The Arkive: Ark and Dove's Newsletter |
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Welcome the Reign of Christ!
Please connect on YouTube HERE
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Dear Members and Friends of the Ark and Dove Community,
As we prepare to celebrate our national holiday of Thanksgiving I hope that your day will be nurturing and meaningful. We are all well aware that this Thanksgiving will be different than many before. Gatherings will be smaller and many families and individuals are going it alone, so be sure to get some fresh air and do some fun things.
Although Thanksgiving is a secular celebration in the United States, it has its roots in the Jewish and Christian traditions of harvest festivals, where God was thanked for bounty, and the first fruits were brought to places of worship. Deuteronomy 26:1-11 is worth reading for some perspective. This year in light of the possibility that many people at Ark and Dove might be alone or in a small gatherings for Thanksgiving, we will be offering a worship and fellowship opportunity by Zoom at 12 Noon on Thanksgiving Day. We will have beautiful quartet singing from Margaret’s house and Pat will provide acoustic guitar from his parents’ house. The service will start with silence and instrumental music. Our format will be simple and about around 20 minutes long. After the service, any who would like to stay for fellowship can join me for conversation until 1:00PM. If you would like a Zoom Invitation please request it at Admin@arkanddove.org by Wednesday at 3:00. Last minute decision, contact me tstern@arkanddove.org.
The Session is offering its thanks for the well over 50 households who have already pledged to Connections, our fall stewardship effort. See Stewardship article below. This Sunday we will again lay the newest pledge cards, on the communion table as an act of community and faith. You can email your pledge card or pledge to Giving@arkanddove.org. Also we are steadfast in buying fresh meats and other items for the Food Pantry at Kingdom Celebration Center every week. As part of your Thanksgiving devotions you may want to make an additional contribution to our Samaritans Today Fund online or by mail.
Advent is just around the corner be sure to have and Advent wreath at your house, so you can light you own wreath during worship on November 29. If you need a wreath, our flower team and Logos youth have been assembling some. See the article below.
Peace of Christ,
Tim
tstern@arkanddove.org
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Dear Members and Friends of Ark and Dove,
Be sure to log into YouTube or Facebook by 9:45 am this Sunday. In The Lobby, Lori Kronser will be talking about how we are being recognized as a Matthew 25 church. Below, in this edition of the Arkive, you can read about what that means. In brief, it means that we are a church committed to the vitality of our congregation, dismantling structural racism, and eradicating systemic poverty. Matthew 25 is a movement of Presbyterian churches seeking to keep each other accountable to following Jesus Christ, who identifies himself with the marginalized and vulnerable. On Sunday, we will be greeted by Sy Hughes, a representative of the Presbyterian Mission Agency, who will encourage us and invite us to make a commitment as a church to be a lively community committed to antiracism and social equity. We already are such a community, but Jesus beckons us on. I am pleased to be part of a church ever-willing to meet Jesus in the hungry, thirsty, stranger, robbed, sick, and imprisoned (Matt. 25:35-36).
Peace,
Jon
jnelson@arkanddove.org
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And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’
-Matthew 25:40
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Lord Jesus Christ, Shepherd and Savior, you come to us in unexpected ways. Help us to recognize your presence in the faces of our neighbors in need, so that we may love and serve you as we love and serve one another; in your holy name we pray. Amen.
-Presbyterian Mission Agency
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For the Reign Of Christ Sunday, I found this fun arrangement of Crown Him with Many Crowns but in the style of Bach's prelude in D Major. As we look back on our Stewardship campaign and towards Thanksgiving, we welcome Kiana Cobb to sing a stunning setting of Now Thank We All Our God, arranged by Richard Walter. Kiana has finished their undergraduate degree in music at Morgan State and is currently studying for their master's in education at the same institution. Kiana will be familiar to Ark & Dove - we've had the pleasure of their singing during special services over the past two years. Speaking of which, this week marks my 2nd anniversary of my time at Ark & Dove. I've learned a lot about myself and you these past two years. Thank you so much for your support!
If you are or have a child wanting to sing and record Away in a Manger for Christmas Eve, please let me know as soon as possible. The video to sing along with is almost ready to go.
Peace,
Margaret
Director of Music
margaret.mcgillivray@gmail.com
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Thank you everyone for all the comments that were in the livestream chat this week. It always means a lot and warms the heart. Kim did such a great job with preparing that anthem and her performance in the recording is a testament to her preparation. This week the band recorded one of our newer hymns, ‘God, You Reign’ by Lincoln Brewster. Please check out the song ok YouTube to refresh your memory so you can sing along. Please don’t forget the directives Gov. Hogan has issues so we can all work together to slow down the revamped spread of COVID-19. Have a safe, healthy, and blessed week!
God bless,
Pat
Director of Contemporary Music
psise11@gmail.com
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DONATE ONLINE! One-time and recurring!
TEXT your donations! 410-983-3481
Text amount followed by joy, to give to Christmas Joy Offering.
Text give to get started. Text commands for more options.
You will be enriched in every good way for your generosity….
- 2 Corinthians 9:11
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The 2021 Connections Stewardship Team would like to sincerely thank everyone who has submitted a pledge commitment. Last Sunday we dedicated our pledges and we will do so again this Sunday. If you have not sent your pledge card back to the church yet, either via USPS or giving@arkanddove.org, there is still time to do so. We are excited to share that 59 of 164 households have pledged so far and many have increased their pledges to help meet the needs of our church and community! We are so grateful for your generous giving to support our mission and ministries at Ark and Dove. Separately, we are all individuals. But together, connected in loving and supportive community, we are one body of faith in Christ. With each gift we give, we multiply Christ's work in our world through our mission and ministry efforts. Every pledge counts, no matter how big or small, and every gift is sacred. If you are a regular giver through EFT or PayPal, we would like to invite you to fill out a pledge card this year. Our pledges are important because they help us plan how much of the vision put forth by our elders and deacons we can fulfill. And finally, we ask that you pray for each other, our church, and all the good that we do together to bring hope and healing to each other and to those most vulnerable. Thank you!
-The 2021 Connections Stewardship Team; Doug Walcutt, Steve Debus, Tricia, Gray, Joe Gray, Bruce Sanders, Diane Johnson, and Pastor Tim.
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Discipleship Ministry and Board of Deacons |
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Christian Education and Mission Ministries |
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Outreach & Connections and Worship Ministries |
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Facilities and Administration Ministries |
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Our congregation has accepted the PC(USA)’s invitation to follow Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 25:31–46 by becoming active disciples and making a difference in our community and the world.
• Building congregational vitality
• Dismantling structural racism
• Eradicating systemic poverty
Join us Sunday as we officially receive our official designation as a Matthew 25 Church.
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Advent Begins November 29th |
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Welcome the Holy Season of Light |
1st Sunday of Advent with communion
Let There Be Light, November 29
2nd Sunday of Advent
The Lord Is My Light, December 6
3rd Sunday of Advent
The People Who Walked In Darkness Have Seen A Great Light, December 13
4th Sunday of Advent
Arise Your Light Has Come, December 20
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Christmas Eve Children’s Service, December 24, 4:00 pm livestream
Lanterns and Luminaries, December 24, 5:30 pm church grounds
Christmas Eve Service, December 24, 7:00 pm livestream
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Advent Wreaths Coming Soon! |
LOGOS and the Worship Ministry want to help each Ark and Dove family feel connected as we prepare for Christmas during ADVENT. We would like to give each Ark and Dove family an Advent wreath, so we can all light candles at home and count down toward Christmas. Please click here for a link to sign up to receive a wreath, let us know if you want it delivered, or if you can help deliver to other A&D families. If you do not sign up to have a wreath delivered, you can pick it up at church starting on Nov. 29 (more details to follow).
Sign up here to get connected this Advent.
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Welcome to Presbyterians Today’s Advent and Christmas devotional, “Let Us Light Candles: Matthew 25 and the work of Advent.” This extended online devotional — taking us not just through Advent but through Christmastide and ending with Epiphany, Jan. 6 — brings to you the inspiring words in Howard Thurman’s poem “I Will Light Candles This Christmas.”
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Sleeping Bags and Tents Needed |
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Christmas Joy Offering is one way we join together as Presbyterians from around the country. We might not be able to meet face to face, but we are very much together. The gifts we share connect us. They also change lives. Through the Christmas Joy Offering, we support church workers and their families who experience critical financial needs. We connect with the young people by supporting the education and leadership development for students of color, who will soon be leaders in our Church and in the world. “God is with us.” All the time. Thank you for your generous gift to the Christmas Joy Offering. During this season of Advent there isn’t a more perfect gift than that. “If we all do a little — together — it adds up to a lot.” You can donate online, by text (text amount followed by joy to 410-983- 3481) or by check. Cheryl Schafer, Mission Elder, csscas@verizon.net.
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Christmas Holiday Sharing |
As part of our mission ministry, Ark and Dove is participating again in the Christmas Holiday Sharing Program organized by The Anne Arundel County Department of Social Services. Through this partnership we share some of our blessings and provide Christmas gifts to children in our community. Sign-ups will be online. Ark and Dove participants will still purchase gifts for each child, but for COVID-19 safety, shopping and delivery will vary to some extent according to the needs and preferences of the Holiday Sharing families. To manage this we will have several team captains to serve as the points of contact for the Holiday Sharing families and the Ark and Dove participants. We still expect to need help with delivery, but that will be known later. Detailed instructions will be provided when you sign up, and we will provide the sign-up information soon. For more information now please contact Greg Makar (GLMakar@juno.com, 301-483-8255). |
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Adult Christian Education |
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Every Wednesday at 10 am, we gather online for fellowship, Bible study on the upcoming Sunday scriptures, and prayer. This has been and continues to be a great way to deepen friendships and faith. Please join us, there is no commitment or homework. Contact Pastor Jon for the Zoom invitation (jnelson@arkanddove.org). |
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Youth Christian Education |
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Our Sunday school program for grades K-5 takes place via Zoom each Sunday from 9:00- 9:40 am. Our host welcomes the child(ren), the storyteller tells a story and then leads the children in reflection and wondering. Normally, our class would involve a work/creative response time as well, so our Godly Play team has put together response bags containing art supplies and other materials for the children to keep at home for personal use. If you are interested in getting a bag for your child(ren), or you have any questions about Godly Play or would like to be put on our list to receive zoom invitations, please contact Julie Devers, Christian Education Elder, at jbdevers@gmail.com. |
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LOGOS Weekly Lessons and Activities |
LOGOS has begun; check your emails each Tuesday! LOGOS is Ark and Dove's midweek intergenerational experience for children and youth up to 8th grade. It is a time for all ages to come together to learn about God and grow in their relationships. Unlike previous years, we will not be meeting in the church building. Instead, each week will have a different family-centered activity to do either at home or outside at church. There will be crafts, games, bible study, and opportunities for worship and mission. If you’d like to get on the weekly emailing list, please contact Amy Goldberg at amygoldberg.2010@gmail.com. If you’re interested in volunteering, please contact Jen Roman at jroman8414@gmail.com.
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Sunday Fellowship after the live-stream church service continues! Via a ZOOM meeting, of course. If you'd like to join in for some light conversation and have a chance to see some familiar faces, simply send an email to fellowship@arkanddove.org to request an invitation. We will then send you a link to the Zoom meeting. You only need to do this one time, and you can use the same link each week. The meetings begin around 11:15 each Sunday. It will be great to "see" you! Nicole Howe, nicolehowe123@gmail.com.
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Thursdays at 3:00 pm on Zoom. Please contact Pastor Tim (tstern@arkanddove.org) to receive an invitation.
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Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:
PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT for Merlin Berry; Debbie and Bruce Arey's family in Connecticut; Amanda Crose's grandmother, Betty; Donna Anderson's brother-in-law, Tom Brown; Linda Taylor’s mother, Izola; Wren Suggs; Brenna Kirby; Grant Kirby’s mother, Caroline; Dick Paronto; Camille Dubois; Clarke Beaudry’s mother, Judy LaMarque; Kennon Bauman’s uncle, Dan Johnston; Amy Goldberg’s grandmother, Ruth Cooper; Dot Forloines’ family and her great-grandson Luke; Debbie and Bruce Arey’s daughter, Allison; Christy Yeager’s mother, Linda Jordan; John Mikeska; Michelle Schoonmaker's Auntie Bernice; Diane Johnson's Uncle Ed, Aunt Janet, and cousin Richard; Shelley Franklin's father; Hollis Butterworth’s daughter, Rachel Mershont and brother-in-law, Brian Smith; Amanda Wehage’s mother, sister and father, Dave, and friend; Fred Barrow; Laurie Barrow’s nephew, Gunther Kurtz; Carlton Jackson; Sabonna Keeney’s mother; Pattie Plander; Richard and Edie Budd and family; Sue Hanburger's friends, Barb, Phyllis, and Martha and family, Craig; Bernabe Solano; Griselda Solano's sister, Irma; Kathy Miller’s friend Sandee Dickson; Dotty Kaufman, her son, Bill, daughter-in-law, Carol, granddaughter, Sarah, and grandson Nathan; Laura Doughty’s brother-in-law, Carl Hahn and Paul Doughty’s uncle, Wes; Bob Johns; Cindy Knott’s mother, Madeline; Laura Willoughby's father, Norman; Bill Ruble’s mother, Mary Jane Weathers; Ann Hirschy’s Aunt Cindy and brother; Christina Nelson’s grandmother, Pat Dole; Kelly Burnett’s nephew, Justin; Lewis Shorter and Lewis Shorter’s niece, Jennifer Schwandt-Gayle; Patriceo Green’s cousin, Philip Brown; Jennifer and Shawn Ralston’s niece; Archer and Honor Bauman’s grandfather, Larry; the Tardiff family; Cheryl Walcutt’s mother, nephew, and sisters; Brooks Emrick and her sister, Susan; Vaughn Brown; Frances Keyes; Julia Kirby's mother, Margaret Floyd; Erika Sealing's son, Trip, and grandmother, Margaret Schade; Amy Benson's family and Amy’s friend, Brian Shriner; Lou Kareha’s aunt, Judy Kochis and cousin, Thomas; Steve Debus’ cousin-in-law; Margaret McGillivray's friend Gregg Hanson; Kim Young's friend, Joyce Miller; Linnie Girdner and Jan Hof’s friend, Grace Ligon; the Yeager’s friend, Karen Schell; Ylonda Funtleroy's friends, Gloria Jean Austin and Tanya; and Kathy Emmert's friend, Patty.
PRAYERS OF HEALING for those with COVID-19 including: Jon Nelson's sister, Meredith; Emily Crose's grandmother, Lois Echhorn; Doug Walcutt’s father, Chuck Walcutt and stepmother, Linda Walcutt; Ed Barrett's friend, Joe Bogner; Julia Kirby’s friends, Sam and the Speer family; Robert and Marissa Lyle; and Ylonda Fauntleroy's family, Annette and Leah Turner and friends, Sandra and Elijah Williams.
PRAYERS OF LOVE, SUPPORT AND PROTECTION for all essential workers workers around the world, including: Bill Gaurin; Tricia Gray’s mother; Becca Distad; Jack Burnett; Caitlyn Bussey; Emily Sanders; Audrey Miller; 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.
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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