Dear Friends and Members of Ark and Dove,

Peace of Christ,

tstern@arkanddove.org

And yet, the institution that is our denomination has placed constant change at the core of its identity. Following the Church split that occurred in the 16th and 17th centuries, our ancestors adopted a saying that was to describe and define the new church from then on: reformed and always reforming. From the European continent to North American shores, Presbyterians (and their Reformed siblings) have determined they will be a church ready to change and transform according to what God is doing every new day. 

Church history since then only shows how hard change has been. The faithful have always held certain dogmas, practices, polities, and opinions with tight fists. Sometimes this refusal to change served the church well, like when certain German Christians refused to obey any word other than the Word of God. Many times the church's refusal to change has only hurt others and herself, like when it has excluded people based on race, gender, sexuality, and class. All the while, Presbyterians have been reminded what they are: reformed and always reforming.

The European reformation happened just after the Black Plague and while revolts were ripping through the countryside. As we are enduring a plague and revolts, we are changing. That change has been hard. It will continue to be hard. But I must say that the changes we have made in 2020 have been good, because they have been made by faithful people discerning what is needed now. In a different sense, Ark and Dove has reformed over the last year. It is now reforming. Will you be the change you want to see in the church?

Peace,

jnelson@arkanddove.org

PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT for Brenna Kirby; Wren Suggs; 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; 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, Brifgzan 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; Sue Hanburger's friends, Barb, Phyllis, and Martha; Bernabe Solano; Griselda Solano's sister, Irma; Kathy Miller’s sisters, Patty and Beth, and 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; 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; Dorene Chen’s family; Lewis Shorter and 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; Lori Kronser's friend, Barbara Noonan; and Kathy Emmert's friend, Patty.

THE LOVE AND PRAYERS OF THE CONGREGATION go out to the Gray family on the death of Joe Gray's grandmother, Myra Gray.

PRAYERS OF HEALING for those with COVID-19 including: Edith Bud's son's father-in-law, Jim Parker; Doug Walcutt’s father, Chuck Walcutt, stepmother, Linda Walcutt, and Linda Walcutt’s mother, Mary Jane King; Ylonda Fauntleroy's friends, Sandra and Elijah Williams; Ed Barrett's friend, Joe Bogner; and the leaders of our nation.

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.