The Arkive: Ark and Dove's Newsletter |
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Maintenance of Divine Worship
February 6th, 2022
***Sunday School during 10:30 am Worship, every Sunday!
You can connect on YouTube HERE.
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Dear Friends and Members of the Ark and Dove Community,
"Hope is the deep orientation of the human soul that can be held at the darkest times." Vaclav Havel
Romans 5 “Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” Paul of Tarsus
I am going to risk it. I am going to say that what we have been hoping for seems now to be arriving. To be sure, it’s not the full dream; the disappearance of COVID. It’s a compromise. Instead of a cure, we are coming to an end of pandemic and entering the zombie peace of what the medical scientists call an endemic. We are making emotional and mental adjustments for a peace treaty that is not the full peace we want.
A person who lived next to a construction site for two years woke up one morning and said to their spouse, “What’s that sound?” They couldn’t quite figure it out. Something was different. It was jarring. The next morning it came to them both. Construction was complete, they were enjoying the relative sounds of silence.
No announcements about a change in mask policy; still too soon for that, but we are back to two services in the sanctuary on Sundays. The possibility of a vaccine for younger children, the winding down of Omicron. A truce.
Answered prayers always require some accommodation. Usually the person in prayer finds that they have been changed by the act of prayer. Two years later, we live in a different world.
It’s not fair to end with a question, but nonetheless: what changes do we need to make in our hearts and minds to accept this peace that is not the full peace we want?
In Christ,
Tim
tstern@arkanddove.org
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Dear Members and Friends of Ark and Dove,
Once again, we invite you and your family back to the building for worship and Christian education. As you have already seen, we have worship at 9 am in-person and 10:30 am in-person and livestream. At 10:30, we are offering Sunday School for preK through 5th grade. If Logos this week is any indication, there will be a good amount of joy in being together.
Over the course of this pandemic, we have moved in and out of the building. As difficult as this has been, it has afforded us the opportunity to constantly reevaluate the manner and purpose of our gatherings. We have been able to try new things and reform old programs. Some people have shared with me how happy they are with the drastic changes we have made to Logos. In a parallel, non-pandemic world, we might have been unwilling to make such changes.
If you were at the congregational meeting, you know that we are reevaluating, rather, re-imagining our manner of worship. Now, more than ever, we are in a position to make some changes to our worship experience. Before, if we explored changing the way we worship, we might have offended too many people. We still might meet resistance. But we are more flexible, more willing to make essential changes because the pandemic has made us more nimble. As we consider another great end of the church this Sunday, "the maintenance of divine worship," I invite you to contemplate what in worship we ought to maintain and what we ought to change. We won't make arbitrary changes. God is guiding us to be a more faithful worshiping community.
Peace,
Jon
jnelson@arkanddove.org
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Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving.
-Psalm 95:2
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God of grace: the psalmist says that there is nowhere without you. But we recognize that we often live with our backs to you. We have turned from you. Let us turn back. Let us open our arms to your grace. Let us see all that you offer. And let us then live in overwhelming gratitude. Amen. |
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This week Paul Doughty will be leading the band for worship as I am out of town. We have some new faces in the band and I am so happy to have more talented volunteers involved with our weekly worship music. We are back to two weekly services, 9 am and 10:30 am. Only the 10:30 will be streaming. The band will be playing 'God Of This City,' the Chris Tomlin version of the song, as the offertory at the 10:30 service. Greater things are yet to be done in this city and world of ours. The hymn is a band favorite, 'Our God' by Chris Tomlin. Take this month to celebrate Black History. Reflect on the leaders of the past that shed light on inequality and injustice. Pray for those that still experience prejudice, and celebrate the amazing achievements that have been accomplished. Never forget, there is always more to do in this city.
Have a healthy and blessed week!
Pat
Director of Contemporary Music
psise11@gmail.com
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This Sunday we welcome an insanely talented Baritone, Jeremiah Washington, who is a student of mine at Morgan State University. Jeremiah is just a Sophomore, with a voice that sounds well beyond his years and I am so glad he can share his gifts with us this week. He will sing a piece called "My Lord, What a Morning", arranged by H.T. Burleigh, and what a morning it will be! Be sure to check out our Facebook page to hear a sneak peek of our rehearsal together.
With love,
Rebecca
Interim Director of Music
rechols@arkanddove.org
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Looking to volunteer behind the scenes during weekdays? The church office is looking for a couple of volunteers to fill in a day or two from time to time for the Church Administrator. If you are good with Microsoft Word and don't mind answering the phone, please contact Wendy Wellington, Interim Church Administrator, admin@arkanddove.org, or call: 410-674-6400, Tuesday - Friday, 10-3. |
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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.
For Per Capita, text amount followed by percapita.
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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Bulletin - Maintenance of Divine Worship |
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Reserve Worship Service Space HERE for both the 9am & 10:30am Indoor Worship Services |
In-Person Sanctuary Worship at the 9am service resumes this Sunday, February 6th, and continues at the 10:30 am service. Attendance is limited so please reserve your place here. Sunday School for Pre-K through 5th Grade resumes during the 10:30 am service on February 6th.
Please RSVP to attend either worship service in the sanctuary, please sign up HERE. No child care for now. Singing with masks on is allowed. Only the 10:30 am service will be live streamed, and most seats will be on screen for a moment or more. A limited number of off-camera seats will be available; more details will be available in the sanctuary.
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Per Capita: A Sign of the Covenant that Binds us Together |
In these trying and transitional times, The Presbyterian Church (USA) continues to seek new and innovative ways to provide ministry and support to mid councils (presbyteries and synods) across the country. One of the most prominent ways this is accomplished is through funds provided by Per Capita giving. Per Capita is a set amount of money per member that all PC(USA) congregations are asked to pay each year to the larger Presbyterian Church (USA) in order to mutually and equitably share the ecclesiastical and administrative costs of sustaining our witness to Christ as a sign of the covenant that binds us together.
The funds are used to help cover the expenses associated with performing the various functions of the PC(USA) system of government. Per Capita makes it possible to organize and manage General Assembly, staff and support special committees and commissions, provide legal counsel for churches dealing with staff issues, seek ways to minister to a growing immigrant population, and so much more. Another way to think about per Capita is as a community fund that demonstrates the unity of the church from congregational level to the General Assembly level. We all have a role to play, and we can all make a difference, especially when we work together!
We all benefit from our PC(USA) form of government and we are all called to participate in pooling the funds necessary to support and sustain mission programs at the local, regional, and national level. When these costs are shared across every PC(USA) congregation it becomes a very manageable amount of $38.50 per member.
The Per Capita apportionment that Ark and Dove will be responsible to pay on each member’s behalf for 2022 is over $10,500 ($38.50 X 276 members). Historically, Ark and Dove receives only 40% of the Per Capita from its members, leaving a $6,000 hole in our Ministry and Mission budget each year. In order to pay your Per Capita apportionment, simply visit the Giving tab on the Ark and Dove website. Please submit your payment in the Per Capita Special Offering fund.
When you pay your $38.50 (per adult member) Per Capita apportionment, please know that your contributions will not only go to improve Ark and Dove’s bottom-line and enable us to further fund our ministry and mission programs in 2022, but will also help provide a variety of impactful services to all levels of the PC(USA) church at large.
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End of Year Giving Statements |
Your End of Year Giving Statements were emailed out on Monday, 1/17. Please check your email (including Spam folder) to make sure you received your statement. If you have questions, please contact Steve Debus (steven.debus89@gmail.com). |
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Adult Christian Education |
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Ark and Dove Book Club Selection for March |
Michelle Schoonmaker will lead the The Ark and Dove Book Club in a discussion of Lisa Wingate's "The Book of Lost Friends" on March 18 at 7:30pm on Zoom. Email Kim Champagne ( kim.champagne@gmail.com) for the Zoom invite or for more information about the club. |
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Join us every Wednesday at 10 AM for Bible study and fellowship. Contact pastor Jon (jnelson@arkanddove.rog) for the Zoom link.
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. . .Welcoming Afghans and Others to the Baltimore area. Your generosity with donations for Afghan resettlement is amazing!! It's time to learn how we can best use our offerings in a direct way to welcome new refugees. Please join us on Monday, Feb 7, 2022 at 7 p.m. for a zoom webinar on how we as a Refugee Team can participate. The Presbytery of Baltimore is happy to host Eva Ng’ongolo-Simon, the new Volunteer Coordinator at Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area, for this special program. LSS has opened a brand new resettlement office in Arbutus, MD as an extension of their long history of refugee resettlement in Maryland, DC and Virginia. The Good Neighbor Program is designed with faith communities and civic groups in mind. Learn how you can help welcome refugees into the Baltimore area, and how to match the gifts of a Good Neighbor Team with the aspirations and gifts of newly arrived refugees. Imagine being among their first friends, helping them find their footing in a new country and to achieve their goals for a brighter future. Feel free to share this invitation with other faith communities. Register here today! After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. For more information, contact: Debbie Arey debarey@hotmail.com, or Lori Kronser mission@arkanddove.org.
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Healing Through Grief Group |
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Pastor Tim, Cathy Debus, and Linnie Girdner will be co-facilitating the next Healing through Grief group on Wednesday, February 9th at 7:30 pm, again as a Zoom meeting. The Healing through Grief small group is open to anyone attending Ark and Dove, as well as family members, friends and neighbors, who have experienced the death of a loved one, whether it is recent or a long time ago. Please let Linnie know if you have the slightest inclination to attend on February 9th, so that they can send you the link to the Zoom meeting. If you change your mind later, no problem. Also, let Linnie know if you have not used Zoom before, so that she can provide you with some information in advance. Any questions, contact Pastor Tim Stern at tstern@arkanddove.org or 410-674-6400, or Linnie Girdner, at girdnerlinda@gmail.com or 410-999-7892.
Let's be there for one another in our healing through grief. If you need to talk with someone prior to that date, feel free to give Linnie a call, or contact your Deacon. Linnie is also happy to provide referrals to other community resources.
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One of the ways we care for friends and members of the congregation is to provide meals for people during difficult times. If you are someone who is able and willing to make meals periodically, please contact our Deacon's Meal team leader, Annetta Fenstermacher, at: 410-519-0309, or email: fenstermacherra@aol.com. |
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Ark and Dove Veterans' Group |
Join the Veterans Group on Zoom, Wednesday February 23rd at 7pm. We will discuss future activities and community events. Contact Autumn Vernon for more information an the Zoom link, autumn.vernon03@gmail.com. |
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Children and Youth Programs |
Youth group will meet this Sunday evening at church. LOGOS will continue meeting this Tuesday at the church, 6-7 pm. Please dress warmly for some outside activity and please wear a mask. If you are not comfortable gathering with the mask your child has, we have M95 masks, children’s sized, available. To receive Logos communications, contact Amy Goldberg at amygoldberg.2010@gmail.com.
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Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:
PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT for Cindi Schafer; Mike and Denise Bartgis' son-in-law; Kelly Burnett; Jon Nelson's mother, Joanne Nelson; a mother struggling with a diagnosis; Louise Sharrocks; Kathy Miller's brother-in-law, Jeff Miller; Lourdes Cordero's sister, Diane Cordero, brother Jose, granddaughter, and friends, Fred and Arelene Jones; Lou Kareha's sister-in-law's brother, James Karanasky; Deb Saylor's niece, Courtney Jaberi; Alvin Dennis; Laura Willoughby's father, Norman; Diane Johnson's friend, Tom; Kelly Burnett's nephew, Justin; Christy Hipchen’s nephew and grandmother, Ann Chubon; the Sealing Family; Karen Arnold's brother, Tim; Josh Arnold; the family of Mike Esparza; a sister struggling with mental illness; Debbie Arey; Steve Debus' father, Bill Debus; Paul Doughty's mother, Ruth Doughty; James Franklin's sister-in-law, Kelli Franklin; Amy Tardiff’s Aunt Fran; May Gilden; Richard Jasper; the Finnegan family; Laura Batten-Carbaugh; Nicole Chidlow's son, Jai; Michelle Schoonmaker's friend's children, Kai and Ezra; Frank Stillwell; Mary Caolo; David Johns; Carrie Dodson's friend Pam; Lou Kareha's cousin, Thomas Kochis, and friend, Nando Smacci; Angela Goska; Belinda Edwards; Karen Stokes; Sarah and Bojan; Betty Small; a friend of Bob Fuller; the Unger family; Debbie and Bruce Arey's niece, Sarah, and daughter, Allison, and Debbie’s sister, Denise; Calvin Latham; Brianna Lapp; Anne Hirschy's relative Isaiah, aunt Cindy, and brother; Diane Makar; Charlotte Davie; Adell Gaurin; Dotty Kaufman and her daughter-in-law, Carol, granddaughter, Sarah, and grandson Nathan; Carol Saylor; Ray Bussey's mother, Doris; Liz Olson; Margaret Floyd; Vaughn Brown; Patty and Steve Plander; Arlyce Lohr; Krista Klohr; Michelle Schoonmaker; Dick Paronto; Cheryl Walcutt’s sister Judy and mother; Amy Hagemann’s sister, Susan Pratt; Mary Benson’s sister; Amy Carskadon Lifsey’s father-in-law, Bill Lifsey Sr.; Karen Dodson’s cousin, Miles, and Miles’ family; Helen Wilkens' mother, Jane Reinert; Christina Nelson’s grandmother, Patricia Dole; Judy Cooper’s daughter, Jessica Quigley; Debbie Saylor’s sister, Christine; a member of the Tardiff family; Kathy Miller’s sister, Beth Krauth, and brother-in-law, Jeff Miller; Lewis Shorter and Lewis Shorter’s niece, Jennifer Schwandt-Gayle; Dot Forloine’s granddaughter Melisa Tucker Saatthoff, and her great-grandson Luke; Linda Taylor’s mother, Izola; 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; 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; Cheryl and Doug Walcutt’s grandchild, Gray Adacutt; Erika Sealing's grandmother, Margaret Schade; Linda Lewis’ friend, Carol Fudge; and Rob Yeager’s friends, Greta Daughtrey and Peter Brown.
THE LOVE AND PRAYERS OF THE CONGREGATION go out to the Bell family upon the death of Rebecca Bell Echols' uncle, Steve Bell.
THE LOVE AND PRAYERS OF THE CONGREGATION go out to the Whitby family upon the death of Dionne Whitby's niece, Jannah.
PRAYERS OF HEALING AND STRENGTH for our families dealing with COVID.
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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