Although midsummer sounds like July or August in the US, it is celebrated in June in Scandinavia. It is the time when the days are long and the colors of sea and forest are vibrant. Traditional fiddlers in costume from the American Swedish Institute Spelmanslag will perform for our  9:30 am Virtual Worship Service on Father's Day, June 21st. They will perform traditional fiddle tunes. Soloist Deb Gilroy will also provide special music, in addition to guest musicians

As we all continue to grapple with the many impacts of COVID-19 on our lives, the Church Council is doing the same for LOTI, and is paying particularly close attention to the church finances. Along those lines, the Council is pleased to report that LOTI was recently approved for a loan under the new federal Paycheck Protection Program. These funds are intended primarily to help LOTI maintain its current staffing levels and staff  pay levels, and the loan itself is forgivable if the funds are used for this purpose in the next two months, which is the council's intention. Like most churches, LOTI faces significant economic uncertainty in these unprecedented times, and we are grateful for this assistance, particularly as we head into the summer months, which tend to be lean even in the best of years. If you have questions about LOTI's participation in this program, please feel free to contact Pastor Haug , Chanda Olson,  Council President or Ross Bartels, Council Treasurer.

In January 2020, the Church Council authorized work to begin on the 3rd floor apartment.  We were not exactly sure how this space would be used, but it was clear that it needed to be renovated in order to even begin the process of  imagining it use. It was clear, however, that it was a wonderful, bright space and was an important asset for the church. In conversations with the Luther Seminary in St. Paul, we became aware of the need for affordable married student housing. Changing demographics and finances had forced the Seminary to sell its married students apartment. For the Church Council, this need for housing, seemed to be a perfect match for the newly renovated 3rd floor apartment. Offering the apartment to a Seminary student seemed like the prefect way of serving the greater church. And then came Covid-19, suddenly we needed someone to clean and disinfect the church to be in compliance with the CDC guidelines. Sara and Trevor Skorburg moved in the apartment the night of the lootings in Minneapolis.  

2020	SCHEDULED VOLUNTEERS
JUL 3	Heather Jacoby, Gretchen Robertson, Ruth Lee, & Ellie Holmquist
AUG 7	Cathy Carlson, Peter Van Bergen, Dave & Mary Goplen
SEP 4	Denise Wilkens & TBD
OCT 2	TBD
NOV 6	Monica & Andy Schwarm; Andrea & Casey Christy
DEC 4	Cheri Moe & Family

Please consider signing up for October. To do so, contact Cheri Moe, (952) 431-5226 or Linda Nelson (612) 377- 5095.

Jim Bargmann, Coordinator of Neighborhood Ministry of Mount Olive Lutheran Church has informed us that they have formalized an agreement with one of our neighborhood/partner food shelves, Community Emergency Service, to become a remote distribution site in South Minneapolis. CES will offer food and household supplies such as non-perishables, fresh vegetables and fruit, diapers, cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, and personal care items. The distribution site will operate until neighborhood primary shopping places (Target, Cub, Aldi, and local shops) are able to reopen.  The site opens at 9:00am each Friday and closes at 12pm or earlier if supplies are depleted. 

Mount Olive's address is 3045 Chicago Avenue South. 

Monetary donations should be directed to  www.cesmn.org, 

whose relationships with food suppliers can extend funds further than individuals are able.

A Season of Hope

the HOPE of Christ. 

Personal  Care Kits give people around the world tools to stay healthy in  life's most challenging situations and provide assistance  for struggling families in fragile corners of the world. Our goal was to assemble 75 kits. 

This month, cash donations were used to purchase the remaining necessary items. Kits were assembled on June 18 by Ellie Holmquist, Anita Duder, Mary Flynn & Linda Nelson.  Kits include:

• Three bars of soap 
• One bath towel
• One toothbrush
• One comb
• One nail clipper

 

LWRpersonalcarekits

 

Pastor Haug will leads a virtual Bible study by Zoom for the regular 10:00 am Wednesday morning Bible study group. If you would like to participate, please contact pastor@loti.org. You will recieve a link and invitation to the group meeting. 

Covid -19 Resources for Families

For materials to use at home for the Bible stories and faith activities, please visit:

loti.org >  Resources > Sunday School for SS age 

loti.org >  Resources > Family for intergenerational 

May they be a blessing 

to your family 

as you practice 

faith at home

 

 

She is honored to be invited to exhibit at LOTI.