Due to the overwhelmingly large amount of material to cover, we will be extending the Chapel Class series on Bethlehem one more week, with the final session to be held on Sunday, January 7. We will cover topics related to the current Israel-Hamas war and will set aside most of the time for people to ask questions and engage in discussion. Chapel Class is open to all adults and is available in person and on Zoom at 9:00 am on Sunday mornings. The Zoom password is 063060.

All who are able are invited to stay after worship this Sunday to help take down the greens and holiday decorations throughout the church. Many hands make for light work, so please consider helping out if you can. Many thanks!

Wednesday Night Live programming will resume Wednesday, January 10. At 5:15 pm there will be adult choir rehearsal, children’s choir rehearsal, and Bible Study with Rev. Timothy, followed by dinner at 6:00 pm. The Bible Study with Rev. Timothy can be attended in person or via Zoom using the link below. The passcode to join via Zoom is 648589. 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 is ever 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. Hope to see you there!

Indiana Center for Middle East Peace invites you to “Palestinian Nakbas: From Truman to Biden” with Josh Ruebner on Thursday, January 11 at 6:30 pm.

Josh Ruebner is a leading US Middle East policy analyst. He has worked at the

Congressional Research Service; the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights; and American

Muslims for Palestine. Presently a PhD candidate at University of Exeter’s European Centre for Palestine Studies. Also a Fellow, Middle East Institute. Author: Israel: Democracy or Apartheid State? and Shattered Hopes: Obama’s Failure to Broker Israeli-Palestinian Peace.

This event is free and open to the public.

The Environmental Action Team invites all Plymouth members and friends to a meeting on Saturday, January 13 from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm for a presentation from Faith in Place (formerly known as Hoosier Interfaith Power and Light). Faith in Place is an organization that works on Environmental Advocacy, Youth Empowerment, Energy and Climate Policy, Water Conservation, and Sustainable Food and Land Use. They will be coming to talk to us about their programs and how our church can get involved and work effectively for change in the state of Indiana. This is a great opportunity for us to learn about how we can live more effectively into our Earthwise covenant and take action on climate change where we live. Hope to see you there!

In the new year, Rev. Murphy will be leading a three-week Chapel Class series on the resolutions discussed at last summer’s UCC General Synod. They cover a range of topics and issues, from electrifying church buildings and reparations for African Americans, to ending solitary confinement and advocating for plant-based diets. We will talk about the content of the resolutions, what they call for, and the role of resolutions in our denomination. Fun fact: Not every resolution was approved; come to learn which one! This series will run from Sunday, January 14 through Sunday, January 28.

Chapel Class begins at 9:00 am on Sunday mornings and is open to all adults in person or on Zoom. The password for Zoom is 063060.

Each year, Plymouth hosts a service of music and quotes remembering the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s work and legacy. The service this year will take place on Sunday, January 14 at 4:00 pm. Several other congregations and clergy from the community will be in attendance and participating in the program. We hope to see you there!

Women's Book Study will be meeting on Tuesday, January 16 at 12:00 pm in the Amistad Room to discuss Cobalt Red: How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives by Siddarth Kara. How do we change our participation when we know about the uncomfortable facts described in this book?

"Cobalt is an essential component to every lithium-ion rechargeable battery made today, the batteries that power our smartphones, tablets, laptops, and electric vehicles. Roughly 75 percent of the world’s supply of cobalt is mined in the Congo, often by peasants and children in sub-human conditions. Billions of people in the world cannot conduct their daily lives without participating in a human rights and environmental catastrophe in the Congo."

As always, we invite anyone to join us who self-identifies as a woman. If you would like to join us by Zoom, please email Laura McCoy. In February, our book will be Demon Copperhead, by Barbara Kingsolver.

Save the date! There will be a board training session following the worship on Sunday, January 21. This training is for all board members and chairpersons. Our aim would be to finish in about 45 minutes. If you are on one of our 2024 boards, your attendance is requested. Thanks!

The next Film and Faith will be Sunday, January 21 at 2:30 pm. This will be a joined gathering for anyone under or over 40. We will be watching the 1966 classic Battle of Algiers. It is in Arabic and French and is one of the most influential war films of all time. Running time is 2 hours. Please RSVP to Rev. Murphy at tcm@plymouthfw.org if interested.

Masks are optional in worship and church programming. If you are feeling under the weather or prefer to wear a mask around others, it is an ongoing option. 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 for anyone 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:

• 2024 Stewardship Campaign Website
• Study Connection Volunteer Sign Up
• Plymouth Directory Login
• Chancel Flower Dedication Sign Up Form
• Donate
• Past Chapel Class Series
• Habitat for Humanity Volunteer Sign Up
• Plymouth Google Calendar
• Plymouth's Social Media