The Arkive: Ark and Dove's Newsletter
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All are invited to celebrate the 5th Sunday after Pentecost with communion at both the 9:30 (choir led) and 11:00 (choir led) worship services!
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Dear Friends and Members of Ark and Dove Church,
On Tuesday of this week, hundreds of Presbyterians took to the streets of St. Louis for a "bail out." These Presbyterians were gathered in St. Louis for the 223rd General Assembly, our biennial national meeting of PC(USA) leaders. They had raised upwards of $47,000.00 to provide for people jailed for minor offenses and unable to pay cash bail.
Why would leaders of our church do this? The reason is simple: Jesus said that he was sent "to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor" (Lk. 4:18-19). If Jesus was sent for such as this, then so are we who bear his name.
The General Assembly has set for us an example. Where are the poor, captive and oppressed among us? Who are those begging to be set free? These questions were answered for us this week when the
Capital Gazette reported parents separated from their children for months are being detained at the Ordnance Road Correctional Center in Glen Burnie. We have parents weeping for children taken from them. They are so close to us we can hear them in our hearts if not our ears. Will we respond?
Children, who inherit the kingdom of heaven, should never be torn from their parents. Parents, who bear the image of God, should never bear the loss of a child. Families should not be detained indefinitely without recourse or resource. Now is the time to act on the basic values of our faith and a common sense of decency. We can vote, we can write to our representatives. We can and are partnering with people of faith in this county to act in a way that is consistent with Jesus' self-declared mission.
We have good news to proclaim, in both word and deed.
Peace,
Jon
jgnelson1985@gmail.com
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Jesus said to him: 'Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy he has shown you.' - Mark 5:19
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Merciful God: How gracious you are! How your steadfast love steadies us! How your peace stills us! No matter who we are or what we have done, your mercies wash over us. Let this be a day where we speak of your faithfulness to the faithless. May this be a day where we proclaim hope to the hopeless. You have done much for us, help us do much for others. Amen.
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Catching Up on Financial Planning for the Ministry Year
What a wonderful month of ministry May/June has been for Ark and Dove church. Three Sundays of amazing and very special music, terrific Sunday School, immigration forum, scores of people supported through prayer and hands-on ministry. Thank you for your generous gifts of time, energy and money!
Each year the session of Ark and Dove creates a financial plan for the ministry year. Before the session does this, it asks every household to fill out a pledge card. A majority of our households pledge and even more give by
EFT. So the session has some solid numbers, but they always have to make educated predictions about what the silent givers will give.
Please prayerfully meditate upon the state of your generosity.
Your giving is both needed and deeply appreciated,
Discipleship Ministry
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Youth and Adult Habitat for Humanity Mission Trip 2018
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I am writing this final
Arkive article from our Carnegie Hall rehearsal of
Gabriel Fauré’s
Requiem, which I had the privilege of directing last week. I am humbled to be here. In addition to this piece being powerful and dramatic, it was made even more special by all of the musicians that came together to sing and play on my final day as your director of music. I have loved all of the cards, gifts, emails and those special memories that so many of you have shared with me. Thank you to Amy Tardiff for organizing the beautiful luncheon, and to everyone who helped put that together. Thank you to Tim and Jon for sharing such special memories during church. I was moved to tears (literally the entire day). I love each of you dearly.
“Goodbyes are not forever, are not the end; it simply means I’ll miss you until we meet again.”- anonymous
With all my love,
Rebecca
rebeccaebell@gmail.com
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During the summer. the adult choir will meet each Sunday morning at 8:30 to rehearse the hymns for the day and other service music. Please join us! This is a great way to get involved with the choir as your schedule allows. The new schedule starts this Sunday, June 24th. We look forward to seeing you there!
Substitute music director,
Christina
christinajoy87@gmail.com
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DONATE
ONLINE
!
Peace and Global Witness Offering
,
Capital Savings Fund
,
Per Capita
, and more!
Many opportunities
await you!
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Adult Vacation Bible School
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Join us during VBS,
July 9-13th 6-8:15 pm, for a Bible study on community organizing and spirituality. Our Bible study will include our IAF Action on July 12th at 7 pm, where faith organizations will commit to act on key issues in our county. We will be following a concise and profound study by Jeffrey Krehbiel entitled, "Reflecting with Scripture on Community Organizing." This study will help us understand the scriptural basis for gathering as people of faith for social change. Please contact Pastor Jon (jgnelson1985@gmail.com) with any questions.
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Vacation Bible School 2018
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Mark your calendars! Children in Pre-K (age 4-5) through grade 5 are invited to journey with us as we celebrate the gifts that God has created--gifts that can help build a world where all people are fed. Middle school youth (grades 5-8) are invited to be servant leaders, with youth fun and fellowship included in their time. Nursery care is available for children under the age of 4. Register now at
arkanddove.org.
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Thank you to all who have taken slips of paper from the board! Supplies for VBS are being collected in the Calvin room. Please double check the day on which your supplies are required and place them in the appropriate bag. All supplies that are non-perishable items should be placed in the Calvin room by
Sunday, July 1st. Please talk to Laura or Christina directly if you are bringing perishable items. Please contact Christina Nelson, christinajoy87@gmail.com, or Laura Rockwell, laura.a.rockwell@gmail.com, to get involved.
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Summer is about to begin and that means it is time to grab a book for the beach... or for your air-conditioned living room. For June, July and August, we will host a book club where we can share ideas and encourage each other in faith. Our first book is
Southernmost, a novel by Silas House.
Southernmost is about an evangelical pastor who is shunned by his family and church for preaching and practicing tolerance. This newly-published novel will help us talk about relevant issues about faith and conviction, prejudice and tolerance. Please buy the book from wherever you get your books, sign up in the lobby, and we will discuss at lunch this
Sunday, June 24th. Jon Nelson, jgnelson1985@gmail.com
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PC(USA) Speaks Out About Immigration Policy Separating Families
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Wondering what PC(USA) is saying about the current administration’s immigration policy of separating children from their parents? Our Stated Clerk Rev. J. Herbert Nelson II asks: "What has this nation become? How have we wandered so far from Jesus’ kind admonition, Let the little children come to me … for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs?" He further declares that: “What makes matters worse is the audacity of quoting the Apostle Paul’s admonition to believers in Romans 13:1 to obey the law (presumably whatever the law says), while ignoring the higher scriptural demand that love is the fulfilling of the law (Romans 13:10)." Check out his full statement at
https://pres-outlook.org/2018/06/stated-clerk-issues-statement-on-separated-immigrant-families/
.
Rev. Jimmy Hawkins, PCUSA Office of Public Witness, states that: "As people of faith, we must stay focused on policy that promotes family unity and reunification and halt the use of family separation as a deterrent....The pain of being separated from a parent can cause immeasurable and long-term harm to the emotional and mental well-being of a child." He suggests taking the following action:
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Comunidad Presbiteriana La Trinidad’s Community Garden Project is looking for volunteers this growing season. Come spend an hour or two on Saturdays, weather permitting, working side by side with our Hispanic neighbors at the Finca (farm).
Volunteer activities include weeding, staking plants, spreading topsoil, mulch, wood chips, etc., cutting bamboo, general ground maintenance, as well as participating in laying irrigation systems, assembling shelving or hanging system for the shed, and other special projects. Volunteers can join in anytime between 10:00 and 3:00 and volunteer a long as they want. Dress appropriately, including shoes for muddy conditions. Bring work gloves, sunscreen, insect repellent, water and snacks. Anyone wishing to bring personal hand tools for weeding should label them with their name. The Finca is at
1922 Weems Farm Road. For more information please contact Laura Willoughby Perry at ljwilloughby@gmail.com or (the better option) via mobile phone at 410-507-7129.
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CAP West County Food of the Month
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Featured item for June is MACARONI AND CHEESE. Please drop off food items in the Mission Zone bin. Thank you for your donations!
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Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:
PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT for Lori Kronser; Emily Crose; Mary Beckwith; Colette Efiom; Kameron and Kamarii Miller; Karen Dodson; Don Ziegler; Cliff Wellington’s father, Roy; Rob Yeager’s mother, Rebekah Jennings, stepfather, Bill Jennings and grandmother, Peggy Jones; Cheryl Walcutt and her sister, Judy Walsh; Amanda Wehage’s family; Debbie Arey’s sister, Denise Dostoler; Julie Devers' cousin, Blane; Jon Nelson’s aunt, Linda; Jay Olson; Chip Burnett; Kim Champagne; Laura Doughty's aunt, Marie; Ylonda Fauntleroy's aunt, Bernice Taylor; Diane Johnson's aunt; Brooks Emrick's sister, Susan; Vaughn Brown's sister, Kathie, and brother, Jim; Erin Morrison's husband, Les; Arlyce Lohr; Joy Dabbs; Ann Hirschy; Carol and Dick Baily; Christy Yeager's father, Leon Jordan; Donna Anderson's brother-in-law, Tom; Josh Ederheimer's father, Stanley; Frances Keyes; Dot Forloines; Helene Marchand-Stancil; Laura Willoughby's father, Norman; Steve and Brandi Downs; Mary Stum's sister-in-law, Sandy; Julia Kirby's mother, Margaret Floyd; Amy Carskadon's nephew; Jason Ziegler; Erika Sealing's son, Trip, and grandmother, Margaret Schade; Sue Hanburger's grandson, Enzo; Laura Rockwell's friend, Adam Hurst; Edie and Richard Budd; Dotty Kaufmann's grandson, Nathan; Amy Benson's family; David Michels; Joel Davie's father-in-law Richard Mensi; Bill Jennings; Ashton Milcalski; Patrie Conroy; Don Griffis; Lori Reed and Antonio; Lisa Mezaache’s friend, Pearl McNamara; Dakota Miller; Dillon and Kaleb Benson’s grandmother, Jan Sheets; Clarence Scott; and Jerri Webb's best friend, Jodi and her best friend's mother, MaryAnn Van Orten.
THE LOVE AND PRAYERS OF THE CONGREGATION go out to the Burke and Tardiff families the death of Amy’s uncle, Mickey Burke.
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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