Palm & Passion Sunday
The Arkive: Ark and Dove's Newsletter
Palm & Passion Sunday, April 14, 9:30 am (choir led) and 11:00 am (band led)
Maundy Thursday, April 18, 7:00 pm
Good Friday, April 19, 7:00 pm
Easter: Resurrection of the Lord, April 21, 9:30 am and 11:00 am
Message from Pastor Tim
Dear Ark and Dove Community,

Our Lenten journey comes to its conclusion in Holy Week, which begins this Sunday with Palm/Passion Sunday.  Holy Week is an eight day week because Easter is the eighth day of creation; Easter is the day of resurrection. You are warmly invited and enthusiastically encouraged to celebrate Holy Week with worship. The worship services that our church offers on Palm/Passion Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday are, in my mind, a package deal. If you skip any one of them, you shortchange yourself. There is something significant about walking with Jesus from the Palm Parade to the Last Supper and then to his passion, which enlivens and enriches your faith and your Easter morning alleluias. An alternative, or supplemental approach, could be to read Luke, chapters 19 through 23, during this most important week of the church year.  Because of time constraints, we don’t get to read all of these passages in church, and they offer context and add depth you your perspective.

This Palm/Passion Sunday we also will be dedicating pledges to our church’s mission and ministry. Just like last Sunday, you will be invited to come forward and lay your tithes, offerings and pledge cards on the communion table. Almost 60 households in our church have pledged to date, so we are off to a good start. You can find more information about stewardship on our website, under the giving tab .

Lastly, if you are concerned about gun violence in our community and country, you may want to save Sunday afternoon, May 5, on your calendar. Rabbi Joel Mosbacher will be presenting a path to preventing gun violence, which is called Do Not Stand Idly By and endorsed by many IAF affiliates, like ACT, across the country.  Rabbi Mosbacher from New York will be speaking at our sister ACT congregation  Mt Olive. in Annapolis at 3:00pm; see article below.


Peace of Christ,

Pastor Tim
timsstern@gmail.com
The right Tim S Stern
PLEASE NOTE: The gentleman at timstern@gmail.com does not want to receive your personal information. When writing to Pastor Tim, please include the middle initial "s", like this... timsstern@gmail.com. Or tim.s.stern@gmail.com. The good news is: Pastor Tim has become buddies with the other Tim Stern. The bad news is: Pastor Tim doesn't want your personal information shared with his doppelganger. Please check you address book to confirm. Thank you!
Verse and Prayer
Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying,

“Blessed is the king
   who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven,
   and glory in the highest heaven!”
-Luke 19:35-38
Gracious God, as we enter this Holy Week, strengthen us to move beyond the festive parade of palms and to follow Jesus into the way of the cross; that united with him and all the faithful, we may grow in faith and find the spiritual mettle to serve you and to serve the world, as you have served us in your Beloved Son. Amen.
Stewardship
Did you turn yours in???
Celebration of Gratitude Commitment Sunday was April 7th and many people turned in their pledge cards. Thank you!!! On Sunday during the service I quoted Krista Tippett from her book Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living . She says in the book:

There's a powerful saying that sometimes we need a story more than food in order to live. They tell us about who we are, what is possible for us, what we might call upon. They also remind us we're not alone with whatever faces us.
 
I shared some of my story from my 17 years at Ark & Dove--the acceptance I felt from day one, seeing Mackenzie baptized and grow in her faith as she is now one of our confirmands, and all of the times our church family has been there for me in so many ways. During our discussions with the congregation, which our Stewardship task force conducted over the past several weeks, we gathered your stories on gratitude to Ark & Dove. We all share part of the same story at Ark & Dove, and this became even more obvious as I read through what everyone was grateful for. There were so many duplicates and overlap from person to person. These gratitude items are now posted on the bulletin board outside of the sanctuary. If you haven't yet stopped by to check it out, please do so. Look for your story up on that board, and know that you share all of these wonderful items of gratitude with your church family. We have so much to be grateful for, and gratitude leads to abundance. Our church has a story of gratitude and this story tells us what is possible.  We are a community of believers carrying God's dream into the world.
If you have not yet turned in your pledge card, please do so as soon as possible by dropping it in the offering plate or sending it to the church office.  This pledge is a demonstration of your faith and a commitment to the church and God. Please prayerfully consider your gift. Yes we have big visions of what we as a church would like to accomplish (paying our leaders fairly, maintaining our facility, funding all of our ministry programs, and working towards our goal of giving 10% of our budget to mission). We want everyone to pledge so that we can plan effectively to use funds as the congregation has directed.
 
Next week I will provide an update as to where we stand on pledges received relative to the budget passed at the end of January. As always, if you have any questions or would like to discuss anything related to the budget or your pledge, you can contact me, Julia Kirby (maybe_soon98@yahoo.com) or Steve Debus (steven.debus89@gmail.com). May grace and peace be yours in abundance! (1 Peter 1:2b)
May grace and peace be yours in abundance! 1 Peter 1:2b
This week's music in worship is a powerful reminder of our transition from Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem to the profound mystery of Holy Week. For Palm Sunday, we enter with Allen Pote's joyous "Hosanna", a fast-paced, rhythmic tune that been stuck in the choir's collective head for many weeks! Charles Wesley's hymn, "And Can it Be that I Should Gain?", will be heard in two very different settings: first as a piano prelude and then in Dan Forrest's sweeping version, as we enter the Passion portion of the service. The postlude, from Bach's finely craftily Partita No. 2 in c minor, will contrast with the traditional spiritual, "Were You There?" that closes the service.

Good Friday's service will utilize music from Estonia, England and America. The service begins with Arvo Pärt's "Spiegel im Spiegel", a minimalist piece of music written in tintinnambular style, or where one part uses slow moving variations on a single scale, while the other part collaborates with broken chords or triads. The title means "mirror in the mirror" and refers to infinity mirrors, which produce an infinity of images reflected by parallel plane mirrors. Nicole Rumeau will sing Samuel Barber's "The Crucifixion", a powerful expression of Mary's reaction to the sight of Christ on the Cross. The service music will conclude with the choir's rendition of John Stainer's "God So Loved the World", which we used in service a few weeks ago, but is especially apt on Good Friday.

Peace,

Margaret
Director of Music
margaret.mcgillivray@gmail.com
Next week is Holy Week! We have some wonderful music and services planned for Holy Week. This Sunday is Palm/Passion Sunday, then we will have band led Maundy Thursday Service, Good Friday Service will be choir led, and Easter services will be choir led and band leds. 

We had a great last LOGOS day on Tuesday. Lots of games and fellowship that were followed by a potluck banquet. I can't thank all the volunteers enough who made this year in LOGOS a huge success. Also, a huge thanks to all the youth who dedicated so much time to improving their leadership and worship art skills. I very much look forward to next LOGOS year.

God bless,

Pat
Director of Contemporary Music
psise11@gmail.com
Generosity Opportunities
Texting Your Generosity
Ark and Dove has now established a phone number for giving by text. Simply text ‘give’ to: 410-983-3481, to get started. First-time text givers will receive a link via text for setting up a payment method for giving.  
 
Examples of what you can text to the number (410-983-3481):   
        
Commands —to get a link for an explanation of Text Commands
Give —to be prompted on how much you’d like to give
50 weekly —to set up a weekly gift of $50; any number can be specified
100 GreatHour —to give $100 to One Great Hour of Sharing

All donations go directly to the Operating Fund, unless otherwise specified. Currently, you can specify GreatHour for One Great Hour of Sharing, Flowers for Easter flower donation and PerCapita.
 
Questions or concerns, contact: Alta Paronto, church treasurer, alparonto@gmail.com; or Wendy Wellington, swt520@verizon.net

DONATE ONLINE ! One Great Hour of Sharing , Peace and Global Witness Offering for ACT: Anne Arundel Connecting Together , Pledged Giving , and more! Many opportunities await you!
Potluck Dinner Tonight!
Parents' Group Tonight!
If you have school-aged children or younger and are looking to connect with other families at Ark and Dove, join us for Parents' Group (and a potluck salad dinner where everyone brings one salad topping) on Friday, April 12th from 6:00 to 8:00pm ! We're hoping to kick-off regular meetings again! A sign-up sheet will be on the bulletin board or contact Nicole Howe at nicolehowe123@gmail.com so we can plan for childcare while the parents chat.
Youth & Young Adult Mission
Salem County Habitat for Humanity
The older youth (16 and above) and young adult mission trip is scheduled for August 4-9, 2019. This year we are traveling to Salem County Habitat for Humanity in southern New Jersey. Please register with Pastor Tim Timsstern@gmail.com or Don Zielger donaldkziegler@gmail.com.
Palms and Flowers
Preparing and Welcoming
The Flower Team is accepting donations for palms and flowers for Palm Sunday (April 14) and Easter (April 21) services. Suggested donation amount is $7-$10 dollars. Forms are available in the church bulletin and in the lobby. (Also, now available, donate for flowers to 410-983-3481. Text 10 Flowers.) If you have any questions, please contact Paula Griggs at 443-510-6687 or paulagriggs32@gmail.com.  
ACT

TIRED OF POLITICS GETTING IN THE WAY OF KEEPING ALL OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE FROM GUN VIOLENCE?

Please join the ACT Gun Violence Reduction and Violence RAT to learn about:

The national Metro IAF campaign that
addresses the public health issue of gun
violence and can make all our communities safer.

Sunday May 5, 2019
3:00-4:30 p.m.
Childcare available.
Mount Olive Community Life Center 2 Hicks Ave, Annapolis, MD

FEATURING:
Rabbi Joel Mosbacher, Temple Shaaray Tefila, NY and Metro IAF organizer/co-chair of Do Not Stand Idly By campaign Bishop Charles Carroll, New Deliverance Creations Ministries, ACT member and Chair, Anne Arundel County Gun Violence Prevention Task Force

WHY ATTEND?
Join other ACT members to find out how ACT, and our local elected leaders and police organizations can join together with gun manufacturers and dealers to commit to gun safety technologies and foolproof distribution practices. Learn what Metro IAF and affiliates are doing to prevent illegal gun sales and lower gun violence and increase safety for our children.

PLEASE RSVP TO Cheryl Walcutt, Walcutt_family@hotmail.com
Christian Education
Seeking Sunday School and Godly Play Leaders
No experience needed just a love for God and kids! Contact Laura Rockwell (laura.a.rockwell@gmail.com) for more information.
Bible Basics: Revelation
The Bible is a library. It is hard to know what to read and how to read it. Join us for Bible study. For five weeks this spring, we will focus on the book of Revelation in an effort to learn skills and practices for Bible reading. We will meet Tuesdays at 7-8:30 pm, April 30 to May 28. Need childcare? Let us know. Pastor Jon (jgnelson1985@gmail.com) and Kim Champagne (kim.champagne@gmail.com) are organizing. Please RSVP.
Book Club: The Great Divorce
Interested in reading popular fiction and nonfiction that engages Christian faith? Join Ark and Dove's book club. April's book is The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis, which is a short story about heaven and hell. We will meet at the end of April for a brief discussion. RSVP: Pastor Jon (jgnelson1985@gmail.com).
Mission
One Great Hour of Sharing
You shall be called the repairer of the breach - Isaiah 58:12
 
(Now available! Donate to One Great Hour Hour of Sharing via 410-983-3481. Text the dollar amount, space bar and GreatHour !)

Through your gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing, over 5,000 projects in economically poor communities in the United States and around the world have had an opportunity to develop solutions to their own challenges. Please give generously to One Great Hour of Sharing Cheryl Schafer, Mission Elder csscas@verizon.net
Featured item for March--CEREAL (raisin bran, Grape-Nus, muesli, shredded wheat etc.). Please drop off food items in the Mission Zone bin. Thank you for your donations!  Thank you for your donations!  
Parents! Parents!
Vacation Bible School
Save the date! Vacation Bible School! July 8 to July 12!
A fun night for FUNdraising!
Save the date for a Parent's Night Out!  Friday, April 26th, 6:00 to 9:30 pm. Childcare for all ages, activities, and dinner included! This is a fundraiser for our youth groups to lower costs for their summer trips. Cost is $30 for first child and $15 per sibling. Register and pay online at http://arkanddove.org/PNORegistration. Please help spread the word! Our youth groups thank you in advance!
Antiracism and Social Equity
Parenting Forum on Raising Race Conscious Children
Save the date! Sunday May 19th 2-4pm . Learn to talk to your kids about race and racism. We are currently arranging a speaker. Childcare will be provided. Please contact Jen Roman at jroman8414@gmail.com if you’re interested so we can determine the number of parents and the ages of children who might be attending.
Anne & Emmitt: A One-Act Play
Some of us plan to attend the performance of Janet Langhart Cohen's  Anne & Emmett on Sunday, April 28 at 3 pm at the  Murphy Fine Arts Center at Morgan State University in Baltimore. The one-act play involves an imaginary conversation between Anne Frank and Emmett Till.
Perhaps you would like to join us. 
Linnie Girdner,  girdnerlinda@gmail.com or text/call 410-999-7892.

PCUSA and Reparations: Who Knew?
Last Sunday Pastor Tim talked about the PCUSA Self-Development of People (SDOP) ministry. I had learned, just two days before that, the SDOP ministry evolved from a reparations project of PCUSA! 

Last Friday Debbie Arey and I attended PCUSA Compassion, Peace, and Justice Training Day in DC. We both were drawn to a workshop called Shalom & Shelem: Finding wholeness amidst racial distress . Shalom is about wholeness, peace, and right relationship, whereas Shelem can mean recompense or peace offering. They are intertwined concepts expressed in a number of Bible verses that provide the Biblical foundations for reparations, such as Deuteronomy 15: 12-15

Denise Anderson and Carlton Johnson, our workshop leaders, explained that the process of reparations requires the following steps:
  • Recognition that injustices have happened 
  • Repentance
  • Restoration   
  • Reconciliation

In the 1960’s and 70’s efforts were going forward to do this. But white Christians only went so far. They rejected the need to repair and repent and went straight to attempting reconciliation.

In 2004 the General Assembly adopted the Report of PCUSA Task Force to Study Reparations , “affirming that Jesus Christ calls us to repair wrongs done to one another and to work for personal and social reconciliation and renewal.” In 2016 the Confession of Belhar became one of the key tenets of our faith in the Book of Confessions. It was hoped that living within the morality of the Belhar Confession congregations would discuss reparations and move forward with action. 

Today with the rise of racist ideology and violence and the long-standing structures of white supremacy that have created generational disparities, isn’t it time for White Christians to do the work required to reach Shalom and Shelem?

For more information, take a look at:

Linda Girdner, girdnerlinda@gmail.com
Community Forum: Opioid Crisis Awareness
Opioid Crisis Awareness Event
Ferndale UMC and Refuge Church Ministries II are co-hosting an Opioid Crisis Awareness Event TOMORROW, Saturday, April 13 at Ferndale UMC (117 Ferndale Rd in Glen Burnie). The event will be held between 9-2 and includes a free lunch. Speakers include Maryland State Police, Anne Arundel County Fire & Rescue, Arundel Crisis Response, Northern Lights Against Substance Abuse Coalition, as well as someone who is successfully in recovery. Narcan training will also be offered. Deb Saylor, saylordeb@yahoo.com
Prayer Requests
Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:

PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT for a member awaiting medical tests; Debbie Saylor’s mother, Carol Saylor, and father, Henry Saylor; Wendy Wellington’s mother, Janet Morgan; Walt Kelly; Christy Yeager’s mother and father, Linda and Leon Jordan; Bruce and Karen Sanders’ granddaughter, Hannah Algoet; Marie Shorter; Steven Kirby; Corinne Baker; Lori Kronser and her father Cliff Corn; Amy Benson’s friend, Brian Shriner; Tameka Oberman’s grandmother; Nikol Sahai's mother, Marie Krizanova; Kim Schroen; Chris Wilkens; Pat Sise’s grandfather, Ed Sise and brother, Justin; Amy Tardiff’s father-in-law, Richard Tardiff; Margaret McGillivary’s friend, Kim Nolet; Declan Steward’s father, Daryl; James Franklin’s father, Homer; Kameron and Kamarii Miller; Cheryl Walcutt’s mother and sister, Judy Walsh; Cheryl Walcutt’s student, Mo Gaba; Amanda Wehage’s family; Jon Nelson’s aunt, Linda, and grandmother, Peggy; Chip Burnett; Laura Doughty's aunt, Marie; Lydia Doughty’s friend, Carley; Ylonda Fauntleroy's aunt, Bernice Taylor; 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 and Sue's grandson, Enzo; Edie and Richard Budd; Dotty Kaufmann's grandson, Nathan; Amy Benson's family; Lisa Mezaache’s friend, Pearl McNamara; David Michels; Jerri Webb’s friend, Mary Van Orten; Evelyn Ziegler; Thomas and Judy Kochis; Wayne Sweet; Yadong Wei; Laura Talbert’s friend, Kristin Goin; Joan Berry’s daughter-in-law, Camilla; Maxine Dixon and her family; Paula Sparks’ friend, Pat; Donald Hall; and Doug Mattingly’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.
Ark and Dove Presbyterian Church | 410-674-6400 | admin@arkanddove.org | www.arkanddove.org | 8424 Piney Orchard Pkwy. Odenton, MD 21113