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Weekly Bulletin

Sunday, December 1, 2024

In Our Prayers 


Brian Becker, Donna Belch, Mary Bir, Al Bohnstedt, Clara Bowling, Ruth Bracht, Audria Brenes, Isaac Calkins, David Carter, Matthew Carter, Cathy Clifford-Nicholson, Teresa Clingaman, John Cocciolone, Deb Conklin, Kris Conner, Pat Conner, Ann Corral, David Cornwell, Brad Crowder, Michele Dollarhite, Terry Dougherty, Blake Dozier, Lynda and Mike Eckard, Gloria Gatewood, Ed Gomez, Jim and Betsy Graham, Susan Green, Dan Hannie, Cheryl Harkenrider, Joseph Harkenrider, Charlene Holly, Bob Huff, Kyle Huff, Octavia Jacobsen, Tony Kell, Shelby Kessler, Sarah LaRoque, Brian Laurenz, Joan Lipscomb, Sandy Lockwood, Skyler Lockwood, Marc and Rachel Lovelace, Jane Meredith, Jim Michels, Lori Michels, Peter Michels, Jim Nelson, Sally Packard, Ethan Palmer, Carol Patterson, Rainee Purdue, Jacqueline Sanders, Max Schilb, Barbara Senn, John Shannon, Maureen Shea, Travis Sheets, Jim Sidell, Claire Sims, Johanna Smith, Diane Somers, The Spitler Family, Terry Springer, Ricky Talarico, Donald Tulley, Mike Tulley, Marian Waltz, Jeff Williams, Maryanne Williams, Sandra Woodruff Cully

The acolyte today is Michaela O'Neal. 

Sunday Service

Join us for our weekly worship service at 10:00 am in-person, or through our livestream on our YouTube Channel.


If you miss out on our live broadcast, the worship service will be available on our YouTube Channel and listed by date on the Sermon Archive.

Join us for online worship!

Our in-person worship services are held on Sunday mornings at 10:00 am. We continue to record and livestream our services, with the recorded video available by Sunday evening.

Worship Attendance Form

'Born for Such a Time as This'

First Sunday of Advent

"Tent City Nativity" by Kelly Latimore, used with permission

Joys and Concerns


Sundays at 1:00 pm


Our weekly joys and concerns check-in will meet at 1:00 pm this Sunday. Please join this Zoom call for a time to name something we are grateful for, a concern we have, and to be in prayer together.



Those unable to join by video can call 1-253-215-8782, then enter the code 829-3823-4464#, then # when asked for the password

Click here to join Joys & Concerns

Order of Worship


Prelude: Thee Combo


Welcome & Announcements


Centering Moment


Call to Worship: "Drawing Near" by Jan Richardson


Hymn “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”


Invocation & Lord’s Prayer


Passing of the Peace


Lighting the First Advent Candle


Response Song: “Christ, Be Our Light"


Peace Prayer


Pastoral Prayer


Anthem: "O Come, O Come Emmanuel"


Scripture: Jeremiah 33:1, 10-16


Sermon: "Hopeful Days Ahead"


Communion Hymn No. 35 “O Mighty God, When I Survey in Wonder” | O STORE GUD


Invitation to Communion

Communion


Hymn No. 103 “Watcher, Tell Us of the Night” | ABERYSTWYTH


Benediction


Postlude: Thee Combo

This Week

Birthdays

December 1

Jim Schmidt

Zoey Spath Pinedo


December 3

Jennifer M. Ferguson

Toby Watson


December 4

Ray Lehman


December 5

Rylan Conner


December 7

Keyes McGregor

Veronica Beifus


Next Week's Birthdays


December 8

Mary Gilliom

Donna Rowe


December 9

Jennifer Atienzo-Fisher


December 10

Laura McCoy


December 11

Jan Evrard


December 12

Dave Kraker

Tina Grow


December 14

Linda Hambrick

Calendar

Sunday, December 1

First Sunday in Advent

8:30 am Fellowship Hour

9:00 am Education House

9:00 am Worship Rehearsal

10:00 am Worship Service

1:00 pm Joys and Concerns (online)


Monday, December 2

Office Closed

5:30 pm Centering Prayer Group


Tuesday, December 3

9:00 am Religion and Culture Class

1:00 pm Staff Meeting

6:00 pm Executive Council


Wednesday, December 4

1:00 pm ICMEP Peace Quilts

3:00 pm Study Connection

5:00 pm Wednesday Night Live

7:00 pm Luminous Night Service


Sunday, December 8

Second Sunday in Advent

8:30 am Fellowship Hour

9:00 am Education House

9:00 am Worship Rehearsal

10:00 am Worship Service

11:30 am Las Posadas Procession

1:00 pm Joys and Concerns (online)

Sunday, December 1: No Chapel Class

This Sunday, December 1, there will be no adult Chapel Class. Chapel Class will resume on Sunday, December 8 with a two-week series on gender identity and pronouns.

Wednesday, December 4 - WNL Resumes

Wednesday Night Live will resume on Wednesday, December 4. Adult choir and children's choir begin at 5pm, Book Study starts at 5:15pm, and dinner starts at 6pm. There will be no handbells this week, due to the Luminous Night service at 7pm.


All activities are open to anyone in the church, regardless of membership status. Come for activities, or just come for dinner and fellowship! The suggested cost for dinner is $10 per person, though no one will be turned away due to inability to pay. If you plan to come for dinner, please sign up in the Folsom Room in advance so our caterer knows how much food to prepare.


This year for Advent, Rev. Sara Ofner-Seals will be leading a book study on The First Advent in Palestine by Kelley Nikondeha. The book study will take place during the regular Wednesday Night Live Bible study time at 5:15pm, and will be held December 4, 11 and 18, in person or on zoom. Week one will focus on chapters 1-3. You can purchase the book at Bookshop.org, or wherever you buy your books. If you need assistance with the purchase of a book, please let Rev. Sara know and one will be purchased for you. The password for zoom is 773232.

Book Study Link

Wednesday, December 4 - Luminous Night Service

Join us at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, December 4 for our annual Luminous Night Service. This is a service for those who may be grieving or feeling lonely or sad during the holiday season. It is a quiet, contemplative service with readings of scripture and poetry, along with reflective music and a chance to light candles in honor of loved ones lost. It is also a time to reflect on our hopes for the year ahead and center ourselves in God’s abiding presence during all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. All are welcome to attend this service of lament and promise.

Upcoming Events

Sunday, December 8: Boar's Head Tickets for Members

Tickets for the 48th annual Boar's Head and Yule Log Festival will be available to church members on December 8, 15, and 22 before and after church in the Folsom Room. The Public Box Office date is Thursday December 12 from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm at the church.

Sunday, December 8: Las Posadas Processional

All are invited to the fourth annual Las Posadas Processional, inspired by the Mexican Christian tradition. Folks should plan on gathering in the Folsom Room after worship on Sunday, December 8, around 11:30am. After a quick overview of the tradition, we will begin the procession throughout the building as we re-enact the Holy Family’s search for lodging and shelter before finally being welcomed. This is a great event for families and children, though all ages are welcome. We conclude with a celebration in the Folsom Room with traditional Christmas tamales (Shh! It’s a surprise!).


Capacity is limited to 50 people processing but others are encouraged to assist in the responsive singing at the different stations throughout the building or helping set up in the Folsom Room while everyone is away during the procession.

Sunday, December 15: Canto de Corazón "Feliz Navidad"

The Plymouth Church Music Series and Heartland Sings are collaboratively sponsoring a Christmas concert by Canto de Corazón on Sunday, December 15 at 4pm, in the Plymouth Church Sanctuary. Canto de Corazón is a unique community choir that sings exclusively in Spanish, providing an opportunity for choristers of all backgrounds to appreciate Hispanic-Latino culture and enhance their language skills. This second annual program will feature co-directors Robert Nance and Cote Godoy. This concert is free and open to the public.

General Announcements

Sunday, December 15: Poinsettia Orders Due

It’s time to order your Christmas poinsettias! Ordering poinsettias is an easy way to remember, honor, and celebrate loved ones and friends, while helping to decorate our church home for Christmas. To order, please fill out the order form and return it with your check to the church office by Sunday, December 15. Poinsettias are $11.00 each. Plants will be placed in the sanctuary Sunday, December 24. Please take your plant home with you following the 10:00 pm worship service on Christmas Eve.


To place an order, please either click the button below to print off a copy of the order form to fill out and return to the church office, or pick up an order form in the church office on Sunday morning. Please include "poinsettia" in the memo line of your check.

Poinsettia Order Form

Monday, December 9: Annual Report Submissions Due

Attention to all program directors, boards, committees, taskforces, and action teams-- submissions for this year's Annual Report are due on Monday, December 9 at noon. Please submit all reports to Office Manager Tony Ray at tdr@plymouthfw.org.

Winter Shelter Update

Many thanks to everyone who stepped up to volunteer for our winter shelter effort, especially our winter shelter taskforce. We have heard back that our space is no longer needed, as the city has found a space large enough to use as an overflow space for the whole winter. We are so grateful that so many people were willing to step up to assist unhoused families in Fort Wayne-- thank you!!

Boar's Head and Yule Log Festival 2024

Casting and coordinating is in full swing for the upcoming 48th Annual Boar's Head and Yule Log Festival. If you would like to be involved with this year's Festival, please email Kara Jaurigue at kkjaurigue@gmail.com. We still have room in the cast, or maybe you would like to sing in the Festival Choir?  


If you enjoy sewing, helping in the kitchen, working with children, or if you have a background in security, we have a place for you! If you'd like to be a Patron Donor, we would love to add you to our mailing list. The Boar's Head is funded by our Patrons and the free will offering we collect the night of the services, and we can't forget our fun Wassailers, who climb the pews singing and begging for your spare change! 


Mark your calendars now! Our Festival Services are Sunday, December 29 and Monday, December 30 at 5:30 pm and 8:00 pm each evening. Come be a part of the holiday magic that is Boar's Head.

Fort Wayne Pride Christmas Donations

Fort Wayne Pride is once again partnering with Plymouth members as well as other community donors to provide gifts to local LGBTQ families in need. Each year 12-15 families are selected to receive items from their needs and wants list. On average, around 50 people are helped each year. It would be impossible to support families without the support of generous community members!


If you are interested in supporting these families, we are still in great need of gift cards for groceries or gas. We try to provide each family with some gift cards to help out with filling the pantry and/or their tanks. This is an item that we cannot purchase as a nonprofit, so we rely solely on donations.


There is a donation bin set up for gift drop off, but if you're more comfortable giving directly to someone or have questions about the program, please contact Nikki Fultz at 260-602-6860. We have been able to help hundreds of people over the last several years, and we are grateful for Plymouth's support!

Disciples Peace Fellowship Intern Applications Open

The Disciples Peace Fellowship (DPF) has opened its annual application process for its 2025 Peace Interns. Peace Interns are young adults who provide educational and program support at church camps and other church-related assemblies and events about peace and justice issues, serving as counselors and resource people, and modeling the lifestyle of peacemakers for youth and adults alike. In recent years, Peace Interns have also partnered with Disciples Justice Ministries groups to work on specific projects in the name of living out the gospel imperative for peace and justice. Folks 21 and older can apply and learn more at https://www.disciplespeace.org/apply.


Applications are due January 31. Please share with any young adults who may be interested. Rev. Timothy is the co-moderator of the DPF Executive Committee (and a 2004 Peace Intern) and is happy to answer any questions you may have!

Stewardship Campaign: You Are the Hands and Feet

The 2025 Stewardship Campaign has formally endedbut we will continue to accept pledge, time, and talent forms if you have not already submitted one. Forms have been mailed but you can also go online to fill out your 2025 pledge and indicate ways you wish to volunteer in the new year. Extra forms are available in the receptionist's office.

Stewardship Campaign Pledge

Study Connection Volunteers Needed

Volunteers for the 12th year of Study Connection at Plymouth Church are needed! You can be a tutor or a substitute to fill in on the few days when a tutor must be away. Contact Lucy Hess for more information on what is expected of a tutor and sub at lrh22@frontier.com or (260) 484-4430. Study Connection is offered at Plymouth every Wednesday from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm starting early October to mid-May.


To apply, click the button below to complete the volunteer sign up form. All volunteers must have a background check which is done by the FWCS. Everyone is welcome to be a special friend to an elementary age child. Providing support and encouragement is the main task for each tutor and sub. Being a tutor is a great way to make a difference in a child’s life.

Sign Up Form

Office Volunteers Needed for Weekly Staff Meetings

Do you have some time available on Tuesdays and are looking for something to do? Would you like to aid your favorite Plymouth Receptionist in making sure that everyone is greeted with a kind and smiling face? Do we have the opportunity for you! Plymouth staff are looking for volunteers to cover for the receptionist during the staff meetings every Tuesday from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm. It’s a quiet time for the church, the most you may have to do is answer a phone call or two, maybe complete a small project. 


To sign up as a volunteer, speak with Jake in the office or click the button below.

Sign Up Form

Open Prayer in the Sanctuary

For a time of personal prayer, the sanctuary will be available Tuesday through Thursday during office hours. Please enter through the Berry Street office entrance and check in with our receptionist. Contact Jake Slone at (260) 423-9424 or jss@plymouthfw.org with any questions.

Plymouth Church Linktree

The following links can be found on our Linktree:


  • Plymouth Directory Login
  • Study Connection Volunteer Sign Up
  • Chancel Flower Dedication Sign Up Form
  • Donate
  • Past Chapel Class Series
  • Plymouth Google Calendar
  • Plymouth's Social Media
Linktree

Plymouth Office Hours

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Wednesday: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Thursday: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Friday: By appointment only 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Questions? Contact the office at 260-423-9424 or office@plymouthfw.org

Plymouth Church | plymouthfw.org

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