Dear Friends and Members of Ark and Dove,

I am pleased to announce that we have a new Nursery Coordinator who will be providing care for children 0-3 years old in the nursery at both services. Cara Moody will begin this Sunday, May 29th. Cara comes recommended by Sara Fox our Christian Education Elder, Amy Goldberg our Administration Elder, and me. We have found Cara to be very kind, caring, and attentive. These qualities compliment years of experience caring for young children. I hope you will take advantage of our nursery, as Cara will provide a loving and safe environment for our children.

That is of utmost importance to us, a safe environment for our children. I, like many I have spoken to this week, am grieved and angry about the massacre at Robb Elementary School. I, like many of you, have felt helpless this week knowing that thoughts and prayers are not enough without action. And yet, what can I/we do? It seems the loudest voices are not heard by legislators who can sign simple and common sense laws that have been proven to reduce gun violence. While this is enraging, we cannot simply throw our hands up in resignation. Since Wednesday, members of this church have been sharing actionable steps we can take. I list them here below so that you can pair your prayer with action:

-Join a team of members working on security and safety concerns for our congregation. Linda Lewis, Scott Howe, Ray Bussey among others have been and are planning ways to prevent violence on our property.

-Educate yourself on denominational resources about gun violence and consider ways that you might join with other concerned congregants to both prevent gun violence and be involved in caring for victims in our community. Also, June 2 is National Gun Violence Awareness Day and you can go to the Busch-Annapolis Library, 6-8:30 pm, for resources.

-Educate yourself on where Maryland stands on gun safety measures and consider joining other members who might organize around advocating for policy change. (I can give you names.)

-Parents, prepare yourselves for tough conversations with your children. Also, support and care for the teachers in our congregation.

-Get involved with ACT. You may remember that ACT was able to pressure our county to take gun safety seriously before the pandemic by getting involved with Do Not Stand Idly By. Contact Cheryl Walcutt (walcutt_family@hotmail.com) to get involved in two actions in June where we will get our concerns before 2022 Maryland candidates for state office.

As we pray for the friends and family members of those killed in Uvalde, Texas, let us also do one of the above as a devotional exercise.

PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT for the family and friends of Kim Huffman, friend of Lori Kronser, the Coopers and the Hirschy-Houcks, who passed away on Wednesday; Cara Moody family member, Gary Moody Sr., for upcoming surgery; Friends of Michelle Schoonmaker: Carly & Chris Taylor, Karen Butler, Bri Reed, and the Conway Family on the passing of Bruce Conway; Jan Hof recovering from COVID; Laurie Barrow siblings recovering from surgery: Donna Beckwith (sister) and Steve Beckwith (brother); Fred Barrow’s sister, Betsy Sargant, recovering from surgery; Debbie Saylor's Family and Friends: Richard and Carol Jasper, Carlene Printy, Helen Rossum, Wayne Rennex, & Alison Buffington; The Beckwith family on the passing of Mary Jo Hannold, Laurie Barrow’s Aunt; Karen Mongold, colleague of Ray Bussey; Donna Kurtz who is waiting test results; for a women, E.B., and her children, leaving an abusive home environment; Irina Lee, Jan and Al Jank's daughter-in-law, recovering from surgery; William Campbell, grandfather of Cherese, with cancer; the family of Olive Mullings, grandmother of Keno’e Mullings, who recently passed away; Chris and Jeff, friends of Deb Saylor; Amber Maschino, neighbor of Craig West; for the Lucas, Montgomery, Danko, and Dodson families for the loss of Jacqueline Lucas; for the Raber family, friends of Carrie Dodson, on the loss of Colton Raber; Dotty Kaufmann; Jack Sweeney, fighting cancer; Mary Lou Dulina, friend of Cheryl Schafer; friends and family of Alexander Miller who has passed away; Alvin Dennis and Audrey Price; Aston Borsella, heart surgery; Charlotte Davie; Donna Williams; Courtney Dudley Thomas, recovering from a stroke; Tiffany Thompson, starting a new round of cancer treatments; Courtney, Deborah Dingle’s niece, in the hospital suffering from brain cancer; Anna Scofield; the people of Ukraine; Lou Kareha's friends and family: Aubriella and Michael Steele, B. Wicker, James Karanasky (sister-in-law's brother), Thomas Kochis (cousin), and Nando Smacci (friend); Mike and Denise Bartgis' son-in-law; Kathy Miller's brother-in-law, Jeff Miller, and sister, Beth Krauth; Lourdes Cordero's family and friends: Diane Cordero (sister), Jose (brother), granddaughter, and Fred and Arelene Jones (friends); Laura Willoughby's father, Norman; Christy Hipchen’s nephew and grandmother, Ann Chubon; Josh Arnold; the family of Mike Esparza; Steve Debus' father, Bill Debus; Amy Tardiff’s Aunt Fran; Michelle Schoonmaker; Michelle Schoonmaker's friends and their children: Kai S., Liam F. and Ezra R.; Floretta Watkins-Barbee, Michelle Schoonmaker's Aunt and Ylonda Fauntleroy’s friend; Bernice Taylor, Michelle Schoonmaker's great aunt and Ylonda Fauntleroy’s Aunt; Cameron Jackson, Ylonda Fauntleroy’s cousin, dealing with a difficult situation; Frank Stillwell; Mary Caolo; David Johns; Angela Goska; Belinda Edwards; Karen Stokes; Betty Small; the Unger family; Debbie and Bruce Arey family: Sarah, and her daughter, Allison (niece), and Denise (Debbie’s sister) suffering from life-long chemo; Calvin Latham; Brianna Lapp; Ann Hirschy's family: Isaiah, Aunt Cindy, and brother; Ann Hirschy, recovering from knee surgery; Adell Gaurin; Carol Saylor; Carol Saylor’s family: sister-in-law who passed away of stomach cancer, and granddaughter being bullied at school; Ray Bussey's mother, Doris; Liz Olson; Vaughn Brown; Arlyce Lohr; Dick Paronto; Amy Hagemann’s sister, Susan Pratt; Mary Benson’s sister; Bill Lifsey Sr., Amy Carskadon Lifsey’s father-in-law; Helen Wilkens' mother, Jane Reinert; Karen Dodson’s cousin, Miles and the family; Pam, Carrie Dodson's friend; Lewis Shorter; Jennifer Schwandt-Gayle, Lewis Shorter’s niece; Dot Forloine’s Family: Melisa Tucker Saatthoff (granddaughter) and Luke (great-grandson); Dot Forloines; Linda Taylor’s mother, Izola; Amy Goldberg’s grandmother, Ruth Cooper; Diane Johnson's Family: Uncle Ed, Aunt Janet, and Cousin Richard; Diane Johnson's friend, Tom; Shelley Franklin's father; James Franklin's sister-in-law, Kelli Franklin; Gunther Kurtz, Laurie Barrow’s nephew; Bernabe and Griselda Solano, and Griselda's sister, Irma; Carl Hahn, Laura Doughty’s brother-in-law; Ruth Doughty, Paul Doughty's mother; Cheryl and Doug Walcutt’s Family:Cheryl Walcutt (mother of Cheryl), Judy (sister of Cheryl); Don Clark, friend of Cheryl Walcutt; Margaret Schade, Erika Sealing's grandmother; Rob Yeager’s friends: Greta Daughtrey and Peter Brown; Linda Jordan, Christy Yeager’s mother; Bonnie, Linda Jordan’s niece.

The love and prayers of the congregation go out to the Scofield and Staudle family upon the death of Helene Staudle, Michelle Scofiled's grandmother.