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All are invited to celebrate Epiphany this Sunday as we journey with the Three Wise Men!
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MESSAGE FROM PASTOR TIM
Dear Friends and Members of Ark and Dove,
Epiphany is upon us and on Sunday in worship the Magi will follow the star to the Christ Child. The last carol to be sung is
We Three Kings. (Even though the bible says Magi) Epiphany (that time between Christmas and Lent) is the season of light. For the next six weeks Pastor Jon and I will shine the sermon light on The Magi, The Baptism of Jesus - Jan 14, and then four weeks on the Apostles Creed, Jan 21 through Feb 11. Yes we can make the Apostles Creed both fun and interesting.
Deep Thanks for your support of the Christmas Joy Offering. To date the generosity of the congregation already exceeds last years giving. Our Treasurer , Alta Paronto reports we are over $5000.00 and Epiphany is Sunday.
Last week in this space, I spoke about our New Years paths and how the church is providing many many opportunities this Epiphany Season and beyond to walk fresh paths. I will reprint those opportunities below and
add two more in bold. Sign up in church or send an e-mail to the church office.
- ANAM CARA, Spiritual Friendships: To grow in our spiritual lives, we need friendship. To grow in friendship, we need to journey in faith. Starting January 18, we are forming a small group that will foster meaningful relationships and encourage spiritual growth. Anam Cara is an ancient gaelic term for the friendships we need as we walk with God. We will explore avenues of faith formation (prayer, study, meditation, worship) through discussion and seek to help one another in our journeys. We will meet each Thursday night, 7:30-9, until March 22. Katie and Grant Johnson will lead the group with Pastor Jon. Contact Jon for any questions (jgnelson1985@gmail.com).
- Wednesdays: 10:00 AM Bible Study with Pastor Jon
- Every other Saturday Women's Study, Spirited Sisters with Kim Champagne (Jan 13 and 27)
- A January 19 and 20 Adult retreat to explore faith and Spiritual Practices
- Syria: Please Don't Forget US - February 17 (see below)
- A Tuesday Evening Book Group Called Waking up White with Pastor Tim and Paula Sparks - (see below)
- A Thursday Evening small group on household finance with Rachael Tisdale and Pastor Tim - (see below)
- Lenten Small Groups on the Desert Fathers and Mothers, starting in Mid February (details to follow)
- A Women's Retreat for Renewal, facilitated by Christian Story Teller Tracy Radosevic - April 20-22.
Why is the Apostles Creed called the Apostle's Creed? You can find out on Jan 21.
In Christ,
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VERSE AND PRAYER
On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Her'od, they left for their own country by another road.
- Matthew 2: 11-12
Lord God of the nations,
we have seen the star of your glory
rising in splendor.
The radiance of your incarnate Word
pierces the night that covers the earth
and signals the dawn of justice and peace.
May his brightness illumine our lives
and beckon all nations to walk as one in your light.
We ask this through Jesus Christ your Word made flesh,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
in splendor of eternal light,
God forever and ever. Amen.
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"I believe..."
Christian Faith for Contentious Times
A four week sermon series on the Apostle's Creed:
1/21: "I believe in God..."
1/28: "I believe in Jesus Christ..."
2/4: "I believe in the Holy Spirit..."
2/11: "the holy catholic church..."
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Worship happens at Ark and Dove due to the dedicated work of a small army of volunteers. They work behind the scenes to make sure everything is ready for services when we arrive on Sunday morning. If you have any interest in helping out in this area, please contact
Ryan Stavely (ryan@stavely.org; 410-980-2307). Your commitment can be as small as 5-10 minutes every few weeks. In particular need right now are: the
Communion Prep team (a Sunday morning commitment - ensure that all of the Communion elements are placed in the sanctuary properly), and the
Worship Media team (follow the service closely and find the space bar on a keyboard; no specialized skills needed!) If you are interested doing the prep work a day or so before service, or running the sound board, we will gladly provide you the advanced training needed!.
Thanks for your consideration, and thank you to the many people that already help us out!
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2018 PER CAPITA COLLECTION
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Presbyterians have always understood that we are a connectional church, that we have a covenantal relationship with each other and with God. In order for our relationships to deepen and our partnership to flourish, we need to support each other. One way the Church has done this is through Per Capita gifts from local churches. These funds are vital to the Church as a whole and they pay for the core functions of the Presbytery, Synod and General Assembly. The per capita dollars make it possible for us to govern ourselves, and provides for the infrastructure that supports our mission work.
Each church shares a covenant with their General Assembly, Synod and Presbytery to pay their per capita apportionment in full.
The church is a community that depends on community-wide support, and the per capita offering is a way of providing that support. Thus,
each member of Ark and Dove is encouraged to assist with per capita. This year the apportionment for each member is: $35. Your per capita can be conveniently paid on line here, or drop in in the offering basket on Sunday morning. Questions? Alta Paranto, Treasurer, (alparonto@gmail.com), or Wendy Wellington, Administration Elder (swt520@verizon.net)
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JANUARY RETREAT FOR SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT
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There are still spaces available on the annual Church retreat. Friday Jan 19, 2018 and Sat Jan 20, at the Bon Secours Retreat Center, in Marriotsville, MD. This year our focus will be on spiritual development: prayer practices, devotional readings, bible studies, silent time, spiritual friendships, and some journaling and worship. Fresh practices for a new year. Sign up in the church lobby or email the church office admin@arkanddove.org
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and more! Many opportunities await you!
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MUSEUM TOUR - SYRIA: PLEASE DON'T FORGET US
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Join us on February 17, to visit the
Syria
: Please Don't Forget Us exhibit at the US Holocaust Museum. A group will be carpooling from the church at 9:30am to take the Orange Line from New Carrolton, and expects to be back at the church in the early afternoon. To join the carpool, or let the group know that you will be meeting us at the museum, please email Katie (knilsenjohnson@gmail.com) so a head count can be made.
More information on the exhibit can be found here.
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JANUARY'S FOOD OF THE MONTH
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C
AP WEST COUNTY FOOD PANTRY Featured item for January is PASTA AND PASTA SAUCES (semolina pasta, brown rice pasta, whole wheat, etc./Bertolli jarred sauces, Classico jarred sauces, etc.). Please drop off food items in the Mission Zone bin. Thank you for your donations!
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Antiracism and Social Equity
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Many of us are uncomfortable talking about race, but, "Learning about how to interrupt racism is part of learning how to be a disciple of Christ. We need to get comfortable with being uncomfortable." So say the Reverends Denise Anderson and Jan Edmiston, co-moderators of the 222 General Assembly of the PCUSA. Ark & Dove is creating a safe space to talk about racism. Paula Sparks, trebleclef48@gmail.com, and Pastor Tim, timsstern@gmail.com, will lead a study about interrupting racism for beginners: people who are anxious about the whole national dialogue. Ever ask a simple question simply to get your head bitten off? No head biting will be allowed.
Together we will read and discuss the book Waking Up White by Debby Irving. We will watch some clips and videos, explore basic vocabulary and then deep dive into some of the complicated issues. We will covenant with each other to treat each other like children of God, and we will be partially guided by a study guide written by Rev's Anderson and Edmiston. By the way Rev. Anderson is black and Rev Edmiston is white. We will meet for six weeks on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 PM beginning on January 9. Sign up in the lobby and start reading. Books are available in paperback or Kindle editions. We can order you a book if you would like.
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PRAYER CONCERNS
Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:
PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT
for D'Alex Childers; a Family facing difficult times; Christy Yeager's father, Leon Jordan; Daryl Sensenig; Judy Wright; Linnie Girdner and Jan Hof; Paul Ferrell; Ann Hirschy; Charles Lawrence; Daryle Echols; Marcia Bussey; Sarita Barrow and her brother Rashad; Donna Anderson's brother-in-law, Tom; Mary Beckwith; Kathy Miller; Marie Shorter; Karen Dodson; Debbie Saylor's aunt, Gail, and cousins, Ed and Jen; 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; Sue Hanburger's sister-in-law, Evelyn Hanburger; Kelly and Tim Stern's nephew, Hunter Field; Julia Kirby's mother, Margaret Floyd; Amy Carskadon's nephew; Ken and Jacqueline Sievers; Logan and Luke Sievers; Jason Ziegler; Brenda Figueroa; Jon Nelson's aunt, Linda and uncle, Gene; Archer and Honor Bauman's grandmother, Jackie; Charlotte Davie's sister, Ann; Zachary Rosenthal; Erika Sealing's son, "Trip" Sealing, and grandmother, Margaret Schade; Tawes Dewyngaert; Lindsay; Carla; and Dick and Carol Baily; a member awaiting test results;
Rose, the mother and spouse of the Burmese family we are sponsoring; a granddaughter in need of support.
The Love and Sympathy of the congregation is extended to the Speir family upon the death of Rich's mom Goldie.
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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