscaglia -
Book Study Update
Book Study of The Tears of Things has begun, people are still welcome to join. The final one will be held on August 16. Following Worship. We will be discussing the final chapters primarily chapters 7 &10.
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RaiseRight
RaiseRight is a way you can help raise money through everyday spending. From groceries to gas, you can purchase a gift card through the RaiseRight app that you can spend on whatever you purchased it for. When spending the money through RaiseRight Olivet get a percentage of what you spend differing based on what each card percentage is currently listened. You can sign up at https://www.raiseright.com/ or by downloading the app and using Olivet’s code (Nancy Liverseed).
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Fall Festival is Looking for Help
If you are interested in helping with fall festival you can sign up with the QR code shown in the electronic document version of the newsletter.
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Vacation Bible School
The Ecumenical churches of Columbus are organizing a Vacation Bible School to be held on August 17-21st from 6-7:30 PM. Ages 4K-5th grade. They are looking for volunteers to help during the week. High school students are welcome. Kids can enjoy games, crafts, music, and bible stories. See attached flyer for more info.
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Pastor Laura is searching for:
1. A few young people to assist with Sunday Morning PowerPoint, it would probably require attendance at worship 1 Sunday per month - approximately. Please see/email/text Pastor Laura if you are interested or have any questions about this important ministry.
2. 3 church members to discuss updating Olivet’s vision and mission statements
3. 3 church members to discuss the values of the Olivet congregation
FYI – once the vision, mission and values statements are complete they will be presented to the congregation for review and approval.
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Christian Education Update
Christian Ed is organizing a school supply drive for the school district. We will be getting a list of items they are looking for. There will be a box in the narthex where you can put these items. It will run through August 23rd.
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For those who might be interested in visiting our members who cannot make it to church, please call the church office at 920-623-5140 or contact any Council member. You may also email the church office at olivetucc.columbus@gmail.com.
God Bless,
Darlene Crombie, Moderator
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Community Meal
Our next Community Meal will be held at Olivet on Thursday, August 13th, beginning at 4:30 pm until 6:00 pm.
Methodist Church will host their community meal on Thursday, August 27th from 5 pm to 6:30 pm.
The community meals are for everyone in the community that would like to join us for some fellowship and a great meal together. All are welcome.
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Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary to all who are celebrating this month!
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Join us in planning Annual Meeting 2027
Planning is underway for the 2027 Annual Meeting of the Wisconsin Conference, and we would love to have your help. We're looking for creative volunteers who enjoy working in a team setting to serve on the Annual Meeting Planning Committee. It’s a chance to help shape the theme, worship services, and workshops at Annual Meeting to ensure the best possible experience for attendees. Planning Committee members will meet online once a month from August through January. Take it from us: It’s a deeply satisfying way to share your gifts with the wider Wisconsin Conference. Interested? To learn more and sign up, email Jaime Craig by Aug. 15
ICYMI: Registration opens for online confirmation program
Registration is now open for the 2026-2027 Living Faith online confirmation program designed for eighth graders in Wisconsin and Minnesota UCC churches. Living Faith, offered by the Damascus Project, is tailored to small and rural congregations that can’t support a confirmation program on their own. You can learn more about it at one of two virtual information sessions hosted by Living Faith’s director, the Rev. Uriah Williams. Sessions will take place at 6 p.m. on July 22 and 26. Two Living Faith cohorts will meet twice monthly beginning in September. Questions? Email Uriah.
Register for the Living Faith program.
Join one of the information sessions.
Clergy retreat to explore wellness
Living Well, Leading Well is the theme of this fall’s clergy retreat, which has the goal of nurturing the whole person in ministry. The retreat will take place from 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct.11, through 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, at Daycholah Center. Through workshops, guided reflection, and time for rest and renewal, participants will explore practices that support mental, spiritual, physical, and financial wellness so clergy can continue to lead with resilience, joy, and purpose. Featured presenters will be the Rev. Dr. Sarah Griffith Lund, UCC minister for disabilities and mental health justice, and the Rev. Dr. Paul Leon Ramsey, pastor director for church relations and philanthropy for the Pension Boards of the United Church of Christ.
Reminders
Registration is open for 2026-2027 Communities of Practice.
Register here for a clergy group and here for a Christian ed/faith formation group
The monthly meeting of the Palestine Justice Working Group will take place on Zoom at 7 p.m. Monday, July 27...Wisconsin Conference This Week is on a summer publishing schedule. Our next issue will reach your mailboxes on Aug. 3.
Damascus Project to launch lay faith formation cohort
Are you a lay person in the Wisconsin Conference? Do you want to deepen your faith and expand your knowledge of the Bible? If you answered yes, the Damascus Project has something just for you: It’s the Rooted and Growing in Faith Spiritual Formation Cohort, scheduled to launch in late August. Learners will explore theology and gain practical skills for lay ministry, all in a spiritual community of like-minded people from the Conference. The cohort will combine retreat-based spiritual formation, online learning, and monthly group spiritual direction over an 18-month period. The cohort will kick off with an Opening Retreat set for Aug. 28-29 at Daycholah Center. Questions? Email the Rev. Stephanie Perdew, director of the Damascus Project. Read more about Rooted and Growing in Faith.
Receiving the Newsletter – Get It Your Way
The majority of newsletters, however, will be sent electronically to members and friends for whom we have correct email addresses. And the third means of distribution is to pick up a copy from the info table in the narthex.
Please contact the church office should you wish to change the manner in which you receive this valuable monthly document, or to update any of your contact information. If you have not received the newsletter at all, let the office know that too. We want you to be informed so you can participate in the goings-on at Olivet.
New Email Address for Olivet
Please note that Olivet has a new email address: olivetucc.columbus@gmail.com
Our email account was hacked, and the only option was to open a new account for us. Please update your contact information for Olivet UCC.
Stay informed
Contact Information
We are always striving to keep our records current at Olivet. If you have a new address, phone number or email please let us know by giving us a call at 920-623-5140 or email us at:
olivetucc.columbus@gmail.com. Thank you for your help with this!
Messages on the Outdoor Sign
Are you watching the messages on the outdoor sign? They change about weekly. If you walk near the sign, you will see a number of “ministry rocks.” They are for the taking, if you wish. You might have fun placing them around town to be found by others as sort of a fun surprise.
News from Our Quilters
Like clockwork each second & fourth Wednesday mornings our ladies can be found laying out color schemes for quilts, tying them, sorting fabric and cutting squares (the sewing takes place in their homes). It is a beehive of activity in the fellowship hall. We would love to have you come - No experience necessary!
We are also in need of blankets and batting for the inside of our quilts and flat sheets for the back.
Olivet now features E-Giving; an online service to allow you to make your donations in a secure way that also helps you track your donations over the year. Please see our E-Giving page on this website.
Catalyst funds help get River Falls tiny-house project off the ground
What’s the best way to attack the housing crisis? In River Falls, it’s one tiny house at a time in an initiative called Wellspring Village. The project was hatched by a collaborative of six congregations, including First Congregational UCC of River Falls, which received a $5,000 Catalyst Grant from the Wisconsin Conference that will go toward construction of one tiny house. River Falls is a 45-minute drive from the Twin Cities, and housing prices are out
of reach for many, Pastor Chris Myers said. The goal of the project is to provide tiny-house guests a bridge to long-term sustainable housing.
Small Church Working Group to tackle legacy planning
If you’re a pastor, lay leader or member of a church that’s on the smaller side – say your worship attendance is 20 or 30 people a week – check out the meeting of the Small Church Working Group. The group meets by Zoom from 6:30 to7:30 p.m. on the third Monday of every month. The discussion will center on the legacy process and how leaders can help congregations interested in exploring where they might be in their life cycle. It’s a great forum for discussing best practices and for celebrating the joys and navigating the challenges of small church life. Register Here
Clergy retreat to explore wellness
Living Well, Leading Well is the theme of this fall’s clergy retreat, which has the goal of nurturing the whole person in ministry. The retreat will take place from 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct.11, through 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, at Daycholah Center. Through workshops, guided reflection, and time for rest and renewal, participants will explore practices that support mental, spiritual, physical, and financial wellness so clergy can continue to lead with resilience, joy, and purpose. Featured presenters will be the Rev. Dr. Sarah Griffith Lund, UCC minister for disabilities and mental health justice, and the Rev. Dr. Paul Leon Ramsey, pastor director for church relations and philanthropy for the Pension Boards of the United Church of Christ.
Reminders
Registration is open for 2026-2027 Communities of Practice.
Register here for a clergy group and here for a Christian ed/faith formation group
The monthly meeting of the Palestine Justice Working Group will take place on Zoom at 7 p.m. Monday, July 27...Wisconsin Conference This Week is on a summer publishing schedule. Our next issue will reach your mailboxes on Aug. 3.
Damascus Project to launch lay faith formation cohort
Are you a lay person in the Wisconsin Conference? Do you want to deepen your faith and expand your knowledge of the Bible? If you answered yes, the Damascus Project has something just for you: It’s the Rooted and Growing in Faith Spiritual Formation Cohort, scheduled to launch in late August. Learners will explore theology and gain practical skills for lay ministry, all in a spiritual community of like-minded people from the Conference. The cohort will combine retreat-based spiritual formation, online learning, and monthly group spiritual direction over an 18-month period. The cohort will kick off with an Opening Retreat set for Aug. 28-29 at Daycholah Center. Questions? Email the Rev. Stephanie Perdew, director of the Damascus Project. Read more about Rooted and Growing in Faith.
Conference launches appeal for earthquake relief
The Wisconsin Conference is now accepting donations to support the relief effort in Venezuela, where the death toll from twin earthquakes on June 24 has surpassed 4,700, and thousands more people have been injured and left homeless. News reports citing estimates by the United Nations and other international organizations say anywhere from 10,000 to 50,000people are still unaccounted for. Donations to the Conference reliefeffort will be forwarded to Church World Service.
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