Each fall at Plymouth we gift our kindergarteners with a story Bible, and our 2nd graders with a full-text NRSV Bible. Having these resources at home reminds our kids that this is their story, and encourages them to continue wondering and learning with their families.

This Sunday we will present Bibles to the following students:

Kindergarten: 

Isaac McCrory

August Solon

Third Grade:

Tobias Archer

Adult Chapel class kicks off this year with a series in September on Progressive Biblical Interpretation 101. This series, led by Rev. Ofner-Seals, is for anyone who may want the tools to interpret scripture through a move progressive lens. The series will run from Sunday, September 8-29 at 9:00 am and will be available in person and on Zoom. The password for Zoom is 461025. 

On Sunday, September 8, we will have a resource faire after worship in the Folsom Room. There will be tables set up on 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. We look forward to seeing you there!

After a short summer break, our Centering Prayer Group is resuming this coming Monday, September 9, at 5:30 pm in the Plymouth Chapel. All are welcome to attend, regardless of your level of knowledge or experience. If you've ever been curious about Centering Prayer, which is a form of Christian silent meditation, now is the perfect time to come check it out! We are a small but friendly group and are always open to newcomers. We meet every Monday, so feel free to drop in as often or as sporadically as you like!

After the kickoff event on August 28, regular Wednesday Night Live programming begins on Wednesday, September 4. At 5:15 pm there will be adult choir rehearsal, our Eat, Pray, Play program, and Bible Study with Rev. Timothy, followed by dinner at 6:00 pm. Handbells will meet at 6:45 pm. 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 will be 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!

Click the button below to join Rev. Timothy's Bible Study via Zoom. The passcode to join is 773232.

We are introducing new intergenerational programming starting Wednesday, September 11 from 5:15 pm to 6:00 pm. The program will focus on Christian faith practices, and for this first unit we will be focusing on the practice of hospitality. We explore this theme through storytelling, scripture, free play, and prayer, with activities that all ages can participate in. The first unit of Eat, Pray, Play will run from September 11 to October 2. Families and individuals are welcome to come to as few or as many sessions as they are able. Come check it out!

On Thursday, September 12 at 1:00 pm, join Michael Spath via Zoom as he interviews Ali Abunimah, journalist, political analyst, and Director of The Electronic Intifada, the independent online news publication and educational resource focusing on Palestine, its people, politics, culture and place in the world. Click the button below to register.

On Tuesday, September 17 at 12:00 pm, the women's book study group will be discussing The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride.

"This novel offers the reader literary fiction, historical fiction, and mystery. The story is set in Pottstown, Pennsylvania in the 1920s and 1930s and follows the lives of Black and Jewish residents of the Chicken Hill neighborhood. It focuses on the Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, owned by Moshe Ludlow and his wife, Chona, and on the events that affect the people connected to it. Redemption, forgiveness, healing, community, respect, all play their part."

We welcome anyone who self-identifies as a woman to drop in to join us in the Amistad Room at 12:00 pm. In October, we'll be reading The Book Woman's Daughter, by Kim Michele Richardson and in November, A Fever in the Heartland, by Timothy Egan.

In recognition of the International Day of Peace, the Plymouth Music Series will present a traditional hymn sing featuring songs of faith that focus on peace on Sunday, September 22 at 4:00 pm. The program will include piano, organ, handbells, and congregational singing.  Be the voice of peace! This concert will take place in the Plymouth Church Sanctuary. 

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 Sunday, November 24 at the porte-cochere entrance before and after church. 

Orders and payment must be received no later than Sunday, September 29. 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 on Sunday, September 8 at the Standish Colony table. Checks should be made payable to Plymouth Church and include a notation stating "Standish Wreaths" on the memo line. If mailing an order form, please make sure it is in by Wednesday, September 25.

Plymouth's Office Manager, Tina Puitz, has resigned effective immediately. If you have office related questions, you can send them to office@plymouthfw.org, which will continue to be monitored while we search for a replacement. Remaining office staff will assist boards, committees, and others during this transition, or you can reach out to one of our pastors if you are not sure who to talk to.

We are pleased to announce that Maryrose Beerman has been hired to begin serving as our next Associate Director of Music. Her starting date is Monday, September 9. Maryrose recently relocated to Fort Wayne from Florida. Expect to see her around on Sundays, Wednesday Night Live, and at other Plymouth music ministry activities!

The office is once again looking for a few brave souls to help us with the mountain of bulk mailing that we will need to accomplish this year for the stewardship campaign. We have two mailings that will go out, one on Tuesday, September 24, and the other on Tuesday, October 22. Shifts are broken down into two-hour increments from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm both days. Sign up to volunteer by clicking the button below.

The Louise Folsom Library Committee is cleaning house! There are many interesting CDs and DVDs that need new homes. They are located in the Folsom Room. Please help us recycle these treasures! 

Plymouth Church is developing a digital devotional booklet for the 2024 Advent season. We are looking for 20 individuals who would write a short article based on a scriptural passage. Each devotional in this project would include the following: a title, the key verse of the text, the devotion itself (the writer’s reflection), a question for further reflection, and a concluding sentence prayer. The entire article, which includes all the elements listed above, should be no more than 300 words. 

Your unique perspective and personal experience can greatly enrich our Advent Devotional, making it a meaningful resource for our congregation. If you would like to participate in this project or would like more information please see Garrett Pogue, or send an email to Plymouth.Advent@gmail.com. 

Volunteers for the 12th 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 lrh22@frontier.com 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 apply, click the button below to complete the volunteer sign up form. All volunteers must have a background check which is done by the FWCS. Everyone is welcome to be a special friend to an elementary age child. Providing support and encouragement is the main task for each tutor and sub. Being a tutor is a great way to make a difference in a child’s life.

Do you have some time available on Tuesdays and are looking for something to do? Would you like to aid your favorite Plymouth Receptionist in making sure that everyone is greeted with a kind and smiling face? Do we have the opportunity for you! Plymouth staff are looking for volunteers to cover for the receptionist during the staff meetings every Tuesday from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm. It’s a quiet time for the church, the most you may have to do is answer a phone or two, maybe complete a small project. 

To sign up as a volunteer, speak with Jake in the office or click the button below.

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.

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