Dear Ark and Dove Friends,

The Session is thinking of this time of slow healing from the traumas of the Pandemic as a time for innovative and hybrid ministry. We are constantly adjusting our worship and ministries to align with the science of COVID. That 56 people showed up for outdoor worship, last Sunday, shows the flexibility of the Ark and Dove Community.

The Session is not only guided by the science of COVID, it is guided by a 500 year tradition of Reformed theology and teaching. Some long held principles that are shaping our decision-making are:

With these principles as our guide, and many others, I am very excited to share with you that the Session has decided to resume worship in the sanctuary on Sunday, June 20, at 10:30 am, livestream worship. Attendance will be limited and by reservation, sign-ups will be available soon. Masks will be required. “WHAT? I’m fully vaccinated.”  We are so very glad, if you are fully vaccinated, and pray that everyone will move soon in that direction in consultation with their doctors. Some people may be advised not to get the vaccine, and the vaccine is not available to children under age 12 yet. The professionals are not yet sure that a vaccinated person can’t pass on the virus, if they on the off chance happen to get it. They are saying vaccinated people could have a mild or an asymptomatic case. With the safety of our whole congregation in our hearts, we will begin corporate worship in the sanctuary with masks and with no singing. As the science of COVID evolves, and as vaccinations rise, we will reconsider and adjust our approach as is appropriate. We will not be offering childcare or Sunday school at 10:30 am at this time, so please keep that in mind, as you consider your multiple worship options. Also keep in mind that if you attend livestream worship, there is the possibility that your face or the face of your child or children could appear on the Ark and Dove YouTube channel or on Facebook live. One more detail. Worship leaders will take their masks off when they are speaking and put them on when they are done.

We will continue to offer outdoor worship every other week for now and summer Sunday school will be outdoors too. Out of consideration for other attenders, masks are truly welcomed, but not required. So starting on June 20 there are three options for participating in life at Ark and Dove, every Sunday. That’s hybrid church in the year 2021. Pray about the best option for you. Pray for your fellow members.

Tune in to The Lobby this Sunday to see how people felt about outdoor worship last week, and how we are adjusting the outdoor set up.

Peace of Christ,

tstern@arkanddove.org

Dear Members and Friends of Ark and Dove,

Pentecost has a different feel this year. The story of the first Pentecost, according to Acts, tells us that a mighty wind blows through the house where followers of Jesus gathered. That wind, also understood as the Spirit of God, brought about the great change that enabled disciples to be the Church.

I feel like there is a wind of change blowing among and through Ark and Dove. We have felt it through the pandemic and now we can say that we were remade through the pandemic. We changed a lot of the ways we did things, by necessity and choice. Now, as things are changing again, we can see how different we are.

The wind keeps blowing, and we are trying to catch up. We are making changes to outdoor and indoor worship, Christian education opportunities, the church facility, and the way we do mission in our community. It is hard to keep up with the winds of change, and we have had to have much patience. All the while, we are forming and reforming anew. That is what the Wind does. The Spirit binds us taogether and pushes us forward.

At Bible study this week, Jan Jank said something worth reflecting on. She said that we feel the wind, but do not see it. However, we do see what the wind changes. What has the wind changed in your life? How have you been changed? How has our church changed? Are you, are we, open to be moved by the Spirit this Pentecost season?

Peace,

jnelson@arkanddove.org

PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT for Patty Plander; Margaret Floyd; Alex Strobel; Ardeth and Bob Johns; Steven Kirby; Arlyce Lohr; Krista Klohr; Christa Kronser; Michelle Schoonmaker; Dick Paronto; Richard and Edie Budd; Vaughn Brown; Pat Sise’s uncle, Jeff Sise; Camille Dubois’ parents; Debbie Saylor’s sister, Christine; Ryan Stavely’s father, Brian; Brooks Emrick and her sister, Susan; Amanda Crose’s mother, and grandmother, Betty Davis; Dotty Kaufman, her son, Bill, daughter-in-law, Carol, granddaughter, Sarah, and grandson Nathan; Donna Anderson's brother-in-law, Tom Brown; Steve Debus' cousin-in-law, Stephan; Kathy Miller’s brother-in-law, Jeff Miller; Lewis Shorter and Lewis Shorter’s niece, Jennifer Schwandt-Gayle; Bob Fuller’s brother, Joe Fuller; Dot Forloines’ family, granddaughter Melisa Tucker Saatthoff and her great-grandson Luke; Debbie and Bruce Arey’s family in Connecticut and daughter, Allison, and niece, Naomi; Linda Taylor’s mother, Izola; Kennon Bauman’s uncle, Dan Johnston; Amy Goldberg’s grandmother, Ruth Cooper; Christy Yeager’s mother, Linda Jordan; Linda Jordan’s niece, Bonnie; Diane Johnson's Uncle Ed, Aunt Janet, and cousin Richard; Shelley Franklin's father; Hollis Butterworth’s daughter, Rachel Mershont; Amanda Wehage’s sister and father, Dave; Laurie Barrow’s nephew, Gunther Kurtz; Sabonna Keeney’s mother; Bernabe and Griselda Solano, and Griselda's sister, Irma; Laura Doughty’s brother-in-law, Carl Hahn, and Paul Doughty’s mother, Ruth Doughty; 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; Patriceo Green’s cousin, Philip Brown; Lou Kareha’s aunt, Judy Kochis, and cousin, Thomas; Cheryl and Doug Walcutt’s grandchild, Gray Adacutt; Cheryl Walcutt’s mother, nephew, and sisters; Erika Sealing's grandmother, Margaret Schade; Lourdes Cordero's granddaughter; Linnie Girdner and Jan Hof’s friend, Grace Ligon; Paula Griggs’ friends Char and Jackie Pullen; and Kim Young’s friend, Kurt Kost.

PRAYERS OF PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING from the Chen and Steward family on the birth of Dorene and Declan’s child, and Astrid and Atrius’ brother, Aurelius, on May 10.

PRAYERS OF HEALING for those with COVID-19 including: Kelly Burnett’s sister Colleen and cousin, Laurie; Dot Forloines’ granddaughter, Abigail; Julia Kirby’s great niece, nephew, his wife, and friends, and the Coffey family; and Jennifer Roman's aunt, Laura Clay, and grandmother, Louise Nothdurft.

PRAYERS OF LOVE, SUPPORT AND PROTECTION for all essential workers around the world, including: Mike Stiegler; Bill Gaurin; Tricia Gray’s mother, Sabrina Johnson; Becca Distad; Jack Burnett; Caitlyn Bussey; Emily Sanders; Audrey Miller; Linda Jordan’s nephew, Russell; the Ralston’s family members and friends; Simone Stiegler’s friend, Jean Marie; 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.