Plymouth will be hosting the annual service commemorating the life and ideas of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. tomorrow at 4:00 pm in the sanctuary. This event is being held in partnership with a number of other Fort Wayne congregations. As this is a public event, we are requiring proof of vaccination at the door, which involves a vaccination card or picture thereof. As there is limited seating for 60 households to allow for social distancing, we encourage people to also watch via the livestream, which will be available through Plymouth’s YouTube channel.

The next meeting of Plymouth’s Women's Book Study will be on Tuesday, January 18 from 12:00 pm to 1:15 pm in the Amistad Room. Any reader who self-identifies as a woman is welcome, whether you've attended before or not. We shall be reading This Is How It Always Is, by Laurie Frankel.

"This is Claude. He’s five years old, the youngest of five brothers, and loves peanut butter sandwiches. He also loves wearing a dress, and dreams of being a princess. When he grows up, Claude says, he wants to be a girl...." One family learns and grows with a child who wants to change in a way many people don't understand.

For further information, contact Judith Beineke at [email protected].

On Wednesday nights in January, Rev. Sara will be leading a Lectio Divina practice on Zoom at 7:00 pm. Lectio Divina is Latin for “sacred reading” and is an ancient practice of reading scripture in a meditative, contemplative way. Each session will feature a time of fellowship, a short moment of instruction, and approximately 20 minutes of lectio. We will use sources from scripture as well as other spiritual texts. All are welcome regardless of your level of experience.

Terry Dougherty, the ICMEP board chair, is one of the foremost experts on Afghanistan in our region. An Afghanistan Peace Corps Volunteer, and long-time board member of a residential girls’ school in Kabul (SOLA-School of Leadership Afghanistan), Terry facilitated scores of Afghan exchange students, and recently visited Camp Atterbury.

Terry will discuss all things Afghanistan – US foreign policy, past and present; the resurgence of the Taliban and the present political situation; and girls’ education, especially his involvement (from the beginning) with the School of Leadership Afghanistan, and its dynamic leader, Shabana Basij-Rasikh. The program will also be live-streamed on the ICMEP Facebook page. Join us at 6:30 pm at Plymouth Church on Thursday, January 20. This event is free and open to the public. Masks are required.

Rev. Dr. Michael Spath returns this month to lead teaching of the Chinese Religions (Taoism and Confucianism) at 9:00 am on the following Sunday mornings:

Plymouth’s Annual Business Meeting will be taking place after worship on January 23. Action items will include approval of past congregational meeting minutes, the 2022 budget, and the revised Safe Church Policy.

The 2021 Plymouth Annual Report is now available. Please note the 2021 Financial Summary and the Standish Colony Circle project totals are still being calculated, but will be ready by the Annual Business Meeting on January 23.

Our friends at Just Neighbors need our help! They are organizing the annual ‘Point-in-Time’ homeless count on Thursday, January 27, and are looking for people to help them do the count. Specifically, they are looking for about 15 people who can be stationed at the Rescue Mission to count individuals making use of that shelter. There are three shifts for volunteers: 6:00 am - 10:00 am, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, and 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm. Training will be provided. This is an important effort that helps ensure that homeless services in Allen Country are properly funded and supported by state and federal resources. Please consider volunteering if you are able. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Ryan Remington at [email protected] or at (260) 888-6911. Thank you!

The Safety Committee is seeking volunteers to join the group that monitors access to the church and patrols the building and grounds during Sunday services.

There are two volunteers on duty each Sunday. One is stationed in the Narthex monitoring activity in front of the church, anyone seeking entry, and the Berry Street parking area. The other would walk throughout the building and grounds alert for any unusual activities. Both have a walkie-talkie to communicate when necessary.

Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Tom Braun at [email protected] or at (260) 403-0384.

There are a small number of Sunday contribution envelopes still available for anyone who is interested. Please contact Tina Puitz at [email protected] or (260) 423-9424 to arrange to get your booklet.

During Lent, our Sunday school will explore how all the pieces of Jesus’ story fit together. We are looking for 13 artists to each illustrate one story from Jesus’ life. The kids in class will get first dibs, then we are hoping to find several teen and adult artists to fill in the rest of the spaces. If you would like a story to illustrate, please contact Katie Watson.

Between COVID-19 and all the other germs going around, it seems like most of our families will get stuck at home at some point this winter. If your family is quarantined and missing your Plymouth friends, we’ve got a Quarantine Kit full of goodies for your child! Contact Katie Watson to arrange a Quarantine Kit drop-off.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, staff will not need volunteers to cover the staff meetings until further notice. We will make another announcement when we are back to in person meetings. Thank you to all who have volunteered so far.

For a time of personal prayer, visit the sanctuary on Thursdays from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm. Please enter through the Berry Street office entrance and check in with our receptionist. Contact Jake Slone at (260) 423-9424 or [email protected] with any questions.

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