 Photo: Don Bundy It feels like it’s been more than just five days since Leadership Council announced the difficult decision recommended by the Rocky Mountain Conference of the UCC to place our senior minister, Hal Chorpenning, on paid administrative leave. In that time we’ve had the first of what will be many challenging but necessary discussions together. Thank you to those who attended one of the two congregational conversations, and to those who reached out in person or via email to share your perspectives, ask questions, or just offer support.
Amidst these important conversations, I also want to highlight that our work of mission and ministry continues! Plymouth’s staff is hard at work, and volunteers are organizing exciting programs every day. There are too many wonderful projects happening to name them all, so here are a few from this week: We had a beautiful and moving Confirmation Sunday service. The climate action ministry team is continuing their spring series “Resurrection in a Time of Climate Change.” And, perhaps most visibly, roof repairs are ongoing and should be wrapping up later this week (weather permitting). The roof repairs feel like an apt metaphor for where we are in this moment as a congregation. Fixing a leaky roof isn’t glamorous. It isn’t the reason anyone chooses to be involved in a church. In fact, it’s disruptive and uncomfortable. But it’s necessary work that makes worship, mission, fellowship, and Christian formation possible in this space. As a congregation we are moving through a difficult period, one that is disruptive and uncomfortable. Nonetheless, a theme that has come up again and again over the past week is how much people love Plymouth. My hope for our congregation is that we can come together, approaching differences of opinion with empathy and curiosity, united by the love we all have for our church. That way this difficult period can set the stage for vital ministry and community in the years to come. Adam Adam Redavid, Moderator  "Resurrection in a Time of Climate Change" The Climate Action Team spring series is in progress! Here are some images from events that have already taken place. There's still more to come, through 5/12. Visit plymouthucc.org/climate to learn more and register for the film on 5/4. First photo is Doug Fox at the Forum on 4/14. The collage on the right comes from our Plymouth Online Connection Facebook group, where you don't have to wait until the end of the month to see great photos and videos of what is going on at church! Roof Repair Scheduled to finish at the end of this week. The first photo is day one. The second photo is from yesterday (4/22): They’re tearing off the existing roofing system layers of the north half of the roof over the Fellowship Hall. Memorial Services Plymouth has had several memorial services already and another (Joyce DeVaney) happening this week. Remember, you can attend online (also later via recording) on our Memorial Service web page.   This week, we are entering the third week of Resurrection in the Time of Climate Change, the Eastertide programming. The weeks have been rich with films and speakers, and we are excited about this Sunday’s Earth Fair during fellowship hour.
As we delve into the concept of ecosystems, I am reminded of the diverse ecosystems we are a part of: our families, our church, and the vast ecosystem of our planet. I am also reflecting on the intersections of our communities and identities and the potential for us to unite and support each other across differences, divides, and equity. I believe that this unity can have a profound impact on our climate and our world. I have attached a link to another of Jesus Has Left the Building podcasts in our season called "Altered States" (here). In this episode called "Kin-dom Work with Queen and Princess," we invite Queen [who leads a radical Black group here in Fort Collins called New Eyes Village] and her activist friend Princess to share their work. Some of you know that New Eyes Village is nesting at Plymouth. Some of you met Queen and her community. If not, this is a way to get to know her by listening to the story. The podcast episode is not about environmental justice but of Queen and Princess’s experiences. Studies also tell us that environmental racism is most prevalent in disproportionately impacted communities. As you listen, consider all the intersections this week. Our planet. Impacted communities near and far. Marta  Image by Lena from Pixabay A guiding mantra in programming music for Easter Sunday this year was "expressions of Easter joy." As a worship planner, having a thematic approach to each service is nothing unusual. It's in fact the default method for creating the tapestry of words, music, and liturgical action required for a cohesive hour of community worship. But on such a prominent day of the church year as Easter Sunday where the natural expectation would be "shades of forte" throughout the morning, I found it enlightening to ponder the question, "What is Easter joy?" What is it that we are celebrating and how can that be viscerally expressed through music and worship? The Three Joys quickly came to mind.
Joy. The baseline variety. An appreciation that all is well and feeling happiness and excitement in that moment. The Spirit shows us that life can never truly die. The hymn writer John Crum succinctly stated this joy in verse four of the Easter hymn "Now the Green Blade Rises": "When our hearts are wintry, grieving or in pain, Christ's warm touch can call us back to life again...Love is come again like wheat that rises green." Ecstatic Joy. The enthusiastic intense sort. More of a burst of energy and motion — action — as words cannot adequately express this sublime restless feeling. The Good News becomes a reckless kind of hope in the reality that Love can never die. And that truth is quite exhilarating. And profound. A Quiet Joy. The contentment and assurance — a bold hope — that the Spirit's promise of unrelenting life in every moment, even in spite of hardship, is real. The worship services last Sunday, the Second Sunday of Easter, were intended as a way to immerse ourselves into this quiet joy. Inspired by the contemplative Catholic feast day Divine Mercy Sunday on Easter 2, we entered a peaceful space where the significance of the Resurrection could be meditated upon through Taizé chants of the Paschal season, the soothing tones of a string quartet, and moments of prayerful reflection. On Easter Sunday we experienced the expected "shades of forte" through triumphant trumpet calls and robust congregational singing of joyful Easter carols. The organ roared in its support and offered an explosive moment of ecstatic joy in a contemporary setting based on an ancient Gregorian Easter chant. The Plymouth Ringers shared a contemplative meditation on that quiet Easter morning long ago. The Chancel Choir sang a more personal and whimsical account of Jesus' return in the first person exclaiming "I'm back...Love brought me back!" presented in a gospel and musical theater influenced style. The hope is that diverse expressions from across time, space, and varied cultures and traditions can enhance our understanding of greater truths, such as the life-giving power of the Resurrection, and connect us more deeply with the community of Life Seekers both past and present. May it be so this joyful Eastertide. Paschal Blessings, Mark  Ministry Highlights for March 2024 Lent Resurrection Gardens We started March with a service with four speakers from different generations, plus a cross-generational project between services.  St. Patrick's Day The service was focused on Celtic Christianity and kids made Celtic knots.  Palm Sunday Palm Sunday was a festive occasion, with palm waving, Kids Will Sing!, and a message from the book, Together We Rise: An Easter Story for All of Us, by Paul Raushenbush, illustrated by Jin Xia.  Easter Sunday Easter was celebrated with joyful worship, as well as an egg hunt and traditional cinnamon rolls. Cascarones eggs (filled with confetti) are special blessings and good luck on Easter Sunday. This year our own Pastor Hal received the blessing as he turns the corner of retirement. Many more pictures on our Gallery page.   Fellowship of the Grape The February FOG group enjoyed a lovely spread of food along with the expected wine. The next meeting is 4/26.  |
|
RSS Feed