|
 |
All Saints' Day is a time to rejoice in all who through the ages have faithfully served the Lord. ...It is a time to express our gratitude for all who in ages of darkness kept the faith, for those who have taken the gospel to the ends of the earth, for prophetic voices who have called the church to be faithful in life and service, for all who have witnessed to God's justice and peace in every nation.
|
MESSAGE FROM PASTOR JON
Dear Friends,
We are a mid-size congregation, according to church standards. With almost 300 members and many more regular participants and visitors, we are at the very least recognizable to one another. For the most part, we know one another by face, if not by name. Many know each other really well. Many have deep, long-standing relationships.
Last week, I began training to earn a certificate in community organizing. The training is given by Metro IAF,
Next Church and
Johnson C. Smith Seminary. IAF (
Industrial Areas Foundation), you may know, is an international coalition of faith-based organizations seeking to mobilize change in the world. Next Church is a movement in the
Presbyterian Church (USA) that is discerning how to be a faithful community in the world as it is. The training was all about developing relationships that have a meaningful impact on the world.
The reality is that conflicts and crises often divide us and leave us powerless to make a better world. However, the deeper relationships we have the more we will be able to withstand conflict and crisis. The more meaningful connections we make, the more power we have to change the world as we know it.
For these reasons, we are asking that you step out of your comfort zone and get to know someone new. Ask that person you sit near on a regular basis to grab coffee for a half hour. Reach out to a parent you see at Logos or Sunday School. Find out what brought them to Ark and Dove and why they've been coming back. Learn what interests them or gets them excited. Maybe you share something in common. This is how community gets stronger and stronger. I look forward to getting to know you more as well.
This Sunday, we are celebrating
All Saints, which is where we honor those beloved ones of ours who have died and now participate in the resurrection. We remember what they mean to us and thank God that they now enjoy full communion with God. We may be a mid-size church by worldly standards, but on All Saints we remember we are a grand Church that extends towards the heavens.
Peace,
Pastor Jon
jgnelson1985@gmail.com
|
|
|
Don't forget! Clocks fall back one hour!
This Saturday night!
|
VERSE AND PRAYER
And God will wipe away every tear. -Revelation 7:17
God of hope: Remembering those we have lost, we are tearful. We are sometimes drowned in grief. But our tears are not unseen and our laments are not unheard. In faith, we know we are not without hope. Raise within us a confidence in your abiding love and eternal grace. Our hope is not without struggle, but our struggle is never in vain. Amen.
|
|
|
Many opportunities await you!
|
N
TES FOR YOU
This Sunday, join us. at the 9:30 service to hear Annie Gill, an amazing soprano, who we are lucky to have as one of our music teachers, here at Ark and Dove! You will not want to miss her beautiful All Saint's Day music, during both the prelude and the offertory.
Love,
rebeccaebell@gmail.com
If you have been to the 11:00 service over the past few weeks, you may have noticed a change--one of our songs is so "short!" Well, that is because we are singing that particular song as a "response." So, rather than sing a full song, as a choir for God, we are instead responding to the prayer we have all just spoken as a congregation. This week, after the prayer of confession, we will be doing the same thing with the song "Only Grace" by Matthew West.
See you Sunday!
Mark
mark.edwards.guitarist@hotmail.com
|
|
|
THE SUGAR-FREE OPPORTUNITY
|
 SUGAR-FREE PRELUDES Well, not exactly sugar-free, but how about cost-free? Stewardship campaigns like Prelude always include hopes for your financial support to the church, but this year we are also asking how you can give of your time to begin our next 25 years. Will you join a small group? Can you participate in meaningful one-on-one dialogues with other members to build connections within our congregation? Are you able to volunteer for any of the many opportunities to serve at Ark and Dove--as a Sunday School teacher, an usher, as part of a facilities project, by attending a Habitat build, or any of a host other options? Maybe you could even feel called to be a team leader. Think what your perfect Prelude can be, and then join us in helping to grow Ark and Dove. Steve Debus, Discipleship Elder, steven.debus89@gmail.com
|
|
|
|
WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY Are you interested in delving a bit deeper into the Bible? Are you looking for some companions on your journey of faith? Come as you are, there are no prerequisites. We discern and discuss new Bible passages every Wednesday, 10:00 am. Questions? Please contact Pastor Jon, jgnelson1985@gmail.com.
|
|
|
|
MEN'S GROUP TO TOUR ANNAPOLIS The Voyagers will go on a walking tour of Annapolis on
November 18 led by costumed guides from
Watermark Tours. We will start with breakfast at 9:00 at
Chick & Ruth's Annapolis!! The walking tour comes highly recommended, and covers 400 years of Annapolis history. We will need to have an accurate count of who plans to attend by
Friday, November 10 (spouses and other family members are welcome to join us). If we have 25, the tour will be led by 2 costumed guides. If you want to come, or need more information, please contact Ed Barrett (
ejbarrett13@verizon.net).
|
|
|
|
HARP MASTERCLASS AND CONCERT
|
HARPIST JOSH LAYNE MASTERCLASS AND CONCERT Canadian "harp genius" Josh Layne will present an exciting evening of virtuosic harp solos this Monday, November 6, at 7:00 p.m. He will also conduct a 4:30 p.m. masterclass prior to the concert. Please email anpike16@yahoo.com for ticket information.
|
|
|
|
|
Antiracism and Social Equity
|
COLOR BLIND VERSUS COLOR CELEBRATE Practice Consciousness of Racism Within the Context of a Single Human Race
is the topic for the next local Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) meeting. Come tomorrow Saturday, Nov. 4 from 1 - 3pm to the Eastport-Annapolis Neck Library 269 Hillsmere Drive in Annapolis.
|
|
|
|
NOVEMBER'S FOOD OF THE MONTH
|
C
AP WEST COUNTY FOOD PANTRY Featured item for November is CANNED VEGETABLES (sweet potatoes, pumpkin, tomatoes, etc.). Please drop off food items in the Mission Zone bin. Thank you for your donations!
|
|
|
|
PRAYER CONCERNS
Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:
PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT for Marie Shorter; Karen Dodson; Debbie Saylor's aunt, Gail, cousin, Ed, and friend, Tina Frost; Donna Anderson's brother-in-law, Tom; Nicole Howe's aunt, Linda; Bob Johns; Marie Shorter; 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; Sarita Barrow's brother, Rashad; Sue Hanburger's sister-in-law, Evelyn Hanburger; Kelly and Tim Stern's nephew, Hunter Field; Julie Kirby's mother, Margaret Floyd; Amy Carskadon's nephew; Zach Rosenthal; Ken and Jacqueline Sievers; Logan and Luke Sievers; Debbie Saylor's friend, Brenda Figueroa; Ann Hirschy's friend; Linnie Girdner's and Jan Hof's friend, Skip Dorrell; Jan Hof; Kathy Miller; and Dick and Carol Baily.
THE LOVE AND PRAYERS OF THE CONGREGATION go out to the loved ones of those who were killed or injured in New York.
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
