The Arkive: Ark and Dove's Newsletter
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All are welcome! The 6th Sunday of Epiphany!
9:30 am (choir led) and 11:00 am (band led) worship services!
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Dear Friends and Members of Ark and Dove,
There has been a lot of positive reaction to, and conversations generated by, our modern prophets preaching series, which continues for three more weeks. The conversations are most welcome. Each of the modern prophets challenges some of the general assumptions that both the church and our society hold, so they can be inspiring, moving and annoying (particularly when they bump into a mental mindset or construct with which we are personally comfortable).
This week our modern prophet is Sister Helen Prejean who asks us to rethink our assumptions about criminal justice and punishment. Next Sunday, February 24, writer, poet, professor, farmer and activist Wendell Berry challenges us around the value of community and family as well as stewardship of the land.
Speaking of stewardship, our Stewardship Team has a letter for us to read just below. I encourage you to read it and ponder on gratitude and generosity.
Peace,
Tim
timsstern@gmail.com
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The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst.... And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”
-John 8:3, 8:7
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Household Prayer: Morning (based psalm 119:133)
Gracious God, thank you for the gift of this new day.
Guide my steps as I face choices to care for the earth or not,
to show compassion toward others or not, to care for myself or not,
to be true to Christ or not.
May each of my choices draw me closer to you. Amen.
Household Prayer: Evening
Tonight I come home to you in prayer, my God.
Thank you for guiding me through this day,
even when I was not conscious of it.
Now I give this day back to you,
entrusting all that I did and all that I left undone
to your compassionate care.
May I rest in peace. Amen.
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February is a month marked with passion: the energy that we put into our relationships, our pastimes and our occupations. The passion of the Big Game has gone, but, this week, we celebrate the relationships that we have with our closest of soulmates, friends and family. In the coming weeks, we ask you to listen to our messages and respond to what you envision for Ark and Dove--with passion.
There will be conversations and stories of how our church family grows together in spirituality and stewardship. This growing together enables us to do the work that the soul craves. It is also the passion that we put forth, the time that we spend to hear the Word of God, to act as a disciple, and to be one of God’s children. Gratitude is not only something that we show toward others, but, more importantly, it is the feeling we have when we enable others to achieve their goals and aspirations so that we can all live with dignity and purpose and hope.
When we think of stewardship, we must think about how we can combine our collective engagement, passion and investment to be something greater than ourselves: an abundance that is not easily measured by one single metric. Each of us is in a different place, and there is no single yardstick to measure what our impact is. The simple gesture of greeting our Winter Relief guests with a smile, a cot, the best of our meals, and some conversation may transform that life into a great disciple. We each need to assess what and how we are able to add in order to create the magic mix that makes Ark and Dove special.
Yes, it takes money to have the facilities, pastors and staff that make many things possible. Money alone cannot buy the smile, or the training someone provided, or the time someone took to learn or listen, but a lack of funding can impede our ministries. We contribute by being present and intentional in what we do, be it attending worship on Sunday, a small group, or by managing our debts so that we can give generously to facilitate others in their contributions.
Our pastors and staff need a more than fair salary, and our volunteers need training and materials to do their best. They all contribute with equal burden to achieve the Ark and Dove vision. Perhaps we can use the Six Marks of Discipleship to be our barometer in our personal journey of spirituality and be open to mindfully listening to our stories of stewardship in the coming weeks. And then we can individually consider how we are each called to respond and bring passion to our stewardship, empowering us to find abundance and gratitude in all that we do.
If you have any questions or suggestions, please speak with Steve Debus (steven.debus89@gmail.com) or Julia Kirby (maybe_soon98@yahoo.com).
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The prelude this Sunday is Mark Hayes' meditative arrangement of
Holy, Holy Holy to the tune of
Nicea. Usually known as a more outgoing hymn, Hayes treatment of the melody is gentle, soothing and reverent. Brittany Wellington and Paula Sparks join the adult choir with a haunting version of
Listen to the Lambs, arranged by Howard Helvey. It is particularly contemplative in nature and features the cello as an equal partner to both the piano and choir.
Peace,
Margaret
Director of Music
margaret.mcgillivray@gmail.com
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I would like to put out a call for volunteers who are interested in assisting the band led service with running the soundboard. I would like to give a core group of members training on the board and have a rotation in place for helping during services. Consistency of sound is important from week to week, and having trained sound engineers is vital to that consistency. No experience is needed. If you are interested at all please don't hesitate to reach out to me with any questions.
God bless,
Pat
Director of Contemporary Music
psise11@gmail.com
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DONATE
ONLINE
!
Capital Savings Fund
,
Peace and Global Witness Offering for ACT: Anne Arundel Connecting Together
,
Pledged Giving
,
and more!
Many opportunities
await you!
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Mark your calendars for a March 3rd bagged lunch discussion on the inimitable Simone Weil led by one of our parish associates Stephen Price-Gibson. More information coming
.
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Into the Silent Land: A Lenten Journey
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Does life have you feeling distracted, de-centered, and disillusioned? Do you struggle with prayer, with what to do and say? Do you long for a deeper walk with God? We invite you this Lenten season to join small groups in reading Martin Laird's
Into the Silent Land: The Practice of Contemplation
. This short and widely-regarded book will help you find your center, stimulate your prayer life, and further your discipleship. Books are on sale in the lobby as well as a sign-up for small groups, which will begin March 10. Books are $18 and can be found
online
. Please contact Pastor Jon with any questions (jgnelson1985@gmail.com).
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Save the date for our church's Shrove Tuesday pancake dinner on
Tuesday, March 5
, beginning at
6:30pm
! If you'd like to help organize this event, please email nicolehowe123@gmail.com
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Establish or increase EFT
here!
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Mission and Christian Education
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Youth Summer Trip Info Meeting!
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All youth, young adults, and their associated grownups are invited to an information meeting on
Sunday, March 10th at 5pm
in the Sanctuary to hear about our opportunities for this year's Summer Trips (Habitat, The Center, Youth Summit, etc...). We will serve dinner and share info and stories about these exciting happenings. More info is being mailed to each home, so please keep an eye out for the flier, and mark your calendars to join us that evening. If you have any questions, please reach out to Pastor Jon (jgnelson1985@gmail.com).
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CAP FEATURED FOOD ITEM Featured item for February--
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!
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All men are invited to watch the movie
Glory
at Ed Barrett's house, starting
1:00 pm, February 16. The film is about one of the first military units consisting of African-American men in the Union Army to see action during the Civil War. Please contact Ed (ejbarrett13@verizon.net) if you can come.
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Friendly Seniors! Only an act of love wins!
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We are inviting all church members and friends to view
The Women of Lockerbie at the Bowie Community Theater,
2:00 p.m., Sunday, March 10. This play is about the aftermath of the destruction of an American airliner. In 1968, a group of women determined to turn an act of hatred into an act of love. In 2019, their actions give insight into how people committed to love know that fear and hate cannot win. We will be taking reservations (and money) after each service on February 24 and March 3 in the narthex. Since we live in hope, we trust that at least 10 of us will go, making all tickets $15! So make our hopes realized and come and join us on March 10. For questions please contact Joan Berry, 410-672-5237 or berry962@verizon.net.
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Please join the women's social group for a plant night
February 23, 3pm, at Sidelines Sports Bar & Grill (105 Chesapeake Center Ct Glen Burnie, MD). Advanced ticket purchase is required and can be made
HERE, a ticket discount code "YAYMAKER" can be applied until February 14th. If you have any questions please email Amanda Crose at Amanda.rose.crose@gmail.com, or see her in person.
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Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:
PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT
for Linda Jordan; Nikol Sahai's mother, Marie; Kim Schroen; Jonah Murray; Chris Wilkens; Pat Sise’s brother, Justin; Amy Tardiff’s father-in-law, Richard Tardiff; Margaret McGillivary’s friend, Kim Monet; Declan Steward’s father, Daryl; James Franklin’s father, Homer; Jay Olson; Kameron and Kamarii Miller; Karen Dodson; Cheryl Walcutt’s sister, Judy Walsh; Amanda Wehage’s family; Jon Nelson’s aunt, Linda, and grandmother, Peggy; Chip Burnett; Laura Doughty's aunt, Marie; Ylonda Fauntleroy's aunt, Bernice Taylor; Diane Johnson's aunt; Brooks Emrick and her sister, Susan; Vaughn Brown and his sister, Kathie; Ann Hirschy; Frances Keyes; Dot Forloines; Helene Marchand-Stancil; Laura Willoughby's father, Norman; Julia Kirby's mother, Margaret Floyd; Amy Carskadon's nephew; Erika Sealing's son, Trip, and grandmother, Margaret Schade; Sue Hanburger's grandson, Enzo; Edie and Richard Budd; Dotty Kaufmann's grandson, Nathan; Amy Benson's family; Lisa Mezaache’s friend, Pearl McNamara; Dorene Chen’s grandfather, Tian Tao Li; David Michels; Laurie Barrow’s uncle, George Slater; Jerri Webb’s friend, Mary Van Orten; Thomas and Judy Kochis; Cynthia Knott’s mother, Madeline; Matthew Hagemann’s friend, Michael Prosperi; Sage Worrell; Justice; An Min Chen; Thomas August; Yadong Wei; Joesph Choi; and Doug Mattingly’s mother.
PRAYERS OF SUPPORT
go out to the guests and churches involved with Winter Relief: Harundale Presbyterian, First Presbyterian Church and Chesapeake Christian Fellowship.
PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE
on behalf of Miranda Holljes who is cancer free again.
THE LOVE AND PRAYERS OF THE CONGREGATION
go out to the Stratton, Saylor, Ference and Benjamin families on the death of Mark Stratton.
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.
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Ark and Dove Presbyterian Church | 410-674-6400 | admin@arkanddove.org |
www.arkanddove.org
| 8424 Piney Orchard Pkwy. Odenton, MD 21113
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