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This Dedication Sunday, all are invited to hear the Parable of the Talents
at both the 9:30 am and 11:00 am worship services!
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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 JON
Dear Friends,
Jack Burnett, a senior in high school and veritable leader in our church, recently gave me a coffee mug that reads: "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone." The phrase was the theme of our 2016 GenOn youth conference. It's a true statement and a challenging one.
As I look at the pledge cards we received in the mail, I am reminded of that coffee mug. On the left side, the pledge cards ask us to make a financial commitment to the mission and ministry of Ark and Dove. I am moved to ask,
What kind of gift would push Christina and I beyond our comfort zones? On the right side of the card, we are asked to consider how else we might commit to the mission and ministry of the church. Will I teach Sunday School, make a meal for another member, participate in a mission project or hold relational meetings with other members?
Which of these would push me beyond my comfort zone? Am I willing to take a risk?
This Sunday we will dedicate our pledges in worship. Please spend some time thinking and praying about how you will support Ark and Dove with your resources, gifts and abilities. Take some time to examine yourself and consider taking a step beyond your comfort zone in 2018.
The next 25 years of Ark and Dove depend on some committed, calculated risks.
jgnelson1985@gmail.com
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VERSE AND PRAYER
I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. -Joshua 1:9
God in Christ: Speak to me this day. Let me heed your call. You are leading me toward new life. Challenge me, disturb me. Give me strength and courage to take risks. Let not fear hinder me nor doubt hold me back. I want to live as your son, Jesus Christ, who lived with and for love. I know this kind of living is costly, but you are indeed with me wherever I go. Speak to me this day. I am ready to act on your call. Amen.
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Many opportunities await you!
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N
TES FOR YOU
Mark your calendars for December 17th! The kids will present their Christmas Pageant,
The Grumpy Shepherd at the 9:30 traditional service! The kids are doing great work. I hope you can be there!
Thank you to Paula Sparks for filling in for me this weekend while we are in NYC seeing
Hamilton! We've had our tickets for 8 months now(!) and are so looking forward to this weekend of rest and relaxation.
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PRELUDE: THE NEXT TWENTY-FIVE YEARS
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PRELUDE: THE TIME IS NOW Over the past month the Session has shared their hopes and dreams on how to grow the ministries here at Ark and Dove. This Sunday is Dedication Sunday--when you can announce your Prelude to Our Future with your pledge. Your financial support, as well as your commitment to participate in our varied ministries will ensure a wonderful start to our next twenty-five years.
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EQUIPPING THE SAINTS: RELATIONAL MEETINGS This week Ark and Dove hosted a training session with the IAF (Industrial Areas Foundation) on how to conduct "relational meetings," one-on-one sessions where you can explore what motivates people to participate in change. On Wednesday, December 6th, our next Equipping the Saints will review this technique and provide opportunities for relational meeting during the evening. Join us at 6:30 for dinner and then training from 7:00-8:30. Steve Debus, Stewardship Elder, steven.debus89@gmail.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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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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OUR FAMILY The Solano family needs our support. The Solano family is continuing to struggle making ends meet and providing enough food for the family. After they pay rent and bills at the beginning of the month, there isn't enough left for food. In addition, all it takes is one interruption to cause an even bigger hardship. For instance, last month, Bernabe fell and hit his head, and missed a week of work from the ensuing concussion (he is on the mend now). We have developed a plan that can help bridge these gaps and provide assistance in a more long-term, on-going way that provides dignity.
 We are currently building up an emergency assistance fund for the family that could help them bridge the gaps whenever they do have the inevitable hardships occur, as well as assist them to buy fuel oil for the winter heating months. And, perhaps most importantly, we would like to provide grocery/gift cards that would allow them to buy fresh food, staples and even diapers for the baby without constantly have to ask for help.
We know the family could use $100 to $150 at the beginning of each month to bridge the gap, and we would like to provide an additional gift card or two in smaller increments during the rest of the month. Knowing there was a gift card for the beginning of the month would go far in easing their financial worry and stress.
Here's how you can help
:
- Write a check to the church or make an online donation and mark "Solano Assistance Fund" on it to go into the overarching emergency assistance fund
- Drop off gift cards/ grocery store cards to Ark and Dove: there will be a steel lock box with a slot marked "Solano Family" on top of the printer in the admin office. If providing store-specific cards, best ones are Walmart, Shopper's Food and Aldi. General gift cards would allow the family to shop at the Hispanic food markets in town.
- An additional request: We are looking for the donation of a half-sized cello for Rosemari, who is in the school orchestra She has a cello she uses at the school, but we would like to find one so she can practice at home as well. If you know any musicians, can you help us spread the word?
- And coming soon: a Christmas Santa gift list for the family, to provide things they need, but do not yet have (warm-weather clothing, learning-oriented toys, gifts for the parents, etc).
If you have any additional questions--or ideas--about the Solano family and their particular situation, please feel free to ask Cheryl Shafer (
csscas@verizon.net
) or Laura Willoughby Perry (
laura@laurajanewilloughby.com
). Thank you for your ongoing support and love for this family.
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NOVEMBER'S FOOD OF THE MONTH
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C
AP WEST COUNTY FOOD PANTRY Featured item for November is CANNED VEGETABLES (sweet potatoes, pumpkin, tomatoes, etc.). Please drop off food items in the Mission Zone bin. Thank you for your donations!
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No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. -Matthew 5:15
 In these stressful times, there's nothing more crucial than sharing the light--with each other and with our community! And there's no means more effective than pictures. Help us share the light of our church home, and in the process brighten everyone's path, by becoming Ark and Dove's church photographer! Like to learn more? Please contact admin@arkanddove.org.
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PRAYER CONCERNS
Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:
PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT for Sarita Barrow; Jan Hof; Kathy Miller; Deborah Saliby; Marie Shorter; Karen Dodson; Debbie Saylor's aunt, Gail, and cousin, Ed; 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; Marty and May Gilden; the Cummings family; Jon Nelson's aunt, Linda and uncle, Gene; Debbie Saylor's cousin, Jen; and Dick and Carol Baily.
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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The church office will be closed
Thursday, November 23 and Friday, November 24 for Thanksgiving.
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. -Colossians 3:15-17
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