Dear Friends and Members of the Ark and Dove Community,

Not too long ago we had a peaceful demonstration on our property to show our support for Black Lives and the LGBTQ+ community. Unfortunately, this past Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, our Black Lives Matter banners were defaced and our Pride banner with the rainbow was stolen. The words on the pride banner were Openly Affirming all of God’s Children, Ark and Dove Presbyterian Church.  God loves all people and all people are created in the image of God and because of that, we will continue our ministries of working for fairness and justice in our country and the world.

The police are investigating the matter as hate crimes and have been very responsive.

New banners have been ordered by our Anti-racism Team and our GLEAM Team, but it may take some time to get them made and back up. Thank you for having the courage and the faith to work for justice and love as a congregation.  God’s love will prevail.

 In Peace,

 Tim

Dear Members and Friends of Ark and Dove,

I have been thinking a lot lately about the possibility of dialogue in our society and church. It will be the subject of an upcoming sermon, so I won't say too much, but I am wondering about the possibility of constructive conversation between people of different opinions and viewpoints. Can pro-choice and anti-abortion advocates engage in helpful discussions? Can the kind of person who vandalized one of our antiracism signs on Piney Orchard Parkway actually join in on the conversations we have been having here? Can the person who took our sign affirming God's love for all be in conversation with those of us who put it up? I want to believe so, but I am admittedly skeptical.

Then again, I remember all the New Members/Inquirers sessions that I have been a part of over these last seven years at Ark and Dove. Whether in person or online, people have been drawn to Ark and Dove from many different backgrounds. You/they think and believe differently, come from varying places and religious backgrounds, and have varying experiences that inform diverse perspectives. In these sessions, you/they have shared deeply and generously and then joined together to become members of this church. We have a New Members/Inquirers session on May 21st, 9-11 am, with breakfast provided. You can meet the diverse people who are now coming together to learn more about Ark and Dove. If you are interested in what it means to be a member or simply want to know more about the church, please contact Katie Nilsen-Johnson ([email protected]) and we can get you into the session. It will be a time for constructive conversation with diverse people.

The Church has to be the place where diverse people are drawn together into conversation. Let's commit, at least, to try.

Peace,

PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT for to the family of 5 year old Tayden who passed in an accident, from Amy Tardiff; Ray Bussey’s colleague; Donna Kurtz who is waiting test results; Don Clark’s surgery; Lori Johnson, mother of Cheryl Walcutt, for comfort and guidance; for a women, E.B., and her children, leaving an abusive home environment; Irina Lee, Jan and Al Jank's daughter-in-law, recovering from surgery; William Campbell, grandfather of Cherese, with cancer; the family of Olive Mullings, grandmother of Keno’e Mullings, who recently passed away; Donna Beckwith, friend of Laurie Barrow recovering from surgery; Chris and Jeff, friends of Deb Saylor, both having biopsies; Amber Maschino, neighbor of Craig West, diagnosed with breast cancer and starting treatment; the family of Jim Shortt, friend of Dot Forloines, who passed away; Don Clark, friend of Cheryl Walcutt, in the hospital; for the Lucas, Montgomery, Danko, and Dodson families for the loss of Jacqueline Lucas; for the Raber family, friends of Carrie Dodson, on the loss of Colton Raber; Dotty Kaufmann recovering from surgery; Carol Saylor’s sister-in-law who passed away of stomach cancer, and granddaughter being bullied at school; Dot Forloines, who is recovering from a heart attack; Prayers for Lindsay Turner and newborn, Blaire, who are still in the hospital; Jack Sweeney, fighting cancer; Mary Lou Dulina, friend of Cheryl Schafer, fighting stage 4 cancer; Ann Hirschy, recovering from knee surgery; Donna Beckwith, waiting for test results; Amy Tardiff's friend's family, whose son has COVID; friends and family of Alexander Miller who has passed away; MaryLou Dulina; Debbie Saylor's Family: Richard and Carol Jasper, Wayne Rennex and Alison Buffington; A child suffering from depression; Family members with COVID; Alvin Dennis and Audrey Price; Asthon Borsella, heart surgery; Charlotte Davie, praises for improving health; Donna Williams, recovering from surgery; Courtney Dudley Thomas, recovering from a stroke; Tiffany Thompson, starting a new round of cancer treatments; Courtney, Deborah Dingle’s niece, in the hospital suffering from brain cancer; Debbie Arey’s sister suffering from life-long chemo; Cameron Jackson, Ylonda Fauntleroy’s cousin, dealing with a difficult situation; Anna Scofield; Michelle Schoonmaker's aunt and friend of Ylonda Fauntleroy, Floretta Watkins-Barbee, and Michelle's great aunt and Ylonda's aunt, Bernice Taylor; the people of Ukraine; Lou Kareha's relatives Aubriella and Michael Steele, B. Wicker, sister-in-law's brother, James Karanasky, cousin, Thomas Kochis, and friend, Nando Smacci; Jackie Lucus; Michelle Schoonmaker; Mike and Denise Bartgis' son-in-law; Kelly Burnett; Jon Nelson's mother, Joanne Nelson; Louise Sharrocks; Kathy Miller's brother-in-law, Jeff Miller, and sister, Beth Krauth; Lourdes Cordero's sister, Diane Cordero, brother Jose, granddaughter, and friends, Fred and Arelene Jones; Deb Saylor's niece, Courtney Jaberi, and sister Christine; Laura Willoughby's father, Norman; Diane Johnson's friend, Tom; Kelly Burnett's nephew, Justin; Christy Hipchen’s nephew and grandmother, Ann Chubon; the Sealing Family; Karen Arnold's brother, Tim; Josh Arnold; the family of Mike Esparza; a sister struggling with mental illness; Debbie Arey; Steve Debus' father, Bill Debus; Paul Doughty's mother, Ruth Doughty; James Franklin's sister-in-law, Kelli Franklin; Nicole Chidlow's son, Jai; Michelle Schoonmaker's friend's and their children, Kai S., Liam F. and Ezra R.; Frank Stillwell; Mary Caolo; David Johns; Carrie Dodson's friend Pam; Angela Goska; Belinda Edwards; Karen Stokes; Betty Small; a friend of Bob Fuller; the Unger family; Debbie and Bruce Arey's niece, Sarah, and daughter, Allison, and Debbie’s sister, Denise; Calvin Latham; Brianna Lapp; Ann Hirschy's relatives Isaiah, aunt Cindy, and brother; Adell Gaurin; Carol Saylor; Ray Bussey's mother, Doris; Liz Olson; Vaughn Brown; Patty and Steve Plander; Arlyce Lohr; Dick Paronto; Cheryl Walcutt’s sister Judy and mother; 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; Helen Wilkens' mother, Jane Reinert; Judy Cooper’s daughter, Jessica Quigley; Lewis Shorter and Lewis Shorter’s niece, Jennifer Schwandt-Gayle; Dot Forloine’s granddaughter Melisa Tucker Saatthoff, and her great-grandson Luke; Linda Taylor’s mother, Izola; 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; 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; Cheryl and Doug Walcutt’s grandchild, Gray Adacutt; Erika Sealing's grandmother, Margaret Schade; and Rob Yeager’s friends, Greta Daughtrey and Peter Brown.