"You Are Worthy" - Lauren Wright Pittman

Throughout March, Licensed Pastor David Grim returns to lead our studies. All are welcome and encouraged to attend in person; attending via Zoom is available as well. Watch for the link in the Sunday online Bulletin. Each Sunday will bring an examination of mystical and holistic spirituality approaches. How did the Jesus Method of soulful healing bring comfort for hurting people? He will explore a deeper sense of self and ways inward soul work can aid and strengthen the ways we practice social justice and liberation work. David is an insightful teacher and really engages the class.

Our next WELCOMING GROUP will meet Sunday, March 13, 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. This is a one-time required session for those considering becoming members of Plymouth. Those registered will gather in the Amistad Room and will have the opportunity to ask questions and meet others who are considering affirming their formal relationship with Plymouth Church, UCC.

As the UCC moves from its current headquarters in Cleveland to a leased space nearby, one casualty is the closing of its Amistad Chapel at the UCC Church House, which has been in place since 2000. There will be a final online worship service at the Amistad Chapel on Sunday, March 13 at 2:30 pm. To register to attend, please use the following link: Webinar Registration - Zoom. Those who would like to read more about this farewell celebration can do so here: Details of last Amistad Chapel service coming together around movement, inclusiveness, collaboration - United Church of Christ (ucc.org).

The next meeting of Plymouth’s Women's Book Study will be on Tuesday, March 15 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. This month, honoring the justice basic to peace-making, we shall be discussing Tattoos on the Heart by Greg Boyle.

"No matter where people live or what their circumstances may be, everyone needs boundless, restorative love. Working in a neighborhood with the highest concentration of murderous gang activity in Los Angeles, Gregory Boyle created an organization to provide jobs, job training, and encouragement so that young people could work together and learn the mutual respect that comes from collaboration. Tattoos on the Heart is a breathtaking series of parables..." - Good Reads

During this Lenten the weekly Wednesday Bible Study with Rev. Murphy switches to studying a book. We are currently reading and discussing the 1949 classic Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman. We will be discussing chapter 2 this Wednesday and will continue each Wednesday through April 6 at 5:15 pm. While RSVPs are not required, feel free to contact Rev. Murphy at [email protected] for any questions or if you need help with finding a hard copy version of the book.

During the season of Lent, Rev. Sara Ofner-Seals and Maestro Bob Nance will be leading a Celtic inspired evening prayer service on Wednesday nights, following Wednesday Night Live dinner. Services will be held in the chapel and will include Celtic prayers, music, and liturgy, as well as music from the Taizé tradition. Please join us for these contemplative, candlelit services as a way to deepen your Lenten experience.

Popular author, pastor and blogger John Pavlovitz will be in Fort Wayne next month on March 19 and 20. He will be leading a workshop entitled “Building a Bigger Table” on Saturday, March 19 from 9:30 am to 11:30 am at First Presbyterian Church, and will be giving a public talk on Saturday evening at 6:30 pm at Plymouth Church. Registration is required for both events. John will also be the guest preacher at Plymouth Church during our worship service on Sunday, March 20. No registration is required for the Sunday morning worship service. For more information or to register for events, please visit Eventbrite.

A memorial service for the Rev. Dr. Richard Stanger, former senior pastor of Plymouth Church from 1974-1988, will take place on Saturday, March 19 at 3:00 pm EST at Friedens UCC, 8300 South Meridian, Indianapolis, IN 46217.

Everyone is invited to the second part of Plymouth’s Seed to Marsh project. Even if you didn’t come to the first session, we’d love to see you this month. About 45 people enjoyed stratifying seeds in February and the March session will be even more adventurous.

We’ll meet at 12:15 pm on Sunday, March 20 at the barn in Eagle Marsh Nature Preserve, 6801 Engle Road, on the southwest side of Fort Wayne. Go through the green gates and follow the gravel road about 1/4 mile. Parking is on the left, past the picnic tables and around the curve of the barn pond. We’ll learn more about Eagle Marsh, which claims to be the largest inland wetland restoration project in the country. We’ll plant native seeds in flats and bring some back to church or homes to nurture. There will be a guided hike for those who want to see more of the marsh. Waterproof boots are available in a large range of sizes or you can bring your own. Casual weather-appropriate clothing is strongly recommended.

We’ve allowed a little more than an hour after the church service, time for you to grab a quick lunch on the way, or you can bring sack lunches to eat at the marsh.

The Environmental Action Team looks forward to seeing a good group of Plymouth people, both young and older, ready to continue our service project on the Marsh.

Indiana Center for Middle East Peace invites you to a Nowruz New Year Celebration on Sunday, March 20 from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Shoaff Park (River Lodge Pavilion, 6401 St. Joe Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46825).

Come celebrate the new year with our Afghan friends, recent immigrants to our community. Although Persian in origin, Nowruz is celebrated in Afghanistan and in many other countries and peoples. Nowruz is a traditional festival of Spring; it starts on the day of the vernal equinox, and marks the beginning of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere.

The name ‘Nowruz’ means ‘new day’ and the festival symbolizes the rebirth of nature, new life and new beginnings.

This event is free and open to the public. Masks are encouraged.

On Monday, March 21 at 12:00 pm, ICMEP and Dr. Michael Spath will be hosting a Zoom interview with author Brian J. Brown titled, "APARTHEID SOUTH AFRICA! APARTHEID ISRAEL! Ticking the Boxes of Occupation and Dispossession"

Brian Brown is a South African-born Methodist Minister, banned for 13 years by the Apartheid regime, until Nelson Mandela’s release in 1990. He considers how the policies of the State of Israel, in violently dispossessing Palestinians of their land, nationality, and human rights, replicates policies of South Africa’s era of Grand Apartheid.

Using the 2009 “Kairos Document” from Kairos Palestine and its 2020 “Cry for Hope,” and other documents from human rights organizations and international law, he analyzes the root causes of Israeli denialism and Christian denialism of Israel’s settler colonial project, and where we go from here.

Register to watch this interview by clicking the button below. After registering, you will receive the Zoom meeting link.

The Evangelism and Marketing Board has planned a Spring Cleaning event for Sunday, April 3, at 1:00pm. Our resident Litter Super Sleuth™ has identified several blocks that could use a dedicated team of Earthwise folks like you to spend an hour or so picking up trash and recyclables for proper disposal – many hands will make light work! So enjoy worship Sunday morning, take some time to eat lunch and change into work clothes and good shoes, and help us do some good work.

The plan:

We hope you’ll join us in this act of environmental stewardship and caring for our community!

The Benevolence Committee awarded 21 Benevolence Grants, one Capacity-Building Grant, and one “in-between” grant for 2022, in addition to our annual contributions to Our Church’s Wider Mission (IN/KY Conference), the “CUE” seminaries of the UCC, and the UCC Open and Affirming Coalition. In total, $100,388 in benevolence funds were distributed. This level of benevolence outreach is possible only because of your generosity with your resources, and the generosity of those from whom we inherited Plymouth’s legacy. Thank you for making these gifts possible.

Capacity-Building Grant ($14,143) recipient: This year’s Capacity Building Grant recipient is Give Hear. This local nonprofit provides comprehensive audiological services to individuals of all ages, at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Level, in Allen and surrounding counties. They provide a full range of services, from hearing tests to fitting and upkeep of hearing aids and cochlear implants, as well as a hearing aid donation and refurbishing program. Recipients of their services are expected to volunteer as they are able within the community as what Give Hear calls their “Circle of Giving.” The grant money will be used to purchase a new combined otoacoustic emissions and middle ear analyzer, which allows for effective testing on individuals who otherwise would not be able to be tested due to age or cognitive and physical difficulties. If you’d like to learn more about their programs, visit givehear.org.

Because Give Hear requested an amount lower than the $20,000 limit for a Capacity Building Grant, we were able to award Turnstone Center for Children and Adults with Disabilities a grant “in-between” the Capacity and Benevolence levels, partially fulfilling their Capacity Building request. The grant of $5,422 will allow them to purchase equipment required for pelvic floor biofeedback therapy. This therapy improves the ability of individuals to control their pelvic floor muscles, and thus better control their bladder and bowel function.

Benevolence Grant ($1,000 - $2,000) recipients: Amani Family Services, Associated Churches, Blue Jacket, CASS Housing, Center for Nonviolence, Crossroad Child and Family Services, Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, Growing Hope Globally, Habitat for Humanity, Indiana Center for Middle East Peace, Lisa’s Legacy, Matthew 25, Miss Virginia’s Food Pantry, My Autism Ally, Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic, Northeast Indiana Positive Resource Connection, SCAN, Thirteenth Step House, USF Jesters, Vincent Village, and Wellspring Interfaith Social Services.

Thank you again for your support of Plymouth Church, which allows for this generous support of so many incredible organizations in our community.

It’s time to order Easter flowers! This year we are offering you a choice of Easter lilies or daffodils (or feel free to order both!) Lilies are $10 each and daffodils are $9.00 each. Please have your orders into the church office no later than Friday, April 1. We encourage you to take your flowers with you following worship on Easter Sunday.

Please either print out a copy of the Easter flower order form by clicking the button below or fill out a copy in the receptionist's office on Sunday mornings.

As cases decline in Allen County and around the country, church leadership is looking at what can resume and in what ways. Executive Council met on Tuesday, March 1, and voted to approve criteria in which masks would become optional in worship. The state of Indiana has four colored risk categories, based on the number of cases per 100,000 and the positivity rate. Once Allen County reaches the lowest color risk, blue, for two consecutive weeks, masking during worship will become optional. We will send out an e-blast whenever we reach that level. If cases rise above that level into the yellow or higher categories, masks would then be required once again until we return to the blue. For the moment, masking during worship is still required.

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