Weekly Bulletin
Sunday, November 7, 2021
Walk With Me © Mary Southard, www.ministryofthearts.org. Used with permission.
Plymouth Congregational Church
2022 Stewardship Campaign

"We've Come This Far by Faith"

1 Samuel 7:12b, "Thus far the Lord has helped us." 
Joys and Concerns

Sundays at 1:00 pm

Our weekly joys and concerns check-in continues Sunday. 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: “Shall We Gather at the River”

Introit : “Come Let Us Join”

Call to Worship: Sabbath Poem by Wendell Berry

Opening Hymn: No. 477 “Though Falsely Some Revile or Hate Me”

Welcome & Announcements
Invocation & Lord's Prayer

Witnessing Steward: Terry Dougherty

Passing the Peace

Response Song: “We’ve Come this Far by Faith” (text altered)

Peace Prayer

Pastoral Prayer

Anthem: “Sweet, Sweet Spirit”

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:1-16

Sermon: “We’ve Come this Far by Faith”

Communion Anthem: “The Potters Hand”
Invitation to Communion
Communion

Closing Hymn: No. 539 “Won’t You Let Me Be Your Servant?”

Benediction
Response: “O Lord Seek Us”

Postlude
This Week
November 7
Al Bohnstedt
William Spindler

November 8
Miles Nicholson

November 9
Rose Pyle

November 10
Mary Ann Cree
Michael McCoy
Cindy Ottinger

November 11
Julie Creek

November 12
Brian Army
Laura Kinner

Next Week's Birthdays

November 14
Carol Miller

November 15
Ty Ratajczak

November 16
Pam Etheridge
Jacob Key
Patrick Vonderau

November 17
Katie Carboneau

November 19
Erin Shaw

November 20
Lowell Beineke
Amber Butler
Valerie Pelz
Sunday, November 7
Commitment Sunday
Daylight Saving Time Ends
8:30 am Fellowship Hour
9:00 am Education Hour
9:00 am Worship Rehearsal
10:00 am Worship Service
1:00 pm Joys and Concerns (online)

Monday, November 8
Office Closed

Tuesday, November 9
1:00 pm Staff Meeting
5:30 pm Benevolence Committee Meeting

Wednesday, November 10
12:00 pm Staff Luncheon
3:00 pm Study Connection
5:15 pm Wednesday Night Live

Thursday, November 11
12:30 pm - 4:30 pm Open Prayer in Sanctuary
1:00 pm Study Group (online)

Sunday, November 14
Good and Faithful Servant Recognition
8:30 am Fellowship Hour
9:00 am Education Hour
9:00 am Worship Rehearsal
10:00 am Worship Service
11:15 am Environmental Action Team Meeting
1:00 pm Joys and Concerns (online)
Chapel Class in November: Food Deserts and Insecurity in the Fort
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.

  • November 7 - Katie Savoie, Community Harvest Food Bank illumines their efforts in reducing food insecurity across the region

  • November 14 - Mary Tyndall, St Joe Community Health Foundation will address eliminating food deserts, ways for increasing food affordability, and teaching cooking skills to families

  • November 21 - Becky Larson, Nutritional Services Fort Wayne Community Schools will be discussing aspects of food sourcing and government’s role, nutrient needs at each age, and how they are addressing weekend food needs

  • November 28 - (tentatively) Terri Theisen, Purdue Extension will introduce the class to the Johnnie Mae Farm on Winter Street and how urban agriculture is taking hold in our city
Wednesday Night Live Programming: November 10
5:15 pm: Children’s Choir (TBD)
  • Sanctuary Singers (Sanctuary)
  • Bible Study (Chapel)
6:00 pm: Dinner (Folsom Room and/or Shedd Park)
6:45 pm: Plymouth Bell Ensemble (Sanctuary Balcony)
  • Centering Prayer Group (Chapel)
  • Youth UnProgram (Youth Center)

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!
Wednesday, November 10: Centering Prayer Group in November
Continuing through November, Rev. Sara will be leading a centering prayer group in the chapel as part of Wednesday night live activities. The group will meet in the chapel from 6:45 pm to 7:30 pm. Centering prayer is a form of silent, contemplative prayer meant to open the heart to God’s presence and action within. Whether you are new to centering prayer, or practice it regularly, all are welcome to join this group. We will be working loosely with the book The Heart of Centering Prayer by Cynthia Bourgeault, though purchase of the book is not required for participation. Please note that there will be no Centering Prayer session on November 24.
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, November 16: Women's Book Study
The next meeting of Plymouth’s Women's Book Study will be on Tuesday, November 16 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 discussing Somebody's Daughter: A Memoir
by Ashley C. Ford. Ms. Ford was born and raised in Fort Wayne. Her story describes a childhood defined by the looming absence of her incarcerated father and what happens when she hears he's being released. There may be a few local landmarks you recognize as you read.

For further information, contact Judith Beineke at [email protected].
Thursday, November 18: ICMEP Welcomes Rev. Loren McGrail
The Indiana Center for Middle East Peace (ICMEP) welcomes Rev. Loren McGrail to Plymouth Church on Thursday, November 18 at 6:30 pm. A UCC minister, writer, poet and artist, Loren served as mission co-worker for UCC and Disciples of Christ in Palestine/Israel in 2018-2021. She writes about her work for Palestinians, and immigrants/refugees based on her witness at the San Diego border. Loren will also discuss her work taking oral histories of Palestinian refugee women from the 1948 Nakba. Free, open to the public. Masks required.
General Announcements
Thanksgiving Dinner Volunteers Needed
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!
Beverages in the Building
This is a friendly reminder that beverages (coffee, soda, etc.) should not be brought into the sanctuary during worship. Please confine their use to the Folsom Room. Thank you!
Attendance Announcement
To keep our church records accurate, please ensure that your full name is clearly printed in the pew pad. If you have any questions about how to fill out the pew pad, instructions can be found in the front cover. Thank you for your help and understanding!
COVID-19 Vaccination Update
Children ages 5-11 are now eligible to be vaccinated with the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine.

For individuals who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the following groups are eligible for a booster shot at 6 months or more after their initial series:
  • People age 65 years and older
  • Age 18+ who live in long-term care settings
  • Age 18+ who have underlying medical conditions
  • Age 18+ who work or live in high-risk settings
 
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.
Volunteers Needed for Children’s Fellowship Time
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].
Bulletin Submission Deadline
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.
Plymouth Church Linktree
The following links can be found on our Linktree:
  • 2022 Stewardship Campaign Page
  • Chancel Flower Sign Up Form
  • Study Connection Volunteer Sign Up
  • Plymouth Google Calendar
  • Plymouth's Social Medias
Open Prayer in Sanctuary on Thursdays
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.
Plymouth Office Hours
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]