"You Are Worthy" - Lauren Wright Pittman

Beginning March 6, and throughout all of 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.

During Lent, the weekly Wednesday Bible Study with Rev. Murphy switches to studying a book. This year, we will be examining the 1949 classic Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman. Please purchase a copy online ahead of time. Our first weekly chapter discussion will begin March 9 at 5:15 pm. While RSVPs are not required, feel free to contact Rev. Murphy at [email protected] for any questions.

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.

Our next WELCOMING GROUP will meet Sunday, March 13, 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. If you have been attending Plymouth for six months or longer, and your faith journey is leading you to explore becoming a member, this is a one-time required session. Whether you are confident, confused, or curious, our time together is focused on orientation, conversation, interpretation, and exploration. It is an opportunity for you to ask questions and to meet others who are considering affirming their formal relationship with Plymouth Church, UCC. Please contact Rev. Sara Ofner-Seals at [email protected] or 260-423-9424 x322 to register. An accurate number is needed for the light lunch that will be provided by Congregational Life Board.

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

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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