Thank you to everyone who donated to the Groveland Food Shelf during March. The shelves are full of food, and the new style of assisting guests is working well. They can now hand-pick what they want from the shelves just like a grocery store. The walk-in freezer makes it possible to keep foods longer and accept meat donations. The handicap entrance ramp is a big improvement over the many steps. Our appreciation and thanks go to Terry Diebold, who’s served on the Food Shelf Board of Directors for eight years and will retire this month. If you’d like to volunteer at the Food Shelf, contact David Enghusen at daveenghusen@yahoo.com or 612/871-0277.

• Come to the Take Five Table after worship and send a letter to your elected officials to end homelessness.

• Sign up to receive action alerts on legislative updates via email from the HHP Leadership Team. Check the church website for past action alerts and links to organizations working on these important issues – www.plymouth.org, click on HHP on the Home page.

• Join Jim Gertmenian and Cathy ten Broeke on May 4 at 1:30 p.m. in Guild Hall as they host an update on Heading Home Hennepin. As well as serving as co-chair for Heading Home Hennepin, Jim is on the Heading Home Minnesota steering committee. Cathy ten Broeke is Director of Heading Home Hennepin and Project Homeless Connect Day. All the downtown congregations are invited to join us at Plymouth for this community-wide event.

PCNF Night on the Streets, April 18

Join Twin Cities youth in our parking lot for fun, music and listening to homeless youth share their experiences. Activity on the stage starts about 6:30 p.m. Volunteers are needed to help serve food, register 400 teens from more than 30 congregations, serve as block patrol and much more. Contact John Maday at deefreez@hotmail.com. A few comments from the PCNF website from teens who participated in the past: "I loved seeing and hearing from real people who’ve been through so much and how they’re doing now." "I learned that it doesn’t take a life of crime or drugs – it just takes trouble in your life." "I was amazed by the amount of kids in schools who are homeless."

Stevens Square Community Organization Garage Sale, April 19 (8 a.m.-5 p.m.) & 20 (10 a.m.-3 p.m.) at Van Dusen Mansion, across the street from the church. Shop for re-usable items and support SSCO programs.

Sustainability Statement, April 20, noon in the Baltins Room. This spring as the earth wakes up and grows green once again, join in conversation on the Sustainability Statement that Caring For Creation and the Board of Outreach are presenting for the congregation to consider.

Third Sunday Meal, April 20, 4:30-6:30 p.m. or sign up for a summer date as a family. The community free hot meal on Sunday nights is sponsored by four downtown congregations. Plymouth hosts the third Sunday of each month and needs 25 volunteers to serve approximately 300 guests in our dining room. To sign up, contact Kim Lutes at kikrlu@aol.com. You’ll make the day for a family in need of a smile and some warm food.

Project Homeless Connect Day, April 28, a one-day, one-stop shop for the homeless. 1000 volunteers are needed, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Training required. There will be a training session at Plymouth on April 21 at 7 p.m. Sign up on-line at: www.homelessconnectminneapolis.org.

Meals On Wheels needs a few more volunteers to deliver hot meals to homebound people in the downtown area on Thursdays over the noon hour. You can sign up for one time each month or go with a volunteer on a trial run to see what it’s like. Contact Jim Haining at: jm_rj_hain@msn.com, 952/926-1521.

Contact me, Connie Marty, Outreach Volunteer Coordinator, to learn more about or get involved in any of the 15 programs sponsored by the Board of Outreach at Plymouth: conniem@plymouth.org, 612/977-1284.

MORE THAN 900 PEOPLE from faith communities went to the capitol on March 13 for the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition (JRLC) Day on the Hill to lobby elected officials on affordable housing, ending poverty, healthcare for all and to preserve Minnesota’s impartial judiciary. Pictured from left from Plymouth are Cole Williams, Teresa Voss, John Humphrey, Jane Riley Koll and Connie Marty. Not pictured: Doug Hoverson

The beloved musical Godspell is being staged by the New Plymouth Players this month. Members, friends and staff will join to produce, direct, build and perform together in this year’s theater venture – one that’s been long-awaited since the revival of the theater group.

Godspell was conceived and originally directed by John Michael Tebelak, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz.

One of the biggest off-Broadway and Broadway successes of all time, Godspell is based primarily on the Gospel According to St. Matthew. Featuring a sparkling, seminal score by Stephen Schwartz, Godspell boasts a string of recognizable songs, led by the international hit "Day By Day."

As the cast of actors makes its way through "Prepare Ye The Way Of The Lord," "Save The People," "Learn Your Lessons Well," "Bless The Lord," "All For The Best," "All Good Gifts," "Turn Back, O Man" and "By My Side," the audience gets to see the parables of Jesus come humanly and hearteningly to life. The main story of Godspell is portrayed in the show’s subtext – in the way the players interact with their leader, coming together to create a loving community. –Jo Holcomb

Godspell
A musical based on the gospel according to St. Matthew
Conceived and Originally Directed by John-Michael Tebelak
Music and New Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
Originally Produced on the New York Stage by Edgar Lansbury/Stuart Duncan/Joseph Beruh

Directed by Michael Sheeks
Musical Direction: Sonja Thompson
Vocal Direction: Mary Laymon
Choreography: Jim Lichtscheidl

Howard Conn Theater
April 11, 17, 18 and 19 at 7:30 p.m.
April 12, 13 and 20 at 2:00 p.m.
Tickets are $18 ($15 for students and seniors)
Special ticket offers include $50 for a family of four or more at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 12, and Sunday, April 13. Thursday, April 17 is "pay-what-you-can night." Tickets are on sale in Guild Hall after worship on April 6 and 13 or can be ordered from Doug Freeman in the Church Office (612/977-1279; dougf@plymouth.org).

TWENTY-FIVE PLYMOUTH VOLUNTEERS over two days, including Bev Norris (pictured), showed up to shelve about 15,000 pounds of food at the Groveland Food Shelf, including 12,500 unexpected pounds collected by Southwest High School National Honor Society. On Palm Sunday, about 150 people plus Church School and youth groups toured the refurbished food shelf.

We hope you’ll consider participating in one of two retreats planned for April and May to contribute to our efforts to affirm Plymouth’s spirit and envision a strong future for our beloved church.

Over the past several months, in preparation for Plymouth’s Strategic Planning for 2008-12, we’ve been engaged in a listening process called Affirming our Spirit, Building our Legacy. With a broad range of our members, individual church boards, other informal ad hoc groups and our ministers, we’ve explored such questions as: "What does spirituality mean for you at Plymouth?" "What do you treasure about Plymouth?" "What would you change?" "What do we think we’re called to be in the larger culture today?" "What are your hopes and aspirations for the future of our church?"

During these Listening Sessions, led by co-chairs Claire Kolmodin and Sonia Cairns and members of an Oversight Committee, we’re hearing the voices and perspectives of people who are new to Plymouth as well as long-time members, people who are young and those who are older, people who are active leaders in the congregation and others who are less involved. We’ve learned that our members are deeply inspired by Plymouth’s tradition of liberal theology, by our music and fine arts programs, by our active church school, our community outreach and many other aspects of our church’s life.

But the people we’ve listened to also have a rich variety of creative ideas and energy for making Plymouth even more inspiring … a place that we – along with others yet to come – will continue to think of as "home." We’ve learned that we need some focused, unhurried time to explore more deeply all the questions that have been raised and, to that end –

Teresa Daly, a principal in Navigate Forward, a Minneapolis-based consulting firm to organizations like ours who are envisioning their futures, will facilitate the retreats to be held –

• April 25-26 at Plymouth. This retreat will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday with a light dinner and continue until 8:30 p.m. and Saturday from
  9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. We can accommodate as many people as can attend.
• May 9-10 at Dunrovin Christian Brothers Retreat Center in Marine-on-the-St.Croix, less than an hour from Plymouth. This retreat will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, include an overnight stay, and continue from breakfast on Saturday until 3:30 p.m. This weekend will be limited to 40 people.

Both retreats are free-of-charge. Due to a donation from a generous Plymouth member, all costs will be absorbed. We only ask that each of you commit to being at the full retreat. If you must miss the Friday dinner for either retreat due to your work schedule, we ask that you arrive by 7 p.m.

If you’re not able to attend either of these retreats, be assured that there will be numerous other, briefer opportunities for you to participate in this ongoing listening process. Our aim and intent is that every Plymouth member who wants to be part of this larger conversation will have an opportunity to do so.

If you’re interested in one of the two longer retreats, respond to Doug Freeman, 612/977-1279 or dougf@plymouth.org. Thank you for helping us envision Plymouth’s wonderful future. We look forward to hearing from you!

I’ve always drawn, painted and constructed things, but fiber art was not a concept in my college days. When I took my first surface design workshop in 1983, I began to see new possibilities for creating pattern on cloth that could become art, whether on the body, table or wall. In 1984 I took a workshop in roketsu-zome (wax and dye in Japanese) and became hooked on combining painting with garment construction. The great pleasure in this labor-intensive process is in the flow of the wax and dye from a Japanese brush into the fabric. I began to sell my scarves and garments and identify myself as a fiber artist.

When I could devote full time to my art, I began to make wearables that projected social commentary and were more concerned with message than utility. Experimenting with only marginally wearable materials such as barbed wire and baling twine led me off the body and onto the wall where three-dimensional structure is uninhibited by the need to move arms or sit down. Constructing wall pieces opened up new avenues of aesthetic and technical challenge and experimentation. However, since an initial idea grows and changes in the process of construction, what begins as a wearable frequently metamorphoses into a wall piece and vice versa.

My recent work includes wall pieces as well as wearables that have become increasingly sculptural. The baling twine that I collect from my neighbor’s fence posts serves my delight in scavenging and recycling. When it’s sewn into channels, it stiffens soft fabrics and encourages sculptural manipulation. It invites combination with my hand-dyed textiles as well as selections from my hoard of commercial fibers and found objects such as recycled plastic nettings, wine corks, pyrometric cones, plastic industrial tubing, coffee filters and twigs. I enjoy the challenge of improvising techniques to solve the engineering and aesthetic problems that emerge in the process of construction.

I’m fascinated with the process of transforming mundane materials into unique and ambiguous forms that are subject to individual interpretation. I produce one-of-a-kind pieces that are designed to engage the eye over many years of intimate observation. (Photo by Petronella Ytsma)

I make everyday pots to live within the home, objects
that contribute to the texture of daily life. In simple pieces like teapots, coffee cups or cereal bowls, I relish the delightful, surprising interaction of elements and forms of diverse origins. I hope the pots provide as much enjoyment in their use as the pleasure and anticipation they bring me in the making.

By Tim Fremouw

Sometimes it helps to remember that we don’t own the natural resources and treasures of the earth, but are entrusted with their care. Faced with an array of social and environmental concerns ranging from global warming to overpopulation, wasteful consumption, scarcity, pollution and more, we have work to do. Yet our responsibilities to our children, communities and the earth itself can seem overwhelming.

However, every problem is also an opportunity. We have an opportunity to work together, to build friendships, to improve things for our community, nation and future generations. We can build community while crafting a future in which all people share fairly in the earth’s bounty and in which we all want to live.

To that end, Plymouth’s Caring for Creation working group challenges the Plymouth community to think creatively and deeply about how we can integrate active care for the earth into our own identity.

Over the winter, we began work on a list of principles
that could provide our congregation with a starting point. We examined environmental statements from other institutions, exchanged ideas and invited all Plymouth members to join the discussion. After countless revisions, we came up with a proposed statement on environmental sustainability.

The proposed statement is not intended to be a list of rules and regulations. Rather, it’s an invitation to consider how committing ourselves to caring for the earth can positively impact our identity as a church, as well as how it can enrich and deepen our own self understanding. A copy of the current draft follows this introductory article.

The statement received the support of the Board of Outreach in March. We hope that our congregation will follow the Board’s lead by endorsing these principles and guidelines and then integrating them with our strategic planning process, helping us make thoughtful decisions regarding energy, transportation, food, water and waste.

Plans are underway to discuss the proposal at various Plymouth forums.

VISION
Plymouth Congregational Church believes that we are called to serve as stewards of the earth, to protect and nurture the environment and to engage in sustainable practices that meet the needs of the present without compromising the lives of future generations. We envision a world in which all people share fairly in the earth’s bounty and make reverence, gratitude and care for the living earth central to their lives.

PRINCIPLES
In response to this call, we adopt the following environmental sustainability principles to guide our decisions and our actions as a congregation.

Facilities and Operations – To promote sustainable environmental practices throughout our church’s operations, we will:

Plymouth Community – To encourage our members to develop sustainable lifestyles, we will:

Outreach and Advocacy – To promote environmental sustainability in the wider community, we will:

Rose Ensemble at Vespers April 6
On Sunday, April 6 at 6:45 p.m., the women of The Rose Ensemble will join us in the Chapel for evening Vespers, inviting us into a time of reflection and prayer through beautiful music, evocative readings, the ritual of candle-lighting and optional anointing with oil. Following our worship, all are invited to stay for refreshments and conversation in Jones Commons. Join us for an experience of communal worship that promises to be nourishing for heart, mind, body and spirit. –Cathie Crooks

Cuba: change in April 6 Adult Forum
There’s been a change in the Adult Forum for Sunday, April 6 at 9 a.m. Jeff Sartain and other travelers will share their experiences and information about our Cuban friends and their lives, hopes and struggles. In recent years, members of Plymouth have forged meaningful friendships with members of two congregations in Cuba. Groups from the church, led by Jeff Sartain, traveled to Cuba in 2005 and 2008. Plymouth has also hosted a guest from Cuba here in Minneapolis.

Clergy holy lands trip DVD available
The DVD Footsteps: A Journey in Faith is now available in the Church Office. The documentary depicts the trip taken in January 2007 by Jim Gertmenian and 11 clergy colleagues from houses of faith in downtown Minneapolis. It shows how the personal friendships in the group were tested and ultimately strengthened as the group experienced the realities of life in the Middle East. Cost of the DVD is $15. Contact Linda (lindak@plymouth.org or 612/977-1262).

Stevens Square Sale April 19-20
Stevens Square’s Annual Rummage Sale will be on April 19, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and April 20, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Van Dusen Center across LaSalle Ave. from the church. Admission is $2 on Saturday for those over 12 and free for all on Sunday. Stevens Square Community Organization is seeking donations for the sale, which will help raise money for neighborhood projects such as Cinema & Civics in the Park, Block Patrol, community gardens, arts programs, outreach to new Minnesotans and more. Contact Stevens Square Community Organization at 612/874-2840 or dave@sscoweb.org to arrange to deliver donated items. You can also drop off your donation in the Flower Room at Plymouth, or SSCO can make arrangements for staff or volunteers to pick it up from your home. All donations are tax deductible. They’re also looking for volunteers to help with set-up and staffing at the event; contact Linda Ferris at 612/871-4382 or ralmferris@msn.com.

Grief facilitators needed
The Downtown Coalition for Grief Education and Support needs facilitators for the "Family Loss" and "Spouse Loss" groups. Training will be at the Basilica of St. Mary on Saturday, April 12. Qualifications sought include compassion, empathy, confidentiality and the personal experience of bereavement. Meetings are held every Saturday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Plymouth is a member of this Coalition of nine downtown churches. For more information on how you might help others through the season of grief, contact Tom Anderson at 952/927-7453 or Jeff Sartain.

Membership classes April 13, 20
The next series of informational classes for prospective members will be April 13 and 20, 8:30-10:00 a.m. in the Baltins Room. Contact Emily Venell at 612/977-1281 or emilyv@plymouth.org if you’re interested in or have questions about membership at Plymouth, or if you’re interested in attending a future series.

Open & Affirming Celebration Service
The annual Service of Celebration for the "Open and Affirming" (ONA) presence within the Minnesota Conference of the United Church of Christ will be Sunday, April 6, hosted by Union Congregational United Church of Christ, 3700 Alabama Ave. So., St. Louis Park. The day will begin with workshops at 2:30 p.m. for churches going through the ONA process and churches hoping to more fully live out their ONA commitment. The service of worship will be at 4 p.m. with the Rev. Dr. Beth Donaldson, senior minister for the United Church of Christ in New Brighton, preaching.

Spanish classes at Plymouth
Traveling south of the border? To Cuba in December? Enrich your conversations with people you meet by learning Spanish with people you know. The teacher, Stephanie Owen-Lyons, is a Plymouth member and high school Spanish teacher. Emphasizing oral communication, classes – sponsored by the Cuba Connect small group – will be lively and interactive, yet methodical. For details about the curriculum and to reserve your spot, e-mail stephanieowenlyons@gmail.com. Beginners: Sundays, noon-1:30 p.m., April 20-June 1 (except May 25). Beginners mid: Wednesdays, 6:00-7:30 p.m., June 18-July 23. $60 dollars per series.

Donate your vehicle
With winter behind us, perhaps your old car is looking weary. Donate your car to Plymouth and take a tax deduction. We work with Cars with Heart, who take care of all the details, including pickup of your vehicle. For more information, call Tom Lockhart in the church office.

Marshall Rosenberg here in May
Marshall Rosenberg, Ph.D., peacemaker, author and founder of the Center for NonViolent Communication (NVC), will visit the Twin Cities May 2-4, one of the few appearances he’s making anywhere this year. Rosenberg’s interactive workshop is taught around the world. It demonstrates how to live the change you want to be and see in your community. For more information and registration, go to www.stthomas.edu/justpeace/nvcevent. Plymouth has sponsored three Compassionate Communication (NVC) workshops and hopes bring another one this fall. Contact anneseltz@aol.com for more information.

Denominational opportunities
Plymouth’s two denominational affiliates will hold their Annual Meetings this June. Both have special appeal this year. If you’re interested in knowing more about these meetings, please phone or e-mail Doug Freeman at 612/977-1279, dougf@plymouth.org.

NACCC
The National Association of Congregational Christian Churches will meet in Plymouth, Massachusetts, June 21-25. Registration before May 1 guarantees the lowest registration fee. Any Plymouth member may attend as a visitor. Financial assistance is available for a delegate. (Also see www.naccc.org and click on the link under "Highlights" in the right column.)

Member News
Jane Pejsa will lead a historical European tour to better understand "the three complicated military geniuses who played decisive roles in World War II," based on her recent book, The Final Encounter: Rommel, Patton, Zhukov. It will visit Metz, Luxembourg, Stuttgart and Moscow, Sept. 2-11. Contact her for more information: 612/332-5073 or pejsa@sprintmail.com.