The Arkive: Ark and Dove's Newsletter | |
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4th Sunday of Advent
December 18th, 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 - 8th 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,
Sunday marks the fourth Sunday in Advent and yet Christmas is a week from Saturday. Advent is a time of waiting. By number of days, this Advent is a long one, a full 28 days; but what is it we are waiting for? Some are waiting for presents. Some are waiting for lights and ornaments. Some are eager to be with family and friends. Some are waiting to hear the soothing story of the birth of a special baby. And Advent is a time when a new cycle of old ideas will be stirred up within us again. But maybe Advent could be labeled as a season where we search for light in the soul, for hope in the world, peace in our hearts and assurance that love is still a powerful force in and for humanity. Advent is more than a reminder that Christ was born. Advent is the assurance that love comes again and again. God is always coming into the world.
The Session and the Associate Pastor Nominating Team (APNT) have been in conversation. The APNT has presented the Session with a draft of our Mission Information Form (MIF) - our multi page job advertisement, our dossier, our congregational resume. It's looking really good and very soon, it will be posted on the Presbyterian Church USA Church Leadership Connections web page, the Internet-based matching and referral system of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Not long after that our APNT will begin reading bunches of (PIFS) Personnel Information Forms, as prospective candidates indicate their interest in our church. Please keep our APNT in your prayers.
Well Advent is for waiting.
Peace to you,
Tim
[email protected]
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Message from Interim Associate Pastors | |
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Dear friends and members at Ark and Dove,
As Christmas approaches, we become aware of each family’s traditions and the traditions of our church family. The 7:00 pm candlelight service filled with glorious music and the briefer more raucous but equally wonderful children’s service at 4:00pm on Christmas Eve help define us as a people for whom Christmas has meaning beyond the gifts under the tree. We missed this during the pandemic. Even now we are suggesting that we wear masks at those services, which are likely to be crowded. Nonetheless, it is a joy to be back together again! It is a joy to sing the old carols and listen together to the quiet joy of the Christmas story! These are the traditions of our lives which speak to who we are and give us strength for the future.
We have been reading a fictional account of a historical event. Gateway to the Moon by Mary Morris is a novel about people in New Mexico whose roots go back Spain of 1492, when the Jewish faith was banned. Jews were forced to flee or convert to Catholicism. Many were killed. The story tells of a few who eventually made it to New Mexico and established a village there. They continued to be nominally Catholic, but persisted in some traditions, which they did not understand. They stayed away from pork. They turned the picture of the Virgin to the wall on Friday nights and lit candles. They circumcised their baby boys. None of them could tell you why –it was just the way of things. The story tells how some of characters discovered their history and learned of their Jewish roots. Understanding these long held traditions helped the community understand who they were. Parts of the story are true, others are imagined.
The story got us to thinking about the traditions of our families and our communities. If years of persecution and hardship washed away the meanings behind our traditions, would we be able to claim the deeper meaning of God’s love for us which shines through so many of our Christmas traditions? Would our traditions be able to shed light on who we are and who our God is? Surely the answer is “yes”!
We wish you a Merry Christmas, filled with the traditions which speak to you of God’s love.
Pastors Caroline and Stephen
[email protected]
[email protected]
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18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah[j] took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly. 20 But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.
Matthew 1:18-21
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Sparkling and Shimmering God,
Thank you for calling us to walk in the light —
light that can brighten gloomy cities, light that can make planets glow, light that can warm cold hearts.
Gleaming and Glistening God,
Thank you for calling us to be light —
light so bright that even when we try to hide among the shrubs, burning bushes appear.
Twinkling God,
Thank you for calling us to share light —
light that stretches beyond distances of six feet. Light that breaches depths.
Help us hold up our light on lamp stands, participating in your work of resisting all darkness in our world. Help us never to hold up our light for notoriety, fame, attention or comparison.
Allow every wave of light that radiates from our being to illumine you, the source of all light.
We pray this prayer in the strong name of Jesus, the light of the world. Amen.
By Chaplain Daniel Heath
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This week's services will begin with a cello prelude called "Allegro Moderato" by J.S. Bach. It begins with a piano introduction, setting the opening theme, with running 8th notes throughout. The cello comes in shortly after, restating the theme, which you will hear throughout this joyful piece.
The offertory is sung by the band this week and is a beautiful arrangement of "O Come O Come Emmanuel" (which just so happens to be my favorite Christmas carol). Stephen Herman and Kim Champagne lead the band in this song, which opens with a very slow statement of the melody, with a lush accompaniment at first, by synth, wind chimes, piano and cello. The middle section turns more lively adding in percussion with drum set by Nicolas Yeager, and auxiliary percussion by Diane Yates, James Franklin on guitar and Fred Barrow on bass.
Chris Tomlin says of his writing, “When it came time to do this album, I wanted to capture songs that remind us of the true meaning of Christmas...If there was ever a time that we needed to be reminded that God is with us, it is now and that is the spirit behind this third Christmas record. My prayer is that God uses these songs to touch lives for generations and reminds us that He is close to us.”
With love,
Rebecca
Director of Music
[email protected]
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The Children’s and Youth Music Ministry will continue to rehearse each week. We are in the process of preparing for the Children's Christmas Eve service, which will occur at 4 PM on December 24, 2022. This week’s rehearsal will focus on the music for the Christmas Eve service. We will have hand chime rehearsal from 9am - 9:45am and choir rehearsal from 10am - 10:30am.
We are looking forward to continuing to grow our Children’s and Youth Music Ministry. If you would like to be added to our mailing list, please e-mail me at [email protected].
I am looking forward to continuing our work together. I am deeply grateful to have an opportunity to work with our young people. They are bright lights and have so much to offer the church and world. Thank you for your commitment!
In peace,
Rae'tta
Director of Music for Children and Youth
[email protected]
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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.
ESTABLISH AN EFT
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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November Financial Summary | |
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YTD Expected Unpledged Income $45,833
Actual Unpledged Income $18,724
Behind $27,109
YTD Expected Pledged & Electronic Giving $468,799
YTD Actual Pledged & Electronic Giving $471,497
Ahead $2,698
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Bulletin - 4th Sunday of Advent | |
Christmas Joy Special Offering
Each year during the Advent and Christmas season, we turn our eyes to Bethlehem and celebrate the wondrous gift of Jesus Christ, our Savior.
God has blessed the Church with incredible leadership in every time and place, but those leaders often need to be supported by their communities as well. This Offering addresses the support needed by some of our leaders, including supporting leadership development for communities of color, and providing support for Presbyterian church workers in their time of need. Please give generously!
Donate Online
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Dec. 24th
Christmas Eve Services:
-Children's Service 4pm
-Service of Lessons and Carols at 7pm
Candlelighting during the singing of Silent Night
Dec. 25th
Christmas Day
Single Service Sunday at 11:00am
January 1st
1st Sunday of Christmas
Single Service Sunday at 11:00am
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Christmas Poinsettias
The Flower Team and Worship Ministry is accepting donations for flowers, greens, and a Christmas tree for the Advent season and Christmas Eve/Day service. We will be displaying poinsettias for the Christmas Eve Service. The suggested donation is $15 dollars. Forms are available in the church lobby or online.
If you have any questions, please contact Paula Griggs at 443-510-6687 or [email protected].
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From the Tech Booth: Volunteers Needed
We are in need of volunteers to help staff the tech booth. In the recent past, we’ve had to adapt at the last minute due to the small size of our team... In a perfect world, we would have sufficient volunteers to have a “once per month” rotation. Each week, we would like to have seven people participating on the tech team, so to have everyone volunteer once a month, 28 people would be needed. We’re still looking for 17 additional people!
If you’re interested in being one of the 17, please stop me (Ryan Stavely) on a Sunday morning or email me at [email protected]. Once a handful of people have been identified, we’ll hold a brief orientation session and then begin your training. No prior experience is needed, and you don’t need to be a “computer person” to be a good fit. If Sunday morning doesn’t work for you, one of the weekly needs is the prior preparation of the graphics/words for the service. This can be done from home any time during the second half of the week.
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Join guest host, Ellen Makar, as she interviews a Stewardship Team member, Joe Gray, as they discuss Dedication Sunday.
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6 November
Join guest host Lilly as she interviews our new Interim Director of Youth Ministry: Whitney Grimm to discuss her plans for the newly re-instated Ark and Dove Youth Group!
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16 October
Lobby Host Christa Kronser discusses the Anne Arundel Connecting Together (ACT) Candidates Accountability Action with Countywide Candidates event held on 14th of October at Ark and Dove Presbyterian Church.
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CAP Food Pantry
The Christian Assistance Program (CAP) food pantry in Odenton is grateful for our ongoing support. The items most needed right now at the pantry are shelf milk (like Parmalat®), jelly/jam, ramen, and macaroni & cheese.
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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GLEAM- Changing the Game,
movie & discussion
Movie & discussion- Join us Sunday, January 15th at noon in the sanctuary for a viewing and discussion of the documetary Changing the Game. Light snacks and drinks provided. If you need childcare contact Amanda Crose [email protected]
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Donations Needed
As the Abawi family settle into their new home, we can then concentrate on the many other ways we can support this family.
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Car Donation
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].
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The Fellowship Table Wants You!
With more people visiting Ark & Dove, we want to make sure they feel welcome. We are looking for people to help with bringing the snacks, setting up, and cleaning up on a regular or periodic basis. This can be a great opportunity to get children involved in the life of Ark & Dove! They can help choose the "menu", set the table, and get to meet more folks in our faith community. Please contact us at [email protected] to sign up or want more information.
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Parent Group will resume in 2023
Due to scheduling conflicts during the holiday season, parent group will not meet again until January 2023. If you have any questions, please contact Nicole Howe at [email protected].
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THE RACE CARD
(And other "microaggressions" that get in the way of real conversations about race)
On Sunday, January 29th the Anti-Racism team will host a luncheon after the service, followed by a 2 hour workshop from 12:30 - 2:30pm presented by Jeff Bolognese. Jeff comes to us highly recommended from Presbytery and has led these trainings through work and in churches. Please add the date to your calendar now and plan to join us for this important training.
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Ark and Dove Book Club January Read
The Ark and Dove Book Club's January Selection is New York Times Bestselling novel entitled The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. This historical fiction novel tells the inspiring story about JP Morgan's personal librarian, Belle da Costa Greene, a "Black American woman who was forced to hide her true identity and pass as white in order to leave a lasting legacy..." We will meet on Zoom to discuss this book on Friday, January 20th at 7:30pm. Contact [email protected] for more information.
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Christian Education for Children | |
Sunday Mornings for Children and Youth | |
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9:00 AM
Childcare
Middle School Chimes and Percussion Ensembles (9:00 to 9:45)
After the Children’s Sermon: Godly Play Sunday School Pre-K through grade 5
10:00 AM
Children’s Choir
10:30 AM
Childcare
After the Children’s Sermon: Godly Play Sunday School Pre-K through grade 4
Middle School Sunday School grade 5 through 8
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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!!!
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, any questions or concerns please reach out to me at [email protected].
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Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:
PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT for a child with COVID; a nephew with Alzheimer's; a friend of Kathy Emmert, Natalie Fenwick who is in the hospital; for the Houseknecht family on the death of Don Houseknecht; Dan Atkinson; Karen Dodson; MaryAnn Buckley; Sue Miller, Laura Willoughby-Perry’s mother, after hip surgery; a family member struggling with addiction and their loved ones; healing prayers for Audrey Miller, daughter of Kathy Miller; Neal Frick in the hospital; Shannon Graf after an assault; for those struggling through the holiday season; prayers for inspiration meeting individuals & collective needs; a family member out of the hospital; Nikol Sahai, undergoing chemo-therapy; Mike Davie's sister-in-law in hospice care, and for her family; the Marsh Family waiting for their adopted children to come in January; a wonderful teen facing the challenges of an eating disorder; The mother of Sara Yotter; Martha Huthmaker, Cherese's mother-in-law; Dotty Kaufmann; Harrison James Odom; Mary Elizabeth Nay, diagnosed with Colon Cancer; Bri awaiting preliminary results & tests; a teen struggling with peer concerns at school; Ron Miller, dealing with health issues; Holly Folk, friend of Laura Willoughby-Perry, recovering from back surgery; Carol & Henry Saylor; Rose having health issues; Deb Saylor's grand-nephew, Jordan; Christy Hipchen's Great Uncle, Steven Stanko; a friend's mother in hospital battling an illness; Chantel Seetram; Debbie and Bruce Arey's Daughter, Allison; a husband awaiting test results; families impacted by gun violence; Dr. Jesse Nicholson, Connie Batts' brother-in-law; Laura Talbert; Danni Johnson, fighting cancer; Denise Bartgis chemo treatments; little girl diagnosed with leukemia and her family; the family of Gavin Hurley; Amanda Welford; Bruce Arey's sister; Helen Jarkiewicz; Dee going through breast cancer; Doug Dehaven with cardiac problems; Karen Judeich; Marie, Nikol Sahai’s Mom; Irina Lee, Jan and Al Jank's daughter-in-law; Fran; Dot Forloines; Vaughn Brown; Dick Paronto; Julie Devers' friend Zenia Dacio-Messina; Hope Sutphin; Emily Wehage; Jeff Miller, Kathy Miller’s brother-in-law; Freyja Hartzell; Rebecca Echols friend, Lauren Douglas; Andy, friend of Karen Dodson; Ghazal Abawi; Mike Bartgis's cousin; Cara Moody’s father-in-law, Gary Moody Sr.; Carly & Chris Taylor, Friends of Michelle Schoonmaker; Debbie Saylor's Friends: Carlene Printy and Helen Rossum;
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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