Dear Friends and Members of the Ark and Dove Community,

I have been reflecting this week on the many ministries that you all offer for children and youth at Ark and Dove. It's quite a line up with so many dedicated leaders.

Thank you to our Children's Choir and our youth who led worship last week. They really did a terrific job. The music was especially great. I would say the congregation was really into it. And thank you to Rae'tta Bond our Director of Music for Children and Youth, we are grateful for her ministry at Ark and Dove.

As Sunday School winds down and ends next week with a celebration, I offer my thanks to the many leaders who teach children and youth at Ark and Dove. Thank you also to our Logos leaders, youth group advisors, and nursery care providers.  You make Ark and Dove a welcoming place for our young people, and you make a difference.  The community you are creating, the faith you are demonstrating and the values you are teaching will go with our children and youth far into the future. Your ministry in our midst is appreciated.  

I am looking forward to the Presentation of These Ancient Words in worship this Sunday. Our musicians have worked long and hard on this Cantata.  Remember, It's a single service Sunday. 10:30 Worship only.

Peace,

Tim

Dear Ark and Dove Community,

My Arkive last week was very upbeat, anticipating summer’s arrival with great joy. Now summer is here and I’m feeling–less than joyful. I’m tired and cranky. What’s that about?

As a reminder, all transitions bring stress. Whether or not we’re looking forward to a change or not, a change in and of itself is stressful. We can get caught in patterns of anticipation and letdown, or we can just be overwhelmed by the loss of a familiar routine. If you are feeling any of the summertime transition funk like I am, please name it. Then, let’s focus on finding a way to reconnect ourselves to the ordinary goodness of everyday life, which we can also call God’s grace. 

One thing that I turn to, when I need to reconnect and reorient myself, is embodied spiritual practices. For me that usually looks like meditation. Below is a quick meditation script for a little breathing practice I used this morning, that helped me to feel God’s presence. I hope it’s a resource you can use, if you need it:

• Find a comfortable seat in a chair, on the floor, or reclining.
• Focus on taking some deep breaths, noticing the sensation of breath moving in and out of your body. You may focus on how your breath feels coming in and out of your nose, or how it feels moving deeper into your chest and belly.
• After a few deep breaths, repeat the following phrase to yourself a few times:

“I have nowhere else to be but here right now”

• As you repeat this phrase, find a degree of relaxation in your body–maybe your shoulders begin to relax, your facial muscles loosen, or you allow your weight to be supported more by the chair than your own strength.
• Continue to breathe deeply and repeat a new phrase to yourself:

“God’s peace is here with me”

• Feel your body continue to relax, as you focus on the words and your breath
• When you are feeling calm and centered, open your eyes, and say “thank you” silently or quietly to yourself, as you prepare to continue your day.

I hope you are feeling loved and surrounded by God’s presence.

With you in transition,

Pastor Jenn

Gentle Shepherd,

      you have freed me from my desires.

      All that I need is at hand.

You rest me.

      In the green pasture of your grace I lie down.

      I surrender all.

You lead me beside clear, deep waters.

      You are my dawn, my spring, my birth.

You are my path.

      I follow you, and the way is good.

      You walk before me, and within me.

Even when the way is dark and impassable—

      the canyons of death—

your Presence is my path,

      and a way through,

      and I am not afraid.

You make of this life a feast for me,

      and everything a gift,

      and even my enemies companions.

You have marked me with your joy;

      I cannot contain your blessing.

      What I receive and what I give are beyond me.

You’ve given me to goodness;

      you’ve married me to mercy for the rest of my life.

Each moment is my own house;

      and you are my dwelling, my home,

      forever.

A Paraphrase of Psalm 23

-Steve Garness Holmes



Household Morning Prayer

Loving God, as this day opens into new and untold possibility,

purge me of my compulsive need to carry useless baggage-

physically, mentally, or emotionally.

Teach me to walk simply with you

as I trust in your abundant provision. Amen.

Household Evening Prayer

Lord, as I come to the close of this day,

I thank you for the gift of attentiveness

and for every moment that the eye of my heart was fixed on you.

When I failed, you were with me,

and when I wavered, you were there,

for there is no place that you are not

And so I rest in peace this night,

for your grace is more than sufficient for me. Amen.

-Feasting on the Word

Dear Friends,

This is the week that we present “These Ancient Words” by Heather Sorenson! We had our dress rehearsal last night, and it went better than I could have hoped for. The orchestra of musicians is amazing and the singers are wonderfully prepared and are able to fully immerse themselves in the text. This six-movement extended piece is based on Scripture passages that provide guidance and grounding in our lives. Heather Sorenson uses her signature lush chords and beautiful melodies to create an entirely original work.  

Our orchestra is made up of violin 1, violin 2, viola, cello, double bass, french horn, flute, piano and timpani. Our soloists are Nadira France, soprano and Michael Pistorio, baritone. We will also be welcoming choir members from Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church! We were so excited to see not only another Maryland church at Carnegie Hall singing with us, but Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church, which is right down the street from us! I have loved getting to know their director, David Merrill, and his singers. They will be joining us after their service ends, so don’t be surprised when you see people walking in the service just before this work begins.  

Heather Sorenson’s six-movement extended piece is based on Scripture passages that provide guidance and grounding in our lives. Heather uses her signature lush chords and beautiful melodies throughout this work. Rehearsals with Sorenson were a masterclass in musicality, expression and faith. Her direction really helped us to navigate the complexities of this score, emphasizing the importance of every nuance. As we prepare to present “These Ancient Words” once again at Ark and Dove, we have carried with us those valuable insights and experiences gained from our time working directly with the composer of this work. As we come together to share in the beauty of her masterpiece, may we be reminded of the words we hear and the power of music to touch our lives.

With love,

Rebecca 

Director of Music

rechols@arkanddove.org

Meet some of our guest musicians:

Yu Xie, violin 1

Hailing from Jiangsu, China, Yu Xie is an actively performing violinist. He was inspired to study the violin at the age of 7 after listening to a violinist who participated in a summer music festival in his hometown. Music has taken Mr. Xie across several continents, with performances in China, Singapore, the United States, and Austria, where he participated in the Mozarteum Summer Academy in 2016 and 2017. 

As an active performer, Mr. Xie has taken on roles as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestra musician in venues including Carnegie Hall; Lincoln Center; Kimmel Center; Esplanade in Singapore; National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing; Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing; Adrienne Arsht Center; Broward Center; Wuhan Qintai Grand Theatre; and Xi’an Concert Hall. During his stay in Philadelphia, he played for the New Jersey Capital Philharmonic Orchestra and worked together with musicians from the Philadelphia Orchestra in the Philadelphia Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra. In Florida, he enjoyed playing in Palm Beach Symphony Orchestra, South Florida Symphony Orchestra, and Florida Grand Opera. In 2024, Mr. Xie was invited to perform at Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States of America several times. Particularly, Mr. Xie enjoys performing music from the Romantic Era as both a soloist and a chamber musician. 

Mr. Xie was a prize winner of the Lyric Chamber Music Competition at Lynn University in 2019 and the first prize winner of the 2018 Pi Kappa Lambda Competition at Temple University. Besides his music, Mr. Xie likes jogging, reading, and hiking. He believes getting in touch with nature will help him play better music. Mr. Xie received his Undergraduate Diploma in violin performance under the distinguished professor Dr. Eduard Schmieder in 2018. In 2023, he received his Bachelor of Music in violin performance under the guidance of world-renowned soloist Mr. Elmar Oliveira at the Lynn University Conservatory of Music. Mr. Xie is currently pursuing his Master of Music in violin performance at Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University under the tutelage of Mr. Herbert Greenberg.

Cristian Contreras, violin 2

Cristian Contreras is a young and accomplished violist from Los Angeles, CA. He lives a life dedicated to improving the lives of others through the two musical principles he is most passionate about: performing and teaching.

Cristian regularly performs with the Fairfax Symphony as Assistant Principal Viola and also performs with Symphony in C, Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra, and the Peabody Symphony Orchestra. He also received the opportunity to perform as principal viola during the entirety of the Miami Music Festival in 2023. Cristian is a recent graduate of the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University in which he studied Viola Performance under the tutelage of Professor Choong-Jin Chang.

Cristian also holds a Bachelor’s in Music with Emphasis in Viola Performance from the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University Long Beach in which he studied under Professor Jason Bonham. During his undergraduate studies, Cristian won a three-year tenure with the American Youth Symphony and a two-year fellowship with the National Orchestral Institute + Festival. Cristian also sat regularly as Principal Violist with the Bob Cole Conservatory Symphony and performed with the Colburn Orchestra. 

In addition to his orchestral experience, Cristian manages a large studio at Mike’s Music in Ellicott City, MD in which he trains his students to improve their technique, learn solo repertoire, as well as prepare for auditions and recitals. During Cristian’s undergraduate studies, he did similar work at the Irvine Art and Music Center in Irvine, CA.

In his free time, Cristian enjoys hiking, the outdoors, discovering new places to eat with friends, and playing Dance Dance Revolution.

Angela Thompson, flute

Angela Thompson is an Administrative Appeals Judge at the Administrative Review Board, an agency within the Department of Labor. She is a seasoned labor attorney with experience in-house at major labor unions, labor law firms, non-profits, and the federal government. Her private sector experience includes positions at the Communications Workers of America, the American Federation of Teachers, the Service Employees International Union, Bredhoff & Kaiser, and the Immigration Assistance Program of the Diocese of Kalamazoo in Michigan. Her public service includes a brief stint at the Department of Labor in the Division of Civil Rights and Labor-Management, followed by more than seven years at the National Labor Relations Board in the Division of Advice. 

She has a Bachelor in Music Performance from Webster University in St. Louis, MO and a Master of Labor and Employment Relations from Rutgers University in New Jersey. She earned her law degree from Yale Law School. She is a member of the bar in New York and the District of Columbia. In her spare time, she performs with musical ensembles in the DC area, including the Columbia Orchestra and DC Flutes. She resides in Silver Spring, MD with her daughter, a cellist, and partner. 

Tom Britton, piano

Having started performing at five years of age, Tom Britton has a long and deeply emotional connection to music. On stage, he has had leading roles singing in The Sound of Music, How to Succeed in Business, and The Fantastics. Tom was the Musical Director/keyboardist for touring productions in Europe of Godspell, Side-by-Side and The Wiz. 

Tom has also been the keyboard player for numerous other Broadway musicals; just this year playing for Mean Girls, a Glen Burnie High School production. Tom has played for decades for various church choirs, soloists and other small church groups including performing at the Festival of Lights in Kensington for five years singing, playing piano, baritone horn and guitar. All of Tom’s music is a labor of love.

Nadira France, soprano

Nadira France is a classically trained operatic soprano who earned her Bachelor's degree in Music from Morgan State University. She has performed internationally with the Morgan State University Choir and continues to captivate audiences at various churches and venues. Versatile and dynamic, Nadira blends her classical roots with contemporary styles, performing R&B and jazz with her own band called “No Rehearsal.” Her rich vocal prowess and diverse repertoire make her a standout artist in the music scene.

Michael Pistorio, baritone

Michael Pistorio is a lyric baritone whose mission is to bring modern finesse to classical music. As an artist, he blends his commanding voice with intimate drama, making him an audience favorite. For over a decade, Michael has been performing as a professional chorister, concert soloist, and opera principal in the Baltimore-DC metro areas. Of note was his performance of Adam in Haydn’s The Creation which The Star Democrat hailed saying, “his magnificent voice echoed with conviction and power…”

Michael made his international solo debuts in 2015 and ‘16 as an invited artist of the Assisi Performing Arts Festival, performing the roles of Dancäire (Carmen), Masetto (Don Giovanni), and Marcello (La Bohéme) as well as the Bass / Baritone solos in Faure’s Requiem, Mozart’s Mass in C, and Schubert’s Mass in G. Additional principal opera and concert soloist credits include The Consul (Menotti), The Tender Land (Copland), La Fille du Régiment (Donizetti), Le Nozze di Figaro (Mozart), Der Corregidor (Wolf); Requiem (Fauré), St. Cecilia Mass (Gounod), The Creation (Haydn), Messiah (Händel), Mass in C (Mozart), Mass in G (Schubert), Son of Man (arr. Hall Johnson), Vier Ernste Gesänge (Brahms); Fantasia on Christmas Carols, Five Mystical Songs, and Songs of Travel (Vaughan Williams).

Most recently, Michael performed in Craig Hella Johnson’s ‘fusion-oratorio’ Considering Matthew Shepard, covering the roles of The Fence (Before & That Night) and Baritone Soloist produced by OperaAACC as part of their commitment to DEIAA accessibility. He is thrilled to be featured with Ark & Dove Presbyterian for their performance of the new sacred cantata These Ancient Words by Heather Sorenson. Later this month, Michael will be joining the Heritage Signature Chorale at Washington National Cathedral for an inspiring performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony under the baton of internationally acclaimed conductor, Marin Alsop, singing a new English language text by 2017 National Poet Laureate, Tracy K. Smith. 

Some highlights for his ‘24-’25 season include a new Christmas chamber opera by Eric Whitacre, The Gift of the Magi, debuting in the principal role as Jim Young, another debut with the Naptown Philharmonic Orchestra for an evening of musical theater favorites, both under the baton of Dr. Anna Binneweg; and starring in a new production of Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking produced by OperaAACC.

YTD Expected Unpledged Income $20,386

Actual Unpledged Income $24,267

Ahead $3,881

YTD Expected Pledged & Electronic Giving $209,029

YTD Actual Pledged & Electronic Giving $220,434

Ahead $11,405

Single Service

June 16th and

July 7th 10:30 AM

There will be one single service this Sunday, June 16th at 10:30 AM! We will hear the full presentation of a new sacred chorale composition, "These Ancient Words", presented by the Ark and Dove choir plus orchestral accompaniment and guest performers. This is the music our choir recently performed at Carnegie Hall in NYC! There will be no 9 AM service. Sunday July 7th will also be a single service Sunday with worship at 10:30 AM only. 

Stephen Ministry

I am Laurie Barrow; I am Ark and Dove’s Stephen Ministry Leader. I was commissioned as a Stephen Minister in the spring of 2016, after completing the ministry training. I was part of the initial Stephen Ministry training at Ark and Dove.

I felt called to become a Stephen Minister because the one-to-one caring relationship spoke to me. I felt drawn to the concept of this ministry, that I would walk with someone who is experiencing difficulties in life and needs someone to just show up and listen. Knowing that the foundation of a strong Stephen Ministry relationship was about showing up for someone, lending an ear and a shoulder, and being a person in their life that is there to support and listen spoke to me.

In January of 2017 I went to Florida to attend the Stephen Leader training course and stepped into the leader role when I returned. I felt led to become a leader because I wanted to see this ministry grow and be able to reach more people. In the fall of 2018, the second team of Stephen Ministers began their training. Leading this training was an amazing journey for me. Watching the group of 5 people commit to the 50 hours of training and to work hard and grow together as a team was inspiring. Their commissioning in the spring of 2019 was a day of pride.

I continue in this ministry because I believe it plays an integral part in providing pastoral care to the congregation. The team is trained to provide one-to-one care for people who find themselves in a crisis, whether dealing with martial or family issues, going through financial problems, illness, caring for aging or ill family members, deployment, death of a loved one, or any other area in life that someone is having difficulty dealing. If you would like more information on Stephen Ministry, please reach out to me, I am happy to meet and discuss any questions or issues you may have.

Laurie Barrow

Stephen Ministry Leader

lauriebarrow7@yahoo.com.

Healing Through Grief

Pastor Tim, Cathy Debus, and Linnie Girdner will be co-facilitating the next Healing through Grief group on Thursday, June 20th at 7:30pm as a hybrid 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 long ago. The meeting is now also open to those experiencing anticipatory grief for a loved one who has a terminal illness.

Any questions, contact Pastor Tim Stern at tstern@arkanddove.org or 410-674-6400 or Linnie Girdner, at girdnerlinda@gmail.com 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 date, feel free to give me a call or contact your Deacon.

Nursery Leaders and

Helpers Needed

To ensure that we can continue to offer children and youth programming we need 2 adult/teenage leaders, from different families to help provide leadership. Please consider volunteering!

Please sign up here: Nursery Volunteers

Meet us this summer to launch a new fellowship group: Pub Church!

Pub Church is about gathering people together to learn from one another. Our conversations will be informal, non-judgmental, inclusive, theological, and lively. During some gatherings we’ll pursue truth, during others we’ll sit as non-anxiously as possible with doubt, and every time, we’ll be the church where all are called and where all are welcome. Our first gathering will be on Tuesday, June 18th at Yard House in Arundel Mills at 6pm. Please RSVP to Pastor Jenn by text or email jenn.mccullough@arkanddove.org so we have an estimated headcount.

Sunday School/Godly Play

Year End Celebration!

We’ve had a wonderful year of learning and building relationships! Before we shift to summer Sunday School, we hope you will join us for an outdoor day of fun activities, games, and popsicles Sunday, June 23 at the 10:30am service. Children and youth of all ages are invited to join us, as well as our amazing Sunday school leaders. Come dressed for play! Contact Amy Tardiff christianed@arkanddove.org or Ann Zelenka ann.zelenka@arkanddove.org for more information.

CAP Food Pantry

The Christian Assistance Program (CAP) food pantry has served more individuals and households this year through April than in any previous year over the same period (32% higher than 2023). Thank you for the donations of jam, jelly, preserves, and other items in March and April.

Our next featured item is cereal. 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 10:45am-1:30pm and Thursdays 2:45-5:30pm. Or contact Greg Makar (GLMakar@juno.com) to make other arrangements.

Urgent Need Donations

The Light House Homeless Prevention Center has an urgent need for travel size toiletries (shampoo, toothpaste, etc.) and cases of bottled water. Donations can be placed in a bin in the hallway by the Godly Play rooms. There is a sign stating where the donations can be placed. For more information contact me at lillian.mcgraw@arkanddove.org.

Disability Justice

Team Meeting

The Disability Justice Team Relaunch/Kick-Off meeting will be on Thursday, June 20th at 6:30 - 8:00pm in the Marshall Room with a hook-up to Zoom. Please email erin.curran@arkanddove.org with questions or to request the Zoom link.

Ark and Dove Book Club's June Selection

Join the Ark and Dove Book Club for our discussion of Nikki Erlick's novel "The Measure" which poses a very interesting question: would you choose to find out the length of your life? We will meet on Friday June 21st at 7:00pm in the Ark and Dove Library or you can join us on Zoom for this hybrid discussion. Email Kim Champagne (kim.champagne@arkanddove.org) for more details and the zoom link.

Celebrate Pride Month

with an award-winning, shame-slaying

drag musician!

Flamy Grant is coming to the area Saturday June 29, 2024! We will be carpooling from the church, leaving at 6:45pm - sign up at ArkandDove.org/Carpool. Click here to purchase concert tickets.

Contact outreach@arkanddove.org with any questions.

New at the Ark and Dove Library

 for June 2024:

“The God of Wild Places: Rediscovering the Divine in the Untamed Outdoors” by Tony Jones is a “journey of loss and discovery through forests and fields, lakes and streams, from knowing to unknowing, from finding to losing — from life to death, and then back to life.”

John Pavlovitz’s “Worth Fighting For” is a truly important book this year and the subtitle actually tells you what you need to know about this timely book: “Finding Courage and Compassion When Cruelty is Trending.” There is a link to a group guide if you want to use it as a small group study.

Anne Lamont’s “Somehow: Notes on Love” is also a timely book which we think many of us need right now. “Love is our only hope,” Anne Lamott writes. “It is not always the easiest choice, but it is always the right one, the noble path, the way home to safety, no matter how bleak the future looks.”

“Let Justice Roll Down: God’s Call to Care for Neighbors and All Creation” is the Presbyterian Women/Horizon’s bible study for 2024-2025. Always well-written and useful, this particular Horizons study focuses on our scriptural call to care for creation and neighbors and the ways we can address or counter the impact of human-made stress on our environment. 

These books are currently shelved in a small section entitled “New Books” (look for the blue star!) We think you will enjoy these for personal or small group study! If you would like to check any of these out, contact librarian@arkanddove.org or fill out a slip at the check-out station in the Ark and Dove Library.

Garden Gathering:

Woods Presbyterian

Join us for a tour of the native garden at Woods Presbyterian Severna Park with natives enthusiast Karen Royer, Friday June 28th 6-7 PM, and dinner after at Pitaya Mexican Restaurant! For more information contact Shirley Fuller. earthcare@arkanddove.org

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