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This Week at Plymouth

Along the Way

If I told you what I really need, will your heart and soul say yes?”

—Shekinah Glory Ministries

Say Yes


Rev. Dr. DeWayne L. Davis


For many years, after I left my parents’ very religious home and before I accepted the call to ministry, I often unfairly concluded that my parents cared more about the church than about me. From a child’s point of view, I thought I competed with my father’s congregations and the denomination in which he was ordained and served for his interest and attention. Of course, when I became an ordained minister, I began to see that my parents were not saying no to me. They were saying yes to a divine call to discipleship in an intentional, personal way. Years later, I understood that their yes to faith, service, and ministry did not ignore or neglect me in the way I assumed. On the contrary, their ministries and discipleship included me in ways that continue to unfold in powerful ways, forming, shaping, and informing my own response to the divine prompt.

 

Recently, in a conversation with a group of colleagues who are children of ministers about our ministries, commitments, and spiritual journeys, someone pointed out that our lives changed and mirrored our parents’ when we said yes. Many of us did not start off saying yes to ordained ministry specifically. We accepted a call to discipleship. In God’s call to us, the divine request came as an expression of God’s deep need, not just for us, but for love, compassion, and justice for God’s beloved creation. Something about the brokenness of the world, its pain and suffering, injustice and soul-crushing bondage, pricked our consciences and broke our hearts. God needed us. We said yes.

 

Ministers and the church have lost widespread trust and acceptance among many people. Perhaps what is needed is less focus on the structures, bureaucracies, or even theologies of religious organizations and more willingness to respond to the cries of the broken hearts around us. In response to what God needs, what God’s beloved need, we open our hearts to offer what we have to our neighbor, the seeker, or the sojourner. If God told us what is really needed, would our hearts and souls say yes? Yes, to all that is good. Yes, to justice. Yes, to the better angels of our nature that prod and prompt us to reckless love and generosity that make us look foolish to the world. Yes, to serve for the sake of others, to build beloved community. Yes, to solidarity with others who haven’t had it as easy as we have. Yes, to discipleship, that most authentic identity of service in God’s reign for the least of these. Yes. May it be so.


DeWayne L. Davis

February 12, 2023

Guest Preacher Steve Hunegs preaches,

“The Giving (and Taking) of the Law.”


9 & 11 a.m.


Steve Hunegs has been the Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota since 2006. The JCRC is the public affairs voice of the Jewish community: fighting antisemitism and prejudice; providing Holocaust education; advocating for Israel from an Upper Midwest perspective; overseeing community security; and building bridges across the Jewish and broader communities. During his time as Executive Director, Steve and his JCRC colleagues have received awards from the FBI, the United States Attorney for Minnesota, the Minnesota National Guard, and Israel Bonds.

9 a.m. Worship


Worship is offered online or in person



Music by our Jazz Trio


FOOTPRINTS

Wayne Shorter


Watch @ Plymouth.org
Watch on YouTube

Sundays @ 10



Sunday Forum

Manny Gabler, Holocaust Survivor


Small Group Discussions

Sharing Our Sacred Stories


Wintergenerational Revival: Water, Puppetry, and Performance

Rooms 203–205


Coffee & Social Time


The Library, Gallery, and Archives are also available at this time.


11 a.m. Worship


Worship is offered online or in person.


Music with the Plymouth Choir and Philip Brunelle


Anthems

BE WITH US

Egil Hovland


SIM SHALOM

Max Janowski

Watch @ Plymouth.org
Watch on YouTube

Contemplative Prayer is offered:

Thursdays at 9 a.m. - online

You Can Help with Worship!


All are welcome to serve as ushers! Please sign up to serve as an 11:00 usher as often as you're able in February and March. And invite a friend or family member to become involved.


Serving as an usher involves coming to the narthex by 10:30 and handing out bulletins prior to worship. Also we're taking up offering, passing collection bowls through the pews. Note that March 5 will be a Communion Sunday.


For more information, text Andrea Bubula at 612-929-0804. Thank you!

Sign up to help!

Sunday Forum

Transfer of Memory

Presented in collaboration with the Board of Fine Arts

February 12, 10 a.m., Chapel


By 1937 it was obvious to Simon Gabler that he and his pregnant wife could not stay in Germany. As Hitler’s plans to make Germany judenrein “cleansed of Jews” progressed, they knew that they would either have to leave the country or they would end up in a concentration camp. So their journey began. From Chemnitz, Germany, to Milan, Italy, where baby Manny was born, on to Genoa, and finally to the only escape possible for refugees without travel documents; Shanghai.


When the family landed in Shanghai, Manny was only one year old. His memories of the war come from his nine years living in Hongkou.


When you live through an experience like this. “I think you get a really deep sense of who you are. There is a satisfaction in just knowing that I have survived and done okay.”

Sharing Our Sacred Stories

February 12, 10 a.m., The Conn Gallery


Join Sarah Lehman in the Gallery at 10 o'clock to build fellowship, practice deep listening skills, and explore the connection between the stories we carry and our beliefs and values. Our past experiences shape the way we see the world and how we interact in the present moment. Participants will gather in pairs to take turns reflecting upon and listening to another's responses to invitational questions.

Meet the Living Stones of Israel/Palestine!

February 12, Noon, Fireside Room


You are invited Sunday, February 12, to an information session about a 2-week group tour/ pilgrimage to Israel and Palestine that Plymouth Church is planning to offer this Oct./Nov. for Plymouth members and friends. Come at 12 p.m. to the Fireside Room to learn about tour plans. Joan Deming will serve as the tour coordinator, together with the Rev. Dr. DeWayne Davis.

 

The tour will include visits to key biblical holy sites but will also focus on discovering the Land through desert and agricultural valley hikes. We will have in-depth visits with Peacemakers whose organizations are working in both Palestine and Israel to celebrate the culture and work for a just peace for all in the Holy Land.

 

Joan Deming, a new member of the Plymouth family, is a retired United Methodist pastor and nonprofit executive director. Since 2009 she has led 17 group tours to Israel and Palestine with a focus on meeting with and supporting Palestinian Christians, who now comprise only 1-1/2% of Israel/Palestine’s population. 

Can’t attend in person? Join via Zoom here.

Breakfast and Board Games!

February 11

9:30–11:30 a.m. in Jones Commons and the Education Wing.


People of all ages are invited to come eat some yummy breakfast treats and play some favorite classic board games or learn some new ones. A great chance to get out of the house in the winter and meet new Plymouth folks! The young and the young at heart are encouraged to attend! For more info or to RSVP, email Ninaj@plymouth.org

Romantic love is the obvious Valentine’s Day topic, but how about maternal love…or love of plants and animals…or “tough love”? 


Richard Rodgers’ “Lover” opens this FREE program, but singers James Bohn, Dan Dressen, Lisa Drew, Maria Jette and Kate Rupp will then work over your hearts, brains and funny bones in a wild variety of glorious British composers like Britten, Parry and Kellam; delicious chestnuts like “Trees” coupled with Flanders & Swann’s “Hippopotamus Song”; the sharp-edged 20th C modernism of Americans Schwantner and Barber; and some wickedly hilarious settings of Hilaire Belloc poems by Edwardian composing star, Liza Lehmann— all with Philip Brunelle and Sonja Thompson at the piano.

This event is organized by the Re-imagining Community Safety (“RICS”) subgroup of Plymouth’s Racial Justice Initiative

Register Here

Make a Joyful Noise—with Ukuleles!


Third Monday of each month, beginning February 20

10:30 a.m. in the Chapel

Facilitator: Jill Nelson


Looking for uke players of any level who want to meet others and play music together. We will focus on songs of joy, community, and inspiration. I’ll have some songs to get us started, and I’m hoping you’ll find songs to share with the group. Bring your ukulele and a music stand (if you have one). Questions? Email Jill at jillary17@comcast.net.

Conn Gallery Exhibit

THOUGH IT CAN'T LAST



Shared attitudes of wonder, reverence, and concern for our natural environment led Sam King and Wisconsin photographer Hal Watson to collaborate on an exhibit: THOUGH IT CAN'T LAST. The exhibit will begin on February 5 in the Conn Gallery. 

Study of Matthew's Gospel

Beginning February 28

Tuesdays at 10:15 a.m.

Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.


The Gospel According to Matthew


Matthew’s gospel, written somewhere between 80 and 95 CE, is the first book in the Christian Scriptures. It was not the first gospel written that distinction goes to Mark. Perhaps it is first because it was written for and by a Christian community composed of mainly Jewish members, and because of that, it follows the Hebrew Scriptures in our Bibles. This course will dig deep into the radical teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It will investigate the role Empire has had in how following Jesus changed, and its consequences for today.


The course will be held in-person only on Tuesday mornings from 10:15 to 11:45 a.m. and repeated on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The course will begin on February 28 and run consecutively for five weeks.

Please Register Here

Families Moving Forward Meal Delivery Week


Week of March 5, 2023


During the week of March 5th, Plymouth will again be partnering with volunteers from the Basilica to deliver meals to Families Moving Forward families at a hotel in Chaska. We'll know many more details as this time gets closer. Please email Hannah (hannahcg@plymouth.org) with your possible availability that week. Thank you for your continuing support of this program!

Children, Youth, & Families

and Church School


Updates Here!

Ongoing Tuesday Vigils for Justice



Every Tuesday 12-12:30 p.m.

The Bulletin Board - What's Going On at Plymouth

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.


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