Heartland Sings presents a community a concert to reflect on the weight, growth, loss, and love experienced during this past year. The Mozart Requiem (a tribute to those lost), along with choral selections of unity and hope, will be performed outdoors on the Arts United Plaza (303 E Main Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46802), today at 4:00 pm. Maestro Robert Nance conducts. Special guests Rabbi Meir Bargeron, Rev. Misty Dawn-Shelly, Judge Fran Gull, Judge Stanley Levine, and Diane Jackson Davis will read reflections as part of the presentations.

The concert is free and open to the public. Bring your own chair.

The Rev. Sara Ofner-Seals will be visiting with us from June 25-27 for a candidating weekend. There will be three opportunities to meet with her before Sunday worship:

Friday, June 25 from 1:00-3:00 pm

Friday, June 25 from 5:00-7:00 pm

Saturday, June 26 from 2:00-4:00 pm

No registration is required. Gatherings will be in the Folsom Room at the church. A congregational meeting to vote on whether to call Rev. Sara as our next Associate Pastor will take place immediately following worship on Sunday, June 27. A brochure has been mailed out with more details about her.

There will be a memorial service for Dan Hamblin on Saturday, June 26 in the sanctuary.

Visitation with family will be at 10:00 am in the Folsom Room, with the service beginning at 11:00 am.

My heart is full from the outpouring of your warm well wishes on my retirement farewell Sunday, June 6. For your expression in worship and the special music lovingly prepared and presented, to the reception where you were generous with your presence and words; thank you Plymouth Church! To our IKCUCC Conference Minister, Rev. Chad Abbott, for honoring all of us with his participation in worship and the farewell gathering; to the Congregational Life Board for providing the reception; to Nada O’Neal, who gave energy and expertise to create the photo memory book and who gave me photos and video she took at the reception; and to Knit & Kibitz for the lovely knitted shawl made by Betty Barry.

I am exceedingly grateful. In God’s peace, joy, and love, Rev. Ruth E. Phillips

With the services returning to normal (or mostly normal), we need volunteer ushers to welcome folks and hand out bulletins. There are a few other minor duties involved, like collecting the pew pad attendance sheets, counting people in the sanctuary, etc. As an usher, the amount of energy you expend is minimal and it will help the congregation! If you are interested in serving as an usher, and would be willing to be placed on an usher’s schedule, please contact Bill Lambert at 260-445-6270 or [email protected]. Thank you!

This is your friendly weekly reminder that we are raising money to eliminate medical debt!

It is difficult to track down recent statistics, but the information on medical debt that we have from 2018 and 2019 is troubling indeed. For example, in 2019, 19.2% of Hoosiers—nearly one fifth—had medical debt in collections. The growing disparity between annual income and annual out-of-pocket medical expenses contributes to this number. In 2008, only 7 states had residents spending more than 10% of their income on medical costs. In 2018, that number had increased to 42 states, including Indiana. In 2019, Indiana ranked 28th in the nation for the ratio of median income to medical expenses, with Hoosiers using 11.9% of their annual income to pay for out-of-pocket medical costs. This includes people with health insurance, of course. The average deductible in 2019 was $4,544. Even with insurance, patients had to pay nearly $5,000 out-of-pocket before procedures and prescriptions would be covered. In the same year, the average wage nationwide increased by 3.4%, while insurance premiums increased 4% for individuals and 5% for families.

In the expectation that we can do good work in the world by liberating those shackled with unpayable debts, we offer huge thanks to those who have donated already, and we invite you to consider a contribution. Every dollar you donate will be used to purchase one hundred dollars in medical debt ($1 = $100!). Please give what you can and rejoice as it multiplies one hundred times. You have the power to be the trumpet of liberty, bringing the good message to your neighbors that they are free, their debt forgiven.

The fundraising campaign will run through September 26 and our fundraising goal is $20,000 – or $2,000,000 in medical debt relief – but if we end up raising more than that it will be a joy. Please feel free to share the link with your friends and family – the more the merrier! Click the button below to visit our fundraising campaign page. There is also a link on our “Contribute” page at plymouthfw.org. Scroll down and click on “Campaign." Information can also be found on Facebook. Thank you!

The state of Indiana has opened COVID-19 vaccination eligibility to anyone 12 and older. You can click the button below to schedule an appointment. If you have difficulty registering online, you can dial 211 from any phone for assistance.

In order for the office to better serve you, please submit a separate check for each donation made whether it be for pledges, special offerings or any other donation. Checks should be made payable to Plymouth Church. Thank you!