Worship and acts of justice go together. The Hebrew prophets were very clear that worship is displeasing to God when the people are not taking care of the poor, the oppressed, and the distressed. Isaiah tells us that God gets weary of worship when there is no justice-seeking. Amos hoped for a worship that led to ever-flowing streams of justice.

I think we get it, here at Ark and Dove. This weekend we are having three worship services. On Saturday night at 7 pm, we'll be worshipping outdoors by campfire light. Our theme is "Meeting God in the Wilderness." We will sing some familiar tunes, we'll hear some Scripture read, we'll listen to some stories, and we'll reflect on ways we have and can meet God in the wilderness. We will cap it all off with s'mores! Please join us for a time of praise and friendship.

After we worship on Sunday at 9:30 and 11, we'll begin final preparations for hosting 25 men who are homeless in our community. It takes a lot of work to provide the kind of care, compassion, and community we desire for our guests, so there is much to do. Please do check the sign-up sheets in the lobby. We still have needs to provide things like transportation and various food items.

So there it is. We will seek justice for those struggling and suffering in our community after a full weekend of worship. I look forward to seeing so many of you as we praise God together and commit to acts of justice for our community.

Peace,

Jon 

Pastor Jon

jgnelson1985@aol.com

 

MORNING PRAYER 

All that is good comes from you, O God. This day I make a concerted effort to take note of the goodness all around me--in the kindness of a stranger, in the warm sunlight, the colors of the sky, or the love of friends and family. I know it's often the case, in the business of the day that I have tunnel vision and then I miss the goodness that abounds. So, I will take notice this day and I will give thanks where thanks is due. Give me courage to do good things today, that others may see through me the goodness that is in you. Amen.

EVENING PRAYER 

God of hope, may all my intentions and expectations be conformed to your purposes. I know that even when my best intentions and expectations for the day, the week, the year, or season don't work out as planned, that you are there in that moment filling me with hope for tomorrow. You are a God who is found just where we have fallen. I thank you that your intentions for me are much greater than I can imagine. Help me to transform my expectations for myself into the intentions you have for me. For you intend that I love deeply, love justly, love carefully, love fervently, and love gently. May I learn to love myself the same. Amen.  

 

Rebecca

rebeccaebell@gmail.com    

This week's band highlight is Anne Rosenthal.  Anne has been a member of the band for 2 years, and has been a very positive and energizing presence in the band family!  Besides having an intuitive sense of music and melodies, and bringing great song suggestions to the group (like " Hello, My Name Is" by Matthew West), Anne has been instrumental in several of the large projects of the music program, such as getting a timpani for the Hallelujah chorus on Easter, and also making sure that we have music from week to week.  Besides being a fantastic singer, Anne is a skilled dancer, and that definitely comes through when she sings!  If you want a visual representation of how much of a positive influence she is on the band, just take one look at my office - she did the complete remodel! 

mark.edwards.guitarist@hotmail.com