• Larry and Beth Walker in memory of Phil & Pat Steigerwald, Marcia Steigerwald, and Ranelle Melton, and in celebration of the life of Rick Schilb. 
• Mariellen Beitman in memory of Bernie Beitman. 
• Rob Getrost in honor of Jim Getrost and Kara Jaurigue.
• Mary LaRocque in memory of John & Gussie Sherman and Mary Willett.
• Darlene Smith in memory of Paul Smith. 
• Ahnee Conner in memory of Nick Conner and Josh Schmitz.
• Anonymous in honor of Bob Pugh and Jan Gibson.
• Barb Duch in honor of Plymouth Church. 
• Kristen Miller in honor of Luetta June Bowen, Connie Bailey, and Nancy Wisner.
• Bob and Jan Younger in honor of their friends and family. 
• Jeffrey Williams in memory of Linda and in honor of Mary & Winifred Williams and Serjay. 
• Al Bohnstedt in honor of Janis Bohnstedt and Terry & Margie Dougherty.
• Patty Pendleton in memory of Robert Pendleton. 
• Gale Cunningham in memory of Doug Cunningham, Leon & Helen Wiesmer, and Doug & Madge Cunningham. 

Please note that there will be no Children’s Fellowship Time on Easter Sunday. Childcare will be provided as usual, and younger children may go to the nursery if they do not wish to stay in the service. Children’s Fellowship Time will resume on Sunday, April 16.

Wednesday Night Live programming resumes this Wednesday, April 12. 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.

A service to celebrate and remember the life of Rick Schilb will be held at Plymouth Church on Saturday, April 15 at 11:00 am. Calling hours will be held in the Folsom Room starting at 10:00 am, and there will be a luncheon reception following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Plymouth Music Series or Miss Virginia’s Food Pantry.

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 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.

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 with Q&A (Door at 6:30 pm and music beginning at 6:45 pm)

Saturday, May 6

• 10:00 am to 12:30 pm - Morning Workshop
• 12:45 pm to 1:45 pm - Lunch
• 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm - Storytelling and Song

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 registration is highly encouraged. Register by clicking the link below.

We hope to see you there!

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/.

Turnstone Capacity Grant: $16,950

The Plymouth Benevolence Committee awards grants each year as part of the mission of the church. The committee can award one capacity-building grant of up to $20,000 to an applicant. Applications are accepted in the latter part of the year and awards are determined in February. The recipient of the 2023 Capacity-Building Grant is Turnstone Center for Children and Adults with Disabilities. Turnstone was awarded $16,950 for 2023. Turnstone will use this grant to purchase a Universal Exercise Unit (UEU) and accessories. This grant will enable Turnstone to provide therapy to children who need support while receiving therapy. Turnstone accepts clients no matter their ability to pay. We are thankful Plymouth Church is able to provide these funds to help build a more inclusive community for all!

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 [email protected].

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 has designated a group of leaders to engage the Open and Affirming process at a conference level. Just as individual congregations can go through this process, each conference of the UCC is invited to have this important conversation as well. To that end, our team has put together a few questions that we invite you to answer honestly. Your responses will help us better understand where we are as a conference and discern the best way to move forward. We are grateful for your help as we seek to offer extravagant welcome to our LGBTQIA+ siblings in Christ. The survey can be found at the button below.

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 ([email protected]) 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