Dear Friends and Members of the Ark and Dove Community,

Someone told me this week that they were going shopping for back to school supplies. They were getting some for their family and some for Meade Middle School. That’s terrific. I went to the sign up genius to sign up to get a back pack for a child at Van Bokkelen Elementary School and all the 40 slots were filled. That’s terrific. Snooze you lose, but I will get some supplies for Meade Middle. They always need them. In our church, there is a natural rhythm come August time. Our congregation stops talking so much about vacation and start focusing on the Autumn program year. School starts soon. Sunday School starts up. Logos won’t be far behind.

That is why the Session is excited to announce that with the approval of the Presbytery of Baltimore, they have signed a contract with Pastors Caroline and Stephen Price Gibson to be our paid 80% time, (40% each) Interim Associates. Stephen and Caroline have been our Parish Associates along with Pastor Betsy for some time now. They know Ark and Dove. During the search for a permanent Associate Pastor, they will be our interims. With combined ministry experience of over 80 years in multiple settings and states, they bring us a rich array of talent. I am excited to be working with them and they are excited to come on board in this new and deeper capacity. September 4 will be their first Sunday as Interims. You can access their one page resume’s here.

What about the other 20%? Good question. We have almost completed the Job Description for Interim Director of Youth Ministry and plan to start advertising next week. We are already advertising for the position of Director of Children’s Music. Things are coming together.

This Sunday we take another large step forward with a Special Hybrid Congregational Meeting at 11:45 AM. The Session will place in nomination their slate to serve on the Associate Pastor Nominating Team. The team is a diverse compilation of active members: Fred Barrow, Emma Talbert, Julie Devers, David Lawson, Donna Anderson, Ylonda Fauntleroy, Jim Cooper, Aaron Fox, Adora Grace Nilsen-Johnson, and Laura Willoughby.  Here is the Zoom invitation or see you in the Sanctuary!

 

Peace,

tstern@arkanddove.org

PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT for the Ashwood family upon the death of Stone’s Uncle Emile; Tricia Gray; the Hall/Ballard families on the death of Jeffrey Hall; a family anticipating big life change; the Sahai family for the death of Ronald Sahai; Anthony Welford, recovering from surgery; Taiwan; Ukraine; Myanmar; Arlyce Lohr; Laura Talbert; Ardeth Johns; Doug Dehaven with cardiac problems; College student returing to their studies; A daughter losing weight; peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula; Lourdes Cordero for a safe trip; those in Gaza under attack; Karen Judeich recovering from surgery and COVID; Harrison-Wyatt Family searching for Jamil Wyatt; people of Smith Island, MD who are recovering from a tornado; Marie Sahai, Nikol’s Mom, health issues; 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, recently diagnosed with stage 4 cancer; for Hope Sutphin, recently diagnosed with breast cancer; Dotty Kaufmann; a friend and her family experiencing big changes; The Talbert family upon the death of Aunt; Emily Wehage; Diane Makar's friend’s mother, 95 and recovering from surgery; Donna Beckwith recovering from 2nd round of chemo; Jeff Miller, Kathy Miller’s brother-in-law; Freyja Hartzell; Amy Goldber's father, Michael Cooper; Denise Bartgis; Rebecca Echols friend, Lauren Douglas, and Uncle, Rick Orfinger; Andy, friend of Karen Dodson; Jeanne Elbefeld; Abawi family member; Praise the healthy arrival of Lillian Rose, Great niece of Laurie & Fred Barrow; Mike Bartgis's cousin; Marjorie Tanner, Laura Doughty’s mother; Ellen; Cara Moody 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, Helen Rossum, Wayne Rennex, Alison Buffington & Chris and Jeff; Jack Sweeney; Mary Lou Dulina, friend of Cheryl Schafer; Alvin Dennis and Audrey Price; Ashton Borsella; Tiffany Thompson; Courtney, Deborah Dingle’s niece; 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; Lourdes Cordero's family and friends: Diane Cordero (sister), Jose (brother), granddaughter, and Fred and Arelene Jones (friends); Amy Tardiff’s Aunt Fran; 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; Carol Saylor; Ray Bussey's mother, Doris; 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; Linda Taylor’s mother, Izola; Amy Goldberg’s grandmother, Ruth Cooper; 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.