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The Plymouth Post February 2012
A Newsletter of Plymouth’s Ministry: Making a difference ... for over 50 years
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Rev. Doug Van Doren, Pastor
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Musical guests: Wes Stevens, Bass; Kelly Loucks Wilson, Drums
Sunday Sessions: 10:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Age 3-K; 1st-2nd Grade; 3rd-5th Grade; 6th-8th Grade.
*Today's Sunday Sessions - Popcorn, movie and a craft today in the meeting room behind the narthex. Children should join us in the meeting room at commencement of the worship service as there will be no children’s message in the service today. Sixth-eighth grade youth will meet in their regular Sunday Sessions classroom.
*Re-Member Mission Trip – If you are interested in learning more
about Re-Member and thinking of going on our mission trip this coming
August 4-10, 2012 (adults and youth over 13 years of age) you're welcome
to join us this morning for an informational meeting.
Sunday, February 12, 2012 - Service of the Lord’s Table, Loose
change collection for United Church Outreach Ministry, and Fair Trade
products will be available for purchase. |
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A NOTE FROM THE PASTOR
What is the experience of people, when they come to Plymouth,
especially visitors? How does the community experience Plymouth? My
sense is, and my hope is, that both are positive. This doesn’t
happen, however, by hope or chance, but by intentionality. Peace, Doug Van Doren |
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SUNDAY SESSIONS
“Peace, if it is to endure, must be a life-long endeavor of those who would achieve it. It is the endless cultivation and nourishment of seeds sown in children, nurtured through adolescence, lovingly tended in fruitful adulthood.”
Lora G. Koomanoff, from an article in Friends Journal, January 1, 1979
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21
Sunday Sessions
February 5
Popcorn, Movie, & Craft
*Youth involved in Sunday Sessions usually
wait until dismissal from the worship service to proceed downstairs to
classrooms. They are, however, welcome to go to their classroom upon arrival
at church. Classes are divided as
follows: Age 3-kindergarten, grades 1 & 2, grades 3-5, and grades 6-8. *Parents: We want to use photos of our children on our website from time to time but we need parental permission to do so. Sheree Alexander has a permission form for parents to fill out and sign. You can also choose NOT to have your children’s picture on the website with this form. Thank you in advance for taking a moment to complete the release form. A box for these forms is in the narthex.
*A Note for Sunday Sessions: Parents, if you are willing and able to donate additional snack supplies for the second half of the year, it would be appreciated. The items we could use most are: 100% juice (64 oz.), Cheese nip crackers, microwave popcorn, goldfish crackers, and bags of individual boxes of raisins. Thank you. - Sheree Alexander
ADULT EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
*Wednesday Morning Adult Bible Study – 10:00 a.m. at Plymouth Wednesday, February 8
All adults are invited to attend this study with Rev. Van Doren. Scripture for study: John 21
CHURCH LIFE
Journeying through Lent
“Eternal Spirit” Prayer Copies
*2012 Offering Envelopes
*Greetings from Jan Haringsma
*Communion at Plymouth
Communion means many things: Communion is a sacrament or "an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace." In addition, it is a remembrance, the reaffirmation of a new covenant, and a symbol of fellowship. The Diaconate recognizes and celebrates the feelings around, and importance of, Communion for many in our congregation. Obviously, the sacrament means a great deal to us which is very, very
good. minimizes the motion and distraction for those who wish to have this meditative time and recognize the Congregational tradition of Communion
as a family meal. Following service in the pews, congregants who
wish to come forward for Communion will be invited to do so.
Thanks be to God. - Your Diaconate
* Sermon Copies Available
Copies of Rev. Van Doren’s sermon, “Showing the Way,” January 15, 2012, are available in the narthex. Copies of previous sermons by Rev. Van Doren and guest pastors are available there as well. You can also view selected sermons on the Plymouth website. Access the list here. *DVDs of Worship Services Please see the sound technician following worship, or contact the church office, if you’d like a DVD of the worship service. *Large Print Bibles and Hymnals
The Diaconate Board has purchased both large print Bibles and Hymnals. They are available from an usher. Ushers will find them in the “cubby” under the tray used for the Sunday bulletins.
*Fair Trade News Items (chocolate, coffee, Olive Oil) are available for purchase the second Sunday of the month, after worship. Selling Fair Trade is a mission for Plymouth’s people which makes it easier to buy coffee, tea, chocolate and olive oil that promote sustainability and living wages to the farmers, when compared to buying the same products from large corporations. Plymouth sells these items at cost (shipping is free in the quantities we sell), except for the “convenience factor” of rounding numbers up from odd amounts of cents to even 50 cents or a dollar numbers. Changes in availability and pricing reflect the success and failure of coops and their crops amongst those with whom Equal Exchange contracts. It is the mission and requirement of these contracts to meet the costs of doing business plus a profit for the farmers who raise the various items.
If you would like to learn more, please go to www.equalexchange.coop - Sandy Swayman
* UCC Daily Devotional materials are available on line at: ucc.org/worship/calendar *UCC Justice and Witness Ministries: www.ucc.org/justice. A valuable site for seeing what the UCC is doing and keeping up to date on a number of important social justice issues. *journeyGR: New Lifestyle Magazine for West Michigan Seniors Copies of the Pilgrim Manor & Pilgrim Care Home Services magazine are available in the literature rack in the narthex. Published by Pilgrim Manor Retirement Community, the vision is to provide content that is focused on encouraging and celebrating elders in our community and the many ways they contribute to the high quality of life in West Michigan. To request a complimentary quarterly subscription, please send an email to journeygr@pilgrimmanor.org with the word "Subscribe" in the subject line. In the body of the message please provide your name, street address or PO Box number, city and state. You may also request a subscription by mail to: Editor – Journey GR, c/o Pilgrim Manor, 2000 Leonard NE, Grand Rapids MI 49505.
*Community Garden at Plymouth
If you would like to be on a committee to explore the idea of a community garden at Plymouth, please see Sheree Alexander or call the
church office (455-4260). * E-mail Prayer Chain
If you have an e-mail address and wish to be added to the prayer chain group, please let Colleen Van Doren know. Periodically you will receive requests for prayers. It is a great ministry to provide to church members and friends and a way to receive as well. Knowing that prayer makes a difference, we welcome you to become a part of this communication.
*Plymouth Memorial Garden
Plymouth has a memorial garden, located at the southwest corner of the building. The purpose of the garden is to have a place to memorialize people related to the church who have been cremated and would like to have this be the place for the ashes and a memorial plaque. Ashes can be buried loose, in a container, or scattered. Bronze plaques are affixed to large decorative stones in the garden. An information paper on the Memorial Garden is available from the church office.
JOYS AND CONCERNS
There are prayers cards available in the church narthex under the nametag shelf for anyone to take if they wish.
*Bruce Roller underwent surgery on Monday, January 23, for colon cancer. He will be in the hospital 4 – 7 days then recovering at home.
NOTES OF APPRECIATION *“Thank you all for the wonderful send-off as I depart for California. I am grateful that God put Plymouth in my path. As I served communion last Sunday I was filled with a sense of privilege to be doing so and I was reminded of the early years when we had soup and salad luncheons to get to know each other and raise funds for Remember, IHN or NIN. I have a clear memory of our kids and Brian Mitchell in white shirts and black ties, asking, "How may I serve you?" Plymouth, which is all of you, taught me what I did not know, that I am a child of God. And now I can go forward in life with strength and joy, standing in that Truth. You will be deeply missed, so I will keep you in my heart and come back to visit often.” - In Christ's Love, Jan Haringsma
BE INVOLVED
*Re-Member Mission Trip
*Attention all English Speakers!
It's essential that the Faisal family learns English. Can you spare an hour a week to help? It's easy, fun, and will fit your flexible schedule. Training tips are provided. OR if you can drive, you have another opportunity as they occasionally have appointments not on the bus line for which they need transportation. Contact Stacy Grossman for more information either at church or through the church office at 455-4260.
*Plymouth "Dines to the Nines" Get to know other Plymouth members and friends. On Sunday, February 26th at 4:00 p.m. and Saturday, March 10th at 6:30 p.m., groups of Plymouth folks will dine at the homes of Plymouth hosts. Entrees and beverages will be provided by the host and guests will bring side dishes and desserts. Sign up now to join on either one or both dates. Sign-up sheets are in the narthex. Diaconate will divide the groups and publish the list by mid-February. *Ready for Summer?!!!!
Festival of the Arts weekend is the first weekend of June. Mark your
calendar now to volunteer June 1, 2, and 3.
MEETINGS AND CLASSES · * Prairie Dog Quilters Thursdays, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
We make quilts for charity and sometimes we bring in our own projects to work on as well. We would welcome anyone interested in quilting to visit or join us on Thursdays. If you have projects to finish and need a designated time to help accomplish that, this opportunity might be just the way to accomplish your goal. Or, if you always wanted to learn how to make a quilt, come on in and we will show you how easy it is to learn. P.S. Knitters always welcome!
*Plymouth Prayer Group Second Sunday of each month following worship
This is a great time to spend reflecting on the prayer needs of our church members and friends. It is very informal. Everyone is invited whenever you are able to make it. Another way to be actively involved in keeping joys and concerns present throughout the week is to add your e-mail address to the prayer e-mail group. Nothing is required other than you receiving periodic updates of prayer concerns, particularly those coming between Sundays. Please leave your e-mail address in the office or give to Colleen Mahon Van Doren.
*To Ring or Not to Ring? Wanted – Five Ringers
*Plymouth Chancel Choir Rehearsals are Thursdays, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
*Diaconate Board Meeting
Monday, February 6, 6:30 p.m. Monday, February 6, 6:30 p.m.
*Service of the Lord’s Table, Loose
change collection for United Church Outreach Ministry. Fair Trade products
will be available for purchase. *Plymouth
Book Club
SUPPORTING OURSELVES AND OTHERS
*Safe Haven Ministries seeks Part Time Volunteer Coordinator
*IHN Host Week February 5 – 12 Please consider volunteering during this week in which we host families. Host for a couple of hours and meet some great people, both our guests and other Plymouth members. Bring a dish to pass. Stay overnight! It's the easiest job. Bring your children with you. It's a great experience for them and for the families’ kids to interact. You will gain more than you give. Sign-up sheets are in the narthex. Questions? Contact the church office at 455-4260. *Furniture Needs for IHN
IHN Needs: IHN can still use a good used sofa. Thanks to Joe Heemstra we have sorted out our video game donations and are in need of xbox games and controllers in addition to a little newer television that accepts the video game connections. So if you have any of these items taking up room in your home that you would like to donate to Plymouth IHN so the kids who come here to stay can have video games to play, please contact the office. Thanks so much.
*Tomboy Tools for Women! Another way we can help empower and support women on the Pine Ridge reservation. Look for more information in my new venture to provide tools for the homes of women who have just purchased a home, or have had major repair by non-profits such as Re-Member.
I would like to have tools donated to make up tool boxes and kits that are needed to continue to keep homes in basic repair.
If you need more information, please contact Vicki Karlson or visit www.tomboytools.com.info/vickikarlson. A catalog is posted on the church south entry bulletin board.
*United Church Outreach Ministry (UCOM) - Simply Giving
To benefit UCOM’s food pantry, purchase a $10 Simply Giving card at the 5500 Clyde Park Ave SW Meijer store. Meijer will pass your donation along and the Meijer family will make a total $100,000 additional gift to participating local food pantries.
*UCOM Loose Change Collection
The second Sunday of each month, Plymouth takes up a loose change offering for UCOM. $61.02 in loose change was collected on Sunday, January 8.
* GFS FunFunds
Plymouth is now registered at Gordon Foods which enables Plymouth to receive a rebate for purchases made by Plymouth members and friends. Pick up a form in the narthex and learn how you can contribute.
* Transgender Support Group
The Network has restarted a transgender support group. They meet the fourth Tuesday of the month from 7:00 -9:00 p.m. in the Network Board Room.
*Kiksuya - the newsletter from Re-Member is available on the counter in the narthex. View pictures from past trips on the bulletin board
there as well. You can also access the newsletter on line
through
here.
COMMUNITY SERVICES AND NEEDS
*Michigan’s Low-Cost Medical Aid Returns
freeze from July 1999. Contact the nearest county office of the Michigan Dept. of Human Services to apply. Includes medical, dental,
and vision. *Family Mentoring with Family Promise
The Family Mentoring program focuses on matching an adult family member for two years with a trained mentor. Individuals who commit to mentoring get the training needed to support the adult family member to develop personal and professional goals. Currently we are recruiting mentors. For more information contact Mary Brown at 616.581.1154 or email at mbrown@ggrihn.org
* IHN (Family Promise) Furniture Donation Program
Two times a month IHN (Interfaith Hospitality Network) and Next Step, a Christian ministry devoted to helping men develop work skills, will pick up gently used furniture and household items.
Please consider donating your household items to IHN. When you do that you not only are helping the families of IHN but providing employment to others. Call the IHN office (475.5220) for further information and for pickup.
*Important Resource for Hearing Impaired
The American Red Cross has partnered with the G.R. Fire Dept. and Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services to renew, Saving Lives at the Sound, a smoke alarm distribution and installation program. This program will offer a free 10-year lithium battery smoke alarm and battery replacement as well as an unprecedented part of the program that focuses on meeting the needs of the hearing-impaired community in GR. If you would like to request a smoke detector for the hearing-impaired loved one in your family, the fire department and the Red Cross will install one in their home at no cost.
For information contact: slats@ggr.redcross.org or 616.456.8661.
*Home Repairs for Seniors (For 60+ Senior Citizens who are Homeowners)
Home Repair Services can take the worry out of owning a home. We will gladly come to your home and consult with you about the best solution to your home repair problem at no charge. We know many reputable contractors who give fair prices. In many cases, we will pay for some of the repairs as well. Call Cara Oosterhouse at 241.2601 ext. 247 for a free repair consultation or more information.
*How to Avoid Foreclosure
The Grand Rapids Urban League invites you to attend a FREE information/counseling session that will help you take the steps necessary to resolve your housing problem. Every second and fourth Thursday, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. at the League, 745 Eastern Avenue SE. For more information or to register, call 616-245-2207.
COMMUNITY EVENTS (for Plymouth members and beyond ...)
*Diversity Lecture Series Wednesdays February 15 through March 14, 7:00 p.m. Fountain Street Church
Upcoming speakers include:
February 15 - Jeff Johnson, author, journalist, social activist. Everything I'm Not Made Me Everything I Am. March 14 - Naomi Wolfe, author, social critic, political activist. Beyond Victimization: The Beauty Myth Revisited.
All lectures are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Jennifer Smith at (616) 234-3056.
*Doing Our
Own Work: A Seminar for Anti-Racist White People
*Family
Promise “Kids Care Carnival”
*Friends of
UCOM Benefit Concert
Next Plymouth Post Newsletter Deadline: Tuesday, February 14, by 9:00 a.m. For more information regarding content in this newsletter, call the Plymouth Church office at 455-4260 or e-mail plymouths@wmis.net.
*Reminder ... Get "the Post" by E-mail
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