The Arkive: Ark and Dove's Newsletter  


All are invited to worship service, this Sunday at 9:30 and 11:00! We will conclude our four part series on the Apostles' Creed, as we explore the statement of belief, "I believe in... the holy catholic church." 
 
MESSAGE FROM PASTOR TIM   

 
Dear Friends and Members of Ark and Dove,
 
What is Shrove Tuesday? (Pancake dinner, Tuesday at 6:30.) The last big celebration before the time of Lenten prayers, Lenten Devotions and, in some cases, Lenten diets begin.  In the days before refrigeration, it marked a day of using up the meats, the butter and the animal fats in the making of sweet cakes and frybreads--hence pancakes.   Mardi Gras, in French = Fat Tuesday. Shrove in English comes from the old English "shrive" to absolve, or the last day before you give a good try, before you resolve to live a more faithful life to get ready for Easter.
 
This is an important phrase from the Ash Wednesday Liturgy that marks the beginning of Lent:
 
We begin our journey to Easter with the sign of ashes. This ancient sign speaks of the frailty and uncertainty of human life, and marks the penitence of this community. I invite you, therefore, in the name of Christ, to observe a holy Lent by self-examination and penitence, by prayer and fasting, by works of love, and by reading and meditating on the Word of God.
 
Lent is a spiritual journey that prepares us to sing Alleluias on Easter morning. We begin this Wednesday at 7:00 PM with the "Imposition of Ashes;" a child friendly family service.
 
I encourage you to join a Lenten Study Group this Lent. We are using a book by Rowan Williams, Where God Happens. Sign up in the lobby.
 
This Wednesday was a significant and moving day in the creation of the Anne Arundel IAF. The Steering Committee with representatives from about 20 Christian and Muslim Congregations, which has been working to create the IAF, voted to adopt the bylaws and to elect officers and a strategy team.
 
These words, which I have copied from the Bylaws define the purpose:
 
...a not-for-profit corporation organized, on a multi-racial, multi-faith, multi-economic class, non-partisan and independent basis, exclusively to accomplish religious, charitable, and educational purposes....... to research issues affecting the residents of Anne Arundel County, formulate and carry out responses to immediate and long-term problems -- such as affordable housing, the lessening of racial and neighborhood tensions, transportation, education, jobs, security, healthcare and the needs of the poor, .....to identify and train community leaders...... non-violent and non-partisan, and always consistent with the laws and rules applicable to a not-for profit .... Organization...
 
There are two trainings coming up in March to which you are invited:
 
Thursday, March 1, 7:00 pm Training on how to conduct a one-on-one relational meeting with, and at, First Christian Community Church, a predominantly African American non-denominational church. First Presbyterian will also participate.
 
Tuesday, March 6, 7:00 pm Training on how to conduct listening sessions in your church and community at Asbury Broadneck United Methodist Church.
 
Our goal as an organization is to listen to thousands of Anne Arundel residents before we officially launch on October 4, 2018.
 
I wish you a blessed Lent and the Peace of Christ,
Tim     
timsstern@gmail.com

 

 
VERSE AND PRAYER

 
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord.  - Romans 12:9-11

God of all grace, you call us to be disciples and to journey together in the church. You call us to hold each other up and to call each other out.  You call us to be disciples of love and vessels of goodness.  Just as you bring healing and wholeness to the world, you call us to acts of mission, mercy and justice.  Gather us in your name, this week, and help us as we start the pilgrimage of Lent;  make us ready to open our lives to you.  Help us to remember your Son, Jesus Christ, who came to set us free and grant us life abundant.  Amen.

 



 
Laura Willoughby Perry, Pastor Jon Nelson and Cheryl Walcutt in Guatemala on an intercultural exchange. 
 
 



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N TES FOR YOU

   
Please join us this Sunday!! Joyful Noise will be accompanied by Eric Echols on the violin and Paula Sparks on the piano for a beautiful arrangement of the Jewish folk song, Eliyahu Hanavi.  The kids have worked very hard and its a gorgeous arrangement.  I hope to see you then!  

Love,
Rebecca
rebeccaebell@gmail.com    
        
 

 
Lenten Studies and Worship
 
SHROVE TUESDAY! FOUR DAYS AWAY!

SHROVE TUESDAY PANCAKE DINNER Just four days away! Tuesday, February 13, 6:30 pm.
All are invited to celebrate, as we begin preparations for the Holy Season of Lent. Please contact Ray Bussey 1safe111@gmail.com with any questions or if you would like to take part in the dinner. 
  
 
DAILY DEVOTION IN YOUR INBOX

DAILY LENTEN DEVOTION
We are putting out daily devotions for Lent by email. If you would like to receive these devotions please sign up in the lobby or send an email to admin@arkanddove.org.
  
WEAR YOUR BLUE!
JOIN THE BLUE OUT! Wear your blue on February 18! The first Sunday in Lent is designated Wear your blue top/shirt/sweater to church Sunday as a testament of one of the ways One Great Hour of Sharing makes a difference. Any blue will do! Blue is the color of the tarps that cover so many temporary shelters of those who have needed assistance due to natural disasters, displacement from war, and other tragedies. One Great Hour of Sharing supports disaster recovery efforts in the United States and around the world. Together let's tell the story of hope out of chaos! Cheryl Schafer, Mission Elder, csscas@verizon.net.    
SHROVE TUESDAY, ASH WEDNESDAY AND LENT

 

SHROVE TUESDAY

February 13, 6:30 pm 
 
ASH WEDNESDAY
February 14, 7:00 pm

TAIZE
Every Wednesday at 7:00 pm from February 21 to March 21


  
TAIZE BEGINS FEBRUARY 21ST
TAIZE CONTEMPLATIVE WORSHIP Many teams in our church will be pooling their talents together to once again offer contemplative worship services during Lent. The services will be based on the simple and beautiful service pioneered in Taize, France.  With its calming music and quiet time for meditation, each service provides a midweek venue to stop, reflect, and re-center yourself as we journey together through Lent. Each of the services will start at 7 and will last no longer than 30 minutes. Questions? Contact Ryan Stavely (ryan@stavely.org). 
LENTEN JOURNEY
WHERE GOD HAPPENS: A LENTEN EXPLORATION Often the question is, "Where is God?" Maybe the better question is, "Where does God happen?" That is the question we will explore during Lent this year. For answers, we are looking to some ancient Christians known as the Desert Fathers and Mothers. They teach us how to find God even when we feel we are lost in a desert or wilderness. Daily meditations on "desert sayings" and scripture will be available to deepen your Lenten journey. Small groups will read together Rowan Williams' Where God Happens: Discovering Christ in One Another. Books will be sold at church and are available online. Please sign-up for a group in the lobby or by contacting Pastor Jon. Groups will meet beginning the week of February 18 on Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday mornings and Thursday and Friday evenings. Join us as we see where God happens this Lent!
  • Sundays, 10:45 am, February 18 - March 18. Contact: Betsy Baer, bbaer1216@aol.com. Marshall Room
  • Wednesdays, 10:00 am, February 21 - March 21. Contact: Jon Nelson, jgnelson1985@gmail.com. Ark and Dove Room
  • Thursdays, 6:30 pm, February 22 - March 22. Contact: Tim Stern, timsstern@gmail.com. At the home of Kelly and Tim Stern (soup and salad).
  • Fridays, 7:00 pm, February 23 - March 23. Contact: Shelley Franklin, shelleyfranklin@vwrld.net. At the home of Shelley and James Franklin, 305 Linden Shade Court, Millersville.
  • Saturdays, 9:00 am, February 24 and March 10 & 24. Contact: Kim Champagne, kim.champagne@gmail.com. Ark and Dove Room
Children and Youth
 
YOUTH SUMMIT
GENON YOUTH SUMMIT 2018 We're gearing up for another great week at GenOn Youth Summit 2018! Summit is an annual national gathering where  high school youth, college aged young adults, and adults come together to grow in our faith and have a TON of fun! We will hold an information meeting soon to discuss all of the details, but we wanted you to get the important dates on your calendar NOW. Summit will take place from July 15th through 21st at Wheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling, WV. Any questions, please feel free to contact Kelly Burnett (kellyb327@aol.com) 
LOGOS
LOGOS TRAINING Ark and Dove LOGOS is co-hosting a LOGOS training with Christ Memorial Presbyterian Church in Colombia.  The training will consist of 2.5 hours that focuses on "Resources and Networking."  During the training we will discuss the reasons we do LOGOS, best practices, as well as sharing our ideas for each of the four parts.  Childcare and light snacks will be provided. March 3rd, 9:45-12:30, Christ Memorial Presbyterian Church in Columbia. Please RSVP Laura at  laura.a.rockwell@gmail.com  or 235-312-1656. Please specify if you require childcare.  
 
Antiracism and Social Equity
 
ANTIRACISM AND SOCIAL EQUITY MEETING
MEETING OF OPPORTUNITIES The Anti-Racism and Social Equity Team will be meeting on Sunday, Feb. 18th after the second service (@ 12:15pm) to discuss plans for 2018. This will include ideas for forums, small groups, and special events. Everyone is welcome. Please bring a brown bag lunch. Drinks will be provided. Sign up on the bulletin board or email Linnie Girdner at girdnerlinda@gmail.com or Paula Sparks at trebleclef48@gmail.com. We will meet in the Marshall Room.  
BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS
ICONS OF THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE Saturday, February 10, 2018 1:00 p.m. The Salon: Icons of the Harlem Renaissance at the Chesapeake Arts Center 194 Hammonds Lane, Brooklyn Park, MD. Written and directed by Dr. Vivian Gist Spencer, with music by Extension of Faith, this production will be a dramatic portrayal of the meeting of great African American authors, artists, musicians, and dancers of the 1920's who gather to entertain and enlighten one another through conversation, presentation and performance. FREE.
   
Sunday, February 11, 2018 2:00-4:00 pm. The Salon: Icons of the Harlem Renaissance (please see above description). This performance will be at Anne Arundel Community College Pascal Center for the Performing Arts, 101 College Parkway, Arnold, MD. FREE
   
February 17 - February 25 several showings. A special documentary entitled Bates: Center of Excellence, Memories of Bates' Teachers will be shown at the Wiley H. Bates Legacy Center in Annapolis. Come learn about the only high school for black students in the entire county during segregation. FREE, but registration is required. 

Other events can be found at Capital Gazette and  AACC

 
Mission
 
FEBRUARY'S FOOD OF THE MONTH
C AP WEST COUNTY FOOD PANTRY Featured item for February is SOUP (tomato soup in carton, mushroom soup in carton, etc.). Please drop off food items in the Mission Zone bin. Thank you for your donations!       
Discipleship

RENEW AND RECHARGE
TIME TO SIGN UP FOR THE WOMEN'S RETREAT! Punxsutawney Phil says we'll have six more weeks of winter, but we won't have more time to sign up for the Spring Women's Retreat. February 15 is the deadline to register. The theme for the April 20-22 retreat is  Renew and Recharge. It will be held at the Claggett Center, a 15-minute drive from Frederick. On Friday night we'll have dinner and fellowship time. Then on Saturday, Tracy Radosevic will facilitate our Biblical and spiritual exploration of the theme. There will also be time for individual reflection. After dinner, those spending the night will have the opportunity to participate in a Vespers service as well as more fellowship time. The price per person is $290 for a single occupancy room and $ 260 for a double occupancy room, meals included. If you are unable to attend for the full weekend, join us for Saturday (Day Pass is $115). Please contact Shelley Franklin (shelleyfranklin@vwrld.net) or Cheryl Walcutt (Walcutt_family@hotmail.com) for more information.

 
Outreach and Connection

THE PLEA OF A SYRIAN ACTIVIST
PLEASE DON'T FORGET US Join us on February 17, to visit the Syria: Please Don't Forget Us exhibit at the US Holocaust Museum. The group will be carpooling from the church at 9:30 am to take the Orange Line from New Carrolton and expect to be back at the church in the early afternoon. To join the carpool or to let the group know that you will meet us at the museum, please email knilsenjohnson@gmail.com so a head count can be made. More information on the exhibit can be found HERE.
Prayer Concerns

PRAYER CONCERNS 
PRAYER CONCERNS Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:  

PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT for Joy Dabbs; Carol and Dick Baily; Brooke Berry's father, John Calhoun; Christy Yeager's father, Leon Jordan; Charles Lawrence; Marcia Bussey; Donna Anderson's brother-in-law, Tom; Mary Beckwith; Nicole Howe's aunt, Linda; Bob Johns; Frances Keyes; Dot Forloines and her brother Jack; Henry Duncan; Helene Marchand-Stancil and Helene's mother, Mimi; Ellen Makar's father, Don Erickson; Laura Willoughby's father, Norman; Steve and Brandi Downs; Mary Stum's sister-in-law, Sandy; Julia Kirby's mother, Margaret Floyd; Amy Carskadon's nephew; Jason Ziegler; Jon Nelson's aunt, Linda; Charlotte Davie's sister, Ann; Erika Sealing's son, Trip, and grandmother, Margaret Schade; Tawes Dewyngaert; Archer and Honor Bauman's grandmother, Jackie; Sue Hanburger's grandson, Enzo, and friend, Susan; a granddaughter; and Jerri Webb's best friend and her best friend's mother.  
    
If you have prayer concerns or blessings that you would like to share, please contact Deacon Patriceo Green at patriceobgreen@gmail.com, and he will add your concern to the prayer partners email chain.     
 
8424 Piney Orchard Parkway  
Odenton, MD  21113
Phone: (410) 674-6400 
admin@arkanddove.org
 
office hours: Monday through Friday 9:30 am - 2:30 pm 
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