²⁸Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” ²⁹He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. ³⁰But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” ³¹Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” ³²When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. ³³And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Matthew 14:28-32

O God, full of compassion, I commit and commend myself to you, in whom I am, and live, and know. Be the goal of my pilgrimage, and my rest by the way. Let my soul take refuge from the crowding turmoil of worldly thought beneath the shadow of your wings. Let my heart, this sea of restless waves, find peace in you, O God. Amen

Augustine of Hippo (354-430)

Dear Friends,

This Sunday, we will open the services with "A Thousand Hallelujahs" by Brooke Ligertwood. The hymns this week are traditional, with the responses being contemporary. We have paired "Sing to God, With Joy and Gladness", "Out of the Depths", and "I Come With Joy", with the contemporary responses "Agnus Dei" by Michael W. Smith. I will also be playing the David Crowder accompaniment for "All Creatures of our God and King" to the lyrics of the Doxology for our response after the Offertory. Our Offertory Anthem this week is a beautiful duet, sung by Wendy Wellington and Judy Cooper, called "The Lord is My Shepherd"- to the tune of Brother James' Air, arranged by Roger Price. This piece is written for 2-part voice and piano in an equal voice canon with a few spots of harmony. The arranger, William Roger Price is a Professor of Music at the University of Tulsa. He has appeared as a recitalist, composer, clinician and adjudicator across the United States.  

Choir and Band will be resuming the week of August 31st. Rehearsals are on Tuesday evenings (Band- 7:00-9:00pm) and Thursday evenings (Choir- 7:00-8:30). If you have ever wanted to participate in our music ministry, beginning with our new season is a great time! There is no need to make a commitment- just try us out sometime. If you are interested in being a part of our band, please reach out to me so that I can hear you sing or play prior to our first rehearsal.

I'm looking forward to getting back in our typical swing of things! Have a great weekend!

With Love,

Rebecca

Director of Music

rechols@arkanddove.org

YTD Expected Unpledged Income $12,833

Actual Unpledged Income $10,996

Behind $1,837

YTD Expected Pledged & Electronic Giving $303,302

YTD Actual Pledged & Electronic Giving $287,041

Behind $16,261

Volunteer Help Needed to

Clean up Storm Damage

Ark and Dove lost two large mature oak trees during the severe storms this week. They fell out of the forest toward our banners and Piney Orchard Blvd. We need volunteers with chain saws to clean up the trees. The wood is good oak and members are welcome to it if they come to cut it. All the branches can be cut up and carried back into the forest. Willing volunteers should contact Facilities Elder Don Ziegler don.ziegler@arkanddove.org

The Bowie Community Theater is performing a summer comedy, The Absence of a Cello. Everyone is invited!

You are all invited to attend the Sunday matinee on August 13 at 2pm. This is their last performance so they should have all the hiccups ironed out by then! And because it is their last performance, earlier reservations are recommended, so buy your ticket soon. Cost: $20 student/senior, $25 adults.

(Go to: bctheatre.com/Current.html)

Let's have a great crowd to end the summer laughing!

Leaders and Helpers Needed

To ensure that we can continue to offer the below services we need 2 adult/teenage leaders, from different nuclear families to help provide leadership. Please consider volunteering for one of the following this summer. 

Please sign up here: Nursery Volunteers

You will be assisting Cara Moody as needed and be another set of eyes/hands in the nursery.

Please sign up here: Summer Sunday School

We need help! All materials and lesson plans will be prepped for you. 😎

Sunday Service Christian Education Opportunities

9:00 AM Service:  

Nursery open for children aged birth to 3

10:30 AM Service: 

Nursery open for children aged birth to 3, 4-year-olds may attend. 

Summer Sunday School for PreK-5th grade, early middle schoolers are welcome to attend as well.

Ark and Dove Book Club - August Pick

Join the Ark and Dove Book Club as they read Barbara Kingsolver’s recent Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “Demon Copperhead.” As Amazon’s summary accurately describes: “In transposing a Victorian epic novel to the contemporary American South, Barbara Kingsolver enlists Dickens’ anger and compassion, and above all, his faith in the transformative powers of a good story.” We will discuss the book on Zoom on Friday, August 18th at 7:30 pm. Contact Kim at kim.champagne@arkanddove.org for the Zoom link.

NO Second Saturday Prayer Group

There will be NO Second Saturday Prayer Group meeting on August 12th. We will resume our monthly meeting on September 9th at 9 am in the Ark and Dove Room.

Our September meeting will review Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina, as well as discuss challenges and hints for starting and sustaining a contemplative prayer practice. Newcomers are definitely welcome!

Please contact Kim Champagne (kim.champagne@arkanddove.org) for more information.

Mission Ministry Back to School

Our Back to School effort is underway, and you can sponsor students at Severn and Van Bokkelen elementary schools by signing up online HERE, in-person after Sunday worship services, or by contacting Greg Makar (GLMakar@juno.com). The online signup has instructions and important dates. The signup includes extra 3-subject and 5-subject wide-ruled spiral notebooks requested by the Fifth Grade team at Van Bokkelen. View the Supply List 2023.

No sign-up is necessary to support the Meade Middle school students; just purchase supplies (from the list in the links above) and drop them off at the school or at Ark & Dove. If dropping off supplies at Ark & Dove, please leave supplies at the designated location across from the coat rack. Designated monetary donations to Back to School can also be made through the usual methods of church giving.

Food Pantry August Super Bowl

The Christian Assistance Program (CAP) food pantry is having another "Souper Bowl" in August to try to fill the soup shelves at the pantry by September 5. 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.

Call For Donations

Call for Donations – Southern Border Asylum Seekers

Church member Laura Willoughby is traveling to Brownsville, Texas, across the border from

Matamoros, Mexico, the busiest crossing for asylum seekers entering the U.S. She will spend two

months there, and as part of her trip will be taking donations for Team Brownsville, a non-profit

providing resources to both newly-arrived asylum seekers and people awaiting an asylum appointment in Matamoros.

The organization is in need of:

• NEW Men’s knit boxer briefs, particularly small and medium sizes
• Lightly-used Men’s shirts and pants (comfortable items), particularly in small and medium sizes
• T-shirts in general, in smaller sizes
• Shoes in good condition in smaller sizes
• Kid's toys that are small and easily transportable: think Beanie Baby size-- Kids’ books for reading in any language

Any donated underwear should be NEW. Other items may be used as long as they are free of tears, stains, etc., and they should be comfortable. Most of those arriving at Team Brownsville’s Welcome Center in Brownsville journey further into the U.S. in buses, planes, and private cars.

Items can be placed in the plastic bin marked “Border Donations” that sits underneath the coat rack. Collection will be ongoing through the end of October.

Any questions? Contact laura@laurajanewilloughby.com

CEDEPCA Virtual Encounter

Loving your Migrating Neighbor:

Legal, Theological, and Practical Perspectives on Immigration"

Join us on CEDEPCA's next Virtual Journey to Guatemala as we gain theological and legal clarity together and imagine ways God is calling us to act locally on behalf of our migrating neighbors. Designed for an English-speaking audience, this virtual travel opportunity will last about an hour and will be followed by an optional 30-minute Q & A with an immigration lawyer based in Texas.

How might Christians in the United States engage in advocacy and act with love toward Central American migrants in their own communities?

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

4:30 p.m. Pacific / 5:30 Mountain/Guatemala / 6:30 Central / 7:30 Eastern

Pre-registration is required HERE.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

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