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All are invited to the Fourth Sunday in Lent, where we will be exploring our Lenten theme -- "Be Still."
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MESSAGE FROM PASTOR TIM
Dear Friends and Members of Ark and Dove,
Our love and congratulations go out to Jon and Christina Nelson on the birth of their son Elias Augustine, born on March 21, 2017 at 7lbs 8 oz and 19.5 inches. Naturally sleep is in short supply, so keep them in your prayers. This is our second birth this month. Thomas and Nicolette Ocloo brought three week old Kelsie to church on Sunday. Both babies are beautiful.
This Sunday is the fourth Sunday in Lent and the sermon theme is "Be Still" based on the chapter with the same name in
Marilyn McEntyre's book
Word by Word. McEntyre reminds us that we can find things in silence that we miss when we chatter and race at full speed. Some of our hurry scurry, "some of our watchfulness is rooted in habits of fear.... Those habits can be healed by the deep reassuring, patient love of God given by someone who knows us and sees our need."
On the fourth Sunday in Lent, the liturgical color of rose or pink is added to or replaces the purple. Even in this season of introspection and focus on the cross of Christ - and the cross that oppressed people bear everyday - we take a daylong break to celebrate God's love, joy and grace. Some religious guides says it is OK to relax the Lenten discipline on this Sunday.
May you find a moment of stillness and rest this weekend.
Peace of Christ,
Pastor Tim
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VERSE AND PRAYERS
In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.
-Mark 1:35
My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
-Thomas Merton
God, give me grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.
Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen.
-
Rheinhold Neibuhr, circa 1951
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WE CHOOSE WELCOME
PROTECT WELCOME & RESTORE HOPE
TAKE ACTION TODAY: Tell Congress & the White House that you OPPOSE the Administration's executive order that suspends refugee resettlement & discriminates against people from certain countries
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N
TES FOR YOU
It's time for the children's musical! Is your child interested in being a part of it? Whether they want to act, sing, help with costumes, set or sound, we have plenty of opportunities to put this great show together. Have you always wanted to direct or act in a musical? I am also in need of a director for our musical and I am also in need of one adult actor- male or female. If you are interested, I'd love to have your help!!
We have a new piano and voice teacher at Ark and Dove named
Annie Gill. Annie is a friend of mine, and she is an incredible musician and lovely person. You can find more information for Annie on our
webpage and on the bulletin board in the lobby. If you or your child is interested in signing up for lessons, you can contact myself, admin or Annie directly for information.
And finally, I am sure you have seen the news that baby Elias Augustine Nelson was born on Tuesday. He is so precious, and I know that I join with the entire church in saying a huge congratulations to Jon and Christina on the birth of their beautiful son! I, personally, can't wait to have him in Children's Choir :-)
 Love,
Rebecca
rebeccaebell@gmail.com
Happy Friday!
And happier welcome to the new addition to the Nelson family! This Sunday, the band has a beautiful song to share called
Be Still, by the husband and wife super team, Torwalt & Torwalt. Here is a
preview for this Sunday!
God bless,
Mark
mark.edwards.guitarist@hotmail.com
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CONTEMPLATIVE WORSHIP FOR LENT
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TAIZE CONTEMPLATIVE WORSHIP Many teams in our church have pooled their talents together to offer contemplative worship services during Lent. All are invited to Taize this
Wednesday night, March 29, as the Men's Group leads. We continue to prepare our hearts and minds during this sacred Lenten time, when
Logos Youth lead on April 5.
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HOLY WEEK FLOWERS The Flower Team is accepting donations for Holy week flowers and palms. 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 paulagriggs32@gmail.com or 443-510-6687.
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EQUIPPING THE SAINTS Calling all elders, deacons, team leads, and those individuals who want to get involved! Please join us for Equipping the Saints training on
Wednesday, April 5th, from 6:30-8:30, in the Marshall Room. Our topic for discussion will be "Leading Group Prayer." Chipotle will be provided for dinner. You can sign up in the lobby; childcare will be provided upon request. Please contact Sam Dewey with any questions: samanthadewey@gmail.com.
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Donations Needed for Ark and Dove's Refugee Family
Ark and Dove's congregation is assisting its first refugee family, the Solanos (written about in past e-Arkives as the Garcia family). Soon we will have more information on how you can directly assist the family, even meet them and provide a warm welcome to the Anne Arundel County community. Meanwhile, the family is still in need of material donations, particularly for clothes:
- Girls' spring and summer clothing in size 5/6 and 7/8
- Men's clothing: shirt size small or medium and pant size 32 waist
- Women's clothing, particularly maternity clothes. Griselda is a size 4 petite normally, she is 5.5 months along now
- Got baby items? Great! Save them (or contact me to store them for you) for a baby shower to happen in May.
You can donate these items in the mission bins located in the hallway, or put larger items (labeled) inside the room to the right of the Prentiss-Whitman room. Also, donations of grocery cards (Giant or Safeway) or Target cards, would be very welcomed. It turns out the family cannot get SNAP assistance until Griselda receives her official work social security card in two months. They are relying on food banks until then. All of these food banks have very American canned goods, but of course the food they are used to and know how to cook is Mexican. So if you happen across any
tiendas in the area or Mexican ingredients feel free to buy and bring them in.
The Ark and Dove congregation has already been so warm and caring and inviting to this family, and they thank you profusely for all you have donated so far. Got questions? Contact Laura Willoughby Perry at 410-507-7129 or laura@laurajanewilloughby.com
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ANTIRACISM AND SOCIAL EQUITY - Upcoming Events
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Upcoming events of possible interest:
- Presbyterian Church USA has partnered with national Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) to help move our antiracism policy and commitment forward. SURJ of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County will have its next monthly meeting on Saturday, April 1st from 3-5 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Annapolis.
- First Presbyterian Church in Annapolis is the place to go for a Town Hall style meeting with Senator Ben Cardin from 1 pm - 2:30 pm on Sunday, April 2nd. The subject is Federal Immigration Issues/Refugees. These are the only issues that will be covered in this non-partisan meeting. As we have committed to helping a refugee family, this might be a way for us to learn as well as have our voices heard.
- This is a good time to weigh in on the next adult small group relating to antiracism and social equity that would start after Easter. One possibility is Waking Up White: And Finding Myself in the Story of Race by Deborah Irving. Another is Seeking Refuge: On the Shores of the Global Refugee Crisis by Stephan Bauman, et al (all experts from World Relief). Suggestions for future studies are always welcome. Let us know what you think.
Linnie Girdner Paula Sparks
410-999-7892 443-623-1169
Lkgirdner@comcast.net trebleclef48@gmail.com
Co-leaders of the Antiracism and Social Equity Team
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CAP WEST COUNTY'S FOOD PANTRY Featured item for March is RICE (wild rice, short grain brown rice, brown basmati, etc.) Please drop off food items in the Mission Zone bin. Thank you for your donations!
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PRAYER CONCERNS Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:
PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT for Colin Connally; Adrienne and Zach Murray; Alta Paronto's father, Bob Haight; Doug Walcutt's aunt, Vicky Goodnough; Mike Davie's stepmother, Reverend Kathleen Davie; Lori Kronser; Lori Kronser's father, Cliff Corn; Donna Anderson's mother, Martha; Adell Gaurin; Joshua Anthis; Rob Yeager's mother, Rebekah Jennings; Christy Yeager's mother, Linda Jordan; Barbara Reynolds mother, Ruth Campbell; Chip Burnett; David Chidlow's mother, Betty Jayne Chidlow; Dot Forloines; Henry Duncan; Helene Marchand-Stancil's parents, Paul and Mimi Marchand and nephew Alexis Morin; Judy Cooper's sister, Barb Eardley; Mary Benson; Mary Stum's sister, Barbara Kendig; Pat Stanton's aunt, Evelyn, uncle, Hallie Hawn, and nephews, Eli and Andy; 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; Laura Doughty's cousin; Cindy and Dave Oquist's son, Chris; Grant Kirby; Jason; Alex; Larry Hockman; Adell Gaurin's friend, Brian; Martha Aveluses; and Dick and Carol Baily.
PRAYERS OF SUPPORT AND STRENGTH go out to a mother in treatment for addiction; a struggling daughter; a family struggling with difficult news; a young married couple; the people in Peru who have been devastated by floods; and the Solano family.
PRAYERS OF STRENGTH AND HEALTH for Christina, Jon and Elias.
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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