UNITED CHURCH O F C H R I S T the Bell
Transcript of UNITED CHURCH O F C H R I S T the Bell
www.plymouthfw.org
UNITED CHURCH
O F C H R I S T
Volume 73, Issue 10
October 17, 2012
Plymouth Congregational Church of Fort Wayne
the Bell
Exploring Faith . Restoring Hope . Discovering God
A special interfaith Thanksgiving service will be held Tuesday,
November 20, 7:00 pm, at Temple Achduth Vesholom, 5200 Old Mill Road.
Choirs from each congregation will sing, forming a massed choir to provide
music for this service. Join in this opportunity to unify our voices in song
with our neighbors from our diverse community!
Interfaith Thanksgiving Service
Commitment Sunday, November 11
By John Escosa
“For you, O Lord, have made me glad by
your work, at the works of your hands, I
sing for joy” Psalm 92:4 (NRSV).
It’s healthy practice for me to count my
blessings. They are many, and I count
Plymouth Church as more than one of
them. If you were in worship at 10:00 am
on Sunday, October 7, you may skip the
rest of this paragraph. Here at Plymouth
we invariably get a well-reasoned, articu-
late message of deep Christian faith. This is true even when the Reverend Dr.
John P. Gardner must be away from the pulpit. We are also consistently
treated to excellent music in a broad variety of styles. All of this we enjoy in a
comfortable space, which is always praised by visitors as “beautiful” and fre-
quently as “magnificent.” Nor is our sanctuary the only welcoming space our
facility houses. We are richly blessed.
“From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required”
Luke 12:48 (NRSV). We’ve heard it many times, and now is our opportunity
to respond to this call for our stewardship. November 11, Commitment
Sunday, is the time to pledge our time, talent and treasure. By continuing to
participate and to volunteer as we have, and by incrementally giving a bit
more each year, we grow the vitality of this wonderful congregation.
For many of us, our gifts of treasure to Plymouth Church represent a measure
of sacrifice. Sometimes this means a shift in priorities, which results in the
personal growth of the giver in unexpected ways. However we come to the
table, we know the welcome here is universal. This is the greatest blessing of
all.
Thank you for your gift and your participation in the life of Plymouth Church.
Annual Election Meeting
and
Empty Bowls Fundraiser
Sunday, October 28
Plymouth will hold its Annual Election
Meeting on Sunday, October 28,
11:30 am, immediately after worship.
The meeting will be in the sanctuary,
where the election of the slate of offi-
cers and board members will take
place.
After the slate is elected, the meeting
will adjourn to the Folsom Room
where the Empty Bowls Fundraiser for
The Interfaith Hospitality Network will
be serving a soup and bread lunch at a
cost of $10.00. Children 5 and under
are free. After the last person has been
served, the meeting will again come to
order for an “information session,”
where a variety of issues the church is
facing will be presented.
Please save the date and time (again:
October 28, 11:30 am) and make plans
to attend this most important congrega-
tional meeting in the life of the church.
For those friends of Plymouth Church
who would like to see our governance
in action, you are encouraged to attend
the meeting and most certainly the
lunch, but only members of the church
in good standing may vote.
Page 2
I n Our
Prayers
During the month of October we
pray for the Healthy Cities/
Veterans Stand Down (providing
food and clothing to those most in
need through various programs) and
the Franciscan Center, partners in
mission and recipients of Plymouth
benevolence.
Members and friends serving over-
seas: Major Marc Lovelace, SSgt.
Joe Luyben, UCC Chaplains Re-
becca McMichael, Leticia Rouser,
Beth Stallinga, Jon Bailey.
Plymouth people in our prayers:
Deb Conklin, Beth Dickerson, Janice
Furtner, Loretta Henderson, Larry
Holderbaum, Lynn Huber, Brian Ing-
mire, Judy Kuelling, Sadie Kuelling,
Jeffrey Lohse, Kenosha Phil-
lips,Timothy Price, Jack Rhoades,
Luanne Root, and Kay Walter.
Sympathy is extended to the family
and friends of William Whitworth,
who died October 8.
From the Senior Pastor
Friends,
October 7, on World Communion Sunday, we commenced our fall steward-
ship campaign with a wonderful worship service. John Escosa, chairperson of
our campaign, introduced the stewardship theme: Plymouth Church – A Con-
tinuing Work of God’s Hands. The theme is founded upon a verse from the
Psalms: “For you, O God, have made me glad by your work; at the works of
your hands, I sing for joy” (Psalm 92:4). Throughout our stewardship season,
through October and up to Commitment Sunday on November 11, we will
explore the multiple ways in which the ministry of Plymouth Church hastens
to serve as “a continuing work” of God’s grace, love, and mercy.
Did you notice the new linen cloth draping our communion table? The para-
ment, inspired by the Deacons’ Worship Committee and produced by Ply-
mouth’s own “Knit and Kibitz” group, is an exquisite work of liturgical art. It
features on its front dozens of hands configured in multiple colors, sizes, and
shapes. It is complemented by a smaller pulpit frontlet depicting a pair of
hands folded in prayer. The freshness of these handcrafted items serves as a
powerful illustration of Plymouth ministry being fresh, hopeful, and relevant.
A little over 20 years ago, the Rev. Rosemary McCombs Maxey, a Native-
American pastor and professor, wrote on the experience of indigenous peo-
ples within the UCC. She challenged the church to “assume a listening pos-
ture” that we might gather at the Lord’s Table as God intends. She said: “At
the Lord’s Table there is room to be, to be included, to be fed, to be for-
given, to be acknowledged, and to be at home in God’s world. At the
Lord’s Table there is a theology of listening toward mutual hearing. Our
various voices, the voices of all creation, and the voice of the Creator can
speak and be heard.”
I’m grateful for the many hands that have worked and forged the ministry of
Plymouth Church that exists today. I’m exceedingly grateful for the open
Table we maintain, and for the patience and prayer that sustains the extrava-
gant welcome we proclaim.
As we make way through our 2012 stewardship season, I encourage you to
“assume a listening posture.” Together, let us consider how our hands serve
as a continuing work of God’s hands. May we each, in our own way, allow
the still speaking God to inform more fully the depth of our commitment to
the Jesus way.
Blessings,
Rev. John P. Gardner
Empty Bowls Fundraiser for homeless families in our community
Plymouth Church
Sunday, October 28, 11:15 am
$10/per person (Children 5-and-under FREE)
Handmade bowls sold separately
Fall Adult Study
“The Will of God”
continues on
Wednesdays,
6:45 to 7:30 pm
October 24, and
November 7 & 14
Rev. Ruth E. Phillips,
Discussion Leader
All Cast Boar’s Head
Meeting November 4
Page 3
Women's Breakfast Club
Boar’s Head Festival co-directors Jim
Schmidt and Kara Jaurigue will hold an
ALL CAST meeting on Sunday,
November 4, at 1:00 pm, to distribute
schedules, order tickets, and conclude
any pre-rehearsal business.
Ticketing will be limited to only six
tickets per cast family, six for Plymouth
members by family, and six per patron,
same as last year.
Rehearsals are Saturday and Sunday,
December 15 and 16. The dress
rehearsal and services are December 27
through 30 (same as last year).
We can use help in the kitchen, or with
tickets, set crew, props, make-up, and
COSTUMES. Costume volunteers will
be working with costume coordinator
Katherine Caldwell this year. Please
consider offering your time to one of
these production needs. If you can help
in any way, please contact Jim Schmidt,
(632-5392), or Kara Jaurigue,
The Peace and Justice Committee is working with our assigned FWCS
Rising Stars at Nebraska Elementary School. This fall, there is a need for
Kleenex and hand sanitizer (large bottles) for classrooms. Teachers typically
supply these items for their classrooms and to assist them, we are collecting
these items for the school to be delivered in late October. A container for
these items, marked “Nebraska School” is in the hallway next to the Well-
spring box. Please take advantage of sales and bring these items to church,
where they will be accepted through late October. Thanks!
FWCS Rising Stars
Wellspring Interfaith Social Services presents a Congregational Open
House, Sunday, October 21, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, at Wellspring Center,
1316 Broadway.
Refreshments will be served and at 11:30 am, Wellspring will honor Ply-
mouth’s own Becky Hollingsworth as a volunteer from its Supporting Con-
gregations. You also are invited to tour their recently renovated facility and
learn more regarding their efforts to provide services for the city’s core.
Plymouth Member Honored
Your monetary gifts to Plymouth allow the Benevolence Committee to help
agencies and groups in need. However, these organizations can use much
more than dollars; they can use you! The Benevolence Committee has
updated the list of volunteer opportunities to help these groups. This
information is available on the information table in the narthex near the
nametags. You can call the agencies for more information on ways you can
use your time and talents to make a difference in the lives of others.
Benevolence Beyond Dollars
Costume Jewelry Needed
For Boar’s Head Festival
Please contact
Katherine Caldwell
(260) 602-1127
Meet us at the Hilton Hotel Bistro the last Tuesday of the month,
October 30, at 9:00 am. Parking is available in the parking garage across
the street from the Hilton, for a nominal fee. If you would prefer to meet us
in the church parking lot by 8:45 am, we will carpool to the Hilton. If you
are interested in having breakfast and/or carpooling, please use the signup
sheet on the bulletin board outside the office. Reservations are necessary
simply to let the Hilton know how to set up for us.
Crossroad is one of our agencies for benevolence. The Peace and Justice
Committee has volunteered to assist with a project for improving the guest
house and garage used by families when they visit with their children who
are living at Crossroad. Materials are supplied; all we need to do is remove
wallpaper and paint the rooms inside the house. A new roof is needed on the
garage for the guest house. We can keep our building skills honed for next
spring’s Interfaith Habitat house by helping with this project. Please sign up
for one or all of the Saturdays-October 20, 27 and November 3, on the
bulletin board outside the office. Contact Sam Lipscomb (602-3383) or
Lucy Hess (484-4430) if you have questions.
Calling all Singers:
Boar's Head Choir
Can you sing or do you know anyone
who sings? We are currently looking for
singers, particularly men, to sing in the
chorus for our Christmas festival.
Rehearsals will take place in Decem-
ber. Letters will be sent out this month
outlining details for getting involved.
If you have participated in the past, you
should get a copy of this letter. If you
have not, please contact Robert Nance,
to be added to the mailing list.
Crossroad Project
Page 4
A joint Executive Council/Boards
meeting is scheduled for Tuesday,
November 6, in the Folsom Room.
Snacks will be provided beginning at
5:45 pm; the meeting will start
promptly at 6:30 pm.
As in past years, tables will be set up
for each Board and the Nominating
Committee. There will be a brief
Executive Council (EC) meeting, then
an opportunity for Boards to meet to:
-Elect Board chairs, recorders and
EC representatives to serve in 2013
(this will meet the time deadline for
election of officers following the
October 28 Annual Election meeting,
as required by the Bylaws)
-Hold a November Board meeting
(The November Leadership meeting
would ordinarily fall on Tuesday,
November 20, but that is the evening
of the Thanksgiving Interfaith Service
at Congregation Achduth Vesholom,
and is just two days prior to Thanks-
giving.)
All current Board members are
expected to attend this joint meet-
ing.
Also, Moderator Eric Black will be
inviting the new folks listed as nomi-
nees in the Nominating Committee's
report on Page 6 of this issue of the
Bell. Thus, veterans and newbies of
each Board will have a chance to get
acquainted and to participate in the
election of Board officers and the
November business meeting.
Details of the November joint meeting
were provided at the beginning of the
October 16, 5:30 pm leadership meet-
ing in the Folsom Room. Please
remind all your Board members of this
joint meeting.
Knife and Fork will meet at The Pickle, on West County Line Road in
Dunfee, on Tuesday, November 13, at 11:30 am. (Directions: Take Indi-
ana State Road 14 (Illinois Road) west to County Line Road. Turn right
(north) on County Line Road and proceed about a mile and a half. The res-
taurant is on the left (west side). Please confirm your reservations with
November coordinator Ruth Smith, 432-9815.
November Knife and Fork
Joint Executive Council
And Boards Meeting
Tuesday, November 6 The next meeting of Knit and Kibitz will be on Thursday, November 1,
6:30 pm, at Laura Rudolph's home. This will be our last meeting before we
start selling the projects we have made throughout the year. Finish what
you are working on or plan to finish it before Thanksgiving. Try to attend
this meeting as there are important things to be discussed. Sign up on the
sheet outside the church office, or contact Riet Zwiep, 485-1676, or
For our sale this year, we will have some scarves again, like last year, but
we have branched out now to hats, ear warmers, and a few other items,
some one-of-a-kind! Our featured item is a multi-colored afghan, made by
many hands, using yarn from the Plymouth Yarn Company (yes, you did
read that correctly!!), a family-owned business in Pennsylvania. There will
be additional information and more details coming out in the future about
dates of this year's sale. All yarn for the projects was donated, so
100 percent of the income from the sales will be allocated by Standish
Circle to non-profit agencies serving families. Watch the Sunday bulletins
for more information.
November Music Series Features Mr. Puppet
Knit & Kibitz
A Children's Concert
with Mr. Puppet and
the Singers of
Heartland Chamber
Chorale
November 18, 2:00 pm
Children scream for Mr. Puppet as he and his zany friends
walk them through a concert program of children’s songs
featuring northeast Indiana’s professional vocal ensemble,
Heartland. Children of all ages will delight in meeting Mr.
Puppet and hearing great music.
The concert is in Plymouth’s sanctuary. Come early for the
best seats!
Have you noticed the
reminders throughout
Plymouth? They have
been placed by sinks
throughout the building
by the Environmental
Stewardship Commit-
tee to remind us all to
conserve the fastest
disappearing resource we are accus-
tomed to having readily available.
Did you know that the average Ameri-
can uses 140-170 gallons of water each
day? You could save almost 3 gallons
of water each time you wash your
hands by: turning the water on briefly
to wet your hands, then turn it off when
applying soap and lathering hands, then
turn the water back on to rinse hands.
You can also save on water by turning
down the stream of water and not hav-
ing it going full blast to wet or rinse
your hands. If everyone practiced this
method, just think of the hundreds of
gallons of water that could be saved by
Plymouth people in one Sunday! That
means we also save on our water bill
while conserving one of our most pre-
cious resources.
Page 5
Look Before You Toss
Be a missionary without leaving home!
What does a birch-bark basket from Minnesota have in common with a jute
angel tree ornament from Bangladesh? Both are handmade by low income
people working to support their families. These are some of the items from
over 35 countries that will be on display and for sale on November 25.
Volunteers from Third World Shoppe, a nonprofit ministry aiding the poor
through employment programs and education, will be on hand to assist you
and answer questions. Give a gift that gives twice. Please take a few min-
utes to view and to purchase these unique items.
In our efforts to be a more environmen-
tally active church, we have established
both recycling and trash containers
throughout the church. However, we
need your help to make sure your recy-
cling goes in the recycling containers
and your trash goes in the trash con-
tainers. We have tried
to make sure all con-
tainers are clearly
marked so you know
“what goes where.”
Please help
Plymouth’s sustain-
ability efforts by taking a few seconds
to look before you toss.
The Environmental Stewardship Com-
mittee thanks you for your efforts!
Third World Shoppe Sale Sunday, November 25
The annual Fresh Baked Bread Sale, put together by
our youth and adult leaders, will be held the morning of
Sunday, November 18. Breads of all kinds will be
available for purchase before and after church. We will
have our traditional white and wheat loaves, the ever-
so-popular Monkey Bread, as well as zucchini, cran-
berry-orange, and a few others. Mark your calendars! The bread sale comes
just in time to help fill your Thanksgiving table!
Fresh Baked Bread Sale November 18
Standish Circle will again be selling wreaths and garlands just in time for
the holidays! Large and small, decorated and undecorated wreaths, and
roping, will be available for sale in the Folsom Room on Sunday,
November 25 (Thanksgiving weekend) and Sunday, December 2, before
and after the worship service. We are fortunate that the pricing will remain
the same as last year:
small undecorated wreath $19.00
small decorated wreath $24.00
large undecorated wreath $24.00
large decorated wreath $29.00
12-feet of roping $12.00
The wreaths are top quality and last well beyond the Christmas season.
They make beautiful decorations for one's home, or they are great to give as
gifts!
Please Conserve Water
Wreaths and Garlands Sunday, November 25
Thanksgiving Day Worship and Dinner
“Come, you thankful people come” and gather for 11:00 am worship on
Thanksgiving Day, November 22, in Plymouth’s sanctuary. You also are
invited to gather for a splendid Thanksgiving dinner, at 11:45 am, in the
Folsom Room. Jim Conner has graciously agreed to be the chef and will
have savory turkey, gravy, and stuffing prepared to please your palate.
A signup sheet will be posted on the bulletin board outside the office in
early November. Please indicate how many from your family and friends
will attend and what side dish you will contribute to complete the shared
meal.
Committee and Boards (2014)
Letter from the Moderator
Hello Friends,
The heat of summer is over and we now move to what strikes me as a more winsome and reflective
time of year. The colors of the fall leaves are exploding and soon they will no longer be on the trees.
We are in a time of transition. A time to remember the summer past and to look forward to our
wintery customs.
Some could argue, perhaps successfully, that the church is always in some sort of transition. We’re
back into the full fall session, away from the somewhat relaxed time of summer. We are transitioning
into a fall tradition here at Plymouth called the annual Stewardship Campaign. During summer we
may let our thoughts wistfully run in and out of us, but the Stewardship Campaign requires us to focus on the work of
the church and what we can do to make that work reach those who will benefit from it. The theme of this year’s cam-
paign is “The Continuing Work of God’s Hands.” The scripture that we are using is Psalm 92:4: “For you, O Lord have
made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.” God works through many hands in this place.
Indeed, we are the extensions of God’s hands in the world. When a child will have good food to eat on the weekends as
well as during the week in school, God’s hands are at work through us. When a family finds itself in a condition of
homelessness and finds shelter through the Interfaith Hospitality Network, the work of God’s hands through Plymouth
Church and others is visible. Plymouth Church has given money to over 20 charities this year. This is a direct result
again of the work of God’s hands through us. During the next few weeks, it is my prayer that you will consider prayer-
fully how you will support Plymouth Church in the coming year. It is not a matter of your time or your talent or your
treasure. The work that we are engaged in here requires all of us to contribute our time and our talent and our treasure!
If we engage ourselves at that level, the works of God’s hands through us will be manifest in this community and around
the world. Please pray and reflect on what you will give to sustain the many ministries flowing forth from Plymouth
Church.
Now Friends, I encourage you to love one another. Someone said a long time ago, “It takes a village to raise a child.” I
believe in that same village there was the attitude for them to care for one another, to pray for one another, and to see to
the needs of one another as they came to their attention. We can be that village. I want us to be that village.
That is my prayer.
Take Care,
Eric
Report of the Nominating Committee: Nominees for October 2012 Election
Terms end December of the year Indicated:
Officers (2013) Moderator ................. Laura Rudolph Treasurer .................. Laura Coon Clerk .............. Barbara Bugg
Asst. Moderator ......... Eric Black Asst. Treasurer .......... Gail McKinnon Recorder ........ Kathryn Diekhoff
Other Elected Officials
At-large Executive Council Member ........ Deb Conklin Conference Delegate……...Judy Crooks
Nominating Committee
Diane Lasley
Jeff Markley
James Sidell
Christian Education
Board
Dave Jolliff
Bill Hambrick
Cammy Sutter
Barbara Duch
Congregational. Life Board
Carrie Callaghan
Joyce Black
Joe Bir
Deacons’ Worship Board
Mary Bir
Steve Hollingsworth
Dick Conklin
Jim Eitsert
Joe Laudadio
Evangelism &
Marketing Board
Eric Miller
Anne Kolb
Personnel Board
Tony Kell
Joan Lipscomb
Jan Gibson
Steve Ross
Rick Schilb
Property Board
Dave McKinnon
Brian Biefus
Stewardship & Finance
Board
Dan Hamblin
Gayle Newton
Page 6
Next Bell Deadline
The next deadline for
submission of material for The Bell is:
Wednesday, November 7
Please submit your news items on this date by 5:00 pm
to Suzanne at: [email protected]
(Please note: This deadline is a week earlier than usual
due to the Thanksgiving holiday.)
Page 7
The Hands That Made Us
We will sing a new hymn in November,
entitled "The Hands That Made Us Are
Divine." The music is a familiar tune,
MELITA, sometimes sung with the texts,
"O Master of the Waking World" and
“Eternal Father, Strong to Save.” You
might enjoy familiarizing yourself with
this text, adapted from poet Joseph Addi-
son (1672-1719) with new words by Ken-
neth Athon.
The hymn calls to mind scripture refer-
ences found in Psalms 8, 102, and 143,
and Hebrews 2:7.
The spacious firmament on high
with all the blue ethereal sky,
and spangled heav’ns – a shining frame-
their great Original proclaim.
Forever singing as they shine,
"The hands that made us are divine."
Unwearied sun from day to day
does the Creator's pow'r display,
and publishes to every land
the work of God's almighty hands.
Forever singing as it shines,
"The hands that made us are divine."
Soon as the ev'ning shades prevail,
the moon takes up the wondrous tale,
and nightly to the list'ning earth
repeats the story of its birth.
Forever singing as it shines,
"The hands that made us are divine."
And what are we, one step below
the angels that surround God's throne,
that God should deign to call us heirs
commissioned as Christ's standard-
bear'rs?
We're knit by God, equipped to shine,
“The hands that made us are divine.”
Christ’s cause and purpose is our call:
loving God and serving all.
Uncertain though the path may seem,
God's hands are sure to guide and lead.
We're knit by God, equipped to shine,
“The hands that made us are divine.”
Friends,
During the election meeting on October 28, the HVAC Committee will
be giving a brief PowerPoint presentation on the condition of the existing
heating and cooling system at Plymouth. The boiler we are using is a low
pressure steam unit that is right at 50-years-old. The boiler is well past the
end of its life expectancy and will need to be replaced.
The HVAC Committee has been given the task of researching new heat-
ing and cooling systems and providing recommendations of which type
of system will be a good fit with our building and congregation. The
Committee commissioned Primary Engineering of Fort Wayne to compile
a study of Plymouth’s existing HVAC systems. Primary Engineering has
provided us with a report that documents the types of systems we have in
the Church, along with the cost of their operations. Primary has also given
us recommendations of modern, efficient systems that can be installed to
replace the aging inefficient steam system we are currently using. The
study also provides estimated costs of installation and operation of the
new systems along with their recommendation of what system will best fit
our building.
There are two copies of the report in the church office and are to be kept
available for the congregation to read. Please do not take these out of the
church and return the copy to the office when finished reading. It is a very
detailed report that is easy to understand and does not take long to read.
I do hope many of you can read the document before the meeting on the
28th, and we can start the serious discussion on just what type of system
best fits our needs at Plymouth.
Respectfully,
Chuck Knox, HVAC Committee Chair
Presentation from the HVAC Committee
Welcome New Members
KATHERINE MARIE CALDWELL was born and raised in Plymouth
Church, as was her mother E. Louise Misegades. Her early years at Plymouth
were very busy with Youth Group and the traveling Youth Musicals. She
dropped her membership over 20 years ago, during a very dark time in her life.
After much searching, she has returned to her roots. She has participated in the
Boar’s Head, in one way or another, almost every year since its beginning 38
years ago. She is currently the Executive Assistant to the Owner/CEO of Press-
Seal Corporation. She owns a home in the Oakdale Neighborhood.
AHNEE (MARY ANGELA) CONNER says, “I’m delighted to have found
Plymouth church and this wonderful group of people and am excited to be join-
ing you!” She loves Plymouth’s peace and justice emphasis; the GLBT affir-
mation; outreach to the hungry; environmental stewardship; intellectually
enlightened spiritual education; and fabulous music. Ahnee was an elementary/
special education teacher, and manager of several family businesses. She was
once a UFW organizer; has traveled widely, especially in the Middle East;
worked at the polls in over 25 elections; and worked with Burmese refugees.
She served on the board of Interfaith Hospitality Network and Indiana Center
for Middle East Peace. Prior religious experiences include Catholic and Life
Bridge Church. Widowed early in life, she married Peter 42 years ago. She has
4 sons, 3 step-children, and 11 grandchildren. Her favorite leisure activity is
duplicate Bridge.
NED EDINGTON was raised in the American Baptist faith and converted to
Catholicism in 1981. Ned left the Catholic Church in 2011 and feels extremely
fortunate to have attended Plymouth for the past year. Ned is married to Sally,
and the couple has two grown children, Ben and Libby, both of whom reside in
Indianapolis, and one grandchild. Ned is a retired probation officer. Ned’s hob-
bies include woodworking, and he especially enjoys making oak “Mission
Style” furniture.
MICHAEL JAURIGUE is joining Plymouth Church after “visiting for a long,
long time.” He grew up with both Catholic and Lutheran influences, and is
looking forward to continuing his faith journey at Plymouth Church. He is an IT
Director at Lincoln Financial Group, where he has been employed for 24 years.
He enjoys spending time with his family, playing volleyball year-round, loves
to play golf, and is a Michigan University fan (Go Blue!). Michael has also
been involved in the Boar’s Head and Yule Log Festival in many capacities for
over 15 years. He and his wife Kara were married at Plymouth in April 2000,
and he is enjoying watching his children, Elyse, and Andrew, grow up in a lov-
ing church family.
MOLLY A. and TODD M. JORDAN, were both raised in Fort Wayne. They
are the parents of Maggie, 7 years, and Spencer, 5 years. After searching for a
church that has both traditional and modern views, as well as strong commu-
nity, Molly says the family has felt most welcome and comfortable at Plymouth.
Todd was confirmed at Crescent Avenue United Methodist Church and credits
his time in the youth program there as a major positive influence in his life. He
is looking forward to an equally rewarding experience for their children in the
youth program at Plymouth. Todd is co-owner of a local land surveying com-
pany, coaches club volleyball, performs in a local band, and volunteers for local
causes. Molly works full-time and enjoys time with family and friends, being
outdoors, reading, traveling, learning cultures, and volunteering.
.
1 Isabelle Shockney
2 Louise Misegades
Jan Younger
4 Whitney Chambers
David Wissel
5 Linda Schroeder
6 Timothy Cunningham
Jennie Rumschlag
7 Avery Kruckeberg
William Spindler
8 Miles Nicholson
Barbara Yager
9 Rose Pyle
10 Mary Ann Cree
Terry Green
Michael McCoy
12 Cooper Hackett
Portia Musgrave
Danielle South
13 Kate Hollingsworth
14 Judy Dunahue
15 Ty Ratajczak
17 Kathryn Carboneau
Alex Cooper
18 Gary George
Stephen Schroeder
20 Lowell Beineke
Joanne Brooks-Weber
Valerie Pelz
21 Joyce Briner
Darleen Schmidt
22 Shane Hollingsworth
Ross Sonday
Deb Tuttle
23 Mary Bir
Kirstin Springer
Ruth Anne Sprunger
24 Loren Dove
25 Jessie Voors
27 Edythe Gordon
28 Eric Congdon
29 Jean Ross
30 Brent Blalock
Stan Holdeman
Rachel Tuttle
November
Birthdays
Page 8
JIM NELSON has been attending Plymouth for about 4½ years. The open and
affirming policy was the initial attraction, but there are so many great things
about Plymouth that made him decide to stay. Jim has been a Speech-Language
Pathologist at Southwest Allen County Schools for 16 years, a job he enjoys
very much. He has been very involved in the theatre community in the Fort
Wayne area for the last 30-plus years, having performed in the recent produc-
tions of “The 39 Steps” and “Moonlight and Magnolias” at Arena Dinner Thea-
tre.
CURTIS AND MELISSA SHAW are excited to be joining Plymouth offi-
cially; finally, after five years of attending. They were married at Plymouth on
October 4, 2008, and their nine-month-old son, Maddox, will be baptized into
the church on December 9. Plymouth’s open and affirming policy, its commit-
ment to just peace and the character and spirit of the Plymouth community con-
vinced them that this is where their family belongs. Curtis and Melissa are both
active singers and actors in the Fort Wayne community. They have been seen
on stage at Arena Dinner Theatre, Fort Wayne Civic Theatre, and others. When
not on stage, Curtis is the Choral Director at Homestead High School and
Melissa is the Communications Manager for 3Rivers Credit Union. Maddox can
often be found engaged in a game of peek-a-boo or playing with his dog, Nor-
man.
DANA WICHERN moved to Fort Wayne in the early ‘60’s from Connersville,
IN. She graduated IU, Bloomington, as well as University of St. Francis. She
worked with FWCS for 36 years: an English teacher (North Side & Northrop),
Director of Community and Information Services; and as Curriculum Specialist
for language arts and mathematics. Dana’s community board service includes
ARCH (past president), Metro YMCA, and a variety of youth-serving agencies.
She has served as president of Quest Club; on the steering committees for the
city’s Bicentennial Celebration and for Mastodons on Parade. Dana was bap-
tized at Central Christian Church, Connersville. She enjoys writing, reading,
and the arts.
Page 9
Ticket Vouchers
Available for Civic’s
“A Christmas Story”
Welcome New Members (continued)
The stage adaptation of Jean Shep-
herd's memoir of growing up in the
1940s follows 9-year-old Ralphie in
his quest to get a genuine Red
Ryder BB gun for Christmas.
Ralphie pleads his case before his
mother, his teacher, and even Santa
himself.
All the treasured elements from the
motion picture are here, including
the family's temperamental furnace;
Scott Farkas, the school bully; the
experiment with a wet tongue on a
cold lamppost; the Little Orphan
Annie decoder pin and more!
This show is being performed at the
Performing Arts Center, November
3-18. The vouchers (one seat each)
are available to you on a first-come,
first-served basis. Please contact
Lettie in the church office to
reserve your vouchers.
The vouchers are made available
as part of a sponsorship agreement
between Plymouth Church and the
Civic Theatre. (Note: Please check
with the Civic Theatre Box Office
to make sure your voucher can be
used for the show time of your
choice.)
Dr. Michael Spath will hold an informational meeting Monday, November 5,
7:00 pm, at First Presbyterian Church, Room 303, about his "Study and Soli-
darity" tour in Israel and Palestine, June 9-22, 2013.
Among the people with whom the group will meet are: Rev. Mitri Raheb, Inter-
national Center of Bethlehem; Abuna Elias Chacour, Archbishop of the Galilee;
Daoud Nassar, Tent of Nations, Bethlehem; Dalia Eshkenazi Landau, Open
House of Ramle; Zoughbi Zoughbi, Conflict Resolution Center, Bethlehem;
Rabbi Arik Ascherman, Rabbis for Human Rights; Jean Zaru, Friends
[Quakers] Fellowship, Ramallah; Members of the Palestinian Legislative Coun-
cil; George and Najwah Sa'adeh, Bereaved Parents Group, Bethlehem; Bernard
Sabella, Middle East Council of Churches, Department of Refugees.
Among the sites to be visited are Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity and Shep-
herd's Field; Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Wailing Wall, Dome of
the Rock, Garden of Gethsemene, Mount of Olives; and Galilee's Mount of the
Beatitudes, and Capernaum. The Group will also take a boat ride on the Sea of
Galilee. For more information contact Dr. Spath 260-456-8920 or
Trip to Israel and Palestine Topic of Meeting
Plymouth Benevolence Distributions for 2013
The Benevolence Committee of Plymouth Church will be distributing applications for Benevolence Funds in early
December. If you know of an organization that you would like to see receive an application, please complete the infor-
mation below and return this form to the church office. Please note that the organization must be nonprofit as defined by
the IRS. Need always exceeds our resources, and application is not a guarantee of funds. Please return this completed
form to the church office no later than Tuesday, November 13. Thank you.
Your name _______________________________________________ Phone number_________________________
Organization ______________________________________________
Organization address_________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Contact person ____________________________________________
Your connection to this organization:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Additional Comments:
The Amazing Grays
will attend
the Will Rogers Follies
November 11, 2012
2:00 PM
The University of Saint Francis School of
Creative Arts will continue its theatrical
performances in the new USF Performing
Arts Center (across the street from Ply-
mouth Church) with “The Will Rogers Fol-
lies.” The show will tell the life of Will
Rogers, the comedian and headliner of the
Ziegfeld Follies, through a series of Follies-
like variety acts and lavish production num-
bers. The show will highlight the life and
homespun wisdom of the American icon. All the gentle humor of the radio and film actor will be revealed, complete
with lasso tricks and tap-dancing cowboys.
Admission is $15 for the general public, $12 for seniors and children under 10 years of age. Group discount rate is avail-
able for those who sign up by November 7. Doors will open 30 minutes before show time for general seating in the USF
Performing Arts Center at 431 W. Berry St.
Rhonda Eitsert will be preparing a light lunch for anyone immediately after the morning worship service. The cost of
lunch will be $6 for adults and $3 for children. Signups on the church bulletin board are necessary!
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fr i Sat
1
1:30p Memorial Gifts
Committee
6:30p Standish Knit &
Kibitz
2
3
4
Share Your Shopping
All Saints Sunday
8:00a Chapel
Communion
8:30a Hospitality
9:00a Christian Educa-
tion
10:00a Worship &
Communion
11:30a Youth Group
1:00p Boar’s Head Cast
Meeting
5
OFFICE CLOSED
5:45p Yoga
6:00p HCC
6
10:30a Staff meeting
11:45a Women’s Book
Study
5:45p Joint meeting:
Executive Council/
Boards
7
WNL
8:30a Retired Men’s
Breakfast at Atz’s
3:30p Study Connection
5:15p Bible Study
5:30p Children’s choir
6:00p Dinner
6:30p Children’s choir
6:30p Bell Choir
7:15p Sanctuary Singers
8 9 10
11
Commitment Sunday
8:00a Chapel
Communion
8:30a Hospitality
9:00a Christian
Education
10:00a Worship
11:30a Amazing Grays
11:30a Youth Group
12 OFFICE CLOSED
5:45p Yoga
13
10:30a Staff meeting
11:30a Knife & Fork at
The Pickle
11:45a Women’s Book
Study
4:45p Benevolence
Committee
7:00p PFLAG
14
WNL
3:30p Study Connection
5:15p Bible Study
5:30p Children’s choir
6:00p Dinner
6:30p Children’s choir
6:30p Bell Choir
6:45p Adult Study
7:00p We the Living
7:15p Sanctuary Singers
15
1:30p Moderators
meeting
5:30p Peace & Justice
Committee
16 17
Youth Group Baking
Bread
18
Youth Group Bread Sale
Music Series
8:00a Chapel
Communion
8:30a Hospitality
9:00a Christian
Education
10:00a Worship &
Communion
11:30a Youth Group
2:00p Music Series
with Mr. Puppet
19
OFFICE CLOSED
5:45p Yoga
20
10:30a Staff meeting
11:45a Women’s Book
Study
4:30p Environmental
Stewardship Committee
7:00p Thanksgiving
Interfaith service at
Congregation Achduth
Vesholom
21
22
OFFICE CLOSED
THANKSGIVING DAY
11:00a Worship
11:45a Thanksgiving
dinner
23
OFFICE CLOSED
24
25
8:00a Chapel Commun-
ion
8:30a Hospitality
8:30a Third World Craft
Fair
9:00a Christian
Education
10:00a Worship
11:30a Youth Group
26
OFFICE CLOSED
5:45p Yoga
27
10:30a Staff meeting
11:45a Women’s Book
Study
5:30p HVAC
Committee
28
WNL
3:30p Study Connection
5:15p Bible Study
5:30p Children’s choir
6:00p Dinner
6:30p Children’s choir
6:30p Bell Choir
7:15p Sanctuary Singers
29 30
NOVEMBER 2012
NON PROFIT ORG
US POSTAGE
PAID
FORT WAYNE IN
PERMIT NO 1133
Looking for our email addresses?
Church General Office and Newsletter
Senior Pastor and Teacher
Associate Pastor
Associate in Pastoral Care
Music Director
Youth Director
Office Manager
Church Secretary
Financial Administrator
Custodian
No Matter Who You Are, or Where You Are on Life’s Journey, You Are Welcome Here.
Plymouth Congregational
Church of Fort Wayne UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
501 W. Berry St. · Fort Wayne · Indiana · 46802
Telephone: 260-423-9424
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Vision Statement
Adopted October 2011
Praying for guidance for the journey
… Honoring the mystery of God
… Responding with spirits renewed
… Moving courageously toward wholeness.
Mission Statement Adopted October 2011
Plymouth Church is an inclusive Christian Community
welcoming you as you are, supporting you in your own
Journey with God, and challenging you to live out the
teachings of Jesus, individually, collectively, globally.