Dear Members and Friends of the Ark and Dove Community,

Our Long Range Planning Team continues to work hard on developing recommendations for near term (1 to 12 months) and far term (12 to 60 months) ministry plans for Ark and Dove.  They expect to submit these recommendations to the Session in the form of a plan. Already dates are set for dialogue among church leaders. One such dialogue will take place a week after we all complete the church assessment tool CAT survey, which will give the church a true picture of how the congregation feels about our current state of ministry. It is important that dialogue be informed by your input (see article below).  Please be sure to take the survey today. We just found out that so far we have received 111 surveys--we're hoping to smash the 150 barrier.

In a recent communication to the Long Range Planning Team, one of the members summarized some of their work by writing the following: “Ark and Dove has a distinctive and important culture. This culture is informed by the belief that the church is not a building, but is a group of believers who live out their faith in the world. Members of Ark and Dove are inspired by their belief in Jesus’ teachings to serve others in their community.”   I found these words inspiring, as I do our congregation. Don’t forget to take the survey today! We need you.

The Session continues its ongoing discussion and discernment about resuming in-person worship in the sanctuary.  We are not ready at this time to undertake this venture.  As we have stated before, this would be a RSVP only, socially-distant, no-singing, mask-wearing (clothe yourselves with Christ) worship service that could include about 45 to 55 people.

After hours of discussion at Session, Worship Elder Ellen Makar has created a rough draft of a covenant that the session would like members to sign before attending a possible in-person worship service.  We welcome your feedback on this draft covenant. Please send your feedback to a member of session.

May God bless you in your many ministries in the world.

Peace of Christ,

tstern@arkanddove.org

PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT for Deborah Dingle; Dot Forloines’ family and her great-grandson Luke; Dot Bruno’s son, Deante Musgrove; Jess and Adell Gaurin; Debbie and Bruce Arey’s daughter, Allison; Linda Jordan; John Mikeska; Ylonda Fauntleroy’s husband, Tony Schoonmaker and friend, Tanya; Jesse Pennabaker; 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; Zach Murray’s father, Kelly Murray; Becky Marcus; Fred Barrow; Carlton Jackson; Sabonna Keeney’s mother; Pattie Plander; Richard and Edie Budd; 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, granddaughter, Sarah, and grandson Nathan; Laura Doughty’s brother-in-law, Carl Hahn; 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; Chip Burnett; Kelly Burnett’s nephew, Justin; Dorene Chen’s family; Lewis Shorter and niece, Jennifer Schwandt-Gayle; Patriceo Green’s brother and sister; 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 friends, Thomas and Judy Kochis; Margaret McGillivray's friend, Kim Nolet; Kim Young's friend, Joyce Miller; Linnie Girdner and Jan Hof’s friend, Grace Ligon; the Yeager’s friend, Karen Schell; Steve Debus’ cousin-in-law; Lori Kronser's friend, Barbara Noonan; and Doug Mattingly’s mother.

PRAYERS OF HEALING for those with COVID-19: Mary Benson’s brother, Alan Benson.

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: 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.

PRAYERS OF GUIDANCE, STRENGTH AND LOVE for those who are: scared and angry, living with uncertainty, stressed and overwhelmed, and feeling alone and forgotten.