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Come and prepare your hearts for Easter this Communion Sunday, the fifth Sunday in Lent, at both the 9:30 am Traditional and 11:00 am Contemporary Worship Services!
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MESSAGE FROM PASTOR JON
Dear Ark and Dove Community,
In our confirmation class this week, we had a panel discussion with our confirmation sponsors. These sponsors are church leaders who have made a commitment to support our confirmation students on their faith journey. We sat around a table in the Marshall Room and talked about life, faith, and church community. It was really special to hear our sponsors reflect on their faith and why they are committed to Ark and Dove. It was so heartening to see our sponsors support our youth.
Especially over the last few weeks, I have seen the incredible support of our community for our youth. In teaching, bowling, music, recreation, and fellowship, you are so supportive! And even more than that, our fundraising for our summer youth opportunities are underway! We have a "Pet Idol" contest, Parents Night Out events, a yard sale, Family Night, and other activities all in the works. It is so great that our fundraising events give us even more opportunity to enjoy one another.
Our first Parents Night Out is tomorrow, March 12. Please contact Deb Saylor for any questions (debsaylor1@aol.com). Opportunities abound for our youth and children! With
The Center,
Youth Summit, Habitat trip, and Vacation Bible School all on the horizon, we have plenty to work towards. Please let me know if you want to join in on the support.
In the early church, the community would gather around the young faithful to guide them in their journey towards baptism on Easter Sunday. Lent, then, is an appropriate time to gather around and support our youth in anticipation of Easter. I will never forget those who supported me in my faith journey. I know that our youth will not forget you.
Peace,
Pastor Jon
jgnelson1985@gmail.com
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VERSE AND PRAYER
When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then it was said among the nations,
'The LORD has done great things for them.'
The LORD has done great things for us,
and we rejoiced.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like the watercourses in the Negeb.
May those who sow in tears
reap with shouts of joy.
Those who go out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
carrying their sheaves. --Psalm 126
God of restoration: Some days are full of laughter and some are filled with tears. Some days we are full of joy and some are filled with sorrow. Often, our days are a mix of both. We are grateful for the great things you have done for us. And God, we pray for great things to come. In all times, in all seasons, you are with us. Through sorrow and in laughter, you are there. As you are, help us recognize you. Help us to see and hear. Help us to sense your presence. As you do, restore us to that goodness in which you made us. Amen.
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N
TES FOR YOU
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I hope you will join us for Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter Sunday. On Good Friday, you will hear some incredibly passionate music, including a beautiful piece accompanied by the piano, cello and violin (you will hear this same piece on Palm Sunday). We have our orchestra joining us on Easter Sunday, and look forward to having members of the congregation sing the Hallelujah Chorus with us on Easter morning. This week, I will be singing a solo for the offertory, called
Revelation Song.
I hope you are all enjoying this beautiful weather as much as I am!
Love,
Rebecca
rebeccaebell@gmail.com
I will miss seeing each of your smiling faces this Sunday, as I am joining the Atlantic Guitar Quartet to perform at Peabody's annual FretFest. The quartet has two local concerts on the horizon that I wanted to let you know about, and if you would like more information, please visit our
website, or come up and talk to me!
See you soon!
Mark
mark.edwards.guitarist@hotmail.com
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TAIZE WORSHIP The last Taize Service is on Wednesday, March 16, at 7:00. Please come and explore worship and pathways to discipleship by singing and praying together! Questions? Debbie Saylor, debsaylor1@aol.com
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SPRING CLEANING The Facilities Ministry has two upcoming events to help shake off winter and get the building looking great for the Easter season:
First, the carpets in the building are going to be cleaned this Monday - after the 11:00 service, we will need a small army to move chairs out of the sanctuary, and all of the tables/chairs/shelves out of the carpeted classrooms. After the carpets are cleaned on Monday, we'll also need some volunteers to help get things put back right in preparation for Logos that evening.
Second, on Saturday the 19th, we'll have a grounds/building cleanup. We'll have mulch to spread, leaves to relocate, and many other tasks. We'll get started at 8:00, and work until midday (pending the number of volunteers, many hands make for light work!). Childcare will be provided upon request - as of yet, nobody has asked for it, so I haven't arranged for anyone, so please let me know. If you have a wheelbarrow or leaf blower, they'll help make life easier. Thanks! Ryan Stavely, Facilities Elder (ryan@stavely.org)
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ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING
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ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING One Great Hour of Sharing is the ecumenical effort to make possible disaster relief, refugee assistance, and developmental aid. It started in 1949, after WWII. Currently eight denominations take part in this effort. Each denomination decides how to use the funds it has collected. The Presbyterian Church (USA) receives this special offering during the season of Lent and allocates to three impactful programs: Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Self-Development of People.
The three programs work in different ways to serve individuals and communities in need. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance works within communities as they recover and find hope after the devastation of natural or human-caused disasters like the 2015 earthquakes in Nepal. This program assisted in providing 220,000 people with food, water, shelter and medical care in the immediate aftermath of the earthquakes. The Presbyterian Hunger Program takes action to alleviate hunger and its systemic causes, and helps create access to healthy food for entire communities. One such example is its successful congressional petitions to maintain funding to safety net programs like SNAP (formerly food stamps) and WIC. Self-Development of People partners with people and communities with tools for development and education to alleviate poverty, oppression, and injustice. This ministry works in the United States and other countries such as in India where its projects have helped school attendance in some villages to reach 100%.
Please, give generously to One Great Hour of Sharing to help support these and other projects underway in more than 100 countries.
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PARENTS NIGHT OUT! YOUTH FUNDRAISER Parents, the next Parents Night Out is THIS Saturday, March 12. It's only $20 per child ($10 per additional child) for 4hrs of childcare!!! Parents Night Out will be from 5pm-9pm and includes dinner, movies, activities. Bring a snack to share. If you'd like to sign up, check out the sign-up sheets on the board in the lobby. All proceeds from these Parents Night Out will go to send our youth to the GenOn Conference and the Youth Mission Trips. Questions? Please contact Debbie Saylor, debsaylor1@aol.com.
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WHO IS GRACIE? Gracie is the mascot of the One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS), a special offering. Children's donations to OGHS have often been collected in cardboard fish banks. Stories about the OGHS fish known as Gracie are released every year to educate children about disaster relief, poverty and hunger - major targets for OGHS. Read HERE about more of Gracie's adventures!
Questions? Christine Caufield Noll, Mission Elder, ccnmission@outlook.com.
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CALLING ALL PET LOVERS! Do you think your pet is the best thing since sliced bread? Do you secretly think your pet is the cutest one on the block? Then this contest is for you! The youth of Ark and Dove will be hosting the first ever ARK AND DOVE PET IDOL CONTEST.
You can enter your beloved pet by contacting Nicole Howe (Nicolehowe123@gmail.com) and paying an $8 entry fee. All contestants will then be posted on the bulletin board closest to the sanctuary. Votes can be made for your favorite pets by paying $1 per vote throughout the length of the contest. There is no limit to how many votes you can cast and yes... you can max out your votes in favor of your pet. The winner will receive a $50 gift card and unlimited bragging rights for at least the month of April! All participating pets must be registered with Nicole by March 10. The contest will run from March 12 - April 10. "Pet contestants" with the lowest votes will be eliminated on a weekly basis. Don't miss out on this fun way to support our youth and show off your beloved pet. Contact Nicole today!
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Last chance to sign up for the Center!
Contact Pastor Jon by Friday, March 18.
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 experience that is eye-opening and life-changing. You can learn more about the great work The Center does at www.thecenterbaltimore.org. Please contact Pastor Jon (jgnelson1985@gmail.com) or Christine Caufield-Noll (ccnmission@outlook.com).
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YOUNG ADULTS NIGHT OUT Are you a young adult looking for better ways to connect with friends here at Ark and Dove? We would like to invite you to our first Young Adult gathering on
April 3 @ 7 pm. We'll meet at
The Hideaway here in Odenton. It's said they have the best BBQ in Maryland, so come be a judge. Contact Erika Sealing (erika.sealing@gmail.com) or Pastor Jon (jgnelson1985@gmail.com) for any questions.
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GAME NIGHT! Middle School and High School youth are invited to a game night at church on March 20 @ 6pm. We'll have some pizza and play some indoor and outdoor games. Bring your favorite game to play. Let Pastor Jon know if you are coming (jgnelson1985@gmail.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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FRIDAY NIGHT WOMEN'S DINNER
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FRIDAY NIGHT WOMEN'S DINNER We will be having our Friday night dinner at Ark and Dove, March 18th at 6pm. It's a potluck (so bring your favorite dish to share), and we will be watching the movie Blended. Sign up is in the lobby. Any questions please contact Debbie Saylor, debsaylor1@aol.com, or Judy Cooper, jkcooper@umd.edu.
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REFUGEE CRISIS: OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOPE Sunday, April 3, 5 pm - 8 pm, Woods Memorial Church. The Adult Education and Missions Ministry invite you to a thought provoking evening to discuss the refugee crises around the world and its implications for us as Christian neighbors. 5 pm View Salam Neighbor, a documentary filmed inside a refugee camp. 6:15 pm Engage in discussion, over a light dinner, about local refugee efforts. 7 pm - 8 pm Hear from Guest Panel, includes refugees living in AA Co, the Director of the local World Relief office, family sponsors, and the Refugee and Asylum Catalyst for PC(USA). Limited space. RSVP beginning March 6-27 on the Woods' website.
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HOLY WEEK FLOWERS The Flower Team is accepting donations for Holy Week flowers and palms. The suggested donation is 5-10 dollars. Forms are available in the church bulletin and in the lobby. If you have any questions, please contact Paula Griggs at paulagriggs32@gmail.com or 443-510-6687.
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GRIEF GROUP The next meeting of the Healing through Grief small group will be THIS
Wednesday, March 16th from 11:45 am - 12:45pm in the Ark and Dove Room. Anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one, no matter how recent or long ago, is invited to attend. No sign up needed. Drinks will be provided and you can bring a bag lunch. The group is facilitated by Pastor Tim and Linnie Girdner. For more information contact Linnie Girdner at 410-999-7892 or
Lkgirdner@comcast.net.
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 PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT for Mike Davie; Les Dabbs; Pastor Corrinne; Mary Benson; Scott Howe's friend, Eric Diana; Trevor; Pam Dillon; Pete Robinson; Matthew Hagemann; Barbara Reynolds; Norma Forgrave, Pat Sise's sister, Kaitlyn; Vaughn Brown; Minnie Bradley; Dot Forloines; Dot Bruno; 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; Stan Houck; Jason DeVono; Karen Dodson and her brothers, Dennis and Ron; Christian Noll's father, Craig Noll; Helene Marchand-Stancil's parents; Les and Garry Dabbs' aunt, Dot Bobak; Pat Stanton's brother-in-law, Ken Hare; Jim Lewis; Julia Kirby's brother-in-law, Mark; and Joan Berry's son Erik.
PRAYERS OF PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING for a healthy Charlotte Thomas Green who was born on March 3, Sarah and Will Green's newborn and Meg's and Liam's baby sister!
THE LOVE AND PRAYERS OF THE CONGREGATION go out to Bill Gaurin and the Gaurin family on the death of his step-grandfather.
THE LOVE AND PRAYERS OF THE CONGREGATION go out to the Stanton family on the death of Tammy Wright.
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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