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MESSAGE FROM PASTOR JON
Dear Friends and Members of Ark and Dove,
Bestselling author Gretchen Rubin argues, in her recent book Better Than Before, that "our habits shape our existence, and our future." Rubin goes on to talk about how even small changes in habits have ripple effects in all areas of life. Habits can change our lives.
What a great reminder, as we lean into Lent. Some of us will be trying to break certain habits and others will seek to make habits with the intention of changing our spiritual lives. In this season, as a community, we are going to continue some habits and try to develop some new ones in hopes that God will change us in our habits.
We are continuing our habit of extravagant giving this Transfiguration Sunday with our "Souper Bowl of Caring" offering. When we make it a habit of giving, we become more giving people in all aspects of life. So let us bring soup cans to line our sanctuary steps this Sunday! We are also continuing our habit of breaking bread together in our Shrove Tuesday dinner this coming Tuesday at 6:30 pm. We still need people to help prepare! Let's develop our habit of fellowship because community changes us.
We've done it before, but we are going to make a habit of regular weeknight worship this Lent. Starting this Wednesday at 7 pm for a special Ash Wednesday service, we will make a habit of contemplative worship throughout Lent with Taize services each Wednesday at 7. We are looking for more people to help us prepare for worship, please contact Paul Doughty (padough@verizon.net). The habit of regular worship does change our lives.
In addition, we are going to make a habit out of meeting in small groups to talk about our paths of faith. Regular group study, regular small group meeting, is shown to have a big impact on our lives. We'll be meeting at various times throughout Lent to discuss the book "Discipleship: The Way of Jesus." Times and dates for those studies are listed below. Please sign-up in the lobby or talk to Linnie Girdner.
Gretchen Rubin thinks that breaking bad habits and making good ones contributes to our happiness. This Lenten season, we have many opportunities to seek the happiness God wants for us in making and breaking habits. Together, let us lean into the change, the transformation, the transfiguration, God has in store for us.
Peace,
Pastor Jon
jgnelson1985@gmail.com
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VERSE AND PRAYER
Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.
Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white.
~ Luke 9: 28-29
O God, glorious and faithful, to those who seek you with a sincere heart you reveal the beauty of your face. Strengthen us in faith to embrace the mystery of the cross, and open our hearts to its transfiguring power; that, clinging in love to your will for us, we may walk the path of discipleship as followers of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. -
Book of Common Worship
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N
TES FOR YOU
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February 14th is Youth Sunday! Joyful Noise, our Children and Youth Choir, and our Dove Choir, along with the LOGOS groups, have been working really hard to prepare meaningful worship services. I hope that you will be there to support them. The services will be the same at both 9:30 and 11:00.
If you are interested in singing with the Adult Choir for Lent, Easter, or our big Cantata in June, please join us! We rehearse on Thursday evenings from 7:00-8:30 in the sanctuary.
Love,
Rebecca
rebeccaebell@gmail.com
We are so excited for the youth involvement over the next two weeks! As we end a very strange NFL season with the
Soup-er Bowl of Caring on February 7, don't forget to bring your cans this Sunday!
Also, February 14 marks a very special service in which our youth lead service, and
I do mean they lead EVERYTHING! Every year I am amazed by the energy, talent and thoughtfulness that each person brings into their part of the service.
See you Sunday!
Mark
mark.edwards.guitarist@hotmail.com
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YOUTH SUNDAY
FEBRUARY 14TH
Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. ~ 1 Timothy 4:12
Questions? Please contact Pastor Jon, jgnelson1985@gmail.com
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ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
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ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING Sunday, February 21st, 6:00 - 8:00pm
To be preceded by a potluck dinner at 5:00.
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CHILDREN AND YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUMMER 2016
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VBS (Vacation Bible School) -
J
uly 31st through August 4th
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 SOUPER BOWL OF CARING! Be a champion and tackle hunger with your donations to the
Souper Bowl of Caring, a nationwide mission project that we have supported for 16 years.
Between now and Sunday, February 7th, bring in cans of soup and place them on the platform steps in the sanctuary. Help us to reach our goal of 1,000 cans of soup! All proceeds support the Christian Assistance Program's food pantry in Odenton. Thank you! Christine Caufield-Noll, Mission Elder, ccnmission@outlook.com
MISSION MINISTRY MEETING Are you interested in shaping the mission ministry at Ark & Dove? Please come to the next mission ministry planning meeting on
Tuesday, February 23rd at 7:00pm in the Ark & Dove room. We'll focus on brainstorming and dreaming where we'll take our mission endeavors now and into the future. Childcare can be provided; please contact Christine as soon as possible if needed. Christine Caufield-Noll, Mission Elder, ccnmission@outlook.com, 410-960-2479.
CAP WEST COUNTY'S FOOD PANTRY Featured item for FEBRUARY is SOUP (tomato soup in a carton, mushroom soup in a carton, etc.). Please drop off food items in the Mission Zone bin. Thank you for your donations!
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SHROVE TUESDAY
Dear Friends,
Amy Stavely and I need your help for Shrove Tuesday -
this Tuesday night! You all know it's pancake dinner time. And you know what that means for dinner; we want to cook up the fattiest meat and slather on the best butter. So I'm asking (please don't let me down - I think I still have a few friends out there) for 2 meat prep cooks, 2 people for set up, 4 pancake flippers, 3 servers, 1 drink assistant and 4 clean-up helpers. Please email Amy
(amy@stavely.org) and I with your name and area of expertise by tomorrow
 afternoon (Saturday), so we know what resources we need to ask for at Sunday Worship Service.
We will definitely have FUN and Fellowship!!! Looking forward to your support and looking forward to preparing for Lent 2016!
In peace,
Ray Bussey
1safe1111@gmail.com
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PRAYING THROUGH MEDITATIVE SERVICES DURING LENT
The five services will be held on Wednesday nights and will be based on the simple and beautiful Taize service. Dates of these services will be February 17th, 24th and March 2nd, 9th, 16th from 7:00 pm to 7:30 pm.
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LENTEN SMALL GROUPS Lent is a time where Christians reflect on the way of Jesus to the cross. It is also a time where we reflect on our own journey on Jesus' way. This Lent we are forming several small groups studying a short guide entitled "Discipleship: The Way of Jesus." We believe this guide and these small groups will be wonderful opportunities to deepen the path of discipleship.
WHY JOIN A SMALL GROUP? Would God rather you give up chocolate for Lent or invest in your spiritual formation? Small groups provide an opportunity to build and deepen authentic relationships with one another, which helps us as individuals to grow together in the Body of Christ. All groups provide time for fellowship, prayer, discussion and reflection. And it's enjoyable! Whether you are brand new to Ark and Dove or an old-timer, you will gain from the experience and our Ark and Dove community will benefit from your spiritual growth. Sign-ups for these small groups are posted in the lobby. If you have any questions please contact Pastor Jon (jgnelson1985@gmail.com) or Linnie Girdner (lkgirdner@comcast.net / c 410-999-7892).
LENTEN SMALL GROUP MEETING TIMES
Mondays 7-8:30 pm; 2/22 through 3/21
contact: Linnie Girdner, lkgirdner@comcast.net
Vaughn Brown, vlbrownjr@verizon.net
Wednesdays 10-11:30 am; 2/10 through 3/16
contact: Jon Nelson, jgnelson1985@gmail.com
Wednesdays 7-8:30 pm; 2/10 through 3/16
contact: Lindsey Walker, lindseyraewalker@gmail.com
(child care provided)
Thursdays 7-8:30 pm; 2/11 through 3/16
contact: Jon Nelson, jgnelson1985@gmail.com
Fridays 6:30-8 pm; 2/12, 2/26, and 3/11
contact: Kim Champagne, kim.champagne@gmail.com
Sundays 11 am; 2/14 through 3/20
contact: Betsy Baer, bbaer1216@aol.com
Jon Nelson, jgnelson1985@gmail.com
Sundays 12:15 pm; 2/21 through 3/20
contact: Tim Stern, TimS10@aol.com
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FRIDAY NIGHT WOMEN'S DINNER
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FRIDAY NIGHT WOMEN'S DINNER Hostesses are wanted for the Friday Night Women's Dinner group. The hostess picks the location and date/time of the dinner and makes any necessary reservations. The Friday Night Women's Dinner group always has a great time at dinner. If you'd like to sign up to be a hostess, please go to the
sign up sheet and choose the month you'd like to sign up. If you're not already on our email chain, please send a message to Amy Stavely (amy@stavely.org) and she'll add you!
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MEN'S FELLOWSHIP GROUP The next meeting of the Ark And Dove Voyagers Men's Fellowship Group breakfast is
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2016, from 8:00am-10:00am, at the Nautilus Diner at 1709 Transportation Drive, Crofton. Please RSVP Joshua Ederheimer, joshuaederheimer@aol.com.
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OUTREACH AND CONNECTION cont.
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SHARE YOUR TIME AND TALENTS AT ARK AND DOVE Are you looking to get involved at our church? Would you like to serve somewhere but not sure where best to use your gifts? All members and visitors are invited to complete a time and talents survey. What is that? It's a brief survey that lists the many ministry activities at Ark and Dove where you can share your time and talents. The survey takes about five minutes to complete and the results will be shared with our elders and deacons so that they can contact members and visitors who have expressed an expressed interest in serving in ministry areas. Completing the survey does not make any activity an obligation or commitment, just an expression of interest. So take a look and see if there is something you might want to explore further to serve God and our congregation. Click on this
LINK and you can complete the survey online. Questions? Please contact, Donna Anderson, donna.anderson30@aol.com.
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CELEBRATE ARK AND DOVE FAITHFUL FRIDAY, a flashback in pictures! Have a picture you'd like to share? Send it our way admin@arkanddove.org.
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NEW MEMBERS INQUIRERS CLASS
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NEW MEMBERS/INQUIRERS CLASS Saturday, February 27th, 8:30am thru 12:30pm. Please join us for a New Members/Inquirers Class where you can meet other people who have been visiting Ark and Dove and enjoy breakfast and fellowship. This "no obligation" class is just for you if you want to learn more about Ark and Dove and what it means to be a member. We'll provide breakfast and childcare. Hope to see you there! Sign-up sheet in the lobby, or email Donna Anderson, Outreach and Connection Elder, donna.anderson30@aol.com.
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 SUMMER MISSION EXPERIENCE Ark and Dove is partnering with The Center in Baltimore for another unique mission experience in Baltimore. At The Center, youth can "take part in effecting change on the ground in Baltimore's neighborhoods,"
learn about justice and faith,
and reflect on ways we can change our community for the good of all people.
We are inviting youth, grades 6-10, to a 3-4 day exp
erience that is eye-opening and life-changing. You can learn more about the great work at The Center. Please contact Pastor Jon (jgnelson1985@gmail.com) or Christine Caufield-Noll (ccnmission@outlook.com).
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EQUIPPING THE SAINTS is looking for people to volunteer to either join the meal team or just to coordinate (or cook) one of our remaining dinners. If you love to cook - you can cook a meal. If you don't love to cook - you can order a meal. If you love to volunteer - this is a wonderful way to do it. If you're interested in joining our razzle dazzle ETS team, please contact Amy Carskadon, amy.carskadon@gmail.com.
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PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT for Minnie Bradley; Dot Forloines; Dot Bruno; Kirsten Seidler; Aimee Schafer; Sarah Stern; Kelly Burnett's sister, Colleen, and brother; Amy Stavely's grandmother, Ruby Countryman; Nora Chidlow; Florence Myers; Lester Dabbs; Briah Ryan; Melissa Beaudry's mother, Donata Zartman; Nancy Gatdula; Henry Duncan; Ann Hirschy; Jason DeVono; Karen Dodson's brother, Dennis; Debbie Saylor; Anne Marie Rosenthal's mother, Barbara Winkler; Christian Noll's father, Craig Noll; Les and Garry Dabbs' aunt, Dot Bobak; Pat Stanton's brother-in-law, Ken Hare; Sue Hanburger's friend, Barb; Effie Hubbard's brother, James McCarron; Scott Howe's friend, Eric Diana; Gloria Shuler Krump; Barbara Reynolds; and Tammy Wright.
PRAYERS OF SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE for Philomena Ofori and Yaw Poku as Philomena faces the challenge of answering another call and for Cory James.
PRAYERS OF SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE for Ardeth and Bob Johns.
THE LOVE AND PRAYERS OF THE CONGREGATION go out to the family and friends of Pastor Jon's best friend Alex, whose mother died.
THE LOVE AND PRAYERS OF THE CONGREGATION go out to the family of Adria Graziano's nephew, a 19 year old who died in his sleep just before Christmas
PRAYERS OF PRAISES for our election of two Elders, Wendy Wellington and Donna Anderson and four Deacons. Judy Cooper, Greg Makar, Kelly Burnett and Cathy Debus.
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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