|
 |
Celebrate with communion on the 1st Sunday after Christmas!
All are welcome!
Resolution Walk - canceled; Book Drive still on - bring books Sunday
|
MESSAGE FROM PASTOR Tim
Dear Friends and Members of Ark and Dove,
Deep wishes for a joyous Christmas season to you. It is church tradition to understand that the birth of Christ and his visit from shepherds occurs twelve days before the Magi present their gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. Hence at 12 days, Christmas is the shortest of all Liturgical Seasons; and yet the most celebrated. Go ahead and procrastinate on putting away your decorations. Don't let Macy's and Amazon be your guide. Christmas Starts on December 25. Let the light of Christ's birth shine in your hearts until January 6, Epiphany Day. The Church's Chrismond Christmas Tree will be fully lit this Sunday at both worship services.
Although the church year begins with Advent, The Secular New Year begins on Monday. This turning of 17 into 18 and the turning of any January digit in this 21st Century often leads people to take stock of self situation and make some plans for different paths. Maybe spiritual growth is on your mind for 2018? It is one of the Six Marks of Discipleship. Along those lines we have ideas for helping you walk that Path:
- Wednesdays - 10:00 AM Bible Study with Pastor Jon
- Every other Saturday - Women's Study, Spirited Sisters with Kim Champagne (contact Kim for next date:kim.champagne@gmail.com)
- January 19 and 20 - Adult retreat to explore faith and Spiritual Practices
- Tuesday Evenings - Book Group Called Waking up White with Pastor Tim and Paula Sparks
- Thursday Evenings small group on household finance with Rachael Tisdale and Pastor Tim
- Lenten Small Groups starting in Mid February (details to follow) Women's Retreat for Renewal - Facilitated by Christian Story Teller Tracy Radosevic, April 20-22.
(see articles below for more details on several of these opportunities)
I hope you find some of these offerings enticing and that you will take a leap of faith forward in 2018.
in Christ,Peace of Christ,
|
|
|
VERSE AND PRAYERS
Simeon took(Baby Jesus) in his arms and praised God, saying,
'Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.'
And the child's father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, 'This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed-and a sword will pierce your own soul too.'
- selected verses from Luke 2
Morning Prayer
In you, O God, I will greatly rejoice:
in speaking, I will greatly rejoice;
in silence, I will greatly rejoice;
in travels, I will greatly rejoice;
in resting, I will greatly rejoice;
in working, I will greatly rejoice;
in leisure, I will greatly rejoice;
in duties, I will greatly rejoice;
in freedom, I will greatly rejoice.
O God, my whole being exults in you,
and my life shall evermore declare your praise,
my light, my love, my joy. Amen.
Evening Prayer
Lord, let your servant sleep in peace this night
and fulfill your gracious word.
Reveal to me the salvation that you have prepared
for all people.
With Jesus Christ, help me be a light to the nations
and a sign of your glorious promise to Israel. Amen.
|
|
|
and more! Many opportunities await you!
|
N
TES FOR YOU
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I hope you all have had a wonderful holiday and were able to spend some time with your families. Thank you to everyone who helped make our Christmas Eve services so special! There was a lot of time and care that went into making each of the 4 services so wonderful, and I appreciate each and every one of you who took time out to help make them possible. I am wishing you a happy and healthy 2018!
A huge thank you to the many people who made this past Sunday possible.
God bless,
Mark
Mark.Edwards.guitarist@hotmail.com
|
|
|
RESOLUTION WALK - BOOK DRIVE
|
RESOLUTION WALK
(cancelled due to forcasted temperatures)
BOOK DRIVE:
This Sunday, December 31, bring your gently used books to services. The book drive is still on, and will benefit Sarah's House. Look for collection box in the church Lobby. This is a great way to help support our children and youth program: LOGOS. POC: Amy Tardiff, itsmemim@gmail.com
|
|
|
|
DECEMBER'S FOOD OF THE MONTH
|
C
AP WEST COUNTY FOOD PANTRY
Featured item for December is BAKING MIXES (bran muffins, Bob's red Mill pancake mix, cornbread, etc.). Please drop off food items in the Mission Zone bin. Thank you for your donations!
|
|
|
|
ALL YOUR WORTH
An Introduction to Personal Finance and More. Warren and Tyagi Claim that 30% of your household budget should be reserved for your wants. Is that even possible? How could a personal finance plan include 30% for our wants? This book and this group is for anyone who wants to gain control of his or her money once and for all, to stop worrying and start living a richer, fuller life. Pastor Tim and Rachael Tisdale will be leading a five week discussion about family finance. Rachael has worked in the past as a financial planner. Tim will provide some theological reflections on family stewardship. Together we will read and discuss All You're Worth: The Ultimate Lifetime Money Plan, by Amelia Warren Tyagi and Elizabeth Warren. The group will meet on Thursday evenings from 7:00 to about 8:30 beginning on January 18, 2018. Sign up in the lobby and buy the book and start reading. Or, see Pastor Tim - has three copies in his office.
|
|
|
|
RETREAT FOR SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT
The annual Church retreat will take place on Friday January 19, 2018 and Saturday January 20, at the Bon Secours Retreat Center, in Marriotsville, MD. Some years we do planning. Some years we do leadership development. This year our focus will be on spiritual development: prayer practices, devotional readings, bible studies, silent time, spiritual friendships, and some journaling and worship. Fresh practices for a new year. Sign up in the church lobby or email the church office admin@arkanddove.org
|
|
|
|
Antiracism and Social Equity
|
LEARNING HOW TO INTERRUPT RACISM
|
Waking Up White - Most of us are aware of the national conversation that is taking place about race. Many of us have noticed that at time the discussion gets heated. "Can't people just get along?" "Are not things better than they used to be?" Do you feel ill equipped to participate in this discussion?
Paula Sparks, trebleclef48@gmail.com, and Pastor Tim, timsstern@gmail.com, will lead a study about understanding racism for beginners: people who feel like they need to better equipped to participate in the national dialogue. We will create a safe space to learning about how to interrupt the racism that still lingers in our land and hangs over us like a stormy cloud. How can our faith shape our dialogue?
Part of our approach will be to use a study guide prepared by Reverends Denise Anderson and Jan Edmiston, co-moderators of the 222 General Assembly of the PCUSA.Together we will read and discuss the book Waking Up White, by Debby Irving. We will watch some clips and videos, explore basic vocabulary and then deep dive into some of the complicated issues. We will covenant with each other to treat each other like children of God.. By the way Rev. Anderson is black and Rev Edmiston is white. We will meet for six weeks on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 PM beginning on January 9. Sign up in the lobby and start reading. Books are available in paperback or Kindle editions. We can order you a book if you would like.
|
|
|
|
PRAYER CONCERNS
Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:
PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT
for Christy Yeager's father, Leon Jordan; Daryl Sensenig; Judy Wright; Linnie Girdner and Jan Hof;
Paul Ferrell; Ann Hirschy; Charles Lawrence; Daryle Echols; Marcia Bussey;
Sarita Barrow and her brother Rashad; Donna Anderson's brother-in-law, Tom;
Mary Beckwith; Kathy Miller; Marie Shorter; Karen Dodson; Debbie Saylor's aunt, Gail, and cousins, Ed and Jen; Nicole Howe's aunt, Linda; Bob Johns; Frances Keyes; 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; Janet Dabbs's sister, Diane Maloy; Mary Stum's sister-in-law, Sandy; Sue Hanburger's sister-in-law, Evelyn Hanburger; Kelly and Tim Stern's nephew, Hunter Field; Julia Kirby's mother, Margaret Floyd; Amy Carskadon's nephew; Ken and Jacqueline Sievers; Logan and Luke Sievers; Jason Ziegler; Brenda Figueroa;
Jon Nelson's aunt, Linda and uncle, Gene; Archer and Honor Bauman's grandmother, Jackie; Charlotte Davie's sister, Ann; Zachary Rosenthal; Erika Sealing's son, "Trip" Sealing, and grandmother, Margaret Schade; Tawes Dewyngaert; Lindsay; Carla; and Dick and Carol Baily;
someone awaiting medical test results.
PRAYERS OF COMFORT for the Englehart Family upon the death of Anne.
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
