Now is the time when graduations are happening, and we have a few to celebrate here at Plymouth this year as well! Please click the link below to read bios of this year’s graduates.

As part of Plymouth’s commitment to the UCC’s Our Church’s Wider Mission, we are collecting for the UCC’s Strengthen the Church Offering on Sunday, June 12. The Strengthen the Church Offering reflects the shared commitment of people across the United Church of Christ to cooperatively build up the denomination. Conferences and the national setting equally share the gifts given by members and friends through their local congregations. The funds raised support leadership development, new churches, youth ministry, and innovation in existing congregations. By your generosity to this offering, you build up the Body of Christ.

If we have learned anything about being the church during a pandemic, it’s that we must have resources available to adapt to changing circumstances, to develop new ways of serving both the congregation and the community. Funds raised from the Strengthen the Church Offering provide resources to churches that would not be able to respond to new and developing contexts and calls without such assistance. As God calls our congregations to be the church in new ways, your generosity will plant new churches, awaken new ideas in existing churches, and develop the spiritual lives of our youth and young adults.

You can contribute to this special offering by using the special envelope provided in-service if you happen to be worshipping with us in person today. Offerings may also be made by mailing a check to Plymouth (with the memo line “Strengthen the Church”), or by clicking the button below.

Looking for a good summer read for children?

On Sunday, June 12 and Sunday, June 19, a delightful, interactive book of short stories will be for sale in the Folsom Room for $10. The book, Once Upon a Time, by author Bill Deans and illustrator Paul Demaree, is intended for children of all ages. There is space to draw and/or to write your own stories. This colorful book with little lessons for all is a good summer activity. 100% of the proceeds will go to the RCH Peace Studies Scholarship. Come to the table in the Folsom Room after the services on June 12 and 19 to purchase your copy.

The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak is the next book to be discussed for the Women's Book Study on Tuesday, June 21 at 12:00 pm in the Amistad Room. We welcome any reader who self-identifies as a woman to drop in to join us. Please contact Judith Beineke at jrbeineke@yahoo.co.uk with any questions.

E&M is thrilled to say this year we are hosting a Plymouth Pride event, on Saturday, June 25, from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. This event has it all; an opening workshop ("Biblical Self-Defense for LGBTQ+ Folks & Allies" with Rev. Leah Robberts-Mosser), resource tables, food trucks, activities for kids, local musicians, and drag queens! This event is free and open to the public! Bring your friends and celebrate pride with Plymouth!

Plymouth hosts evening meals at Just Neighbors Interfaith Homeless Network, located at 2925 East State Blvd., several weeks throughout the year. Our next rotations are July 10 through July 15 and November 13 through November 18. Many members of our congregation have provided food for this worthwhile program for many years, but we always welcome new participants. Just Neighbors’ mission is to serve homeless families by uniting religious congregations, community volunteers, and local agencies in a cooperative effort to provide shelter, meals, and compassionate professional support.

Each evening, Sunday through Friday, volunteer organizations provide a full meal which consists of main course, a vegetable, fruit, dessert, and anything else you may want to contribute. Dinner is served between 5:15 pm and 5:30 pm. Feel free to drop off your contributions earlier in the day if needed.

At the present time, we go to the back of the building off of Santa Rosa Dr. and call the number posted on the door. Someone from Just Neighbors will come to the door and take your contributions. If you have food that needs to be heated up, please put some instructions on the container(s) and the families can take it from there. We ask that you prepare food for 24 hungry adults. There are children and adults staying at Just Neighbors and the number of individuals changes from week to week, so this is the guideline we use. This year, the weekly numbers have been less and when I post our week I will provide information as to the current numbers. The staff at Just Neighbors often tells me that they look forward to the Plymouth weeks because we bring a wide variety of meals.

This is a great opportunity to pass on the true meaning of “no matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here,” by providing part or all of a healthy meal to the families that find themselves in need of shelter at Just Neighbors. Some Plymouth members provide an entire meal and others work together with someone providing the main course and others providing the other items.

If you would like to be added to the group mailing list for Just Neighbors, please provide your email address and contact information to Diana Bauer, dcb1120@gmail.com. Questions always welcome and you can call Diana Bauer at 260-414-5582.

The bi-annual national gathering of the United Church of Christ, called General Synod, will be in Indianapolis from June 30 to July 4, 2023. As such, the Indiana-Kentucky Conference will be its host. The Conference is inviting members of local congregations such as ours to volunteer to assist in a variety of tasks, such as ushering, staffing a help desk, hospitality, serving as pages for plenary and business sessions, and more. In total, they are seeking 300 volunteers from throughout the Conference to assist for part or for the duration of General Synod. If you would like to volunteer, please email generalsynod2023@ikcucc.org. Thank you!

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.

Masks are currently optional during worship. This is not a prohibition on masks but only an announcement that they are now optional for individuals. A high-quality mask provides good protection against infection even if others around you are not wearing one, so please continue to wear a mask if you find it necessary or beneficial. 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.

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.

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