Adult chapel class will resume on Sunday, April 16, with guest presenter Mary Ann Mings. Mary Ann is the coordinator of Circles of Allen County, a national program aimed at ending poverty through building relationships and community. On Sunday, April 23 and 30, Rev. Sara Ofner-Seals will lead a two-week series on Celtic Christianity. Chapel Class begins at 9:00 am on Sunday morning and is available in person or on Zoom. To join via Zoom, the passcode is 063060.

Plymouth Music Series presents Heartland Sings Principal Vocal Artist Lisa Gerstenkorn in a varied program of chamber music, opera, and art songs featuring the alto voice on Sunday, April 16 at 4:00 pm. She will be joined by Maestro Robert Nance, piano, Deborah Nitka Hicks, cello, Barrett Seals, oboe and Natalie Young, soprano in exciting works composed by Bach, Brahms, Rossini, Bernstein and female composers Betty Roe, Dorothy R. Moore and Rachel J. Peters. Songs will be sung in German, Italian and English.

The concert is free and open to the public. A reception in honor of the performers will be held immediately following the performance.

Wednesday Night Live programming continues this Wednesday, April 19. Those who want to join the Bible study (with Rev. Ofner-Seals leading this week) virtually can join via Zoom at 5:15 pm. The passcode to join the Zoom is 805552.

Wednesday Night Book Study will resume on April 19 with the book Everything Belongs: The Gift of Contemplative Prayer, by Richard Rohr. This popular and best-selling book from a renowned Franciscan priest challenges people to move beyond the comfort of a settled life toward an understanding of themselves that is rooted in their connection to God. Only when they rest in God can they find the certainty and the freedom to become all that they can be. Contemplation has its place at the heart of Christianity, a place that allows people to experience how “everything belongs”. Wednesday night book study is held after Wednesday Night Live dinner, at 6:45 pm in the chapel. Participation in this study will be available in person and through Zoom. The password to join via Zoom is 694847.

The Just Neighbors’ Same City food truck will be at Plymouth Church on Sunday, April 30, at 1:00 am. Lunch will be available immediately following worship outside the Folsom Room entrance. Please plan to stick around after worship to have some delicious food, enjoy a time of fellowship, and support a great cause. All the money raised through the Same City food truck supports the work and mission of Just Neighbors Interfaith Homeless Network. 

Plymouth Church will be hosting the “What is Truth Seminar: An Exploration through Study, Story, and Song” beginning Friday, May 5 and continuing through Sunday, May 7. 

The seminar will aim to explore the following questions:

• How do we discern truth in a world of disinformation and alternative facts?
• How can we name our truth when we are gaslit or our experience is dismissed?
• How might we stand up for truth when people deny the reality of injustice?

Come explore these questions with others in this interactive, free seminar!

What is Truth Seminar Schedule:

Friday, May 5

• 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - Evening Lecture and Q&A w/ Rev. Dr. Traci Blackmon (Doors at 6:30 pm and music beginning at 6:45 pm)

Saturday, May 6

• 10:00 am to 12:30 pm - Morning Workshop w/ Rev. Dr. Traci Blackmon
• 12:45 pm to 1:45 pm - Lunch
• 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm - Storytelling and Song w/ Valerie Tutson

Sunday, May 7

• 10:00 am - Worship Service (livestream available)

Featured presenters include Rev. Traci D. Blackmon, Valerie Tutson, and Maestro Robert Nance. More participants will be announced in the lead up to the seminar. Read each presenter's bio and learn more about the seminar by clicking the button below.

The What is Truth Seminar is free and open to the public, although we do ask for you to complete registration. Register by clicking the link below.

We hope to see you there!

As an Earthwise Church, Plymouth folks have taken on the role of being a recycler both at home and at church. While this is a great thing to be doing, it has come to our attention both from Matt Gratz, Solid Waste Director for the city, and and John Hoelderle, our Maintenance Manager, that often the recycling is unacceptable and therefore contaminates the whole batch. This costs the church as well as the city a lot of money.

As EarthDay 2023 approaches, let’s review what we can so both at church and home to be successful recyclers.

1. Recycle, reuse, or repurpose everything you can.
2. Know the recycling guidelines wherever you live (in Fort Wayne, outside Fort Wayne in Allen County, or elsewhere) as different companies have different policies.
3. NEVER place recycling items in plastic bags before tossing them into the recycling bin.
4. NEVER place containers with liquids in recycling bins. Everything should be empty, dry, and clean.

For 22 years, April has been recognized as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Since 2019, the UCC has observed “Break the Silence Sunday” in April, which falls this year on April 23.

It is no secret that the lack of resources, shelter, and physical and/or mental health care for survivors of assault and abuse is a real obstacle to safety and wellness for too many of our most vulnerable neighbors. Wouldn’t you love to help roll away that stone?

Serving six counties in our corner of the state, the YWCA Northeast Indiana provides many free services for survivors of sexual assault and abuse: confidential support and mental health therapy, connection to community resources, education, support groups, emergency shelter, help navigating the legal system, and so much more. Each year they provide emergency shelter for hundreds of adults and children, as well as counseling and education to thousands of individuals.

The Evangelism & Marketing Board invites you to contribute to a supply drive in support of the good work of the YWCA Northeast Indiana. Items will be collected through April 23 (donations must be new and unopened/never used):

• Pregnancy Tests
• Bras, Underwear, Stretchy Clothes (yoga pants, t-shirts, etc.), Coats – various sizes
• Body Wash, Ethnic Shampoo & Conditioner
• Phone Chargers (all types)
• Plug-in Headphones (with an aux cord)

For more on Sexual Assault Awareness Month, visit www.nsvrc.org/saam For more on the YWCA, visit www.ywcanein.org/.

This year the Bell Newsletter will focus on one of our four covenants each quarter. Our first issue covered the Just Peace covenant. The next Bell will be published on May 19 and will focus on Plymouth Church's Open and Affirming covenant. "We are an Open and Affirming congregation (2001), welcoming members of the LGBTQ community. We find strength in our diversity and a greater understanding of God's inclusive love." This is a great opportunity for your Board/Committee/Task Force to inform Plymouth members and friends of the work you are doing that aligns with this covenant. If you'd like to submit an article to the Bell, your article is not required to be geared toward the Open and Affirming covenant. The covenant is just a framework for your article and the overarching theme of the May issue. 

The submission deadline for the May Bell is Wednesday, May 10 at 11:59 pm. The Bell will be published Friday, May 19. If you'd like to write an article for the Bell, please submit it to Elizabeth Pruitt by 11:59 pm on Wednesday, May 10 to edp@plymouthfw.org.

If you have extra greeting cards, you can donate them to nursing home residents. You will find a container in the Folsom Room. Thanks for your help with this new mission sponsored by pastoral care.

Are you interested in the peace and justice work of Plymouth Church? Consider joining the Peace and Justice committee! The Peace and Justice committee oversees and supports the work of our many justice and service action teams, awards a yearly Peace scholarship, decides on the recipient of Plymouth’s annual Amistad award, and much more! The Peace and Justice committee meets every third Thursday at 5:00 pm. Our next meeting is Thursday, April 20. Come and check us out!

The Indiana Kentucky conference of the UCC is hosting General Synod in June 2023, and it has been a tradition for the hosting conference to provide prayer shawls for delegates and others in attendance. Would you be willing to help by knitting or crocheting one or two shawls? Let Rev. Sara (smo@plymouthfw.org) know if you would like to commit to making one (or three!).

While masks remain optional in worship, we encourage wearing them whenever possible. A high-quality mask provides good protection against infection even if others around you are not wearing one. We will continue to offer livestreamed and recorded worship services if you find yourself at risk of being around groups or otherwise unable to attend services in person.

Plymouth Church is looking for volunteers to cover the 1:00 pm Staff Meetings on Tuesdays. If you would like to assist, please sign up with Jake in the office or sign up by clicking the button below.

The following links can be found on our Linktree:

• What is Truth Seminar Registration
• Chancel Flower Dedication Sign Up Form
• Donate
• Past Chapel Class Series
• Habitat for Humanity Volunteer Sign Up
• Study Connection Volunteer Sign Up
• Plymouth Google Calendar
• Plymouth's Social Media