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Come celebrate Advent with Communion, 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,
I wonder how many of us are like Charlie Brown, who says to his friend Linus: "Christmas is coming, but I don't feel happy." Several people have told me that 2016 has been particularly hard for them. The joy and gladness of the season has not yet come for some. My prayer is for an advent of joy for all of us. I hope we can sing with Mary, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior."
After all, there are several opportunities to catch the joy of this season. I caught some of it in the beautiful music and heartfelt remembrances at Christmas Revels last Sunday. In reflecting on Mary this Sunday, I think we will get a bit of the gladness that comes with expecting Christ.
On Saturday, December 17 many of us will deck ourselves in Christmas clothes and run a 5k in Piney Orchard. That will be fun, and you can still sign up. Talk to Rob Yeager (rubarb72@verizon.net). After that Children and Youth will be practicing for the Pageant and the Christmas Eve services (see Rebecca and me).
December 18th, we have traditional worship at 9:30 and the Christmas Pageant at 11 am. The music sounds wonderful! On Christmas Eve, we will join together for Children's Worship at 4 pm (including a Charlie Brown Christmas Drama), Contemporary Worship at 6 pm, and Traditional Worship at 8 pm. Please bring family and friends!
At the end of "A Charlie Brown Christmas," Charlie joins the other children in joyful singing. That is my hope for us this season. May it be so.
Peace,
Jon
Pastor Jon
jgnelson1985@gmail.com
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PRAYER
Come home to God, Emmanuel, the One who lives with us, eternally enlivening, eternally guiding.
Come home to God.
Let the remembrance of Jesus' birth captivate your heart and fill you with a longing for more.
Come home to God.
Let coming of the living God grab your attention. Set aside what does not matter. Remember the things that do.
Come home to God.
Unclutter your life.Take time to notice God's presence. Let it flood your heart.
Let it drench your soul. Let it overflow your spirit.
Come home to God. Desire nothing else. Strive with every breath for the coming of God's eternal world, with its promise of wholeness for all creation.
Come, Lord Jesus, welcome us home.
by Christine Sine
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N
TES FOR YOU
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Please join us this Sunday at 9:30 to hear beautiful music and sing some of your favorite Advent Hymns. We have a beautiful choral offertory that features Brittany Wellington on cello. Then the following Sunday, join us at 9:30 to hear a piece that Craig Sparks composed, and the Christmas Pageant at 11:00. The kids and adults have all been working very hard, and it's one that you don't want to miss!
rebeccaebell@gmail.com
 Special kudos to a couple of our youths who really stepped up and made the Christmas revels special this past Sunday! The first is Ashtyn Rosenthal, who gave her talents on the steel pan drum! Thank you for bringing the sounds of Trinidad and Tobago to Ark & Dove to give us that extra Caribbean feel on our own little Christmas Island. The second is Alexander Turse who stepped up in the last minute (1:30 pm to be exact) to play drum set and Cajon on both of the band songs in the program! It is so great to have such a wealth of talent in our youth, and even better to see them step up and really use their talents!
God Bless,
Mark
www.MarkEdwardsguitar.com
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 Pledged Income
November:
Received $25,697
Received YTD $265,135
Pledged YTD $284,903
Shortfall -$19,768
Thank you for bringing your pledges up-to-date!
~ The Finance Team
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ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS SERVICES
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You're Invited to Celebrate Advent and Christmas at Ark and Dove!
Please join us as we ready our hearts and minds for the Prince of Peace!
Sundays, December 11 & 18
9:30 and 11:00 am
Advent Worship Services
Sunday, December 18, 11:00 am
Ark and Dove's Children present the annual Christmas pageant
Saturday, December 24, Christmas Eve Services
4:00 pm Children's Service and Carols
6:00 pm Lessons and Carols with the Band
8:00 pm Lessons and Carols with the Choir
Sunday, December 25, Christmas Day
11:00 am Single Service The Nativity of Jesus Christ
Sunday, January 1st, New Year's Day
11:00 am Single Service
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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 YOUTH ACTIVITIES
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YOUTH CHRISTMAS PARTIES Julia Kirby is hosting a middle school party her house on
Sunday, December 18 from 5 pm to 7 pm. At the same time, Kelly Burnett is hosting a Christmas party for senior high youth at her house. Please bring a $5 gift for sharing. Please contact Pastor Jon for any questions (jgnelson1985@gmail.com).
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CHRISTMAS EVE CHILDREN'S SERVICE
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A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS EVE At the 4 pm Christmas Eve service, we are putting on a drama based around Charlie Brown's Christmas story. We will have practice on December 17 at 1 pm. At the same time, we will work on scenery. All are invited to participate in the drama or the artwork. We need all the help we can get to pull this off. I know it will be very fun. Please contact Pastor Jon (jgnelson1985@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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Anti-racism and Social Equity
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RACE: THE POWER OF AN ILLUSION
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ANTIRACISM AND SOCIAL EQUITY
Facing Racism: A Vision of the Intercultural Community is the title of PCUSA's
Churchwide Antiracism Policy and the theme of our next small group study. We will explore the biblical foundations for antiracism work, understand the legacy of racism in the church and in the country, and grapple with how we move toward a "new creation" for our children and future generations. Using articles and videos that are free and easily accessible, preparation for the six weekly meetings can fit into any schedule. Join facilitator Linnie Girdner, beginning on
Tuesday, January 10th at 7pm in the Ark and Dove Room. For more information, contact Linnie at 410-999-7892 or Lkgirdner@comcast.net. Look for the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board.
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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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CHRISTMAS JOY OFFERING What does the Christmas Joy Offering do? It buys a dog. Rosie, a lovable Australian labradoodle, provides more than companionship to Rev. Wendy McAninch: She also alerts her to important sounds that Wendy is unable to hear due to a chronic illness. Christmas Joy Offering receipts helped pay for Rosie's training, an expensive endeavor that Rev. Wendy couldn't afford on her own. A quarter of your gifts to the Christmas Joy Offering go to the Presbyterian Board of Pensions to benefit people like Wendy. Across the years, it's helped hundreds of current and retired church workers and their families in financial need. Another quarter of the Christmas Joy Offering receipts benefits Presbyterian-related racial ethnic schools that educate emerging leaders from underrepresented groups. The remaining half of the Offering stays here to help with the Comunidad Presbiteriana La Trinidad. Your gifts to the Christmas Joy Offering will help support our past, present, and future church leaders. Thank you from the Mission Ministry Team!
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CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY SHARING
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CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY SHARING Sign-ups for Christmas Holiday Sharing Program gift-giving and delivery will continue December 11 in the lobby. There are several more children we are committed to assist by purchasing a clothing item and another gift. Through this partnership with Social Services, we provide Christmas gifts to families in our community by sharing some of our blessings. For those already signed up, please follow all instructions on the sheet provided. We are planning to deliver to the 37 families following the 11:00 service on December 18. Alternative delivery times are fine, but we want the gifts for all children in the family delivered at the same time, and we need to track delivery arrangements for each family. Questions? Please contact Greg Makar (301-483-8255, GLMakar@juno.com) or Nicole Howe (410-868-6266, nicolehowe123@gmail.com).
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CAP WEST COUNTY'S FOOD PANTRY Featured item for December is BAKING MIXES (bran muffins, Bob's Red Mill pancake mix, etc.) Please drop off food items in the Mission Zone bin. Thank you for your donations!
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 PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT for Dot Bruno; Christy Yeager's mother, Linda Jordan; Barbara Reynolds mother, Ruth Campbell; Chip Burnett; Joe and Ann Devers; Laura Talbert; Laurie Barrow and her father and mother; Nora Chidlow; Ann Hirschy; Mary Benson; Dot Forloines; Henry Duncan; friends of the Stantons, Pat Smith and Gary Finzel; Helene Marchand-Stancil's parents, Paul and Mimi Marchand; Judy Cooper's sister, Barb Eardley and brother-in-law Bill Eardley; Mary Stum's sister, Barbara Kendig; Pat Stanton's uncles, Bob Berg and Hallie Hawn; Ron Stanton's aunt, Ruth; Ellen Makar's father, Don Erickson; Janet Dabbs' sister, Diane Maloy; Kevin Hood; Debbie Saylor's friend, Drew Beeler; Dick and Carol Baily.
PRAYERS OF GUIDANCE AND STRENGTH for a young man battling addiction and homelessness.
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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