The Arkive: Ark and Dove's Newsletter
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Single Service, Sunday, July 14, 10:00 am, with a special congregational meeting immediately following worship.
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Dear Friends and Members of Ark and Dove,
As I write, we are near the end of a very good week of Vacation Bible School. The church is now decorated like a global neighborhood. Ark and Dove leaders spent Sunday afternoon making homes all around the church--an igloo, adobe, Haus, tree house, apartment, hut, and home. The lobby is a neighborhood and every night welcomes over 75 neighbors who are adults, children, and youth. The refrain of this week is
Love God and your neighbor. We hear it all night long--a needed refresher. I am so grateful for all the dedicated Ark and Dovers who made this week possible. It has been an honor to learn from the leaders of this church.
Next week, several youth, young adults and adults head to Wheeling, West Virginia for our Youth Summit. This is a meaningful week of worship, friendship, Bible study, recreation, and mission. Some Ark and Dovers work all year round to make it happen. The theme for the week is
Living God's Way: Life in the Community of Faith. We will spend some extra time considering our need for the connectivity of Christian community. I am ready to contemplate this theme as our culture is increasingly isolated, polarized and disconnected.
The following week, our middle schoolers will be helping put on a reading camp in Annapolis. They will learn about the many justice issues Annapolitans face. Particularly, they will develop friendships with kids who don't always get the attention they deserve. Last year, it was amazing to see how our youth quickly became mentors and leaders. I am excited to see the same and more this year.
These three weeks have us thinking deeply about what it means to be in community. How do we invite neighbors into community? What barriers and boundaries exist between neighbors in Odenton and Annapolis? How can we live the way God desires--being kind to our neighbors, doing justice in our neighborhoods, and walking with God wherever God leads?
Please ask our children and youth about their July experiences. I believe you will be encouraged and enriched.
Peace,
Pastor Jon
jgnelson1985@gmail.com
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“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
- Matthew 22:36-40
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God of goodness: we live by many laws, under many lords. We obey commands and give our own. We are guided by many masters and motives. You give us two directives: to love you and to love our neighbor. Unclutter our hearts and minds, clarify our vision, that we might pursue what you desire with focus and intent. Amen.
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Adult Vacation Bible School
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Tonight is the last night for Adult VBS! We will be discussing sponsoring a new refugee family. Prior reservation not required. 6:10 in the Marshall room. Questions? Pastor Tim, timsstern@gmail.com
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This Sunday is a single service. It will be held at 10 am! Make sure to set your alarms and mark your calendars. The band and choir will be providing the music for the service, and we will be doing a combined anthem!
This Sunday will be the last Sunday for our drummer, Brendan Betyn. He is moving back to Michigan for work opportunities. Please join me in thanking Brendan for all his years of providing worship leadership through music ministry. He will be sorely missed!
God bless,
Pat
Director of Contemporary Music
psise11@gmail.com
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DONATE
ONLINE
! Per capita, pledged and un-pledged, one-time and recurring! Click
HERE
to donate online today!
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TEXTING YOUR DONATIONS to 410-983-3481. You can text one-time or recurring donations to this number. Text
Give to get started. Text
Commands for more options. Questions? Please contact Alta Paronto, church treasurer, alparonto@gmail.com; or Wendy Wellington, swt520@verizon.net
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Year to date budget on giving
Year to date actual giving
Shortfall as of June 30, 2019
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$247,780.50
$245,120.36
$2,660.14
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Giving is a spiritual practice and one of the six marks of discipleship.
Thanks to all who have paid their per capita. Per capita is our contribution to the mission of the larger church.This year's allocated per member amount is $37. We are just shy of $6000 collected toward our expected total of approximately $10,000. If you are a member, you are invited to contribute $37. Please mark the check or envelope or text as per capita.
We are also continuing to receive pledge cards. If you contribute through EFT, you are also invited and encouraged to turn in a pledge card. July is the month when people who are on vacation tend to fall behind in their giving--don't let this be you! Set up EFT or auto-bill pay or just pay in advance :). We did receive 4 more pledges, but have many regular givers who have not yet completed a pledge card. Giving is a spiritual practice and one of the six marks of discipleship.
Our Stewardship team will be meeting over the summer to plan upcoming activities. If you are interested in joining our team, please reach out to Steve Debus at steven.debus89@gmail.com or Julia Kirby at maybe_soon98@yahoo.com. We have a fun team and would welcome others to join us. Our focus is on the holistic practice of giving and sharing our financial capacity with the congregation to meet our needs. ~ Julia Kirby
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Flocks Thrive When They’re Well Provided For
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When I returned to religion and started attending Ark and Dove two years ago, I was resistant to officially joining the church. I love my previous church, my grandparents’ and mother’s home church, where I was baptized as a baby and where I learned and grew as a college student. Changing my membership felt like a cut tie to a place I called home, even though I hadn’t lived there in nearly a decade. But I prayed about it and the Lord spoke three words to me:
sheep need flocks
.
So, two years ago this June, I joined the Ark and Dove flock. But as sheep need flocks, they also need pastors and a place to grow and live. And if the sheep are going to do anything beyond leveling lawns, there are costs. If we want to worship God the way we do; to invite new sheep into the flock and to raise lambs; to go out into the world and ensure other sheep are protected and fed; to act in the way we believe pleases and honors our Creator and Savior, well, the flock’s going to have to have a budget.
I think everyone operates best when they have an element of financial certainty, which is why we ask for pledges. We’ve done the research, gone out and met with as many people as possible, and done a song and dance number trying to collect pledges; we’re still short. If you have already turned in your pledge card, thank you. If you keep meaning to and keep forgetting, don’t feel sheepish! Please see the seat in front of you; we’ve stuffed extra cards in there for you to quickly fill out and turn in via collection plate, handing it to a stewardship team member, shove it under Pastor Tim’s door, tape it to the wall, we’re flexible.
Sheep need flocks. Flocks thrive when they’re well provided for: children’s programs, worship music, bible study groups, services that encourage and empower us, personal development, outreach and mission. Thank you for all ewe do and give to Ark and Dove, and I apologize for all of the ba-a-a-ad sheep references.
Caroline Jones
, carojones28@gmail.com
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Children's Book Drive through July 31
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Thank you so much for your generous response to the Book Drive for Children of Women incarcerated at the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women and their Corrections Officers.
You have donated over 200 new or like-new books, which will be cherished by the children and will help build bonds between moms and their kids. We'll be continuing with the book drive through the end of July. There is a box in the lobby for your donations. Thank you, again for your caring and love. Caroline Price-Gibson (308-380-4699, cpricegibson@msn.com.
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This July we are reading
Why Religion? by Elaine Pagels. Please pick up the book wherever you get them and join us July 28th for a bagged lunch discussion.
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The Voyagers' Men's Group
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You are invited to a BBQ at Ed Barrett's place on
July 13, 6
pm. We will also watch
They Shall Not Grow Old, an amazing film with genuine footage from WWI, which has been colorized and transformed with modern production techniques. Please contact Ed Barrett (ejbarrett13@verizon.net) with any questions.
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Racial Justice Essay Contest
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CHANGE IN VENUE: Local SURJ: Attend the Workshop on Community Safety and Policing: Sunday, July 14, 1:00-4:00 p.m. at the 1701 Belle Drive in Annapolis.
Who you gonna call? At this interactive workshop, we will work as a group to explore threats to safety and the resources available to residents that are appropriate to contact in various situations. When do the police need to be called and when are other choices better? What risks are involved in making different choices and how do those risks impact different populations? We will end by brainstorming goals and commitments that we can each take home. Light refreshments will be served. If you have any questions or want to RSVP email surjannapolis@gmail.com or Linnie at girdnerlinda@gmail.com.
National SURJ: Sponsor an Asylum Seeker: In light of the recent news about the immigration crisis, I wanted to remind everyone of an opportunity to help. National SURJ, Freedom for Immigrants, and Innovation Labs have collaborated on a program that is seeking US citizens and legal permanent residents willing to host an asylum-seeking individual or family in their home. If you’d like to learn more about what this involves, please contact Jen Roman at jroman8414@gmail.com.
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Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:
PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT for Stan Houck and Ann Hirschy; Ardeth Johns; Edie and Richard Budd; Chip Burnett; Dot Forloines; John Mikeska; Kim Young's sister-in-law, Ruth Young; Anne-Marie Rosenthal’s mother; Wendy Wellington’s mother, Janet Morgan; Walt Kelly; Declan Steward’s father, Daryl; Lewis and James Shorter; Bruce and Karen Sanders’ granddaughter, Hannah Algoet; Judy Cooper’s sister, Barb Eardley; Lori Kronser’s father Cliff Corn; Chris Wilkens; Pat Sise’s grandfather, Ed Sise, uncle, Rob Sise, aunt, Shannon McCumber-Sise, and cousins, Packy, Dean and Rachael; Amy Tardiff’s father-in-law, Richard Tardiff; Margaret McGillivary’s friend, Kim Nolet; James Franklin’s father, Homer; Kameron and Kamarii Miller; Cheryl Walcutt’s mother and sister, Judy Walsh; Amanda Wehage’s family; Jon Nelson’s aunt, Linda, and grandmother, Peggy; Laura Doughty's aunt, Marie; Ylonda Fauntleroy's aunt, Bernice Taylor and friend Jawahn Clark; Brooks Emrick and her sister, Susan; Vaughn Brown; Frances Keyes; Laura Willoughby's father, Norman; Julia Kirby's mother, Margaret Floyd; Steven Kirby; Greg and Diane Makar's cousin, Michael Makar; Amy Carskadon's nephew; Erika Sealing's son, Trip, and grandmother, Margaret Schade; Sue Hanburger and Sue's grandson, Enzo; Dotty Kaufmann's grandson, Nathan; Amy Benson's family and Amy’s friend, Brian Shriner; Lisa Mezaache’s friend, Pearl McNamara; Denise Grassel’s friends; the Winter family; Thomas and Judy Kochis; Sally Schoener; Amanda Crose’s friends, Patty and Mike Hester; Clarence Duffy; the Anokin family, Jason Moyer; and Doug Mattingly’s mother.
PRAYERS OF LOVE AND GUIDANCE for a safe and successful surgery and strong recovery for Trip Sealing and support for the Sealing family,
THE LOVE AND PRAYERS OF THE CONGREGATION go out to the Brown, Emrick and Rodgers families on the death of Brooks sister-in law and Vaughn’s sister, Kathie Rodgers.
PRAYERS FOR RESPONSIVENESS AND SUPPORT for those who were affected by the earthquakes in California and the hurricane in New Orleans, Louisiana.
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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