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All are invited to celebrate the 1st Sunday of Advent this Sunday at both the 9:30 Traditional and 11:00 Contemporary Worship Services.
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MESSAGE FROM PASTOR JON
Dear Friends and Members of Ark and Dove,
This Sunday is the first day of the Church year, the first day of the Advent season. Advent is a time for reflection on God's promises of old and a time of anticipation for God's promised kingdom come. It is a season to look back and look ahead.
The beginning of Matthew's gospel has us looking back. Open up to the beginning of Matthew and you will see the genealogy of Jesus. Many of us are tempted to skip over this list of names. But Matthew is very intentional in naming certain people who are really important to Jesus' ancestry. By looking back at these characters, we get a picture of who Jesus will be and what he will be about.
Pastor Tim and I are doing a sermon series this Advent on four of the characters from this genealogy: Abraham, Rahab, Mary, and David. As we look back on the lives of these models of faith, we can look forward to the ways we can be faithful in this new year. This is important because this year we are doing a little looking back in order to move forward. Beginning with our awesome Revels concert on December 4th at 6 pm, we celebrate our 25th anniversary! Throughout this year we will be looking back at 25 years of faithful ministry and looking forward to many more.
This Sunday we kick off Advent by remembering Abraham. Abraham is the father of many faiths. He reminds us of God's faithfulness to us. I can think of no better way to proclaim such faithfulness than by showing it in a baptism. At the 9:30 service, we will celebrate the baptism of Jonah Murray.
I pray the beginning of this Advent season finds you hopeful.
Peace,
Jon
Pastor Jon
jgnelson1985@gmail.com
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VERSES AND PRAYERS
Now the Lord said to Abram, 'Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.' --Genesis 12:1-2
God of Abraham: You call people out of their comfort zones to lives of faithfulness. You bless those you call with your presence, so they might be a blessing to others. On this day, let us listen to our lives for that calling of yours. For you call all of us. You bless us in seen and unseen ways. Embolden us, as you did Abraham, to be a blessing--a gift--to others. Amen.
Hoping against hope, [Abraham] believed that he would become 'the father of many nations,' according to what was said, 'So numerous shall your descendants be.' --Romans 4:18
God of all generations: It is sometimes hard to hope. Especially when we have been disappointed, hurt, disillusioned, or afraid, it is hard to look forward in faith. But we have as our model, Abraham, who had much hope when it seemed foolish. In these days, may your Spirit fill us with faith that we might hope for what seems impossible. God of kept promises, keep us hopeful for the world you love. Amen.
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N
TES FOR YOU
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 Wishing you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving! I am especially thankful for Ark and Dove this year. I look forward to sharing our Advent music with you beginning this Sunday and am especially looking forward to Christmas Revels on December 4th at 6:00pm.
Love,
Rebecca
rebeccaebell@gmail.com
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PLANNING FOR JOYFUL MINISTRY
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 ADVENT SERIES The Gospel of Matthew begins with Jesus' genealogy. We usually skip over this long list. However, there are many persons mentioned who are models of faith. This Advent season Pastors Tim and Jon will be preaching on four models of faith from this genealogy.
Advent 1: Abraham- The Father of Faith
Advent 2: Rahab- The Faithful Ally
Advent 3: Mary- The Mother Expectant
Advent 4: David- The Fumbling, Faithful King
We believe that in looking at these characters, we can learn more about faithful living. Pastor Jon will lead a class on these characters on
Thursday nights at 7 pm, starting on December 1.
We look forward to celebrating this season with you. Questions? Pastor Jon, jgnelson1985@gmail.com.
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ADVENT DEVOTIONAL BOOKLETS FROM THE PCUSA PEACEMAKING PROGRAM are now available in the church lobby. Proclaiming the Good News of God's Peace features scripture, prayer, and reflections on mass incarceration and immigration detention. There is a devotion for each day from November 27th through Christmas Day.
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CHRISTMAS REVELS
Mark your calendars for the Second Annual Christmas Revels, Sunday, December, 4th, 6:00 pm. All are invited to share in singing and stories and the Joy of Christmas. Amy Stavely, amy@stavely.org.
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CATCH THE JOY!
The Stewardship team is pleased to announce that our Catch The Joy! ministry plans for 2017 continue to go well.
To date we have received 71 pledges including 13 new pledges, 24 increased pledges and 6 new households committing to EFT.
If you have not yet pledged, please bring your pledge card to worship on Sunday. And no worries if you have misplaced your card, we have extras at church.
-- Amy Carskadon, Discipleship Elder, amy.carskadon@gmail.com.
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EQUIPPING THE SAINTS Join us for Equipping the Saints, on Wednesday, December 7th, from 6:30-8:30, in the Marshall Room. More information to come. Chick-Fil-A will be provided for dinner. You can sign up in the lobby, and childcare will be provided upon request. Please contact Sam Dewey with any questions: samanthadewey@gmail.com.
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 CHURCH GROUNDS WINTERIZATION
Saturday, December 3rd, 8:00 am-12:00 pm
is Ark and Dove's church grounds winterization. We will be raking, weeding, repairing pot holes, trimming bushes along the parking lot and driveway, and placing snowplow stakes around the parking lot. Lots of opportunities to feel good in getting a job done right! We ask that you please bring tools, gloves and anything else you feel will help prepare our church home and hearts for welcoming the Advent Season and Christmas. Excited to join the team? Please contact Ryan Stavely, ryan@stavely.org or Tony Hoxie, anthony.hoxie@gmail.com.
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PREPARING OUR CHURCH HOME 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 $5-$10 dollars. Forms are available in the church bulletin and in the lobby. If you have any questions, please contact Paula Griggs at 443-510-6687 or paulagriggs32@gmail.com.
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GRIEF AND THE HOLIDAYS
Pastor Tim Stern and Linnie Girdner will be facilitating our annual Grief and the Holidays session on Tuesday, November 29th at 7pm. Please sign up in the lobby or you're also welcome to just show up. Any questions, contact Linnie Girdner at Lkgirdner@comcast.net or 410-999-7892.
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Church Leadership Retreat
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PLANNING FOR JOYFUL MINISTRY
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CHURCH LEADERSHIP RETREAT
Planning for Joyful Ministry in 2017 and beyond!
Friday, January 6, 6:00 pm to Saturday, January 7, 2:00 pm at Bon Secours, Marriottsville, MD. Overnight rate is $160 for single occupancy and $214 for double occupancy. Includes dinner, breakfast, lunch and snacks. Check-in time is 3:00 pm, dinner starts at 6:00 pm, and the program will begin at 7:15 pm. Reserve your space by filling out a registration form today (lobby bulletin board). Questions? Pastor Tim, timsstern@gmail.com.
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PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT for Dot Bruno; Dick Baily; Christy Yeager's mother, Linda Jordan; Claire Henderson's father; Barbara Reynolds mother, Ruth Campbell; Chip Burnett; Abbey Boudreau; Joe and Ann Devers; Laura Talbert; Laurie Barrow and her father and mother; Nora Chidlow; Ann Hirschy; Mary Benson; Dot Forloines; Dot Forloines' friend; Henry Duncan; friends of the Stantons, Pat Smith and Gary Finzel; Helene Marchand-Stancil's parents, Paul and Mimi Marchand; Ray Mosella; Judy Cooper's sister, Barb Eardley and brother-in-law Bill Eardley; Linnie Girdner's friend, Rose Dorrell; Scott Howe's friend, Eric Diana; Mary Stum's sister, Barbara Kendig; Breinny Mosella's friend, Emma; Joel Davie's father-in-law, Richard Mensi; Pat Stanton's uncles, Bob Berg and Hallie Hawn; Ron Stanton's aunt, Ruth; Ellen Makar's father, Don Erickson; Bruce and Karen Sanders' granddaughter, Hannah Algoet; Sue Hanburger's friend, Kim; Janet Dabbs' sister, Diane Maloy; Winter Relief Guests.
PRAYERS OF GUIDANCE AND STRENGTH for a young man battling addiction.
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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