What a joy it was to see and hear 20 children sing the response Hallelujah on Sunday at 10:30 worship. As we have all learned, masks cover a lot of our faces but you could still see the excitement (and maybe some nervousness) in the eyes of our children. It was the first time since the pandemic arrived that we had a crowd of young children leading worship and it was a delight. My thanks to our music and education leaders and our parents for making their participation a priority.

 

Out 9:00am Worship is here to stay for a while. Pastor Jon, Worship Elder Ellen Makar and I are making some tweaks, with our goal, for now, to be done in 35 to 45 minutes. Our Music Directors Pat and Rebecca are working hard to bring beautiful music to both services.  Fully masked worship at both services is a gift to our fellow members and especially our children. Wearing masks mitigates risks and takes a lot of anxiety out of the experience.  Thank you for supporting safety.

 

It is the church season of generosity.  We are celebrating the many ways we can be generous with our lives as a part of our Christian witness as disciples. Please be sure to look for the church’s recent generosity mailing to your home. We ask that you would read the enclosed brochure and pray about the ways you can support the ministries of our church in 2022.

Some good news on the generosity front. As is often the case at Ark and Dove, the end of the year sees catch-up giving and the cumulative generosity of newer members in the community. As of October 31, 2021, we are on a solid footing to finish out the financial year with a balanced budget. Your support of Ark and Dove is deeply appreciated. See October Financial Statement below.

Peace of Christ,

This Sunday, at 10:30 am, we will receive several friends into membership of the congregation. This will be the second time during this pandemic that we will receive new members. That fact brings me great joy. Dispatches from congregations across the U.S. are often bad news. Many churches report decreased rolls, empty pews, and minimal participation. Nevertheless, the good news on this Sunday is that Ark and Dove is increasing membership rolls, filling sanctuary seats, and enjoying hybrid participation.

The reception of new members is not only a joy, but an encouragement. As we witness those being received make promises to be faithful disciples and members of the Church, we are encouraged to renew our commitments to discipleship and membership. Each of us hears again the call of Jesus to follow him in a world where he seems absent. Each of us listens to the call of the Church to be a people bound together for a better world. As we celebrate new members and promise to support them, maybe we can make a renewed effort to live lovingly, generously, and mercifully. Perhaps we will take a more active role in the congregation. How will we, new members and old, join together to advance the goodness of God in the world in which we live?

O God of grace, let us live in your image. May we not give because we have or have more. May we give what we have because there is no limit to your goodness. Amen.

PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT for Diane Makar; Tina Anthis’ father, Steve Bissel; Dennis; Lourde's Cordero's brother; Gabriele Mecca; Charlotte Davie; Hiley Green; Adell Gaurin; Dotty Kaufman; Jai’Quain, Nicole Chidlow’s baby; Carol Saylor; Ray Bussey's mother, Doris; Liz Olson; Margaret Floyd; Russ Hester; Vaughn Brown; Patty and Steve Plander; Arlyce Lohr; Krista Klohr; Michelle Schoonmaker; Dick Paronto; Richard and Edie Budd; Cindy Schafer; Cheryl Walcutt’s sister Judy and mother; Christy Hipchen’s Uncle Frank and grandmother, Ann Chubon; Amy Stavely’s aunt, Sharon Boyd; Ryan Stavely’s father, Brian; Amy Hagemann’s sister, Susan Pratt; Mary Benson’s sister; Amy Carskadon Lifsey’s father-in-law, Bill Lifsey Sr.; Karen Dodson’s cousin, Miles, and Miles’ family; Tricia Gray’s grandfather, Paul; Helen Wilkens' mother, Jane Reinert; Christina Nelson’s grandmother, Patricia Dole; Judy Cooper’s daughter, Jessica Quigley; Paul Doughty’s mother, Ruth Doughty; Camille Dubois’ parents and the Dubois family; Debbie Saylor’s sister, Christine; a member of the Tardiff family; Dionne Whitby's daughter, and niece, Jannah; Dotty Kaufman’s daughter-in-law, Carol, granddaughter, Sarah, and grandson Nathan; Kathy Miller’s sister, Beth Krauth, and brother-in-law, Jeff Miller; Lewis Shorter and Lewis Shorter’s niece, Jennifer Schwandt-Gayle; Bob Fuller’s brother, Joe Fuller; Dot Forloine’s granddaughter Melisa Tucker Saatthoff, and her great-grandson Luke; Debbie Arey’s sister, Denise; Debbie and Bruce Arey’s daughter, Allison; Linda Taylor’s mother, Izola; Kennon Bauman’s uncle, Dan Johnston; Amy Goldberg’s grandmother, Ruth Cooper; Christy Yeager’s mother, Linda Jordan; Linda Jordan’s niece, Bonnie; Diane Johnson's Uncle Ed, Aunt Janet, and cousin Richard; Shelley Franklin's father; Amanda Wehage’s sister and father, Dave; Laurie Barrow’s nephew, Gunther Kurtz; Sabonna Keeney’s mother; Bernabe and Griselda Solano, and Griselda's sister, Irma; Laura Doughty’s brother-in-law, Carl Hahn; Laura Willoughby's father, Norman; Ann Hirschy’s aunt, Cindy, and brother; Kelly Burnett’s nephew, Justin; Lou Kareha’s cousin, Thomas Kochis; Cheryl and Doug Walcutt’s grandchild, Gray Adacutt; Erika Sealing's grandmother, Margaret Schade; Lourdes Cordero's granddaughter and friends, Fred and Arelene Jones; Mike and Charlotte Davie’s friend, Dave Page; Linda Lewis’ friend, Carol Fudge; Rob Yeager’s friends, Greta Daughtrey and Peter Brown; and Maren McGillivray-Stubbs’ best friend’s father, Gentry Sims.