The series on progressive Christianity, led by Rev. Murphy and Rev. Ofner-Seals, continues this Sunday, September 25. The theme for this week is inclusivity and social justice. Whether you are a new Christian, new to Plymouth, or have been here a while but want to learn more, this series is for you! This Chapel Class series will have a Zoom option for those who want to learn but are unable to be there in person. Click the link below to join. When prompted, enter the password 063060.

How is Plymouth able to offer scholarships to deserving students? How are special needs and projects funded by Plymouth outside the operating budget? What is included in an estate plan? These questions and more will be addressed in an upcoming workshop entitled, “The Power of a Planned Gift” sponsored by the Stewardship and Finance Board. Everyone is welcome to attend the workshop which will be held on Sunday, September 25 right after worship in the Folsom Room. Snacks will be served and child care will be provided. We look forward to seeing you there!

E&M will be hosting our monthly Tapping Into Faith get together at 7:30pm on Monday, September 26, at Mad Anthony Brewing. It’s a great opportunity to get to know your Plymouth family a little better, and sometimes neighbors from the community as well.

Feel free to bring a friend if you like – the more the merrier! E&M will provide appetizers to share, and you are welcome to order food and drink for yourself. Open to the public.

Regular Wednesday Night Live Programming has resumed. At 5:15 pm there will be Bible Study, Children’s Choir and Adult Choir rehearsals. A catered dinner will be served at 6:00 pm, with Bell Choir and book discussion with Rev. Ofner-Seals at 6:45 pm. A sign-up sheet is in the Folsom Room for those who wish to attend dinner. Recommended donation is $8 but is pay as you are able. Wednesday Night Live is a great way to get more involved in the life of the church and get to know other church members. Join us for one or more of the scheduled programs, or just join us for dinner and fellowship! We hope to see you there!

Join Rev. Ofner-Seals and others in Plymouth’s weekly Bible study, which is offered during Wednesday Night Live from 5:15 pm to 6:00 pm. Rev. Murphy will return the following week. We are now offering a hybrid model: in-person in the Chapel with an online Zoom option as well. For those who intend to join online, please click the link below and enter the following password when prompted: 805552.

For our next Wednesday evening book study, we will be reading and discussing the book Crisis Contemplation: Healing the Wounded Village, by Rev. Dr. Barbara Holmes. In this book, Dr. Holmes takes a deep dive into the contemplative practices of non-white, non-western European communities to expand our vocabulary around what constitutes spiritual practice. Published in 2021, Crisis Contemplation is a deeply relevant salve to the anxiety so many of us feel amid multiple global crises, and masterfully bridges the illusory gap between social action and contemplative spirituality.

Wednesday, September 28 will be the second week of our six week study. We will meet in the Amistad room after Wednesday Night Live dinner from 6:45 pm to

7:30 pm. Crisis Contemplation: Healing the Wounded Village can be purchased on Amazon or directly through the publisher at Crisis Contemplation: Healing the Wounded Village – CAC Bookstore. If assistance with the cost of the book is needed, please speak with Rev. Sara Ofner-Seals to have the church purchase a copy for you. Please consider joining us this fall!

There will be an information meeting regarding the June 2023 Palestine-Israel Solidarity Tour this Thursday, September 29, 6:30 pm at the Spath's, 5615 Old Mill Road, 46807, for those interested in learning more about the June 11-24 Solidarity Tour to Palestine and Israel. This is an information meeting only (no commitment needs to be made). We will learn about the holy sites we'll visit as well as the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim religious, political, and NGO leaders with whom we'll meet working for justice and human rights in the region. And we will answer any questions you might have about the tour. Come to learn more about the trip, and bring a friend.

This year, we are teaming up with First Presbyterian Church for our annual Blessing of the Animals Service, on Saturday, October 1 at 10:00 am. The service will be held at First Presbyterian Church in their outdoor courtyard. All pet companions are welcome on leashes or in crates. If your pet does not play well with others, feel free to bring a picture of your pet to be blessed. We will also be collecting donations of pet food and treats for Humane Fort Wayne. Join us as we celebrate and bless all creatures, great and small!

Fall Fest at Eagle Marsh is scheduled for Friday, October 7 from 6:00 pm tp 8:00 pm. The evening will start with a nature hike where we will collect seeds for the Seed to Marsh project. After the hike we’ll sit around a bonfire to sing campfire songs, make s’mores, and enjoy a time of fellowship. The evening will conclude with a short Vespers service. Those who wish to bring a sack dinner may arrive at 5:30pm to have a bite to eat before the program begins. Be sure to bring a jacket and bug spray! Eagle Marsh is located at 6801 Engle Rd.

Film and Faith is back and those between the ages of 24-39 are invited! Led by Rev. Murphy, this is an opportunity to enjoy a movie and discuss it with others. For our next film, we will be watching the 1998 film Dark City. We will gather at 2:30 pm on Sunday, October 9 and watch it in the choir room. Childcare is available but folks need to RSVP to tcm@plymouthfw.org if they plan to attend.

The wreath sales for this 2022 year are significantly lower than in years past. We’re able to extend the deadline for wreath orders an extra week to this Sunday, September 25. If you have not submitted your order form yet but want a wreath, please fill out the form and submit it and a check to the church office by this Sunday. Thank you!

Plymouth will be participating in the UCC Special Mission Offering for Neighbors In Need on Sunday, October 2 which is World Communion Sunday. As we recognize our kinship with all who share our faith, it is fitting to recognize our kinship with all who are in need. This year’s offering will be directed specifically toward justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and direct service projects that address issues of economic justice.

You can give using the special collection envelopes (be sure to included “NIN Mission Offering” on your memo line) or online by clicking the button below.