March 2016 - Plymouth Congregational Church

Vol. XLVII No. 3
March 2016
S P I R I TUAL E XPLO R ATI O N
The Power of the Heart
B Y YV E T T E E R A S M U S , psy. d.
Plymouth members support social
justice by addressing issues of gun
violence; reducing discrimination
against members of the LGBTQ
community, people of various
ethnicities and religions; as well
as supporting meaningful change
around many issues that currently
include homelessness, clean water
and solar energy. As we all navigate
social change, a constant challenge
many of us face is how to retain a
loving, respectful, grounded presence,
standing for what we believe in
without vilifying, alienating or
judging others.
Is it possible to stand for something
without serving the same dualistic,
fragmented structures that we are
trying to transform? Is it possible
to transform domination systems
without using domination tools?
I know it is. I’ve dedicated a large
part of my life to understanding
the principles and practices of
nonviolence, interdependence and
collaboration and bringing them to
life in our interior and exterior worlds.
What does it really mean to love
our enemy? The answer to this
question is, for me, at the heart of
transformative change. Meaningful,
high-quality social change is infused
with love for all of humanity and is
ultimately inclusive of all beings.
There is an exquisite art to standing
for deeply held values without
dominating and judging others in the
process. The road to transformative
Middle East and Southeast Asia.
She regularly leads workshops and
retreats for couples, organizational
leaders, educators, health-care
workers and business people.
Combining her training and
education in psychology, healing
and education, she synthesizes
The road to transformative social change
starts by leading with our hearts.
social change starts by leading with
our hearts.
The Committee for Spiritual
Exploration and I hope you will
participate in our upcoming
workshops to enhance your
understanding of these issues. We
will explore how interventions at
the level of language and discourse
support new ways of being, perceiving
and thinking about old issues in order
to truly embody and serve a loving
revolution.
Dr. Yvette Erasmus is an
internationally experienced speaker,
trainer and teacher. Born in South
Africa, raised across three continents
and three languages, she has
lived and worked in Europe, the
integrative, relational and
organizational practices that promote
health and wellness. Her trainings
integrate humor and wisdom,
openness and honesty and a deep
generosity of self and spirit.
Awakening Compassion
through Communication, Part 1
Saturday March 12
Deepening Compassion
through Communication, Part 2
Saturday March 19
9:30–4:30 p.m. each day;
Fireside Room
$149 per person or $249
per couples/friends for each
seminar
Scholarships available
Please register online: www.
plymouth.org/learning/spiritual
plymouth.org
MI NI STE R ’ S M E SSAGE
Preparing for the wonder of Easter
by C arla J . Bailey, senior M inister
The month of March brings us
Holy Week and Easter this year—
earlier than usual and destined
to be a wintry celebration. That’s
okay.
It puts me in mind of what it
must be like to celebrate Easter
in the southern hemisphere,
where the seasonal cycle means
Easter comes as winter begins,
a fact that would require a little
more theological depth to Easter preaching than here in
the north where we can safely rely on spring metaphors to
describe new life and rebirth. So shallow of us—there’s so
much more to the Resurrection story than daffodils and
warm breezes.
This morning I read a wonderful little essay written by
Albert White Hat (November 1938–June 2013), a beloved
teacher of the Lakota language and an activist for Sicanju
Lakota traditional culture. His essay was an effort to redeem
the pejorative interpretation of “Indian Time.” He wrote:
Anpo is the period before the sun rises, the dawn.
The specific time is the beginning of dawn. If I
have a responsibility that will happen at anpo,
I should be ready at the beginning of dawn. In
Lakota we have a phrase that reminds us to be
ready: Nake nula waun welo (I am ready for
whatever, anyplace, anytime). Warriors used
this phrase in battle to imply that even in the face
of death they were ready. They were not afraid
of death because they were prepared. When
reclaiming a Lakota understanding of time I came
across the phrase “nake nula waun welo.” I found
it in honor songs that spoke of courage, fortitude
and generosity. The words of the songs expressed
these virtues. I asked Elder male singers about
this phrase, and they translated the phrase
by saying “I am ready for whatever, anyplace,
anytime.” Sometimes it simply states “I am ready
to die when in the face of danger.” One must be
fully prepared physically and psychologically to
make such a statement. That is Indian Time.
I think that phrase—nake nula waun welo—would make for
the best Lenten preparation for the wonder of Easter Anpo—
that time just before dawn when we recognize we are ready
for God’s demand on our lives.
We have come to that morning with all the courage,
fortitude and generosity we can gather to be God’s promise
of life in this heart-sick world. Beloved, nake nula waun welo!
GR ACE NO TE S
March: Celebrate at the start and end
B y P hilip Brunelle
So—we begin the month welcoming Alice Parker and
conclude with Easter—celebrations at both ends of March!
It is a joy and a privilege to have Alice with us, and I
hope each of you will be present to hear her music on
March 5 and 6 and also see her “in action” conducting—an
inspiring, gracious musician, who is now celebrating her
90th year!
For the last Sunday before Holy Week, there will be two
(very) contrasting settings of the words from Isaiah: O
VOS OMNES (O, all ye who travel on the highway, listen
to me). The choir will sing a powerful, bold setting by the
Argentine composer Alberto Ginastera—this year marks
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the centenary of his birth—and our solo quintet will sing
Carlo Gesualdo’s mystical
setting from more than 400
years ago. On this Sunday, I am
pleased that the young piano
virtuoso Evren Ozel will present
our prelude and postlude.
Palm Sunday will be a festive
day with palms and joyful
music by the Englishman
Andrew Carter and the beloved
Felix Mendelssohn. A beautiful
setting of the “Passion” chorale
Photo: Ann Marsden
CO M M UNI TY LI FE
Share in the boomerang of good
B y heid i mccallister
The Sharing the Ministry Committee invites you to commit a different type
of resource . . . your time and talents. Under our new governance model, we’ve
moved from a relatively small number of large positions, like board members,
to a relatively large number of important yet less-demanding volunteer
positions. Now, more than ever, we need many hands to make light work . . .
which is what Sharing the Ministry is all about.
Allow me to provide a little personal testimony to highlight why my family has
been committed to sharing the ministry.
Alice Parker leads five
choirs on March 5, 4 p.m.
•
First, volunteering is probably the single best way we have come to
know our church family. Whether teaching Church School, being a host
family for First Service, serving on committees or decorating the Sanctuary
for Christmas Eve service . . .
every volunteer activity has
introduced us to new people. We
have forged relationships with
more people and engaged with
them in ways that would not have
been possible simply sharing a
pew during worship. Recently, my
9-year-old daughter collected the
offering here in the Sanctuary.
By performing this service, she
Pictured, from right, Heidi, Clara,
got to meet and work alongside
Mike and Nora McCallister
adults with whom she otherwise
wouldn’t have come into contact. She can’t wait to do it again!
•
Second, volunteering takes you from observing the tremendous work
that takes place here at Plymouth to really living out the mission we
hope to achieve as a congregation. When we first became members here
with two young daughters, we naturally gravitated toward work with youth
and families, and it would have been easy for us to stay largely within the
Education wing. Volunteering has helped to expose us to work in other
areas of the church. Working with Families Moving Forward gave us a
sample of Outreach programs. Helping to plan the churchwide celebration
kicking off our 2014 capital campaign made us more aware of future needs
and challenges facing the church.
The amazing Alice Parker, now
90 years old, will be with us
as conductor and composer
leading an hour-long concert
of her music on March 5 at 4
p.m. The concert will feature
200-plus voices from Central
Lutheran, the Basilica of Saint
Mary, Hennepin Avenue United
Methodist Church, Westminster
Presbyterian Church and
Plymouth Congregational
Church.
This free concert will be in the
Plymouth Church sanctuary. Not
to be missed—tell your friends!
by Max Reger will be performed
on Maundy Thursday. On Easter
Sunday, the music will include brass
quartet, timpani, our Youth Choir and
two splendid anthems by Gwyneth
Walker and Richard Dirksen, sung by
the Plymouth Choir.
Of course, I will begin the prelude
music at the 9 and 11 a.m. services
with Widor’s Toccata and the service
will conclude with all joining in
singing Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus”!
In closing, I once saw a poster that declared: Life is a boomerang—the more
good you throw out, the more you receive in return. That has certainly been
the case for us. In taking ownership for a small share of the church’s workload,
my family has become rooted in a wonderful community.
I invite you to experience this by finding your place at the table. Throw some
good out there by sharing the ministry, and be blessed by the good that comes
back to you.
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w orsh ip
Board of Worship offers opportunities
B y Don Doberstein, Chair of t he B oar d of Wors h ip
The new Board of Worship is
responsible for all activities that
surround the worship experience
at Plymouth Church. This includes
all worship services and schedules;
budgets for service music, choirs
and instruments; the worship spaces,
tasks necessary every Sunday.
Plymouth needs you to share
this ministry (please see Heidi
McCallister’s piece on p. 3). It is
vitally important that every able
person in the congregation, church
You can extend Plymouth’s legendary
hospitality and worship experience to all!
furnishings and appointments;
sacramental life (including Baptism
and Communion); and greeting and
ushering.
Under the former Plymouth
governance structure, these
responsibilities were divided between
the former Board of Deacons and
Board of Stewards. The Boards of
Deacons and Stewards each had 24
members, who took responsibility
for ushering, greeting, accept the
offering, participating in sacraments
and hosting coffee hour. Each board
member committed to take on one or
two tasks, two or three times a month.
Since our new governance was
instituted last summer, the new
Board of Worship has devoted time
to making sure the weekly worship
experience goes smoothly as we
transition to a new system. The Board
of Worship has nine members, yet the
number of people needed to cover
a typical Sunday has not changed:
20 people are needed to greet, usher
and to participate in worship. For
Communion Sundays, that number
increases to 28 people.
Our biggest challenge during
the transition has been to recruit
sufficient numbers of people from the
congregation to accomplish all of the
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member or not, realize that their help
is not only most welcome on any
Sunday but also needed.
We have separate committees for
greeting, ushering and serving
communion. You may find one of
these tasks very rewarding and
spiritually gratifying. By volunteering,
you extend Plymouth’s legendary
hospitality and worship experience
to our members, regular visitors and
those who may be worshiping with
us for the first time. You need only to
invest an hour or two before, during
or after Sunday worship.
Please contact Don Doberstein
(ddober50@gmail.com), Judy Madron
judyannmadron@gmail.com) or Parke
Weaver (prweaver@comcast.net ) to
find out how you can further enrich
your experience as a member of the
Plymouth community. Thank you for
considering!
commun i t y l i fe : N e w M e mb e rs
On Feb. 7 , 2 0 1 6 , we welco m ed t hese new m em b e r s
to Ply m o ut h. They a re, in t he ba ck ro w, fro m le f t :
Aman da W hit e, L ea nna R o ger s, C a it lin B erg, D e n n i s
Homan, L inda H o m a n a nd C la re G r a v o n; fro nt row,
David D o br a t z, M a r t ha D o br a t z, R o ss R o senba u m,
Erica S chult z, C hr ist ine F o rd, Z a ch F o rd, S co t t F ord
and B enji F o rd.
O UTR E ACH
March is FoodShare month
By Dawn Hofstran d and G ingie War d
March means it’s time for the annual
Minnesota FoodShare campaign! The
campaign is sponsored by the Greater
Minneapolis Council of Churches, in
partnership with a number of other
faith-based organizations around
the state. During March, Minnesota
FoodShare partially matches (in the
past, close to 25 percent) donations
of food and money to Groveland
Emergency Food Shelf and other food
shelves in the state.
Groveland Emergency Food Shelf is
housed right here at Plymouth and has
been fighting hunger since Plymouth
founded it in 1975. During 2015 alone,
Groveland distributed food to more
than 18,000 visitors, roughly 1,500
visits per month. Groveland provides
each visitor a 3- to 5-day supply of
nutritious—and some fun—food. In
hardship cases, we may allow a second
visit. We try to keep hygiene products
available and provide household items
and books when we can. Sometimes we
just listen because no one else will.
Groveland Food Shelf again is asking
for your support in the form of
either financial gifts or donations of
nonperishable foods. Approximately
65 percent of the food we distribute
is purchased. Fortunately, we are able
to stretch our dollars by purchasing
through Second Harvest Heartland
and the Emergency FoodShelf Network
(now called The Food Group). The
March campaign, along with endof-year giving, provide us with the
majority of our revenue for the year. We
obtain the balance of our food through
donations from markets, bakeries and
individuals from Plymouth and other
area congregations.
If you’d like to support Groveland
during this time and have your
contributions matched, please bring
nonperishable foods in bags to Jones
Receiving a delivery at the
Groveland Food Shelf.
Commons or donate to Groveland
Food Shelf using envelopes in the pews.
A huge thanks for your continued
support!
After the Paris Climate Summit: Now what?
Join J. Drake Hamilton on Sunday
March 6, noon to 1 p.m. to learn about
efforts to combat climate change in
2016. Plymouth’s Caring for Creation
is excited to have Ms. Hamilton as
part of its Earth ACTION series. She
will report on what she observed
at the Paris Climate Summit in
December and what the results mean
for Minnesota. She will also talk about
President Obama’s Clean Power Plan,
which establishes the first-ever limits
on carbon pollution from power
plants. Bring your questions and join
J. for this timely conversation about
climate action.
J. Drake Hamilton is the Science
Policy Director for Fresh Energy.
She is an expert in climate policy
at the state and national levels. She
represented Fresh Energy at the Paris
Climate Summit and was invited by
president Obama to meet with him at
the White House.
The talk is part of the Earth ACTION
series sponsored by Plymouth’s
Caring for Creation.
—Jan Neville
parish register
B ereaved
Dianne Gordon and Jim Dickson,
death of Dianne’s father, Marvin W.
Gorden.
Phebe Haugen, death of former
husband Jim Gaffney; Conlin
Gaffney and Mary Skelly-Gaffney
and Timothy Gaffney and Julia
Stark, death of father(-in-law)
Tom and Jeanne LeFevere, death
of brother(-in-law) Charles L.
LeFevere
Emily and Greg Venell, death
of brother(-in-law) Tony Vowell;
Maggie and Christy Venell, death
of uncle.
baptiz e d
BI R T H
Elizabeth Claire Burrows, daughter
of Don and Laura Burrows
Ingrid Sarah Mork, daughter of
Emily (Litell) and Andrew Mork
and granddaughter of Kristine
Mortensen
Colton LeFevere, son of Dave and
Jodi LeFevere
Elias John Mathison, son of John
Mathison and Michelle TrotterMathison
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March 2016
01 T u e sda y
10:00 Archives Committee
10:00 OLLI class: Film and Spirituality
12:30 Traumatic Brain Injury Support Grp.
12:30 OLLI class: Myths and Memes of
the Modern World
6:45 One More Chair Bridge Group
02 W e d n e s d a y
9:30 Groveland Food Shelf
9:45 Knit A Bit
10:00 Conversations from the Heart
Practice
1:00 Strobel Drop-In Center
4:30 Legacy Giving Committee
5:15 Katy’s Cafe
6:00Zumba
6:00Young Voices
6:00 Cherub Choir
6:00 Bells Jubilee
6:30Deacons
6:30 Youth Choir
6:30 Genesis Dancers
6:45 Yoga—Spiritual Exploration
6:50 Chorister Choir
7:00 Plymouth Choir
7:35 Alleluia Dancers
7:35 Coventry Bells
03 T h u rs d a y
10:00 Archives Committee
10:30 Meals on Wheels
12:00 Plymouth Pew Clergy Group
3:30 Personnel Committee
5:30 First Thursday Fiber Artists
6:00 Strobel Drop-In Center
7:00 Conversations with Carla
7:00 Keyboard group
7:00 Cuban Rueda Salsa Dance
04 fr i da y
05 S a t u r d a y
9:00 Needler Embroidery Hanging
4:00 Alice Parker leads free concert of
choirs from five downtown churches
06 s u n d a y
8:45–11:45 Child care
9:00 Adult Hand Bells
9:00 Sunday Forum
9:30 Meditation
9:50 First Service—Communion
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10:30 Sanctuary Service
10:30 Church School, Junior High &
Senior High
11:45 Confirmation
11:50 Katy’s Cafe
11:50 Docent tour of the church
12:00Earth ACTION Speaker on the
Paris Climate Talks and MInnesota’s
Energy Policy
07 M o n d a y
1:00 Home Retreat Meeting
7:00 Lenten Series: Peace in our World—
Paula Northwood on Media
7:00 Great Books Group
08 T u e s d a y
10:00 Archives Committee
12:30 OLLI: Myths and Memes of the
Modern World
2:30 Plymouth American Indian Initiative
3:30 Budget Committee
4:00 Building and Grounds Meeting
6:30BeFrienders
09 W e d n e s d a y
9:30 Groveland Food Shelf
9:45 Knit A Bit
10:00 Conversations from the Heart
Practice Session
10:00 Habit 18
1:00 Strobel Drop-In Center
5:00 Sunday Forum Committee
5:15 Katy’s Cafe
5:30 Board of Fine Arts
6:00 Board of Community Life
6:00 Cherub Choir
6:00 Bells Jubilee
6:00Young Voices
6:00Zumba
6:30 Board of Outreach
6:30 Board of Spiritual Formation
6:30 Youth Choir
6:30 Genesis Dancers
6:50 Chorister Choir
6:45Yoga—Spiritual Exploration
7:00 Plymouth Choir
7:35 Alleluia Dancers
7:35 Coventry Bells
10 T h u rs d a y
10:00 Archives Committee
10:00 Habit
10:30 Meals on Wheels
2:00 Plymouth Dementia Project mtg.
6:00 Strobel Drop-In Center
7:00 Board of Worship
7:00 Cuban Rueda Salsa Dance
11 F r i d a y
12 S a t u r d a y
9:00 Awakening Compassion through
Communication—Part 1
13 s u n d a y
8:45–11:45 Childcare
9:00 Adult Hand Bells
9:00 Sunday Forum
9:30 Meditation
9:50 First Service
10:30 Sanctuary Service
10:30 Church School, Junior High &
Senior High
11:45 Confirmation
11:50 Artists’ reception
11:50 Katy’s Cafe
11:50 Caring for Creation
12:00 Sharing the Ministry Committee
12:15 Plymouth Film Club
14 M o n d a y 5:00 Stewardship Committee
6:30 Lenten Series: Peace on Earth—
Jeffrey Sartain on Climate Change
6:30 Racial Justice Committee
15 T u e s d a y
10:00 Archives Committee
12:30 Traumatic Brain Injury Support Grp.
16 w e d n e s d a y
9:30 Groveland Food Shelf
9:45 Knit A Bit
10:00 Conversations from the Heart
Practice Session
1:00 Strobel Drop-In Center
1:30 One More Chair Book Club
4:00 BeFrienders
5:00 Board of Finance & Administration
5:15 Katy’s Cafe
6:00 Cherub Choir
6:00 Bells Jubilee
6:00Young Voices
6:00Zumba
6:30Deacons
6:30 Spiritual Exploration Committee
6:30 Youth Choir
6:30 Genesis Dancers
6:45 Yoga—Spiritual Exploration
6:50 Chorister Choir
7:00 Plymouth Choir
7:35 Alleluia Dancers
7:35 Coventry Bells
17 T h u rs d a y
10:00 Archives Committee
10:30 Meals on Wheels
6:00 Strobel Drop-In Center
18 F r i d a y
19 S a t u r d a y
9:00 Deepening Compassion through
Communication—Part 2
20 p a l m
s u n d ay
8:45–11:45 Childcare
9:00 Adult Hand Bells
9:00 Sunday Forum
9:30 Meditation
9:50 First Service
10:30 Sanctuary Service
10:30 Church School, Junior High &
Senior High
11:45 Confirmation
11:50 Docent tour of the church
11:50 Katy’s Cafe
12:00 Family luncheon gathering
5:00 Third Sunday meal
21 M o n d a y 23 W e d n e s d a y 9:30 Groveland Food Shelf
9:45 Knit A Bit
10:00 Conversations from the Heart
Practice Session
1:00 Strobel Drop-In Center
1:00 Future First
5:15 Katy’s Cafe
6:00 Leadership Council
6:00 Cherub Choir
6:00 Bells Jubilee
6:00Young Voices
6:00Zumba
6:30 Youth Choir
6:30 Genesis Dancers
6:45 Yoga—Spiritual Exploration
6:50 Chorister Choir
7:00 Plymouth Choir
7:35 Alleluia Dancers
7:35 Coventry Bells
27 E a s te r
S u n d ay
6:30 Early Easter Service
8:45–11:45 Childcare
9:00Easter Service
9:30Easter brunch
11:00 Easter Service
2:00 Building closes
28 M o n d a y Building closed for Easter Monday.
29 T u e s d a y
9:30 OLLI: Flicks on Tuesday—A
Miscellany
10:00 Archives Committee
12:30 OLLI: Evolution—Concepts and
Controversies
30 W e d n e s d a y
T h u r s d ay
10:00 Archives Committee
10:30 Meals on Wheels
6:00 Strobel Drop-In Center
6:00 Maundy Thursday supper
7:30 Maundy Thursday service
9:30 Groveland Food Shelf
9:45 Knit A Bit
10:00 Conversations from the Heart
Practice
1:00 Easter Worship Strobel Drop-In
5:15 Katy’s Cafe
6:00Zumba
6:45 Yoga—Spiritual Exploration
7:00 Plymouth Choir
f r i d aY
Office and building close at noon; building opens again at 4:30 p.m.
5:00 Good Friday service in Chapel
31 t h u r s d a Y
24 M a u n d y
25 g o o d
26 S a t u r d a y
10:00 OLLI: Thinking about Capitalism
22 T u e s d a y
10:00 Archives Committee
10:00 Archives Committee
10:00 Book Study: The Church’s Seven
Deadly Secrets
10:30 Meals on Wheels
6:00 Strobel Drop-In Center
7:00 Cuba Rueda Salsa Dance
7:00 Book Study: The Church’s Seven
Deadly Secrets
Film Club: Do the Right Thing, March 13
By Mary Kay S auter
The Racial Justice Committee invites
you to a showing of Do the Right
Thing Sunday, March 13, 12:15 p.m., in
Jackman. Do the Right Thing is a 1989
American comedy-drama produced,
written and directed by Spike Lee,
who also plays the part of Mookie in
the film. Other cast members include
Ruby Dee, Rosie Perez, Danny Aiello,
Ossie Davis, Richard Edson, Giancarlo
Esposito, Bill Nunn, John Turturro,
Samuel L. Jackson and Martin
Lawrence. The movie tells the story of
a Brooklyn neighborhood’s simmering
racial tension, which comes to a head
and culminates in tragedy on the
hottest day of the summer.
The film was a critical and commercial
success. Accolades included an
Academy Award nomination for Lee
for Best Original Screenplay, and Best
Supporting Actor for Aiello’s portrayal
of Sal the pizzeria owner. It also
received 15 awards and 11 nominations
in other film competitions. Often
listed among the greatest films of all
time, it was deemed to be “culturally
significant” by the U.S. Library of
Congress and selected for preservation
in the National Film Registry.
Please join us! Members of the Racial
Justice Committee will lead the
discussion following the film. We will
be in Jackman Hall at 12:15. Buy lunch
at Katy’s Café or bring your own. All
are welcome!
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S P I R I TUAL E XPLO R ATI O N
A Conversation and two Forums
Conversation with Carla
(re-scheduled); March 3, 7 p.m.,
Fireside Room
The topic is $$$: How we get it, how
we spend it—and why these may be
the most important questions of all.
The unPrison Project—Empowering
women and girls in our nation’s
prisons; March 6, 9 .m., Jackson
Over 2 million people sit inside U.S.
prisons, and more than $80 billion
is spent annually on incarceration.
However, re-entry and rehabilitation
are not about how much money is
spent, rather they are more about
the vision to build spiritual strength
in those we lock up while at the
same time equally investing in skillbuilding, education and the mental
well-being of each prisoner.
Deborah Jiang-Stein is founder
of the unPrison Project (www.
unprisonproject.org), a nonprofit
dedicated to building capacity for
women and girls in prison with
literacy, life skills and peer mentoring.
As a woman born in prison, she
broadens the public conversation
about mass incarceration.
Being a Co-Survivor: A spiritual
response to a loved one’s chronic
illness; March 20, 9 a.m., Jackson
When you help someone challenged
by a chronic illness that makes you
a co-survivor. Yet every illness is a
potential spiritual crisis. Providing
emotional support can be difficult.
Such crises elicit natural reflexes to
fix or manage or dismiss troubling
issues when they arise. But what is
the “right” thing to say or do? This
workshop will foster new insights
on what it means to be helpful
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and supportive as a co-survivor.
Participants will discover both inner
and Biblical resources for spiritual
growth.
Gregory A. Plotnikoff, M.D., MTS,
FACP, is a board-certified internist
and pediatrician who has received
national and international honors
for his work in cross-cultural
and integrative medicine. He
intentionally chose to attend divinity
school before medical school in
order to deepen his understanding of
suffering and of human responses to
suffering.
OLLI classes—Plymouth members
may call the OLLI office to sign up:
612/624-7847.
Thinking About Capitalism III:
Mondays, March 21–May 9 (no
class March 28), 10:00—11:30 a.m.,
Jackman
Evolution: Concepts and
Controversies: Tuesdays, March 29–
May 17 (no class April 12), 12:30–2:00
p.m., Jackman
Flicks on Tuesday—A Miscellany:
Tuesdays, March 29—May 17 (no
F i n e Art s: communi on tabl e cl ot h s
O u r cl e rg y wa n te d to
b r i n g more col o r a n d
t e xt u re i n t o t h e s a n c tu a ry
d u r i n g
ou r
ob se rv a n c e
of commu n i on , i n a w a y i n
ke e p i n g wi t h ou r o v e ra l l
a p p re ci a t i on of t he a rts.
A f t e r ma n y op t i o n s w e re
e xp l ore d , i t wa s d e c i d e d
t o b e g i n wi t h d ec o ra ti v e
cl ot h on t h e com m u n i o n
t a b l e . Me mb e r s of th e F i n e
A r t s Boa rd a t t h e ti m e to o k
t h i s on wi t h e n th u si a sm
and c ommi s s i on e d t h e va r i ou s cl ot h s we h a ve t o d a y.
Joan Pa r s on s wor ke d wi t h e a ch a r t i s t on t h e i r com m u n i o n
r u n n e r. Ch r i s t i S u t p h e n d e s i g n e d a n d s e we d t h e c l o th
t h at h a s g re e n on on e s i d e a n d p u r p l e on t h e o th e r.
Mar k S u e s s ma d e a d a r k b l u e on e a n d Ka t h l e en L a u ri l a
made t h e wh i t e on e . (Pi ct u re d , f rom l e f t , Je ff re y S a rta i n ,
Kat h l e e n L a u r i l a , Pa r ke We a ve r a n d Ma rg a re t G ei sl e r. )
Th i s i s a g re a t e xa mp l e of cl e rg y, t h e F i n e A r ts B o a rd
and me mb e r s wor ki n g t og e t h e r t o p rovi d e a b e a u ti f u l
and v e r y p e r s on a l t ou ch t o ou r commu n i on s erv i c e s a t
Pl ymo u t h . S o t h e n e xt t i me we ce l e b r a t e commun i o n , b e
su re to t a ke a mome n t t o s t e p u p a f t e r t h e s e r vi ce to v i e w
t h e fin e wor kma n s h i p a n d d e t a i l of t h e s e b e a u t i f ul c l o th s.
— Hug h C o k e r
AR TS
Gallery: Japanese Silk and Paper
By Sonia Cairns, G allery Committee
The Gallery Committee is thrilled
to bring one of Minnesota’s most
accomplished artists to our gallery.
March 13–April 20, Carolyn Golberg
will present Layers of Time—
Japanese Silk and Paper. A mixedmedia artist, she creates vibrantly hued
textiles or paper that resonate with
depth, movement and energy. Join us
at the opening reception following the
service on Sunday, March 13.
Having collected more than two
thousand antique Japanese kimono
and obi, she reconstructs the timeless
fabrics into contemporary works
of decorated art. And, as Artist in
Residence at the Minnesota Center
for Book Arts in Minneapolis, she
created 200 unique papers using
cellulose materials from both regional
indigenous plants and Japanese fibers.
She’s also taught fiber and related
textile arts in schools and universities.
and related textile arts in schools and
universities. A founder and president of
the Textile Council at the Minneapolis
Institute of Arts, she’s played other
key leadership roles at Mia, The
Textile Center and National Center for
Textiles.
NOMINATE YOURSELF OR
OTHERS FOR LEADERSHIP
Watch for the opening of
nominations for a limited number
of board and officer vacancies
this month.
Renowned local artist
Carolyn Golberg
For more than 30 years, Golberg has
exhibited in shows and galleries in
Europe and the United States. She’s
received many state and national
awards and her work has been
published broadly. She has taught fiber
Please consider whether
someone you know or you
might be a good candidate.
The nomination process will be
publicized in Sunday Bulletin
Announcements and on the
website (plymouth.org).
Nominations will be voted on at
the annual meeting June 12.
Please submit annual meeting agenda items
The annual meeting of the
congregation will be Sunday, June
12. Plymouth’s bylaws provide that
members may ask the Deacons to
include agenda items using this
procedure: “A member desiring
to have a matter considered at the
meeting shall submit to the Deacons
a written request describing the
matter and, if a particular resolution
is proposed, the text of the resolution.
The request must be accompanied
by the signatures of at least fifty (50)
members indicating their support
of the request, and must be received
by the Clerk or a person designated
by the Clerk at least sixty (60) days
prior to the meeting, or by such later
date as the Deacons may designate.
All items which are the subject
of requests that comply with the
requirements of this Section shall be
placed on the agenda by the Deacons.”
Members who wish to have items on
the annual meeting agenda or who
have questions can contact either the
Deacons (deacons@plymouth.org) or
Brian Siska, Clerk (bdsiska@gmail.
com).
LO O KI NG AHE AD
Advance Care Planning, Sunday
April 10—Dr. Thomas Klemond of
Methodist Hospital, a specialist in
Palliative and Hospice care, will speak
to us about Advance Care Planning.
Read Your Favorite Poem, Sunday
April 17—Join a special Poetry
Month event in the Chapel by
reading or reciting your favorite
poem, written by you or anyone
else. Contact Carrie Bassett,
carolinebassett7@gmail.com,
612/920-0102, with your name and
the title of your poem. This Literary
Witnesses event begins at noon;
invite your friends!
plymouth.org
flame
9
Plymouth Congregational Church
1900 Nicollet Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55403-3789
Vol . X LVII, No. 3
Marc h 2016
Address Service Requested
Non-profit
organization
U.S. postage
PAID
Twin Cities MN
permit No. 93038
In th is issue
The Power of the Heart. . . . . . . . 1
Minister’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Grace Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Community Life. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Worship. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
New Members. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Outreach. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5, 7
Parish Register. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
March 2016 Calendar . . . . . . . 6–7
Spiritual Exploration . . . . . . . . . . 8
Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,9
Annual Meeting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Editor: Allison Campbell Jensen
Director of Communication
612/871-7400
E-mail: publications@plymouth.org
Published monthly for members and friends
of Plymouth Congregational Church,
Minneapolis, Minnesota. Subscribe to the
electronic version by sending a note to
churchinfo@plymouth.org.
Submit items for publication no later than
March 15 for April. We reserve the right to edit
or delay the publication of any article.
Worship services
9:50 First Service in the Chapel
First Service is designed especially for
young families. Service ends at 10:20.
10:30 Service in the Sanctuary
March 6 Barbara Holmes, United Theological Seminary March 13 Carla J. Bailey
March 20 Palm Sunday, Carla J. Bailey
March 24 Maundy Thursday,
7:30 p.m., Cathie Crooks
March 25 Good Friday, 5 p.m., Carla J. Bailey
March 27 Easter Sunday
6:30 a.m. Easter Sunrise Service, Jeffrey Sartain and Paula Northwood
9 & 11 a.m., Carla J. Bailey
Holy Week and Easter
March 20—Palm Sunday Children waving palms join the procession into the
10:30 a.m. service.
March 24—Maundy Thursday Marking the Last Supper with a special supper
at 6 p.m., service at 7:30 p.m.
March 25—Good Friday Remembering the crucifixion with the poetry of
mourning, 5 p.m. in the Chapel.
March 27—Easter Sunday
6:30 a.m. Easter Sunrise service in the Chapel; the Jonson family are pictured at last year’s service.
9 a.m. & 11 a.m. Joyous celebrations of Easter, in the Sanctuary.