Dear Friends and Members of the Ark and Dove Community,

I am overjoyed with the outpouring of volunteers that have stepped up to assist during VBS next week. This is our largest youth Christian Education event of the summer and we are SO excited to learn about how to be better peacekeepers. Our church has many spectacular CE leaders.

However, as I begin to plan for next school year with some of our LOGOS, Godly Play, PreK, Middle and High School youth leaders it is apparent that we have a GREAT need for more. The Christian Education program at Ark and Dove is one of the main reasons our family decided to make it our church home. Both Chris and I became members and a month ago our oldest, Aaron was confirmed. I want the offerings of CE to be robust and plentiful for ALL in our congregation. This requires more hands on deck. I cannot deny that we have some big shoes to fill with the loss of Pastor Jon and his family. However, while we wait for our interim pastor(s) to begin and eventually a new associate pastor, if we have a new infusion of more CE leaders, we WILL grow in our ability to raise our youngest to know that they are Children of God and are loved here at Ark and Dove. These youth will be able to build relationships, worship in a variety of ways including singing, praying, mission activities, participate in different spiritual practices, reflect on and discuss Bible stories, and grow in their faith.

We do need for the safety of our children, leaders, and also because it is Presbyterian policy, 2 leaders in each group at ALL times. To illustrate this if we have a leader committed to helping out once a week with a middle school youth group then we would need 8 leaders for that group alone each month!

I urge you to please pray and if you feel led to reach out and start the process of becoming a leader in some capacity of Christian Education. The criteria for becoming a leader is that you have been attending Ark and Dove for at least 6 months or meet with the Christian Education Elder and/or Pastor to get permission to work with our youth.

You will also need to complete the following:

We need leaders (both lead teachers and assistant teachers) for PreK, Godly Play K-2 and 3-5, Middle School & High School Sunday School.

We would love to have other leaders interested in working with our MS/HS youth groups and/or the LOGOS program reach out as well.

I pray that our need for more CE leaders is met. With love and gratitude,

Sara Fox

PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT for Stephen Herman recovery from surgery; Jeff Miller, Kathy Miller brother-in-law, back in the hospital battling cancer; Thank and prays for Joan Berry with easy surgery and recovery; Dick Paronto; Freyja Hartzell, going through various physical challenges and Divorce; Joan Barry, for a successful Mohs procedure on left hand; Amy Goldber's father, Michael Cooper; Denise Bartgis; Rebecca Echols friend, Lauren Douglas, and Uncle, Rick Orfinger; Andy, friend of Karen Dodson; Jeanne Elbefeld & Donna Beckwith; Abawi family member; Prayers to the person(s) who attempt to change us by repeatedly defacing, destroying, and stealing our signs of affirmation; Praise the healthy arrival of Lillian Rose, Great niece of Laurie & Fred Barrow; Charlotte Davie; Mike Bartgis's cousin; Lydia Doughty; Marjorie Tanner, Laura Doughty’s mother; Ellen; Cara Moody family member, Gary Moody Sr.; Friends of Michelle Schoonmaker: Carly & Chris Taylor and Bri Reed; Jan Hof; Laurie Barrow's brother, Steve Beckwith; Fred Barrow’s sister, Betsy Sargant; Debbie Saylor's Family and Friends: Carlene Printy, Helen Rossum, Wayne Rennex, & Alison Buffington; Karen Mongold, colleague of Ray Bussey; Donna Kurtz ; for a woman, E.B., and her children, leaving an abusive home environment; Irina Lee, Jan and Al Jank's daughter-in-law; William Campbell, grandfather of Cherese; Chris and Jeff, friends of Deb Saylor; Amber Maschino, neighbor of Craig West; Dotty Kaufmann; Jack Sweeney; Mary Lou Dulina, friend of Cheryl Schafer; Alvin Dennis and Audrey Price; Ashton Borsella; Tiffany Thompson; Courtney, Deborah Dingle’s niece; Anna Scofield; the people of Ukraine; Lou Kareha's friends and family: Aubriella and Michael Steele, B. Wicker, James Karanasky (sister-in-law's brother), Thomas Kochis (cousin), and Nando Smacci (friend); Mike and Denise Bartgis' son-in-law; Kathy Miller's brother-in-law, Jeff Miller, and sister, Beth Krauth; Lourdes Cordero's family and friends: Diane Cordero (sister), Jose (brother), granddaughter, and Fred and Arelene Jones (friends); Christy Hipchen’s nephew and grandmother, Ann Chubon; Josh Arnold; the family of Mike Esparza; Amy Tardiff’s Aunt Fran; Michelle Schoonmaker; Michelle Schoonmaker's friends and their children: Kai S., Liam F. and Ezra R.; Bernice Taylor, Michelle Schoonmaker's great aunt and Ylonda Fauntleroy’s Aunt; Cameron Jackson, Ylonda Fauntleroy’s cousin, dealing with a difficult situation; Frank Stillwell; Mary Caolo; David Johns; Angela Goska; Belinda Edwards; Karen Stokes; Betty Small; Calvin Latham; Ann Hirschy's family: Isaiah, Aunt Cindy, and brother; Ann Hirschy; Adell Gaurin; Carol Saylor; Carol Saylor’s family: sister-in-law who passed away of stomach cancer, and granddaughter being bullied at school; Ray Bussey's mother, Doris; Vaughn Brown; Arlyce Lohr; Amy Hagemann’s sister, Susan Pratt; Mary Benson’s sister; Bill Lifsey Sr., Amy Carskadon Lifsey’s father-in-law; Helen Wilkens' mother, Jane Reinert; Karen Dodson’s cousin, Miles and the family; Pam, Carrie Dodson's friend; Lewis Shorter; Jennifer Schwandt-Gayle, Lewis Shorter’s niece; Dot Forloine’s Family: Melisa Tucker Saatthoff (granddaughter) and Luke (great-grandson); Dot Forloines; Linda Taylor’s mother, Izola; Amy Goldberg’s grandmother, Ruth Cooper; Diane Johnson's Family: Uncle Ed, Aunt Janet, and Cousin Richard; Diane Johnson's friend, Tom; Shelley Franklin's father; James Franklin's sister-in-law, Kelli Franklin; Gunther Kurtz, Laurie Barrow’s nephew; Carl Hahn, Laura Doughty’s brother-in-law; Ruth Doughty, Paul Doughty's mother; Cheryl and Doug Walcutt’s Family:Cheryl Walcutt (mother of Cheryl), Judy (sister of Cheryl); Don Clark, friend of Cheryl Walcutt; Margaret Schade, Erika Sealing's grandmother; Rob Yeager’s friends: Greta Daughtrey and Peter Brown; Linda Jordan, Christy Yeager’s mother; Bonnie, Linda Jordan’s niece.