“People actually flourish when they’re treated well and they suffer when they’re treated badly.” —Donna Hicks

Radical Dignity, Radical Citizenship

Rev. Dr. DeWayne L. Davis

We had all gathered in a community space at a local performance arts center to meet the mayor’s new choice for chief of police. While most attendees were people of color, the diverse crowd skewed older and included activists, clergy, concerned citizens, and small business owners. Everybody in that room has articulated their ideas and concerns about police and public safety. But something about being in a gathered community highlighted the need to be accountable to each other as neighbors and to those who were not there.

As the chief nominee stood before a winding line of people seeking to get some one-on-one time with him, a clergy colleague approached me to ask what I thought. I don’t remember what I said precisely, but I said something about him appearing to be an appropriate choice. I’m not sure that was a satisfying answer because my interlocutor responded with the question, “What are you looking for?” I answered without hesitation: I want radical dignity and radical citizenship, especially for the poor and black people. In our discussions about poverty, inequality, and social and criminal justice, we have not been forceful enough in our articulation of how to honor the dignity and respect the citizenship rights of the vulnerable among us.

Over the last few years, our political discourse and cultural divisions have assaulted the human dignity and the rights of citizenship of so many. But our biblical and theological traditions have furnished us with the model and mandate for how to honor the worth of all people. In Jesus’ life and ministry, he proclaimed the good news of God’s unconditional love and amazing grace for all. Still, he demonstrated it explicitly and materially in his offer of radical dignity to those who were perceived to be without honor and radical citizenship to those who held no place of regard in the empire. Jesus did not withhold his welcome, care, and service from anybody and taught his followers to act likewise. The pronouncement of the kingdom of God was effectively an invitation to ongoing membership in God’s commonwealth of justice, belovedness, and salvation.

Whether the question is about public safety, political and economic justice, or health care and human needs, we must never sacrifice anybody’s dignity or citizenship for the sake of order. Instead, we should act as guarantors and protectors of radical dignity and radical citizenship for those most vulnerable to being denied it. I pray we remember that the good news that anchors our faith affirms our dignity as part of the human family and our citizenship in the reign of God. I pray we use our voices and ministry to secure that dignity and citizenship for our neighbors.

May it be so.

DeWayne L. Davis

Rev. Adam Russell Taylor is president of Sojourners, an ecumenical Christian organization that works to advance justice and peace. He previously led the Faith Initiative at the World Bank Group, served as Vice President of Advocacy at World Vision U.S., was cofounder and executive director of Global Justice, and was selected as a White House Fellow under the Obama administration. A graduate of the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government and the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, Taylor is ordained in the American Baptist Church and the Progressive National Baptist Convention and serves at the Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia.

Guest preacher Rev. Adam Rusell Taylor preaches, "Repairing the Breach"

October 30, 2022

9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Worship in the Sanctuary

Masking in the church building is strongly recommended.

Schedule

9 a.m. Worship

Worship is offered online or in person

Masking in the church building is strongly recommended.

Features music from the Jazz Trio

and the Chorister Choir.

Musical Response

Will You Take My Hand?

Jim Papoulis

Sundays at 10

Church School 

Education Wing

Coffee and Social Hour

Sunday Forum: Truth, Not Fact

Small Group Discussion:

This I Believe

Racial Justice Is Personal

Also Open

Fireside Room for quiet contemplation.

Conn Gallery, Archives, and Library are open for exploration.

11 a.m. Worship

Worship is offered online or in person

Masking in the church building is strongly recommended.

Features music from harpists Sarah Grudem and Elinor Niemisto, the Plymouth Choir, and Philip Brunelle

Anthems

O WORSHIP OUR GOD, ALL GLORIOUS ABOVE!

John LaMontaine

A WELSH PRAYER

Paul Mealor

Contemplative Prayer is offered:

Thursdays at 9 a.m. - online

In Memoriam

Dan Peterson (October 22, 2022), husband of Nancy Peterson

Memorial

Helen Conway, Saturday, November 5, 11 a.m.

Live Stream Here

Stewardship Moment

Cultivate Faith – Nurture Connection – Amplify Love: Make your annual commitment to support all the things you love about Plymouth! Because of your support, our impact on the community has grown, please consider making an increase to your annual giving so that we may provide more resources and programming to our community.

This I Believe

This I Believe | Racial Justice is a project of the Racial Justice Initiative. The goal with these weekly personal stories is to inspire reflection and action, and we offer them with humility and vulnerability.

Truth, Not Fact

Sunday, October 30

Sunday Forum



The talk will explore ways in which the Bible, especially the Older Testament, can provide insights and illuminate our lives, our world, and our God, whether or not its stories are factual.

Bridges to Contemplative Living with Thomas Merton

a New Small Group

The Bridges to Contemplative Living with Thomas Merton small group leads participants on a journey toward spiritual transformation. Over eight sessions, we will be introduced to Merton and contemplative living through prayers, readings from Merton and other spiritual masters, and contemplative dialogue. We’ll begin with Book One: Entering the School of Your Experience. 

In-person in South Minneapolis, every other Thursday from 3 to 5 p.m., beginning November 3.

For everyone who has played the Bach “Prelude in C Major” (as well as those who have not!), please join us in the Plymouth sanctuary on Sunday,

November 6 at 4 p.m. to celebrate the 300 anniversary of Bach’s “Well-Tempered Clavier” with an hour of this marvelous music performed by 4 outstanding pianists including Tadeusz Majewski, well-known to us at Plymouth Church. 

A free concert for all ages and not to be missed! Invite your friends to join you.

White Church Truths

November 5, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.

Our neighbors at Westminster are hosting an important event called White Church Truths from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on November 5. In order to work for racial justice, some truths must be faced, even about the faith practiced in most Minnesota churches.

At White Church Truths, we will face the truths hidden in white Christian beliefs and open our eyes more clearly to the future—and white Christians' role in it.

This event includes a keynote by Dr. Michael O. Emerson, author of Blacks and Whites in Christian America.

A response panel includes:

Felecia Boone, DEI consultant for Hennepin County

Rev. Kelly Sherman-Conroy (Lakota), a Native theologian

Plymouth's very own Rev. Dr. DeWayne Davis

Creative Quarterly,

Chime Time

The next Creative Quarterly for youth is the Chime Time Handbell Choir, which runs from October 26 through Christmas Eve! We will learn the basics of ringing, work together to play beautiful music, and finish by providing music at the 5 p.m. Christmas Eve service. All are welcome, and no prior handbell experience is necessary!

Please reach out to Eric Kvasnicka at eric.kvasnicka@gmail.com with any questions. We look forward to an exciting few months of youth handbell ringing! 

Volunteers Needed for Hosting Downtown Coalition for Grief

The Downtown Minneapolis Coalition for Grief Support is a unique resource to help adults understand and express grief and then begin moving forward as they grieve the death of a spouse, child, family member, or friend. This group is an all-volunteer, nondenominational organization that offers encouragement, support, education, and comfort.

As a member of the Coalition, Plymouth Congregational Church will be taking its turn as host for the weekly, in-person sessions every Saturday through December 31, 2022. We need volunteers to help support this important work. Volunteer shifts run from 9:30- noon. A detailed checklist of duties will be provided to walk you through the shift. Responsibilities involve registering and welcoming participants, setting up the library books, opening the session by providing a brief meditation, and introducing the speaker.

If you are able to help, please follow this link to Sign-Up Genius where you can sign up for shifts. If you have questions, contact Tom Anderson (tompand@yahoo.com)

ICOM Vigil

November 8, 7 p.m. 

Join the Plymouth Immigrant Welcoming Working Group and Rev. DeWayne Davis at the ICOM Vigil at the Whipple Federal Building at 7:30 on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, to stand with our immigrant neighbors who are facing deportation and to stand in opposition to ICE's dehumanizing practices. There will be an opportunity to attend Court Watch afterward for up to 10 people. For more information, contact Karen Canon: kjcanon57@gmail.com or Jerry Davis: fandjontheroad@gmail.com

Contemplative Day Apart

Join the Plymouth Contemplatives for a day apart in the woods near Lake Pepin, on November 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. We’ll share in centering prayer, conversation, and a meal, followed by forest bathing along the river with Johanna Schussler. All are welcome.

Every Meal

The Board of Outreach is excited to announce a brand new opportunity for Plymouth members and friends to help support children who live with food insecurity on weekends, summers, and extended school breaks.

Every Meal is a full-service MN nonprofit specializing in equipping the community to implement weekend food programs in their local school. Every Meal provides the tools, resources, expertise, and food required to make an effective and significant impact on child hunger. We need volunteers to distribute the food at the end of each week.

There are available slots left yet in November and many in December. Please contact Mary Jordan at maryjordan13@gmail.com, or 612-308-6170 if you are interested and want to learn more!

Introducing Plymouth’s Ambassadors



As part of our commitment to growth, Plymouth is proud to introduce its new Ambassador program. You’ll see our trained crew in red vests and hats assisting prospective families and visitors each Sunday before and after both services. Ambassadors are an extension - and the human side - of our digital marketing campaign, which began rolling out across Google, Facebook, and Instagram this past week. You can learn much more about the Ambassadors in the Fall issue of the Flame. 

Hurricanes 2022 Emergency Appeal

The United Church of Christ has issued an appeal to support the immediate needs of families and communities affected by Hurricanes Fiona and Ian. We don't know what the rest of hurricane season will bring, but we know these storms have been incredibly destructive. Learn more about the partner organizations the UCC is working with and donate online here. 

If you prefer, you may mail a check payable to the United Church of Christ, PO Box 71957, Cleveland, OH 44194. Please be sure to note “Hurricanes 2022 Fund” in the memo section.

A Plymouth Tradition Returns

Members Art Show

Can you believe that it’s been four years since the last Members Art Show? Perhaps in those intervening years, you have explored your artistic side, or maybe you have created new works of art since we last gathered for this show. Whatever your reason, we want you to be a part of the 2023 Members Art Show. 

The Gallery Committee is happy to announce the return of this beloved Plymouth tradition. Members of all ages are encouraged to participate. 

The show is scheduled to open on Sunday, April 2, 2023.  More information to come.

New Member Inquirer's Classes!

November 13 & 20

10 a.m.

Our new member process begins with “Inquirer’s Classes,” during which some history of Plymouth will be shared along with relevant information on governance, programs and activities, and vision for the future. These classes will be held in person on Sundays, November 13 and 20, at 10 a.m.

Participating in the series does not obligate you to church membership. Following the classes, interested people will be invited to participate in Membership Sunday on December 4.

Align's Statement on the Treatment of Our Neighbors Living in Encampments

For many of us in the Twin Cities, encampments are on our minds, particularly in these last few weeks. Our partner organization Align Minneapolis has a helpful Statement on the Treatment of Our Neighbors Living in Encampments, which includes a call for change. Please read the statement here: 

https://www.alignmpls.org/encampments. 

This statement has been affirmed and co-signed by Street Voices of Change, a group made up of individuals with lived experience of homelessness.

Gift Cards for Beacon's Nicollet Square residents

We had hoped that the Nicollet Square Holiday Party would be different this year. But again, there will be no tree, no dinner, no gift room, and no cookie platters to take home. But with your help, we can give a boxed dinner and a gift card to our 42 youth residents. 

Please send gift cards in any amount for Target to Penny Bond, 101 Promenade Ave. Apt. #243 W, Wayzata, MN 55391 by 12/13. 

Call 612-710-2421 with questions. Let’s make it a Happy Holiday for these young people, something they may remember. Happy Holiday to you all.

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.

Plymouth Church Building COVID-19 Updates

Wearing a mask is strongly recommended for everyone.

The health, safety, and well-being 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!