The Arkive: Ark and Dove's Newsletter | |
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14th Sunday after Pentecost
September 11th, 2022
In-Person Worship at 9:00 and 10:30 am, this Sunday!
Livestream Worship, 10:30 am, every Sunday!
**Mask required at 9:00 am Worship, Mask Optional at 10:30 am Worship
Child Care available for 9:00 and 10:30 am services!
*Sunday School for Pre-K-5th Grade during 10:30 am Worship, every Sunday!
Get your bulletin here.
*Register for Sunday School here.
You can connect on YouTube HERE.
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Dear Friends and Members of the Ark and Dove Community,
Each of us comes to the world and to the church with a set of talents and strengths. Sometimes we have strengths and we are not aware of them. In terms of church participation, we have been using a spiritual gifts inventory at Ark and Dove for many years now. Its not a be all or end all; it’s a tool. Its called the Easum/Capshaw Spiritual Gifts Inventory and our own Linnie Girdner edited it and paired it down to 90 questions. It takes about an hour to fill out. Click Here for the link on our website. This inventory will give you insight into your own strengths. With what has God gifted you? Everyone who has taken a New Members Class can find a printed out copy of the Inventory in their new members packet.
On Wednesday October 5, 2022 at 6:30 We will be offering a dinner and discussion of the inventory at the church in the Marshall Room. It is part of our Equipping the Saints series of classes and this one is a lot of fun. We will review each spiritual gift. What we ask is that you do fill out the inventory and do the scoring before the class. Reservations are required as the Discipleship Ministry will be purchasing dinner. You can sign up here. I may be able by then to run a Hybrid Meeting, that is in person and on Zoom simultaneously.
Anne Arundel Connecting Together ACT works for fairness in our County. We are congregations and organizations like the NAACP and Light House Homeless Prevention Center that work together to make our county better. Like congregations, schools and places of work, ACT was somewhat hampered by the pandemic. In addition, our Organizer (staff person) accepted a call in England. Well things are really coming back together this September and October and we have a new FULL TIME organizer Katie Ashmore Zinler who has over a decade of organizing experience. She starts next week. I am very excited that our time of waiting is over.
ACT builds power through relationships with other people and on Monday September 19, at 7:00PM, at First Presbyterian Church of Annapolis, ACT is hosting a relational mixer. We will learn how to participate in a relational meeting and we will get to sit down with two other people (one at a time) in our county to practice. These meetings are a lot of fun. Not only that, Katie Ashmore Zinler will be present and introduced.
On October 6, Ark and Dove will host ACT’s Anne Arundel County Candidates night in our Sanctuary, the County Executive and County Council Candidates will be invited. We will need a team of 25 to host. Please contact Cheryl Walcutt, Our Core Team Leader, to be a part of hosting this very important ACT event.
Peace of Christ,
Tim
[email protected]
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Message from Interim Associate Pastors | |
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Dear Friends and Members of the Ark and Dove Community,
New beginnings are always exciting and sometimes a little nerve wracking. The school year has begun and with it comes new beginnings at church. After the second worship service this coming Sunday we are looking forward to being introduced to Godly Play. We urge you to consider being a part of that training. The more adults who are aware of how our children are learning, the better supported our children will be. We are also learning more about how the LOGOS program takes shape at Ark and Dove. Sunday evening Youth Groups and Sunday School for Middle and High School youth are also in the works. By the end of this month all these programs will be up and running. So much depends on our wonderful volunteers, for whom we are so grateful. Please consider joining them. Working with children and youth may be out of your comfort zone, but it is one of the unexpected ways God blesses us – giving us a new beginning.
For us the more nerve wracking part of our new beginning at Ark and Dove is learning our way around certain technologies. Throughout Covid and before that in rural Nebraska, we had many opportunities to be part of Zoom meetings but had avoided hosting them. We are so grateful to Ryan Stavely and Cherese Scarbor for all of their help as we struggle with technologies, which are second nature to many of you. Hopefully soon, hosting a meeting and other technologies necessary for our work will become second nature to us, too. If we fail to link with you or cut you off, please let us know. Thank you for being patient with us.
from co-interim Pastors,
Caroline and Stephen
caroline.pricegibson@arkanddove.org
[email protected]g
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“Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Luke 15:8-108
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Holy One, you surround us with your love. You send us grace each day. You live inside each person. The beauty of your creation is teaming with wonder. You even fill the space between us. Nothing is empty because your Spirit is always present. Help us to find the time to look up and take notice. Help us to pause and give thanks. Enable us to receive your gifts and then share them with others. Amen. | |
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This week, our band will sing a song called We Are Yours by the group I Am They. Their group is a new favorite of mine. They are a 5 member band, similar in instrumental and vocal makeup to our own band. This song will be led by Christa Kronser and Paul Doughty on vocals, with a full band of instrumentalists to accompany them.
I want to take some time to say a heartfelt Thank you to Ryan Stavely and Alexander Turse. Ryan is at every rehearsal for both the band and the choir, recording every piece that we practice and tweaking the microphones and settings so that we don't only sound amazing in the room, but also online. And although Alex is away at college, any time he is home, he is with us in person (including this week). Alex also watches the livestream from his dorm and provides real time feedback to Ryan so that we can make changes as-needed. I can't tell you how much work goes in to what they do. On top of that, we have new in-ear monitors, that each have their own mix for the musicians using them. There have been a lot of changes, and Ryan and Alex have been vital in this role. If you see them this week, please take a moment to thank them for the work that they are doing. My job is made easier because of them, and I am so grateful for their leadership.
Have a wonderful weekend, friends.
With love,
Rebecca
Director of Music
[email protected]
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DONATE ONLINE! One-time and recurring!
TEXT your donations! 410-983-3481
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To donate for Ukraine help, text amount followed by Ukraine.
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 - 14th Sunday after Pentecost | |
Mask required at 9:00 am Worship, Mask Optional at 10:30 am Worship
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Beadles Needed!
Ark and Dove is bringing back the Loyal Order of the Beadle for youth in 5th-8th grades. A Beadle holds an honored position at the beginning of worship, most notably leading the worship procession at the beginning of services. They also assist with less visible preparation work in preparing for worship. There will be a Beadle training and dinner for interested youth at the church on Tuesday, September 20, at 6:15pm. If interested, please RSVP to Sarah Hendricks, [email protected], or text 240-615-4986.
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Latest Episode:
4 September
Joining this week's guest host Christa Kronser as she interviews our new interim Associate Pastors Steven and Caroline Price-Gibson to discuss their involvement with Ark and Dove.
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31 July
Join our guest host, Michelle Schoonmaker as she interviews Ark and Dove's Outreach and Connections Elder, Katie Nilson-Johnson. Hear Katie Nilsen Johnson explain to Michelle Schoonmaker about our effort to re-brand Ark and Dove, to make our written materials and visual images match our identity as a congregation.
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7 August
Catch up on the latest episodes of The Lobby - you will be amazed at what has been going on behind the scenes at Ark and, as our members have been working to bring the Kingdom of heaven right here to Odenton, through Ark and Dove. Jim Cooper hears from Steve Debus about our Community Engagement efforts that are being planned right now.
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Healing Through Grief
Pastor Tim, Cathy Debus, and Linnie Girdner will be co-facilitating the next Healing through Grief group on Tuesday, September 13th 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 me know if you have the slightest inclination to attend on September 13th, 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, contact Pastor Tim Stern at [email protected] or 410-674-6400 or Linnie Girdner, at [email protected] 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.
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Welcome back from summer! To celebrate we will be having a church picnic on the grass, September 17th at 4:30pm. Picnic dishes (sides, mains, dessert, your choice!) are requested.
Additionally during the picnic, we’re having a Ark and Dove Chili Cook Off! There will be two categories: Meat and Vegetarian, for folks to taste and vote on their favorite. To support our efforts with Earth Care, if able, bring a muffin tin to serve as your own personal tasting palette (tasting cups will be provided as well).
Please sign up HERE with the dish you are bringing, if you want to help with set up, and if you are going to compete in the cook off. For any questions, please contact Katie Nilsen-Johnson at [email protected].
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Let's Meet the Neighbors!
Join the Community Engagement Team as we we kick off our first door knocking campaign on Saturday, September 24th from 10:00AM-12:00PM with a lunch/debrief afterwards at the church (12:00-1:00PM). We will be getting to know our neighbors in King's Ransom, Arundel Mobile Village and Highland Court Apartments and trying to understand how we can work with them to make positive changes that help their families and the community. Don't know what you will be doing? No worries, we will have a prep session on Sunday, September 18th at 11:45AM and another the morning of the 24th at 8:45AM to review the questions we will ask and "role play" what you will do. You can attend one or both of the prep sessions.
Sign up as a pair or singles (we will find you a partner) HERE. Questions? See Steve Debus at [email protected].
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Presbyterian Women in the Presbytery of Baltimore will be holding its IN PERSON Fall Gathering on October 1st at Catonsville Presbyterian Church pavilion from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The birthday party will be celebrating the 100th Birthday of the Birthday Offering. The cost for the celebration lunch will be a whopping $1 donation to the Birthday Offering! Joan Berry will need to report the count of those going (men can come too) by September 18. Please let Joan, 410-672-5237, know if you are coming. | |
Mid-Week Bible Study
Join us every Wednesday at 10am for Bible Study and fellowship starting September 7th. Contact Pastor Stephen Price-Gibson ([email protected]) for the Zoom link.
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Ark and Dove Book Club -
October Selection
Join the Ark and Dove Book Club for our October selection of "The Girl in His Shadow" by Audrey Blake, an "unforgettable historical fiction novel about one woman who believed in scientific medicine before the world believed in her." We will discuss the book on Zoom on Friday, October 21st at 7:30pm. Contact Kim Champagne at [email protected] for more information and/or the zoom link.
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Ark & Dove Banned Book Drive | |
Banned Book Drive! Help us establish a youth/teen library by donating a banned or challenged book from our list HERE. New and gently used copies requested.
Please contact Amy Tardiff ([email protected]) or Kim Champagne ([email protected]) if you have any questions.
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Children Christian Education | |
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Nursery: open for children age birth to 3
9:00 AM and 10:30 Service
PreK Sunday School: Ages 4-5
Starting September 11th
4 year olds , case by case at 9:00am service
ONLY at the 10:30 service
Godly Play: Elementary Ages, Grades K-5
Starting September 11th
9:00 service is a K-5 group
10:30 service has both a K-2 and a 3-5 group
Middle School Sunday School: Grades 6-8
Date starting TBD
ONLY at the 10:30 service
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Leaders and Helpers Needed
To ensure that we can continue to offer the above Christian Educational opportunities we NEED leaders! Currently we do NOT have enough to fully staff any of these programs. Please consider offering your gifts and talents to help these programs thrive. You will need to complete a background check and training. Curriculum and materials are provided. Please contact CE Elder, Sara Fox at [email protected] if interested.
Thank you to those of you who’ve already made a commitment to help out this year!!!
Interested already??
Godly Play training will occur on September 11th, following the 10:30 service. Lunch will be provided for attendees. RSVP HERE if interested.
Nursery Helpers: If you are already a CE leader or a high school student please consider signing up HERE to help in the nursery. You will be assisting Cara Moody as needed.
As always, with any questions or concerns please reach out to me at [email protected].
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Registration is open now for the upcoming LOGOS year. Click HERE to register.
LOGOS is Ark and Dove's midweek children's program for ages Pre-K through 5th grade that engages our youth in the life of the church, providing opportunities to learn about God, to have fun, and to create lasting relationships with others. This year it will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6:00pm to 7:15pm starting September 27th through the end of March. On the third Tuesday of every month we will provide a family-style dinner for LOGOS kids, their families, and other volunteers at 6:20pm.
One of the LOGOS core goals is to facilitate the development of strong Christian relationships between youth and between generations. With that in mind, we ask that at least one adult from each registered family sign up to volunteer. There are lots of different opportunities for participation this year, including some that are only once a month, check out our sign up genius HERE. We would LOVE to have other members of the church volunteer as well including our older youth and seniors! Save the date for our LOGOS Information Forum and Volunteer Training on September 13th 6pm-7pm via zoom. Email [email protected] for any questions.
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Peace and Global Witness Special Offering 2022 | |
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We will be participating in the Peace and Global Witness Special Offering from now until World Communion Sunday on October 2nd. The theme for 2022 is "For you shall go out in joy, and be led forth in peace." — ISAIAH 55:12. What could be better than spreading joy and peace to our community? The Peace and Global Witness Offering supports our financial commitment to ACT (Anne Arundel Connecting Together). At this time, we are collaborating with ACT to begin our Community Engagement project to become better neighbors here in Odenton. This is a perfect time to commit to gathering the financial support needed to meet our pledge to ACT. Please consider giving generously to the Peace and Global Witness Special Offering.
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CAP Food Pantry Item of the Month
The Christian Assistance Program (CAP) food pantry has been very busy, with August bringing some of the highest usage over the past five years. We're having trouble keeping the shelves full and are returning to our "Item of the Month" as a way to request food donations. The items for September are peanut butter and jelly. We have bins marked for CAP food in the cabinet across from the lobby coat rack. Food can also be taken directly to the pantry at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Odenton, on Tuesdays 10:30am-1:30pm and Thursdays 1:30-5:30pm. Or contact Greg Makar ([email protected]) to make other arrangements.
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Intersectionality and reproductive justice have been in the news a lot lately - but what do they mean? Both have a lot to do with the church and how we can be thoughtful Christ-followers in today’s world.
Michelle Schoonmaker and Katie Nilsen-Johnson will be leading a two-day discussion on Tuesday, September 13th (Intersectionality and the Church: Refresh Session) and Wednesday, September 14th (Reproductive Justice and the Church) at 7:30pm. Come for one or both sessions. Email [email protected] for the zoom link.
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Refugee Resettlement: Abawi Family |
As the Abawi family settle into their new home, we can then concentrate on the many other ways we can support this family. As they find employment in the near future along with the many health appointments they have, both the Annapolis Presbyterian Church and Ark and Dove are asking if you, or anyone you may know, have any vehicle that can be donated to the Abawi family. Please reach out to Debbie Arey at [email protected]. | |
Did You Know?
Ark and Dove has a special Facebook page dedicated to social justice issues. This is a place where we present opportunities for education and involvement, relevant articles and book recommendations on Anti-Racism and LGBTQIA+ topics. This is a closed group, however everyone is welcome to join. If you are on Facebook, search "Ark and Dove Social Justice" or use this link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/arkanddovesocialjustice
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PC(USA) Shows Sustained Leadership on Climate and Here’s What You Can Do
Investing in a green future includes working “towards a goal of 100% renewable energy in congregations, mid-councils and agencies in the PC(USA) by 2030 by practicing energy efficiency, purchasing our power from renewable energy sources, and investing in the development of renewable energy.” These words are from the PC(USA) General Assembly of 2022 and are a call to action.
This year the commissioners to the 225th General Assembly voted to place five energy companies — Chevron, ExxonMobil, Marathon Petroleum, Phillips 66 and Valero Energy — on the General Assembly Divestment/Proscription List “until their actions comply with the General Assembly’s established criteria." HERE is the MRTI metric. What can you do? You can take action as individuals by purchasing gas from other companies. And eventually to buy or lease vehicles that use less or no fossil fuels.
Since the 1960’s the General Assemblies of PCUSA have stood strong on protecting and restoring God’s creation. Earth Care Congregations, of which Ark and Dove is one, evolved from earlier GA decisions. If you want to join our Earth Care Team, contact Bob Fuller at [email protected]. All are welcome and so far our meetings have been on zoom.
Among other things our Earth Care team has been researching alternative energy sources for the church building. And if you want to know if your retirement fund or other assets are invested in a way that reflects your values and care for the environment, stay tuned for an upcoming Earth Care event.
Linnie Girdner
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Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:
PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT for the Barrow & Beckwith families upon the death of Laurie's sister, Donna Backwith; the birth of Hudson R. Degge, the child of David and Abby Degge; David and Abbey; Michael Britt; little girl diagnosed with leukemia and her family; for the family of Elouise Daniels, who died last week; the family of Gavin Hurley; Amanda Welford; Bruce Arey's sister; Helen Jarkiewicz; Tricia Gray; the Hall/Ballard families on the death of Jeffrey Hall; Dee going through breast cancer; Anthony Welford, recovering from surgery; Arlyce Lohr; Laura Talbert; Ardeth Johns; Doug Dehaven with cardiac problems; Karen Judeich; Harrison-Wyatt Family searching for Jamil Wyatt; Marie, Nikol Sahai’s Mom; Irina Lee, Jan and Al Jank's daughter-in-law; Payton 18 months old, starting chemo therapy; Fran; Dot Forloines; Vaughn Brown; Dick Paronto; Pamala Morrison recovering; for Julie Devers' friend Zenia Dacio-Messina; for Hope Sutphin; Dotty Kaufmann; Emily Wehage; Diane Makar's friend’s mother; Jeff Miller, Kathy Miller’s brother-in-law; Freyja Hartzell; Amy Goldber's father, Michael Cooper; Denise Bartgis; Rebecca Echols friend, Lauren Douglas, and Uncle, Rick Orfinger; Andy, friend of Karen Dodson; Jeanne Elbefeld; Ghazal Abawi; Mike Bartgis's cousin; Marjorie Tanner, Laura Doughty’s mother; Ellen; Cara Moody’s father-in-law, Gary Moody Sr.; Friends of Michelle Schoonmaker: Carly & Chris Taylor and Bri Reed; Laurie Barrow's brother, Steve Beckwith; Fred Barrow’s sister, Betsy Sargant; Debbie Saylor's Family and Friends: Carlene Printy, Helen Rossum, Wayne Rennex, Alison Buffington & Chris and Jeff; Jack Sweeney; Mary Lou Dulina, friend of Cheryl Schafer; Alvin Dennis; Ashton Borsella; Tiffany Thompson; Courtney, Deborah Dingle’s niece; 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; Lourdes Cordero's family and friends: Diane Cordero (sister), Jose (brother), granddaughter, and Fred and Arelene Jones (friends); Amy Tardiff’s Aunt Fran; 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; Calvin Latham; Carol Saylor; Ray Bussey's mother, Doris; 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; Linda Taylor’s mother, Izola; Amy Goldberg’s grandmother, Ruth Cooper; Shelley Franklin's father; James Franklin's sister-in-law, Kelli Franklin; Gunther Kurtz, Laurie Barrow’s nephew; 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.
If you have prayer concerns or blessings that you would like to share, please contact Deacon Patriceo Green at [email protected] and he will add your concern to the prayer partners email chain.
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