The Arkive: Ark and Dove's Newsletter | |
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Celebration of All Saints
Communion
October 30th, 2022
In-Person Worship at 9:00 and 10:30 am, this Sunday!
Livestream Worship, 10:30 am, every Sunday!
**Mask required at 9:00 am Worship, Mask Optional at 10:30 am Worship
Child Care available for 9:00 and 10:30 am services!
*Sunday School for Pre-K - 8th Grade during 10:30 am Worship, every Sunday!
Get your bulletin here.
*Register for Sunday School here.
You can connect on YouTube HERE.
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Message from Interim Associate Pastors | |
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From the Interim Associate Pastors:
All Saints Sunday has long been a special time at Ark and Dove. On this Sunday we will remember those whom we have lost this year with the lighting of a candle. As prayers are spoken and candles are lit, we will be surrounded by the Saints in Light and will rejoice in their love and our faith in the One who conquers death.
Caroline’s mother died on Easter Sunday this year. We tell people she has died or we have lost her, but we don’t mean quite that. She gradually slipped from us over the past fifteen years as the ravages of Alzheimer’s Disease took more and more of the vibrant woman we had known. Her death came almost as a relief. But there is sense in which we never lost her, not when her memory was fading and not when she took her last breath. In faith, we believe she has entered the glory of the resurrection life with the Christ and all the saints. In that sense, she is more present with us now than she has been for several years.
On this Sunday, the Sanctuary will be filled with love: the love we have experienced from those who have passed on, the love we hold in our hearts for them, and the love of Christ which makes all things new. Remembering those who have gone is a complicated process. For some the grief is still raw. For some the pain of a hurtful relationship overshadows our ability to grieve and forgiveness is hard to grasp. For some there is a numbness to our remembrance and there is much we can’t remember and wish we could. For some lighting the candle is a deeply meaningful gesture and for some it is a gesture we go through as we long for deeper faith or a greater sense of meaning. For some, it is not those who have gone, but those who are here now, who claim our attention. What a joy to watch a little child light a candle! Do they know for whom they light it or is it simply the fun of lighting a candle that fills their small face? Does it matter?
Come and remember those in your life who are now with the Christ, but whose spirits surround us and whose love enfolds us.
Caroline and Stephen
caroline.pricegibson@arkanddove.org
stephen.pricegibson@arkanddove.org
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Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us. In the name of Jesus, our one Lord and Savior.
Hebrews 12:1
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O God we bless and thank you for calling us to be saints and to share the many gifts you have given us. Help us to truly lay aside the weight of sin, the doubt and worry which cling to us. Give us courage to run the race you have set before us, in the knowledge that we are strengthened by the love that has been lavished upon us by saints who have gone before and saints who run the race with us now. We pray that you will use us to reflect the glory we see in Christ, who lives with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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This Sunday, I will be joined by Christa Kronser and Brittany Wellington to sing 3 special pieces by the Wailin' Jennys for this All Saint's Sunday. We also have a special guest fiddle player, Skye Sadowski-Malcom, who will join us, along with James Franklin, Fred Barrow and Diane Yates and I on the offertory anthem, Glory Bound.
In other news, I am THRILLED to announce that Rae'tta Bond has accepted the call to be our Children's Choir Director. She comes with years of experience working with children and plays a variety of instruments. She will be at the 10:30 service this week and we hope that you will take some time to introduce yourselves to her and welcome her. Stay tuned for more announcements about when Children's Choirs will start. Here is a little bit about Rae'tta:
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Rae’tta Bond earned her BA degree in Music from Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD and her M.S. degree in Music Therapy from Radford University in Radford, VA. Rae’tta has worked in the education field, holding various positions, for the last 11 years. She currently works for the Baltimore Country Public School System (BCPS), teaches private music lessons, and works on-call at a local residential treatment center for at-risk youth. From a young age, Rae’tta has served in Music Ministry and the church, in many roles. She believes music plays a vital role in the holistic functioning of the church. Rae’tta uses her love for music to help connect others, promote a sense of community, and foster a sense of belonging. Rae’tta enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, decorating bulletin boards and collages. Rae’tta is looking forward to serving the Ark and Dove Presbyterian Church family in the days to come!
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With love,
Rebecca
Director of Music
rechols@arkanddove.org
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Message from Interim Director of Youth Ministry | |
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Dear Friends and Members of the Ark and Dove Community,
The recent ACT events were an important reminder that Election Day is coming up on November 8th and that as people of faith we are called to participate in the political process in order to create a more just society for all. Youth who are too young to vote still have the opportunity to participate in meaningful ways: either as an election page (14-15 year olds) or as a paid election judge (16+). See the Maryland State Board of Elections website for more information.
We will be starting Middle School Sunday School on November 6th so that youth can be in the sanctuary for Communion Sunday on the 30th (please note the change in date). Youth will stay in the sanctuary on all Communion Sundays as a reminder that they are not just the future of the church; they are an integral part of the body of Christ today.
There will be no youth group this Sunday evening, enjoy your Halloween festivities! Youth group will reconvene on the 6th as well.
Grace & Peace,
Whitney
Interim Director of Youth Ministry
Whitney.grimm@arkanddove.org
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DONATE ONLINE! One-time and recurring!
TEXT your donations! 410-983-3481
Text give to get started. Text commands for more options.
To donate for Ukraine help, text amount followed by Ukraine.
Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7
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Bulletin - Celebration of All Saints | |
October is Pastor Appreciation Month!
This is our chance to show Pastor Tim, Pastor Caroline, and Pastor Stephen how much we appreciate all that they do to shepherd us along our life travels with God. Let's show them our love!
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Mask required at 9:00 am Worship, Mask Optional at 10:30 am Worship
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Latest Episode: 16 October
Lobby Host Christa Kronser discusses the Anne Arundel Connecting Together (ACT) Candidates Accountability Action with Countywide Candidates event held on 14 Oct at Ark and Dove Presbyterian Church.
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2 October
Join Guest Host Michelle Schoonmaker interview a member of the Associate Pastor Nominating Team (APTN), Jim Cooper, as they discuss the upcoming APTN listening sessions.
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18 September
Join this week's Lobby guest host Lilly as she interviews Amy Tardiff as they discuss and experience what it's like to take part in a Godly Play class. Anyone interested in teaching Godly Play? Please contact Sara Fox.
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Peace and Global Witness Special Offering | |
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For five weeks each fall, we collect the Peace and Global Witness Special Offering. This offering is our way of supporting our financial commitment to ACT and to make a financial donation to Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services. Your generosity in past years has made this a very successful offering. We would like you to prayerfully consider participating in this year's last call for our Peace and Global Witness Offering if you have not already done so. Thank you for your gifts!
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Your Gifts and Offerings: Love In Action
1 John 4:19 "We love because he first loved us."
Have you ever wondered if our financial gifts to Ark and Dove are making a difference in how we show love in our community and beyond? From what I’ve observed in my 2 1/2 years in this congregations, the answer is a resounding YES!
At Ark and Dove, we’re given so many opportunities to share God’s love, and be Jesus’ hands and feet in the world. Our financial gifts and offerings are a big part of that. Whether through Pledged or Unpledged Giving, or mission specific giving, the positive impact of our financial gifts is felt in our church, community and beyond. I don’t know about you, but this brings me a lot of joy.
Several ways your gifts and offerings have been at work:
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*The replacement of our Anti-racism banner after several vandalism incidents and purchasing security cameras. Through this, our neighbors can see our dedication to declaring our stance.
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*Assisting our Afghan refugee family, the Abawis, with paid internet and cell phone bills for several months, and essential tools to help them find jobs and become independent.
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*Providing food on a monthly basis for weekend food bags given out to local students through the Backpack Buddies program.
*Providing a $5000 donation to The Lighthouse Homeless Prevention Support Center, directed for use in West County.
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Ensuring that you have provided a written pledge is essential to helping Ark and Dove continue to plan how bright and wide to shine Jesus’ light and love in our neighborhood and beyond. If you are a regular giver but have never filled out a pledge card, please consider doing so. Our annual Stewardship Effort, which is held in the Fall every year and is rapidly approaching once again, provides a great opportunity to prayerfully consider what your estimate of giving to Ark and Dove will be for the upcoming year. We always include a new pledge card in the annual stewardship brochure that will be mailed to each residence in November, so be on the look-out for more information to follow soon! Pledges are not contracts and can be changed at any time if your circumstances change. However, our pledges are important because they help the Session at Ark at Dove properly plan our mission and ministry activities for the year to come. Every pledge matters! Thank you for your continued dedication and generosity in sharing God’s love.
Shirley Fuller & The 2023 Renewed in God Stewardship Team
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Bob and Shirley Fuller will be presenting Caring for Creation Today at Prince of Peace Presbyterian Church on Sunday, November 6th at 12:00pm. Arkive and Dove members are invited to attend. For more information, click the link below.
Caring for Creation Today Information
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Are you a Wish-cycler? Take the Earth Care Team’s Recycling Quiz to find out.
Also, check out Earth Care’s new Linktree for updates and more information!
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Grief and the Holidays
Join co-facilitators Tim Stern, Cathy Debus, and Linnie Girdner for one or both dates for the Healing through Grief ministry's special Grief and the Holidays small group meetings. Open to anyone who has lost a loved one, long ago or more recently. On Wednesdays, November 9th and December 14th we will meet at 7:30pm. You have a choice of meeting at church or on zoom. Please notify Linnie Girdner at girdnerlinda@gmail.com to sign up.
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Ark & Dove Grounds Work Day
We will be having a Grounds Workday for the church lawn and garden for the fall on November 19th. Rain date will be December 3rd.
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New at the Ark & Dove Library
The Ark and Dove Library is pleased to announce two really cool donations recently gifted to us by Connie Batts. The first is called My God Today: 365 Devotions For People Who Might Be A Lil Ratchet (But God Knows Your Heart) by Dr. Lori Alyse Croom. She has written 365 days of spiritual enrichment based on the Bible and some of her favorite hip-hop anthems. The reviews for this book are enthusiastic about it being a great devotional book for people are don’t normally like devotionals.
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And if that isn’t enough, Connie also bought for us…
God Be Knowin': 365 Devotions For People Who Are As Undefeated As Al Green's Internet. In this book, Dr. Croom takes 365 words, phrases, and hashtags commonly found on the Internet and use them to extract daily devotional messages that are inspirational and life changing. By the way, the confusion of Al Gore with the Reverend Al Green is fun and intentional.
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Both of these books can be found in the Prayer and Devotions section of the library. If you’d like to read a little about them first, check them out in our online catalog.
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GLEAM Planning Meeting
The next GLEAM team quarterly planning meeting will be Monday, November 14th 7:30pm - 8:30pm. All are welcome to attend. Questions or zoom link contact Amy Tardiff Lilac.n.Spruce@gmail.com.
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CAP Food Pantry Item of the Month
The October Item of the Month for the Christian Assistance Program (CAP) food pantry is Canned Green Beans. We have bins marked for CAP food in the cabinet across from the lobby coat rack. Food can also be taken directly to the pantry at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Odenton, on Tuesdays 10:30am-1:30pm and Thursdays 1:30pm- 5:30pm. Or contact Greg Makar (GLMakar@juno.com) to make other arrangements.
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Hurricane through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
To support people impacted by hurricanes in the southeast and Puerto Rico. Donations to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance can be made on the Ark and Dove website giving page or by texting $xx disaster to (410) 983-3481.
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Refugee Resettlement: Abawi Family
As the Abawi family settle into their new home, we can then concentrate on the many other ways we can support this family.
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Clothing Donation Needed
In need of donations of men’s casual clothing size large. Please contact Debbie Arey at debarey@hotmail.com.
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Car Donation Needed
As they find employment in the near future along with the many health appointments they have, both the Annapolis Presbyterian Church and Ark and Dove are asking if you, or anyone you may know, have any vehicle that can be donated to the Abawi family. Please reach out to Debbie Arey at debarey@hotmail.com.
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GLEAM - Book Discussion:
Transforming
Sunday, November 6th at noon in the Ark & Dove Room. Join us to discuss Austen Hartke’s Transforming: The Bible & the Lives of Transgender Christians. AACPL carries several copies of this title. Questions or RSVP to Amanda.Rose.Crose@gmail.com
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From Zero-Sum to Solidarity
I read and recommended The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee over the summer. If you haven't read it yet, there's still time, and you just might find a copy of the book in our newly updated library! Then join us on November 1st for an in-depth look at what racism costs all of us and how we can prosper together across race. Contact Paula Sparks for Zoom Link: trebleclef48@gmail.com.
The author gives a 15-minute overview HERE
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Christian Education for Children | |
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Nursery: open for children age birth to 3
9:00 AM and 10:30 Service
PreK Sunday School: Ages 4-5
4 year olds , case by case at 9:00am service
ONLY at the 10:30 service
Godly Play: Elementary Ages, Grades K-5
9:00 service is a K-5 group
10:30 service has both a K-2 and a 3-5 group
**NEW**
Middle School Sunday School: Grades 6-8
Date starting: November 6th
ONLY at the 10:30 service
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Leaders and Helpers Needed
To ensure that we can continue to offer the above Christian Educational opportunities we NEED leaders! Currently we do NOT have enough to fully staff any of these programs. Please consider offering your gifts and talents to help these programs thrive. You will need to complete a background check and training. Curriculum and materials are provided. Please contact CE Elder, Sara Fox at christianed@arkanddove.org if interested.
Thank you to those of you who’ve already made a commitment to help out this year!!!
Nursery Helpers: If you are already a CE leader or a high school student please consider signing up HERE to help in the nursery. You will be assisting Cara Moody as needed.
As always, any questions or concerns please reach out to me at christianed@arkanddove.org.
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Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:
PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT for Holly Folk, friend of Laura Willoughby, recovering from back surgery; Connie Batts and family for the loss of Diane Lynn Batts; Jamil Wyatt, praise for being found; a mom who undergoing medical tests for cancer; Carol & Henry Saylor; Rose having health issues; a young mother fighting cancer; Brianna Lapp; Lillian & Jack grieving a sudden death; the 3 daughters and extended family of Paul Doughty's cousin, Michelle Clapp, who died; The Chidlow & Cashier Families upon the Death of Barbara Cashier, Nora Chidlow’s mother; The Britt family upon the death of Michael Britt; for a healthy pregnancy for a young mother to be; Deb Saylor's grand-nephew, Jordan; Christy Hipchen's Great Uncle, Steven Stanko; a friend's mother in hospital battling an illness; Chantel Seetram; Debbie and Bruce Arey Daughter, Allison; a husband awaiting test results; families impacted by gun violence; Loretta Miller & her family on the death of her husband; Dr. Jesse Nicholson, Connie Batts' brother-in-law; Laura Talbert; prayers for granddaughter starting a new job; Danni Johnson, fighting cancer; Denise Bartgis chemo treatments; Thanks for Bill and Kim Champagne's son reaching a year of sobriety; for Michelle Schoonmaker's friends recovering from surgery; Donna Anderson's brother-in-law, Tom, recovering from surgery; for friends recovering from surgery; little girl diagnosed with leukemia and her family; the family of Gavin Hurley; Amanda Welford; Bruce Arey's sister; Helen Jarkiewicz; Tricia Gray; Dee going through breast cancer; Anthony Welford, recovering from surgery; Arlyce Lohr; Doug Dehaven with cardiac problems; Karen Judeich; Marie, Nikol Sahai’s Mom; Irina Lee, Jan and Al Jank's daughter-in-law; Payton 18 months old, starting chemo therapy; Fran; Dot Forloines; Vaughn Brown; Dick Paronto; Pamala Morrison recovering; for Julie Devers' friend Zenia Dacio-Messina; Hope Sutphin; Dotty Kaufmann; Emily Wehage; Diane Makar's friend’s mother; Jeff Miller, Kathy Miller’s brother-in-law; Freyja Hartzell; Amy Goldber's father, Michael Cooper; Rebecca Echols friend, Lauren Douglas; Andy, friend of Karen Dodson; Jeanne Elbefeld; Ghazal Abawi; Mike Bartgis's cousin; Marjorie Tanner, Laura Doughty’s mother; Ellen; Cara Moody’s father-in-law, Gary Moody Sr.; Friends of Michelle Schoonmaker: Carly & Chris Taylor and Bri Reed; Laurie Barrow's brother, Steve Beckwith; Fred Barrow’s sister, Betsy Sargant; Debbie Saylor's Family and Friends: Carlene Printy and Helen Rossum;
If you have prayer concerns or blessings that you would like to share, please contact Deacon Patriceo Green at patriceobgreen@gmail.com and he will add your concern to the prayer partners email chain.
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Ark and Dove Presbyterian Church | 410-674-6400 | admin@arkanddove.org | www.arkanddove.org | 8424 Piney Orchard Pkwy. Odenton, MD 21113
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