Dear Friends and Members of Ark and Dove,

This Sunday is World Communion Sunday, when billions of Protestants join Catholic and Orthodox Christians and celebrate Communion on the same Sunday.  Imagine a communion table that stretches around the globe.  On this Sunday, we proclaim, with one voice, that together we are the body of Christ.
 
This Sunday is also appropriately Peace and Global Witness Sunday, a day when we receive a special offering for the Peacemaking efforts  and Global Witness of the Presbyterian Church USA.  Twenty-five percent of our offering stays local and our Mission Ministry has chosen The Center in Baltimore as our recipient to support their efforts to promote justice and reconciliation in our community.  You might remember that our Middle School youth (and Jon Nelson and Sarah Salkeld) labored with The Center this summer and that Vaughn Brown and Brooks Emrick are active supporters of that ministry.
 

Refugees have been in the headlines a lot lately, especially because of the crises in Syria.  I found this article from Lutheran World Relief in Sojourners

very helpful as I have prayed about the situation.

A word about applause. I was so pleased with the worship leadership of our Children's Choir this Sunday.  What a very nice group of worship leaders - and talented, too.  It is our practice to spontaneously applaud, every now and again, in worship at Ark and Dove.  Spontaneous is good, but let's not fall into the trap of applauding every time our children and youth lead worship, and let's not rush around recording videos.  Soon the purpose of worship - which is to glorify God - becomes confused with entertainment, and we turn into paparazzi.  Part of being in a children's choir is to learn the difference between worship and performance.  When they do well, we will be sure to praise them at their next rehearsal, and we can offer our thanks out in the lobby. Both are ways of saying thank you for a job well done, and we keep our focus on God.
 
In thanksgiving for talented worship leadership and with admiration for the many talented leaders, of all stripes, which we have in this church, may peace be with you.

Peace of Christ,

Tim 

Pastor Tim

TimS10@aol.com

 

MORNING PRAYER 

I pray to you this day, Providing One, as I take note that you have once again provided light for this morning. I pray to you this day with thanksgiving. I pray to you this day that you might help me journey through these hours without that tightness of chest and fist that comes from my needless worry about whether I have enough.  I confess that not only do I have enough, but that I have too much.  May I be grateful for my bounty and generous in the blessings I pronounce upon others.  I pray to you this day with appreciation, wonder and expectation. AMEN.

EVENING PRAYER 

I pray to you this night, Generous One, as I take note of the setting of the sun  and the shortening of these days.  I pray to you this night with longing for rest.  I pray to you this night that you might help me sleep without nightmare, toss, or turn.  Help me to trust that you love the one's I love.  May I be grateful for the blessings you pronounce upon mine and others.  I put my trust in you this night as I lay my head down with appreciation, satisfaction and peace. AMEN. 

 

Rebecca
rebeccaebell@gmail.com         

This week's band highlight is Laura Brecheen.  Laura has been part of the band since not long after I started at Ark & Dove, and has been a jack of all trades to help the music sound great from week to week!  Besides being a talented singer and piano player, Laura is also a sign language interpreter, and will offer her talents when someone who is hearing impaired comes to the church.  As a musician in the band, she sings solos, harmonies, and plays keyboard and piano.  Over the past two weeks, Laura has been showing the LOGOS Worship Skills class how to sign a song, and we can't wait to show it off this Sunday!

God bless, 

Mark 

mark.edwards.guitarist@hotmail.com