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Visit plymouthucc.org/text either to join the weekly texts or to provide your cell number to the church (but not receive weekly texts). AuthorIn December 2019, Carla started her two-year designated term pastorate at Plymouth. She spent the last 5 years consulting with churches on strategic planning, conflict transformation and visioning. Before going to seminary she volunteered at her church through Stephen Ministry, visiting ministries and leading worship services at a memory care unit and a healthcare facility. Learn more about Carla here. AuthorIn December 2019, Carla started her two-year designated term pastorate at Plymouth. She spent the last 5 years consulting with churches on strategic planning, conflict transformation and visioning. Before going to seminary she volunteered at her church through Stephen Ministry, visiting ministries and leading worship services at a memory care unit and a healthcare facility. Learn more about Carla here. AuthorIn December 2019, Carla started her two-year designated term pastorate at Plymouth. She spent the last 5 years consulting with churches on strategic planning, conflict transformation and visioning. Before going to seminary she volunteered at her church through Stephen Ministry, visiting ministries and leading worship services at a memory care unit and a healthcare facility. Learn more about Carla here. AuthorIn December 2019, Carla started her two-year designated term pastorate at Plymouth. She spent the last 5 years consulting with churches on strategic planning, conflict transformation and visioning. Before going to seminary she volunteered at her church through Stephen Ministry, visiting ministries and leading worship services at a memory care unit and a healthcare facility. Learn more about Carla here. Rev. Carla reflection on the probable delay in receiving election results this year. AuthorIn December 2019, Carla started her two-year designated term pastorate at Plymouth. She spent the last 5 years consulting with churches on strategic planning, conflict transformation and visioning. Before going to seminary she volunteered at her church through Stephen Ministry, visiting ministries and leading worship services at a memory care unit and a healthcare facility. Learn more about Carla here. See the Animal Blessing photos here. AuthorIn December 2019, Carla started her two-year designated term pastorate at Plymouth. She spent the last 5 years consulting with churches on strategic planning, conflict transformation and visioning. Before going to seminary she volunteered at her church through Stephen Ministry, visiting ministries and leading worship services at a memory care unit and a healthcare facility. Learn more about Carla here. The Calling & Caring web page Carla references is here. AuthorIn December 2019, Carla started her two-year designated term pastorate at Plymouth. She spent the last 5 years consulting with churches on strategic planning, conflict transformation and visioning. Before going to seminary she volunteered at her church through Stephen Ministry, visiting ministries and leading worship services at a memory care unit and a healthcare facility. Learn more about Carla here.  Our summer intergenerational interterm begins Monday, July 13, and lasts five weeks. "Intergenerational" means it involves everyone with many different ways to engage. Compassion Camp is all-virtual and, except for Zoom for 7, can be completed at your own pace. Sign up for Zoom for 7 to participate in a small group discussion of the theme/Bible story of the week. We invite you to watch throughout the week as our Bible stories unfold through art, yoga, music and worship. Each week we will focus on a different way to experience compassion:  The week will start with a Facebook Live video 1pm Monday to introduce that week’s theme and music. On the website you will then be able to find videos teaching the Bible Story, Create & Play, Movement/Yoga, and Compassion in Action sections. These videos will also be emailed out on Tuesday. At 1pm Thursday there will be a Facebook Live video to review the week and to share your pictures and stories from Compassion Camp. Lastly, Sunday Worship services will focus on our weekly Bible story.
If you would prefer to have less screen time with Compassion Camp, you can download the full Family Pack from our website. The Family Pack has the written instructions for each of the weekly activities, even yoga! Families with Elementary aged kiddos will also be getting a packet of coloring pages and song sheets via snail mail. You can find all the information about Compassion Camp on our website. Downloadable materials are available here.* Be loved * Be kind * Be you Carla & Mandy *Email formation @plymouthucc.org for the password.  UCC Sunday bulletin service cover, May 31, 2020, Used by permission. I still have Pentecost on my mind. The longer I am in ministry the more I gravitate to this one Sunday in our church calendar year as one of my favorites. It’s not because it signifies the beginning of the church – the church we have today, but because the Holy Spirit offers us a rich theological perspective that is so expansive it can’t all be covered in Sunday morning sermon. Pentecost is a hopeful season when we are called to action – to find the fire of longing in our heart and to make positive changes. Even in the midst of a corona virus pandemic and a racial injustice pandemic, in the midst of anger and frustration, I believe there is reason to be hopeful. In Acts 2:4: All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them. This is about how we all speak to God in our own languages and God speaks to us. The hope is that we will have compassion for all the possibilities and different ways we connect with God. The hope of Pentecost means we don’t have to speak the same language AND we can still be a church community. There is so much we can do during this time of two pandemics. We may not all understand the current injustices but we can listen and let the spirit be our guide. Another, very important reason I love Pentecost? I was ordained on Pentecost. It seems appropriate and an important connection with my theology that I would be ordained on a hopeful, disruptive and spirit filled day that allows us to connect with God in our own special and unique way. This day will always be my Pentecost moment. Howard Thurman, a prominent religious figure who played a leading role in many social justice movements and organizations of the twentieth century, said this: “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” Do you have a Pentecost moment? A day or an experience where you have felt the spirit move you to come alive? You know I love to hear your stories! Please share. Also, I have enclosed a prayer for our current time. It is a prayer relevant to Pentecost and a prayer for justice. Carla Prayer for Justice God the Holy Spirit, You are the restless breath of love that sweeps through the world. You move where you will, breaking down barriers, Stirring hearts to change, making all things possible. Inspire each one of us to hunger and thirst for justice! Come, Spirit of God, Sweep through our world bringing great change. May the bounty of your goodness be shared more justly, So all may share in the rich blessings of your creation. And, for us, bring transformation in our praying and living, So that we may act justly, love mercy, And walk humbly with you all the days of our lives. Amen. ~ posted on Third Space AuthorIn December 2019, Carla started her two-year designated term pastorate at Plymouth. She spent the last 5 years consulting with churches on strategic planning, conflict transformation and visioning. Before going to seminary she volunteered at her church through Stephen Ministry, visiting ministries and leading worship services at a memory care unit and a healthcare facility. Learn more about Carla here. by Rev. Carla Cain I am a coffee drinker. Actually, one might say I am a coffee snob. I like it hot, black and smooth. I make my coffee first thing when I wake in the morning and it goes nicely with my morning devotional reading and my news intake. Drinking coffee is part of my daily spiritual practice. And my cup symbolizes a connection or an emotion that it evokes. The cup I drink from has meaning. Each cup I drink from has a story. It is a holy part of my ritual. When I moved to Colorado I downsized my coffee cups. I only brought with me those that fulfilled my more current spiritual path. Those I left behind at the local donation center had fulfilled their role in my sacred coffee journey. Besides this cup below, another favorite says: “Well behaved women rarely make history." It is my reminder to never be small.  The current cup I am drinking from says ‘Pastor’ and was a gift from some very dear friends for my ordination. This morning, after months and months of using this cup regularly, I actually read what it said (beyond ‘Pastor’). It’s funny how I had not read or spend any time reflecting on the nutritional facts as listed. Those facts listed for a pastor include: hard working, passion, determination, pride, mercy, love and faith. And, of course I don’t take these things seriously but I began to wonder what the true nutritional facts would be, not only for me but for you. For instance, where is fun, creative, caring, contemplative, strategic or doubting as ‘nutritional facts’ for a pastor? They are called nutritional facts on the coffee cup, but I think of them as things or attributes that keep me in connection with God and my service to this work. It is really important during these uncertain times that we all recognize that God is present and active in our lives. Regular spiritual practices, regular prayer or connecting with creation are ways to keep us awake. And all of this is to say, what are the (nutritional) facts that connect you with God in your spiritual practice? What are those things that remind you of the existence of God no matter what is happening in your life? As always, please feel free to let me know your answers or reach out for guidance along the journey. My prayer is that you feel that strong presence of God dwelling within you. AuthorIn December, Carla started her two-year designated term pastorate at Plymouth. She spent the last 5 years consulting with churches on strategic planning, conflict transformation and visioning. Before going to seminary she volunteered at her church through Stephen Ministry, visiting ministries and leading worship services at a memory care unit and a healthcare facility. She served on the Board of Directors for the Iowa conference of the United Church of Christ.
This may surprise you, but I LOVE CHURCH. I love Sundays when we gather as a community to read liturgy, pray, sing familiar songs, connect with each other and learn in our educational programs. As churches around the country close their doors and open up Facebook Live, YouTube, and Zoom to for their worship services, there is a lot of chatter that the church is not a building. And, there is a lot of talk that society will forever be changed by having experienced COVID-19, including the institution of the church. Being adaptable is key and that also brings with it challenges.
Your church is finding new ways to worship, connect and care for you. We have increased our online presence, we are reaching out more by phone and mail, and we have increased our care by providing supplies and financial assistance and so much more. Please let us know if you need anything. So while the church is not the building, we have enjoyed reaching beyond our walls and our physical boundaries and hearing from folks afar. Yet, I know all of the staff at Plymouth looks forward to us all being together in the building again AND with those online. It’s too early to tell how this pandemic will impact the institution of the church, but I know the Plymouth will adapt to effective ways to be the living faith. Holy Week is upon us and Maundy Thursday is my favorite worship service of the entire church calendar. I even love Good Friday when there is darkness because we move to silence on Saturday, then finally the celebration of ‘He Is Risen’ on Easter Sunday. I wonder if we are ready for Easter. The pandemic news is dire for some and uncertainty surrounds us. I know I am ready for the Easter message that moves us from death to resurrection to new life. I wonder what it is like for you to worship via Facebook Live? Let us know. Carla 
AuthorIn December, Carla started her two-year designated term pastorate at Plymouth. She spent the last 5 years consulting with churches on strategic planning, conflict transformation and visioning. Before going to seminary she volunteered at her church through Stephen Ministry, visiting ministries and leading worship services at a memory care unit and a healthcare facility. She served on the Board of Directors for the Iowa conference of the United Church of Christ.  We asked you to go to the Wilderness for Lent, and I wonder how it is going for each of you. I wonder because this is a time of deep spiritual questioning. The wilderness is a metaphor that encourages us to let go of what our expectations of those things that prevent us from fully experiencing God. What are those questions you are wrestling with? Questions rarely come with an easy answer, which is why letting go of what keeps us separate from God and living into our fullest self is a faith journey. Faith can live in the darkness of the wilderness and it can also bring into light the unknown of what we are searching for. To wonder in the wilderness and to wander with our faith, we may struggle to trust God enough to live without absolute certainty about who God is. This is how we slowly begin to understand the nature of God in our lives. I pray that in your wondering, answers to your deepest questions are providing a sense of surprise and awe. Blessings, Carla AuthorIn December, Carla started her two-year designated term pastorate at Plymouth. She spent the last 5 years consulting with churches on strategic planning, conflict transformation and visioning. Before going to seminary she volunteered at her church through Stephen Ministry, visiting ministries and leading worship services at a memory care unit and a healthcare facility. She served on the Board of Directors for the Iowa conference of the United Church of Christ.  Photo by Harmony, CC license https://www.flickr.com/photos/pslee999/35008639051/ “A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there." (Unknown) I think this quote sums up my experience of moving to Fort Collins and how I feel about working at Plymouth Congregational UCC. You all know I left the comfort of Iowa, having lived there my entire life. The folks of Plymouth have been so welcoming and open to my arrival. I thought I’d give you a quick update on what’s been happening in the last 6 weeks. Time is flying by! I am completely settled into my new home and I’m really enjoying it. It is close to the church so I can show up for worship and meeting on time! I have already had visitors from Iowa and I’m looking forward to more visitors this week. I love showing my fellow Iowans around Fort Collins and I love showing off what a lovely church and congregation Plymouth is. My office is all set up and organized. It feels very homey and welcoming. I hope you will stop by and have a look and a visit. I guess you could say that I’m settled into work and home. I am spending a lot of my time getting to know you all. I have visited with members in their homes, in my office, in the hospital and rehab centers and of course in the church. I am beginning to remember first names, but don’t ask me about last names yet or about husband/wives/partner/son, daughter/kids connections – YET! I am getting there. Everyone has been gracious and patient as I learn and develop relationships with everyone. If you were at the Annual Meeting, you know the pastors now have our committee re-assignments. I am really excited to begin working with: Trustees, Calling and Caring Ministries, Congregational Life, First Name Club and Campus Ministry. In addition, I will be preaching, teaching and I have responsibility for the administrative staff (Barb, Anna, Yendra and Jenny/Johnny). I feel the energy of the church and look forward to a year filled with new dreams. Just as I felt God calling me to Fort Collins, as a congregation we will be exploring more deeply what God is calling on Plymouth to do and become. From my experience these last six weeks – comfort zones are a wonderful place and a necessary place, but growth happens when we reach beyond our comfort and into new dreams. Blessings, Carla AuthorIn December, Carla started her two-year designated term pastorate at Plymouth. She spent the last 5 years consulting with churches on strategic planning, conflict transformation and visioning. Before going to seminary she volunteered at her church through Stephen Ministry, visiting ministries and leading worship services at a memory care unit and a healthcare facility. She served on the Board of Directors for the Iowa conference of the United Church of Christ.  By Total number of my uploaded files:894 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17815488 Summers during my time in seminary at the Iliff School of Theology were about exploring Colorado, specifically Fort Collins. As a Journey student at Iliff, I was able to take classes online and be in the classroom in Denver one week every 10 weeks, or 4 times per year. During the winter, fall and spring times, I would fly from Des Moines to Denver. But in the summer I would drive and experience Fort Collins before attending my classes in Denver. I would drive to Horsetooth Mountain to hike and enjoy the beautiful mountain views. I would walk up and down the streets of Old Town window shopping and yes, the breweries! I explored the breweries! And, as I always do, I searched for the local UCC church. I remember driving by Plymouth and immediately looking for the website. As I read the staff profiles and explored the news and events, I thought, “That’s my kind of church!” I always enjoyed my time in Fort Collins. To be honest, I don’t know why I picked Fort Collins as a place to spend a few precious days before going to Denver. But, I have a profound belief in the power of the Holy Spirit, the wisdom that comes with intention and that God is always at work in our lives. As we are only a few days into the New Year and having just passed Epiphany, I am reminded of the journey of the Magi, who followed the light of a star, left their comfort zone and their familiar surroundings to go into places unknown to finding what they were looking for and being changed by what they found. I was looking for a wonderful church to continue my ministry. I left the comforts of my home state, my job, my friends and family to find what I was looking for. I am thrilled to be called to Plymouth Congregational UCC and to be your new Associate Minister and I am filled with wonderment in how my first “drive by” may have played a role in my journey to Plymouth. I look forward to getting to know each of you! Rev. Carla AuthorIn December, Carla started her two-year designated term pastorate at Plymouth. She spent the last 5 years consulting with churches on strategic planning, conflict transformation and visioning. Before going to seminary she volunteered at her church through Stephen Ministry, visiting ministries and leading worship services at a memory care unit and a healthcare facility. She served on the Board of Directors for the Iowa conference of the United Church of Christ. |
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