The Arkive: Ark and Dove's Newsletter |
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Second Sunday in Lent
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Dear Members and Friends of the Ark and Dove Community,
Saint Patrick writes these words:
Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me
Christ beneath me, Christ Above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger
Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me
Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger
A key question for Christian hearts during Lent is: do you believe this? Do you believe that God dwells within you, that God is that close? Howard Thurman writes in Jesus and the Disinherited that Jesus “recognized fully …that no external force however great and overwhelming, can at long last destroy a people if it does not first win the victory of the spirit against them…. Jesus saw this with almighty clarity. Again and again he came back to the inner life of the individual. With increasing insight and startling accuracy placed his finger on the inward center as the crucial arena where the issues would determine the destiny of his people.” Jesus teaches us that the kingdom of heaven is within us.
It is during Lent that we remind ourselves that we need to pay attention to the Kingdom of Heaven, the Spirit of God within us. We all know we need to do this, but it is amazing how easy it is to develop a routine devoid of time for centering and prayer. Even in this time of COVID 19, when the whole world has its back against the wall, we still need to remind ourselves again and again that a key mechanism for getting through oppressions and depressions--arctic, political, medical or spiritual--is prayer. That is how we rediscover Christ within us.
Peace of Christ,
Tim
tstern@arkanddove.org
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Dear Friends and Members of Ark and Dove,
We are into the second week of Lent and maybe the resolve for your resolutions is weakening. Perhaps you are making some concessions in your Lenten disciplines. You might be questioning the point of a practice you picked up or the necessity of giving something up. It may be the case that life has become more difficult--work more stressful, family more conflictual, mentality more melancholy--and you just want to indulge in distractions.
Stay on the way. Even if you have abandoned a Lenten practice, pick it up again. If you have fallen back into numbing entertainment and amusement, give it up again. There is no judgement, only the beckoning call of Jesus just ahead. He is calling you to a sharper focus and a broader view. The way he leads you on is better than any path that you can pave. Yes, it is more difficult. You will want to desert the way. But know that Jesus walks also beside you for support.
Lent is a time to focus on the way of Jesus Christ. Focus takes discipline and discipline takes time. The steps of the Lenten journey can be unsteady at times, but there will be other times where you take strides.
Peace,
Jon
jnelson@arkanddove.org
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Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
-Luke 12:32
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Even now, O God, you offer us the kingdom. You give the kingdom within--so that fear, deception, and hate do not reign in our hearts. You will and do. And you grant your kingdom to the earth--so that fear, deception, and hate do not reign in the world. Let us, help us, believe the kingdom resides in us and is for us to realize. Amen. |
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There's still time to join us for our Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday anthems. Please let me know if you'd like to sing. Also, if you are an instrumentalist and would like to play a solo, we would love to have you lead worship in this way. There are a number of ways to get involved this spring and summer!
Peace,
Margaret
Director of Music
margaret.mcgillivray@gmail.com
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This week continues with our Lenten studies and onto the theme of fear. I hope you all have been keeping up with the book, Jesus and the Disinherited, by Howard Thurman. It really is a fascinating read, and he is great at exploring how Jesus approached lots of issues that we continue to struggle with to this day. The band is recording a song by Jesus Culture called 'Move.' Our hymn this week is the well-known Hillsong United hymn, 'All Things Are Possible', and for the prelude I have recorded a lovely lullaby by Philip Rosheger that he wrote for his parents called 'A Lullaby to Wake Up With.' I hope you are having a blessed week and please do get a copy of the Lenten study book. It will open your eyes and hearts to the struggles of many, and how we need to approach difficult people and situations.
God bless!
Pat
Director of Contemporary Music
psise11@gmail.com
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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.
Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Cornithians 9:7
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Parent Group will meet, via ZOOM, tonight, Friday, February 26, 8 pm. If you are not currently on the email list and need an invitation to the meeting, please email Pastor Jon (jnelson@arkanddove.org) or Nicole (nicolehowe123@gmail.com). |
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Why I Pledge: A Monthly Insight |
Recently, I was asked to share why I pledge to Ark and Dove. Many of you know me by now as Tricia Gray’s mother. My husband Jack and I are new to Ark and Dove. For the past several months we have been attending church with you all via livestream. I have even had the opportunity to join some small groups and Bible studies. In the short time I have been attending this church, I have experienced a welcoming atmosphere, loving community, and growth in my own spiritual journey. I have witnessed an enthusiastic commitment and compassion for social justice and unity in the community. I am continually learning more about the many ways in which Ark and Dove reaches out to those in poverty and pain and offers comfort and help. This is a church that truly shares God’s grace and love, and it feels like home.
I choose to pledge to Ark and Dove because of the way this church brings people together. My daughter is my connection to Ark and Dove. Prior to our invitation to attend the livestream, we didn’t have a church home. I watch my family participating in the life of Ark and Dove through Logos, classes, and worship and it all feels so much like an authentic church family. These connections mean so much to me.
Another reason I choose to pledge is because it offers me an opportunity to donate my money to causes I believe in that will help improve the quality of life for others. This church is making a positive difference in the lives of so many people, in so many ways. This is always important, but especially so in this time of pandemic, when so many are suffering. I am excited to be a part of the good work being done through Ark and Dove.
Despite the many terrible aspects of the pandemic, it did bring one positive aspect into my life with the opportunity to attend the Ark and Dove livestream services. Even though I am in Alabama and have yet to physically be inside the walls of the church, I have been there in spirit, and I look forward to the day when I can see you all in person.
-Sabrina Johnson
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One Great Hour of Sharing |
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Restoring Hope, Feeding the Hungry, Empowering the Oppressed |
Typically received during the season of Lent, each gift to One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) supports efforts to relieve hunger through the Presbyterian Hunger Program (PHP), promote development through the Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People (SDOP), and assist in areas of disaster through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA).
- $4.1 million granted by PDA in the United States and 57 countries in the first half of 2020
- 94 grants impacting 20 countries given by PHP in 2019
- 50 years of ministry for SDOP
- over 17,000 people trained nationally and internationally by OGHS ministries
- 5,676 PDA work team volunteers served in 2019
- 234 certified PC(USA) Earth Care congregations helped care for creation
- 51,000 trees planted around the world
- over 5,000 projects in economically poor communities in the United States and around the world have had an opportunity to develop solutions to their own challenges since SDOP’s inception
- $190,000 recovered in stolen wages for hospitality workers in the U.S.
- 1,097 Presbyterian congregations purchased eco-palms for sustainable forestry and livelihoods
Please give to One Great Hour of Sharing, as you are able, in your regular giving format. Lori Kronser, Mission Elder, lkronser16@gmail.com
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Howard Thurman Documentary and Discussion |
Many of us are studying Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman in our Lenten Study groups. If you are interested in learning more about Thurman through a PBS documentary, please watch “Backs Against the Wall: the Howard Thurman Story” here and then join us for an hour-long discussion on Sunday, February 28th at noon. If you are interested in attending the discussion, please access the Zoom link here. We hope to see you then! Lori Kronser, lkronser16@gmail.com
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Jesus and the Disinherited |
Who was Jesus and who would he identify with today? What does he say to encourage us in the ongoing struggle for justice in our world? Do his teachings apply to the fear, deception, and hate we experience today? Howard Thurman, the great spiritual guide of the civil rights movement, answers these questions in his classic little book, Jesus and the Disinherited. Martin Luther King Jr. studied it during the Montgomery bus boycott and drew much from it. We can learn so much from Thurman today.
As we journey in faith through this Lenten season, let Howard Thurman be your guide. He will help us see Jesus more clearly and follow him more closely. Pick up Jesus and the Disinherited wherever you buy books, and we will discuss each short chapter during Lent in small groups.
Please sign up for one of the following small groups by contacting the group leader:
· Fridays 7:30 pm, beginning February 19 to March 19: kim.champagne@gmail.com
· Sundays, 4 pm, beginning February 21 to March 21. spricegibson@hotmail.com
· Tuesdays 7:00 pm, beginning February 23 to March 23: tstern@arkanddove.org
· Wednesdays 10 am, beginning February 24 to March 24: jnelson@arkanddove.org
· Thursdays 8 pm, beginning February 25 to March 25: knilsenjohnson@gmail.com
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Lenten Devotions in Your Inbox |
Would you like a brief devotion, like the one above, for each day of this Lenten season? Beginning on Ash Wednesday, you can receive a devotion which includes a Bible passage, brief reflection by Howard Thurman, and prayer. Please contact admin@arkanddove.org if you would like to receive these devotions. |
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Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4 |
Have you lost someone to COVID? Were you unable to see them, or attend their funeral or memorial service? Pastor Tim, Deacon Cathy Debus and I will be co-facilitating the next Healing through Grief group on Wednesday, March 10, 7 pm again as a Zoom meeting. The Healing through Grief small group is open to anyone attending Ark and Dove, and their family, who have experienced the death of a loved one, whether it is recent or a long time ago. While quarantining during COVID-19, many have found grieving for lost loved ones, even from years ago, a difficult thing to bear.
Please let me know if you have the slightest inclination to attend on March 10, so that we can send you the link to the Zoom meeting. If you change your mind later, no problem. Also, let me know if you have not used Zoom before, so that we can provide you with some information in advance. Any questions, please contact Pastor Tim Stern at timsstern@gmail.com or 410-674-6400 or me, 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 me a call or contact your Deacon. I also am happy to provide referrals to other community resources.
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Anne Arundel Connecting Together |
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Join ACT Listening Session on School Resource Officers |
Did you hear Beth Hadley on The Lobby last Sunday? If not, check it out here. Beth leads the School Resource Officer Research Team for Anne Arundel Connecting Together (ACT). ACT research teams take on different issues of concern to the community and do a deep dive by holding listening sessions with community members about these issues. I'm on the SRO Research Team with Beth and would like to meet with several parents to learn how you feel and think about the daily presence of SROs in the school and/or to hear experiences you, your child, or others you know may have had. If you would like to participate, please contact me at GirdnerLinda@gmail.com.
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County Resources for Seniors |
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This past Thursday at the Friendly Seniors Tea, Wilma de Perignat, an Information and Assistant Specialist for AAC Department of Aging and Disabilities, outlined for us the various services available to seniors, especially seniors struggling financially, to help during these unstable times. She was pleased to learn of the resources that this church offers, especially for those living in West County. For those interested in more information, she shared this 45 minute video explaining these services in more detail and the latest newsletter offering remote programs, available through the department, for fun. After the meeting, at our request, the Friendly Seniors received the latest directory. Questions? Please send an email to Joan Berry, berry962@verizon.net
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Antiracism and Social Equity |
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Maryland Lynching Project |
Remember when we viewed I am Not Your Negro in one of our antiracism forums? On Thursday, March 4, 7pm the Maryland Lynching Memorial Project will have a discussion of that film and the documentary about Toni Morrison entitled Toni Morrison: The Pieces I am. You can (re)watch I am Not Your Negro on Kanopy with an AACPL card for free. The Morrison film is on Amazon Prime for a few bucks. Both are available on other platforms as well. Watch the films and then come to the event to hear scholars discuss "two of the most important and influential Black literary figures of the 20th century." See here.
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Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:
PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT for Arlyce Lohr; Annetta Fenstermacher; Amy Richarme; Patty Plander; Krista Klohr; Gary Myers; Christa Kronser; Merlin Berry; Dick Paronto; Bob Johns; Richard and Edie Budd; Vaughn Brown; Debbie Saylor’s sister, Christine; Ryan Stavely’s father, Brian; Brooks Emrick and her sister, Susan; Dotty Kaufman, her son, Bill, daughter-in-law, Carol, granddaughter, Sarah, and grandson Nathan; 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 and her great-grandson Luke; Donna Anderson's brother-in-law, Tom Brown; Debbie and Bruce Arey’s family in Connecticut and daughter, Allison, and niece, Naomi; Linda Taylor’s mother, Izola; Grant Kirby’s mother, Caroline, and Julia Kirby's mother, Margaret Floyd; Clarke Beaudry’s mother, Judy LaMarque; Kennon Bauman’s uncle, Dan Johnston; Amy Goldberg’s grandmother, Ruth Cooper; Christy Yeager’s mother, Linda Jordan; 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 son, Trip, and grandmother, Margaret Schade; Kathy Miller’s friend, Sandee Dickson; Sue Hanburger's friends, Barb, Phyllis, Martha and Craig; Linnie Girdner and Jan Hof’s friend, Grace Ligon; Ylonda Fauntleroy’s friends, Alma Hinton and Tanya; Rob Yeager’s friends, Lisa and Kearston; Scott Howe’s friend, Jen Miller; the Gaurins’ friends Nyla and Danielle; Kim Young’s friends, Pat and Joyce; Catherine Chambers’ friend, Seamus; Michelle Schoonmaker’s friends Duane Thomas and Bri Ree; Jen’s father; and Kathy Emmert's friend, Patty.
THE LOVE AND PRAYERS OF THE FAMILY go out to the Keyes family on the death of Frances Keyes.
THE LOVE AND PRAYERS OF THE FAMILY go out to the Champagne family on the death of Kim Champagne’s aunt, Joan.
PRAYERS OF HEALING for those with COVID-19 including: Christine Connally’s cousin, Karen; Kelly Stern’s friend, Lisa Brown’s father; Jim and Judy Cooper’s friend, Tim McNutt; Margaret McGillivray’s friends, the Sanders family; Michelle Schoonmaker's Auntie Bernice; Josephine Girdner; Paul Doughty’s uncle, Dan, and cousin, Elizabeth; Doug Walcutt’s father, Chuck Walcutt, and stepmother, Linda Walcutt; Diane Johnson’s grandson, Avery Woods; Ed Barrett's friend, Joe Bogner; Julia Kirby’s great niece, nephew, his wife, and friends, the Speer family, the Coffey family, and April and Sam; Amy Hagemann’s friend, Mary Hurt Werner; Rob Yeager’s friends, David Palombo, and Jeff and Ana Siegel; Lisa Marino, Jay Mulholland, and their 4-month-old daughter Lily; Ylonda Fauntleroy's family, Annette and Leah Turner, and friends, Sandra and Elijah Williams; Debbie Saylor’s friend, Frank Williams; Michelle Schoonmaker's colleague, Ajita Robinson; Yeni, her husband and their six children; Jennifer Roman's aunt, Laura Clay, and grandmother, Louise Nothdurft; Kathy Emmert’s friends, Chuck and Cheryl; and Lori Kronser’s friend Debbie and her family.
PRAYERS OF LOVE, SUPPORT AND PROTECTION for all essential workers around the world, including: Mike Stiegler; Bill Gaurin; Tricia Gray’s mother; 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.
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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