On Sunday, April 14, we will be collecting the very first Global Mission Partner Special Offering. Established earlier this year by the Benevolence Committee after consideration of a request to do so, this offering will support a single global organization identified by the Benevolence Committee that is of specific interest to the Plymouth congregation. Like our Thanksgiving and Christmas offerings, the recipient of the offering may change from year to year. 

This year, the Wi’am Center in Bethlehem has been selected as the recipient. As a grassroots organization established in Bethlehem in 1994, the Wi’am Center aims to improve the quality of relationships and to promote peace, justice, a culture of acceptance, and reconciliation in the community. Wi’am strives alongside other forces in their community to build a society based on active participation, citizenship, democratic norms and values, and separation of the four powers (executive, legislative, judicial, and media). Programs include trauma coping for children, women’s empowerment programs, youth programs, vocational training, and more.

This has always been important work, but it is even more so in this place at this moment. You may give in person next Sunday via cash or check, or online anytime at www.plymouthfw.org, using the Global Mission Offering option in the drop-down menu. Your consideration and support of this Global Mission Partner is greatly appreciated.

Starting Sunday, April 14, Rev. Sara and Rev. January will be co-leading a Chapel Class series on the book Rest Is Resistance by Tricia Hersey. The book casts an illuminating light on our troubled relationship with rest and how to imagine and dream our way to a future where rest is exalted. Our worth does not reside in how much we produce, especially not for a system that exploits and dehumanizes us. Rest, in its simplest form, becomes an act of resistance and a reclaiming of power because it asserts our most basic humanity. Rest Is Resistance is a call to action, a battle cry, a field guide, and a manifesto for all of us who are sleep deprived, searching for justice, and longing to be liberated from the oppressive grip of Grind Culture. Buy a copy on Amazon, or wherever you buy your books, and plan to join us on Sunday, April 14 at 9:00 am, in person or on Zoom!

Please join us on Sunday, April 14 during the 10:00 am service as we say farewell and offer our gratitude to Phil Slane, our associate director of music. Phil and his spouse have moved to Lansing, Michigan to pursue other vocational opportunities, and his last official Sunday at Plymouth was March 31. As the associate director of music, Phil has led the children’s music programs at Plymouth, helped lead music during Sunday services, assisted as needed with other musical ensembles, participated in the Boar’s Head and Yule Log festival, and assisted Bob Nance with the Plymouth Music Series. His presence at Plymouth Church will be greatly missed, so please come to show your appreciation for his years of service.

Centering Prayer group resumes this Monday, April 15 at 5:30 pm. The Centering Prayer group at Plymouth meets 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!

Wednesday Night Live programming continues Wednesday, April 17. At 5:15 pm there will be adult choir rehearsal, children’s choir rehearsal, and Bible study, followed by dinner at 6:00 pm. Bible study can be attended in person or via Zoom using the link below. The passcode to join via Zoom is 648589. 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!

Indiana Center for Middle East Peace will host "A Child's View of Gaza," a presentation by Miranda Cleland of Defense for Children International-Palestine, on Thursday, April 18 at 6:30 pm in the Folsom Room

Under more than 15 years of Israeli blockade in Gaza, Palestinian children have never been allowed a normal childhood. Now, as Israel's campaign of genocide claims more and more Palestinian children's lives, children who have so far survived are changed forever. The No Way to Treat a Child campaign, led by Defense for Children International-Palestine, advocates for Palestinian children's rights and for an end to international support for the Israeli apartheid regime.

This presentation will center the Palestinian child's experience and voice to discuss the genocide's impact on the 1.1 million children in Gaza and how we can support efforts to create the world in which they deserve to grow up.

Miranda Cleland is an advocacy officer at Defense for Children International-Palestine and lives in Washington, D.C., where she leads the No Way to Treat a Child campaign and advocates for the human rights of Palestinian children. Miranda is a writer, speaker, facilitator, and campaigner with expertise in children's rights, the Israeli military detention system, and Israeli military killings of Palestinian children.

Please join us in person, right here at Plymouth Church! This event is free and open to the public. It will also be live-streamed on our YouTube channel, linked at the button below. Also, recorded and posted on our YouTube Channel a few days after the event.

Rev. Murphy’s sabbatical runs from April 1 through June 30. During this time of rest and rejuvenation, Rev. Ofner-Seals is serving as the acting Senior Pastor. Rev. Murphy looks forward to communicating with and seeing Plymouth members and friends upon his return!

All are invited to a Wild Church Gathering with Pet Blessing on Sunday, April 21 at 2:30 pm. This service is in partnership with the Green Team at First Presbyterian Church and will be held outside in the First Presbyterian Church Courtyard. As part of Earth Day weekend, we will celebrate and honor creation and all the creatures of the earth – wild and domestic. Bring your pet, either on a leash or in a carrier, or just come to celebrate the web of interconnection of all living things. Feel free to bring a picture of your pet if they don’t play well with others, or if you would like a prayer for a pet that has recently died. All creatures are welcome!

Mark your calendars now for our second annual What is Truth Seminar on Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, May 5. Acclaimed storyteller Valerie Tutson will once again be joining us, as well as vocalists from Heartland Sings, as we explore questions about truth through storytelling and song. More information and a link to register for the event is coming soon, so keep an eye on your digital bulletin in the coming weeks.

This year’s covenant class has chosen to do a service project of filling up all the Forward Indiana food panties across the city of Fort Wayne, but they need our help! From now until the end of April, you are invited to bring in canned goods to contribute to this project. All canned goods can be placed in the food collection bin in the Folsom room. The deadline for our collection is Friday, May 3. Help our students feed the hungry in our city!

The Property Board needs volunteers to pick up trash and pull weeds around the church, parking lot, and the 527 W. Berry property west of the church. Questions? Call or text Gary Kerr at (260) 341-2943 or email gtkerr2@gmail.com to find out how you can help!

Completed applications for the Richard C. Hess Peace Studies Scholarship are due in the church office by April 15:

• The Richard C. Hess Peace Studies Scholarship provides a $1,000 tuition and fees scholarship for a college student majoring in peace studies or a related program.

Contact Linda Balthaser at linda4.sb@frontier.com with your name, email address, 

and the name of the college/university in which will be enrolled in the 2024 fall semester.

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:

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