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All are welcome as we celebrate the Third Sunday of Easter at both the 9:30 Traditional and 11:00 Contemporary Worship Services!
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MESSAGE FROM PASTOR TIM
Dear Friends and Members of Ark and Dove,
Thank you for your generous stewardship and your up-to-date pledging in 2017. Although the Session may have overestimated the amount of un-pledged giving we will receive in 2017, pledged giving is actually a little ahead, which is just awesome. A portion of your tithes and offerings goes each week to an organization in Guatemala called CEDEPCA. The Presbytery of Baltimore has a partnership with CEDEPCA and our support of the Shared Giving (mission) portion of the work of Baltimore Presbytery in channeled to this important Ministry.
CEDEPCA, the
Protestant Center for Pastoral Studies in Central America, is an educational non-profit that works to transform lives by offering education, accompaniment and safe reflection spaces to women and men of diverse Christian traditions and communities. Our Mission co-worker, Karla Koll, partnered for many years with CEDEPCA before she moved to a call in Costa Rica, so we have a decade long connection.
CEDEPCA has four areas of focus. Disaster Assistance in a country prone to hurricanes, earthquakes and volcanic activity. Women's ministry in a culture that is macho and sexist and has a significant level of femicide. Ecumenical Protestant Theological Education for local church leaders. And Intercultural Encounters. Follow this link for details:
http://www.cedepca.us/programs.html
Laura Wilougby and I will join about eight others from the Presbytery of Baltimore for one of these Intercultural Encounters, and we leave (for a week), very early on Monday morning. We will be traveling with Pastors, Elders and members of Harundale, First of Annapolis, Trinity (Baltimore), First of Cumberland, Chestnut Grove and Knox (Baltimore) Presbyterian churches. One of the reasons I am traveling to Guatemala again is to become knowledgeable about situations that lead to immigration to the United States.
We ask that you keep us in your prayers as we undertake this pilgrimage. And perhaps you can pray about traveling with the Presbytery to Guatemala yourself. These intercultural encounters happen at least annually.
Peace of Christ,
Pastor Tim
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VERSE AND PRAYERS
Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?"
- Luke 24:31-32
Morning Prayer
Lord you are in this place, fill us with your power, cover us with your peace, show us your presence. Lord help us to know, we are in your hands, we are under your protection, we are covered by your love. Lord we ask you today, to deliver us from evil, to guide us in our travels, to defend us from all harm. Lord give us now, eyes to see the invisible, ears to hear your call, hands to do your work, and hearts to respond to your love.
Evening Prayer
In the silence of the stars, in the quiet of the hills, in the heaving of the sea, speak Lord. In the stillness of this room, in the calming of my mind, in the longing of my heart, speak, Lord. In the voice of a friend, in the chatter of a child, in the words of a stranger, speak, Lord. In the opening of a book, in the looking at a film, in the listening to music, speak, Lord. For your servant listens.
- Tides and Seasons by David Adam
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N
TES FOR YOU
Please join us this Sunday, as we sing a beautiful offertory piece from our cantata, "Resurrection Alleluias."
The entire cantata will be presented on May 21st by our amazing choir and orchestra. We will also have a beautiful prelude this week sung by Wendy Wellington, and accompanied by Amy Stavely on the flute. I look forward to seeing you all there!
Rebecca
rebeccaebell@gmail.com
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Many opportunities await you!
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SPAGHETTI DINNER! Mangiate!
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SPAGHETTI DINNER FUNDRAISER Don't forget!
Our Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser is TONIGHT, April 28th! You won't get something this good in
Little Italy -- Christy Yeager has cooked up a sauce that rivals a night in Naples! Check your tickets for your seating time.
Mangiate!
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YARD SALE Saturday, May 6 from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm It's time for the annual church yard sale! Proceeds will go toward youth summer mission trips. We welcome your gently used clothing & shoes, various household items, books, DVDs, toys, games, and working electronic items. Donations may be brought to the Calvin Room one week prior to the sale beginning on Sunday, April 30 after the 11:00 service. Please contact Amy Tardiff itsmemim@gmail.com with questions about the sale.
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Transformations: The Capital Savings Fund Campaign
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WELCOME TO TRANSFORMATIONS! Transformations... changes, opportunities, growth... all good things, right? But what does that have to do with Ark and Dove? Transformations is the name of our new campaign to save for a building expansion -- an expansion that will allow us to grow and evolve to meet the needs of our congregation and our community in ways that we can't right now. The transformation we envision will provide us with fellowship space to accommodate larger groups for receptions, funerals, community outreach meetings and more. It will provide showers, so that we can better meet the needs of our winter relief guests, or host groups from out of town or families in temporary need. It will provide more adult classroom and meeting space for continued spiritual growth. It will improve the Sunday morning worship and fellowship experience through improvements to the lobby and sanctuary and relocation of the office spaces. There will be much more communication coming from the Transformations team in the weeks ahead, but for now, we want you to imagine the possibilities for what this church could be if we take this step of faith to... transform. Steve Debus, steven.debus89@gmail.com
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NEW MEMBERS/INQUIRERS CLASS Saturday, May 13th, 8:30am thru 12:30pm. Please join us for a New Members/Inquirers Class where you can meet other people who have been visiting Ark and Dove and enjoy breakfast and fellowship. This "no obligation" class is just for you if you want to learn more about Ark and Dove and what it means to be a member. We'll provide breakfast and childcare. Hope to see you there! Sign-up sheet in the lobby, or email Donna Anderson, Outreach and Connection Elder, donna.anderson30@aol.com.
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Stephen Minister Training
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STEPHEN MINISTRY Stephen Ministers are members of our congregation who are specially trained to provide one-to-one Christian care to people in our congregation and community experiencing challenges in life -- grief, loneliness, divorce, hospitalization, disability, job loss and many other difficulties.
Are you interested in learning more about becoming a Stephen Minister? There will be information sessions on May 31at 7:00 pm, and on June 4 after both services. Our Stephen Leaders Laurie Barrow and Kelly Burnett will host these 3 events. If you have an interest in learning more about this ministry, please plan to attend one of them. If you cannot attend any of the sessions, but are interested in learning more please contact the leaders and one of them will be happy to set up a time to meet with you. Training for the new class of ministers will begin on September 18, 2017. Laurie Barrow, Stephen Minister, barrowfl@aol.com.
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EMPATHY, CARING AND SERVICE
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THE NOMINATING TEAM NEEDS YOUR INPUT Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send and who will go for us?" And I said, "Here I am; send me!" Isaiah 6. As this year's Nominating Team starts its path of search and discernment, we are faced with a unique and urgent need -- two Deacons are moving away soon and won't complete the final year of their term. Do you know someone with the gifts of empathy, caring and service that would make a good Deacon? If so we ask that you pass along your ideas to one of the Nominating Team members: Steve Debus (smcw@debus.name), Jim Cooper, Lindsey Hoxie, Nicole Howe, Julie Devers or Laura Willoughby Perry.
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YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT HABITAT TRIP
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HABITAT MISSION
This summer, June 25-30, the Older Youth (16 years and
older) and Young Adult Habitat Trip will be with the Salem County Habit for Humanity in New Jersey. Please contact me to register for this opportunity in mission. Pastor Tim, timsstern@gmail.com.
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PUTTING FAITH INTO PRACTICE
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COMPASSION, PEACE & JUSTICE TRAINING
You have been told, O mortal, what is good, and what the Lord requires of you: Only to do justice and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 I attended the Compassion, Peace, and Justice Training Day on April 21st. The Presbyterian Church (USA) offers this training once a year in connection with the Ecumenical Advocacy Days. Of the many workshops, I chose "Providing Sanctuary: Why, How, if not us, Who?" "Advocacy and Organizing 101," and "Funding the Movement: Social Justice and Stewardship."
The training renewed my energy to work for social justice issues. It also gave me a few new ideas. I invite you to contact me, Shelley Franklin (
shelleyfranklin@vwrld.net), to talk more about the training.
I also attended the training. These trainings always remind me of what smart, talented, and committed people the national office of PC(USA) has on staff, and that they are ready to help congregations move forward on issues important to us. I attended the workshop on "Providing Sanctuary" as well as ones on "Creating Spaces of Welcome: Acting in Solidarity with Refugees and Immigrants of all Faiths and Nationalities" and "White Folks' Work: Strategies to Disrupt Racism."
I was most impressed with how Presbyterian churches are putting their faith into practice within the Sanctuary Movement, which has evolved in response to the immigration/deportation crisis. To learn more about
Sanctuary, see
tinyurl.com/OPWSanctuary or contact me, Linnie Girdner, at
Lkgirdner@comcast.net.
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ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING
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ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING If you haven't made your gift towards this offering yet, it's not too late; we will continue to collect this offering over the next few weeks.
These gifts are used by the Presbyterian Church (USA) to support the Self Development of People, the Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA). Christine Caufield-Noll, Mission Elder, ccnmission@outlook.com
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CAP WEST COUNTY'S FOOD PANTRY
Featured item for April is CEREAL (raisin bran, grape nuts, muesli, kashi, etc.) Please drop off food items in the Mission Zone bin. Thank you for your donations!
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SPRING SMALL GROUPS COMING SOON!
Word by Word
will continue to be the topic in the Spirited Sisters Group, led by Kim Champagne. Open to men and women, the group will meet on Saturdays at 9 am on May 13. The words for the first meeting are Receive and Enjoy. The group will decide together on the words for the second meeting. You need not have participated in the Lenten Study to join in. Let Kim know if you want to borrow a book or if you have any questions at kim.champagne@gmail.com.
Seeking Refuge: On the Shores of the Global Refugee Crisis,
by experts from World Relief, will be the focus of a new small group in response to the congregation's interest and activity in supporting refugees. Facilitated by Linnie Girdner, this group will meet on Tuesdays at 7 pm on May 9, and May 23 to read the first half of the book. The second half will be the topic for a fall small group. (Signing up for the spring group does not commit you to the fall group.) Contact: Linnie at Lkgirdner@comcast.net.
Presbyterian 101
is the offering led by Pastor Jon, jgnelson1985@gmail.com, Tuesdays at 7pm on May 2, 9, and 16 in the Marshall Room. Are you wondering what it means to be a Presbyterian? Please sign up in the lobby to join in this light and interactive study on being Presbyterian.
- May 2: What's our story? (Presbyterian History)
- May 9: What do we believe? (Presbyterian Theology)
- May 16: How are we organized? (Presbyterian Polity)
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TIME TO CLAIM YOUR BEVERAGE CUP
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CLAIM YOUR SPECIAL BEVERAGE CUPS! We have a wonderfully large collection of special beverage cups in the kitchen. If you've left yours behind, it's time to claim it! All those abandoned will be donated. Thank you!
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PRAYER CONCERNS
Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:
PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT
for Bob Johns; Carol Saylor; Josh Ederheimer's father, Stanley; John Boswell; Frances Keyes; Joan Berry's son, Bryan; Doug Walcutt's aunt, Vicky Goodnough; Lori Kronser's father, Cliff Corn; Donna Anderson's mother, Martha; Joshua Anthis; Christy Yeager's mother, Linda Jordan; Barbara Reynolds mother, Ruth Campbell; Chip Burnett; David Chidlow's mother, Betty Jayne Chidlow; Dot Forloines; Dot Forloines' brother, Jack; Henry Duncan; Helene Marchand-Stancil's mother, Mimi; Judy Cooper's sister, Barb Eardley; Mary Benson; Mary Stum's sister, Barbara Kendig; Ellen Makar's father, Don Erickson; Scott Howe's father, Ron; Laura Willoughby's father, Norman; Cindy and Dave Oquist's son, Chris; Grant Kirby;
Pat Stanton's Aunt Evelyn and friend, Debbie;
the Solano family; Patty Tucker's father, John; Kenji Nishikawa's friend, Drew DeArmond; Robert Schultz and Dick and Carol Baily.
THE LOVE AND SYMPATHY OF THE CONGREGATION
is extended to the family and friends of Avery, age 6, who recently died of complications from a concussion.
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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