As part of Pride at Plymouth, E&M is offering a special chapel class on Sunday, June 26 with Rev. Leah Robberts-Mosser, who will lead a workshop on Faith-Based LGBTQ+ Affirming Practices.*

This workshop explores different practices that affirm LGBTQ+ identities with an emphasis on the preferential option for the poor and the practice of radical hospitality found within the Bible. Pastor Leah will discuss affirming practices from a faith-based perspective, highlight LGBTQ+ affirming Biblical passages, and provide current terminology, best practices, and common identities within the LGBTQ+ community.

Whether you're an ally or a member of the LGBTQ+ community, there’s always more to learn about the relationship between our faith and the way we can celebrate and support one another and our neighbors. If you, or folks you know, are part of an organization striving to be more inclusive and welcoming to LGBTQ+ staff, customers, or guests, this workshop will provide some excellent material to start from. Feel free to invite friends – and if they stay for worship, even better!

*This workshop is part of a host of Professional Development Trainings and Curricula offered by the LGBTQ Homeless Workgroup of Cunningham Township, Champaign County, Illinois

The Parish Nurses will be available in the Folsom Room after worship on Sunday, June 26 for a variety of healthcare resources and support. Supported by Marion Health, the Parish Nurse Program "provides registered nurses who are committed and called to help the congregation stay well and improve the overall health and healing ministry of individual faith communities." Please note the Parish Nurse Program does not provide prescriptions or diagnostics.

If you would like to learn more about this program and how to volunteer (including non-medical volunteer opportunities), please contact Erin Shaw at [email protected] or 260-224-0860. Click the button below to learn more about the Marion Health Parish Nurse Program.

Our monthly Tapping Into Faith pub theology get-together will be this Monday, June 27 at 7:30 pm at Mad Anthony Brewing! Rev. Sara Ofner-Seals will be leading this month's meeting. This is a wonderful opportunity to get together with folks from church and the community for some casual conversation about how our spiritual life impacts (or maybe doesn’t impact) our daily life in the world. There’s a lot of chat, a lot of laughter, and everyone is welcome. E&M will provide appetizers to share, and you are welcome to order food and drink for yourself. Invite a friend! Open to the public!

Everyone who is interested in some artsy fun is invited to join in the sketching and coloring of Plymouth’s square for the Chalk Walk during Three Rivers Festival. We are keeping it simple and using the covenant graphic as our main focal point. The goal isn’t artistic perfection, but sharing some fun time together and participating in our wider community. We will begin at 8:00am, and plan to finish up by noon. With any luck, we can avoid the worst of the heat and you’ll still have time to stop by the farmer’s market if you want to! We hope to see you there.

Sunday, July 10, we will have a special offering in support of the UCC Christmas Fund. This fund serves retired clergy, and their surviving spouses, by providing supplemental income and assistance with insurance premiums for those who served smaller churches unable to provide adequate retirement benefits. Clergy may also receive emergency funding for unforeseen health crises or similar difficulties.

You may contribute to the offering in service using the special envelopes (be sure to write UCC Christmas Fund in the memo line of your check) or any time online by clicking the button below, or visiting our website at www.plymouthfw.org/donate.

We thank you in advance for supporting those who answered their call to serve where needed, regardless of the pay grade.

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 [email protected]. 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 [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