The Arkive: Ark and Dove's Newsletter
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This Sunday marks the beginning of Lent. Discern the liturgical season of contemplation with communion at both the
9:30 am (choir led) and 11:00 am (band led) worship services!
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Dear Members and Friends of Ark and Dove,
Yesterday, in a ministry committee meeting, we were asked by the moderator what Lent meant to us this year. One of my colleagues responded by talking about how Lent is often a season of humility and humbleness. She, frankly, did not need to be brought low this year. Instead, she was going to focus on everything that was keeping her from rising, anticipating the risen Christ on Easter.
This struck me as a superb reflection for the Lenten season: where am I holding back, or being held back? How might I rise in my own life? Or, how might I help someone else rise from the circumstances in their lives? This last question is the one raised by Jill Duffield in today's devotion from her book
Lent in Plain Sight: A Devotion Through Ten Objects. Duffield points to the many ways that risen people raise others up. She points out the cancer survivor alongside the newly diagnosed, the sober sitting alongside someone new to AA, and the woman who works for suicide prevention after having buried her child. Where have you been raised from and who might you now uplift?
I hope that you pick up Jill Duffield's devotional for Lent. We have sold out, but you can get them quickly online. Whether you buy and read or not, please join one of our Lenten small groups. I think you will be uplifted by the experience and I think you will uplift others.
Peace,
Jon
jgnelson1985@gmail.com
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The Lord raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor.
-1 Samuel 2:8
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God of great reversals, you bring transformation, relief, peace, and joy in ways and at times that are utterly unexpected. When we find ourselves in the ash heap, grant us your peace, assure us of your promises, give us a glimpse of hope to sustain us. After we have been raised up from the dust, never let us forget what it was like to be so down. Use our remembering to reach back and help others, to sit beside them until they too know the grace of your transforming love. Amen.
- Jill Duffield
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As we begin the season of Lent, the words of the Advent hymn
Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne are also very relevant here and we begin prelude music with Mark Hayes arrangement of this tune. The choir will present John Carter's setting of the text,
Break Thou the Bread of Life for introit. For the musical offering, we will be singing Norwegian-American composer Ola Gjeilo's setting of
Ubi Caritas, the great antiphon of Lent and often specifically used for Maundy Thursday. We will be singing in latin and the text and translation is as follows:
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Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.
Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor.
Exsultemus et in ipso jucundemur.
Timeamus, et amemus Deum vivum.
Et ex corde diligamus nos sincero.
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Where charity and love are, there God is.
The love of Christ has gathered us into one.
Let us exult and be in God be joyful.
Let us fear and love the living God.
And from a sincere heart, let us love one another.
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Peace,
Margaret
Director of Music
margaret.mcgillivray@gmail.com
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The Lent season is upon us. I hope you all have begun reflecting on what you plan to contemplate and sacrifice during this Lenten season. I know I plan to think about ways that I can keep our band led services full of meaningful, thoughtful, and joyous music throughout the year. Also, giving up soda! Few opportunities on the horizon to attend special services: May 3rd will be a single service Sunday led by the Youth at 10 am, May 17th will have special music at the 11 am service with the band playing selections from 'Beautiful Things', an album by Gungor, and June 7th will be selections from Gabriel Faure's
Mass with the choir at the 9:30 am service.
This Sunday begins our Lenten themes following the Lenten reading, 'Lent in Plain Sight' by Jill Duffield. The band will be doing an anthem by Jesus Culture, 'Freedom.'
God Bless!
Pat
Director of Contemporary Music
psise11@gmail.com
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God loves a cheerful giver!
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TEXT your donations! 410-983-3481
Text
give to get started. Text
commands for more options. Text an amount followed by
PerCapita to contribute your portion of per capita.
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. - 2 Corinthians 7
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February Financial Update
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YTD Expected Unpledged Income
Actual Unpledged Income
Behind
YTD Expected Pledged Income
Actual Pledged Income
Behind
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6,448.00
2,369.00
$4,079.00
75,586.00
70,476.00
$5,110.00
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Parent Group will meet tonight,
Friday, February 28, 6 to 8 pm. Join other parents/guardians of children from ages 0 to 18 for a potluck dinner and informal discussion. Looking forward to connecting with you!
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Is there a point to suffering? Join us
March 12, 7-8:30 pm
to engage in this question over beverages at Frisco Tap House.
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New Members and Inquirers' Class
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If you are new to Ark and Dove, please join the New Members/Inquirers' class on
Saturday, April 4, from 8:30 am to noon
where you can meet other people who have been visiting Ark and Dove, and enjoy breakfast and fellowship. This “no obligation” class is just for you if want to learn more about Ark and Dove and what it means to be a member. We’ll provide breakfast and childcare. Hope to see you there! Sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the lobby or contact Nicole Howe, nicolehowe123@gmail.com, so we can plan for breakfast and childcare.
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Lenten Studies
Is God only in the miraculous, mountaintop moments of life? Or is God in the mundane? Join us this season of Lent in small groups intent on finding God in the ordinary. Each group will be following the short and accessible devotional by Jill Duffield,
Lent in Plain Sight
. We encourage you to purchase a book from the church or from your favored bookseller. Then, please, sign up for one of the small groups that will meet during the following times, beginning February 28. You can do so in the lobby or by contacting the leader.
- Fridays: 7:30 pm to 9 pm at the Champagne house: Kim Champagne, kim.champagne@gmail.com
- Sundays: 11 am at church: Pastoral staff, jgnelson1985@gmail.com
- Mondays: 7 pm at church: Stephen Price Gibson, spricegibson@hotmail.com
- Tuesdays: 7 pm at church: Pastor Tim, timsstern@gmail.com
- Wednesday: 10 am at church: Pastor Jon, jgnelson1985@gmail.com
Please sign up in the lobby or contact Pastor Jon if you want to get involved. This is a wonderful opportunity to walk deeper in faith.
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One Great Hour of Sharing
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Special Offerings: Disaster Assistance, Hunger Program, and Self-Development of People
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Around the world, millions of people lack access to sustainable food sources, clean water, sanitation, education, and opportunity. The three programs supported by One Great Hour of Sharing are the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Presbyterian Hunger program, and Self-Development of People. All of these programs work in different ways to serve the individuals and communities in need. From initial disaster response to ongoing community development, their work fits together to provide people with safety, substance, and hope.
Received during the season of Lent,
each gift to One Hour of Sharing
helps to improve the lives of people in these challenging situations. The Offering also provides us a way to share God’s love with our neighbor.
Please give generously
to One Great Hour of Sharing. You can give online, or envelopes are available in the seat pockets. Thank you Cheryl Schafer, Mission Elder, csscas@verizon.net
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Equipping the Saints: General Assembly. The Presbytery of Baltimore will host the 224th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in June of this year. Are you curious about what General Assembly is and how it works and what governing bodies in the PC(USA) do? Join us
March 4 at 6:30 pm in the Ark and Dove room for an informative look at this biennial gathering of delegates from all 170 PC(USA) presbyteries around the world. Dinner and childcare provided. Questions? Please contact, Bruce Sanders, brusanders1@gmail.com.
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Meeting of Minds Mission Meeting
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You are invited! 7pm, Wednesday, March 11, for the following topics of discernment:
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building a relationship with the Lighthouse Homeless Prevention Support Center
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listening session on CAP (Christian Assistance Program)
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update on refugee support work
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jobs for returning citizens
Questions?
Cheryl Schafer, Mission Elder, csscas@verizon.net
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Call to Prayer for Victims of Global Conflict
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The Reverend Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, PC(USA) Stated Clerk, has asked Presbyterians to call legislators to take action to condemn acts of violence where innocent victims are terrorized and where starvation is being used as a weapon of conflict. In Gaza, Nigeria, and Yemen, local partners working with Presbyterian Hunger Programs are suffering greatly. More info and the call to prayer is
HERE.
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Antiracism and Social Equity
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What would a "race-brave" approach to education funding look like? It would address and turn around the lack of resources for students in districts with low wealth that has been going on for decades. It would make restorative practices part of school culture. And more. If you want to learn more and/or support racial equity in education, take a look at
Focus the Formula: Blueprint for Maryland's Future.
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Ple
ase keep the following people in your prayers this week:
PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT
for Richard and Edie Budd; John Rolewicz; Bill Guarin; Frank Dakai; Shelley Franklin’s nephew, Chris; Laurie and Fred Barrow’s niece, Hope Simeone, nephew, Samuel, and Fred’s aunt, Lee; Bernabe Solano; Griselda Solano's sister, Irma; Karen Dodson and her brother, Ron; Amy Stavely’s grandmother, Ruth Countryman; Kathy Miller’s sisters, Patty and Beth; Dick and Alta Paronto’s friends, Claire and Doug Sherman; Dotty Kauffman; Greg and Diane Makar's mother LeeAnn, Aunt Adeline, and cousin Michael; Ellen Makar’s uncle, Carl Erickson; Barbara Reynold’s sister-in-law, Kay Campbell; Laura Doughty’s brother-in-law, Carl Hahn; Bob Johns; Hollis Butterworth’s brother-in-law, Brian Smith; Cindy Knott’s mother, Madeline; Debbie Saylor’s uncle, Wayne; Laura Willoughby's father, Norman; Jose Lopez’s mother, Queta; Bill Ruble’s mother, Mary Jane Weathers; Stan Houck and Ann Hirschy; Christina Nelson’s grandmother, Pat Dole; Jon Nelson’s grandmother, Peggy; Chip Burnett; Kelly Burnett’s nephew, Justin; Debbie and Bruce Arey’s daughter, Allison; Debbie Arey’s aunt, Linda Rose; Dot Forloines; Dorene Chen’s family; Declan Steward’s father, Daryl; Lewis and James Shorter; Janet Dabbs’ sister, Diane Maloy; Archer and Honor Bauman’s grandfather, Larry; Lori Kronser’s father Cliff Corn; the Tardiff family; Brian Boudreau’s cousin, Valery Householder; Kameron and Kamarii Miller; Cheryl Walcutt’s mother, nephew, and sister, Judy Walsh; Amanda Wehage’s father, Dave; Ylonda Fauntleroy's aunt, Bernice Taylor; Brooks Emrick and her sister, Susan; Vaughn Brown; Frances Keyes; Julia Kirby's mother, Margaret Floyd, cousin, Judy and friend Barb Cleland; Erika Sealing's son, Trip, and grandmother, Margaret Schade; Amy Benson's family and Amy’s friend, Brian Shriner; Thomas and Judy Kochis; Margaret’s friends, Kim Nolet and Pastor Virginia Studer; Michelle Schoonmaker's friend Amaris Wallace; for an aunt; and Doug Mattingly’s mother.
PRAYERS OF LOVE AND SUPPORT
for the guests and congregations involved with Winter Relief this week: Pasadena Assembly of God, First Presbyterian and Chesapeake Christian Fellowship.
THE LOVE AND PRAYERS OF THE CONGREGATION
go out to the Tardiff family on the death of Charlie’s grandfather and Amy’s father-in-law, Richard Tardiff.
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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