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July 1, 2021

Weekly Highlights:

In Person Service at 10 a.m.

Details here (plymouthucc.org/worship) Recorded version posted afterwards at plymouthucc.org/streaming and emailed. The plan is to send out the email at 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. Nursery care info below under Children's Christian Formation.

No 6 p.m. service on July 4.

Enjoy the Indedependenc Day holiday and fireworks!

Sunday Liturgists: Want to be more involved in Sunday worship? Deacons are looking for two people each week to volunteer for either the Sunday morning (10am) or Sunday evening (6 pm) service. Sign up here: tinyurl.com/plymouthsunday.

Music Minute. Dir. of Music Mark Heiskanen reflects on the musicology, style, form, and meaning of the music we will experience as part of worship this coming Sunday. Read

Leadership Council Update

Leadership Council met on Monday June 14, 2021 at 7 pm via Zoom. We welcomed members of the Strategic Planning Committee, and introduced ourselves. Mackenzie Wiggs opened the meeting with a "Prayer for Summer" by Kimberley Knowles-Zeller. Council approved the evening's agenda, financial reports for May, minutes from the May meeting, and the senior minister's report. The latter included information on our first in-person 10 am worship service, scheduled for July 4.

The main agenda item for this meeting was the presentation and discussion of the 2021-2026 Strategic Plan, and opened with an introduction by the committee's chair Heather Siegel. Discussion focused on outreach to campuses and community, formation of strategy implementation teams, and the challenge of highlighting SP initiatives while still recognizing existing boards and committees with their ongoing programs and priorities. Discussion also focused on Council's role in embracing the plan, forming implementation teams, prioritizing goals and strategies, and overseeing the budget implications of the plan. Council voted unanimously to accept the plan and our obligations under the plan, and voted also to disband the Strategic Planning Committee with our heartfelt thanks.

Council briefly discussed the deteriorating condition of the building roof, and referred the issue to Budget and Finance with the charge to gather more information on capital construction priorities and the formation of a capital construction committee.

Council heard a report on the unfolding congregational consultations occurring this summer, one on staff redesign headed by consultant John Wimberly, the other on Plymouth "culture" and lines of communication, headed by the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center.

Respectfully submitted,

Bruce Ronda, Moderator

Bridge Minister Search

The past 16 months have been a period of constant change within our Plymouth community. The resignations of staff are only one of those changes and it has had a huge impact on the remaining staff, particularly Hal and Jane Anne. They have each picked up most of the responsibilities of the staff who have left. We have been fortunate to have Tricia Medlock and Alli Stubbs step in to take lead roles in Christian Formation for Children and Youth.

To help take some of the workload off of Hal and Jane Anne, the Leadership Council has appointed a search committee composed of Ken Freese, John Mercer and Claudia DeMarco to identify and recommend two Bridge Ministers. “Bridge” is a newer, unofficial term in the UCC that denotes getting us across a passage so that we can move forward. It is a short-term, half-time contracted position that will allow us to take our time in evaluating what staff we need to accomplish our new strategic plan and find the person/s to meet those needs. It is not an interim position, which is for a longer time period.

The search committee has received candidates’ names from Hal and Erin Gilmore, our Rocky Mountain UCC Conference Associate Minister. We have identified someone who could begin work on July 11th and will interview them Tuesday, June 29th. This individual is only available until the end of September so we are also searching for someone who could come in the first of October and stay until we have someone for a permanent position. We will share our recommendations with Leadership Council for a vote and with our church family as soon as a decision is made.

Ken Freese, John Mercer and Claudia DeMarco

Special TUESDAY Overview deadline

July 13 at 9 a.m. for July 15 Overview
Submissions to plymouthucc.org/copy

Submissions (Overview, Bulletin, Facebook)

View Church Calendar

Calendar Request Form

Christian Formation for Children

In-person 10 a.m. worship is back, and so is the nursery!

Of course, children and infants are always welcome in the sanctuary. Additionally, the Children's Worship Center will be open, and children and families are welcome to listen to the service in the Fellowship Hall, where windows will be open.

Nursery care is available for toddlers aged 12 months to 2.5 years. Please find a registration form at plymouthucc.org/nursery that will be required for all nursery kiddos, and (soon) an informational brochure.

Please be a hero and complete a registration form for your older kids as well. We want our new Christian Formation Director to have a clean and accurate start. Questions? Tricia

Christian Formation for Youth

Alli's Interim Year Ending

It's not too late to wish Alli well on Sunday, July 4, after the 10 a.m. service. Goodbye and we'll miss you!

In Case You Missed It... Alli's farewelli: Read here

Outreach & Service

Would you like to get outside regularly and help to beautify Plymouth?

Do you have a green thumb (or know what a weed is)? The trustees are looking for a few folks to give us a hand with the flower beds this summer. We have divided the areas around church into manageable spaces. There is no planting or watering -- just keeping the weeds down. Sign up for the section you would like at tinyurl.com/plymouthgardens. Questions? Kathee Houser Thanks for your help.

Buy Equal Exchange Products and Support Plymouth Youth

If you missed ordering coffee, tea, olive oil, or chocolate bars during the Alternative Giving Fair, it's not too late. Send an email to request items. Pay online and receive contact-free delivery. (View catalog: click here to open in new window.)

Greeting Cards for Women in Prison

We are once again gathering greeting cards for distribution to the women at the Denver Correctional Facility! The basket for cards is on the kitchen counter in Fellowship Hall next to the water fountain. You can refresh your memory of this project by reading the pamphlet in/near the basket. Questions? Please contact Mary Kay or Ron Graver.

Prayer Shawls

Do you know someone who would appreciate being wrapped in prayer, during good times or challenging times? The Prayer Shawl Ministry would love to share their needlework! Please contact Karen Guter to arrange to receive one for yourself or someone you know.

Do you need financial assistance with groceries, rent or medication? We have some funds available to help. Contact one of your pastors.

Get vaccinated today!

There are many locations, and you can choose your vaccine (Pfizer, Moderna, or J&J)! Vaccination means that you're keeping our whole community safer. Also, you could win a million dollars! (Not kidding.)

Stewardship Reflection

Do we practice what is preached? Stewardship in theory finds that left to our own devices we will act as responsible stewards of the assests we control. It assumes that given a choice between self serving behavior and pro-organizational behavior we will place a higher value on cooperation than defection. It is for us to be collectivists, pro-organizational and trustworthy! Let it be so. - Ross Lane

Odds 'n' Ends

Automatic Parking Gates

The automatic parking gates are closed Monday-Saturday, to reduce through traffic and control parking. Use keypad code 0916# to open gates. The gate will stay open for 30 seconds, then close automatically while beeping. To exit, automatic sensors open gate. Contact Keith Schulz (970-556-3182) with questions.

Leadership Council Minutes

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Church Directory

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View a paper copy in the office.

Sermons

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