The Arkive: Ark and Dove's Newsletter | |
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2nd Sunday after Epiphany
January 15, 2023
In-Person Worship at 9:00 and 10:30 am, every Sundays!**
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,
Being an ally is inconvenient and sometimes costly. No, I am not talking about the US aid to Ukraine, I am talking about what it means to be an ally to people of color and people in the LGBTQIA community.
Because we who are white and or straight, have been raised in a sexist, racist, queerphobic culture, we are not always tuned in to when people, including ourselves, behave in ways that hurt people of color, women, and people in the LGBTQIA community. Some time ago I was at coffee with a person of color and her three-year-old mixed-race daughter. Four times in a 45 minute one on one meeting we were interrupted by white people who wanted to be sure they told the mom what beautiful hair her daughter had. One even added that mom had great hair too! Woohoo. Here are how some people of color might hear these interruptions: " I am so delighted that your child looks like a white toddler with wavy hair," "Isn't it amazing that children of color can look beautiful too." And so on. We call incidents like this microaggressions. Once in a class our anti-racism team was leading, we viewed a short video on microaggressions. Each microaggression, said the narrator, is like a tiny cut or a mosquito bite. By itself nothing too serious. But if you experience 4 microaggressions in 45 minutes or 32 a day it adds up to some real pain.
This Sunday our GLEAM team is presenting Changing the Game, A film about Three Transgender High School Athletes, after worship with light snacks and drinks. On Sunday, January 29, our anti-racism team is hosting a lunch and workshop on "The Race Card," presented by a member of the Catonsville Presbyterian Church. Free workshops; well, they will cost you some time, but how might you grow?
The LOGOS rule: Everyone treats everyone else like a child of God.
Peace of Christ,
Tim
tstern@arkanddove.org
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Message from Interim Associate Pastors | |
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Dear friends and members at Ark and Dove,
In November, before the election, the pastoral staff at Ark and Dove met to plan out services and music for the new year. Pastor Tim spoke of his awareness of the level of anxiety, both in our world and among those of us at Ark and Dove. People are dealing with high levels of stress and a variety of types of anxiety. When you come right down to it, anxiety is anxiety, regardless of what triggers it. We made the decision to focus on this in the sermons in this first part of the new year. We will be examining a wide range of sources of anxiety: disease; conflict among family, friends, and at work; civil strife; personal turmoil; and strife with God. We are no strangers to working with people who are dealing with anxiety and worry, but neither are we experts. What we are trained to do is to look at the Biblical witness and examine our situation in the light of our faith story. We hope that you will find something in these next weeks which will help guide you or help you find a new perspective.
We as a congregation are also going through a somewhat anxious time. The transition between pastors always generates anxiety. We are acutely aware of how deeply Pastor Jon is missed, especially by our youth. It will be a joy to be able to call a new Associate Pastor. We pray that God will give the APNT the discernment to find the exact person Ark and Dove needs. The anxiety of this period is mitigated by an implicit trust in the One whose church we are, Christ our Lord.
Like every church, we are seeking a new footing as we emerge from the restrictions of the pandemic. Some have not felt safe in returning to in-person worship. Others have grown out of the habit of church attendance and perhaps will not return. We miss them intensely and hope that they will return, but as the months slip by this is increasingly unlikely. These factors have an impact on our stewardship program and the support for the church. We are so very grateful for the generous support of so many of the families in our congregation, both financial and in the giving of your time and talent. At present, fewer families are bearing a larger share of the cost of the church. If you have not pledged to give in 2023, please give it your prayerful attention.
Ark and Dove is a congregation filled with generous, loving, faith-filled followers of Christ. You inspire us and encourage us! As individuals and as a congregation we face anxiety, but we carry one another in faith and hope!
Thank you!
Caroline and Stephen
caroline.pricegibson@arkanddove.org
stephen.pricegibson@arkanddove.org
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6 The wolf shall live with the lamb; the leopard shall lie down with the kid; the calf and the lion will feed[b] together, and a little child shall lead them. 7 The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den. 9 They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
Isaiah 11:6-9
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Holy One, we pray that you would pour out your healing presence and your deep peace on each member of the human family today, especially those who we name in our hearts. We ask that you enter in and bring the healing that you have for us — physically, emotionally and spiritually. Complete this good work that you have begun in us. Amen | |
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This week, we remember the work of Martin Luther King, Jr. and his legacy of fighting for civil rights and social justice. I will begin each service with an arrangement of the traditional spiritual, He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands. This song has been arranged by many musicians over the years. Moses Hogan’s arrangements of spirituals are particularly noteworthy for their dynamic and emotive interpretations. This piece is a simple, yet powerful arrangement for piano that grows in intensity and energy throughout.
Our Offertory Anthem, titled Longing for Light, We Wait in Darkness is a moving hymn written by Bernadette Farrell, a respected Catholic musician and liturgist. The lyrics of the hymn express the deep longing of humanity for the light of God, and the hope and faith that sustain us during times of darkness and uncertainty. The chorus changes to a major key, from the minor verses, exclaiming “Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts. Shine through the darkness...” painting a picture of light and hope by the shift in tonality. The melody is simple and repetitive and is likely to stick with you all week. It will be sung by the choir and will also feature a solo by our own soprano, Wendy Wellington.
Each service will end with the hymn Lift Every Voice and Sing- a song that is widely considered to be the Black National Anthem of the United States. This hymn has become a symbol of unity and pride for the Black community. We sing this hymn at Ark and Dove every year to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy and it is always an honor to accompany such a powerful piece of music. I will be reflecting on Dr. King this weekend and his messages of love and equality and the importance of continuing to work toward a more just society. I wish you all a happy and healthy week ahead.
With love and gratitude,
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,
On New Year's Day, I once again started my attempt at a "Bible in a Year" plan. And, just like every year, I am already behind! However, it did get me thinking. This year, I left the sticky notes and highlighters in the drawer, and I am doing the plan on an app with my friends. We can see each other's progress, write our reflections in a group chat, and even "like" the passages that other people highlighted. The world is changing, and the way that we connect with God and with each other is changing with it.
My encouragement in the new year is to try and help your youth connect to their faith in a way that is relevant to them. Instead of the dusty leatherbound, encourage them to download the YouVersion Bible on their phone. Try out Lectio Divina with them with the Lection 365 app (or Lectio for Families if you have kids under 12). There is even a lot of really cool ministry work being done on various social media platforms (If you didn't know, the PCUSA has an official TikTok page)! Feel free to reach out to me if you'd like to chat about more resources.
In other news, we have some exciting things coming up in youth ministry! The youth are hosting the Souper Bowl of kindness. You can donate cans of soup by putting them by the signs in the sanctuary. The teams are middle school vs. high school, so make sure you put your soup by the sign for the team that you want to win!
We will also be hosting an informational meeting about youth summer conferences immediately after the 10:30 service on Sunday, January 22nd.
Kind regards,
Whitney Grimm
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.
ESTABLISH AN EFT
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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2023 Renewed in God
Stewardship Team
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Dear Members and Friends of Ark and Dove,
The 2022 Renewed Stewardship Team would like to sincerely thank everyone who has already submitted a pledge card for 2023. We are excited to share that 67 of 160 households have pledged so far and many have increased their pledges to help meet the needs of our church and community! If you have not submitted your pledge card to the church yet, either via USPS, in the offering plate, or giving@arkanddove.org, there is still time to do so! 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, we are connected in renewed and supportive community, and we flourish as 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 in the new year. As we embark on this journey of a new year, 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!
-Tricia Gray from The 2023 Renewed in God Stewardship Team
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92% pledged as of Friday, January 13th
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Bulletin - 2nd Sunday after Epiphany | |
GLEAM - Changing the Game,
movie & discussion
Movie & discussion- Join us Sunday, January 15th at noon in the sanctuary for a viewing and discussion of the documentary Changing the Game. Light snacks and drinks provided. If you need childcare contact Amanda Crose amanda.rose.crose@gmail.com.
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Peace and Global Witness Special Offering
Our Peace and Global Witness Special Offering collection ended in November and a portion of this offering fulfills our financial commitment to ACT. We are making a special request for additional donations, as our Peace and Global Witness offering is insufficient to meet our financial commitment to ACT.
Our participation in ACT is a reflection of our commitment to the vision of Matthew 25 to act boldly and compassionately serving people who are hungry, oppressed, imprisoned, and poor. ACT is made up of people who are building power to improve the lives of our families, communities, regions, and nations. Through ACT, we are in service with 27 religious and community organizations.
ACT challenges people to imagine the change they can accomplish, connect leaders to multiply their power, and organize people by the thousands to make their voices heard. We believe it is time for a new capacity and generation of grassroots leaders who unite to solve issues at the local and county level.
Ark and Dove has been involved in ACT since its inception in 2016. The pandemic was problematic to the organizing and work of ACT. With a new organizer and a fresh mindset toward action, we foresee that our participation in ACT will strengthen our skills in relationship building, community engagement, and doing the work that Jesus would have us do.
Please give generously to support our financial commitment to ACT.
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GLEAM - Family & Ally Meeting
This support group is for family and friends of LGBTQIA+ persons and allies who want to learn more on. On Monday, January 16th, 7:00-8:00pm we will be discussing how to interrupt bias-based behaviors and other topics brought to the group. For the zoom link contact Amy Tardiff Lilac.n.Spruce@gmail.com.
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GLEAM - Queer Support Group
Join us at 7:30 on Tuesday, January 31st in the Marshall room for our monthly queer support group. All questions should be directed to Amanda Crose by emailing her at Amanda.rose.crose@gmail.com.
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CAP Food Pantry
The January Items of the Month are shelf milk (like parmalat®) and juice. 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 1:30-5:30pm. Or contact Greg Makar (GLMakar@juno.com) to make other arrangements.
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THE RACE CARD
(And other "microaggressions" that get in the way of real conversations about race)
On Sunday, January 29th the Anti-Racism team will host a luncheon after the service, followed by a 2 hour workshop from 12:30 - 2:30pm presented by Jeff Bolognese. Jeff comes to us highly recommended from Presbytery and has led these trainings through work and in churches. Please add the date to your calendar now and plan to join us for this important training.
Please register no later than January 22nd:
Register Here
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Parents Group
Join us in the Marshall room Sunday, January 22nd, immediately after the 10:30am service for our monthly parents group. Please bring a dish to share. Childcare will be available for a small fee. All questions should be directed to Amanda Crose by emailing her at Amanda.rose.crose@gmail.com.
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Friendly Seniors Invites You
We are planning a trip to the NSA Cryptology Museum on Friday, February 3, at 2:00 pm. This is a fun, hands on tour for all ages on how we've spied. Let Joan Berry (joanb3rry@gmail.com) know by Sunday, January 29th to RSVP.
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The Fellowship Table Wants You!
With more people visiting Ark & Dove, we want to make sure they feel welcome. We are looking for people to help with bringing the snacks, setting up, and cleaning up on a regular or periodic basis. This can be a great opportunity to get children involved in the life of Ark & Dove! They can help choose the "menu", set the table, and get to meet more folks in our faith community. Please contact us at Outreach@ArkandDove.org to sign up or want more information.
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Ark and Dove Book Club January Read
The Ark and Dove Book Club's January Selection is New York Times Bestselling novel entitled The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. This historical fiction novel tells the inspiring story about JP Morgan's personal librarian, Belle da Costa Greene, a "Black American woman who was forced to hide her true identity and pass as white in order to leave a lasting legacy..." We will meet on Zoom to discuss this book on Friday, January 20th at 7:30pm. Contact kim.champagne@arkandove.org for more information.
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Christian Education for Children | |
Sunday Mornings for Children and Youth | |
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9:00 AM
Childcare
Middle School Chimes and Percussion Ensembles (9:00 to 9:45)
10:00 AM
Children’s Choir (10:00 to 10:30)
10:30 AM
Childcare
Godly Play Sunday School Pre-K through grade 4
Middle School Sunday School grade 5 through 8
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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 the Gouldman and Stavely families upon the death of Ryan's Aunt Pam Gouldman; the Myers Family on the passing of Joe Myers; Colleen recovering from a stroke; Knight Family; Layla Tyus; a friend facing brain surgery; Bon Strom family on the sudden death of Arnold Bon Strom; Deb Saylor; Ramin Abawi; a mother in the hospital; Adell Gaurin; family members struggling with addiction; Reggie Connally and family; Don Clark; a friend having medical issues; Linda Walcutt; Mike Davie; Daryle Echols; Kathie Brownie, who lost her husband; Crystal Evans on the death of her mother; Ann Hirschy; Carole Wilson; Laura Talbert; Nikol Sahai; Denise Bartgis; a friend of Kathy Emmert, Natalie Fenwick who is in the hospital; Karen Dodson; MaryAnn Buckley; Sue Miller, Laura Willoughby-Perry’s mother, after hip surgery; Audrey Miller, daughter of Kathy Miller; Neal Frick in the hospital; Shannon Graf, and for her family; the Marsh Family waiting for their adopted children to come in January; a wonderful teen facing the challenges of an eating disorder; The mother of Sara Yotter; Dotty Kaufmann; Mary Elizabeth Nay; Bri Lapp; a teen struggling with peer concerns at school; Ron Miller; Holly Folk, friend of Laura Willoughby-Perry; Carol & Henry Saylor; Rose having health issues; Deb Saylor's grand-nephew, Jordan; Christy Hipchen's Great Uncle, Steven Stanko; Chantel Seetram; Debbie and Bruce Arey's Daughter, Allison; families impacted by gun violence; Dr. Jesse Nicholson, Connie Batts' brother-in-law; Danni Johnson, fighting cancer; the family of Gavin Hurley; Amanda Welford; Bruce Arey's sister; Helen Jarkiewicz; Dee going through breast cancer; Doug Dehaven; Karen Judeich; Marie, Nikol Sahai’s Mom; Irina Lee, Jan and Al Jank's daughter-in-law; Fran; Dot Forloines; Vaughn Brown; Dick Paronto; Julie Devers' friend Zenia Dacio-Messina; Hope Sutphin; Emily Wehage; Jeff Miller, Kathy Miller’s brother-in-law; Freyja Hartzell; Rebecca Echols friend, Lauren Douglas; Andy, friend of Karen Dodson; Ghazal Abawi; Mike Bartgis's cousin; Cara Moody’s father-in-law, Gary Moody Sr.; Carly & Chris Taylor, Friends of Michelle Schoonmaker; Debbie Saylor's 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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