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CEDEPCA
visits this Saturday, September 16th and Sunday, September 17th. For fellowship opportunities see Pastor Jon's letter!
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MESSAGE FROM PASTOR JON
Dear Friends and Members of Ark and Dove,
Yesterday, the Baltimore Presbytery, our local organization of Presbyterian churches hosted mission workers from South Dakota, Cuba and Guatemala. They each shared their experiences in working for justice among the poor, marginalized and oppressed. They talked about bringing hope to hopeless situations.
Two of those mission workers were from CEDEPCA, a faith-based organization that provides disaster assistance, promotes intercultural conversations that bridge divides, support women's ministries and prepares church leaders in Guatemala. Pastor Tim and Laura Willoughby Perry recently visited CEDEPCA in May and
preached on their experience.
This weekend you have three opportunities to meet two representatives from CEDEPCA, Judith and Leslie. They will share their experiences in ministry in Guatemala and help us discern ways we can serve the poor, marginalized and oppressed in our context. You won't want to miss them, they share powerful stories!
Tomorrow, Saturday the 16th, Paula and David Sparks are hosting a dinner at 6 pm at their house. There is very limited seating for this dinner, so please let me know if you'd like to join as soon as possible.
This Sunday, the 17th, Judith and Leslie will talk about their ministry in a minute for mission at both services.
After the 11 am worship, we are hosting a catered lunch of great food where Judith and Leslie will share more about CEDEPCA.
Please come and join us. God is working for justice and peace all over the world. This is a great opportunity to learn how!
Peace,
Pastor Jon
jgnelson1985@gmail.com
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VERSE AND PRAYER
God has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? - Micah 6:8
God of righteousness: We believe you are making all things right and new. But in this world where there is so much wrong, we tend to lose hope. Fill our hearts with faith to believe that what seems impossible is possible. Strengthen our minds and wills to work for justice wherever we are. With open arms and steady hearts, let us be a part in all you are making new. Amen.
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Many opportunities await you!
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N
TES FOR YOU
Children's Choirs have begun and the kids are SO excited about the new music that we are working on. We have a special presentation for our 25th Anniversary of Ark and Dove, including a special piece for the Children, Adults and all of our musicians to do together. Do you have a child in the preschool or kindergarten age range who might be interested in joining this adorable group? We learn songs using music, dance and all types of instruments. Currently, the group is scheduled to meet at 5:30 on Thursday evenings, but if there is a better day or time that would work for more people, we can talk about moving it. Please reach out if you have any questions!
Are you interested in being part of an orchestra? We have a small chamber orchestra that plays for special services throughout the church year. We typically rehearse on some Wednesdays, but the day and time can also be flexible if that doesn't work for everyone interested. We would love to have this group get started again and add some new players into the mix!
A friendly reminder that we have the Army Field Band French Horn concert coming up on Sunday, September 24th at 2:00pm. There will be guest musicians, too.
I am so excited for this upcoming Sunday to learn more about CEDEPCA! In preparation for this Sunday's service, the band is so happy to bring you these songs. I hope they keep you company until Sunday when we get to sing these together!
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PARENTS MEETING THIS TUESDAY
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LOGOS IS COMING!
Our mid-week children and youth program returns on September 26th! This year, we will all meet from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. At LOGOS, children and youth have dinner, play games, worship, and grow in faith. We will have a parent interest meeting THIS TUESDAY September 19 at 5:30. Dinner and childcare provided. For questions, comments or suggestions, please contact Amy Tardiff, itsmemim@gmail.com or Laura Rockwell, laura.a.rockwell@gmail.com.
For questions, comments or suggestions, please contact Amy Tardiff, itsmemim@gmail.com or Laura Rockwell, laura.a.rockwell@gmail.com.
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 S'MORE WORSHIP Come one, come all!
Saturday, September 30 for our annual Campfire Worship event! We'll hold a short worship service outside the church around a roaring campfire that will feature singing worship songs around the fire, just like many of you may remember from summer camp! We will also be telling some short stories from the Bible by firelight, and fellow worshippers will lead the service with short readings. The theme for the service will be "Surviving the Storm," appropriate for a year that brought monster hurricanes Harvey and Irma. The evening will culminate in cooking S'mores around the campfire (thus the name "S'more Worship"). Please bring your camp chairs and blankets, and any mosquito repellent you might have. I'm looking forward to seeing you there! Paul Doughty/sing2gether@verizon.net.
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REFORMATION QUESTIONS, REFORMATION ANSWERS
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 REFORMATION QUESTIONS, REFORMATION ANSWERS What do you know about The Reformation? Did you know this year is the 500th anniversary of this church-changing event? How many theses did Luther post (or not post) on the door of the castle church at Wittenberg, Germany? These, and many other questions about The Reformation, will be answered in a four class session for adults on Sunday mornings at 10:45 a.m. in October leading up to Reformation Sunday on October 29. The basis of our study will be a book called: Reformation Questions, Reformation Answers, 95 Key Events, People, & Issues by Donald K. McKim. Sign up, purchase your book, read the first 30 pages, and come to class on Oct 8, 15, 22, and 29. If you have further questions, please contact Betsy Baer, bbaer1216@aol.com, or Pastor Jon, jgnelson1985@gmail.com.
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PARENTS GROUP
You've heard it said, "It takes a village to raise a child." But when do we gather as a village anymore? Join Ark and Dove's parents group for an opportunity to support one another on the always joyous, often difficult journey of parenting. Interested? Contact Pastor Jon for more information, jgnelson1985@gmail.com.
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BIBLE STUDY EVERY WEDNESDAY MORNING
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WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY
Are you interested in delving a bit deeper into the Bible? Are you looking for some companions on your journey of faith? Come as you are, there are no prerequisites. We discern and discuss new Bible passages every Wednesday, 10:00 am, beginning September 20th. Questions? Contact Pastor Jon, jgnelson1985@gmail.com.
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SPIRITED SISTERS The Spirited Sisters Saturday Morning Women's Group will begin meeting in the fall starting September 23rd at 9:00 am in the Marshall Room. This fall's Bible study is "Who is Jesus? What a Difference a Lens Makes," published by the Presbyterian Women. The group meets twice a month, and we determine rest of our schedule at the first meeting. See Kim Champagne (kim.champagne@gmail.com) or Linda Girdner (lkgirdner@comcast.net) for more details. A signup sheet will be posted in the lobby with more details about the book ($7).
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 WINTER RELIEF 2017 Save the date!
With the hot summer we have had this year, it seems like the cooler months will never arrive. However, winter will be here before we know it and our friends at the Arundel House of Hope need our help! This year, Ark and Dove will be the first church to host 25 men experiencing homelessness for Winter Relief. Our week will be October 9 - October 16 and there are a multitude of ways you (and your families, friends, and neighbors) can participate. Questions can be directed to Christine Caufield-Noll, Mission Elder (ccnmission@outlook.com); Cheryl Schafer, Co-Coordinator (csscas@verizon.net); and Debbie Saylor, Co-Coordinators (debsaylor1@aol.com). Sign-ups will be ready by September 9th, so please prayerfully consider what your role will be in our church's largest mission experience.
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SEPTEMBER'S FOOD OF THE MONTH
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CAP WEST COUNTY FOOD PANTRY Featured item for September is PEANUT BUTTER AND PRESERVES. Please drop off food items in the Mission Zone bin. Thank you for your donations!
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REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT AND IRC
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REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT Let's get started! We have officially contracted with the International Refugee Committee (IRC), Baltimore, for refugee resettlement, and can now begin family mentoring at Ark and Dove! Family mentors work with newly-arrived refugee families to provide refugees a meaningful connection to the community, as well as individualized support, as they adapt to life in the United States. Focus is placed on practicing English language skills, preparing them for their first job in the U.S., familiarizing them with the city, and helping them become self-sufficient in their new home. A commitment of three hours per week, for six months, is required. We need 6-8 team members to join in this exciting and rewarding work. Like to learn more? Salmon Zaman, the family mentor director of IRC will hold an information and processing meeting, here at Ark and Dove, Monday, October 2nd, 7:00pm. Questions? Please contact, Debbie Arey, Debarey@hotmail.com, 508-579-7748.
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New Members Inquirers Class
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WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MEMBER
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NEW MEMBERS INQUIRERS CLASS
Please join us for the
New Members Inquirer's Class on October 28 from 8:30 am to noon where you can meet other people who have been visiting Ark and Dove and enjoy breakfast and fellowship. This "no obligation" class is just for you if want to learn more about Ark and Dove and what it means to be a member. We'll provide breakfast and childcare. Hope to see you there! Please sign up in the lobby signup or by contacting Donna Anderson at donna.anderson30@aol.com, so we can plan for breakfast and childcare.
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Antiracism and Social Equity
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FAITH BASED COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
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 EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF IAF FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY ORGANIZING Thursday, September 28, 7:05 pm - 8:30 pm at Asbury Methodist Church, Annapolis. Participate in a non-partisan, multi-faith, multiracial coalition for AA Co. Sixteen faith communities are building power together to ensure opportunities for ALL our neighbors to live and thrive. Please RSVP, Pastor Tim, timsstern@gmail.com or Pastor Jon, jgnelson1985@gmail.com
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I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO: FILM AND DISCUSSION
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I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO
Sign up in the lobby or online! On October 1st, 2:30-4:30, the Ark and Dove Social Equity Team will host our next forum featuring the movie, I Am Not Your Negro, based on the writings of James Baldwin, who is acclaimed for his insights on race, spirituality and humanity. Paula Sparks, Co-Team Leader, Anti-Racism and Social Equity Team
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HEALING THROUGH GRIEF
The next meeting of the Healing through Grief small group will be on Tuesday,
September 26, 7 - 8:15 pm
in the Ark and Dove Room. Anyone who has experienced the loss of a beloved family member or dear friend, no matter how recent or long ago, is invited to attend. No sign up needed, though it is appreciated. Drinks will be provided. The group is facilitated by Pastor Tim and Linnie Girdner. For more information, please contact Linnie Girdner at 410-999-7892 or girdnerlinda@gmail.com.
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PRAYER CONCERNS
Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:
PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT
for Ray Bussey; Marie Shorter; Frances Keyes; Joan Berry's son, Bryan Flom; 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; Henry Gaines; Janet Dabbs's sister, Diane Maloy, and niece Melissa Bender; Claire Henderson's father, Walt; Mary Stum's sister-in-law, Sandy; Stan Houck and Ann Hirschy; Carol and Henry Saylor;
Sarita Barrow's brother, Rashad; Sue Hanburger's sister-in-law, Evelyn Hanburger; Kelly and Tim Stern's nephew, Hunter Field; the Stanton's niece, Lena; Julie Kirby's mother, Margaret Floyd;
Brian Boudreau's father, Paul; Jason Mendez; Dan and Chanda Griffis; Lee Armstrong; Dennis Hintay;
Curtis Briggs;
and Dick and Carol Baily.
PRAYERS OF COMFORT AND HEALING
for Bob Johns, who is recovering from surgery this week.
PRAYERS OF PEACE AND COMFORT for
Donna Anderson's mother, Martha.
PRAYERS OF GRATITUDE AND PRAISE
on the birth of Paige Grace born to Dan and Christi Loveless.
PRAYERS OF GUIDANCE, STRENGTH AND UNDERSTANDING
for family members who are living with alcoholism; for family members who are living with mental illness; for a father struggling; and for a mother in physical rehabilitation and battling addiction.
PRAYERS OF STRENGTH, SAFETY AND SUPPORT
for all of the hurricane victims.
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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