The Arkive: Ark and Dove's Newsletter | |
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23rd Sunday after Pentecost
November 13th, 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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Dear Friends and Members of the Ark and Dove Community,
In my Sermon on Sunday, I began with an illustration from Monopoly, and I wrote this paragraph: “Stewardship is the act of managing all the real estate we have been given by God. We are not talking about Board Walk and Park Place. We are talking about your passions, your gifts, your aptitudes, your capacities, your relationships and your health. Good stewardship is good balance. Stewardship is managing our financial resources with common sense. Stewardship is about managing our time so that our calendar aligns with our values. They call it a breakneck pace because if you are driving at a million miles a second, you could break something. We say we are Disciples of Christ. What does our calendar say? What does our Venmo, our online transactions say? What does our purse say? What do our hearts says are we, wandering or fulfilled?"
This Sunday is Stewardship Dedication Sunday and The Session is asking that you bring your pledge cards to worship and place them on the communion table at the time of the offering. You also may mail them by using the self-addressed stamped envelope in your packet.
What about your personal giftedness, your capacities your aptitudes your time. How do we decide what we should offer the church? The Discipleship Ministry will be hosting an Equipping the Saints Session on Spiritual Gifts on Wednesday November 30 at 7:00 PM. Do you know what you Spiritual Gifts are? You can take a Spiritual Gifts Inventory to find out. See article below for details.
What does Presbyterian mean? What is Ark and Dove all about? The Outreach and Connections Ministry will be hosting a new members class on Saturday December 3, at 9:00 AM, Breakfast and Childcare included. We are calling it A Ministry and Membership Interest Meeting. There is no obligation to join. Just come and ask questions. See article below. BTW Presbyterian Church in the literal sense means church lead and guided by elders, but there are many nuances.
I am excited that Rae’tta Bond our New Director of Music for Children and Youth will begin a Middle School Chimes and Percussion Ensemble this Sunday at 9:00 to 9:45 AM and that Children’s Choir will begin rehearsals this Sunday at 10:00 AM. Our search team took great care to find the right person for our church and now Rae’tta is here! Please be sure to welcome Rae’tta to Ark and Dove.
Peace of Christ,
Tim
tstern@arkanddove.org
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Message from Interim Associate Pastors | |
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From the Interim Associate Pastors:
This Sunday is Dedication Sunday or Commitment Sunday – the Sunday we commit our pledges for Christ’s work at Ark and Dove for the coming year.
Commitment can be both joyful and difficult. We make commitments in a marriage ceremony, which is a profoundly joyful occasion. But marriages go through ups and downs and sometimes we cannot keep the commitment we made.
We commit to do everything in our power to love, guide, and provide for our children when they are born. Another occasion for deep joy. But raising children can be wrought with problems and we can attest to the fact that this commitment is life-long and far from easy. We commit ourselves to the church when we become part of the congregation.
Each of these commitments is more difficult than we might imagine when we set out on that course, but also brings with it the promise of great joy. One of the things that makes commitment difficult is that there are so many unknown variables. We never know what the future will hold. We hope we can keep our commitments but know that things don’t always work out the way we had hoped. So how can we commit ourselves, our time, our gifts, our desire to follow Jesus more closely – how can we, in good faith, make this commitment at a time when our world and our lives are filled with uneasiness?
We believe we commit ourselves to God in faith that our lives, our nation, and our world are held in God’s loving arms. In the old language: God’s providence and grace sustain us. We don’t know what the future will hold, but we do know that we are held by God. So, we make our commitment to give of our wealth, our time, our love, in a way that will stretch us knowing that if our circumstances change, we can make changes to our pledges. It is one thing to give what we can, week-by-week. It is something else to make a genuine commitment to give as the unknown future unfolds.
From the perspective of the church, the only way we can make a legitimate budget and follow through on the commitments we make together to keep the lights on, pay our staff, provide for the life of the congregation and mission in the world, is when we can count on the known commitment of each member of our congregation. But from a personal perspective, we are blessed by joy when we make a commitment and live into it, much like the joy of a loving marriage or the joy of being a parent.
If you have not already done so, please prayerfully consider how you will dedicate yourself to God in the coming year and what you will commit to the ministry of the church.
Pastors Caroline and Stephen
caroline.pricegibson@arkanddove.org
stephen.pricegibson@arkanddove.org
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O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not listen? Or cry to you “Violence! And you will not save? Then the Lord answered me and said: “There is still a vision for the appointed time; Look at the proud! Their spirit is not right in them; for the righteous live by their faith;
Habakkuk 1:2 and 2:3-4
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O God,
We cry out to you, and you answer us, in your own time. Help us to trust you. Help us to seek and find you in our place of worship, this gathered assembly of loving, struggling, beautiful and flawed people, this font of blessing, this table that feeds us with your love and promise. Amen.
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It was a great pleasure to introduce Rae'tta Bond in worship, our new Director of Music for Children and Youth. She has been hard at work preparing for the first week of rehearsals to begin THIS SUNDAY! You can read more details below in her Arkive article.
We have a beautiful Sunday of music planned by the choir! They will open the service with an arrangement of Be Thou My Vision by Dan Forrest, and accompanied by Paula Sparks. It is no secret that Dan Forrest is my favorite choral composer. His harmonies on timeless pieces, like this Irish hymn, are masterfully crafted, with sweeping crescendos to the phrase "Heart of my own heart, whatever befall".
The offertory is a piece by John Leavitt called African Alleluia, accompanied by piano and congas, played by our own Diane Yates. This rhythmic and energetic celebration is based on traditional African music. You will hear call and response and layered vocal lines throughout. I hope that this piece leaves you feeling joyful as you enter into this next week.
With love,
Rebecca
Director of Music
rechols@arkanddove.org
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Greetings!
My name is Rae’tta Bond and I am the new Director of Music for Children and Youth. I am elated to begin work with our young people on this upcoming Sunday, November 13, 2022. We will have middle school-aged youth rehearsal from 9:00am to 9:45am and choir rehearsal (ages 5 & up) from 10:00am to 10:30am. Our focus for rehearsals will be the upcoming Annual Christmas Pageant. Our middle school group will focus on percussion and hand chimes/bells for the month of November and December. I am also happy to announce that our young people will be able to access important messages, information, rehearsal reminders, and music links via google classroom (Click below for the google classroom codes). Thank you in advance for entrusting your young people with the Music Ministry. I am looking forward to serving!
If you have any questions and/or concerns, please feel free to email and/or call me at: raetta.bond@arkanddove.org or (410) 336-1912.
Google Classroom – Class Codes:
Children’s Choir
MS Youth Music
Peace and Blessings,
Rae'tta
Director of Music for Children and Youth
raetta.bond@arkanddove.org
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October Financial Summary | |
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YTD Expected Unpledged Income $41,666
YTD Actual Unpledged Income $16,694
Behind $24,972
YTD Expected Pledged & Electronic Giving $426,180
YTD Actual Pledged & Electronic Giving $421,203
Behind $4,977
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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 - 23rd Sunday after Pentecost | |
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Mask required at 9:00am Worship, Mask Optional at 10:30am Worship
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Newest Episode: 6 November
Join guest host Lilly as she interviews our new Interim Director of Youth Ministry: Whitney Grimm to discuss her plans for the newly re-instated Ark and Dove Youth Group!
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16 October
Lobby Host Christa Kronser discusses the Anne Arundel Connecting Together (ACT) Candidates Accountability Action with Countywide Candidates event held on 14th of October 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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Equipping the Saints:
Spiritual Gift Inventory
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God has gifted everyone with unique talents and dispositions for doing the work of mission and ministry. Please set aside some time this week to take our Spiritual Gifts Inventory and then join us for a Spiritual Gifts class in person in the Ark and Dove Room or via Zoom November 30th at 6:30pm. Dinner and childcare will be provided at the church. RSVP to discipleship@arkanddove.org. | |
Rise Up, Shepherd! Advent Reflections on the Spirituals
During this Advent season we will be reading the above title written by Luke A. Powery. There are a variety of dates and times to choose from. Please indicate your interest in joining a group by filling out this form. Books will be purchased for anyone who indicates interest in joining by November 13th.
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New Arrival at the Ark and Dove Library
We have recently purchased a subscription to the Christian Century, a magazine that for decades has provided a voice for progressive, mainline Christianity. A glance at this month’s edition attests to this fact with articles on land acknowledgments, Christian dominionism and nationalism, peacemaking on the West Bank and so much more. Book lovers will enjoy the Fall Books Review. As we do with our Sojourners subscription, we have digital access to the current magazine as well as their archives. Please email me at Librarian@arkanddove.org for access.
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Ready to check out a book? See our Online Catalog.
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Christian Education for Children | | |
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Nursery: open for children age birth to 3
9:00am and 10:30am Service
PreK Sunday School: Ages 4-5
9:00am service and 10:30 service
Godly Play: Elementary Ages, Grades K-5
9:00am service is a K-5 group
10:30am service has both a K-2 and a 3-5 group
Middle School Sunday School: Grades 6-8
10:30am 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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Ministry & Membership
Interest Meeting
Interested in ways to get involved at Ark and Dove? Considering becoming a member? We will be having a ministry and membership interest session on December 3rd from 9am until roughly 11:30am. Breakfast will be provided and childcare will be provided if needed. Please RSVP below. We look forward to seeing you!
RSVP HERE
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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. | |
Disability Justice in the Church
Join us for the next discussion on intersectional identities that frame one’s experience with the church. Katie Nilsen-Johnson and Michelle Schoonmaker will lead a conversation on the relationship between disability and the church on November 29th at 7:30pm. “Disability” is an inclusive term encompassing a broad range of visible and invisible disabilities including physical impairments, health conditions, and neurodivergence.
Email outreach@arkanddove.org for the zoom link.
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Parent Group will resume in 2023
Due to scheduling conflicts during the holiday season, parent group will not meet again until January 2023. If you have any questions, please contact Nicole Howe at nicolehowe123@gmail.com.
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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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Winter Relief
We have been asked for some help from Chandra Knabel, Chandra is leading the Winter Relief at Our Shepherd, Lutheran in Severna Park the week of November 21st - 27th.
Winter Relief has operated as a seasonal Emergency Temporary Shelter since 1992. Hosted at different Anne Arundel County religious facilities each week from late October through April, the shelter is a safe and comfortable refuge for those experiencing homelessness throughout the coldest months of the year.
Please use the sign-up sheet below to sign up for the Winter Relief - Our Shepherd Lutheran
Sign-up Sheet:Winter Relief 2022
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Refugee Resettlement: Abawi Family
The Ark and Dove and Annapolis Presbyterian churches were blessed to hold a meet and greet dinner here at Ark and Dove last Saturday. It was wonderful to have our refugee resettlement teams gather together to celebrate the Abawi family.
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Debbie Arey, Ark & Dove's Refugee Resettlement leader, and Mary Stuart Kempton, Annapolis team leader | |
Donations Needed
As the Abawi family settle into their new home, we can then concentrate on the many other ways we can support this family.
Clothing Donation
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
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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Anti-Racism Happenings!
Mark your calendar for two special opportunities:
November 13th: Talking to My Family About Racism and Anti-Blackness, presented by Baltimore Racial Justice Action (BRJA). This is a free zoom discussion from 11:00am - 12:30pm. Click the link below to register.
Register Here
November 20th: Documentary and Discussion at Ark and Dove on Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America. Jeffery Robinson, founder and CEO of The Who We Are Project, focuses on the experience of Black America including some of his family history from 2:00pm - 4:30pm, Zoom or in person. Sign up on the sheet at church or click the link below to register.
Register Here
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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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Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:
PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT for Carolyn Patrinicola, the mother of Beth Stewart, undergoing medical testing; joy for Paula & David Sparks celebrating 52 years of marriage; a teen struggling with peer concerns at school; the family of Lana, a friend of the Makars, who died; Paul & Laura Doughty recovering from COVID;
Harrison James Odom;
Sharon Piper and family upon the death of her father, Don Piper; the Rosenthal and Winkler family upon the death of Donald Everett Winkler, the father of Ann Marie Rosenthal; Kathy Miller's daughter, Audrey, who is recovering from back surgery; Ron Miller, dealing with health issues; the people of Mali and Burkina Faso; Holly Folk, friend of Laura Willoughby, recovering from back surgery; Carol & Henry Saylor; Rose having health issues; a young mother fighting cancer; Lillian & Jack grieving a sudden death; 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's Daughter, Allison; a husband awaiting test results; families impacted by gun violence; Dr. Jesse Nicholson, Connie Batts' brother-in-law; Laura Talbert; Danni Johnson, fighting cancer; Denise Bartgis chemo treatments; little girl diagnosed with leukemia and her family; the family of Gavin Hurley; Amanda Welford; Bruce Arey's sister; Helen Jarkiewicz; Dee going through breast cancer; Anthony Welford, recovering from surgery; Doug Dehaven with cardiac problems; Karen Judeich; Marie, Nikol Sahai’s Mom; Irina Lee, Jan and Al Jank's daughter-in-law; 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 Goldberg'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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