Dear Friends and Members of Ark and Dove,

Thank you for your generous support of our community. Thank you to 130 of you who filled out the Church Assessment Tool. Statistically speaking, we definitely have way more than the minimum to give us an accurate assessment about how you the community of Ark and Dove view the ministry we undertake together.  Thank you to our Long Range Planning Team and our Session who undertook a three hour review of all the information collected. We were led by our consultant Michelle Snyder last Sunday.

The words that most caught my attention came towards the end of the three hour meeting. Michelle said something like this. “Of the 400 churches with which I have worked, the Ark and Dove Community is, if not the healthiest church I have ever worked with, in the top three.  That is high praise for all of you and especially, our elders, our deacons, our staff, our team and worship and children’s and youth leaders.  You make a difference, because 84% of our community thinks you are doing a wonderful job.  Compared to thousands of other churches that is a very high percent. Yes of course we can always improve our ministries and you have provided us with some direction.

Here are your top four goals:

In comparison to other churches, you are also very strong on:

Chris Fox, the chair of Long Range Planning has prepared a two page summary of the Church Assessment Tool and you can find additional super interesting nuggets here:   CAT Summary. Also located under Ministry on the Ark and Dove homepage.

In thanksgiving for your ministry,

tstern@arkanddove.org

Dear Friends and Members of Ark and Dove,

As we step into the fall, there is particular uneasiness and uncertainty. The normal programs are not as they have been and that adds a degree of anxiety. For families, children, youth, and young adults entering school, there is general apprehension and frustration. This season is a particularly hard season for many of us, really all of us, as we face an acrimonious election season, lasting pandemic, and social unrest.

Given all of this, I am proud to work with so many team leaders, elders, deacons, and staff who are preparing services, events, and classes to help us walk in the way of Jesus Christ through difficult times. Just in terms of Christian Education, Godly Play teachers are preparing for lessons, LOGOS leaders are working out the details of a new program to meet the needs we have heard, youth leaders are devising plans to minister to youth, and Adult Education teams are planning courses to help us think, pray, and love as Jesus taught us. Be sure to scroll through some of the offerings listed below.

I want to highlight two upcoming opportunities. Beginning next Wednesday, we are starting a series of conversations I am calling Campfire Quarrels. On the second Wednesday of the month, we will gather around a fire here at church (socially distanced, of course) to discuss a controversial topic in a healthy way. In addition, Katie Nilsen Johnson and Grant Johnson are planning a course on conflicts big and small. With these offerings, we intend to practice healthy conversations because healthy conversations on controversial topics are rare. These are just two ways we hope to support each other through the conflicts and controversies that burden us this season.

I hope you will join us in the many Christian Education offerings we will have this fall.

Peace,

jnelson@arkanddove.org

PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT for Dick Paronto; Camille Dubois; Deborah Dingle; Dot Forloines’ family and her great-grandson Luke; Dot Bruno’s son, Deante Musgrove; Jess and Adell Gaurin; Debbie and Bruce Arey’s daughter, Allison; Linda Jordan; John Mikeska; Ylonda Fauntleroy’s husband, Tony Schoonmaker and friend, Tanya; Jesse Pennabaker; Michelle Schoonmaker's Auntie Bernice; Diane Johnson's Uncle Ed, Aunt Janet, and cousin Richard; Shelley Franklin's father; Hollis Butterworth’s daughter, Rachel Mershont and brother-in-law, Brian Smith; Amanda Wehage’s mother, sister and father, Dave, and friend; Zach Murray’s father, Kelly Murray; Becky Marcus; Fred Barrow; Carlton Jackson; Sabonna Keeney’s mother; Pattie Plander; Richard and Edie Budd; Bernabe Solano; Griselda Solano's sister, Irma; Kathy Miller’s sisters, Patty and Beth; Dotty Kaufman, her son, Bill, daughter-in-law, Carol, granddaughter, Sarah, and grandson Nathan; Laura Doughty’s brother-in-law, Carl Hahn; Bob Johns; Cindy Knott’s mother, Madeline; Laura Willoughby's father, Norman; Bill Ruble’s mother, Mary Jane Weathers; Ann Hirschy’s Aunt Cindy and brother; Christina Nelson’s grandmother, Pat Dole; Chip Burnett; Kelly Burnett’s nephew, Justin; Dorene Chen’s family; Lewis Shorter and niece, Jennifer Schwandt-Gayle; Patriceo Green’s brother and sister; Jennifer and Shawn Ralston’s niece; Archer and Honor Bauman’s grandfather, Larry; the Tardiff family; Cheryl Walcutt’s mother, nephew, and sisters; Brooks Emrick and her sister, Susan; Vaughn Brown; Frances Keyes; Julia Kirby's mother, Margaret Floyd; Erika Sealing's son, Trip, and grandmother, Margaret Schade; Amy Benson's family and Amy’s friend, Brian Shriner; Lou Kareha’s friends, Thomas and Judy Kochis; Margaret McGillivray's friend, Kim Nolet; Kim Young's friend, Joyce Miller; Linnie Girdner and Jan Hof’s friend, Grace Ligon; the Yeager’s friend, Karen Schell; Steve Debus’ cousin-in-law; Lori Kronser's friend, Barbara Noonan; and Doug Mattingly’s mother.

PRAYERS OF HEALING for those with COVID-19: Mary Benson’s brother, Alan Benson, and a member.

PRAYERS OF LOVE, SUPPORT AND PROTECTION for all hospital staff, patients, clinics, grocers, essential workers and hourly workers around the world, who are working bravely and arduously to protect our loved ones and our communities. Including: Tricia Gray’s mother; Becca Distad; Jack Burnett; Caitlyn Bussey; Emily Sanders; Audrey Miller; Linda Jordan’s nephew, Russell; Diane Johnson’s grandson; the Ralston’s family members and friends; Simone Stiegler’s friend, Jean Marie; Mike Stiegler; Amy Grimm’s mother; Jeff Grimm; Amy Goldberg’s brother, Joseph Alexander, and parents, Michael and Maryann Cooper; Judy Cooper’s daughter; John Mikeska’s son, Jonathan; and Hollis Butterworth’s sister-in-law, Cyndie.