E-Arkive The Electronic Newsletter for Ark and Dove


 
  You're invited to a special Sunday, lined up with activities to deepen your Worship and Fellowship experience! It's Name Tag Sunday  at both the 9:30 am Traditional Worship and the 11:00 am Contemporary Worship! Then to top it all off, the Annual Church Picnic will take place after the 11:00 am Service!
            
 
MESSAGE FROM PASTOR JON

Dear Friends and Members of Ark and Dove,

When we gather for worship, Sunday to Sunday, we reorient ourselves to the old, old story of the God who loves. It's an old story we tell in many ways--in song, in sermon, in the different movements we make. Jews and Christians have always found ways to tell this story in fresh, new ways--because we believe it's worth retelling.

Worship ought to be an opportunity for people of all ages to hear about the God who loves, because it's a truth that is as important for our youngest children as it is for our oldest friends. This is one of the reasons we are committed to Intergenerational Worship at Ark and Dove. Once a month, we will have a special service that welcomes the active participation of every generation in our community. We'll do some old, familiar things and we'll try some new things.

On Intergenerational Worship Sundays, we won't have Sunday School, not to give it a rest, but to encourage the participation of families and friends of all ages to worship together. The worship team is hard at work planning and preparing to retell that old, old story in new ways. As the esteemed worship scholar Robert E. Webber said, "A worship that will have staying power is a worship that is firmly grounded in the old, yet aware of and concerned for new ways to respond to the old, old story."

This Sunday we kick-off our year of intentional Intergenerational Worship. We have some neat things planned for this Sunday and those to come. There is an ancient promise in Hebrew Scripture that the Holy Spirit will pour out on sons and daughters, young and old. It's happened before, and we anticipate it happening again and again.

As we gather for worship, our Deacons will be passing out name tags. This will be an opportunity to connect or reconnect with your Deacon, who prays for, cares for, and supports you in many ways. It is also an opportunity to get out of that awkward question we all have to ask one time or another: "I'm sorry, what's your name again?" And Oh! While we're all together this Sunday, we might as well have a picnic! All are invited after the 11 am worship service for our annual Church Picnic!

Peace,
Jon
Pastor Jon
jgnelson198@aol.com
 

 
PRAYERS FOR HOME USE

MORNING PRAYER 

God of grace, this day you will care for us in seen and unseen ways. You'll encourage us. You will support us. You will provide nourishment, both physical and spiritual. Help us to recognize you wherever you may be this day--in stillness, in friend, in stranger, in acts of goodness, even in the surprises, distractions, and difficulties. Give us the courage to do what is right, when the right thing needs to be done. Sharpen our senses, that we might better sense you. 

EVENING PRAYER 

God of love, where were you this day? Were you in the business? Were you in the noise? Were you there in moments of frustration? Were you there in sorrow? Were you in those pleasant gatherings? Are you here at the day's end? You promise to be with us always. And so, we trust you were there. Help us give thanks for your constant care, help us to learn from your gentle guidance. God of everyplace, be our peace in this place. 
 
  

 
 
TES FOR YOU

 
This Sunday, September 27th, the new Children's Choir will be singing the offertory at the 9:30 service, and at the beginning of the 11:00 service.  They are just fantastic!  I hope you will get to hear them.  

Rehearsals for the Christmas program will begin on Thursday, October 3rd.  If your child is interested in participating, please let me know and plan on having them come to rehearsal from 6:00-6:30 on Thursdays. 

Love,
 
Rebecca
rebeccaebell@gmail.com
         


 
DEACON'S CORNER
NAME TAG SUNDAY Break the ice and get to know someone new on Nametag Sunday. During both services this Sunday, September 27th, the Deacons will hand out name tags before each of the services. This is your opportunity to join the fun and deepen an important facet of your worship experience! Brian Boudreau, Moderator of Deacons, boudreaubrian@hotmail.com.
OUTREACH AND CONNECTION
CHURCH PICNIC This Sunday, September 27, after the 11:00 am Worship Service! Food, fun and games for the entire church. All are invited to enjoy fellowship on the church field! Anyone who can help with set-up, please meet by the front doors at 11:15 am! Questions? Please contact Amy Stavely, amy@stavely.org.

 
LADIES DINNER OUT Tonight, September 25, join the women of Ark and Dove at Rams Head Tavern in historic Savage Mill for our monthly Ladies Dinner Out. Reservation is at 6:30, or come early to browse the unique arts and antiques stores at Savage Mill. There are plenty of gluten free and vegetarian options on the menu. RSVP? Ellen Makar, eemakar@aol.com.  
MISSION
SEASON OF PEACE The Season of Peace runs from September 6 - October 4 and is a time where we reflect and act on ways in which we can be peacemakers in our communities, our nation, and our world. Each week has a theme: 
 
Week 1: Peace in the Family/Nonviolence in our Households 
Week 2: Peace in the Community and Neighborhood 
Week 3: A Human-rights Lens for our Peacemaking (Monday, September 21 is also International Day of Peace) 
Week 4: We are Stronger Together-Considering our Systems and Structures

The season comes to an end on October 4, World Communion Sunday, when the special peace and global witness offering will be collected. Twenty-five percent of the offering will go to The Center in Baltimore to support their efforts to promote justice and reconciliation in our community. The balance of the offering will assist the PCUSA in addressing injustice worldwide. More information will be in the bulletin insert this week. Thank you for your generous support of this special offering!

The Presbyterian Mission Agency also has Path of Peace Daily Reflections available on their website. Christine Caufield-Noll, Mission Elder, ccnmission@outlook.com.



HABITAT FOR HUMANITY Habitat of the Chesapeake is about to kick off its next project, a renovation of a single family home on Clay Street in Annapolis. The owner will be Ms. Shirley Gordon, a bundle of positive energy who has already completed her sweat equity hours. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on Saturday Oct. 3 at 10 AM, and all Habitat volunteers are welcome. This project will be another interfaith build, with Jewish, Unitarian, Roman Catholic, and many Protestant congregations working side by side. Ark and Dove is scheduled to work at the house on Dec. 5 (framing and air sealing) and Jan. 23. More dates will become available in the spring. We are requested to bring 5 volunteers each date. Questions? Ellen Makar, EEMakar@aol.com.

WINTER RELIEF
WINTER RELIEF Want to help with Winter Relief, but are too busy to commit? The middle and high school youth will be putting together welcome bags for our winter relief guests. Typically we put the following items in the bags: socks, gloves, $5 gift card to McDonalds, activity (word search book, small game from the dollar store), hats, and pen/pencils.

If you would like to donate an item, please leave your donation in the Marshall Room, labeled, "Winter Relief/Welcome Bag." We plan to make 30 welcome bags for our guests and ask that all donations be new. If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Salkeld at 410-703-6882 or sarahjsalkeld@yahoo.com. Thank you for your help!  
 
 
DONATE Online!
Per Capita Special Offering, General Donation, Peace and Global Witness! Many opportunities await you!
            
 
EQUIPPING THE SAINTS
EQUIPPING THE SAINTS is back! Are you serving as a leader at Ark and Dove?  Have you led in other ways, or plan to in the future?

This program year we will focus on the Six Marks of Discipleship.  Join us for our first session of the 2015-2016 program year on Wednesday, October 7th, from 6:30-8:30, in the Marshall Room.  Our topic, presented by Pastor Tim, will be the first mark of discipleship, "Daily Prayer, Reflections, Devotions."  

We will converse, connect, and dine on a wonderful Chipotle meal.  Sign up in the lobby. Childcare will be provided upon request. See you there! Samantha Dewey, samanthadewey@gmail.com.

 
ADULT CHRISTIAN ED
COMPANIONS IN CHRIST: Exploring the Way, an Introduction to the Spiritual Journey will be offered beginning October 8th at 6:45 pm. There will be six sessions total and the small group will be led by Pastor Tim (TimS10@aol.com). Please sign up in the lobby. Space is limited to 12 participants.

On the deep and lasting impact a small group can have on an individual Linnie Girdner (lkgirdner@comcast.net) recently wrote: The first small group I attended at Ark and Dove was Exploring the Way. I had been feeling like a fish out of water, not knowing many people and wondering if they would be accepting of me if they got to know me. The experience of this group was life-changing. I met people who have become lifelong friends, and I learned how to meet up with God in ways I had not before. Whether you are new to Ark and Dove or you have been around, but want to deepen your spiritual formation and relationships, this Companions in Christ Group is the group for you. 
WORSHIP
S'MORE WORSHIP! As the evenings start to turn cooler, it's time to have Campfire Worship again!  We know that so many in our congregation obviously loved worshipping around a campfire in past years, so we're going to do it on October 10 (rain date October 11) at 7:00 p.m!

Please come and bring your hearts for worship, your voices for singing, and marshmallow forks for you know what! Please sign up on the sign-up sheet (that will be posted at the end of September) so we can know how many S'mores ingredients to bring. I'm looking forward to seeing you there! Paul Doughty, padough@verizon.net.



GREEN NOTES
RECYCLING Did you know that the US is tossing out 5 pounds of trash per person per day, twice what the EPA had thought? Ouch! We now have MIXED RECYCLING containers in every corner of the church! Look for the blue containers with the recycling symbol to dispose of your paper cups, plastic bubble wrap, aluminum foil, anything plastic, metal,  glass or paper! Yes! We recycle!  

PRAYER CONCERNS
Please keep the following people in your prayers this week: 
 
PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT for Tammy Wright; Jan Hof's mother, Marjorie; Brian Boudreau's friend; Henry Duncan; Nora Chidlow; Frances Keyes; Ann Hirschy; Lester Dabbs; Dot Bruno; Florence Myers; Jason DeVono; Pat Stanton's cousin, Tammy Wright; Pat Stanton's uncle, Bob Berg; Jay; and Kathy Miller's sister, Diane.
 
PRAYERS OF SUPPORT AND LOVE for people with addictions and a struggling daughter and grandchild.

PRAYERS OF COMFORT AND PEACE for friends and family of John.

PRAYERS OF HOPE AND SUPPORT for people who are homeless.

PRAYERS OF COMFORT AND PEACE for the family and friends of Lois Middleton, a friend of Dot Forloines, who died after open heart surgery last week.

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.  
8424 Piney Orchard Parkway  
Odenton, MD  21113
Phone: (410) 674-6400 
Fax: (410) 674-6481 
admin@arkanddove.org 
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