On Sunday, November 21, we will have our annual special collection for Thanksgiving. This year the offering will support the good work of Just Neighbors. As of this writing, they are housing and caring for four families, including seven children. The services they offer to vulnerable families in our community are vital, and they provide them with good will and respect for the dignity of the people they serve.

You may use the special collection envelopes in the pew racks if you are with us in person. Otherwise, you may mail a check to the church at 501 W. Berry St., Fort Wayne, IN 46802. When making your offering with a check, please include “Thanksgiving Offering” in the memo line.

Please give what you are able, with thanksgiving that your offering will manifest your love of neighbor.

Chapel classes in November promise to both provoke and enthuse. Weekly guests, each a genuine asset in this arena, will share about their work and the differences they are making.

For those who are interested in getting more involved in the effort to resettle recent Afghan refugees in the Fort Wayne area, there will be an introductory and informational meeting on Sunday, November 21 at 11:30 am in the Chapel. We will discuss various options for how to get involved and consider how Plymouth church might be part of the ongoing effort to provide hospitality and welcome to Afghan individuals and their families as they arrive in Fort Wayne and adjust to life in the United States.

On Sunday, November 21, the Same City food truck, which is operated by Just Neighbors, will be in the Plymouth Church parking lot after worship. Bring some cash and plan to purchase a snack or some lunch to help benefit the work that Just Neighbors does for those experiencing homelessness in Fort Wayne.

Anyone who would like to assist with decorating the church for Advent and Christmas is invited to stick around after church on Sunday, November 28 for the Hanging of the Greens. All are welcome-- the more the merrier!

Tapping into Faith continues at Mad Anthony’s on Monday, November 29! This casual gathering of Plymouth folks and any community members who feel like joining in the fun is a great chance to enjoy good company, good conversation about different questions and topics in faith, and, of course, a tasty snack and beverage. Appetizers to share will be provided by Plymouth, and you’re welcome to purchase whatever food you like. If you do not drink alcohol, you can enjoy Mad’s home-brewed root beer or red cream soda, as well as the usual iced tea and sodas.

Please know that we cannot demand or enforce vaccination status or mask-wearing for this event and make your decision accordingly. You are more than welcome to wear a mask yourself, of course – at least while you aren’t eating or drinking.

Join us at 7:30pm in the Mad Room on Monday, November 29, at Mad Anthony Brewing on Broadway and Taylor!

Wednesday Night Live will be off on November 24 but will resume the following week.

5:15 pm: Children’s Choir (TBD)

6:00 pm: Dinner (Folsom Room and/or Shedd Park)

6:45 pm: Plymouth Bell Ensemble (Sanctuary Balcony)

Sign-up sheets are in the Folsom Room to indicate if you will be there for the weekly dinner. Please write your name, number of members of your household, and mark if you are requesting a vegetarian option. Masks will be required indoors except when eating. Plans are fluid based on local COVID cases so watch for e-blasts on any changes of plans. We look forward to seeing you there!

As we approach the holiday season, many of us may be struggling with grief, loneliness, or other difficult emotions. It can be especially difficult to navigate those emotions during a time of year in which so much emphasis is placed on parties and celebration. If you struggle with finding joy during the holiday season, or if you could use a quieter, more reflective way to observe this sacred time of year, please consider joining us for our Luminous Night service, held on Wednesday, December 1 at 7:00 pm. Filled with reflective readings, music, and prayer, it is a time to be together and acknowledge God’s presence and love, even in the midst of loss, loneliness and grief. We hope this service will be a gift to those who need it most this coming holiday season.

This year, the E&M Board used funds to sponsor individuals who signed up for Christmas help through Fort Wayne Pride. What a joy it is to help make the holidays brighter for our neighbors! We are going to have a lot of presents to wrap, and, frankly, we could use your help.

There are a couple ways you can lend a hand:

We look forward to a holly, jolly time!

Our next WELCOMING GROUP will meet Sunday, December 5, 11:30 am to 1:30 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.

Yes, Virginia, Plymouth members and friends of Knit and Kibitz will have lots of handcrafted items available for their home and holiday gifting. The annual sale, which was paused because of the pandemic, is returning Sunday, December 5. Items can be purchased in the Folsom Room before and after worship that day.

All items and supplies for the sale are donated, thus 100% of the income will be given to nonprofit agencies serving families. The sales of Pepper Jelly, Wreaths, and Knit and Kibitz items are three projects of the Standish Colony Circle.

Only cash and checks are accepted for purchases.

Join Rev. Sara Ofner-Seals on December 8 and 15 for two sessions on how Ignatian spirituality can help us engage more deeply with the Christmas story. Rev. Sara will lead participants in a deep, imaginative exploration of the birth narrative from the Gospel of Luke, in a practice that is inspired by St. Ignatius. Sessions will be held in the chapel from 6:45 pm to 7:30 pm, as part of Wednesday Night Live activities.

The next meeting of Plymouth’s Women's Book Study will be on Tuesday, January 18, 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. We shall be reading This Is How It Always Is, by Laurie Frankel.

"This is Claude. He’s five years old, the youngest of five brothers, and loves peanut butter sandwiches. He also loves wearing a dress, and dreams of being a princess. When he grows up, Claude says, he wants to be a girl...." One family learns and grows with a child who wants to change in a way many people don't understand.

For further information, contact Judith Beineke at [email protected].

Our centering prayer group is getting a new day and time! Starting in December, anyone interested in coming together for a time of Centering Prayer and fellowship is welcome on the second Tuesday of every month at 5:30 pm, in the chapel. Come every month, or just drop in when you are able—all are welcome regardless of level of experience.

It’s time to order your Christmas poinsettias! Ordering poinsettias is an easy way to remember, honor, and celebrate loved ones and friends, while helping to decorate our church home for Christmas. To order, please fill out the order form and return it with your check to the church office by Sunday, November 28. Poinsettias are $10.00 each. Plants will be placed in the sanctuary the Sunday before Christmas. Please take your plant home with you following the 10:00 pm worship service on Christmas Eve.

To place an order, please either click the button below to print off a copy of the order form to fill out and return to the church office, or pick up an order form in the church office on Sunday morning.

Plymouth will be hosting a Thanksgiving meal from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 25, and we are looking for volunteers to help provide side dishes and to help with serving and clean up. There is a sign-up sheet in the Folsom Room with a list of side dishes that are requested. Just sign up for what you would like to contribute and plan to drop it off before 12:00 pm on Thanksgiving Day. There are also spots to sign up to help with service and clean-up. This is an important ministry for those who are without family or who are unable to travel to see family on Thanksgiving Day. Please consider helping if you can!

Children ages 5-11 are now eligible to be vaccinated with the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine.

We are in need of volunteers to assist with children’s fellowship time during the 10:00 am worship service. Volunteers will lead children into the Amistad room after the lighting of the peace candle and supervise them as they engage in activities such as arts and crafts and general fellowship. We would like to have enough volunteers so that no one is required to serve more than once a month, and to have at least two adults in the room at any given time. Volunteers are required to have been attending Plymouth for at least six months and will be required to fill out a background check. To express your interest in volunteering, or to get more information, please contact Rev. Sara Ofner-Seals at [email protected].

Any submissions for the Sunday digital bulletin must be sent to Elizabeth Pruitt ([email protected]) by 4:00 pm on the Wednesday prior. We cannot guarantee announcements sent after this time will appear in that Sunday's bulletin. Thank you.

For a time of personal prayer, visit the sanctuary on Thursdays from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm. 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

Questions? Contact the office at 260-423-9424 or [email protected]