Music Spectacular & Church School Teachers Needed

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Musical Spectacular! Friday, August 4th, 10 a.m. or 3 p.m.
Bring your friends and pack Conn on Friday, August 4 at 10 am or 3 pm for Musical Spectacular 2023: Once Upon a Night! Our 28 actors and stagehands will have pulled together an entire musical in 4 and a half days and nothing is better than supporting people doing what they love!

 

 

 

 

As we prepare for the fall, we are recruiting volunteers for Sunday School. Here is was one volunteer has to say about the opportunity.

“Being a Sunday School teacher for our kids at Plymouth, or classroom helper, is a blast! An eye-opener! A total treat! I am so glad I did this for a few years. I learned firsthand that we have great kids at Plymouth: interesting, smart, caring, aware, funny, and downright terrific human beings. There are many bonuses for the kids: meeting new adults in the church who care about them and support them where they are. For me: I get to know kids and their parents, a whole new group of Plymouth members I would not have known. One former teacher and I have become good friends, and I am her son’s friend too.

Other teachers and I are still acquaintances, as are their kids.
It was one of the best things I did at Plymouth. Plus, and no small thing, I experienced and saw Hope. And still do. With our kids leading the way, good things will happen: in their lives and others. I continue to participate in activities with our kids and enjoy it every time. I am reminded of how special they are, how good and caring their parents and families are, and how being with them lifts my spirits and commitment to Plymouth.”

–Hope Esparolini, former confirmation mentor and classroom friend, a current member of the Committee for Children, Youth and Families, and Plymouth Superhero!

To join our team of Plymouth superheroes–https://forms.gle/WGHj94a4vKSQBMSJ6

Volunteer as a Sunday School Teacher

It’s Game Night Time!

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Plymouth’s Next Game Night will be

Thursday
August 10, 2023
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Location will be in a player’s home – send an email to bgores@yahoo.com to get the address

All are welcome. Games we play are decided in the moment.

 

Rummikub on July 13 was a lot of fun!

The winner of the evening receives a prize!

BYOB and snack so our hosts aren’t overwhelmed, please.

“Play is just as critical for adults as for kids.” Who said that? Believe it or not, archeologists who studied biblical times.

According to Biblical Archaeology Review, playing board games has been around for millennia. One of the oldest board games in the world – The Royal Game of Ur (pictured) – was played in ancient Mesopotamia more than 4,500 years ago! “In the biblical world, board games were part of routine domestic life.” BAR, Spring 2023

Why are you hearing about this now? Because Plymouth’s brand-new small group is going to do just that with Game Night starting this summer, where we will gather to play friendly games of cards and board games.

Little did the organizers of this group know that they were following in Jesus’ footsteps! And Matthew! Moses! Lilith!

Fun fact for your kids: back in ancient times, they would use pebbles, bones, sticks, twigs – and even animal turds – for gameplay. Can you just picture Adam and Eve sitting under those apple trees competing with sticks and stones?

Besides, what else would Jesus do in his downtime when he wasn’t turning water into wine? Didn’t you memorize Matthew 21:12? “And Jesus jumped and danced for joy after beating Peter at The Royal Game of Ur?

If you want to be just like Peter, Paul, and Mary, then join us. I can’t promise we will have The Royal Game of Ur (available for just $19.99 from Amazon – one-day delivery), but we will learn a fun game of Rummikub.

By Beverly Gores, organizer of Game Night (Contact bgores@yahoo.com if interested. We will try to play monthly or semi-monthly.)

Mid-month Mingle

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August 16

Our Wednesday evening community meals are such a popular gathering during the year that we didn’t want the fun to end in the summer!

Things will be a little bit different, though, when we meet in June, July, and August.

We will provide the main dish—this month, it will be food from Chipotle. We are asking for a donation of $7 per person.

We are also asking that each household bring a dish to share: pasta salad, brownies, chips and dip, deviled eggs, or whatever you’d like. Please label it, especially if it is gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, etc.

We will eat from 5:30 to 6:30, and then we will have activities from 6:30 to 7:30.

Nina will offer an intergenerational activity, and the Deacons will be continuing their in-depth conversations to help our congregation understand the new 6-month budget approved at the annual meeting. Their conversation will run from 6:30 to 7:30 in the Chapel.

Just stay for dinner, or stay for the whole time! We can’t wait to have you!

August 16:

Meal–Grilled Hotdogs and Veggie Dogs. Activity–College Care Packages and Pre-Rally Sunday Church Deep Clean

We look forward to you joining us! Please RSVP to Nina for next week’s event so we order the right amount of food!

Plymouth at PRIDE!

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Twin Cities Pride–let’s get involved!

This year there are myriad ways for Plymouth Church members to participate in the Twin Cities Pride celebration–but we need your help!

Teens, attend Pride with the Youth Group: 7th-12th graders can attend the festival in Loring Park as a group on Saturday, June 24th, from 2-5 p.m. Email Nina to participate. We will meet at church and walk as a group to Loring Park. Families and kids will coordinate their own pick-up at or after 5 p.m.

The table in Loring Park: This year, Plymouth, along with other congregations state-wide, will be participating in Twin Cities Pride at the MN Conference UCC Booth. This means that there need to be at least 2 people staffing the UCC booth for the entire duration of the festival. That is a lot of slots to fill, even if we are dividing it up between 15 congregations! At the booth, you will meet people wearing your Amplify Love t-shirt (available at the front desk) and handing out fun buttons, seed packets, and information to help people find an open and affirming church (including Plymouth) where they live! You don’t have to be an expert on all churches; you just need to be willing to talk to people and answer questions! If you are interested in picking up a shift, sign up today! There are MANY open slots. This is a great opportunity to tell people about our church and be the embodiment of an expansively loving, affirming church! Our congregation is larger than all of the others who are staffing the booth, so we should help and fill in some slots! Here is the link to the signup genius.

Sign Up!

March in the parade: 6 Plymouth members can also represent us by marching in the parade as part of the MN Conference UCC float. If you are interested in walking in the parade (estimated time commitment 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.), please contact Nina.

Watch the parade: We will also have a group from Plymouth gather after the 9 a.m. service, get decked out in rainbow face paint and stickers, and walk together to go watch the parade. Our spectator organizers are Gina DelCorazon and Sara Ohotto Bauer. No need to sign up. Just wear your rainbow clothes, bring water, a blanket or a portable chair, sunblock, and comfy walking shoes, and meet in Jones Commons immediately following the 9 a.m service on Sunday, June 25th!

Camp Plymouth 2023

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Camp Plymouth 2023

Friday, August 18  at 4 p.m. to

Sunday, August 20, 2023 at Noon.

Looking for a great, relaxing place to spend time with your partner, spouse, children, or other members of our church community to celebrate the end of summer? Camp Plymouth (at Luther Crest in Alexandria, MN) offers an amazing opportunity for you to connect with other Plymouthites of all ages in a new way. It’s a great way to wrap up summer and get prepared for the energy and excitement of September. Households can arrive as early as Thursday afternoon, getting extra time to relax and unwind! Programming won’t officially begin until Friday afternoon!

THIS IS AN INTERGENERATIONAL EVENT! You do not need to have children in order to attend! You can attend with your grandchildren, your fellowship group, yourself, your family–whomever!

Camp includes a mix of scheduled activities (worship, service projects, group meals, games, swimming, etc.) and lots of free time to connect with others or unwind on your own!

Come celebrate our 25th year of Camp Plymouth!

Camp Programs

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Preschool Peace Camp (ages 2.5-5):

Half-Day Camp (mornings only)

June 26-28

$25

Tall buildings, interesting people, busy sidewalks, zooming busses–cities are such exciting places, and since we are lucky to be smack dab in the middle of one, let’s learn about the bright bustling city we live in, and how to be a good neighbor to those around us!

Join us for this NEW summer offering from Plymouth Church–preschool Peace Camp!

 

Register Here

Peace Camp (Kindergarten – completed grade 4, FRIENDS welcome!)

July 24-28

$40

Join us for Peace Camp this summer!
While we are still very much in the process of planning our Peace Camp this summer, but based on interests of our current kids, we are planning on a theme of the intersection of faith, science and magic! Sure to be a super fun time!

Register Here

 

Musical Spectacular (grades 4-12)

July 31-August 4

$75

Musical Spectacular 2023
From Monday, July 31 at 9 a.m. to Friday, August 4, 2023 at 5 p.m.

After the success of last summer’s show, we are doing it again! Over the course of a week, we will create mini-scenes, rewrite song lyrics, perfect our own talent acts, and put together a not to be missed show!

Our goal is to have two shows on the last day–a morning show (around 10:30 a.m.) as well as an afternoon/evening show at 4:30.

This activity is open to kids grade 3 and up, and no prior theater experience is required.

All kids will have opportunities to work on tech (costumes, set, props, etc.) and be onstage in the show.

Register Here

Breakfast and Board Games!

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February 11

9:30-11:30 a.m. in Jones Commons and the Education Wing.

 

People of all ages are invited to come eat some yummy breakfast treats, play some favorite classic board games, or learn some new ones. A great chance to get out of the house in the winter and meet new Plymouth folks! The young and the young at heart are encouraged to attend! For more info or to RSVP, email Ninaj@plymouth.org

Wreath Sales

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This Sunday, December 4, our senior high class will be selling wreaths and swags in Jones Commons from 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Please plan to help support our Youth Program by purchasing holiday greenery from us. If you’ve already bought a wreath, you can purchase one that will be donated to those who utilize Groveland Food Shelf or attendees at the Drop-in Center. Wreaths and garlands can be paid for with check, cash, or credit card.