Mt. Olive Ev. Lutheran Church

A Praying Church

1460 Almond Avenue

St. Paul, Minnesota 55108

651.645.2575

www.mtolive-wels.net

Carl R. Henkel, pastor

651.631.8625

carl.henkel@juno.com

The Third Sunday of Easter

April 22, 2007 9:00am

Thank You for sharing this time of worship with us. We're glad you're here! Please sign the Friendship Register. Do come again! If you do not have a local church home, we invite you to make your home with us. Here you will find Christian love, opportunities for spiritual growth, warm friendships, and a feeling of being part of the family of God.

Assisting Us In Worship This Morning

Josh & Becky Fulwider and Don & Ann Karpenko, greeters

Kevin Marschel, head usher

Nicole Burkhardt, organ & Clavinova

We Gather To Worship The Lord

Order of Service: Service of the Word, page 38 in front of the hymnal

Hymns: 153 142 143 167

Message: Acts 9:11

“…For He Is Praying”

THE FIRST LESSON: Acts 9:1-19

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?" "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," He replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone.

Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered. The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight." "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name."

But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for My name."

Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord-- Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here-- has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

THE SECOND LESSON: Revelation 5:11-14

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.

THE GOSPEL LESSON: John 21:1-14

Afterward Jesus appeared again to His disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. "I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?" "No," they answered. He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught." Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask Him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.

This was now the third time Jesus appeared to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.

This Week At Mt. Olive

Today: 8:45am Prayer Time in the Fireside Room

9:00am Family Worship

10:00am Fellowship Hour

10:30am Education Hour (Antigua Presentation)

Monday: 11:30am Mt. Olive Worship Service on Cable Channel 14

4:00pm “Cross-Eyed Warriors” Bible Study

5:30pm Confirmation Class

6:30pm Mt. Olive Worship Service on Cable Channel 14

7:00pm “Beautiful Feet” Bible Study

Tuesday: Newsletter Articles are Due

7:00pm Senior Choir Rehearsal

7:00pm “More Than Rubies” Women’s Bible Study

Thursday: 10:00am “Explorers of the Word” Bible Class

7:00pm “Women in the Word” Bible Study

Friday: 7:00pm “The Curious Savage” at SCLHS

Saturday: 7:00pm “The Curious Savage” at SCLHS

Next Sunday: 9:00am “Time of Grace” on WUCW, Channel 23

9:00am Family Worship (Walking Together Sunday)

10:30am Education Hour

This Morning’s Worship Service will begin with a quiet time for personal prayer. If you like, you may use the Worshiper’s Prayer as a guide for your prayer time.

Pictures From Antigua: During the Education Hour this morning, Nicole and Steve Burkhardt will show the pictures they took while visiting with Alex and E.John in Antigua this past Christmas. All are invited!

On Stage At St. Croix: The Curious Savage, a comedy by John Patrick. Performances will be this Friday, April 27, and Saturday, April 28, at 7:00pm in the school auditorium. You are sure to enjoy this amusing tale set in a mental health sanitarium. Our own Sarah Schuyler is student director of the play.

Walking Together Sunday: Mt. Olive will be observing the synod-wide Walking Together Sunday next Sunday, April 29, 2007. We’ll remember once again the privilege of being united in ministry with many other Christians around the world. A very meaningful video will also be shown. Let’s be quick to thank God for the many years that He has allowed us to Walk Together and pray for His continued blessings.

The Members Of Mt. Olive are cordially invited to attend

the wedding service of Trisha Wright and Ryan Jacobs

on Saturday, May 5, 2007 at 3:00 p.m. at Mt. Olive.

Whenever We Have The Opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. (Gal 6:10 NLT) And the opportunity is available for many here at Mt Olive. Every time we gather to worship people are needed to assist other members and visitors before and during the worship. The normal title is usher but actually they are “doing good…especially to those in the family of faith.” The opportunity is available to young or old, families or individuals. There is a sign up sheet on the bulletin board in entryway of the church.

The 13^th Annual Christian Life Ministries Plant Sale will be held on Saturday, May 12^th, from 9:00am to 2:00pm at Christ Lutheran Church in North St. Paul. Hanging baskets, bedding plants, and decorative plants will be featured. All welcome!

Mt. Olive’s Great Give, Grow, and Grill Day is scheduled for Saturday, May 19^th, from 9:00am to 3:00pm. The mobile blood unit will again be parked in front of church for a blood drive, and donors are needed. Please Give blood if you can. The annual plant exchange is always popular with the neighborhood. It’s always fun to Grow and experience the beauty of flowers and plants. On the parking lot will be a big tent, music, and free hot dogs on the Grill, potato chips, pickles, orange drink and cookies. We’ll need lots of help setting up the tent, working with the plant exchange, grilling the hot dogs, and visiting with the folks from the neighborhood who stop by. Our goal is to create a positive neighborhood awareness of our congregation. Mt. Olive has been here at the corner of Pascal and Almond for 81 years, but most people who now live in the area have no idea who we are! We’d like to change that!

Christian Life Ministries Walk for Life: It is time again for our Walk for Life event at Casey Lake Park in North St. Paul on Sunday, May 20^th, starting at 2:00pm. Last year was a huge success with over $4,000 raised for our ministry, and fun was had by all! This year promises to be even better. A potluck dinner in the park pavilion will follow the event. Anyone interested may contact Marcella Voss (651.647.1662) for information and a registration form. Anyone not able to go may also participate by sending a check in support of the Walk.

A 3-Day Coach Tour sponsored by Bethesda Lutheran Homes will visit such places as the International Crane Foundation and the Circus World Museum in Baraboo, WI, the Fireside Dinner Theatre in Fort Atkinson, WI, the House on the Rock in Spring Green, WI, and, of course, the beautiful Bethesda Lutheran Home Campus in Watertown, WI. The dates are May 23-25, 2007, and the total price is only $212, which includes bus fare, lodging, six meals, and admission to all attractions. See the poster on the bulletin board for more information or contact the church office for a brochure and registration form.

Camp Croix Registration Forms are still available in the church office. We have camper registration forms and staff registration forms. Summer camp is just over two months away!

St. Croix Lutheran High School has an opening for a grounds keeper beginning May 1 until the end of September. Forty hours/week. Lawn mowing, trimming, trash clean up, various other duties. Applications are available at the high school - 1200 Oakdale Avenue, West St. Paul.