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Dear ,
A Call To Action
This is an opportunity for friends and members of Plymouth Church to respond to Dr. Rob Smith's presentation on June 11th*. He and his team presented a youth-led analysis of mass incarceration in Milwaukee. Many of us were stunned at MPD decisions around policing for Milwaukee's July 3rd fireworks and the treatment of people of color at the lakefront. We are being given an amazing opportunity to directly respond to what we learned.
During the presentation we viewed videos from Dr. Smith's work. Of particular impact was the footage and experience of youth during
last year's July 3rd lakefront fireworks
. Youth of color experienced and documented being funneled/"herded" down North Avenue all the way to Sherman before being allowed to travel north or south to their homes. The
police presence was described as militaristic
. We also saw footage of last year's Juneteenth celebration, with police officers on surrounding roofs with weapons.
On Monday, July 3rd, we will meet at the church in the Reception Hall for training on how to watch and document policing for the fireworks at the lakefront that evening. Rev. Steve Jerbi's All Peoples' Church will also be doing the same. Members of Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) Milwaukee and IWW (Industrial Workers of the World) will be walking with us.
The goal is a massive presence at the lakefront and along North Avenue,
a presence of watching and holding space for peace
. The training is from 9:30 am to 11:00 am in the Reception Hall at Plymouth. Please join us to learn more about the plans. If you are unable to attend the training, but want to walk with us, we will pair you with those who have been trained. Showing up Monday for the training is not a commitment, just a chance to learn what the plan is for our support on the evening of July 3rd.
Please contact Jane Audette at yaner@aol.com, 414-763-3801 or 608-469-4407.
*For those folks who were not able to be with us on June 11. Here are some brief articles to fill in the gaps about why Plymouth is taking on this action.
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This Sunday in Worship
If famous characters from the Bible, who were following God's plan for them, wanted to come to America would we welcome them?
Would we welcome Abraham and Sarah, the wanderers?
Would we welcome: Noah, the natural disaster survivor; Moses, the killer; Ruth, the widow with no family; or the Good Samaritan, the foreigner?
Would we welcome Jesus, the troublemaker?
Join us in worship on July 2 when Suzy Clarkson Holstein is our guest preacher. Her sermon is titled "American Exceptionalism: Lifting the Lamp".
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Jim Crow presentation July 9th
Join us after worship on Sunday, July 9, when Russell Brooker will give an Adult Ed presentation on the nature of Jim Crow, the system that governed the American South from 1890-1965. He will emphasize the 5 pillars of oppression: economic oppression, political oppression, legal oppression, social oppression, and personal oppression.
This program is interactive with questions from the audience helping guide the discussion.
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Noisy Offering on July 9th
July 9th's Noisy Offering will go to SEA Literacy.
SEA Literacy (formerly the Burmese Immersion Project) was founded in 2011 by Bob Heffernan with the mission of helping refugees from Southeast Asia who had been resettled in Milwaukee. As a landlord, Bob noticed that his refugee tenants were often isolated and the children were struggling with school and learning English and he felt compelled to help. It started out as a handful of volunteers helping about 10 students with their homework and giving informal English lessons; today they serve around 40 active students, focusing on homework help, promoting social skills, and ESL (English as a Second Language) activities.
Many of the students they work with are ethnic minorities from in and around Myanmar (also known as Burma), who range from school-age to college, and even a few adults who want to improve their English along with their children. It's amazing to see the relationships that develop and how much it means to both the students and tutors. Recently SEAL has begun exploring ways to collaborate and work with other area organizations that also work with refugees, and are hopeful that their work will not only enhance the lives of the students and refugees they work with, but also help others get to know the wonderful, humble, and captivating nature of this group of people.
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Potluck for volunteers on July 13
Do you volunteer or serve an organization through Plymouth, such as Pathfinders, St. Ben's, Cathedral Center, Pridefest (at the booth not just attending), or Guest House?
AND
Do you like to eat homemade food?
Well, then you should whip up your favorite potluck dish and bring it to BOOM's dinner
at 6:00 pm on Thursday, July 13.
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Mark you calendar and plan to attend!
We will be discussing the much-needed organ repairs. |
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Brewers Game on August 2nd
Take yourself to the ball park.
Take yourself to the crowd.
Buy some peanuts and Cracker Jack.
(We would care if you never came back.)
Let's root, root, root for the Brewers!
If they don't win, it's a shame.
But you'll have fun, Fun, FUN, out there
with the whole Plymouth gang!
A group from Plymouth is headed out to watch our FIRST PLACE Milwaukee Brewers take on the dreaded Cardinals of St. Louis on Wednesday, August 2nd, at 7:10 pm.
A limited number of tickets are available for $17 each and can be purchased from Russell Brooker. See him at church or call 414-476-1709.
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Riding to Build a Cycle of Hope
This is Donna's 13th year riding in the Habitat 500, a 500-mile bicycle ride in MN to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity. The ride is July 9-15, and 90% of the funds raised will go to directly to the Milwaukee affiliate.
Plymouth members were instrumental in helping to raise over $8,250 last year, and this year's total is $6,150 and growing. Donations are accepted through the end of August.
All donors will be invited to a turtle sundae party later this summer. Checks can be made out to Habitat 500 and given to Donna (1459 N 50th Pl, 53208). Or visit Donna's Facebook page for an online donation option.
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Book Donations Sought for CE
>>Buy from an Amazon Wish List<<
Now it's even easier to donate a book for use by the church school. If you shop on Amazon, you can go to the CE Board's Wish List at
http://a.co/8yqd52B
, choose a book or two, and have them shipped directly to Plymouth. (Plymouth's address will appear as one of your shipping choices; be sure to select it.) After a book is purchased, it will no longer appear on the wish list.
If you have an idea for other children's books that connect to Biblical stories, or generally to our values, please suggest them to Andrew Warner or Sue Treichel.
Thank you to those who have already purchased books!
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Birthdays
Brenda Fay 6/29
Rebecca Mitich 6/29
Cindy Moore 6/30
Kristian O'Connor 6/30
Maria Stahl 6/30
Chuck Lawton 7/1
Britta Huibregtse 7/2
Marie Powers 7/2
Walt Neevel 7/4
Maya Skoien 7/4
Rowan Chheda 7/5
Prayers
We rejoice with Ed and Brooke Krishok who got married June 17.
Prayers for Levi Johnson who had a fire at his house and lost many materials possessions.
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Upcoming Events
Pastor Andrew Warner will be on vacation and attending our national church meeting, the General Synod, from June 15 through July 4.
Sunday, July 2
- Worship - Suzy Clarkson Holstein preaching - Communion - 9:30am
- Provide meal for Pathfinders (at Holton Drop-In) - 2:30pm
Monday, July 3
- ACLU Legal Observers training - 9:30am (see opening letter)
- Church Office Closed
Tuesday, July 4
- Church Office Closed
Wednesday, July 5
- Piecemakers Quilting group - 10:00am
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Board of Outreach and Mission (not meeting - potluck on 7/13)
Sunday, July 9
- Worship - Rev. Andrew Warner preaching - 9:30am
- BOOM Joyful Noise Offering: SEA Literacy
- Russell Brooker's presentation on Jim Crow - 10:30am (see article above)
- Provide meal for Pathfinders (at Holton Drop-In) - 2:30pm
Monday, July 10
- Meal for St. Ben's
- Stewards and Council joint meeting - 7:00pm
Tuesday, July 11
- Serve meal at Cathedral Center - 6:30pm
Thursday, July 13
- BOOM potluck - 6:00pm
Sunday, July 16
- Worship - Rev. Andrew Warner preaching - 9:30am
- Congregational Meeting - 10:30am
- Provide meal for Pathfinders (at Holton Drop-In) - 2:30pm
- Sarah Circle - 7:00pm
Open Up Church Calendar for a Full List
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