After a fun (and delicious) kick-off celebration last week, Wednesday Night Live programming begins this Wednesday, September 6. At 5:15 pm there will be adult choir rehearsal, children’s choir rehearsal, and Bible Study with Rev. Timothy, followed by dinner at 6:00 pm. At 7:00 pm there will be the first of two safe church trainings (attendance at one training session is required for all adults who volunteer or work with children or youth). All activities are open to anyone in the church, regardless of membership status. Come for activities, or just come for dinner and fellowship! The suggested cost for dinner is $10 per person, though no one is ever turned away due to inability to pay. If you plan to come for dinner, please sign up in the Folsom room in advance so our caterer knows how much food to prepare. Hope to see you there!

Plymouth Church will be hosting a community forum of the Help Not Handcuffs Coalition on Saturday, September 9 at 3:00 pm in the Folsom Room. This will include a review of all the decisions made up to this point, the current proposal for a new jail in Allen County, some alternative options, and the need for an independent study on long-term alternatives to incarceration. There will be a time for Q&A towards the end. This forum will be taking place just a few weeks prior to a new funding proposal to be considered by the County Council as well as the next federal hearing on the current status of county plans. All are invited to learn more and have their voices heard!

All adults are invited to our opening chapel class series, "Learning to Be a Better Ally to our Transgender Neighbors." This three-part series will be held in a discussion format where all are encouraged to bring questions. Along the way, the instructors will define terms, share etiquette dos and don’ts, and dispel myths as we learn to be better allies to our trans and non-binary friends and neighbors. The class will be co-taught by Plymouth members Patty Meriwether and Trevor Harkenrider, and special guest Kris Wise from Brave Alliance. Chapel class is held every Sunday at 9:00 am in person and on Zoom. The passcode to join via Zoom is 063060. The Zoom link is included below.

Kids 3 years old through 5th grade gather weekly for a Godly Play story in Room 205. On the first day of Sunday school, preschool and elementary aged kids are encouraged to bring their adults along. Together we will hear a story, explore the stations in the classroom, and share a snack. Parents and grandparents will hear a bit about our teaching philosophy and get to see a class in action. This will be a great chance for new students to ease into the program and for returning students to share Sunday school with their families.

Our Youth Class in Room 203 is for students in Middle and High School. This fall we’ll be taking a whirlwind trip–going through the entire Bible in just 12 sessions. It’s fast, but it’s a great way to see how all the pieces fit together. Yes, returning students, there will be short videos again, and plenty of coloring pages.

On September 10, we will have a resource faire after worship in the Folsom Room. There will be tables set up for the different ministries and programs that occur in the life of the church. This faire gives the congregation the opportunity to see what all is going on, find where they might want to plug in, and ask volunteers from that ministry any questions. There is a sign-up sheet in the Folsom Room we are asking the various ministries, committees, etc. to fill out no later than Wednesday, September 6 to indicate they will be present and need to reserve a table. We look forward to seeing you there!

YOU’RE INVITED!

Hello Plymouth family, it’s your pal, January Simpson. Thanks in no small part to your welcome, support, and nurture over these past seven years, it is my absolute honor and delight to invite you all to my ordination service! Can you believe it?? I’m still taking it in, myself. Anyway, the service will be on Sunday, September 10, here at Plymouth. Service will start at 4:00 pm. I have it on good authority there will be cake to follow.

My gratitude for all of you, individually and as a community of faith, is overwhelming. Thank you.

Starting on Monday, September 11, the Centering Prayer group at Plymouth will begin meeting every Monday evening at 5:30 pm, in the Chapel. Centering Prayer is an ancient form of Christian meditation that dates back as far as the 14th century and is practiced by Christians all over the world. The main idea behind Centering Prayer is to let go of all thoughts in order to open oneself to the healing presence of God within. Plymouth’s Centering Prayer group is open to anyone, regardless of one’s level of experience. Beginners are encouraged to drop in anytime. Whether you can come once a week or once a month, or just once in a while, we’d love to see you there! 

The Environmental Action Team invites all Plymouth members and friends to the 2nd annual Fall Fest at Eagle Marsh on Saturday, September 16 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. We’ll gather at 5:30 pm for a Seed to Marsh service project with Eagle Marsh staff, followed by a short hike. Then we’ll gather around a bonfire for s’mores, hot apple cider, and campfire songs. We’ll end the evening with a short vespers service as the sun begins to set. Things to bring include: long pants, walking shoes, a jacket, bug spray, hand wipes, a stick for roasting marshmallows, a mug for cider, and a folding chair. If you have any questions, please contact Jan Gibson at [email protected]. Eagle Marsh is located at 6801 Engle Rd. Fort Wayne. Hope to see you there!

Merry Christmas! Wait! It’s only late summer, but orders need to be placed for wreaths now. St. Joe Tree Farm is graciously working with Standish Circle to keep the tradition of selling wreaths for you to order and receive in time for the Christmas holidays. The profits are used to assist those in need in our community. Wreath pickup will be at Plymouth on both Sunday, November 20 and Sunday, November 27 at the porte-cochere entrance before and after church. 

Orders and payment must be received no later than Sunday, September 17. To complete an order form, either click the button below to print off the form and return it to the Plymouth office or pick up an order form at the front office on Sunday mornings. Order forms will also be available at the Plymouth Resource Faire at the Standish Colony table. Checks should be made payable to Plymouth Church and include a notation stating "Standish Wreaths" on the memo line.

A note about decorated wreaths: The décor of the decorated wreaths will be different in 2023. Each decorated wreath will have 3 single pinecones and 2 sets of berries with a choice of bow. A choice of natural pinecone or white tipped pinecone and red berries or burgundy berries are still available. Choice of bow will be dark red or burgundy.

The author of next month's book for Plymouth's Women's Book Study needs no introduction. She's Michelle Obama, and the book is The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times.

One critic wrote: "... Michelle Obama opens a frank and honest dialogue with readers, considering the questions many of us wrestle with: How do we build enduring and honest relationships? How can we discover strength and community inside our differences? What tools do we use to address feelings of self-doubt or helplessness? What do we do when it all starts to feel like too much?"

If you think you would enjoy discussing this book (and you self-identify as a woman), please do join us in the Amistad Room at 12:00 pm on Tuesday, September 19, or contact Laura McCoy to join us virtually. You will be most welcome.

Other books on our autumn schedule are Anam Cara by John O'Donohue, and All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.

A renovation of the Folsom Room and the two adjacent hallways has begun. These spaces will remain available for programming and fellowship, but they will be in transition for several weeks as wallpaper has been removed, walls are being repainted, and flooring is replaced. Simultaneously, we are having the sidewalk replaced and upgraded along Berry Street, which will permanently remove the “second step” as a falling hazard. Watch for picture updates on the Plymouth Generations Facebook page. Thank you for your understanding!

Our Sunday School runs on volunteer power! Take a look at our needs below. If you can contribute to our program, please contact Katie Watson.

In the classroom:

• Teachers/storytellers - prepare a story (children’s class) or lesson (youth class) each week.
• Classroom assistants - help out in the classroom for a 3-month session as a reliable welcoming presence for the kids
• Substitutes - fill in for a teacher or assistant for a single week.

Behind the scenes:

• Feast helpers - set out snacks so students can enjoy them at the end of their work time. Feast helpers sign up for single weeks as they are available.
• Craftspeople - Our stories come to life thanks to props made by Plymouth people. Past craftspeople have cut out wooden figures, illustrated stories with original drawings, sewn stuffed animals, and even constructed doll-sized temples and churches. If you have a skill, we probably have an idea of something you could make!

Plymouth Member Zoe Moore is finishing their final year at Boston University and will graduate with a degree in Film and Television. As their senior project through DKA, the professional film fraternity at BU, they are producing a short film called “Ash Wednesday,” a coming-of-age comedy about acceptance, faith, and friendship. It follows a queer Catholic schoolgirl who gets her period during Ash Wednesday Mass and must embark on an odyssey with her best friend to find a tampon and make it back to Mass in time to get their ashes — or else they're suspended. At Plymouth, we believe faith and queer joy can coexist. “Ash Wednesday” uses humor to convey this theme. Zoe is fundraising for the film and would be beyond grateful for any support their home church community can provide. You can donate or share the crowdfunding link at the button below. (Click the first link on the LinkTree.)

Volunteers for the 11th year of Study Connection at Plymouth Church are needed! You can be a tutor or a substitute to fill in on the few days when a tutor must be away. Contact Lucy Hess for more information on what is expected of a tutor and sub at [email protected] or (260) 484-4430. Study Connection is offered at Plymouth every Wednesday from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm starting early October to mid-May. To sign up for the background check, click here. The Study Connection sign up sheet is always linked in the Plymouth LinkTree, linked in the bulletin each week.

Plymouth’s directory is going digital! You can now sign up for account access on the Plymouth Website. This will allow you to see your own personal information, see your giving and contributions for the year, and access the new Plymouth Church Directory. By moving to a digital directory, we keep our commitment to protect the environment by being an Earthwise congregation, while also guaranteeing that we have up to date information right at your fingertips. Once the request is processed, you will receive an e-mail from the office with your unique username and password allowing you to log in via the "Member Login" button on our website.

At the same time that we are providing this fantastic service, we are also collecting emergency contact information that will be kept on file in case you were to become seriously injured or ill at a church service or event. Such information will be kept private and only used in emergency situations by staff.

To sign up for either please visit here or see Jake Slone, Church Receptionist, in the office for a paper form.

Masks are optional in worship and church programming. If you are feeling under the weather or prefer to wear a mask around others, it is an ongoing option. A high-quality mask provides good protection against infection even if others around you are not wearing one. We will continue to offer livestreamed and recorded worship services for anyone unable to attend services in person.

Plymouth Church is looking for volunteers to cover the 1:00 pm Staff Meetings on Tuesdays. If you would like to assist, please sign up with Jake in the office or sign up by clicking the button below.

The following links can be found on our Linktree:

• Study Connection Volunteer Sign Up
• Plymouth Directory Login
• Chancel Flower Dedication Sign Up Form
• Donate
• Past Chapel Class Series
• Habitat for Humanity Volunteer Sign Up
• Plymouth Google Calendar
• Plymouth's Social Media