As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony

Colossians 3:12- 17

God of wonder and small things, you came to us as a tiny and vulnerable baby, wrapped in bands of clothe and laid in a manger. We remember that after this son's crucifixion he was also wrapped in bands of clothe but then laid in a tomb. Help us we pray to wrap ourselves in this love. Teach us to care for the quiet and tender places in our hearts and those of others. May we be vulnerable and live for others as Christ did. May we nurture your compassion in the world. Amen

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Why does Ark and Dove have teams instead of committees? What’s the relationship between team leads and elders? How many teams do we have at the church? What do they do? How do new teams get started? Like any other institution, the organization of Ark and Dove can be confusing and sometimes intimidating – deacons, elders, session, and the teams, what do they all do and how? And this not-knowing sometimes makes it harder to find your role at the church. Join us at the next Equipping the Saints class on Wednesday, January 9th, where Pastors Tim and Jon will try to explain away these “mysteries” of Ark and Dove. We start with dinner at 6:30 and follow with discussions from 7:00-8:30. Childcare and special meals can be provided. Please sign up in the lobby and contact Bruce Sanders (brusanders@aol.com) or Steve Debus (steven.debus89@gmail.com) about any questions.

Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:

PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT for Dick Bailey; Declan Steward; Joan Berry’s son, Bryan Flom; James Franklin’s father, Homer; Jay Olson; Kameron and Kamarii Miller; Karen Dodson; Cliff Wellington’s father, Roy; 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 and Ylonda Fauntleroy’s and Michelle Schoonmaker’s aunt, Alice Turner; Diane Johnson's aunt; Brooks Emrick and her sister, Susan; Vaughn Brown and his sister, Kathie, and brother, Jim; Ann Hirschy; Christy Yeager's father, Leon Jordan; Donna Anderson's brother-in-law, Tom; 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; Laura Rockwell's friend, Adam Hurst; Edie and Richard Budd; Dotty Kaufmann's grandson, Nathan; Amy Benson's family; Lisa Mezaache’s friend, Pearl McNamara; Annetta Fenstermacher’s sister, Margaret; Dorene Chen’s grandfather, Tian Tao Li; Christy Hipchen’s cousin, Corey; David Michels; Dakota Miller; Clarence Scott; Marlene and Doug DeHaven; Mike Stefanick; Jerri Webb’s friend, Mary Van Orten; Rob Yeager’s co-worker, Wayne Sweet; Mike and Charlotte Davie’s friend, Dave Page; Matthew Hagemann’s friend, Michael Prosperi; Miranda Holjes; a teen diagnosed with Lyme’s disease; and Doug Mattingly’s mother.

PRAYERS OF SUPPORT for all those who are affected by the government shutdown.

PRAYERS OF SUPPORT go out to the guests and churches involved with Winter Relief this week: St. John the Evangelist Parish, St. Andrew by the Bay and Asbury Broadneck UMC.

PRAYERS OF COMFORT AND SUPPORT upon the loss of Jack Bergerson, Lance's grandfather.

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.