The Arkive: Ark and Dove's Newsletter

All are welcome!

Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost!
10:00am, livestream worship!


Please connect on YouTube HERE
Message from Pastor Tim
Dear Friends and Members of Ark and Dove,

Even during a pandemic, even in the middle of political turmoil, Ark and Dove is building and maintaining connections. Our Deacons are reaching out to members, our Godly Play and LOGOS ministries are offering fellowship and instruction, our youth group is meeting outdoors, while keeping social distance and our education and Antiracism ministries are offering bunches of ZOOM opportunities.
 
Connections is the theme of our stewardship effort this fall. Entitled, Connections 2021, we know that people want to give of themselves, and of their treasures, to build community, welcome new members, and to reach out to those in need, in Maryland and the world. This is what Ark and Dove is all about.
 
Tricia Gray is our Discipleship Elder, and she began, this past Sunday, the first of the eight presentations, which our church leaders will continue in worship, introducing both our theme and the dreams of the Discipleship Ministry. You can find the text and video of her presentation on the Ark and Dove website
 
My prayer is that you all will actively engage in prayer about our Stewardship effort, as well as prayers of healing for people adversely affected by COVID-19, and prayers for fairness, justice, and peace for our nation.

Peace of Christ,
Tim
tstern@arkanddove.org
Message from Pastor Jon
Dear Friends and Members of Ark and Dove,

Do you surf through your news app gliding over all the bad news? Do you scroll through your Twitter feed or Facebook posts glancing over the anger, sadness, and fear? Does your thumb keep flipping, mouse keep the page moving? If so, you engage in what has recently been dubbed "doomscrolling." It is the activity of perusing the bad news without reflection.

Health professionals generally advise that we shut off the devices when we find ourselves doomscrolling more often than once. Such passive activity can cause sadness, anxiety, and fear. This, I take to be true. But I would add that doomscrolling drains our empathy. So consumed with bad news we can become apathetic. Other professionals call this "compassion fatigue."

A better alternative than just turning off the devices is to stop scrolling and ponder one piece of bad news. Read the article, instead of the headline. Consider the issue and then contemplate what impact the information has on you. How does the news about the officers involved in the killing of Breonna Taylor make you feel? Why does the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg sadden you so? Then wonder what you might do about this bad news. Pray? Read a pertinent passage of Scripture? (You can search a keyword on Biblegateway.com). Take some meaningful action (make a call, register to vote, donate to a charitable organization)?

The problem with doomscrolling, which evidently is a pervasive problem, is that it is a passive response to the problems of the world. The heaping bad news of the world demands our attention, but not all at once. Such news demands a faithful response, not a "share" or a hot take. Scroll, if you will, but take the time to stop and wonder what the good news of Jesus Christ says to the doom.


Peace,
Jon
jnelson@arkanddove.org
Verse and Prayer
Is the Lord with us or not?
- Exodus 17:7
Gracious God:
We are bold to pray for your gifts and for your presence, but we do so prepared to endure a while longer our thirst and our hunger and our sense of absence because we have resolved to be on your way with or without you. Amen.

-Walter Brueggemann
Our prelude music is the famous and beloved American hymn, 'Great Is Thy Faithfulness', composed by William Runyan in Baldwin City, KS in 1923. It is set here with lush chords by Larry Schackley. Our anthem this week has been such an exciting project to put together. The words of this anthem come from an anonymous poem scratched on the wall of a cellar in Cologne, Germany where Jews were hiding form Nazi persecution:

I believe in the sun even when it’s not shining. 
I believe in love even when I don’t feel it.
I believe in God even when God is silent.

The music begins quietly, with just piano and soloist and builds dramatically in layers before being interrupted by the soloist at the apex of the work. The composer, Mark Miller, is Associate Professor of Church Music at Drew Theological Seminary and Lecturer at Yale University. He is also director of music at Christ Church in Summit, NJ. Prof. Miller believe passionately that "music can change the world" and that "Justice is what love looks like in public." For this anthem, the choir has been joined by a few friends from my various travels, so you may see a few new faces in the livestream. It's an amazing thing that we can open our virtual door and do both church, and now choir, with folks from all over the world.

Peace,
Margaret
Director of Music
margaret.mcgillivray@gmail.com
This week the band recorded 'Here in Your Presence' by Jon Egan. Our theme this week is the presence of God. I hope you feel God's presence during the services and this song. It is a newer hymn, that we added last year. Please go to YouTube and listen to it some during the week if you would like to sing along at home or from where you stream the services on Sunday. You will see some familiar faces in the video that you haven't seen in a while. I am so happy that the rest of the band is able to get involved with the recordings. The postlude is a piece by J.S. Bach. It is the two Gavottes, a French dance, from Cello Suite No. 6.

Have a blessed week!
Pat
Director of Contemporary Music
psise11@gmail.com
Generosity!
DONATE ONLINE! One-time and recurring!

TEXT your donations! 410-983-3481
Text amount followed by peace, to give to Peace and Global Witness.
Text give to get started. Text commands for more options.


You will be enriched in every good way for your generosity….
- 2 Corinthians 9:11
Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost
All are welcome! Join livestream worship at 10:00 am.

Access the
Antiracism and Social Equity
Racism 101
The Antiracism and Social Equity Team of Ark and Dove invites you to attend our ZOOM forum on RACISM 101, Sunday, October 4 from 3-4:30 pm. We will begin by helping you understand the social construct of race, what racism is and how it impacts racial groups differently in our country. Then we will move into a demonstration of relational conversations about race. This forum is for those who see themselves as beginners, as well as those who want a refresher. What questions do you have? What do you want to know more about? Please complete this form, so we can send you the ZOOM link and find out more about what you want to know. Any questions, please contact Lori Kronser at Lkronser16@gmail.com. As our banners say: "Join Us in the Conversation."  
We as a Church...
PC(USA) leaders express disappointment in grand jury decision in Breonna Taylor case "We as a [denomination] have the responsibility to be about the business of redeeming humanity and giving light to all that is taking place in order that justice will reign for all people, not just a privileged few." This is what the leaders of the PC(USA) church said after hearing about the grand jury decision in the Breonna Taylor case. Read the whole statement here
Outreach and Connections
Parent Group: Tonight, 7 pm
Parent Group Zoom meeting last Friday of the month in September, October and November, 7:00 pm. All parents and caregivers of school-aged children or younger welcome! Please email jnelson(at)arkanddove.org for a meeting link.
Outdoor Movie Night at Ark and Dove!
Saturday, October 17, 7pm. (Rain date will be Friday, October 30.) Bring your chairs, blankets, and face masks. The movie will be appropriate for ALL ages. Please save the date! More details to come. Nicole Howe, nicolehowe123@gmail.com
Christian Education
White Too Long!
White Christian America Needs a Moral Awakening is the headline of The Atlantic article by Robert P. Jones. In his new book, White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity, Jones describes how white supremacist ideology and white Christian theology have been and continue to be interwoven in ways that uphold white supremacy. He calls us to examine our faith with a moral lens that can help us work toward a "right relationship with our fellow citizens, with ourselves, and even with God." Whether you read the article or the book, or don't do either, you are invited to bring your open mind and open heart to our next book group zoom meeting on Wednesday, September 30th at 7pm. To sign up, please email Jon Nelson (jnelson@arkanddove.org) or Kim Champagne (kim.champagne@gmail.com).
CONFLICTED: Exploring Conflict and How it Might Help Us Today
We are embroiled in conflict. As a nation, we are at odds with others and our own. As citizens, we are polarized. As a Church, we differ from one another. As families, we fight. In this pandemic, international and national conflicts have increased. During this racial reckoning, divisions have widened. How do we handle these conflicts?

Join us for the last three courses addressing biblical and contemporary conflicts from the international to the interpersonal. Each week, we will study certain conflicts to see how we might deal with the ones we face today.

  • Week Three: Local Conflicts (Resource Disputes and Tax-Collectors)
  • Week Four: Church Conflicts (Inclusive Christianity and Gentile Christians)
  • Week Five: Interpersonal Conflicts (Political Arguments and Family Disputes)

This class will be co-led by Katie Nilsen Johnson (who recently earned a Masters in Peace and Conflict Studies), Grant Johnson, and Pastor Jon. We meet on Tuesdays at 7:30pm, through October 13th. All are welcome, even if you can't attend all the sessions! Please contact Pastor Jon for a Zoom link (jnelson@arkanddove.org).
Adult Cyber Education Opportunity from the Discipleship Ministry
With so much of our personal and professional business conducted online, it is more important than ever to maximize our awareness of personal safety and security risks associated with using the internet. Please join us for last two sessions of Online Computer Safety class on September 29 and October 6 at 8PM via ZOOM.

The following topics will be discussed:

  • September 29, SOCIAL MEDIA SECURITY: What are the threats and what can you do to protect your personal data from being shared without your permission?
  • October 6, HACKING METHODOLOGY: A higher level technical presentation of how a hacker can infiltrate a home router and information on how to protect your home network.

Please contact Tricia Gray (tricia.gray@yahoo.com) with any questions.
Lectionary Bible Study
Every Wednesday at 10 am, we gather online for fellowship, Bible study on the upcoming Sunday scriptures, and prayer. This has been and continues to be a great way to deepen friendships and faith. Please join us, there is no commitment or homework. Contact Pastor Jon for the Zoom invitation (jnelson@arkanddove.org).
Being Grateful in Difficult Times
Coming in October!

We all know the joy of a surprise gift, good news, or a great achievement -- all of those things eliciting feelings of gratitude. But these days, full of grief, worry, and uncertainty did not easily nurture a sense of thanks. Indeed, they seem to be gnawing away our hearts and our hopes.

So what of gratitude now? When we don't feel grateful? In a 6-part course based on her recent book, Grateful, Diana Butler Bass takes us into a journey to understand what gratitude is, how it can strengthen us as individuals and in community, and the surprising ways in which it subverts hopelessness and injustice. In addition to lectures and mini-practice sessions, Diana will be joined by other writers in conversation about how giving thanks has made a difference in their own lives.

Join us for this course wherein, we will watch brief videos and have discussion over the content. Purchasing Bass’ "Grateful", will be helpful but not necessary. Class size is limited to 25. Please contact Kim Champagne to sign up (kim.champagne@gmail.com)
Campfire Quarrels
Join us around a campfire on church grounds the second Wednesday of the month for a healthy conversation over the controversies of our times. Bring a chair, non-alcoholic beverage, and s’more supplies (if you like), bug repellant, the intention to social distance, and we will enjoy each other’s company as we create faithful responses to the conflicts of our time. We will meet from 7-8:30 pm.

  • October 9: Cancel Culture (Friday!)
  • November 11: Presidential Support/Opposition
  • December 9: Capitalism and its Alternatives

Please RSVP with Pastor Jon (jnelson@arkanddove.org) as we have limited space to maintain social distancing around the fire.
Peace and Global Witness
Now may the Lord of peace give you peace at all times in all ways. -2 Thessalonians 3:16
This month we continue collecting Peace and Global Witness Offering. This offering will be used to support ACT as we support peace in Anne Arundel County. The 2020 Peace and Global Witness Offering encourages the church to cast off anxiety and fear, discord and division and embrace God’s mission for peace to those around the corner. Shaping a foundation for peace starts with honest conversations and shared experiences. When we share, we carry each other’s burdens, advocate for one another, and share each other’s hopes. Faith groups around Anne Arundel County have come together to share what is important to residents of Anne Arundel County. The Peace and Global Witness Offering unites our church with other faith groups and partnerships as we reach out to people who long for peace and reconciliation. Blessed are the peacemakers. Please give generously, as we promote peace in Anne Arundel County. You may donate online, by text (text amount followed by peace to 410-983-3481), or by check. Thank You, Cheryl Schafer, Mission Elder, csscas@verizon.net.
LOGOS
Weekly Lessons and Activities
LOGOS begins this week; check your email Tuesday! LOGOS is Ark and Dove's midweek intergenerational experience for children and youth up to 8th grade. It is a time for all ages to come together to learn about God and grow in their relationships. Unlike previous years, we will not be meeting in the church building. Instead, each week will have a different family-centered activity to do either at home or outside at church. There will be crafts, games, bible study, and opportunities for worship and mission. If you’d like to get on the weekly emailing list, please contact Amy Goldberg at amygoldberg.2010@gmail.com. If you’re interested in volunteering, please contact Jen Roman at jroman8414@gmail.com.
Spiritual Path
Ten families and a few other Ark and Dove members participated in the spiritual walk at church this past Tuesday. The weather was lovely and seeing each other in person was even more rejuvenating. The stations will stay up through the weekend and next week for those who missed the event. You can find the introduction and chalk basket by the church doors. After that, walk the property to find all nine stations (marked by red garden poles) focusing on a fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Each station has activities for all ages to engage. Don’t forget to leave an encouraging message for others to find. We ask that you wear your mask and social distance.
Growing in Our Relationship With God
and Each Other
Godly Play
Our Sunday school program for grades K-5 takes place via Zoom each Sunday from 9:00- 9:40 am. Our host welcomes the child(ren), the storyteller tells a story and then leads the children in reflection and wondering. Normally, our class would involve a work/creative response time as well, so our Godly Play team has put together response bags containing art supplies and other materials for the children to keep at home for personal use. If you are interested in getting a bag for your child(ren), or you have any questions about Godly Play or would like to be put on our list to receive zoom invitations, please contact Julie Devers, Christian Education Elder, at jbdevers@gmail.com.
Sunday Fellowship!
Sunday Fellowship after the live-stream church service continues! Via a ZOOM meeting, of course. If you'd like to join in for some light conversation and have a chance to see some familiar faces, simply send an email to fellowship@arkanddove.org to request an invitation. We will then send you a link to the Zoom meeting. You only need to do this one time, and you can use the same link each week. The meetings begin around 11:15 each Sunday. It will be great to "see" you! Nicole Howe, nicolehowe123@gmail.com.
Tea at Three
Friendly Seniors
Thursdays at 3:00 pm on Zoom. Please contact Pastor Tim (tstern@arkanddove.org) to receive an invitation.
Prayer Requests
Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:

PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT for Karen Dodson; Dick Paronto; Camille Dubois;  Alex Klemko; Clarke Beaudry’s mother Judy LaMarque; Amy Goldberg’s grandmother, Ruth Cooper; Deborah Dingle; Dot Forloines’ family and her great-grandson Luke; Jess and Adell Gaurin; Debbie and Bruce Arey’s daughter, Allison; Linda Jordan; John Mikeska; Jesse Pennabaker; Michelle Schoonmaker's Auntie Bernice; Diane Johnson's Uncle Ed, Aunt Janet, and cousin Richard; Shelley Franklin's father; Hollis Butterworth’s daughter, Rachel Mershont and brother-in-law, Brian Smith; Amanda Wehage’s mother, sister and father, Dave, and friend; Zach Murray’s father, Kelly Murray; Becky Marcus; Fred Barrow; Laurie Barrow’s nephew, Gunther Kurtz; Carlton Jackson; Sabonna Keeney’s mother; Pattie Plander; Richard and Edie Budd; Bernabe Solano; Griselda Solano's sister, Irma; Kathy Miller’s sisters, Patty and Beth; Dotty Kaufman, her son, Bill, daughter-in-law, Carol, granddaughter, Sarah, and grandson Nathan; Laura Doughty’s brother-in-law, Carl Hahn; Bob Johns; Cindy Knott’s mother, Madeline; Laura Willoughby's father, Norman; Bill Ruble’s mother, Mary Jane Weathers; Ann Hirschy’s Aunt Cindy and brother; Christina Nelson’s grandmother, Pat Dole; Kelly Burnett’s nephew, Justin; Dorene Chen’s family; Lewis Shorter and niece, Jennifer Schwandt-Gayle; Patriceo Green’s brother and sister; Jennifer and Shawn Ralston’s niece; Archer and Honor Bauman’s grandfather, Larry; the Tardiff family; Cheryl Walcutt’s mother, nephew, and sisters; Brooks Emrick and her sister, Susan; Vaughn Brown; Frances Keyes; Julia Kirby's mother, Margaret Floyd; Erika Sealing's son, Trip, and grandmother, Margaret Schade; Amy Benson's family and Amy’s friend, Brian Shriner; Lou Kareha’s friends, Thomas and Judy Kochis; Margaret McGillivray's friends, Kim Nolet and Gregg Hanson; Kim Young's friend, Joyce Miller; Linnie Girdner and Jan Hof’s friend, Grace Ligon; the Yeager’s friend, Karen Schell; Steve Debus’ cousin-in-law; Ylonda Funtleroy's friends Gloria Jean Austin and Tanya; Lori Kronser's friend, Barbara Noonan; Kathy Emmert's friend Patty; and Doug Mattingly’s mother.

PRAYERS OF HEALING for those with COVID-19 including: Chelsea O’Hanlon’s family, several of whom have contracted COVID-19 in Ireland, and Councilmember Andrew Pruski.

PRAYERS OF GUIDANCE, STRENGTH AND LOVE for those who are: facing eviction, hungry, scared and angry, living with uncertainty, stressed and overwhelmed, and feeling alone and forgotten; for a member facing a big life decision.

THE LOVE AND PRAYERS OF THE CONGREGATION go out to the Kelly, Johnson and Bruno families on the death of Dot Bruno’s son Deante Musgrove.

PRAYERS OF LOVE, SUPPORT AND PROTECTION for all hospital staff, patients, clinics, grocers, essential workers and hourly workers around the world, who are working bravely and arduously to protect our loved ones and our communities. Including: Tricia Gray’s mother; Becca Distad; Jack Burnett; Caitlyn Bussey; Emily Sanders; Audrey Miller; Linda Jordan’s nephew, Russell; Diane Johnson’s grandson; the Ralston’s family members and friends; Simone Stiegler’s friend, Jean Marie; Mike Stiegler; Amy Grimm’s mother; Jeff Grimm; Amy Goldberg’s brother, Joseph Alexander, and parents, Michael and Maryann Cooper; Judy Cooper’s daughter; John Mikeska’s son, Jonathan; and Hollis Butterworth’s sister-in-law, Cyndie.

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.
Ark and Dove Presbyterian Church | 410-674-6400 | admin@arkanddove.org | www.arkanddove.org | 8424 Piney Orchard Pkwy. Odenton, MD 21113