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You're invited to celebrate the Second Sunday after Epiphany at both the 9:30 Traditional and 11 am Contemporary Worship Services, this Sunday !
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MESSAGE FROM PASTOR JON
Dear Friends and Members of Ark and Dove,
On Tuesday night, I invited our middle schoolers to share their definition of respect. We sat in a circle. Each person had a chance to speak. I was very inspired by what they said. To my left sat one of our eighth-graders. This is the way she answered, I paraphrase:
"Respect is when you listen to someone you disagree with, but you listen closely and are open to changing your mind."
Such wisdom, such truth from the young minds of our congregation. Others talked about countering bullying, telling the truth and helping people in need. Some talked about how disrespectful their peers can be. We talked about how church can be a alternative community of respect.
This is one of the reasons we do church: to be a community that embodies the values of Jesus and tries to live them in the world. I am grateful for many of our youth who are leading us in doing this.
I invite you to absorb the way of Christ in our many small group and fellowship opportunities offered below. For those interested in the church, we are holding a new members/inquirers class this Sunday and next (1/14 and1/21) from 12:15 to 2 pm, lunch and childcare provided. In addition, I ask that you support the work of our denomination in paying your per capita, which is $35. Your $35 goes to support the Presbyterian Church (USA), keeping us connected and faithful as a national church. The denomination asks that churches pay the per capita each year according to membership. Please do write your check, bring cash or pay online. You can do so
here.
Peace,
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VERSE AND PRAYER
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." -John 1:43-46
God of all: You come to us in surprising ways and strange places. Open our minds and hearts to seek and find you wherever you lead us. Forgive us for thinking you reside in familiar and safe spaces. Your son Jesus Christ came out of even Nazareth, so help us to see him in even those places we shun and neglect. May we, this day, receive the good that comes to us in Christ. Amen.
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The annual congregational meeting we will held January 28, 2018. It will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a potluck dinner.
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We have just resumed choir rehearsals! It is not too late to join our Adult Choir or Children's Choirs. If you are interested, please see me on Sunday or send me an email-
RebeccaEBell@gmail.com. We are already beginning to work on Lent and Easter music and have a lot of great pieces planned!
Rebecca
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"I believe..."
Christian Faith for Contentious Times
A four week sermon series on the Apostle's Creed:
1/21: "I believe in God..."
1/28: "I believe in Jesus Christ..."
2/4: "I believe in the Holy Spirit..."
2/11: "the holy catholic church..."
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You are invited to an opportunity to learn more about Ark and Dove and consider membership in this congregation. We will meet this Sunday and next (1/14 and 1/21) from 12:15 to 2 pm. Light lunch provided, childcare available. This is an excellent opportunity to get to know the church and the wonderful people that make it. This is a no obligation class. Let Pastor Jon know if you have any questions
(jgnelson1985@gmail.com).
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PHOTO DIRECTORY UPDATE:
Did you have your picture taken for the photo directory? If so, the pictures are available for download
here (for your use only)! In the spirit of full disclosure: there is a "buy photos " link on those pages - that is all handled through Smugmug, which is who I use for my photo printing. The cost is reasonable, and I have found the quality good for my personal uses. Neither Ark and Dove nor I receive any of the money from prints purchased through them. You are welcome to use their service or download the pictures and print them at a place of your choosing. If you have any questions or issues, contact Ryan Stavely (
ryan@stavely.org).
We are also working to schedule our 100 missing families. If you are one of these families, you will be receiving an individual email asking you to sign up to have your photo taken. As this project is now far past its due date, we would really like to finish things up so please help us out by signing up and going for scheduled appointment. There is no cost for your pictures! (Donations of $10 to offset the cost of printing are appreciated.) Please contact Julia Kirby (jukirby@deloitte.com) if you have any questions.
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Each church shares a covenant with their General Assembly, Synod and Presbytery to pay their per capita apportionment in full.
The church is a community that depends on community-wide support, and the per capita offering is a way of providing that support. Thus,
each member of Ark and Dove is encouraged to assist with per capita. This year the apportionment for each member is: $35. Have you made your per capita gift this year? Your per capita can be conveniently paid on line here, or drop in in the offering basket (blue envelopes in seat backs) on Sunday morning. Questions? Alta Paronto, Treasurer, (alparonto@gmail.com), or Wendy Wellington, Administration Elder (swt520@verizon.net)
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JANUARY RETREAT FOR SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT
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The
re are still spaces available on the annual Church retreat
. Friday Jan 19, 2018 and Sa
t Jan 20, at the Bon Secours Retreat Center, in Marriotsville, MD. 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
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DONATE
Online here! Per Capita, Capital Savings Fund
and more! Many opportunities await you!
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ANAM CARA, Spiritual Friendships
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To grow in our spiritual lives, we need friendship. To grow in friendship, we need to journey in faith. Starting January 18, we are forming a small group that will foster meaningful relationship and encourage spiritual growth. Anam Cara is an ancient gaelic term for the friendships we need as we walk with God. We will explore avenues of faith formation (prayer, study, meditation, worship) through discussion and seek to help one another in our journeys. We will meet each Thursday night, 7:30-9, until March 22. Katie and Grant Johnson will lead the group with Pastor Jon. Contact Jon for any questions (
jgnelson1985@gmail.com).
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Join us for the second meeting of our parent group, a fellowship opportunity for all who are in a parenting role. Here you will find support, new perspective and grace for the many difficulties and joys of parenting. We will gather for a potluck on January 26th at 6 pm. We will then split into small groups for discussion. Childcare will be provided. We will finish by 8 pm. Contact Pastor Jon for any questions (
jgnelson1985@gmail.com).
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Worship happens at Ark and Dove due to the dedicated work of a small army of volunteers. They work behind the scenes to make sure everything is ready for services when we arrive on Sunday morning. If you have any interest in helping out in this area, please contact
Ryan Stavely (ryan@stavely.org; 410-980-2307). Your commitment can be as small as 5-10 minutes every few weeks. In particular need right now are: the
Communion Prep team (a Sunday morning commitment - ensure that all of the Communion elements are placed in the sanctuary properly), and the
Worship Media team (follow the service closely and find the space bar on a keyboard; no specialized skills needed!) If you are interested doing the prep work a day or so before service, or running the sound board, we will gladly provide you the advanced training needed!.
Thanks for your consideration, and thank you to the many people that already help us out!
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MUSEUM TOUR - SYRIA: PLEASE DON'T FORGET US
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Join us on February 17, to visit the
Syria: Please Don't Forget Us exhibit at the
US Holocaust Museum. A group will be carpooling from the church at
9:30 am to take the Orange Line from New Carrolton, and expects to be back at the church in the early afternoon. To join the carpool, or let the group know that you will be meeting us at the museum, please email Katie
More information on the exhibit can be found here.
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JANUARY'S FOOD OF THE MONTH
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C
AP WEST COUNTY FOOD PANTRY Featured item for January is PASTA AND PASTA SAUCES (semolina pasta, brown rice pasta, whole wheat, etc./Bertolli jarred sauces, Classico jarred sauces, etc.). Please drop off food items in the Mission Zone bin. Thank you for your donations!
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Antiracism and Social Equity
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A book and a group about interrupting racism. We have already started meeting on Tuesday evenings. You can still join! Contact Pastor Tim.
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PRAYER CONCERNS
Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:
PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT
for Greg and Diane Makar's mother, LeAnn; Friends dealing with marital issues; D'Alex Childers; a Family facing difficult times; Christy Yeager's father, Leon Jordan; Daryl Sensenig; Linnie Girdner and Jan Hof; Charles Lawrence; Daryle Echols; Marcia Bussey; Donna Anderson's brother-in-law, Tom; Mary Beckwith; 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; Mary Stum's sister-in-law, Sandy; Julia Kirby's mother, Margaret Floyd; Amy Carskadon's nephew; Jason Ziegler; Brenda Figueroa; Jon Nelson's aunt, Linda and uncle, Gene; Archer and Honor Bauman's grandmother, Jackie; Charlotte Davie's sister, Ann; Erika Sealing's son and grandmother, Margaret Schade; Tawes Dewyngaert; Lindsay; Carla; and Dick and Carol Baily; a member awaiting test results; a granddaughter in need of support; Wendy Wellington's mother, Janet Morgan.
The Love and Sympathy of the congregation is extended to the Robinson family upon the death of Pete's nephew Brian.
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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