Mount Olivet Lutheran Church of Plymouth sits between Highway 494 and Highway 169, just off Old Rockford Road and Larch Lane in Plymouth, Minnesota. The congregation is recognized for its deep commitment to feeding neighbors, its recently affirmed Reconciling in Christ identity, a Giving Garden that produces vegetables for people in need, and a historic 1880 chapel standing across the street from the current worship building. As a member congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Mount Olivet sees itself as a community partnering with God in the world, and it lives that out through Lutheran liturgy, contemporary and traditional music, food ministries, racial equity work, prayer practices, and small groups that span every age.
Identity, Mission, and Welcome
The congregation describes itself as a community who believes in the life-giving God revealed through Jesus, who shows up in daily life; who experiences a faith journey together with openness and compassion, trusting in the promises of Christ; and who practices being church in the world by listening to God and neighbor, pointing to God's active presence, and doing what God calls them to do.
Mount Olivet's mission is to find its place in God's unfolding story by dwelling in God, connecting in community, and engaging in callings. Its vision is a community partnering with God in the world. The congregation is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and in February 2026 members voted to become a Reconciling in Christ congregation, which affirms the full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people, neurodivergent people, people with any disability, and people of all ethnic identities. The welcome statement is direct: if you are searching for a church where you can be you, where you can heal from old church wounds, or feel uncertain about reconnecting with faith, there is a place for you here. The congregation is not complete without you.
Worship on Sundays and Wednesdays
Worship at Mount Olivet blends Lutheran liturgy with two musical styles. The Sunday morning schedule currently includes a 9:00 a.m. traditional service with piano and the Chancel Choir, and a 10:45 a.m. contemporary service led by a worship band. Beginning October 4, 2026, both services merge into a single Sunday worship at 9:45 a.m., with adult faith formation offered at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
The 9:00 a.m. service is livestreamed on the church's Facebook page and Vimeo channel, with the recording remaining available throughout the week. For those without internet access, the service is also available by phone at 763-317-7440. The line goes live at 9:00 a.m. each Sunday and the recording stays available until the next Sunday.
A thirty-minute midweek worship service is held on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. from mid-September through mid-April, in person only. The service includes singing, time with Scripture, and Holy Communion. Wednesday dinners are served in the Community Room from 5:45 to 6:15 p.m. before worship, and faith formation programs for children, youth, and adults run from 7:15 to 9:00 p.m. afterward.
Each service moves through song and prayer, Scripture reading, sermon, passing of the peace, prayer concerns, offering, and Holy Communion, with announcements and a sending blessing at the close. Sunday services run about an hour; Wednesday services about thirty minutes. Holy Communion is celebrated every Sunday, and all are welcome at the table. During the summer, the 10:45 a.m. service moves outdoors to the Grove, and the historic chapel across the street serves as an air-conditioned alternative for those who cannot worship outside.
Music at Mount Olivet
Music is integral to worship at Mount Olivet. The Chancel Choir, open to adults of all ages and musical abilities - including high schoolers through what the church cheerfully calls age 110 - rehearses Wednesday evenings from 7:15 to 8:30 p.m. in the Music Room and leads worship at the 9:00 a.m. service most weeks. The Worship Band is an auditioned ensemble of amateur and professional musicians who lead the 10:45 a.m. service and the Wednesday evening service. Both groups support an annual Advent Concert, an Advent concert playlist released online, and other musical events throughout the year.
Children, Youth, and Family
Children are welcomed as full participants in worship at Mount Olivet. They are invited to offer prayers, receive communion, and serve as worship volunteers. A children's offering for world hunger is collected during each service, and worship bags and books are available for younger children. Family Faith Explorers, for ages three through grade five and their parents or grandparents, meets on Sunday mornings from 10:00 to 10:40 a.m. in Room 150 from October through April, exploring Bible stories together through play, song, art, and drama.
For youth in grades six through twelve, programming meets Wednesday evenings during the program year. Grades six and seven and the 8th-9th confirmation group meet from 7:15 to 8:00 p.m., led by Rich Holleque and Dan Roff. Senior high youth (grades ten through twelve) gather from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Youth Room. There are no program fees for faith formation sign-ups; the church intentionally removes that barrier so families can invite friends. Annual retreats, confirmation milestones, a senior high lock-in, and a summer service-learning trip round out the rhythm.
While students attend Wednesday programming, parents and caregivers can join Parent Connect in the Conference Room from 7:15 to 8:00 p.m. for conversation, fun, and mutual support.
Adult Faith Formation
Adults have several regular formation opportunities. On Wednesday afternoons from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., Dr. Ron Troxel leads a seven-week Bible study on the Apostle Paul's letters in the Fireside Room, followed by a meal prepared by Deacon Chef Bridgette Weber. On Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the same room, a study called WWJD?: More Than Just Talk explores what it means to follow Jesus through Scripture, conversation, storytelling, and action for the common good.
Sundays feature Dwelling in the Word at 9:00 a.m., a simple practice of reading the worship text together in silence and then sharing what sparks for each person. After worship, MOtalks and special brunches cover topics ranging from caregiving to mental health awareness.
On the third Thursday of each month from September through June, Prayer Lab gathers at 7:00 p.m. to explore practices such as Centering Prayer, the Examen, Loving Kindness Meditation, journaling, and walking the labyrinth. The sessions are led by a spiritual director and supported by a Lilly grant initiative at St. Catherine's University. Most sessions meet on Zoom; the September and June gatherings meet in person in the Fireside Room.
Food Ministries: From the Garden to the Table
Food is at the heart of Mount Olivet's outward-facing ministry. The Giving Garden, located near Door 3 on the west side of the property by the boundary of French Park, produces spring, summer, and fall crops. Harvested produce goes to the Monday Community Meal, to Home Free (a Plymouth shelter for women and children recovering from domestic violence), and to PRISM's food pantry in Golden Valley.
The Monday Community Meal, served curbside at Door 2 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., is a free, nutritious meal offered in partnership with Loaves & Fishes. Meals are sourced from the Loaves & Fishes warehouse, a hub for rescued food that would otherwise have been wasted. The Wednesday Night Dinner, served from 5:45 to 6:15 p.m. in the Community Room, follows the same philosophy, sourcing ingredients from farmers who care for the earth and turning them into a sacred, family-friendly meal before worship. Both programs rely on a steady stream of volunteers for prep, plating, serving, and cleanup. Youth are welcome to volunteer; those ages eight through twelve may serve with direct supervision.
Food Ministry Coordinator Deacon Chef Bridgette Weber (MDiv, MAL) brings years of experience as a chef, farmer, and food-distribution manager to the work. Bridgette's vision is that at each meal, the community can feel the presence of something sacred in its midst, inspiring connection and joy.
Community Partnerships
Beyond its own programs, Mount Olivet partners with Every Meal to distribute weekend meal kits to students at Northport Elementary School in Brooklyn Center; with PRISM, a food shelf, thrift store, and housing counseling agency in Golden Valley; with CEAP Meals on Wheels, which delivers meals to homebound residents in the western suburbs; with Second Harvest Heartland; and with Loaves & Fishes. The church's Benevolence Board distributes ten percent of pledged giving to partner organizations that share its commitment to loving and serving neighbors.
The community footprint extends into housing, family support, and mental health. Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative unites more than ninety congregations working to end homelessness in Minnesota. Parenting with Purpose provides mentors for children with incarcerated parents. Mental Health Connect helps connect individuals and families with mental health resources, and Mount Olivet's pastors partnered with it during a recent sermon series on faith and mental health.
Prayer and Care
The Prayer Ministry accepts requests online, in person, and through an indoor prayer wall. Each written request is held in prayer for thirty days. Healing Touch Spiritual Ministry offers nurturing, heart-centered prayer healing sessions of twenty to thirty minutes, led by Tracy Dickovich and a trained team, in a dedicated Healing Touch room at the church. Healing Touch is described as facilitating a deep sense of calm and relaxation, as well as specific responses for body, mind, and spirit healing.
A prayer labyrinth sits near the community gardens and is available to all who want to walk it, weather permitting. The examen prayer is offered as a guided audio reflection for those who want to notice where God has been present in their day.
The Historic 1880 Chapel and Cemetery
Across the street from the current worship building stands the Historic Chapel, built in 1880 and twice renovated to preserve both interior and exterior. The chapel hosts Christmas Eve services, smaller weddings, and a midnight Christmas service during the senior high lock-in. Mount Olivet's cemetery and columbarium are part of the same grounds. The cemetery is open Memorial Day weekend and by arrangement. The chapel is air-conditioned and accessible.
Brews, Eats & Beats
Each summer, Mount Olivet hosts Brews, Eats & Beats, an outdoor music festival featuring craft beer, food trucks, a silent auction, and Twin Cities cover bands. Begun in 2011 as Blues, Brews n BBQs, the event has raised more than $220,000 over the years for community partners. Current proceeds support the Loaves & Fishes Community Meal in Plymouth and the church's food ministries. The festival is volunteer-run, drawing seventy-five or more helpers from the congregation each year for setup, service, and cleanup.
Reconciling in Christ and Racial Equity
Mount Olivet began its Reconciling in Christ journey in 2023, formed a Core Team in 2024, and voted to become a Reconciling in Christ congregation on February 8, 2026. The RIC Team, led by Wally Palm, hosts educational events, keeps the welcome statement visible, and stands for the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people in the full life of the church, especially in moments when transgender neighbors and youth face renewed hostility.
The Mount Olivet Racial Equity (M.O.R.E.) Team, led by Janet Johnson, works on two goals: growing the congregation's capacity for curiosity and compassion, and pursuing systemic local change. Past M.O.R.E. events have included a screening of the film Till with special guest Deborah Watts, an Anti-Racism Rally in partnership with the Plymouth Diversity, Equity and Inclusion group, an Indigenous People's Land Acknowledgement Ceremony, and monthly educational newsletters.
Interest Groups and Small Groups
Mount Olivet hosts a wide variety of Connect Groups and Activities Groups. Healing Touch meets for prayer healing sessions. A Monday Men's Bible Study meets at 6:45 a.m. at Fat Nat's in New Hope; a Saturday Men's Bible Study meets at 8:00 a.m. at the church, with the first Saturday on Zoom. Book Ends reads and discusses one book a month. The Brew Crew gathers home brewers and wine makers on the first and third Sundays. The Community Garden group grows produce that goes entirely to community partners. The Green Team runs organics recycling for the church and the community learning center. Older Wiser Lutherans (OWLs), for those fifty-five and older, plans monthly gatherings and outings. The Quilters meet Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to noon in the Conference Room. Bandage Rolling for Global Health Ministries meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 1:00 p.m. to roll bandages for hospitals in Africa, Indonesia, India, and South America.
Weddings, Baptisms, and Funerals
Baptisms are offered at the Sunday morning services year-round and at the Wednesday evening service during the program year. The community promises to walk alongside each baptized person and family on the journey that begins at the font. Weddings are reserved for members, with the historic chapel and the main sanctuary both available; a $200 non-refundable deposit secures a confirmed date, and on-site weddings start at $1,250. Funerals, memorials, and grief support are available to all, with a Funeral Support Team helping with setup and cleanup so families can focus on being present with one another.
Staff and Leadership
Mount Olivet is served by Lead Pastor Desirée Uhrich and Interim Associate Pastor Michelle Lewis. The Faith Formation team includes Director Elizabeth McGrew-King, Director of Youth and Family Faith Formation Rich Holleque, and Faith Explorers Director Tim Strommen. Food Ministry Coordinator Bridgette Weber oversees food ministries. The worship and music team is led by Director of Music Kim Capel, Lead AV Tech Tommy Beganek, and Worship Techs TJ Jensen and Keira Strommen.
The Church Council, led by President Lauren Schroeder, provides leadership and governance. Vice President is Wally Palm, Treasurer Deb McDonald, Secretary Joe Himmelberg, and additional council members Angela Christy, Joanna Ehresman, Celeste Enderle, Jeremiah Johnson, Terri Knutson, and Kirsten Scheller. The Benevolence Board, the M.O.R.E. Team, and the RIC Team round out the standing leadership groups.
Getting There and Getting Involved
Mount Olivet is at 12235 Old Rockford Road, Plymouth, MN 55441, located between Highway 494 and Highway 169 off Old Rockford Road and Larch Lane. For worship, visitors enter through Door 1, where visitor and accessible parking spaces are reserved. A bike rack is available at Door 1 for those who pedal to worship. Doors and restrooms are accessible for those using wheelchairs and walkers, and two gender-inclusive restrooms sit immediately to the right as you enter. Assisted listening devices are available at the welcome counter.
Office hours are Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to noon and Tuesdays through Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The office phone is 763-559-2775, and the general email is contact@moply.org. Giving is available online through ShelbyNext, by Venmo at @moply, by stock transfer to the church's Fidelity account, through Thrivent Choice, by IRA qualified charitable distributions for those seventy-and-a-half and older, and in the offering basket. A children's offering taken mid-service goes to ELCA World Hunger.
Whether someone is interested in Sunday worship, midweek programming, food ministries, racial equity work, prayer ministry, or a small group, Mount Olivet aims to be a place where everyone is welcome, everyone is loved, everyone belongs, and everyone has a place in God's unfolding story.