“God did not make this person as I would have made him . . . We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God. God will be constantly crossing our paths and canceling our plans by sending us people with claims and petitions.” ―Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community
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The Interruptions of Grace
Rev. Dr. DeWayne L. Davis
For as long as people have gathered to be the church, they have had to negotiate their differences and make room for others. Our culture and economics have conditioned us to move through the world as individuals, independent and self-reliant central units of concern, free to be unconstrained by the state or our social group. We have been conditioned to value individualism so highly that we rarely see how it threatens another value we hold: covenant, the binding of ourselves together in community despite our differences. Choosing to be in community when the world expects otherwise is a sign of grace. The Gospels portray Jesus’ encounter with his disciples and strangers as interruptions of grace, a providential gathering of people in covenant as part of the reign of God.
The theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer acknowledged the tensions inherent when people show up in our communities with claims and petitions because “God did not make this person as I would have made him.” But to be beloved community means to love one another, bear each other’s burdens, and maintain fellowship. In our beloved community, we confronted competing claims and petitions explicitly about displaying two beloved embroideries. Our disagreement over these precious treasures is painful, and many members feel a profound, piercing loss. Our life together compels us to hold grief and loss as one body, and our task is to heal our bond and maintain our fellowship.
The world does not expect us to heal or come together. The privileging of unfettered choice and self-sufficient individualism forecast that the easier option is to forego community. But I believe in and choose beloved community. I believe in and choose Plymouth Church. Ours is a beloved community marked by generous hospitality and giving and receiving love that counters the empire’s emphasis on contention and polarization. While it hurts to be at odds with one another, polarization is not our story nor the whole of who and what we are. We are a unique revelation of God’s presence and movement in the world, with each of us being interruptions of grace in the life of Plymouth. The world is hurting so much that people want to know where God is. People want to see signs of love, good, peace, of change. Despite all that we have been through, I pray we remember our covenant and who and whose we are. I pray we live out love, good, peace, and change so God may be revealed to the world. May it be so.
May it be so.
DeWayne L. Davis
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June 19, 2022
"Under the Big Top"
Outdoor Worship at 9 a.m.
Masking is not required outdoors.
11 a.m. Worship in the Sanctuary
Masking in the church building is strongly recommended.
There is a "Mask Only" Section available in the Sanctuary and marked for those wishing for extra security.
Schedule
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9 a.m. Worship
"Under the Big Top"
Outdoor Worship
9 a.m. worship will not be offered virtually
Masking is not required outdoors.
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Features music from the Jazz Trio
Musical Response
THESE CLOUDLESS SKIES
Laura Caviani
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Contemplatives
The Journal as LIfe's Companion
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Coffee and Social Time
in Jones Commons
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In the sanctuary
and online
Masking in the church building is strongly recommended.
There is a "Mask Only" Section available in the Sanctuary and marked for those wishing for extra security.
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Features music from the Plymouth Choir, Solo Quintet, and Philip Brunelle, with guests Cecilia and Jacob Taggart, piano, and Lynne Aspnes, harp.
Anthems
WHEN MUSIC WAKES MY SLEEPING HEART
David Evan Thomas
CANTIQUE OF JEAN RACINE
Gabriel Fauré
The prelude will begin at 10:45
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Due to summer scheduling conflicts and recent low attendance, our Sundays at 5 service will go on hiatus beginning this Sunday, June 19. We plan for it to return on Rally Sunday, September 11. And stay tuned for special summer worship opportunities! |
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Worship in the Sanctuary this Sunday; the congregation is welcome in person or to watch via Livestream on Facebook, YouTube, or Plymouth.org/worship.
Chancel Flowers are given in loving memory of Ramón Esparolini by Hope Esparolini.
In-Depth with Beth and Seth is on hiatus until October.
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Contemplative Prayer is offered:
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Embroidery Update
On June 14, 2022, Leadership Council met for 2½ hours discussing the summer embroidery, “Summer of the First Amendment.” Five guests observed our work.
Leadership Council voted unanimously to amend Paragraph 3 of the Embroideries Action Plan as follows:
To support the stated purposes and values of Plymouth Congregational Church, the Summer Embroidery will be immediately and indefinitely rested. There are no plans to display the “Summer of the First Amendment” in the future, until and unless a reason to do so arises.
A motion was made to follow the 2019 Embroideries Plan and hang the summer embroidery for more process, but the motion was not seconded. We will post detailed minutes of the meeting soon that will shed light on the Leadership Council’s debate and the reasons for the decision. For now, we want you to hear the result directly from us about our decision.
We understand this decision is a loss that some will grieve. But the Leadership Council believes resting the Summer Embroidery is necessary for Plymouth to honor the current purposes of the church as we look to the future. We honor the Needlers who created these extraordinary pieces of art and commit to bearing the burden of this loss with you through our presence, covenant, and prayers. May God continue to bless the work and witness of Plymouth Congregational Church as we strive to create the inclusive, welcoming, healing community we proclaim to be.
Leadership Council
Plymouth Congregational Church
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The clergy will offer their response on Sunday morning, June 19. |
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Due to summer scheduling conflicts and recent low attendance, our Sundays at 5 service will go on hiatus beginning this Sunday, June 19. We plan for it to return on Rally Sunday, September 11. And stay tuned for special summer worship opportunities! |
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Summer Choir
If you are interested in singing on one or more June Sundays, please join Philip Brunelle in the choir loft at 9:50 a.m. for your music. This is a wonderful way to keep singing during the summer and enjoy some wonderful choral music! A choir folder and robe will be provided.
Thanks,
Philip
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Building the Beloved Community
Public Safety Project
Session #3
7 p.m.
Tuesday, June 28
In-person and Online
Please join us for our third police encounter dilemma and discussion. It is not necessary to have participated in the first or second discussion to attend. All are welcome. We will hold our discussion live and in person at the church, and we will also offer a Zoom streaming option.
Minnesota Department of Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington has given us our third police encounter dilemma scenario for feedback, a dilemma he faced as a young police officer, involving an encounter at night, answering a frantic 911 caller’s demand for police support.
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Amplify Love T-Shirt
Have you seen these around? We've been getting lots of questions about our new Amplify Love shirts. We're placing an order to arrive in time for Pride. Get yours by using the order form linked below today. The cost to produce and ship each shirt, made from recycled material, is $18.
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CALL TO ACTION: WE NEED YOUR HELP TO GROW
Two types of volunteers are needed to help advance Plymouth’s marketing efforts:
Committee Members
As the committee is formalized, we’ll need help from members experienced in marketing, design, advertising, and data sciences to help bring campaigns to fruition and educate leadership and the congregation about how our goals and how our campaigns are functioning.
Ambassadors
We will need 10–15 people willing to participate in a new training curriculum and serve as a physical manifestation of our campaign—noticing, welcoming, coaching, and nurturing connections with church prospects. We'll provide training beginning this summer.
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Children, Youth, & Families
and Church School
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Meaning, a Podcast
What is your response to uncomfortable situations? How do you respond when confronted with a person or conversation that you disagree with, or that reveals a side of society or yourself that is hard to see? If you take your cues from social media or our popular culture, you might respond with anger, or defensiveness, or by distracting yourself from the source of the discomfort. But what does a spiritual path suggest as a more productive response?
I talked about this with Seth Patterson, Plymouth’s Minister for Spiritual Formation and Theater. He reflected on the constructive role that discomfort plays for him as a leader, as a performer, and as a community member.
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Notes From the Shelf Elf
Caste: The Origin of Our Discontents, is a beautifully written, eminently readable book by Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Isabel Wilkerson. The 2020 title was born out of the research Wilkerson did on her first book, The Warmth of Other Suns. But make no mistake, Caste is not a sequel to Warmth. If anything, it might be considered a prequel or a foundation.
Caste is in our Elaine Marsh Library. It presents and compares the caste systems of American slavery, India, and Nazi Germany. Metaphor and story-telling are the bedrock methods used by Ms. Wilkerson to expand and deepen the reader’s understanding of caste systems. Among many other things, the book illuminates the relationship between American slavery and Nazi Germany and describes a momentous meeting of American and Indian “untouchables” in 1959.
The concepts of racism and caste are closely related, with caste being described as a skeleton upon which the skin of racism rests. Word pictures such as this help to provide greater visibility of a system that we know so intimately it’s virtually invisible.
Give Caste: The Origin of Our Discontents a try. Such an enjoyable read, you’ll be glad you did!
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Donations for Third Wednesday Drop-in Bingo
Plymouth Drop-in for low-income adults who live with mental illness happens every Wednesday and Thursday, but third Wednesday is always bingo. Donations of practical prizes like toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, and soap are much appreciated and can be left in the Bingo Box in Jones Commons. Adult coloring and puzzle books are also great, as is almost anything "gently used" as they say at the thrift stores.
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A Personal Connection to Ukrainian Refugee Relief
and How You Can Help!
Peter and Jane Eichten’s daughter Katie and her husband Jared are working tirelessly for the refugees coming into Bulgaria. Click here to read a letter from Katie that explains what is going on and their involvement. Peter and Jane are collecting monetary donations through checks or Venmo to support Katie and Jared and their community as they shelter refugees and help them re-establish life in Bulgaria. 100% of the money will be going to the Ukrainian refugees. For more information on to how to offer your support, please contact Peter pjeichten@hotmail.com (612-708-7134) or Jane jeichten24@gmail.com (612-813-1831). |
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We Need More Bags!
We continue to offer hearty, warm to-go meals each Sunday at Plymouth Congregational Church. With our partners from other downtown churches, each Sunday of the month is covered, with all of the distribution occurring at Plymouth.
We hand out a lot of bags—more than 100 each Sunday! We need more large paper grocery bags with handles, and we hope you can help. Please bring your bags to the collection bin outside Plymouth’s Jones Commons each Sunday through Thursday from 8:45 a.m. to noon.
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Ongoing Tuesday Vigils for Justice
Racial Justice Initiative justice vigils are now being held from noon to 12:30 p.m. every Tuesday. Please join us when you are able. We always meet by Door 1 near Jones Commons.
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Plymouth Church Building COVID-19 Updates
Wearing a mask is strongly recommended for everyone.
The health, safety, and wellbeing of all who use Plymouth Congregational Church is our top priority.
Thank You For Your Support
The clergy and staff at Plymouth are continuing to work to care for and support you—our congregation—and, as mentioned above, our essential building tenants. Our need for your support continues. Please consider making a gift online (click here), texting your gift to 612/999-2874 or sending in a check (1900 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis 55403). Mail is being collected securely and safely each day. We are so grateful for you!
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and ask to be removed from this distribution list.
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Plymouth Congregational Church
1900 Nicollet Avenue (at Franklin)
Minneapolis, MN 55403
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