The next book for Plymouth's Women's Book Group (WBG) will be The Women, by Kristin Hannah.

Frankie McGrath leaves her privileged California home in 1965 to serve as a nurse in Vietnam, following her brother's death there. She's been told "Women can be heroes", but she has no idea how demanding wartime nursing will be. We follow what happens to her in Vietnam and on her return to to an unappreciative postwar USA.

Our book for August will be The Kingdom, The Power and The Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism, by Tim Alberta.

The Women's Book Group meets on the third Tuesday of each month, at noon in the Amistad Room. All self-identifying women are welcome to join the discussion on a drop-in basis or longer term.

Our friends at Fort Wayne Pride have decided to organize a blood drive for the first time in conjunction with the American Red Cross. They reached out to Plymouth and asked if we would like to host the event, and we agreed!

This event will take place in the Folsom Room on Wednesday, July 16 from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm. Registrations are required, and you can register at the link below. Donors will receive an admission ticket to the Fort Wayne Pride Festival, a Red Cross t-shirt, and a FREE movie ticket via Fandango.com. If you haven’t given blood in a long time, ever, or are a regular, consider doing so!

We are partnering with our friends at Beacon Heights Church of the Brethren for an evening of action on behalf of our immigrant neighbors in Indiana. Pastor Martin Garcia will offer education about unnecessary legal roadblocks for immigrants in Indiana and how we can advocate for simple changes to state law to remove those barriers. After a bit of education, we will take action! Materials will be on hand to write letters, and we will also have scripts on hand for phone calls. Join us at Beacon Heights on Wednesday, July 23 at 6:30pm. Light refreshments will be provided. 

The Plymouth Players of Plymouth Congregational Church present In Pieces: A New Musical by Joey Contreras, running Thursday, July 24 at 7:30 PM, with matinees Saturday, July 26 and Sunday, July 27 at 2:00 PM in the sanctuary of Plymouth Church. The production is part of the church’s annual Summer Music Series.

Poignant, joyful, and unapologetically queer, In Pieces weaves together a tapestry of love stories and life moments, reflecting the raw emotions, identity journeys, and intimate navigation of the tension between what was, what is, and what might have been. 

Admission is free and open to all. A free-will offering will support Plymouth’s Summer Music Series and arts programming.

Plymouth will once again be hosting a booth at Fort Wayne Pride on Saturday, July 26, and we need friendly folks to run it! No experience needed, just enthusiasm and a smile. Sign up at the link below!

Burkina Faso continues to face a very severe and neglected humanitarian crisis. Roughly one quarter of the population needs humanitarian aid. Burkina Faso is, for the second year in a row, ranking first in the Global Terrorism Index, accounting for one fifth of all terrorist deaths globally.

An upcoming speaker named Kinani Sourabie is from Burkina Faso, where he coordinates the agricultural development program that Plymouth supports through Growing Hope Globally. He will speak on July 26 at a gathering at our partner church Pleasant Chapel Church of the Brethren in Ashley, just 40 minutes from Plymouth Church.

What: Speaker from Burkina Faso and lunch (Plymouth brings dessert)

When: Saturday, July 26, 11 a.m.

Where: Pleasant Chapel Church of the Brethren, 1993 CR 8, Ashley, IN 46705

RSVP: Would be helpful. Contact Katie Carboneau kbcarboneau@mac.com

Plymouth will be having a pulpit exchange with Pilgrim Baptist once again on Sunday, August 3. Like before, we invite a delegation of members to attend Pilgrim Baptist on that day, where Rev. Timothy will be guest preaching as Pastor Raymond Dix, Jr. will guest preach here. If you are interested in experiencing their worship service on that Sunday, please email Rev. Timothy at tcm@plymouthfw.org to sign up. We hope to have 10-12 members representing us there on that day.

We are seeking adult volunteers to help out with Children's Fellowship Time and to assist in the nursery on Sunday mornings. If you like working with kids, this job is for you! Volunteers help once a month or less, either in the nursery or with Children's Fellowship Time, during the Sunday morning service. To volunteer with children, you must have been attending Plymouth services for at least six months, but you do not have to be an official member. Volunteers are also required to submit to a background check. If you are interested, please email Rev. Ofner-Seals at smo@plymouth.org. 

We have new Plymouth t-shirts! There is a sign-up sheet in the Folsom Room for anyone who would like to purchase a shirt. They are $13 each for S-XL, and $15 each for sizes 2XL and up. The deadline to order is July 15. Be sure to get your Plymouth swag!