The Arkive: Ark and Dove's Newsletter |
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Celebrate the Eighth Sunday After Pentecost with Communion!
Christian Education (Holy Moly & Mythbusters) 9:15 am!
Virtual Fellowship*** 11:45 am -12:15 pm!
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Outdoor Worship* 9:15 am! (next service - July 25th)
Please connect on YouTube HERE
*Reservations no longer required for outdoor worship service. Please check the Ark and Dove homepage, the morning of the service, for cancellation due to inclement weather.
**Reservations required for in-person worship in the sanctuary. Masks required, please.
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Dear Friends and Members of the Ark and Dove Community,
After months of planning and in the sultry summer heat of July, Sara Fox and Christina Nelson led a wonderful outdoor vacation Bible School experience for our Children. In many creative ways our children explored what it means to sit at table with Jesus and what it means to be a kind and loving disciple. They learned story and song and just had an all round great time. I am grateful to Sara and Christina for their leadership and their dedicated team: Linda Lewis, Stephanie Devono, Shirley Fuller, Amanda Wehage, Tricia Gray, Amanda Crose, Jen Roman, Sarah Hendrix, Amy Tardiff, Julie Devers, Abbey Boudreau, Chris Fox, Ryan Stavely, Pat Sise, Pastor Jon, and our youth leaders Charlie Tardiff, Aaron Fox, Jake Polucha, Diana Justice, Clara Boudreau, Andrew Fox, Caroline Polucha, Ryan Devers and Walker Boudreau. What a great week!
Many people are musing on what post pandemic life will look like for churches. Here are six predictions from Peter Marty the editor of Christianity Today:
- Social and Spiritual capital connected with congregational life will be more important; people will want authentic community
- Churches can be liberated from a fixation on counting the rolls and may well breathe a deep sigh of relief
- We need not obsess on buildings because we can create community online
- We have a lot of work ahead in countering conspiracy theories and disinformation
- Virtual is good but personal presence, intimacy and proximity will carry a more genuine authority
- Congregations will be more eager to address racial inequity, unconscious bias and the everyday experiences of Black Americans.
What are your predictions?
Peace of Christ,
Tim
tstern@arkanddove.org
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Dear Members and Friends of Ark and Dove,
We picked a hot week for Vacation Bible School! I am thankful for the big tent in our field that provided necessary shade. I am also grateful for the many children who made every sweaty moment worth it. They sang, danced, learned, played, listened, created, and prayed. I have not seen some of our participants in days, some in weeks, some in months, and some not since before the pandemic. It has been so good to see so many children together. Their collective joy increased my own.
Even more, I am thankful for the many leaders who made this week happen. They carried materials from the church to the tent, acted in dramas, led worship, set up sound equipment, led discussions, taught lessons, prepared crafts, guided games, supported needs, listened to children, made snacks, and encouraged students. We had a full team that ensured Vacation Bible School was fun and safe for all involved.
Finally, I am so grateful for Christina Nelson and Sara Fox, who have spent months preparing for VBS under difficult circumstances and constraints. They called and equipped leaders, prepared curriculum, and thought through every minute of the program so that it could be the best experience for our children. Sara and Christina worked so hard and are exemplary leaders who model compassion, wisdom, care, and dedication for us all. Be sure to thank them for all they have done for our church and community.
In gratitude,
Jon
jnelson@arkanddove.org
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But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God,
-Ephesians 2:13-19
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Majesty of holiness, thank you for another day
lived in your grace.
Thank you for all whom I met
who showed me your kindness.
Help me to repent of my sins
before I go to my bed this night.
Let me receive the blessing of forgiveness
and enter a period of rest
with the burdens of the day
lifted from me,
and the comfort of your peace
as a pillow for my head.
If it is your will,
speak to me as I sleep,
and let me remember your words
as I rise to a new day,
giving you thanks and praise,
one God in three persons forever. Amen.
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I'm so happy that Vacation Bible School was a go this week and hope it was a blessing to the children, leaders and volunteers. What amazing gifts we have as a congregation! This week's postlude is a fun, upbeat arrangement of the traditional spiritual, "I'm Gonna Sit at the Welcome Table". I hope it gets your toes tapping at the end of the worship service!
Peace,
Margaret
Director of Music
margaret.mcgillivray@gmail.com
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This week you will get to see some new faces with the live band doing all our music in person. Bob Fuller will be joining us on bass. You might recognize him from some of the recorded songs, but this is the first time with the live band, and we are ecstatic to have him in the band. Another face you should recognize is Lewis Shorter back on drums! Our songs are definitely some popular ones with "Come As You Are", by David Crowder, as the offertory and "I lift My Hands", by Chris Tomlin, as the hymn. Vacation Bible School has been happening all week and it is a blast to have the kids at the church learning about the bible. They seem to be having such a great time, and all of us leaders are as well!
Have a blessed week!
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.
Habitat for Humanity special offering: text an amount
followed by habitat.
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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Eighth Sunday After Pentecost! |
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Reserve Worship Service Space HERE
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In-Person Sanctuary Worship This Sunday, July 18th, at 10:30 am, we welcome worshipers of all ages, with masks, into the sanctuary with limited attendance. To RSVP to attend worship in the sanctuary, 10:30 am, please sign up HERE. No child care for now. Singing with masks on is allowed. This service will be live streamed, so 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.
In-Person Outdoor Worship Reservations for Outdoor services are no longer needed! Outdoor service will be held every other Sunday: July 25, and August 8 and 22, 9:15 am. Please check the homepage of the Ark and Dove website for cancellation due to inclement weather. The website will be updated the morning of the outdoor service. Out of consideration for other attenders, masks are truly welcome at the outdoor service, but will not be required.
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We are excited for Summer Sunday School outside at 9:15 am every other Sunday. Our next class is Sunday, July 18th. We will share a fun story, create a craft, and play games. Parents, you can join our adult Christian education class that happens at the same time. Any questions? Contact Christian Education Elder, Sara Fox at christianed@arkanddove.org.
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The next GLEAM (God’s Love Embraces ALL Ministry) team planning meeting will be Wednesday, July 21 at 7:00 pm. All are welcome to join. For questions or to receive the meeting link contact Amy Tardiff Lilac.n.Spruce@gmail.com
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Special Offering for Habitat for Humanity |
Ark and Dove will be collecting a special offering for Habitat for Humanity for six weeks in July and August. Habitat is one of the organizations that we have supported since the first days of Ark and Dove. We look forward to the time when we can again participate directly with Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake in local building projects and summer Mission trips. In the meantime, we can continue to support them financially. Mission Ministry hopes that you will consider a generous donation between now and the end of August. Donate by texting a dollar amount followed by habitat to: 410-983-3481, visit our webpage, or by check. For additional information contact Lori Kronser, mission@arkanddove.org
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We need You! Woodside Gardens Residents Independence Day
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Anne Arundel Connection Together (ACT) has helped the residents of Woodside Gardens in Annapolis to organize to fight the extreme neglect of their apartments: mold, crashing ceilings, rotting walls, vermin. Please join us for the Residents Independence Day and the founding of a residents association on Saturday, July 31, 11am-12pm, Woodside Gardens Apartments - 702 Newtowne Dr. Annapolis, MD 21401. Ark and Dove has pledged at least 10 people will attend. We need YOU! Sign up to attend here: https://forms.gle/io7wvF2VhhZgbWLK8.
For additional information contact Shirley Fuller, sffuller@mac.com
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Christian Assistance Program |
The mission ministry continues to collect food for the Christian Assistance Program (CAP) West County food pantry in Severn. Donations can be left at church on the table just inside the front door or in the covered picnic area. The items needed most are cereal (hot and cold), tomato products (such as canned tomatoes and pasta sauce), and rice and rice sides (maximum two pounds, please). For more information, please contact Greg Makar (GLMakar@juno.com). |
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Friendly Seniors - Walters Art Gallery |
Friendly Seniors invites those who are able to join us on a trip to the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore for a cool and educational afternoon on July 22. Because of restricted parking and a need to reserve spots, you are asked to let Joan Berry know of your participation NO LATER THAN Sunday, July 18. We will be carpooling so let Joan know if you are willing to drive and how many passengers you can take. Carpools will be leaving the church at 1:30 p.m. on July 22. For questions or to RSVP contact Joan Berry (berry962@verizon.net or 410-672-5237).
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Gently Used Books Collection |
Prince of Peace Presbyterian Church and the Anne Arundel Literacy Council are collecting gently used books for their Book Fairs happening this Fall. This is the perfect opportunity for you to clean out your book shelves, recycle those books you no longer need/want, and support great community organizations! A box for book collection will be in the church lobby, but you can also contact Wendy Wellington (wmwelli64@gmail.com) to make other arrangements for pickup, or if you'd like more information about the Literacy Council.
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The Stephen Ministry at Ark and Dove would like to remind you we are here to help. A Stephen Minister provides care, once a week for perhaps a few months to 18 months, to one person who is experiencing a life-changing event like divorce, loss of work, or serious illness or death of a loved one. Supporting each other in times of need is a core belief of our reformed faith and the Ark & Dove community.
Stephen Ministers are not pastors, therapists, social workers, doctors, or nurses. They are friends and caregivers who have received fifty hours of training and have supervision and continuing education. Stephen Ministers are paired with a care receiver after a thoughtful and faith-full process. Confidentiality is a foundation of the ministry. Ten lay people at Ark & Dove have been trained as Stephen Ministers, and two of them received extra training as Stephen Ministry leaders (along with Pastors Tim and Jon).
If you think you or someone would benefit from Stephen Ministry, or if you're just interested in learning more, please contact Stephen Ministry leaders Kelly Burnett (Kellyb327@aol.com, 410-320-7845 cell/text) or Laurie Barrow (barrowfl@aol.com, 443-306-1149 cell/text). A helpful reference is the letter to the congregation from Pastor Tim about starting our Stephen Ministry in 2016. That letter is on the Ark & Dove website under the Ministry tab.
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Adult Christian Education |
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Summer Book Club - July Selection
The Summer Book Club July selection is “When No One is Watching” by critically acclaimed author Alyssa Cole. This novel is described as a gripping psychological thriller in which the gentrification of a Brooklyn neighborhood takes on a sinister new meaning. Join us on Zoom on Tuesday, July 20, 7:30 pm. Contact Kim Champagne (kim.champagne@gmail.com) or Pastor Jon (jnelson@arkanddove.org) if you are interested in joining us!
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Is heaven a gated community of mansions and streets of gold? Will a certain number of people be taken up to heaven in the end times? Did God dictate Scripture to scribes? Is a horned devil responsible for human evil? Join us on Sunday mornings to explore some of these myths of Christianity and bust them! There is no homework or lecture. We will gather at 9:15 am on July 18th, August 1st, August 15th, and August 29th. (Parents, this class will happen at the same time as Summer Sunday School.) Come as you are. Pastor Jon Nelson, jnelson@arkanddove.org
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Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:
PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT for Vaughn Brown; Ardeth and Bob Johns; Corinne Baker; Patty and Steve Plander; Margaret Floyd; Alex Strobel; Steven Kirby; Arlyce Lohr; Krista Klohr; Michelle Schoonmaker; Dick Paronto; Richard and Edie Budd; Wendy Wellington’s father, John Morgan; Barbara Reynold's brother, Don Campbell; Christina Nelson’s grandmother, Pat Dole; Judy Cooper’s daughter, Jessica Quigley; Paul Doughty’s mother, Ruth Doughty; Tina Anthis’ father, Steve Bissel; Camille Dubois’ parents and the Dubois family; Debbie Saylor’s sister, Christine; Ryan Stavely’s father, Brian; Todd Stubbs’ stepfather, David Hopsicker; Sue Hanburger’s daughter, Megan; a member of the Tardiff family; Dionne Whitby's daughter and niece, Jannah; 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 Forloine’s granddaughter Melisa Tucker Saatthoff, her great-grandson Luke and her friend, Kit Robson; Debbie Arey’s sister; Debbie and Bruce Arey’s family in Connecticut, and their daughter, Allison; 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; Laura Willoughby's father, Norman; Ann Hirschy’s aunt, Cindy, and brother; Kelly Burnett’s nephew, Justin; Patriceo Green’s cousin, Philip Brown; Lou Kareha’s cousin, Thomas Kochis; Cheryl and Doug Walcutt’s grandchild, Gray Adacutt; Cheryl Walcutt’s sister Judy, and mother and nephew; Erika Sealing's grandmother, Margaret Schade; Lourdes Cordero's granddaughter; Mike and Charlotte Davie’s friends, Dell and Dave Page; Paula Griggs’ friends Char and Jackie Pullen; Kim Young’s friend, Kurt Kost; and Maren McGillivray-Stubbs’ best friend’s father, Gentry Sims.
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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