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You are invited to mark the beginning of Advent this Sunday at the 9:30 am Traditional Worship and 11:00 am Contemporary Worship Services!
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MESSAGE FROM PASTOR TIM
Dear Friends and Members of Ark and Dove,
On the national calendar we set aside tomorrow as a day of Thanksgiving. George Washington was the first president to declare a national day of Thanksgiving and in modern days, our presidents issue a Thanksgiving Proclamation each year in order to stake out this day of taking stock and offering thanks for all our blessings. Here is
President Obama's Proclamation for 2015, but if you are not inclined to read his whole message, here is a portion of his preamble:
"Rooted in a story of generosity and partnership, Thanksgiving offers an opportunity for us to express our gratitude for the gifts we have and to show our appreciation for all we hold dear. Today, as we give of ourselves in service to others and spend cherished time with family and friends, we give thanks for the many blessings bestowed upon us. We also honor the men and women in uniform who fight to safeguard our country and our freedoms so we can share occasions like this with loved ones, and we thank our selfless military families who stand beside and support them each and every day."
On the Church Calendar, sometimes lost in the great secular rush to Black Friday and holiday weekend sales and football; this Sunday marks the beginning of Advent. During Advent, Christians Fast, Feast, Worship and Pray to get our hearts ready for Christmas - the celebration of Christ's incarnation. Advent is celebrated for four Sundays and on each of those Sundays we will light an Advent Candle in worship.
Since Advent is a period of prayer, the church has ordered an Advent Devotions booklet for each family in the church. They will be available this Sunday in church. This year the Advent Devotions are based upon the
Belhar Confession which was recently adopted by the Presbyterian Church USA as a part of our Constitution.
You may pick up your copy on Sunday (one copy per household).
Pastor Tim
tims10@aol.com
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A PRAYER FOR THANKSGIVING DAY
O God, our Provider, you open your hand and lavish good gifts upon us and so we come to you on this day of Thanksgiving with our gratitude. You create the beauty of the earth and stock it with abundance to sustain human life. You give us friends who share the journey of our lives. You give us family who make us laugh with joy and dry our tears of sorrow. You provide us even with strangers who minister to our needs with generous kindness. You knit us into your larger family called church to encourage us in your Way. You have blessed us with the freedoms of a great nation. "Thank you" seems insufficient for all your blessings, yet we say it with all we are as an offering of gratitude for our many blessings that we name before you.
{You may offer silence here or invite people to share blessings or offer thanks for your blessings.}
Though we may have seen our fortunes fall this year, we praise you for hiding our treasure in Jesus Christ our Lord, whom not even death can destroy. Though we miss those whose places sit empty at this year's table, we give you thanks for lending them to us for what time we had. For all your providence with the feast of life that you set before us, we give ourselves to you with all we are in thanks and praise. Amen.
Source: PCUSA
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N
TES FOR YOU
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Happy Thanksgiving! I am so thankful for this wonderful church. If you were able to hear the anthem this past week at the 9:30 service, you will know what I mean when I say that I get to work with some amazing musicians and people.
Holy, Holy, Holy by
Dan Forrest was inspiring, and I'm thankful for each of the singers and musicians who were a part of it. Special thanks to Paula Sparks and Terrence Byrne for leading rehearsal while I was away. This Sunday, Brittany Wellington will join us on cello in a beautiful arrangement of
Nearer My God to Thee - another Dan Forrest arrangement. Please come and hear it!
Love,
Rebecca
rebeccaebell@gmail.com
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OUR CHILDREN IN YOUTH PROGRAM LOGOS Is your family interested in joining Ark & Dove's 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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| Art in Worship: Banner Creations! |
SECOND FAMILY, INC. is a a non-profit housing and care center for children and adults living with severe disabilities. On Saturday, a group of us went around to 11 different Second Family group homes throughout Bowie to decorate the locations for Christmas. It was a long and slightly grueling morning. We set up Christmas trees, wreaths, outdoor lights, paper trees, and we hung lights in many residents' rooms. We saw many faces light up with smiles upon seeing the trees and lights. We are so thankful for the help of everyone involved, so we're sending out a big thank you to Hiley Green, John Salkeld, Dillon Benson, Mackenzie Kirby, Christina Nelson, Paul Tomassoni, Laurie Tomassoni, Julia Kirby and Sarah Salkeld! Thank you so much! Samantha and Tim Dewey, samanthadewey@gmail.com.
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ARUNDEL HOUSE OF HOPE CLOTHING DRIVE The
House of Hope, our partner in Winter Relief, will be hosting a clothing drive on the morning of
December 14. They would like to give their guests a "shopping experience", where they are able to select items themselves. Here's what they need (for men and women): coats, gloves, hats, scarves, pants, sweaters, and undergarments/long johns (sizes XL and XXL most needed). If you'd like to contribute, please contact Tim Mahoney at pkthuey@yahoo.com. All clothes should be washed prior to being dropped off. The deadline for donating items is
December 7th. Thank you!
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY SHARING Ark & Dove is participating again in the
Christmas Holiday Sharing Program organized by the Anne Arundel County Department of Social Services. Through this partnership we provide Christmas gifts to families in our community by sharing some of our blessings. The Holiday Sharing office matched us with 28 families (80 children) in Odenton and Severn. We will purchase a clothing item and another gift for each child and then deliver to the families after the 11:00 service on December 20. Sign-ups for gift-giving and delivery will begin on Sunday, November 29. For more information, contact Greg Makar (301-483-8255, GLMakar@juno.com) or Beth Stewart (bpstewart@gmail.com, 410-672-6394).
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EQUIPPING THE SAINTS Disciples across the Christian spectrum are attending worship less frequently. Pastor Tim asks the following question: "If Worship helps to build disciples and transform lives- what does less frequent worship say about our direction?" Join us on Wednesday, December 2nd, from 6:30-8:30, in the Marshall Room, as we discuss the third mark of discipleship, "Weekly Worship." Sign up in the lobby. Childcare will be provided upon request. samanthadewey@gmail.com.
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 Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:
PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT for Kirsten Seidler; Nancy Gatdula; 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; Kathy Miller's sister, Diane; Karen Dodson's brother, Dennis; Sue Hanbuger's son, Henry; Charlotte Davie's uncle, Charles Sabin; and Tammy Wright.
THE LOVE AND PRAYERS OF THE CONGREGATION go out to the Green family on the death of a close friend.
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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