“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom God favors!”
—Luke 2:14
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Silent Night, Endless Peace
Rev. Dr. DeWayne L. Davis
The Christmas story is so familiar to us; it can be hard not to get sentimental about it, even for those who find the holiday sad or less than enjoyable. I hope that before the season is over, we will reflect on the power and implication of this story about the birth of the Savior.
On the night that Mary’s baby was born, the machinery of the empire was grinding along with no end in sight. In the palace of Rome, the emperor and his counselors were no doubt focused on two critical issues that would maintain his power and solidify his rule: how to extract more taxes from the territory Rome occupied and how to use the Roman army to fight wars and put down rebellions. Such power in high places would give no thought to what was going on in Bethlehem and indeed take no moment to pause for the plight of an unregistered, unnoticed, and unnamed girl. Such is the nature of a leader and an empire preoccupied with consumerism, militarism, and nationalism. There is no regard for the deepest needs and concerns of people who have been abused and oppressed for so long. The poor and the vulnerable are to be silent in the face of the emperor’s prerogatives, and they should enjoy the peace created for them by the force of Roman arms.
But on that night, through a child and family unregistered, unnoticed, and unnamed, the world’s silence in the face of poverty, violence, injustice, and oppression was broken by a heavenly song of peace announcing that God had come among us. On that night, hope for a way forward, a way to speak truth, a way to challenge the powers replaced fear of life on the margins. On that night, an alternative vision of the possible replaced apathy and futility. A people who had almost given up were now beholding God with us, and God saves.
In that silent night, the promise of endless peace had been fulfilled. The empire would, of course, strike back. More violence was on the horizon; oppression would become more suffocating, and the Word Made Flesh would be struck down. And yet, in that silent night, endless peace came into our consciousness, became an aspiration of faith, and is the gift that we know God desires for us. Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom God favors!
Amen.
DeWayne L. Davis
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Christmas Eve
December 24
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Music from the Cherub, Chorister, and Youth Choirs, Children and Youth Bell Choirs, and the Chapel Singers.
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The prelude begins prior to the service.
Music from the Solo Quintet, and Philip Brunelle
Anthems
HOW FAR IS IT TO BETHLEHEM,
Stephen Paulus
WHO WILL COME TO BETHLEHEM?,
Brian Holmes
CONSURGE, FILIA SION, Camille Saint-Saëns
A LIGHT FOR TODAY,
Alan Bullard
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The prelude begins prior to the service.
Music from the Adult Choir and Philip Brunelle
Anthems
BETHLEHEM DOWN,
Peter Warlock
GOOD PEOPLE ALL,
Elaine Hagenbergh
WE THREE KINGS,
Stuart Nicholson
SINGT IHR LIEBEN CHRISTEN ALL,
Michael Praetorius
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The congregation is welcome to attend services in person in the Sanctuary or watch via livestream on Facebook or Plymouth.org/worship.
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Carols and Meditations
December 26
With music of Camille Saint-Saëns and Malcolm Williamson sung by the Choir and meditations on Christmas carols and hymns by Jackie Lotsberg, Hal Schneebeck, and Rick Seime.
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There will not be Sundays at 5 until January 2.
The Next Sunday Forum Will Be January 9
Contemplative Prayer is offered:
Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. - online
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Update on Worship and COVID-19 as of December 23, 2021 |
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Dear friends,
One day can make a tremendous difference. Yesterday I wrote you with an update regarding virtual worship on December 26 and that staff will be working remotely for two weeks following Christmas as a way to mitigate the current impact of the virus on staff and church function. Today my oldest daughter, home for the holidays since Monday, tested positive for Covid-19. Following our policy and procedures, I will not be present for Christmas Eve worship or the Sundays following. My heart aches with sadness over this, yet it is the reality we are living in - our church family has been greatly affected by this virus in the last few weeks. My situation is not the only one we must now navigate. Today a key staff member tested positive for Covid-19 and I was notified that someone attending the 11 a.m. worship service on December 19 tested positive, creating a potential exposure for all those in attendance.
If you were at church for worship at 11 a.m. on Sunday, December 19, please follow these guidelines:
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At this time, there is no change to our plan for in-person worship services on Christmas Eve at 5, 8, and 11 p.m. All worship protocols apply. Please wear a mask and socially distance. You must sign in upon entering the building. Only Door 1 will be open. If you are at all feeling unwell, please stay home. And if you test positive within seven days of being present at church, please notify me via email (bethf@plymouth.org) or phone (612.977.1286)
Blessings to you this Christmas, beloved community. My family will be watching the livestream worship and holding you all in prayer as we welcome the most necessary Light of the World once again. I welcome your prayers for my daughter’s complete recovery and for the rest of us to stay well, for our church staff who are ill, recuperating, or quarantining, and for the burden of more work on our already taxed clergy and staff to lessen in the days to come.
Blessings,
Rev. Beth Hoffman Faeth
Minister for Congregational Care and Worship
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Our Spending Power Makes a Difference
Plymouth’s Racial Justice Initiative encourages you to buy from Black and Native-owned businesses, and businesses owned by people of color this holiday season and throughout the year. We’ve provided a few links to help you find high-quality gifts for the people you love (and yourself . . .) at Indigenous-, Black-, Latino-, and Asian-owned Minnesota businesses!
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Plymouth Campus Task Force
The Deacons have chartered a new task force focused on aligning Plymouth’s substantial physical assets (building and land) with the church’s mission and its Purposes of the Church. The task force will:
- Make recommendations for the future use of the current church building.
- Help Plymouth become more welcoming to all and more connected to the community.
- Assess the adjacent properties and their potential to further Plymouth’s mission.
If you feel a commitment to this important work read more here and contact Jeff Hall, Claire Colliander, or Brian Siska.
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Howard Conn Gallery Exhibition
January 8–March 31
Saving Mother Earth: Treasured and Endangered
We are privileged to be hosting Saving Mother Earth, a group exhibition showcasing artists from varied backgrounds, using diverse materials to express their concerns, champion activism, and cherish the beauty and abundance of our earth.
Janet Essley - Painter, Daughters of the Earth Series
Janet Essley, M.A. is a painter, muralist, and teaching artist with 20 years of experience creating collaborative murals with youth and adults. Her personal artwork focuses on themes of environmental and social justice.
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Church School!
Find out everything you need to know about what's going on with our Children, Youth, and Families here:
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Downtown Grief Coalition: Back to Zoom
We will not be meeting on Christmas Day. Starting Jan. 1, we will transition back to Saturday morning Zoom meetings due to the uptick in COVID cases in our state and winter weather.
Meetings are every Saturday from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. and include a speaker and small group time. Please visit www.mplsgriefsupport.com for more information, schedule updates, and resources to help you grieve during these uncertain days.
Use the contact form on the homepage to use to inquire about Zoom credentials.
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Ongoing Tuesday Vigils for Justice
**** Note New Time: 12 Noon****
Racial Justice Initiative justice vigils are now being held from noon to 12:30 p.m. every Tuesday. Plans are to continue the vigils through the winter, weather permitting. Please join us when you are able. We always meet by Door 1 by Jones Commons.
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Plymouth Church Building COVID-19 Updates
With growing rates of COVID-19 due to the Delta Variant, the number of breakthrough cases, and the extreme contagiousness of the variant; the PCC COVID Advisory Group has decided to re-implement the masking policy in the building.
As of Thursday, July 29, 2021: All Plymouth congregation members, staff, and guests, vaccinated and unvaccinated, will need to wear a mask inside the Plymouth building.
Our goal is to be proactive and preventative while our country gets a handle on the Delta Variant. Our COVID Advisory Group will continue to closely monitor the Delta Variant / COVID-19 and respond accordingly. 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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