 Beloved Community,
This Sunday we come to the final story in our series on the lost things of Luke 15—and perhaps the most familiar of them all: the story we usually call the Prodigal Son. Although maybe we have named it too quickly. Because there are actually two sons who become lost in this story. One leaves home and loses himself in a distant country. The other stays home, does everything expected of him, works hard—and somehow becomes lost in resentment. And then there is the parent, who refuses to give up on either one. What strikes me is that the story ends not with a lecture, but with a table. Jesus leaves us with this image of a God who keeps trying to bring people home. Which feels like a wonderful story for a Communion Sunday. We will gather around a table where nobody earns a place, where grace is not rationed, and where there is always room for one more. It is also Labor Day weekend, a time to give thanks for all who labor—in workplaces and homes, in classrooms and hospitals, on farms and construction sites, in offices and restaurants, and in so many places where work is often unseen or undervalued. We will also remember the beauty and courage of the labor movement: generations of people who discovered that when workers stand together, they can create greater dignity, safety, fairness, and justice not only for themselves, but for those who come after them. There is something profoundly faithful about insisting that every person's work—and every person's life—has dignity. And there is a lot happening in the life of Plymouth. Please take a look at the many announcements below - but one not to miss: Jubilee Sunday is next weekend! Jubilee Sunday is a chance to celebrate the wonderfully diverse life of Plymouth and discover ways to become more connected. We'll introduce new adult groups and opportunities for learning and conversation, share more about the ministries and life of the church, enjoy good food and games—and, for the first time, have a foam dance party, which is not a phrase I expected to use very often in ministry. We will also welcome new members into our life together—one of my favorite things a church gets to do. We aren't simply adding names to a list; we are celebrating people who have decided to make Plymouth part of their story, even as they become part of ours. And...our music programs are getting underway again! Choir and bells are beginning a new season (starting September 9th), and there is always room for more people to be part of the music at Plymouth. You don't have to be a professional musician—or even someone who has done this before—to find a place. Music is another way we create community, offer our gifts, and make worship come alive. Be sure to read David's invitation to learn more about our music program and how you might join in. Maybe this is the year to give it a try! Come ready to explore, eat, laugh, meet someone new, and perhaps discover a part of Plymouth you didn't know existed. Finally, the day before Jubilee Sunday, on Saturday, September 12 at 11:00 a.m., we will gather at Plymouth to celebrate the life of Curt Minter. I hope you will continue to surround Curt's family and friends with love and prayer as we prepare to remember his life, give thanks for all he meant to this community, and entrust him to God's eternal care. There is something fitting about all of this happening together: remembering those we have lost, welcoming those who are finding a new church home, honoring the work that builds and sustains our communities, gathering around Christ's table, and preparing for a Sunday filled with celebration. Maybe that's part of what Jesus is getting at in Luke 15. Again and again, God keeps looking for ways to bring us back to one another. I look forward to being with you Sunday. Chris  Beloved Community,
This Sunday we continue our journey through Luke 15 and Jesus' stories about lost things. Last week, it was a shepherd who left the 99 to search for one lost sheep. This week, Jesus takes us inside a house, where a woman realizes she has lost one of her ten coins. She lights a lamp, sweeps the floor, and searches every corner until she finds it and we are reminded of another theme that runs throughout Luke 15: joy. When the woman finds her coin, she doesn't quietly put it back in her pocket and move on. She calls her friends and neighbors and says, essentially, Come celebrate with me! Joy can feel like a difficult spiritual discipline in a world carrying so much grief, division, fear, and uncertainty. And sometimes we confuse joy with happiness. But joy is something deeper. Joy can exist alongside grief. Joy can be resistance. Joy can be subversive. Joy can be one of the ways we refuse to allow everything that is painful in the world to have the final word. Maybe joy isn't pretending everything is okay. Maybe joy is recognizing that everything that is hard is not everything that is. We'll wonder about that together on Sunday. And appropriately enough, there will be some celebrating afterward! Following worship, we'll gather for our quarterly celebration and cookie potluck. Bring some cookies to share if you'd like—or simply bring yourself. There will be plenty of sweetness to go around. At 11:30 a.m., we'll also have our New Member Class. If you're newer to Plymouth, curious about the United Church of Christ, thinking about making Plymouth your church home, or simply want to get to know some other people in the congregation, you're warmly invited. There is no pressure or expectation to join—come with your questions and curiosity. (RSVP at plymouthucc.org/events.) And please take a look at the other announcements below. There is a lot happening in the life of our community. Especially, make sure Jubilee Sunday—September 13—is on your calendar. We're planning a wonderful celebration of Plymouth and the gift of being community together, with food, games, activities, and even a foam party for our children. Our music will include brass, choir, handbells, and some fun egg shakers. This is a great Sunday to reconnect, celebrate, and invite someone who might enjoy discovering Plymouth with you. Maybe that's one of the gifts Luke 15 has for us. The woman doesn't experience her joy alone. She calls people together. Come celebrate with me. Perhaps that's part of what church is at its best—a community where we search for what matters, notice what might otherwise be overlooked, carry one another through what is hard, and when joy breaks through, we make sure nobody has to celebrate alone. There is plenty in our world to grieve. But there is also still love to discover, people to welcome, community to build, and joy worth practicing. I look forward to doing all that together, Chris  What a joy it was to finally be together last Sunday.
The music, the joyful singing, the blessing of our students and teachers, the ice cream (and an impressive assortment of toppings!), and most of all, the chance to meet—and re-meet—so many of you made it a wonderful beginning. I came home grateful...and excited. There are so many stories I haven't heard yet. So many gifts in this congregation I'm just beginning to discover. So many questions for us to ask together about where God might be leading Plymouth in this next chapter. And, as we talked about Sunday, perhaps part of our work is simply keeping our hearts open to a God whose grace has a habit of showing up in people and places we weren't expecting. This Sunday we begin a three-week journey through Luke 15—three stories Jesus tells about finding that which was lost. We begin with a shepherd who has 100 sheep, loses one, and does something that isn't particularly sensible: leaves the 99 and goes looking for it. It's a beautiful story about just how deeply we are loved by God. But I also wonder if it's a little more provocative than that. What does it say about God that one matters that much? And what does it say about the other 99 that are left behind? And what might it say about the kind of church we are called to become? We'll wonder about that together on Sunday. A few things happening coming up at Plymouth Beginning next week, we'll also offer a new member class for anyone who is curious about Plymouth, wants to learn more about the United Church of Christ, or is wondering what it might mean to make this community their church home. There is absolutely no pressure to join—come with your questions, your curiosity, and whatever part of your story you're willing to bring. (RSVP here for the class on 8/30.) And start looking ahead to Jubilee Sunday on September 13! I would love for us to make this a wonderful celebration of Plymouth—our history, our ministry today, and the community God is still calling us to become. It feels like exactly the kind of Sunday to fill the sanctuary, make some joyful noise, reconnect with people we haven't seen in a while, invite a friend, and celebrate the gift of being church together. So put September 13 on your calendar—and begin thinking about someone you might invite to join us. Finally, a personal word of gratitude. Thank you for the notes, prayers, hugs, and simple check-ins about Christine over these past weeks. They have meant more to both of us than you know. We are learning to appreciate the small victories, accept each day for what it brings, and practice patience with what is going to be a long road of recovery. Christine has her heart set on joining us in person one of these Sundays soon. Until then, she is grateful that Plymouth's welcome extends beyond the walls of the sanctuary and that she can be part of our community online. After just one Sunday together, I already feel incredibly grateful to be among you. And I can't wait to see what we discover together. Chris  Beloved Community,
There is something sacred about beginnings. They come with excitement... a few butterflies... lots of possibility... and the quiet realization that God is about to write a story none of us could write alone. This Sunday we begin a new ministry together. I'm looking forward to meeting many of you for the first time, worshiping together, asking beautiful questions, and discovering what God is already doing in and through this remarkable community. My hope isn't that we'll have everything figured out. My hope is that we'll laugh often, listen deeply, love boldly, and be surprised by where the Spirit leads us. We'll also celebrate the beginning of a new school year by blessing backpacks, students, teachers, administrators, and school staff. Children and youth are invited to bring their backpacks as we ask God's blessing over the year ahead. Whether you're starting kindergarten, heading off to college, returning to the classroom, or teaching others, we'll send you into this new season surrounded by prayer and encouragement. After worship, we will keep the celebration going as we gather for an ice cream social, and we are invited to bring our favorite rainbow topping to share. Maybe some blueberries? Maybe some strawberry preserves? Maybe some green M&M's? It'll be a sweet way to get to know one another and celebrate this first Sunday together. I also want to take a moment to personally thank John and Kimberly for the faithful ministry they offered during this season of transition. Every new beginning is possible because someone else has lovingly tended the path before us. I'm deeply grateful for the wisdom, care, and steady leadership they shared with Plymouth. As we gather, we'll also hold in prayer all those affected by the extreme heat and the ongoing wildfires. We'll remember those who have lost homes, those living with smoke and uncertainty, the firefighters and first responders risking so much, and all who are especially vulnerable during these difficult days. We pray not only for relief, but for the courage to care for one another and for this beautiful creation God has entrusted to us. I hope you'll join us this Sunday. Come with your hopes. Come with your questions. Come just as you are. Let's see what God has in store. Grace and peace, Chris  A different kind of Baptist preacher from New York walks into a Colorado UCC church – that seems like the opening line of a bad joke. But the punchline is literal truth: that this Baptist got to serve with her dear friends at Plymouth, love them, learn from them, and have fun together.
While serving as your bridge minister, I wanted to be a “non-anxious presence,” especially when pastoral care was needed. Since I was here for a brief time, I used that skill to be present with a few of your teams and committees. I have seen the beautiful heart you have for an inclusive, affirming, and loving ministry. I visited with many individuals throughout my time here. You do not need me to tell you how kind, caring, thoughtful, and spiritually attuned the people in this church are. What a gift you are to each other and to our community. As a preacher, pastor, chaplain, and somatic practitioner, I wanted to share different ways of incorporating care of the soul and justice work in worship itself. Everyone is invited into all aspects of worship. The celebration of the Word is to be singable and “art-able.” Regardless of what some of you may think about yourselves, we are, each one of us, all artists. Scripture, tradition, and science emphasize the role music & the arts play in memory, emotion regulation, resilience, community building, and celebration. With that lens, we have explored themes of lament & laughter, fear & courage, inclusion & justice, anger & love. We used dialogues, dramatic choral readings, original songs, mindfulness, poetry, storytelling, skits, prophetic and pastoral preaching, with many different people involved with worship leading. I hope you felt like you were a part of the stories we shared each Sunday, that you, too, were preachers of the gospel. Plymouth has that creative spirit which allows for new explorations of the traditions that made you, and to imagine how those traditions can be birth givers of new life and transformation. I hope you feel empowered by experience to worship the God of your understanding with new or different styles, people, places, and times. May you use your gifts to plan & lead worship and other ministry practices with heart and mind connected; and in ways that push the boundaries out just a little bit, ever-widening the circle of radical welcome. I leave here a changed person because of your hope, wisdom, and tenacity. I am grateful to you all. As a frequent visitor and friend of Plymouth for over 11 years, I celebrate your journey with my friend and colleague, Rev. Chris Gilmore, as your new pastor. I hope you continue to grow in love for one another and all creation. As we say in some circles, may we truly see each other as we trudge the Road of Happy Destiny. And what a joyful “trudge” that can be. Peace and love to each of you, Rev. Kimberly  Dear Plymouth,
In less than a month, we begin our ministry together. That sentence fills me with gratitude, excitement, and just a little bit of holy anticipation. Next week Christine and I will be heading north to settle into the parsonage. We'll spend some time unpacking boxes, finding our favorite coffee shop, rediscovering Fort Collins, and probably getting lost once or twice as we explore some places that weren't here the last time we lived in town. As many of you know, this move also means building a new support system for Christine as we continue navigating life with ALS. We're in the process of meeting caregivers, learning about the resources available in the community, and finding our rhythm in this new chapter. We are deeply grateful for the work that has already gone into making the parsonage more accessible—especially the bathroom renovations—and for the many thoughtful ways you've already made us feel at home before we've even unpacked the first box. As we settle into our new home, I also find myself thinking about the home we will build together as a church. As summer slowly gives way to fall, congregations naturally begin thinking about a new program year. But I hope we'll also spend some time asking bigger questions. Who is God calling us to become? Who in our community is longing for hope, belonging, or simply a place where they can ask honest questions? How might Plymouth become not just a place people attend, but a community that changes lives—inside our walls and far beyond them? I don't believe the church exists simply to preserve itself. I believe the church exists to help transform the world with the love of Christ. That work has never been more important. One of the things I've always loved about beginning in a new place is that every conversation is an opportunity to discover a story. Every congregation has its own personality, its own history, its own saints, its own struggles, and its own hopes. I can't wait to hear yours. I suspect I'll spend the first several months asking far more questions than giving answers, because I believe one of the greatest gifts a pastor can offer is simply to listen well. I look forward to learning what you love about Plymouth, learning what dreams are stirring in your hearts, and imagining together what God might have in store for this congregation in the years ahead. I also hope we'll laugh together. Celebrate together. Wrestle with difficult questions together. Serve our neighbors together. And, through it all, continue discovering that faith is not simply something we believe—it is something we live. Until we officially begin, I have one small request. Pray. Pray for one another. Pray for this church. Pray for our community. Pray for Christine and me as we settle into our new home. And perhaps most of all, pray that together we might become the kind of church where every person who walks through Plymouth's doors—or encounters us beyond them—leaves knowing they are a little more deeply loved by God than when they arrived. I cannot wait to meet you, worship with you, laugh with you, dream with you, and discover together what God has in store. The adventure is about to begin. Grace and peace, Chris Rev. Chris Gilmore, soon to be your designated-term minister Greetings!
I want to echo Drew’s sentiments from last week thanking you for a warm welcome. A couple of weeks ago in worship our reading was from Romans 12. Just before the verses we focused on that Sunday, Paul talks about the church being made up of many members—-each with different gifts, but that none was more important than another. One of the places where we see that idea at work is in a handbell ensemble. You’ll notice that I use the word ensemble rather than choir. The word “ensemble” derives from the Latin word for together. And that togetherness is essential in handbells because you have multiple people playing one instrument, together, as opposed to each person playing their own instrument such as in an orchestra. It is a much more appropriate term for what is being done than “choir.” A choir has multiple people singing the same part—or should. We would love to have more voices join in the choir’s song on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. In many ways the church of the 20th century in this country resembles the orchestra—each playing their own instrument. The focus on personal preference —what kind of music someone liked led to the so-called worship wars. People who preferred music led by an organ or piano would other the people who wanted more music that was led by a band and resembled more what they might hear on the radio. “If they want that music, they can have another service (ostensibly at a less than desirable time)” or “We don’t want that kind of music in our church.” Those were the kinds of attitudes that I saw growing up from people who claimed to be following Christ, but whose attitudes over personal musical preference were less than Christ-like. For someone as a teenager who could see worship could and should be bigger than the consumerist entertainment mindset that is focused on what we “like” or don’t, that it should reflect the whole church (around the world and throughout time)—that didn’t jive with what I read in John 17 where Jesus prays “that they may be one.” God calls the church to be more like a handbell ensemble—several people playing one instrument together as one. Doing so requires not only knowing the part you play well, but knowing how it fits into the whole. As the musicians learning basic handbell techniques found this Saturday, it requires thinking differently. A crescendo within a musical line on the instrument is entirely different when it has to happen across four people than when it is one person creating that crescendo. I know for many, the difference may be hard to imagine, but come and see what interdependence it takes to ring a crescendo. Right now, we have a few who are interested in ringing, but cannot be there for the Plymouth Ringers rehearsal time. If you are interested, let me know. I hope that we could start a second handbell ensemble at some point. What personal preference might I need to let go of in order to better play my part in the ensemble of Plymouth Congregational UCC? What bigger picture do we as a church need to focus on in order to see how the part we play fits into the larger ensemble of how God is at work in our world? I hope as we come to the table this World Communion Sunday that we would wrestle with these questions. As David Bjorlin writes in the hymn “Ask the Complicated Questions”: Knock on doors of new ideas, test assumptions long grown stale; for Christ calls from shores of wonder, daring us to try and fail. Marshall  Dear Plymouth,
Some things in life are rooted in science, while others remain a mystery, and some are both. Our livestream has been unreliable for much of this Lenten season, and many of you are aware that our theme for this time is Embodied. For some, this has been a significant frustration, and my heart especially goes out to those unable to attend church on Sunday mornings because of illness, injury, distance, or because it feels inaccessible to get up and out. [I promise, we are working on it!] As a pastor, metaphors come easily to me, and this situation has made me reflect deeply on the incarnate nature of our faith. As Christians, our human bodies are meant to gather—together, in time, in person, in the flesh, in one place. [Please don’t misunderstand this as a dismissal of modern technology.] Still, I can't help but feel that our livestream issues point to the mystery of God’s handiwork in this season of Lent--Embodied. For the past few weeks, we have been practicing a faith that is truly in the flesh:
In light of all this, the interruption of our livestream serves as a reminder of what we have been learning: the embodied nature of our faith. It challenges us to consider how we experience and live out our faith in real, tangible ways, both individually and as a community. Just as our bodies need care and attention to thrive, so too does our community, and the presence of God among us. This is where I see the hope in our world today. If you have missed the past few weeks and are interested in catching up on some of the concepts, don’t hesitate to contact me or Pam. See you soon! Peace, Marta  Grace, mercy, and peace to you all!
It is my honor and delight to be joining Plymouth Congregational UCC for a time as your Intentional Interim Minister. I come to you from places from afar such as New York, Connecticut, Montana and most recently Idaho. I have been a frequent visitor of the Vail Valley over the past 2 decades as I’ve watched my son, Kevin, grow from ski bum to adventure seeker to father, and now he gets to visit me here on the Front Range with his daughter, Kora. Joining me on this journey are my overly friendly and very energetic dogs, Buddy and Bonnie. There will be much to learn about each other over this transitional season of your church. I am an adventurer myself (Kevin doesn’t take it back very far!) and look forward to finding some favorite hiking and camping spots. As a musician I am excited about the opportunities to share my flute in worship and the local community bands. Inspired by nature, I pen two regular columns, “The Spirit’s Nudge” which is a weekly devotional, and “Notes from The Sky Pilot’s Page,” my monthly musings of church life, scripture, and nature. As an avid reader you will often find me in a library or on a park bench with a book or my Kindle in hand. I enjoy all kinds of sports, community events and entertainment venues. As a life-long Buffalo Bills fan, my optimism for life is deeply rooted in the belief that we will, one day, win a Super Bowl. As we walk together in this liminal place of transition for the church, I welcome questions of curiosity and difficult conversations. I look forward to getting to know all of you and sharing my vision for creating a unique place for laughter, healing and grace. Peace, Pastor Pam Peterson, Intentional Interim Minister P.S. My first official day is Saturday, February 1, and I’ll be attending Youth for Change that evening. If you can’t be at that event, please introduce yourself at coffee hour on Sunday, February 2.  Text version at bottom Dear Plymouth, We are heartbroken. Not because the election turned out a certain way – democracy is democracy. We are heartbroken because we fear what may come. This past Sunday, we asked the following question: What would make today good? Amid the grief and anxiety, we still ask, what would make today good? We know that some will be in despair, some will wear their fighting gloves, while others will avoid and hide, and some will find themselves stunned and in shock. At Plymouth, we have room for all of these responses. We will hold space for all these responses and allow the wells of grief to simply be. Our vision for the community is one where all might flourish and be safe. The threat of mass deportations, the threat against women’s reproductive rights, and the threat against LGBTQ+ siblings make a whole part of our community vulnerable. People on the margins fear for their well-being and safety in new and intensified ways. A good day looks like steering clear of the news and social media. We invite you to be present with each other. Have good, long conversations with your Plymouth people. Attend to your hearts and souls. Let today be a day of caring for yourself and your neighbor, friend, and colleague. We are not alone, Plymouth: God’s love is with us, God’s presence is real, God’s work is strategic. In 1957, the United Church of Christ was created in the merger of the Evangelical and Reformed Church, the General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches, and the Afro-Christian Convention. The UCC has been among the “first” on many justice issues [see here]. We will open our doors. We will extend radical hospitality and lean into a mission of mutual aid and care for all. We will center relationships with all of our siblings across barriers and bridges. At every decision, we will ask, “How does this meet our mission and vision as a progressive Christian community in Fort Collins?” God is with us in the midst of all of this. Our call is to love — to love our neighbors and pray for those who persecute us. We will model this Love for the whole world. We will rise. In Peace and Grace, Marta [she/her, x113] , Brooklyn [she/her, x118], and Delaney [they/them, x119] * *For post-election (or other) pastoral care, contact one of us by calling the church at (970) 482-9212 and entering the extension of the person you want to reach, which will forward to our cell numbers. You do not need to listen to the outgoing message first. Instructions on Living in a Broken World
lean into community seek out love applaud the good you see keep paying attention talk to your neighbors dance to the music and embrace art look for love and small joys take breaks and relish in nourishing your body donate what you can linger at the dinner table with friends check in with your people let yourself grieve love one another as deeply as you can the storm is upon us and we must hold on don’t give up, we’re here together. - still we rise  Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Portal - a doorway, gateway, entrance, threshold. In 2020, Indian novelist Arundhati Roy penned her viral essay “The Pandemic is a Portal.” Describing the dual threats of COVID-19 and religious and caste-based prejudices to her home country, Roy urges: “Historically, pandemics have forced humans to break with the past and imagine their world anew. This one is no different. It is a portal, a gateway between one world and the next. We can choose to walk through it, dragging the carcasses of our prejudice and hatred… Or we can walk through lightly, with little luggage, ready to imagine another world. And ready to fight for it.” This election season, I have often thought of Roy’s “portal” metaphor. Every presidential election is consequential, but it feels that we have reached an especially dangerous precipice. We have reached a gateway. A doorway we must go through. A portal in which the destination remains unknown. Today we anxiously await the results of this election, many of us fearful of the possibility of increased political violence. In moments as unsettling as this, many of us yearn for a return to “normalcy.” We seek a sense of stability, civility, and sanity. We want to know that the ground beneath our feet is solid. Many of us feel that if we can vanquish the worst political actors, we will have been successful and we can all move forward. And many of us also recognize that a return to normalcy is not only out of our reach, but that this strategy would fail to respond to the underlying problems we face–the interlocking crises of poverty, racism, war, and extractive capitalism. Regardless of this election’s outcome, transgender people are still under attack (though one side is significantly better than the other), racism is still killing Black and Indigenous people, and people of color, and the decades-long struggle for Palestinian liberation is still ongoing. So what are we to do as people of faith in a moment such as this? We must seek justice and embody peace. No matter the results, as people of faith we must commit ourselves to the ongoing work of achieving peace through justice. We must pray. Many of you have “prayed with your feet” these past weeks, hitting the pavement to doorknock or making calls to voters. Spoken words of prayer are not enough, especially when political solutions exist, but our raw and honest prayers remain critically important in a moment such as this. We must walk through this portal together. After you cast your ballot, you are invited to join us for our Election Vigil, 4:00-6:00 p.m. here at Plymouth. There will be prayer, singing, and youth activities. Please help us make this space one of comfort and care by bringing a baked good, a prayer, or a poem to share. Part of the evening will be livestreamed, from 4:15 to 5 p.m. here. If you can’t join us tonight, make a plan to check in with a friend or family member tonight. A phone call or a loving text can go a long way. This election is a portal–and regardless of the outcome, we must choose to walk through it. Breaking with the past to imagine the world anew. This will require great courage, tremendous faith, and an unshakable commitment to living in solidarity with those society considers the “least of these.” I’ll end with these words of prayer from Sunday’s service. Gracious God, today, we pray for the future of our country. We pray that decency, integrity, and truth prevail. Ease our anxious thoughts. Protect our election officials and poll workers. Strengthen us so that we may lean into Hope, pursue Justice, and embody Peace, no matter the outcome. And all God’s people said, AMEN! Delaney Piper Ministry Coordinator (Designated Term)  Dear Plymouth,
We have a lot of exciting things happening and essential updates. We pray you stay safe and cool as we battle the heat and wildfires. Raise the Roof Campaign for Our Home and Theirs! This past Sunday at worship, we showed a video highlighting our exciting capital fundraising event, Raise the Roof. (Click this link if you have not seen the mini video!) Our fantastic new roof was paid for using our capital reserves. We are grateful that this fund could cover the cost when needed, but we would be remiss if we did not do the fundraising necessary to reimburse that fund for future emergencies. Furthermore, recognizing that everything we are is a gift from God – and being grateful and generous with those gifts – as we pay for our roof, we will also raise funds to provide a roof for our neighbors in need. Plymouth lay leadership, with staff input, identified Rainbow Villages (a project of Foothills Unitarian Church) as the beneficiary of our fundraising tithe. Our youth group connected with Rainbow Villages earlier this year, through the Youth For Change event. In the wake of the tsunami of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and hate sweeping our nation, we want to join Foothills and our broader community in creating sanctuary and support for transgender and nonbinary people and their families seeking a haven away from states with anti-trans laws. We are excited to Raise the Roof for Plymouth and Rainbow Villages! Please contribute to this one-time event from August 19 to 23. To learn more or get a head start, visit the Raise the Roof page. Fitness Review Update Leadership Council is still awaiting the outcome of the fitness review involving our senior minister, Rev. Hal Chorpenning. This review is being conducted by the Committee on Ministry from the Central Pacific Conference of the UCC. The committee is comprised of UCC ministers who have experience and have also undergone specific training. These ministers are committed to ethics and justice while being purposeful and strategic. The well-being of the local church is their priority. They have conducted interviews with various people since mid-May and continued through June and July. We know this is a complicated and multilayered situation, and we also understand that the committee is exploring circumstances that go back for years. Some may not see why we are in this situation, and others may feel wronged. Both of these experiences can be true. For general questions about the Fitness Review process, check out this article from the Rocky Mountain Conference. While we have yet to determine when the process will be complete, we understand it may be at the end of the summer. At the same time, we have been in regular contact with our Transitional Conference Minister, Rev. Erin Gilmore. We will promptly communicate the outcome of the fitness review when we learn it. We ask for your continued prayers, especially for Hal and for those who raised the concerns that initiated this process. Meanwhile, Plymouth's staff and volunteer leadership are and will continue to sustain our vibrant ministries. Interim Ministry Transition Team In the early spring, the Leadership Council established a subcommittee to plan for the next steps in the life of our congregation following Hal’s retirement. George Theodore, Sara Myers, Terri Schulz, and Lynne Soraci are examining the recommended models for an interim period. This team feels it would be best not to move quickly but to spend significant time envisioning the church we want to become. The team has been tasked with identifying an interim model that will best fit Plymouth’s situation, and they will send their recommendation to the entire Leadership Council for discussion and approval. One theme that has emerged from their discussion is the importance of a spirit of collaboration. We are excited to see how this theme threads throughout the lay leadership, our staff team, and the congregation as we discover together the next season of Plymouth. Gratitude and Good Wishes to Phil Finally, Plymouth’s church administrator, Phil Braudaway-Bauman, informed the Leadership Council that he will leave at the end of August. Phil expressed that he will be moving on, as "the church has entered a new season" and he wishes Plymouth well. Leadership Council members and staff are identifying options to ensure a smooth transition of his financial and administrative duties. We’re grateful to Phil for his years of dedication to Plymouth; his expertise and attention to detail have been great assets to our congregation. Again, Plymouth is well-equipped with staff and dedicated lay leadership. Please reach out if you have any questions or comments. Peace, The Moderators, Adam, Terri, and Heather Plymouth’s Leadership Council: Adam Redavid, Moderator * Terri Schulz, Vice Moderator * Heather Siegel, Past Moderator * Megan Campain, Clerk * George Theodore, Treasurer * Assistant Treasurer, Elaine Kim * Mackenzie Wiggs-Campos, At Large * Sara Myers, At Large * Don Bundy, At Large * Lynne Soraci, At Large  Image by Kei Rothblack from Pixabay I believe many of you will have by now experienced the beautiful Casa Del Sol prayer of Jesus in our services. It is a sung paraphrase of The Lord's Prayer written by John Philip Newell. An ordained minister of the Church of Scotland, former Warden of Iona Abbey, Companion Theologian at the American Spirituality Center of Casa Del Sol at Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, New Mexico, and noted scholar of Celtic spirituality, his works and wisdom have become infused into Plymouth's worship life. It was a pleasure to lead his "Prayer of Jesus" (as we have come to call it) in Mr. Newell's presence upon his visit to Plymouth several years ago. I have gladly shared this prayer and musical setting with several colleagues and people throughout the world. It is good to know others can experience this meaningful paraphrase of perhaps the most ecumenical of all prayers in Matthew 6.9-13. And many more can experience the poetic text in Mr. Newell's publication The Ground of All Being: The Prayer of Jesus in Color, a small tome presenting each line of the nature-oriented prayer with a scene from the deserts of New Mexico. This contemporary paraphrase of Jesus' ancient words is quite special to me. It speaks to universal truths that one can relate to regardless of religious affiliation or lack thereof. Inclusive to the core – as Love is. Below you will find the original version as conceived by Mr. Newell (a few slight changes were made in our sung version to more elegantly accommodate the melody). I find these words to be especially poignant today as we wade through strange landscapes as a people far and wide — and close to home. Mark Ground of all being,
Mother of life, Father of the universe, Your name is sacred, beyond speaking. May we know your presence, may your longings be our longings in heart and in action. May there be food for the human family today and for the whole earth community. Forgive us the falseness of what we have done as we forgive those who are untrue to us. Do not forsake us in our time of conflict but lead us into new beginnings. For the light of life, the vitality of life, and the glory of life are yours now and forever. Amen. If you missed worship this past Sunday and need a little something to move your heart and soul this week, check out the psalms that our church members wrote: Elaine Kim, Megan Campain, Bob Jeffrey, Carlos Sosa, and Rev. Marta. View here. Sharing the Pulpit this June! Check out our guest preachers/wisdom sharers for this June. We are all about celebrating and beloved community.
  Ministry Highlights for may 2024 Last Sunday It may have been a three-day weekend, but Plymouth showed up to worship together on May 26th.  Pentecost Sunday On May 19th, the children's chorus "Kids Will Sing!" was part of our Pentecost service and at Fellowship Hour we had our first "Fellowship That Transforms" gathering. (More will follow at intervals over the summer.) A pray ground at the front of the sanctuary provided space for kids to worship in their own way. Sunday Celebrations In May there were two special coffee hour celebrations: on May 12th we celebrated Joyce Sjogren's 98th birthday and on May 26th, Tricia and Jim Medlock's 50th wedding anniversary. Confirmation On April 28, six youth were confirmed. The Kids Will Sing! group participated in the service.  |
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