“The biblical text is saturated with what we call ‘politics’—with national liberation remembered and expected, with law for daily life, with material care for the poor”

— Catherine Keller, God and Power

Slandered as Political?

Rev. Dr. DeWayne L. Davis

A couple of years ago, I was honored to join several of my colleagues of faith on the writing team to create liturgy and worship resources for the World Council of Church’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Because Minneapolis was ground zero for international protests following the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, the Council invited clergy and activists of faith from the city to share their wisdom about the experience in the form of a liturgy. No sooner had the worship resources been published that the conservative news outlet The Daily Wire posted a story with a headline blaring, “Minnesota Group Steers Vatican-Led’ Christian Unity’ Week into U.S. Politics.” More surprising than the headline was to see them single me out by name, along with two of my colleagues of color, implying that we were responsible for “using the ideal of Christian unity to push a Marxist political agenda.” The article included no examples of anything in the liturgy that could be characterized as Marxist and dismissed our prayers for equity, justice, and compassion as solely political and, thus, unacceptable for worship. 

The article’s writer saw our invitation to hear voices from the margins, testimonies of struggle under racism and police brutality, and articulations of the impact of political and economic disfranchisement as unacceptable, inappropriate rhetoric for the church’s liturgy. We mistakenly assumed that, despite our political and ideological differences, we would all be prepared and willing to hear the cries of God’s beloved for mercy and liberation in times of trouble. I suspect that dismissing our liturgy as “political” is an attempt to signal to others to avoid using our liturgy and preclude talk about oppression and injustice in the church.

But being political does not make us partisan; it makes us biblical. Theologian Catherine Keller notes that the biblical text is not squeamish about its engagement with what may be considered political. If the political nature of the biblical concerns bothers us, perhaps it says something about our resistance to the demands of discipleship vis-à-vis the oppressed, dominated and exploited. Keller cautions the faithful to recognize our apocalyptic unconscious, feelings of impending catastrophe that prompt us to think in terms of black and white, us versus them, not just religiously but also politically. But I take the Jesus of the Gospels at his word that the reign of God has come near. And if there is indeed any concept of the new creation in that pronouncement, then our liturgy sought to reflect and anticipate an alternative ordering of our thinking and living to include within our prayers and moral imagination the plight of the most vulnerable among us. Perhaps that does make us political, prayerful, and biblical.

Amen.

DeWayne L. Davis

March 12, 2023

DeWayne L. Davis preaches,

“RSVP for Your Life”

9 & 11 a.m.

9 a.m. Worship

Worship is offered online or in person

Music from our Youth Choir and Jazz Trio

Darkness Cover Me

Sara Thomsen

Sundays @ 10

Church School

Education Wing

Sunday Forum

Native American Community Clinic

Small Group Discussions

Text Talk with Rev. Beth Hoffman Faeth

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 from the Plymouth Choir, Philip Brunelle, and saxophonist Kurt Claussen

Anthems

PSALM 42

Judith Weir

KYRIE

John Gardner

Contemplative Prayer is offered:

Thursdays at 9 a.m. - online

Upcoming Memorial



A memorial for Mary Lou Mathison will be held Monday, March 13, at 1:30 p.m. In-person attendance is welcome, or you may view the livestream here.

Lenten Meditations

Sign up to receive meditations through Lent, sent Mondays–Saturdays.

Easter Flowers

Our Plymouth tradition of lovely Easter flowers is supported by members and friends. They make the floral setting possible through gifts in memory of loved ones, whose names are listed in the Easter Sunday bulletin. Gifts of any amount are welcome; we do not have a set price. If you wish to remember a loved one or loved ones with Easter flowers, please complete this form.

Easter Offering

Every year we humbly choose partners to receive our Easter offering. We give them the money collected in these envelopes, designated on our website, or in the offering bowls on Easter morning.

This year we are excited and honored to support the excellent work of Habitat for Humanity, Simpson Housing, and Plymouth Drop In Center. Your generous offering will help these organizations continue the vital work of providing emergency shelter, affordable housing, and relationship for the most vulnerable members of our community

March 12, 10 a.m., Chapel

Native American Community Clinic (NACC) provides primary care, dental care, and behavioral health services to the Twin Cities Native American community. Dr. Stately will provide information on the services offered as well as the clinic’s plans to provide affordable housing and quality healthcare. 

Sharing Our Sacred Stories Small Group Discussion

Sunday, March 12, 10 a.m.

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.  

The Pilgrimage: An Interfaith Civil Rights Journey

Observe Easter/Passover/Ramadan with Downtown Minneapolis Interfaith Clergy

March 12, 19, and 26, 4:00-5:30 pm

In January, the Downtown Minneapolis Interfaith Senior Clergy embarked on a Civil Rights Tour of historic sites and locations in George and Alabama. The trip is a part of the Downtown Interfaith Senior Clergy’s ongoing commitment to interfaith dialogue and collaboration and combatting racism, antisemitism, and white supremacy. During the historic convergence of the sacred observances of Passover, Ramadan, and Easter this year, the Downtown Minneapolis Interfaith Senior Clergy group will share the lessons and insights gleaned from their multi-faith Civil Rights journey with a panel discussion, a special documentary of the trip, and an interfaith service:

·      Sunday, March 12, at Temple Israel

·      Sunday, March 19, at Westminster Presbyterian Church

·      Sunday, March 26, at Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church (Interfaith Service)

Climate & Environmental Justice Speaker Series

Monday, March 13, 6–7 p.m.

Solar Opportunities for Your Home

Are you interested in shifting to solar energy for your home? Considering adding solar panels to your roof or possibly subscribing to a solar garden instead? Join us to learn the basics of solar energy, get resources to determine if solar is right for your home and find out about financial incentives for installing solar. Join the Clean Energy revolution!

Speaker: Diana McKeown, Metro CERTs (Clean Energy Resource Teams) Director

Please register in advance for this Zoom meeting.

Theater 45° in partnership with Braver Angels presents

a staged reading

Heroes of the Fourth Turning by Will Arbery

Monday, March 13, 7 p.m.

Tickets are free, and you can learn more and see the phenomenal cast here:

Mental Health Sunday

March 19

Join us on March 19 for a very special morning filled with important resources, compelling information, poignant worship, and a celebration of Plymouth’s long-standing ministry in the Drop In Center. Rev. Dr. Rachael Keefe, pastor of Living Table UCC in Minneapolis, will be joining us as a guest preacher at both worship service.

We find ourselves early in the season of Lent: a special time in the Christian church for contemplating our own spiritual state in the time leading up to Easter and the resurrection story. We’re invited to follow the example of Jesus, who spent 40 days praying in the wilderness before starting his healing work. At Plymouth, our Lenten theme is “Embracing the Wholeness of Creation,” and it provides a lens through which to approach the season. Lead Minister DeWayne Davis and I discussed the concept of wholeness as described by theologians Frederick Buechner, Howard Thurman, Martin Luther King Jr, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and the competing forces that seek to disconnect and fragment us every day.

Plymouth Hats!



Plymouth winter hats are available at the front desk. They are available with poms or without in navy, black or gray. There is a recommended donation of $15.

Gentle Yoga

Saturdays 9:30- 10:45 a.m.

Start your weekend with this soulful, welcoming yoga class, skillfully led by long-time Plymouth members Summer, Steve, and Sharon Hills-Bonczyk. Each 75-minute class will include meditation, slow, flowing postures with attention to alignment, and deep relaxation. Poses are guided with in-depth, non-intimidating cues to ensure comfort and rejuvenation for all bodies. Appropriate for beginners to seasoned practitioners.

Welcome Table

Our Welcome Table just inside the entry door to Jones Commons is the first welcome seen by guests as well as members. Those of us who host the table would like to share this opportunity with you, and we could use your assistance to better welcome those who enter our door. 

The process for signing up to host should be very simple for you, and if it isn’t, let Bill know. We work closely with our Plymouth Ambassadors (in the orange vests) and hosting is so very simple: being a welcoming presence at our door. Note: Young families are encouraged to host!

Please contact Bill Read with any questions (wtrbus@comcast.net or mobile 651-769-7511)

Bring It Home Postcards

Postcards supporting the Bring It Home Minnesota legislation will be available between services in Jones Commons. You can fill one out and we will deliver it.

Turkey and Syria Aid

The United Church of Christ is offering prayers for the region encompassing Turkey and Syria as the death toll continues to climb following one of the strongest earthquakes in 100 years. 

UCC Global H.O.P.E. has launched the Turkey and Syria Emergency Appeal to direct financial support to partners responding in the areas of greatest need for relief and long-term recovery.

Books and Barks!

Ongoing Tuesday Vigils for Justice



Every Tuesday 12-12:30 p.m.

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