Greetings Dear Friends,
Well, here we are in the season of “ordinary time”, according to our church “year” anyway. Yet, it’s anything but ordinary - if we think of ordinary as the familiar, routine or every day. As most of you know and many have experienced the ordinary has pretty much been thrown out the window. Not much seems familiar, routine or every day. And according to the Author Richard Rohr, in his latest book “The Tears of Things” it’s not supposed to. Now granted when there’s too much change and chaos, it takes a while for us to get our bearings and mostly we just want things to go back to what they were. But according to Richard Rohr - God is all about the shake up. Ugh! And of course there’s nothing ordinary about that. Or is there? The stories we hear and will hear during this ordinary time are many of the familiar stories we’ve heard over and over again as we continue on our journey of faith. Stories like the visitors to Abraham and Sarah who pronounce that Sarah will have a baby in her old age, stories like the banishment of Hagar and Ishmael to the wilderness, stories like the sacrifice of Isaac – the everyday, ordinary stories of our faith. So, what do we do with these stories in this ordinary time that doesn’t feel ordinary?
We lean on them, we let them teach us, we wonder about what they mean to us now so many thousands of years later? Yes, life is not the same as it was thousands of years ago when these stories were first told, but they still have something to teach us today.
Things like trust, patience, hope, fearlessness, and the realities of simply being human. Ordinary humans that’s who we are and that’s who our ancestors of the faith were…..ordinary people who did extraordinary things. They were far from perfect, as the stories of Abraham teach us, but God doesn’t expect our perfection, God expects our trust in the one who loves us unconditionally. In her book “Ordinary Times” the author Nancy Mairs takes the reader through the ordinary times in her life and she writes in the introit “Nothing here will lift us out of this world; on the contrary, I hope that you will plunge, as I have done ever deeper into earthly existence, where we are needed. This is just life I’m writing about, after all, life outside the seasons of fast and feast – Advent and Christmas, Lent and Easter – and into, Ordinary Time.” So in this ordinary time when nothing feels ordinary, lets use our life to ground us in the ordinary because that’s really where God is most present in the day-to-day joys and sufferings of being human.
U R Loved, 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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"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 -
JOIN US FOR THE PIE/DESSERT AUCTION!
When - July 19, 2026 – 10 AM
What - Ice Cream will be served…
See you there!
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Adult Bible Study
You are invited to join us on the first Sunday of the month, at 10 am for our Adult Bible Study. All are welcome.
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Vacation Bible School
The Ecumenical churches of Columbus are organizing a Vacation Bible School to be held on August 17th-21st, More details will be coming but they are looking for volunteers to help during the week. High school students are welcome.
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Book Study Update
Book Study of The Tears of Things has begun, people are still welcome to join. The next one will be held on June 28th. We will be discussing chapters 3 and 4.
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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, July 9th, beginning at 4:30 pm until 6:00 pm.
Methodist Church will host their community meal on Thursday, July 23rd 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.
We are always looking for extra hands to help with the meals as well. Hope to see you there!
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Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary to all who are celebrating this month!
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Church Council Ongoing Activities
Endowment Committee Update
Thank you for your continued support and prayers for Olivet. If you have any questions or concerns during this transitional time, please don’t hesitate to contact the church office or any council member.
God Bless,
Olivet Church Council
Our finance department now has a new email: finance@olivetucc.gmail.com. Please feel free to email us for finance inquiries.
Columbus/Fall River Food Pantry - New Scheduling Information
Effective since January 1, 2025, the Columbus Fall River Food Pantry will have a new phone number for scheduling an appointment. The new number is 608-893-3079. Please leave a message if there is no answer. The messages will be checked daily by the church that is hosting for that month. The food pantry is open on Thursdays from 4:00 pm to 6:45 pm. It is in the back of the Columbus Community Center, 125 N. Dickason Blvd., Columbus.
Thank you to the following churches for serving: Connection Church-Pastor Jamie Turner, St. Jerom Jim Leeser, Faith Lutheran Church-Pastor Andrew Perger, Olivet Congregational UCC-Pastor Sandy Schieble (Interim Pastor), Zion Lutheran Church-Pastor Tim Schwartz, First Presbyterian Church, Columbus United Methodist Church-Rev. Sang Wook Park, Columbus Community Church of the Nazarene-Pastor Chris Baker, and Wisconsin Academy-Pastor Jonathon Fetrick.
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.
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.
As a reminder
We had some trouble with our church being unlocked with the lights on after worship. It is mostly a case of our not knowing if someone else is in the building and not wanting to disrupt them. With a multi-story building that can easily happen. However, we all need to be vigilant about locking up. Lights left burning cost us $$.
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.
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.
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