The Arkive: Ark and Dove's Newsletter
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Celebrate Joy and Laughter Sunday with Communion, 10:00 am!
Please connect on YouTube
HERE
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Dear Members and Friends of Ark and Dove,
We now enter the Easter Season, and there are six more Sunday’s of resurrection celebration. You would think that we, who are the people of Jesus, would be able to touch resurrection at will, but somehow it’s tougher than it sounds. Often we feel distant from God, even during regular times, never mind when COVID-19 is knocking on our door. There ought to be a strategy we could follow to feel closer to Easter. No not a strategy--that sounds like something we control, manage and manipulate. There ought to be a way we can practice our faith, so that we feel resurrection regularly. Eugene Peterson calls this
living the resurrection
.
Living the resurrection
means living life with wonder. There are clues from God everyday. There are signs like folded grave clothes. There are seemingly random occurrences of joy that are really heaven sent. There are messengers in the tombs of our lives: messengers from God. The saving action of God, in the world, is sometimes hidden and sometimes ambiguous, but always present. Living the resurrection means practicing faith with eyes open to the all the Easters that God places in our paths. Maybe living the resurrection means seeing ourselves as the messenger--as the disciple and the life for others.
Maybe you feel called to sew masks for people like me who can’t sew, or for people in public housing (see below). Maybe you feel called to bump up your giving to
One Great Hour of Sharing
? Maybe you will attend our Virtual Mission Ministry Meeting this Thursday at 7:00 to 7:59 PM? Send me an e-mail and I will send you an invitation. Maybe you feel called to donate items to the
Light House Homeless Prevention Center
. Maybe you might try our Tuesday and or Thursday
evening prayer services
at 8:00pm for 15 minutes? Maybe you can call an old friend, the neighbor you have not seen or a fellow member of the Ark and Dove community? Maybe you are called to be the messenger in bright light at someone’s tomb of a day?
Mark 16:4-7
When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.”
May the peace of the Risen Christ be upon you.
Tim
timsstern@gmail.com
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Dear Members and Friends of Ark and Dove,
Last year, my dear friend Sam encouraged me to listen to the entire catalogue of The Mountain Goats. This was a daunting task as John Darnielle had written 17 albums under that name. I had just finished Darnielle's two novels and enjoyed them, so I thought I would give it a deep dive. I began with his low fidelity recordings and ended with the lush
In League with Dragons. I am forever a fan.
Last week, Darnielle returned to form and recorded 10 songs on his old boombox. He, like all of us, is isolating for health and safety. Like many artists, he and his band cannot tour or record in studio. In one of the last songs of the new record, Darnielle says what I have been feeling since we canceled our church gatherings last month:
Return the peace you took from me/ Give me back my community.
I do miss being with you all in this Easter season. I hope that you will join me in creating new kinds of community in the coming weeks. Children can join us for Zoom games and a Bible lesson next Wednesday, youth can come together for games and discussion Sunday and Tuesday evening, parents will have a discussion Friday at 6:30, and you can join us for evening prayer on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Look out for opportunities to learn in Pastor Stephen's best of the Bible class on Sunday, Wednesday Bible study, the discussion of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's
Discipleship, or in a book club. All information is below.
Let us take back our community in whatever way we can. In community, we find peace. So, let's connect. Let's talk about good music, books, and biblical passages. Let's play some Zoom games. Let's find opportunity to flourish.
Peace,
Jon
jgnelson1985@gmail.com
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Holy One, Creator of life, by the raising of Jesus our joy , you crushed the power of death and opened the way to life eternal. As the empty tomb stands witness to this mighty act of mercy and grace, enable your church to be a bold testimony to the resurrection. May we live in such a fashion that we daily carry your new life into the world.
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This week, we look forward to hearing and seeing Laura and Paul Doughty on our livestream to present special music. Laura will be playing
Sheep May Safely Graze from Bach's Jagd Cantata, BWV 208. Though this tune is very famous, many people don't realize its association with one of Bach's secular cantatas. It's often heard at weddings. For postlude, Laura will play Handel's joyful
Giga from the Sonata in F, originally for recorder and harpsichord. Paul will join Laura for
In Christ Alone, the popular hymn by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend.
Peace,
Margaret
Director of Music
margaret.mcgillivray@gmail.com
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Christ has risen indeed! It's time for renewal. As we move into April and the curve of COVID-19 slows we can begin our own renewals. Both in spirit and community. Continue to adhere to the governor's directives, but I hope we can all begin to see the light as it approaches. This week is Joy and Laughter, so let's all join streaming service for some much needed laughs this week. Thank you all for your patience with the technical issues that plagued Easter service. The edited video is on
YouTube, if you would like to re-watch the service. This week Paul and Laura Doughty are going to be playing some nice music for service, while the band will be playing
Joy by Rend Collective. Get your jokes into Pastor Jon and Pastor Tim and enjoy another wonderful service.
God bless,
Pat
Director of Contemporary Music
psise11@gmail.com
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Fear is like a check engine light that warns us that something is amiss. If we keep running the car with the check engine light on it will make things worse. But, if we pull off and take the time to run diagnostics, we can figure out if the gas cap is too loose or if it is a massive systemic issue. In this, we need to be aware in these times of overload what things we are doing that activate our fear. Overloading on media stories or avoiding the topic entirely are two extremes of the same problem: the engine light is on and it takes doing some diagnostics to help figure out how to move through what is setting us off. We cannot ignore it, but we need not fixate on it without actually doing the work of understanding what it is telling us. Meditation, mindfulness, and prayer are all ways to help find the balance. These can help you determine what you need to keep moving forward and to keep yourself healthy mentally and emotionally as you engage these challenging times.
Blessings to you all,
Chris
Seminary Intern
Christina.L.Wilson84@gmail.com
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Please give electronically!
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TEXT your donations! 410-983-3481
Text
give to get started. Text
commands for more options.
Text an amount followed by
PerCapita
to contribute your portion of
per capita
.
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. - 2 Corinthians 7
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10:00 am Joy and Laughter Service
Bulletin
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We will share communion during worship this Sunday! Don't forget to have wine/ grape juice and bread on hand.
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Join us for brief services of prayer, Tuesday and Thursday nights at 8 pm. This is a great way to end your day, with a time of reflection, thanksgiving, and supplication. Here are the zoom links:
Tuesday, 8pm
Thursday, 8pm
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Hello Friends,
Many thanks to the patient families who hung around for a ONE HOUR DELAY to join in the Ark and Dove Easter worship service! We know it was frustrating to not know when the live stream would start. Here's a recap of what happened in the sanctuary to cause the delay: the laptop that runs the camera and streams the service onto Youtube started flashing on & off every second or so around 8:50 AM. The tech team tried to fix it, while also coming up with Plan B / C. They ended up pirating Margaret's desktop computer, and installed all the software, configured all devices, and built the entire video / live stream system from scratch on this computer. The audio feeds never did get configured as before, and the only microphone the software could "hear" was the one built into the new camera, so the pastors had to PROJECT their voices, and it picked up all sounds coming from anywhere in the sanctuary (including the tech booth). The two theories on why the laptop crashed are 1) it underwent too many vigorous cleanings with juicy sanitizing wipes; or 2) it was too slow and did not have enough computing power from the get go to do all we were asking it to do, and fatally locked up.
We have now purchased a new computer that has plenty of computing speed, video outputs / inputs, video cards, all the required functionality to be able to live stream a worship service now, and into the future. We have heard from many of you that even when in person worship resumes, you will enjoy having the live stream when you are sick, out of town, or so you can share with relatives. So we will be able to continue to live stream with this new equipment.
We are very fortunate to have many people who work in tech fields as members of Ark and Dove. They have worked together to select and shop for the best equipment we need to do this job properly, at the lowest possible cost. However these purchases are not in the budget. We have spent around $2,700 so far on camera, computer, and software to be able to live stream now and for years ahead. We hope this cost will be made up by additional gifts, or perhaps by being able to reach people that cannot attend in-person services.
We also have a need for additional people to help on the new "live stream" team. It will take one person full time in the tech booth operating the camera and live stream. We will start training new members starting 4/26, after the new computer has been fully installed. This person will not have to have prior video experience- just a familiarity with computers; the software is straightforward. Please get in touch with Worship Elder, Ellen Makar (eemakar@aol.com), if you are able to help out on the Live Stream Team.
We are all looking forward to the day when we can worship together, and see our real church--the people! In the meantime, thanks to Rob Yeager, Ryan Stavely, Brandon Callahan, Sean Fuchs, Autumn Vernon, Jon Nelson and Tim Stern for bringing Ark and Dove worship services into our homes to share God's love during this horrible pandemic.
Ellen Makar, Worship Ministry, eemakar@aol.com
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One Great Hour of Sharing
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Special Offerings: Disaster Assistance, Hunger Program, and Self-Development of People
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During these uncertain times we encourage continuing support for One Great Hour of Sharing as a witness of the whole Church coming together to support the most vulnerable among us. The three programs supported by
One Great Hour of Sharing
are Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Presbyterian Hunger Program and Self Development of People. The Church’s response to the present crisis will begin with the most at-risk communities across the country and around the world. Please
give generously
to One Great Hour of Sharing. Cheryl Schafer, Mission Elder, csscas@verizon.net
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Our Parent Group will be meeting via Zoom on
Friday, April 24, 6:30 pm
. If you're looking to chat with other families with children age 0 to high school, join in!
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Adult Education Opportunities
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The Bible's Five Greatest Chapters
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Pour yourself a cup of tea and join Stephen Price-Gibson on Zoom for a discussion of "
The Bible's Five Greatest Chapters." Beginning
Sunday, April 19, 4 pm, for five weeks, we will discuss an important chapter from either the Hebrew scriptures or New Testament. (You know you are eager to find out what he's selected!) To sign up in order to receive instructions for logging into our Zoom meeting, email Kim Champagne (kim.champagne@gmail.com); for more information about the class, contact Stephen Price-Gibson (spricegibson@hotmail.com).
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Need to escape the walls of your home? Join us our book club! In May, we will be reading Sarah Blake's
Naamah, a re-imagining of the Flood Narrative from Genesis. Contact Pastor Jon if you are in: jgnelson1985@gmail.com
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Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
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Are you wrestling with what it means to follow Jesus during a pandemic? Dietrich Bonhoeffer can help us. Bonhoeffer wrote
Discipleship when the Nazis were rising to power in Germany. In this timeless book, he helps us realize our calling and follow it in difficult times. Our first discussion of the book will be the first week of May. Please contact Kim Champagne (kim.champagne@gmail.com) or Pastor Jon (jgnelson1985@gmail.com) if you are interested.
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Saturday, April 25 and May 2
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We will be holding spring cleanup at Ark and Dove on April 25 and May 2. Even though we can’t all come together to clean as a group, we can get the church grounds looking good for spring. We will be maintaining physical distancing by only having one family gardening at a time. Please consider
signing up for a time slot to come as a single family or individual to make our flower beds ready for when we can meet in person again. Sign up
HERE. Questions? Please contact Autumn Vernon, Facilities Elder, autumn.vernon03@gmail.com
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The Inequities of COVID-19
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African Americans Suffer Disproportionately
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By the time you’re reading this in the Arkive, I, along with many of you, will have been out of the house no farther than our deck for more than four weeks. The separation from family and friends is wearing on all of us, and I try to remember the privileges I enjoy that allow me to stay home and rely on deliveries for whatever we need. Tragically, many do not have this privilege, and recent statistics show our African American brothers and sisters are suffering most from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The inequities caused by structural racism become ever more visible in times like this. African Americans suffer disproportionately from conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity – conditions exasperated by income inequality and inadequate health insurance. One effect that isn’t always recognized is the stress that they face daily: the man who is afraid to wear a mask in public for fear of being labeled a criminal; the store clerk working for minimum wage who is prohibited from wearing gloves or a mask; the employee who is sick but lives in a poor neighborhood where testing isn’t available; the workers packing and delivering our food and supplies; the sanitation workers and mail deliverers; the undocumented domestic workers for whom there is no safety net... all knowing their lives are on the line.
This is global. This pandemic crosses every line we use to divide ourselves--rich/poor, black/white/Latino, conservative/liberal, old/young, able/disabled. But, while we are all vulnerable, those who struggle to survive—despite the structural racism, they cannot escape disproportionately—suffer and die. When we eventually come back together, may it not be a return to our previous “normal”, but an opportunity to grow in love, work for justice, and dismantle structural racism.
Paula Sparks, trebleclef48@gmail.com
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Healing Through Grief During Quarantine
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Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
- Matthew 5:4
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Pastor Tim and I will be co-facilitating the next
Healing through Grief group on Wednesday, April 29 at 7 pm as a Zoom meeting. The Healing through Grief small group is open to anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one, whether it is recent or a long time ago. While quarantining during Covid-19, many have found grieving for lost loved ones, even from years ago, a difficult thing to bear. If you know a neighbor or co-worker who is grieving, invite them to join us.
Let me know if you have the slightest inclination to attend, so that we can send you the link to the Zoom meeting. If you change your mind later, no problem. Also, let me know if you have not used Zoom before, so that we can provide you with some information in advance.
Any questions, please contact Pastor Tim Stern (timsstern@gmail.com / 410-674-6400) Linnie Girdner (girdnerlinda@gmail.com / 410-999-7892). Let's be there for one another in this new way of healing through grief. If you need to talk with someone prior to that date, feel free to give me a call or contact your
Deacon.
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In this time of social distancing, our need for connection has never been greater.
The Governor has just ordered
that all who go out in public e.g.: store, pharmacy, etc. wear face masks. We are able to connect you to a team of volunteers who have been busy making face masks. If you are in need of a face mask let us know, and we can arrange to have one delivered to you. Please note that you should wash the face mask before using it and after every time you use it.
In addition, the Annapolis Housing Authority has an urgent need for over 1,200 face masks. If you know how to sew and can help with this urgent need it would be great.
CDC directions are included
for both sew and non-sew face coverings. If you do not have cotton cloth a suggestion that was given to me was to use a cotton pillow case or sheet. I know these will be greatly appreciated by the Housing Authority and the many that will receive a mask.
If you are able to help sew these masks, please contact either Amy Hagemann (Amyh.deacon@gmail.com) or Cheryl Schafer (csscas@verizon.net), and we will make arrangements to pick up the masks.
If you are in need of a face mask, please contact Judy Cooper (Jkcooper0410@gmail.com), and let her know how many adult members in the household are in need of them and these will be delivered. Be sure to include your name, address and phone number.
Stay safe and stay well!
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Personal growth rarely occurs without having faced a challenge. We have been shaken out of our comfort zones. What will we make of it? Will we go back to "normal" or will there be a new normal that includes personal growth. I found this graphic by Dr. Monika Langeh on Facebook and love the way it shows how we can move from fear, to learning, to growth. If you feel stuck in the fear zone, it is important to reach out. Of course, these zones are not a straight trajectory. Absorbing daily news sometimes can have us moving back to the fear zone, whereas self-care can move us forward. Prayer and self-reflection can help us continue to grow and think beyond ourselves.
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Where would you place yourself at this point and what actions might you want to take next? I know many of you have been doing for others, making masks, delivering food, calling on friends. Some of you are deemed essential workers and have needed to be out and about no matter what "zone" you are in on a particular day. It can be helpful to journal about one's experience. And maybe some individuals, whether on the home front or the front lines, would be willing to share in a future
Arkive
. Linnie Girdner, girdnerlinda@gmail.com
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Compassion, Peace and Justice
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The annual PC(USA) Compassion, Peace and Justice Training Day will be virtual on
Friday, April 25 from 12 -1:30 pm
. The theme is ‘Imagine God’s Earth and People Restored.' The panel of activists will share their work in environmental justice. It's free. See
here
for more info.
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Ple
ase keep the following people in your prayers this week:
PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT
for Sue Hanburger's sister-in-law, Susan; Zach Murray’s father, Kelly Murray; Becky Marcus; Mark Johnson, Sr.; Carlton Jackson; Mark Edwards; Sabonna Keeney’s mother; Pattie Plander; Richard and Edie Budd; Daryl Sensenig; Amy Grimm’s sister and grandparents; Joan and Merlin Berry; Amy Goldberg’s grandfather, Aaron Cooper; Adell Gaurin; David Sparks; John Rolewicz; Laurie and Fred Barrow’s niece, Hope Simeone, nephew, Samuel, and Fred’s aunt, Lee; Bernabe Solano; Griselda Solano's sister, Irma; Kathy Miller’s sisters, Patty and Beth; Dotty Kaufman, her son, Bill, daughter-in-law, Carol, and granddaughter, Sarah; Ellen Makar’s uncle, Carl Erickson; Barbara Reynold’s sister-in-law, Kay Campbell; Laura Doughty’s brother-in-law, Carl Hahn; Bob Johns; Hollis Butterworth’s brother-in-law, Brian Smith; Cindy Knott’s mother, Madeline; Debbie Saylor’s two friends and her uncle, Wayne; Laura Willoughby's father, Norman and Laura’s friend; Jose Lopez’s mother, Queta; Bill Ruble’s mother, Mary Jane Weathers, Shane and Aubrey Ard and Ashley Ruble; Stan Houck and Ann Hirschy; Christina Nelson’s grandmother, Pat Dole; Jon Nelson’s grandmother, Peggy; Chip Burnett; Kelly Burnett’s nephew, Justin; Debbie and Bruce Arey’s daughter, Allison; Debbie Arey’s aunt, Linda Rose; Dot Forloines; Dorene Chen’s family; Lewis Shorter and niece, Jennifer Schwandt-Gayle; Archer and Honor Bauman’s grandfather, Larry; the Tardiff family; Brian Boudreau’s cousin, Valery Householder; Kameron and Kamarii Miller; Cheryl Walcutt’s mother, nephew, and sisters, Judy Walsh and Lori Henninger and Lori Johnson; Amanda Wehage’s father, Dave; Ylonda Fauntleroy's aunt, Bernice Taylor; Brooks Emrick and her sister, Susan; Vaughn Brown; Frances Keyes; Julia Kirby's mother, Margaret Floyd, cousin, Judy and friend Barb Cleland; Erika Sealing's son, Trip, and grandmother, Margaret Schade; Amy Benson's family and Amy’s friend, Brian Shriner; Lou Kareha’s friends, Thomas and Judy Kochis, and Jim Zaranosky; Margaret’s friend, Kim Nolet; Michelle Schoonmaker's friend Amaris Wallace; Linnie Girdner and Jan Hof’s friends, Grace and Skip; Michelle Schoonmaker’s friends, Everly and Emilia Stugart; Patriceo Green’s brother and sister; Deborah Dingle’s daughter’s fiancé, Sergio; Tracy Churchill’s friend, Tammy; Cliff and Wendy Wellington’s neighbor’s daughter, Lisa; and Doug Mattingly’s mother.
PRAYERS OF LOVE, SUPPORT AND PROTECTION
for all hospital staff, patients, clinics, grocers, essential workers and hourly workers around the world, who are working bravely and arduously to protect our loved ones and our communities. Including: Linda Jordan’s nephew, Russell; Diane Johnson’s grandson; the Ralston’s family members and friends; Simone Stiegler’s friend, Jean Marie; Mike Stiegler; Amy Grimm’s mother; Jeff Grimm; Amy Goldberg’s brother, Joseph Alexander, and parents, Michael and Maryann Cooper; Judy Cooper’s daughter; John Mikeska’s son, Jonathan; and Hollis Butterworth’s sister-in-law, Cyndie.
PRAYERS OF LOVE AND SUPPORT
for those experiencing domestic abuse.
THE LOVE AND PRAYERS OF THE CONGREGATION
go out to the Forloines family on the death of Dot’s niece, Renee Carlos.
THE LOVE AND PRAYERS OF THE CONGREGATION
go out to the families of those who have died from COVID-19: Diane Johnson’s neighbor, Ronnie; Paula Grigg’s friend Tim Cote’s sister, Bonnie; and Fred Barrow’s friend, Rex Ridenhower.
PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING
for a healing earth.
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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