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All are invited to celebrate the First Sunday in Advent at both the 9:30 am and 11:00 am worship services, with Christmas Revels following at 6:00 pm!
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CHRISTMAS REVELS, ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS
Christmas Revels
Sunday, December 3, 6:00 pm
1st Sunday of Advent--Worship Fully!
Sunday, December 3, 9:30 am and 11:00 am
2nd Sunday of Advent--Spend Less!
Sunday, December 10, 9:30 am and 11:00 am
3rd Sunday of Advent--Give More!
and the
Christmas Pageant at 9:30 am
Sunday, December 17, 9:30 am and 11:00 am
4th Sunday of Advent--Love All!
Sunday, December 24, 10:30 am
Christmas Eve Children's Service
Sunday, December 24, 4:00 pm
Christmas Eve Contemporary Service
Sunday, December 24, 6:00 pm
Christmas Eve Traditional Service
Sunday, December 24, 8:00 pm
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MESSAGE FROM PASTOR TIM
Dear Friends,
Advent: the human experience of waiting and preparing. The church year begins with Advent, and Advent is the season that teaches us to wait for what is beyond the obvious and beneath the apparent. Advent is a four Sunday season of getting ready for the coming of Christ. Advent is about learning to pause and ponder. Advent calls us outside and beyond the frenetic pace of our world that we might be truly ready to welcome the Christ Child on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
It is our practice, at Ark and Dove, to light four candles: one each week during Advent to help us get ready for the light of Christ coming again into our world. We begin Advent worship with the longing hymns of the Advent season and then, each week, as the light on the Advent wreath grows brighter, we add a little more Christmas.
Because we do live in a frenetic world, we have chosen this year to travel through Advent with many other North American Christians by joining in the
Advent Conspiracy. Our worship themes will be
Worship Fully,
Spend Less,
Give More, and
Love All. In this way we are conspiring with other searching disciples to bring deeper meaning and heartfelt faith to the Christmas celebration.
Now we may wait a week or two until we sing Christmas Carols in morning worship, but we will full-on revel in Christmas at Christmas Revels this Sunday evening at 6:00 PM. All kinds of beautiful music and readings. I hope to see you both morning and evening as we start this season of wonder.
timsstern@gmail.com
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VERSE AND PRAYERS
Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.... Luke 1 :11-14
Holy God, we bring our prayers to you as acts of love for you and for our neighbors. Your love knows no partiality. We pray for our community and for our neighbors. You are the Lord of all you have made. We pray for the world, that your reign may come and your will be done on earth.
Holy One, mysterious source of all life, we do not know when you will appear to us in this Advent Season of waiting. We do not know how or in whom you will be present. Teach us vigilance. Give us the alertness to perceive your nearness and to discern your calm and call. Hearts strengthened by your Spirit, remove our reticence to worship you with earnestness, love the lonely and forgotten, and to be fully present to our family, friends and community. In the name of the One who is coming into the world. Amen.
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and more! Many opportunities await you!
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N
TES FOR YOU
I am so excited to have the Christmas Revels to kick off the Advent season this Sunday! The band, choir, soloists and even some new faces from outside of the church will all be joining in for a great presentation! One group, in particular, I am very excited about: two of my students from Peabody will be playing an arrangement of "Carol of the Bells" for two guitars. You won't believe it, but they have only been studying the guitar for less than one year. I am so proud of the work they have been doing and can't wait for them to perform!
That is just one of the great musical presentations of this Sunday, so I hope to see you there!
God bless,
Mark
Mark.Edwards.guitarist@hotmail.com
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The Stewardship and Finance teams of Ark and Dove are grateful for the households who have returned their Prelude pledge cards! Our thankfulness grows as more families pledge for 2018 and catch up on their 2017 pledges. Please remember to bring your Prelude pledge card this Sunday. Steve Debus
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ARK AND DOVE PARENT GROUP!
Join us Friday, December 8 at 6:30 pm for a potluck for all parents. We are gathering a group where parents can get to know each other and find support and encouragement for the parenting journey. Please let Pastor Jon know if you are interested in attending. Childcare provided upon request. (jgnelson1985@gmail.com)
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PLEASE SUPPORT THE CHRISTMAS JOY OFFERING DURING ADVENT Are you looking for a meaningful way to participate in Advent, the time in the church calendar leading up to Christmas? Are you weary of the commercialism that dominates this season in our culture? The remedy could be supporting the
Christmas Joy special offering, now until December 24.
What is the
Christmas Joy offering? The Presbyterian Church, USA has 4 special offerings that are collected throughout the year that benefit different programs and causes, within the PCUSA, as well as our local congregation. The
Christmas Joy offering will support the following endeavors:
- 50% to local mission activities at Ark and Dove (this year the proceeds will be shared equally by Communidad Presbiteriana la Trinidad and our Refugee Mentoring ministry);
- 25% to support current and retired PCUSA church workers in their time of need;
- 25% to developing future leaders at Presbyterian-related racial ethnic schools and colleges.
It's easy to give to the
Christmas Joy offering. You may use the special envelopes that can be found throughout the sanctuary; designate "Christmas Joy" on your check; or donate securely through our
website. Our goal is $4500 and I am sure that together we can make this goal a reality.
When you give to the
Christmas Joy offering, you not only provide financial support to important programs, but you also take a step towards refocusing on what is really meaningful about Christmas. You may find yourself being able to
Worship Fully,
Spend Less,
Give More, and
Love All.
Christine Caufield-Noll
Mission Elder, ccnmission@outlook.com
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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 share some of our blessings and provide Christmas gifts to families in our community. The Holiday Sharing office matched us with 36 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 17. Sign-ups for gift-giving and delivery will begin in the lobby after worship services on November 26. For more information, or to sign up between Sundays, contact Greg Makar (301-483-8255, GLMakar@juno.com).
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REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT In early November our Refugee Resettlement Team began work with our Burmese family--Koko, Rose and Htet Htoo. It's been exciting and heartwarming getting to know our family, who are eager to learn more English, become acquainted with the community and gain skills. This work is fun and so appreciated. We're looking for a few more team members. Our contract with the IRC is for 6 months with 2+ hours per week from at least one member from our team. Please join us in this very rewarding and much needed program. Contact: Debbie Arey at Debarey@hotmail.com or 508-579-7748.
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DECEMBER'S FOOD OF THE MONTH
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C
AP WEST COUNTY FOOD PANTRY Featured item for December is BAKING MIXES (bran muffins, Bob's red Mill pancake mix, cornbread, etc.). Please drop off food items in the Mission Zone bin. Thank you for your donations!
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CHRISTIAN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM HOLIDAY MEALS
The CAP Food Pantry is gearing up for its Holiday Sharing program where we provide 200 households with food for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. All events will take place at the Church at Severn Run, 8187 Telegraph Rd. in Severn. For more information please contact CAP representative Greg Makar (
GLMakar@juno.com
, 301-483-8255)
- Christmas
- Monday, Dec 18
- 8:30-11 am: 5-7 strong people to meet at the church at Severn Run and travel together to Walmart and Aldi's to pick up the food and bring it back to the church
- 11 am-12:30 pm: volunteers to help unload trucks and then pack the food into 200 bags
- Tuesday, Dec 19
- 3-4 pm, 4-6 people to help bag turkeys
- 4-7 pm, volunteers to assist with the food give-away
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EQUIPPING THE SAINTS With two services, each Sunday, there are many of us who don't know the other half of the congregation. Wouldn't it be great to sit down for a 40 minute chat with another interesting member of Ark and Dove and get to know their story and what motivates them? If this sounds like a fun night to you, please join us for the next Equipping the Saints on Wednesday, December 6th, where we will get an introduction on doing relational meetings and then practice the technique by having a meaningful conversation with another member. Dinner is provided starting at 6:30 and the session runs from 7:00-8:30. A sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board and child care can be provided if needed. Questions? Please contact Steve Debus, steven.debus89@gmail.com
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WHAT ARE THE SIX MARKS OF DISCIPLESHIP?
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SIX MARKS OF DISCIPLESHIP What is the difference between a member and a disciple? A member receives services from the church. A disciple both gives and receives that others may give and receive. At Ark and Dove we covenant to be disciples. On Tuesday evening, December 12 at 7:00 PM, Pastor Tim will teach an 89 minute course on the Six Marks of Discipleship. Please sign up in the Lobby or contact the church office at admin@arkanddove.org to sign up. Childcare will be provided if you give advance notice of the the need. - Pastor Tim, timsstern@gmail.com
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RENEW AND RECHARGE: WOMEN'S RETREAT Come recharge your spiritual batteries with the women of Ark and Dove. Tracy Radosevic (professional biblical storyteller, educator, and preacher) will lead the women's retreat on Saturday, April 21, 2018 at the Claggett Center in Adamstown, Maryland. For those wanting more time for rest and fellowship, there are also options to stay Friday and Saturday nights. Register online HERE.
- Saturday Day Pass: $115 (includes Retreat and Saturday lunch and dinner)
- Double Occupancy Room: $260 (includes Retreat and 5 meals)
- Single Occupancy Room: $290 (includes Retreat and 5 meals)
For more information, contact Shelley Franklin (shelleyfranklin@vwrld.net) or Cheryl Walcutt (Walcutt_Family@hotmail.com).
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WOMEN'S RETREAT GIFT CERTIFICATES
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GIFT IDEA FOR THE ARK & DOVE WOMAN! We will be offering Gift Certificates for the 2018 Women's Retreat. Gift Certificates may be purchased between services on December 3rd, 10th, and 17th. Choose one of three options:
- Saturday Day Pass: $115 (includes Retreat and 2 meals)
- Double Occupancy Room: $260 (includes 2 night stay, Retreat and 5 meals)
- Single Occupancy Room: $290 (includes 2 night stay, Retreat and 5 meals)
The Women's Retreat is Saturday, April 21, 2018. Overnight options are for April 20-22. For more information contact Shelley Franklin (shelleyfranklin@vwrld.net).
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RESOLUTION WALK On
Saturday, December 30, our LOGOS intergenerational program is sponsoring a
Resolution Walk. This is a great opportunity for you to spend some quality time with your family and community. We are meeting near the playground at 9:30 to enjoy some fun outdoor activities, while enjoying coffee, cocoa and donuts. We will then go on a
Resolution Walk together to start off the New Year. Bring your gently used books with you because we will also be hosting a book swap and a book drive to benefit Sarah's House. If you have family in town, why not bring them along? It's sure to be a great time! Contact: Christy Yeager, christyyeager171@gmail.com.
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In the spirit of full disclosure, there is a "buy prints" link on those page--that is all handled through Smugmug, which is who I use for my photo hosting. The cost is reasonable, and I have found the quality good for my personal uses--neither Ark and Dove nor I receive any of the money from prints purchased through them. You are more than welcome to use their service, or download the pictures and print them at the place of your choosing. If you have any questions or issues, please contact Ryan Stavely (ryan@stavely.org).
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FRIENDLY SENIORS Christmas Celebration
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CHRISTMAS WITH FRIENDLY SENIORS Friendly Seniors will be getting together for their Christmas celebration on
Sunday, December 10, 2:00 pm, at
Christopher's in Crofton. For a celebration like this, friends and family are welcome to join us. Please let Joan know (410-672-5237 or berry962@verizon.net) how many are coming no later than
Wednesday, December 6, to make your reservation(s). We look forward to seeing you there!
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FLOWER HONORARIUM FOR CHRISTMAS
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CHRISTMAS FLOWERS The Flower Team is accepting donations for flowers and greens for the Christmas Eve service. Suggested donation amount is $7-$10 dollars. Forms are available in the church bulletin and in the lobby. If you have any questions, please contact Paula Griggs,
paulagriggs32@gmail.com or 443-510-6687. Thank you!
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PRAYER CONCERNS
Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:
PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT
for Eric Echols' father, Daryle Echols; Sarita Barrow; Mary Beckwith; Jan Hof; Kathy Miller; Marie Shorter; Karen Dodson; Debbie Saylor's aunt, Gail, and cousins, Ed and Jen; Donna Anderson's brother-in-law, Tom; Nicole Howe's aunt, Linda; Bob Johns; Frances Keyes; Chip Burnett; Dot Forloines and her brother Jack; Henry Duncan; Helene Marchand-Stancil and Helene's mother, Mimi; Judy Cooper's sister, Barb Eardley; Ellen Makar's father, Don Erickson; Laura Willoughby's father, Norman; Amy Stavely's aunt; Steve and Brandi Downs; Janet Dabbs's sister, Diane Maloy; Mary Stum's sister-in-law, Sandy; Sarita Barrow's brother, Rashad; Sue Hanburger's sister-in-law, Evelyn Hanburger; Kelly and Tim Stern's nephew, Hunter Field; Julie Kirby's mother, Margaret Floyd; Amy Carskadon's nephew; Zach Rosenthal; Ken and Jacqueline Sievers; Logan and Luke Sievers; Jason Ziegler;
Brenda Figueroa;
Jon Nelson's aunt, Linda and uncle, Gene; Linda; and Dick and Carol Baily.
PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING
for the engagement of Alex Walcutt and Lilian Adamski.
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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