Weekly Bulletin
Sunday, May 9, 2021
Joys and Concerns

Sundays at 1:00 pm

Our weekly joys and concerns check-ins continue. Please join this Zoom call at 1:00 pm for a time to name something we are grateful for, a concern we have, and to be in prayer together. Those unable to join by video can call 1-253-215-8782, then enter the code 944-1809-2407#, then # when asked for the password.
Order of Worship

Prelude

Welcome

Invocation/Lord’s Prayer

Baptism with Confirmation

Special Music "Imago Dei"

Mission Moment - Cedars HOPE

Pastoral Prayer

Scripture – John 15:9-17

Homily - “Wholly Mature in God’s Love”

Closing Hymn – “Help Us Accept Each Other” (NCH #388)

Benediction

Postlude
This Week
May 20
Kara Jaurigue

May 21
Laura Coon
Greg Gibson
Judy Madden
Patty Meriweather
Michal Miller
Dana Wichern

May 22
Gary Kerr
Carol Stumpf

May 23
Dick Conklin
Stan Fahl
Wayne Gerard
Diana Wilkening

May 24
Bryce Longenberger
All programs and events are online unless otherwise stated.

Sunday, May 9
Confirmation Sunday
Mother's Day
9:00 am Education Hour
10:00 am Worship Service
11:30 am Meet & Mingle Fellowship
1:00 pm Joys & Concerns

Monday, May 10
Office Closed

Tuesday, May 11
1:00 pm Staff Meeting
5:30 pm Benevolence

Wednesday, May 12
5:30 pm Wednesday Night Live

Saturday, May 15
9:00 am Limited In-Person Service Recording

Sunday, May 16
9:00 am Education Hour
10:00 am Worship Service
11:30 am Transition and Grieving AP
1:00 pm Joys & Concerns
Wednesday, May 12 : Bible Study
Join Rev. Timothy C. Murphy and Plymouth members at 5:30 pm every Wednesday in an online discussion of the upcoming Sunday’s scripture and how we can apply those lessons to our daily lives and world. Those unable to join by video can also call in at 1-253-215-8782, then enter the code 978-5908-1418#, then enter # when asked for a password.
Sunday, May 9: Theories of Salvation Education Series
Today will be the fourth and final session for Rev. Murphy's series on salvation. For today, we will be sharing our respective understandings of salvation using the model we’ve been studying the past three weeks, Rev. Murphy will share some of his own models, and we will discuss why thinking about salvation matters. Join us for our final session, today on Zoom at 9:00 am; we’ll be sure to “save” you a spot!
Sunday, May 9: Confirmation
After a one-year delay due to COVID-19, we will celebrate confirmation with baptism for two youth from the 2019-2020 Covenant Class.

Jordan Dollarhite and Melody Sutter have presented themselves in worship on May 8 for pre-recording. Be sure to watch this special service which will post today. Rev. Ruth E. Phillips was the teacher for this class of five students. When all in-person programming last March was cancelled, the Covenant Class process was interrupted just as we were planning for confirmation. This is an important milestone and rite of passage for Jordan and Melody. As they are baptized, affirm their Christian faith, and become members of Plymouth Church, please send them your personal welcome. Those who were unable to attend the in-person worship recording will be able to see the confirmation and baptism ceremony online today.
Sunday, May 9: Meet and Mingle Coffee Fellowship
Join the Congregational Life Board at 11:30 am today for a virtual Coffee Hour via Zoom to help Plymouth people stay connected! You provide your own coffee and donuts and we’ll provide the platform. The passcode for this meeting is 327260.
Sunday, May 9: Special Offering | Cedars HOPE
In keeping with our Mother’s Day tradition, the Benevolence Committee invites you to participate in a special offering today to benefit our friends at Cedars HOPE. Cedars HOPE, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization serving homeless women living with serious mental illness by offering permanent Housing, Opportunities for growth and companionship, Personal support, and Encouragement towards independence.

Our relationship with Cedars HOPE goes back to the Plymouth members instrumental to its founding in 1993, when it opened to offer permanent housing along with care and support for homeless women living with serious mental illness. Twenty-eight years later, we are no longer next-door neighbors, but remain committed to supporting Northeast Indiana’s only residential program that helps break the link between mental illness and homelessness. What a privilege, to support such incredible work!

Please prepare to give generously this Mother’s Day, celebrating the work of Cedars HOPE and taking joy in the opportunity to show love for our neighbors there. You may mail a check to the church (include Cedars HOPE Collection on the memo line) or give online by clicking the "Donate" button below. From there, you can click the “Donate” button, then select “Other Special Fund” in the contribution page and write in Cedars HOPE Collection in the space provided.
Upcoming Events
Sunday, May 16 | Transition and Grieving Associate Pastor
It’s hard to believe but Rev. Ruth Phillips is retiring in one month. As church members, we need spaces to grieve all that we will miss once she retires. The next opportunity to meet with Rev. Timothy Murphy and other church members will be next week on Sunday, May 16. This will be a space to discuss what she has meant for us and Plymouth Church.
This gathering will be via Zoom; please use the button below to join in this transition process.
Sunday, May 23 | Film & Faith: Forty and Over
Concrete Cowboy is available on Netflix for you to watch at your convenience, and then, join us for lively discussion on May 23, 2:30 to 3:30 pm. Email Rev. Ruth E. Phillips rep@plymouthfw.org by Sunday, May 23, 11 am, and she will send you the Zoom link, meeting ID and Passcode.

Inspired by the YA novel Ghetto Cowboy by Greg Neri, the movie tells the story of a troubled teen, Colt (Caleb McLaughlin), who spends the summer in Philadelphia with his estranged father, Harp (Idris Elba). While Concrete Cowboy itself is fiction, the film is heavily inspired by the real-life riders of North Philly, which date back to the 1800s. Both the novel and film took inspiration from the Fletcher Street Riders, a community of Black horse-riders throughout North Philadelphia.
General Announcements
A Celebration of Spring | Plymouth Music Series
On Sunday, May 2 at 4 p.m. Plymouth Music Series premiered a concert from the Folsom Room entitled “A Celebration of Spring” The concert featured THE SERENADE FOR STRINGS by Tchaikovsky and THE SEASONS by Vivaldi.  If you have not yet enjoyed this performance, you can still view it on YouTube for the next month or so. Click the button below to watch the concert!

This was a welcome opportunity for our area string players who have been struggling for income all season due to the pandemic and other ongoing issues with the career musicians in our city. Your donations have been a source of meaningful, practical support for these musicians and all the performers you have supported all season long. As planned and promised, we dedicated every dollar this season toward hiring our local musicians for the concerts we planned at Plymouth Church. So, we end the season satisfied with our efforts, but with a pretty empty bowl!

If you can, please make a donation to the Music Series; it will definitely help us plan more such concerts in the future! Go to www.Plymouthfw.org/donate and choose “Music Series"

Thank you for your support and for helping to keep our local musicians making music in our community!
Peace Studies Scholarship Recipient
The Peace and Justice Committee is happy to announce the recipient of the 2021-2022 “Richard C. Hess Peace Studies Scholarship.”

Ms. Sanelisiwe Ncube, from Zimbabwe, is working toward a Master of Arts: Theology and Peace Studies from the Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Theological Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana. The forthcoming Bell will carry the complete announcement.
Bread for the World Letter Writers Needed
Bread for the World is a collective Christian voice urging our nation’s decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad. The pandemic has exposed vulnerabilities in our safety net and food systems. Child hunger in both the U.S. and abroad has skyrocketed. Specifically, we want Congress to:

1) Make the Child Tax Credit (CTC) in the American Rescue Plan permanent and available to all children regardless of immigration status. The CTC expansion would move millions of children out of poverty, as well as help reduce hunger and narrow the racial wealth gap exacerbated by unemployment as a result of COVID-19.

2) Increase U.S. leadership and funding for global nutrition programs without which an entire generation may be denied of their God-given right to flourish.

Letters to Congress supported with prayer are a bold witness to God’s justice and mercy. If you want to help with writing 3 letters, one each to, Senator Braun, Senator Young and Representative Banks, please contact Lucy Hess at: lrh22@frontier.com or 484-4430. Letter templates and legislators’ addresses will be provided. These letters can be sent via snail or email. Your letters can be the difference to convince our legislators to make these nutrition programs possible this summer and fall.
Peace & Justice Survey
The Peace and Justice Committee invites you to take a simple survey to help us better understand the justice activities of members and how to help connect members with similar commitments. It takes only a couple minutes to do. Thank you!
Donating for Sanctuary-Chapel Technology Improvements
A Sanctuary-Chapel Tech Task Force is at work to substantially upgrade our video recording equipment. The Task Force is busy evaluating a proposal to ensure that it meets our needs and finding funds to help cover the cost. The Task Force has nearly secured sufficient funds to proceed. However, individual members also have an opportunity to financially contribute to this project! Checks should be made out to Plymouth Congregational Church with “Sanctuary Tech” in the memo line. Alternatively, you can donate online by clicking the button below and make a gift in the “Sanctuary Technology” option.
 
Once we eventually return to regular Sunday morning in-person services, we still want to be able to livestream and record them on site, as well as our music series events. We expect this project to be a major improvement in our technological capabilities and enhance our online presence for years to come!
COVID-19 Vaccination Eligibility
The state of Indiana has opened COVID-19 vaccination eligibility to anyone 16 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.
Indiana-Kentucky Conference UCC COVID-19 Guidance
Our conference released further guidance around churches and COVID-19 this week entitled “Healthy Continuity of Ministry and Mission during the COVID-19 Pandemic.” We are including a link below for your review. Church pastoral staff are reviewing the guidelines as they determine what Plymouth’s process will be going forward for this spring. Look for updates in the announcements or as an e-blast.
A Note from the Office
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!
Visiting Plymouth
If you have a need to visit the office, we’d love to see you. Remember to schedule an appointment at least 24 hours in advance. No one is at the front desk, so please arrive on time so a staff member is available to greet you and unlock the door. Please wait at the Berry Street entrance and be prepared to sanitize, sign-in, and wear a mask. Please contact Tina Puitz at tmp@plymouthfw.org to make an appointment. Thank you.