Dear Members and Friends of the Ark and Dove Community,

Every year in sermon and the Arkive, I mention, at least in passing, that Advent is the church liturgical season that was modeled to be a mini-Lent, a time when we spend four weeks or so getting our hearts ready to celebrate the birth of Christ-Jesus. It always falls partially on deaf ears, because, of course, we spend these days between Thanksgiving and Christmas at many holiday gatherings and shopping in stores. This pandemic is painful, in so many ways, and challenging. Is it possible to say that social restrictions might allow us to spend a little more time on devotions and in prayer? A thin silver lining around that big gray cloud.

The reign of God, the eschatological liberation of the world, is already in process, is already being established. It takes shape in concrete modifications of actual life. – Leonard Boff

In that mode of thinking (silver linings and modifications): be ready to celebrate communion on Sunday with your fruit of the vine juice and your bread. Be ready also to light your Advent wreath at home, when it is lit during worship at church. You don’t have an Advent wreath? We have a devoted crew of youth and adults from LOGOS and the flower team, who have made scores of Advent wreaths. You also can follow the link below to download an Advent Devotional Booklet from Presbyterians Today. See article below.

And the Connections effort keeps creeping forward. Thank you to all who have turned in their pledge cards and updated their EFT contributions. Please visit Connections 2021 at our website. Help our Session to properly plan for 2021.

May the peace of Christ who is coming into the world rest upon you,

tstern@arkanddove.org

PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT for Merlin Berry; Amanda Crose's grandmother, Betty Davis; Donna Anderson's brother-in-law, Tom Brown; Debbie and Bruce Arey’s family in Connecticut and daughter, Allison; Linda Taylor’s mother, Izola; Wren Suggs; Brenna Kirby; Grant Kirby’s mother, Caroline; Dick Paronto; Camille Dubois; Clarke Beaudry’s mother, Judy LaMarque; Kennon Bauman’s uncle, Dan Johnston; Amy Goldberg’s grandmother, Ruth Cooper; Dot Forloines’ family and her great-grandson Luke; Christy Yeager’s mother, Linda Jordan; John Mikeska; 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; Fred Barrow; Laurie Barrow’s nephew, Gunther Kurtz; Carlton Jackson; Sabonna Keeney’s mother; Pattie Plander; Richard and Edie Budd and family; Sue Hanburger's friends, Barb, Phyllis, and Martha and family, Craig; Bernabe and Griselda Solano, and Griselda's sister, Irma; Kathy Miller’s friend, Sandee Dickson; Dotty Kaufman, her son, Bill, daughter-in-law, Carol, granddaughter, Sarah, and grandson Nathan; Laura Doughty’s brother-in-law, Carl Hahn and Paul Doughty’s uncle, Wes; 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; Kelly Burnett’s nephew, Justin; Lewis Shorter and Lewis Shorter’s niece, Jennifer Schwandt-Gayle; Patriceo Green’s cousin, Philip Brown; 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 aunt, Judy Kochis and cousin, Thomas; Steve Debus’ cousin-in-law; Margaret McGillivray's friend Gregg Hanson; Kim Young's friend, Joyce Miller; Linnie Girdner and Jan Hof’s friend, Grace Ligon; the Yeager’s friend, Karen Schell; Ylonda Funtleroy's friends, Gloria Jean Austin and Tanya; and Kathy Emmert's friend, Patty.

PRAYERS OF HEALING for those with COVID-19 including: Jon Nelson's sister, Meredith; Emily Crose's grandmother, Lois Echhorn; Doug Walcutt’s father, Chuck Walcutt and stepmother, Linda Walcutt; Diane Johnson’s grandson, Avery Woods; Ed Barrett's friend, Joe Bogner; Julia Kirby’s friends, Sam and the Speer family; Robert and Marissa Lyle; Lisa Marino, Jay Mulholland, and their 4-month-old daughter Lily; Ylonda Fauntleroy's family, Annette and Leah Turner, and friends, Sandra and Elijah Williams; Michelle Schoonmaker's colleague, Ajita Robinson; and Jennifer Roman's aunt, Laura Clay, and grandmother, Louise Nothdurft.

PRAYERS OF LOVE, SUPPORT AND PROTECTION for all essential workers workers around the world, including: Bill Gaurin; Tricia Gray’s mother; Becca Distad; Jack Burnett; Caitlyn Bussey; Emily Sanders; Audrey Miller; Linda Jordan’s nephew, Russell; 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.