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MESSAGE FROM PASTOR JON
Dear Friends and Members of Ark and Dove,
Lent is approaching! On Tuesday, February 28 at 6:30 pm we will celebrate an old tradition called Shrove Tuesday. We will have a feast of pancakes and sides just before we head into our Lenten disciplines. There will be a sign-up sheet in the lobby for you to make contributions to the meal. This is a really fun time--a great time to stuff your face with carbs and sugar and bacon fat with friends! Please join us.
The following day, Wednesday March 1, we will have our Ash Wednesday service at 7 pm. I have to say, I did not grow up observing Ash Wednesday and it has become one of the more meaningful worship services for me. I encourage you to begin this season of contemplation with this special experience.
During Lent, we are encouraging you to read "Word by Word: A Daily Spiritual Practice" by Marilyn McEntyre as a daily devotion. As a congregation, we will be reflecting on a set of words that will deepen our journey of faith. Small groups are open to help us deepen our reflection in community. Books will be available for purchase this Sunday for $14. Please talk to me or Linnie Girdner (lkgirdner@comcast.net), if you have any questions. You can read more about this opportunity below.
Throughout Lent, we will have Taize services on each Wednesday night at 7:00 pm. These contemplative services are led by the many gifted worship leaders we have at Ark and Dove. Taize services are great opportunities to pause mid-week for worship, prayer, and silent meditation. Each service is 20-30 minutes long. If you would like to read some Scripture or lend your creative talents, please contact Paul Doughty (padough@verizon.net).
I hope you will join us this Lenten season in worship, fellowship, and prayer where we will grow in friendship and faith. I think if you need some spiritual refreshment and rejuvenation, you will find it here.
Peace,
Pastor Jon
jgnelson1985@gmail.com
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VERSE AND PRAYERS
Let us come into God's presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to the Lord with songs of praise! -Psalm 95:2
God of goodness and grace: We are made to worship--to be thankful and joyous in your presence. We are not always full of praise and thanksgiving. Our days often make it difficult to recognize your glory around us. But at this moment, we take the time to acknowledge your presence and reflect on all the good things that come from you. In this moment, help us to give thanks and praise--even if for now it is only a "soft and broken hallelujah." In our words and deeds this day, may we worship you in truth. Amen.
What should be done then, my friends? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. -1 Corinthians 14:26
Lord God: It takes all kinds of gifts and talents to worship you as a community. You have given us many unique abilities and perspectives to praise you. Give us the wisdom to recognize the good gifts you have bestowed upon us. Grant us the courage to use our gifts and talents for building up your church. May we serve to uplift each other at Ark and Dove with creativity and love. Amen.
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The Six Great Ends of the Church is the mission statement of our denomination, and has been a part of our church constitution since 1910:
1. The Proclamation of the Gospel for the Salvation of Humankind
2. The Shelter Nurture and Spiritual Fellowship of the Children of God
3. The Maintenance of Divine Worship
4. The Preservation of the Truth
5. The Exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the World
6. The Promotion of Social Righteousness
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SILVER CELEBRATION: 25 YEARS OF FAITH, FAMILY AND FRIENDS Ark and Dove is planning many activities to celebrate our 25th anniversary in 2017. Among the activities are a 25th anniversary celebration worship service on October 22 (mark your calendar now!) followed by a lunch/brunch with lots of activities taking place that day. We are also planning a new church picture directory to come out this year; a video; church members sharing memories in worship and the arkive; new banners; a mission project; a prayer vigil; an updated church history shared on bulletin boards and many other activities. If you would like to share your time and talents on any of these activities, please contact Donna Anderson at donna.anderson30@aol.com There are many short and long term projects to help out with.
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GLEN BURNIE OFFICE OF WORLD RELIEF IS CLOSING I have just learned that the World Relief office in Glen Burnie is closing. Please see the Press Release for more information. This event will obviously necessitate a change in how we welcome refugees. As new opportunities arise, I will share them with you. Christine Caufield-Noll, Mission Elder, ccnmission@outlook.com.
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ANTIRACISM AND SOCIAL EQUITY
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LENTEN DEVOTIONS Join us this Lenten season for an opportunity to deepen your spiritual life with daily devotions! As a congregation, we are reading sections from "
Word by Word: A Daily Spiritual Practice" by Marilyn McEntyre. The book guides us on daily meditations on one word or phrase for a week. The meditations are rich and illuminating. Here are our weekly words to meditate upon for Lent:
March 5-11
Listen
March 12-18
Let Go
March 19-25
Resist
March 26-April 1
Be Still
April 2-8
Dare
We are putting together small groups throughout Lent that will discuss these themes each week. You can sign up for those in the lobby. Starting this Sunday, we will have books available to you. They are $14 dollars a book. They can also be found on
Amazon. If you cannot commit to a small group, you are still encouraged to pick up a copy of the devotional book and read along with us. If you are looking for a Lenten discipline or spiritual practice, this is a great opportunity to enrich your faith. Questions? See Pastor Jon (
jgnelson1985@gmail.com) or Linnie Girdner (
lkgirdner@comcast.net).
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PARENTS NIGHT OUT! YOUTH FUNDRAISER
Parents, the next Parents Night Out (PNO) event is tomorrow night, Saturday, February 18, 2017. It's only $20 per child ($10 per additional child) for 4hrs of childcare!!! The PNO will be from 5pm-9pm and includes dinner, movies, and activities. Bring a snack to share. If you'd like to sign up, check out the sign-up sheets on the board in the lobby. Or you can sign up online: https://form.jotform.com/70254096612958. All proceeds from these PNO will go to send our youth to the GenOn Conference and the Youth Mission Trips. Questions? Please contact Laura Talbert, lauramay77@aol.com.
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All youth in 8th grade or above (for the '16-'17 school year), all college aged young adults, and all "young at heart" adults are invited to the GenOn Youth Summit at Wheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling, WV.
Sunday, July 16th (we leave from A&D, 8:30am) to Saturday, July 22nd (we arrive back at lunchtime). This is an opportunity to grow in FAITH, and have LOTS of fun!
The GenOn Youth Summit is a week-long national gathering where Christians from many denominations and areas come together to integrate the four essential parts of LOGOS:
- WORSHIP - we gather each morning for a youth centered worship service -- yes, every day, and it's AWESOME! We also develop Worship leadership through choir, prayer writing, drama, etc.
- RECREATION - we have lots of fun in small groups we choose, as a part of the registration process, to get active and to develop relationships with each other.
- BIBLE STUDY - we explore our faith together through theme-based studies in small, age-level groups.
- FAMILY TIME/FELLOWSHIP - there are LOTS of opportunities for FELLOWSHIP at Summit. We eat all meals together in the University cafeteria. The afternoons give us opportunities to participate in other supervised activities with either our church group or with other small groups. Our evenings are filled with special All-Summit events.
- PLUS, and added bonus -- A DAY OF MISSION -- we participate in various activities to support the local area, which hosts our gathering. Details are still being worked out for this year, but in the past, we have done major disaster clean-up, helped restore a community path/park, helped the elderly, helped at food pantries, helped at clothing stores to benefit local Christian charities... just to name a few!
Early Bird Registration is $425 per person, which includes a $125 deposit that is
due by 3/1/17. Forms due To Kelly B. by Sunday, February 26th to qualify for the Early Bird Rate. Regular Registration is $450 per person, also including a $125 deposit that is
due by 4/1/17. Forms due To Kelly B by Sunday, 26th to qualify for the Regular Rate. Late Registrations will be accepted, based on space, at a rate of $475 per person. FINAL PAYMENTS are due by June 1st.
NOTE: We have also reserved a Coach bus to transport the group, which will add a little bit more to the final cost. This cost is TBD as soon as we know how many people we're traveling with. FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND: Please contact Pastor Jon with offers of help or great ideas! Questions? Feel free to contact Kelly Burnett (kellyb327@aol.com, 410-544-5779 home, 410-320-7845 cell) to get a registration package or visit www.genonministries.org and click on the Summer Youth Summits link anytime!
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 PUBLISH IT! The Friendly Seniors are sponsoring a tea time event on 'Tell and PUBLISH Your Story' for ALL age groups interested in publishing. Three of our local authors will recount their experiences publishing their stories and answer your questions. Their books will be available for sale and signing. So come and meet our authors--Amy Benson, Briah Ryan, and Irene Kucholick--and learn about their stories and publishing options open to you. This Sunday, February 19, 3-5 pm at Riconcito Mexicano. It should be an informative time for all. Please sign up in the lobby of Ark and Dove or contact Joan Berry (berry962@verizon.net, 410-672-5237) or Frances Keyes (frkeyes1005@gmail.com, 410-874-7253).
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GRIEF GROUP The next meeting of the Healing through Grief small group will be on Thursday, March 2nd, 7 pm - 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 contact Linnie Girdner at 410-999-7892 or lkgirdner@comcast.net.
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DEACON ALL CALL On Sunday, February 26th, the Board of Deacons will be conducting their annual all-call. They will be reaching out to the congregation to see how everyone is doing! Be on the lookout that afternoon for a call from your deacon. Greg Makar, Moderator of Deacons, glmakar@juno.com.
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PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT for Donna Anderson's mother, Martha; Joshua Anthis; Kim Schroen; Zach Murray; Ray Mosella; Lance Bergersen; Ann Hirschy; Rob Yeager's mother, Rebekah Jennings; Dot Bruno; Christy Yeager's mother, Linda Jordan; Barbara Reynolds mother, Ruth Campbell; Chip Burnett; Laura Talbert; Fred Barrow's nephew, Sam Jackson; David Chidlow's mother, Betty Jayne Chidlow; Dot Forloines; Henry Duncan; Helene Marchand-Stancil's parents, Paul and Mimi Marchand; Judy Cooper's sister, Barb Eardley; Mary Benson; Mary Stum's sister, Barbara Kendig; Pat Stanton's aunt, Evelyn, and uncle, Hallie Hawn; Ellen Makar's father, Don Erickson; Janet Dabbs' sister, Diane Maloy; Paul Doughty's mother, Ruth; Scott Howe's father, Ron; Laura Willoughby's father, Norman; Laurie Barrrow's sister-in-law Cathy Beckwith; Josh Ederheimer's father, Stanley; Laura Doughty's cousin; Kathy Miller's friend, Maggie; Ann Marie Farley; Sue Hanburger's friend, Kim; and Dick and Carol Baily.
PRAYERS OF SUPPORT AND STRENGTH go out to a mother in treatment for addiction.
THE LOVE AND PRAYERS OF THE CONGREGATION go out to the Stern and Myers family on the death of Tim's uncle, William Myers.
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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