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Come join in the celebration! For the third Sunday of Advent, in addition to the 9:30 am and 11:00 am Worship Services, you are invited to
CHRISTMAS REVELS at 6:00 pm.
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MESSAGE FROM PASTOR TIM
Dear Friends and Members of Ark and Dove,
Advent is the church season for preparing our hearts for the coming of Christ into the world. We worship. We light candles, we decorate, we celebrate, and, every once in a while, we creep into the silence and we meditate upon the state of our lives and our world. A colleague of mine saw a roadside sign out in front of a church. You know the kind, like ours, where you change the letters. The message caused me to pause.
Christmas:
A Story about a
Middle Eastern Family
Seeking Refuge
You are invited to Christmas Revels: music, choirs, readings, food, band, solos and duets. 6:00 PM this Sunday in the sanctuary. It is for fun and to bring joy on the third Sunday of Advent.
You are invited to Christmas Eve Worship, on December 24, 2015.
4:00 PM
(new time!) Children's Service
6:00 PM Lessons and Carols, Music led by the Band
8:00 PM Lessons and Carols, Music led by the Choir
Thank you to Mike Davie and Ryan Stavely for shepherding another energy saving change to our facilities. Bright, energy efficient LED lights were installed on our driveway and parking lot yesterday.
Thank you for supporting the Green Projects with your gifts to our Building Fund. Your faithful financial stewardship is helping to make us good stewards of God's earth.
Pastor Tim
TimS10@aol.com
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PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING FOR ADVENT
ADVENT PRAYER
God who loves us, keep us alert this Advent Season for the joyful signs and gentle touch of your hand upon your world. Whether it be a creche on the mantel, a star in the sky, a song in church or a voice in the night, grants us the wisdom, we pray, to receive what your messengers offer and the courage to follow where you will lead. Be with us and use us to give honor to your Son who is coming in to the world. Help us live his love and live in his love as we prepare to celebrate his birth with joy. It is in his name that we pray. Amen.
ADVENT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Deep calls unto deep, Creator God, proclaiming the day of the Savior's coming. From mountain peak to valley floor, the voice descends, reverberates, and echoes toward heaven. Church bells peal and choirs sing. Twinkling lights transform our towns into lands of enchantment and electronic devices give fresh voice to ancient and cherished melodies. In this season of coming wonder, the world holds its breath as deliverance draws near. So thank we our God for promises made and mercies fulfilled; for old wounds healed and renewal proclaimed; for justice bursting and righteousness rolling. Thank you, O God, who authors our seasons and redeems our celebration.
~ Don C. Skinner
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N
TES FOR YOU
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Don't miss the amazing music we have planned this Sunday! At the 9:30 service, we will be joined by a small chamber group on the offertory called
Celtic Advent Carol. If you like Celtic music, you won't want to miss it!
 Then on Sunday evening, we have the Christmas Revels concert at 6:00. You will hear everything from the traditional "O Holy Night" to "White Christmas" and everything in between. My vocal jazz ensemble will be joining us. The Adult Choir, Joyful Noise (our Children and Youth Choir), and our orchestra will perform, as well as the band and soloists. Each group has been working hard and we can't wait to celebrate the Christmas season with you!
Love,
Rebecca
rebeccaebell@gmail.com
We are all so excited to be doing the Christmas Revels concert this Sunday, December 13. One of the reasons that I am so excited for it is because everyone I've chatted with about it is confused about what it is. So - come to it without expectations, that much the better. But without revealing too much, I can tell you that it is "all hands on deck" and it will be QUITE a production! In other words...be there. Or be square.
God bless,
Mark
mark.edwards.guitarist@hotmail.com
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CHRISTMAS JOY OFFERING The Christmas Joy Offering for Mission will be received by the church during Advent and Christmas.
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CHESAPEAKE HABITAT Helene Marchand-Stancil, Paul Stancil, Don Ziegler, Fred Barrow, Dave Mayeske worked at the Chesapeake Habitat house in Annapolis on Saturday, December 5th, doing framing and removing old flooring. They were joined by volunteers from St. Paul Lutheran church on Rowe Blvd. in Annapolis. The next Habitat build day for Ark and Dove will be on January 23rd, at the same Annapolis house. Thank you one and all! Ellen Makar, eemakar@aol.com.
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CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY SHARING Sign-ups continue this Sunday for Holiday Sharing, our Christmas gift partnership with the Anne Arundel County Department of Social Services. We've had 66 of the 80 children selected so far. For those who selected a child, the focus now should be on contacting the family, buying the gifts, and getting them to church by the end of services on
Sunday, December 20. Details are covered in the instruction sheet provided during sign-up. Please also consider delivering to one or more of the families on December 20. We have a sign up for delivery and instructions will be provided. This is a partnership with the Department of Social Services. Contacts are
Greg Makar (301-483-8255, glmakar@juno.com) and
Beth Stewart (410-672-6394, bpstewart@gmail.com).
CAP WEST COUNTY'S FOOD PANTRY Featured item for December is BAKING MIXES (bran muffins, Bob's Red Mill pancake mix, etc.) Please drop off food items in the Mission Zone bin. Thank you for your donations!
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THE FLOWER TEAM is accepting donations for flowers and greens for the Christmas Eve service. Suggested donation amount is 5-10 dollars. Forms are available in the church bulletin and in the lobby. If you have any questions, please see Paula Griggs.
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CHILDREN AND YOUTH PROGRAM Is your family interested in joining Ark & Dove's children and youth program? The second semester of LOGOS will begin on Tuesday, January 5. Our program is for all youth grades K-12 and we have nursery care for younger siblings. If you are interested or have any questions please contact Amy Tardiff itsmemim@gmail.com or Abbey Boudreau mrsaboudreau@yahoo.com.
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 Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:
PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT for Yvonne Kareha; Ray Mosella; Tom Kees; David Kees; Kirsten Seidler; Nancy Gatdula; the Stanton's niece, Randi; Christina Nelson's uncle and family; Henry Duncan; Nora Chidlow; Ann Hirschy; Lester Dabbs; Dot Bruno; Florence Myers; Jason DeVono; Bill Jennings; Briah Ryan; Tracy Churchill; Karen Dodson's brother, Dennis; Charlotte Davie's uncle, Charles Sabin; Pat Stanton's uncle, Bob Berg; Janet Dabbs' sister, Diane Maloy; Lester Dabbs; Debbie Saylor and Tammy Wright.
THE LOVE AND PRAYERS OF THE CONGREGATION go out to Kathy Miller and her family on the death of her sister Diane.
THE LOVE AND PRAYERS OF THE CONGREGATION go out to the family and friends on the death of Brenda Schoener, beloved wife of Pastor Terry Schoener.
If you have prayer concerns or blessings that you would like to share, please contact Deacon Sue Hanburger at avongypsygal@gmail.com, and she will add your concern to the prayer partners email chain.
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