Inside this issueFrom Hal’s Desk................................................2Board and MInistry Updates......................3-4Announcements..................................4-5Fellowship and Opportunities.......................5Adult Education ................................................6

Adult Education: Study Groups...................7-8

Adult Education: Forums.................................9Children and Youth Formation....................10Music Notes...............................................11-12

Plymouth Prayers.............................................14

Our Acting Associate Ministers.............13, 15

The Plymouth Placard February 2016

Plymouth Congregational Church, UCC916 West Prospect Road • Fort Collins, CO 80526www.plymouthucc.org • 970-482-9212

Remember, if you miss a Sunday, you can listen to sermons online at www.plymouthucc.org or you can subscribe on iTunes and receive a podcast each week.

Worship ScheduleThis month we transition from Epiphany into Lent, so be sure to include worship as one way to deepen your faith journey. During Lent, our sermons will focus on the theme of Being a Disciple.Our morning services are at 9:00 and 11:00 unless otherwise noted, and our “alternative to alternative service” called Plymouth 3.0 is held every Sunday evening at 6:00 with a variety of musical and worship elements.Parking is available at the Islamic Center next door on Lake Street as well as in our own lot. February 7Transfiguration SundayLuke 9.28-43 February 10 – Ash WednesdaySimple Soup Supper at 6:15Worship at 7:00 P.M. February 14Discipleship I: Forming Our FaithLuke 4.1–13 February 21Discipleship II: GenerosityDeuteronomy 26.1–11 February 28Discipleship III: LeadershipLuke 15.1–32

From Hal’s Desk

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What is YOUR version of Christianity about?

One of the great things about being married to a minister and going on vacation together is that you don’t

get a lot of pushback on visiting churches and looking at religious art ad nauseam. On our recent trip to

Italy, Jane Anne and I were fortunate enough to visit churches in Ravenna with 6th c. Byzantine mosaics,

numerous cathedrals, smaller ancient churches adorned with amazing frescoes, and museums galore…

including the Vatican Museums. (Yes, we did say hi to Papa Francesco for you!)

What I started to notice is that different eras seem to have particular emphases about what was important

to them in the biblical (or the legendary) stories of our faith. For instance, we saw a lot of images of Mary

being crowned in heaven by Jesus, which, of course, occurs nowhere in the Bible. But somehow that became

an important part of peoples’ faith in the late medieval period. And we saw some spectacular images of Jesus

ascending into the heavens, plenty of sorting the saved from the damned, many crucifixions, and even a few resurrections.

One of the interesting omissions was anything that happened between the nativity and the crucifixion, as if they were happy to skip the life of the historical Jesus just like the Apostle’s Creed does (“born of the

Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate”). Why not a few images from Jesus’ parables or the Sermon on

the Mount or calling the disciples? When the creeds and the visual symbolism all around you lack emphasis

on the historical Jesus, it has a real impact on your

faith itself. That may be one of the reasons the church

“forgot” the historical Jesus until the late 19th c.

One of the frequently employed motifs that I noticed

on early Christian sarcophagi is the Magi bearing gifts,

which struck me as odd. Why the Magi? They were

the foreigners, the gentiles who were not supposed

to understand who Jesus was (but did). It also is an

exposition of gratitude toward Jesus (and to God and Mary) for the gift of incarnation. Sort of a “go and do

likewise” image.

If you were going to put your faith into images, what

would you want to illustrate or sculpt? What stories of

our faith are most important to you? Are you a Good Samaritan Christian or a Transfiguration Christian or a Resurrection Christian or a Creation Christian or one

of an entirely different flavor? What would you want to convey about what is important in your own faith

journey?

For me, the Magi would certainly be there, not just for

the reasons above, but for the whole idea of Epiphany:

of God revealing himself/herself to us in unexpected new ways.

As we move from this season into Lent, may it be a

time for you to imagine your faith growing in new and

renewed ways.

Shalom,

Magi mosaic in Ravenna

Early Christian sarcophagus, Vatican Museum

Board & Ministry Team Updates

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Deacon’s Bench

Now that the holidays have come and gone, I have been spending some time this winter communing with

my indoor, tropical plants. And, in addition to the expected practice in blossom pollination and foliar fertilization, I have soaked up some unexpected lessons that cross over to other areas of my life. Here they are:

1. Trust what you experience, not what you assume. For the past 3 or 4 years, I have doggedly muscled my tropical hibiscus and lemon trees out into the yard for the summer, because I knew beyond a doubt

that tropical plants like being outside in the summer. I have finally acknowledged that every winter these plants have grown bigger, produced flowers and ripened fruit in my south facing living room. Every summer they have looked distinctly anemic and any fruit present when I put the plant out in

June was still green at the end of the summer. So, next summer I will ignore conventional wisdom and let my plants enjoy a summer inside.

2. Ask advice. I never would have purchased a hibiscus if, when I went to the nursery with a budget for

a big plant, I hadn’t asked the employee there what she recommended. She named a few and then

said, “and, I always suggest a hibiscus.” I had assumed hibiscus were only for botanical fanatics and

Floridians, but I took her advice and have enjoyed my pink flowers ever since.3. Try. For years I had seen tropical fruit trees in local nurseries, but assumed one had to have a

conservatory or at least a small greenhouse to grow one. I gave it a try anyway and found out that a

south facing window is good enough.

4. Look for beauty and bright spots: winter can seem long and dark, and sometimes that brazen flower, which really has no business blooming in Colorado, is a most comforting reminder that spring will

eventually arrive.

5. And, perhaps most importantly: it seems there is no limit to learning, and no person, animal, or plant

that doesn’t have some lesson to teach. I look forward to seeing who (or what) I will learn from next!

Megan Emmerich

Faith Family Hospitality Team

Plymouth’s first time hosting families experiencing homelessness with the Faith Family Hospitality ministry team was a great success. Four families were guests at Plymouth the week of January 3-10. They enjoyed hot meals, the kids made gingerbread houses with Plymouth’s middle school youth group, and

perhaps, most importantly, had a bit of privacy and relative normalcy in difficult circumstances.

If you weren’t able to help out this time, keep an eye out: Plymouth will be welcoming families again

the week of July 3-10, and will be helping at Heart of the Rockies during the weeks of April 3-10 and October 2-9. If you would like more information contact Scott Houser at scotthaus@gmail.com or 970-631-4037. A huge thanks to everyone who volunteered! Submitted by Adam Redavid for the Outreach and Mission Board.

Board & Ministry Team Updates, continued

Stewardship BoardSTEWARDSHIP FOR 2016Plymouth is a generous congregation! Pledges for 2016 now amount to more than $682,500.Thanks for all those who support Plymouth in this vital way.

The Stewardship Board

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Treasurer’s Report for Dec., 2015Cash Position: Checking Account: $150,058.98Money Market Account: $52,404.70Certificate of Deposit: $27,132.50

Total Cash Position: $229,596.18

Income:Income for December (excludes in/out accounts): $50,522.96Budgeted Income for December (excludes in/out accounts): $59,748.32

Year To Date Income (excludes in/out accounts): $758,861.45Budgeted Year to Date Income (excludes in/out accounts) $769,537.99

Expenses:Expenses for December (excludes in/out accounts): $85,233.82Budgeted Expenses for December (excludes in/out accounts): $84,194.54

Year to Date Expenses (excludes in/out accounts): $737,602.23Year to Date Budgeted Expenses (excludes in/out accounts): $759,250.00

Respectfully submitted by Sharyl Haas

Announcements

CENTERING PRAYER

New: beginning February 1, the Monday Centering Prayer Group at Plymouth meets weekly at 12 noon.

The Tuesday group continues at 5:30 P.M. weekly.Contemplative Outreach of Fort Collins Morning of Silence, Saturday February 6, 8:30 A.M.-11:30

A.M. at Plymouth UCC Church Forum Room, 916 W. Prospect Street. Sign up on bulletin board.

Save the date for the Contemplative Outreach Spring Retreat, Saturday April 2, 8:30 A.M.-3:30 P.M., Plymouth Church. Retreat leader, Jane Anne Ferguson.

Glad you asked: Contemplative Outreach www.contemplativeoutreach.org is an international organization

that fosters the process of transformation in Christ in one another through the practice of the Centering

Prayer. Fort Collins has a chapter and website: www.cofortcollins.org Plymouth has begun hosting many

of the local Contemplative Outreach events.

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Announcements, continued

Interfaith CouncilThe January 7, 2016, InterFaith Council meeting at Unity focused on Climate Change. The presenters were Scott Denning who is a climate scientist and professor of atmospheric science at CSU, and Jerry Kotas, who is President of the Board of Colorado’s Interfaith Power and Light. There are 42 Interfaith Power and Light organizations in the U.S. They encourage stewardship through the promotion of energy conservation, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and making the commitment to sustainability. Dr. Kotas encouraged us to read Pope Francis’s Environmental Encylical. Dr. Denning enlightened us on the 3 “S’s” of Climate Change … SIMPLE, SERIOUS and SOLVABLE. He did so with enthusiasm and with emphasis on the SOLVABLE. For more information about Interfaith Power and Light see their website at: http://www.coloradoipl.org/. We encourage you to access the Northern Colorado InterFaith Council website. It contains a plethora of information about upcoming events that might interest you. The website address is www.fortcollinsinterfaith.com An example: a new member of IFC is the Theologians in Residence Program and on Tuesday, February 23 from 6:30-8:30 at First United Methodist Church they are hosting a program entitled a “Mindful Life: Surviving to Thriving.” Dr. Kristen Race will be the presenter. Do join us for the next IFC Meeting, which will be Thursday, February 4th at Peak Community Church, 500 Matthews Street, from 9-11. All are welcome. This will be the last meeting that Rich Thompson will preside as President. Laura Nelson of Plymouth will be installed as the new IFC President. Submitted by Mary Kay Graver, IFC representative

Get A Grip FellowshipMeet at the Hoefer’s home, February 20, 6 P.M. Address: 603 Atwood Ct., in Ridgewood Hills Subdivision, south of Trilby between College and Shields. This will be a regular pot luck. Beverages will be provided, but feel free to bring your own if you wish. Come and share in the fellowship.Get-A-Grip is one of Plymouth’s fellowship groups. Typical age range varies from 50’s to 70’s, but everyone is welcome. RSVP to pjhoefer@aol.com or 970-377-1950.

Fellowship of the Grape will be held at the home of Jay Rourke and Karen Cumbo on Friday, Feb.26, 2016 at 6 P.M. Their address is 533 Coriander Lane, Ft. Collins, 80521. They request that you bring your favorite wine, and an appetizer to share, along with the spirit of fellowship.

Cheers. All are welcome if you are 21. Questions, call Carol Rooze at 472-5624.FOG

Fellowship and Opportunities

The Valentine’s Brunch sponsored by Plymouth

Men’s Fellowship and XYZ will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, February 13th (the day before Valentine’s Day) in the Fellowship Hall at Plymouth. The event is not restricted to couples, but is a “celebration of love.” Any

adult, including singles, is invited to attend. The cost will

likely be around $15 - $17, depending upon the number of attendees. The menu will include fruits, juices, pastries,

scrambled eggs, corned beef hash, and perhaps other

breakfast dishes compatible with the dietary restrictions

of our Islamic neighbors, who are also being invited to

attend. Watch for further details at the sign-up table in the Fellowship Hall in January. Hope to see you there!

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Adult Education

Considering Adult Formation…

It is the depths of midwinter. This year we’re having a persistent snow-cover on the ground, a boon for perennial plants, as it protects them from desiccating winds and sharp temperature changes. Garden work has ceased, as everything slumbers. But, wait! There is one garden project that always comes now: reading the

plant and seed catalogues that come in the mail.

Every year at this time, we get a variety of catalogues from The Seed Saver’s Exchange, Burgess, Gurney’s, Raintree and others. These feature pictures of vegetables, trees and flowers in their summer glory, alongside glowing descriptions that positively make my mouth water imagining their fruit. Many claim to be cold-hardy to our Zone 5, though other factors besides winter minimums affect actual performance (clay soil, summer heat,

and just a little bit of wind blowing in from Wyoming, among other things). But these catalogues sell dreams –

is there truly a cold-hardy peach that will fruit reliably here? Can a row of daylilies reclaim that strip of ground by the garage from the bindweed? How long before that fireblight resistant apple comes into production? Check out that heirloom tomato from Ukraine! A credit card number now, a few frantic days of planting in

April and May, and I’ll be wallowing in bliss come the dog days of summer! Who cares if it hasn’t been above

freezing for three weeks…. I look at the pictures and feel warmer already.

This cold, dark stretch of time has a spiritual analogy. Epiphany, despite being in midwinter, is symbolized

by increasing light. Soon we move through the lean, fasting weeks of Lent, towards the extravagant new life of Easter. I’ve noticed that many people use this time frame to especially nourish their spiritual lives, as Sunday

School and worship attendance runs the highest of the year. Perhaps there are fewer distractions (skiing yes -- tho at its price, not often -- but not yet the gardens and hiking trails). The long nights invite inward reflection, and bad weather pushes us towards warm gatherings with friends around coffee and a good book.

So, what might be the spiritual parallel to the garden catalogues? What whets your soul for a new season of

growth? Maybe start with a couple of recent, worthwhile books. Diana Butler Bass’ “Grounded: Reconnecting the Kingdom of Heaven with Our Life on Earth” explores the epochal shift we are experiencing from a disembodied, vertical “God up there” spirituality towards an earthy, horizontal, “God with us” spirituality. Nebraska UCC pastor Eric Elnes’ (of Darkwood Brew webcast fame) “Gifts of the Dark Wood: Seven Blessings for Soulful Skeptics (and Other Wanderers)” invites us to embrace the gifts of uncertainty, emptiness, being

thunderstruck, getting lost, temptation, disappearing, and being misfits. Or, if you want smaller pieces, check out the “Progressive Christian” channel on the religious blog-site Patheos.com, where you’ll find authors exploring current events, lectionary readings, faithing and doubting from a variety of progressive viewpoints – and you can visit the site’s other channels to listen in on our evangelical, Muslim, Catholic and atheist siblings.

And don’t forget the opportunity to connect with fellow-journeyers through our regular Sunday morning Forums and Classes, the Celtic Spirituality, Centering Prayer, Wild Boar Theology and Drink, We Make The Road by Walking, and 45 Days With Jesus groups. You’re bound to find something that nourishes your spirit through these frozen days. Wonder what the bloom will look like this summer?

Peace,

Rev. Dr. Mark Lee

Director of Christian Formation (Adults)

Adult Education: Study Groups

February 21 – Mar. 20 (Five Sunday mornings plus two Sunday afternoons)“The Great Divide- Economic Inequality Matters” In a very rich country with stores overflowing with every imaginable product, why are so very many suffering from inadequate income and too few resources?

Why has the insidious trend of growing inequality – the rich getting richer, the poor getting poorer, and

the middle disappearing – been happening in the U.S and countries around the world? As people of faith,

what role can we play in the discussion and solution of economic inequality? In this series of 7 sessions (5 Sunday mornings and 2 Sunday afternoons) we’ll explore the realities and consequences of economic inequality, examine the underlying factors that contribute to persistent inequality, and learn about local and state initiatives to help individuals become self-sufficient. Throughout we’ll consider strategies we as individuals and as a congregation can take to create a more just and healthy society. Facilitators: Claudia

DeMarco, Scott Houser, Molly Johnson, Ruth Lieurance, Linda Mahan, and Terri Schultz.

February 21 – March 27 (six weeks)“Recovery Conversations: A Tool for Couples to Redeem Conflict.” All couples have conflicts. How conflicts are dealt with determines much about the quality of the relationship long term. The quality of life in a relationship depends on our ability to recover from the inevitable periods of fighting or withdrawing; that is, from turning each other into enemies or strangers. At a minimum, we want to keep such fighting and withdrawing from destroying the relationship. But, it is possible to turn these hazards into means for

deepening the relationship by conducting a “recovery conversation.” In such a conversation, we go over the

fight or withdrawal we were just in, but with an appreciation for each partner’s struggle and a recognition that each partner’s position makes sense. Typically, partners don’t have recovery conversations. They don’t

talk afterwards about their fights; they’re afraid of rekindling them. Join Jim Salico-Diehl and Wayne Carpenter for a deeper understanding of how to learn this tool towards transforming conflict. We will use the book outlining this approach by Dan Wile, Ph. D., After the Honeymoon: How Conflict Can Improve Your Relationship (available on the adult ed table or at class).

Ongoing each Sunday

“Bible Stories” An intergenerational gathering to learn (or relearn afresh) the central stories of the Bible.

Everyone senior high school age and older is invited to join us each Sunday morning to examine one Bible story and talk about what it means to us today. The lessons are made so that you can join the group at any

point, just pick up with the current week’s story. We are focusing on the Favorite Bible Stories from the

Life of Christ series as found in The Serendipity Bible for Groups. In the Conference Room (office wing), facilitated by Plymouth 345.

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Adult Education: Study Groups, continued

The Gift of Non-Fear:

Choosing Love and Joy in a Fearful World

Workshops with Janelle Combelic

Environmental Forum 2/21, 10 A.M.

Celtic Storytelling Workshop 2/25, 7 P.M.

The Gift of Non-Fear Workshop 2/27, 10 A.M.

Non-fear is the basis of true happiness, and if you can offer non-fear to someone, you are giving that person the best kind of gift. —Thich Nhat Hanh, Fear: Essential Wisdom for Getting Through the StormFear has been my constant companion. It wakes me in the night and walks with me in the day. In a way it keeps

me safe, just as it did my ancestors who watched out for tigers and bears. However, in our modern age the dangers that we face are more subtle, and our fears more insidious, and so I found myself imprisoned in anxiety, confusion, loneliness.

For years I ran away from my fears. I thought I was free but my fears were constantly pushing me – from one

relationship to another, from house to house or country to country, out of one job and into a different career.

Slowly I have been learning that fears are at the root of all my afflictions. Not only that, but I am learning that, if I can face my fears directly, they give me the energy for transformation and show me the path to liberation. In fact, I

now believe that fear is the gateway to love.

Pema Chödrön, a Buddhist nun, wrote: “When we wall ourselves off from uncertainty and fear... we develop an

“iron heart.” When someone develops a true friendship with themselves, the iron heart softens into something else.

It becomes a vulnerable heart, a tender heart. It becomes a genuine heart of sadness, because it is a heart that is

willing to be touched by pain and remain present.” Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh teaches us to use the energy of mindfulness to embrace our fear, the power of concentration to understand it, and the grace of insight to transform

it. “Non-fear” does not mean that we’re not afraid; it means that we acknowledge our fear, calm it, and choose the way of compassion.

In his brilliant book Freeing the Soul from Fear, Robert Sardello writes, “Fear can teach us to love in entirely new

ways, and that, I think, is the ultimate secret of fear. When we don’t run from fear, or try to eradicate it, we discover

ourselves anew. We discover ourselves as beings of love.”

Fear separates us; love unites us. Or as Sardello puts it, “Love works to cancel fear because love is a force of connection and attraction, while fear is a force of separation and division.” Learning to deal with fear is more

urgent than ever. It seems that a tidal wave of terror is sweeping over the earth. We live in a time of immense

transition, when the old structures of society are crumbling and the new has yet to appear.

I’ll be in Fort Collins for a week in February, and it is a great privilege to offer several events at Plymouth. I will speak at the Forum on Sunday the 21st on “Living an Earth-Based Spirituality: Stories of Findhorn and Plum Village.” Then I’ll offer an evening of Celtic Storytelling on Thursday the 25th at 7:00. Finally I will lead a one-day workshop on Saturday the 27th from 10:00 to 4:00, in which we will use traditional tales, meditation, writing, interpersonal processes and ritual to work directly with our fears and open the “tender heart” that allows us to live with more joy. I look forward to seeing old and new friends during the week. I will welcome donations at the Thursday storytelling workshop and the Saturday environmental workshop to help defray the costs of these programs.

Janelle Combelic is a therapeutic storyteller, writer, and teacher trained in transpersonal psychology. In 2006 she was ordained by Thich Nhat Hanh into the Order of Interbeing and in 2010 she moved from Colorado to the Findhorn community in Scotland, where she has led workshops on women’s sexuality, storytelling, and forgiveness. Contact jecombelic@yahoo.com. -8-

Adult Education: Forums

February’s Forums are from the Environmental Ministry Team.

Feb. 7 - “You, God & Climate Change: A Faith-based Conversation,” led by Doug Fox. “I’ll try to foster a conversation about climate change and how we might think about our personal responses to the challenging set

of issues it raises. I will use the Pope’s LAUDATO SI’ On Care for our Common Home, the most recent IPCC

results and some of the key arguments raised by climate skeptics. Being a scientist, I will not refrain from

introducing the science as I see it pertaining to the discussion. But, mostly we will be seeking a very interactive

session with lots of discussion.”

Feb. 14 – “The Fort Collins Climate Action Plan: How We Can Achieve Carbon Neutrality by 2050,” with Travis Paige, Public Engagement Manager, FC

Utilities. The speaker from the City of Fort Collins

will make a presentation about this plan and what

processes will be in place to achieve such a goal.

Discussion can be had about what Plymouth and its

members can do to help meet the goal.

Feb. 21 - “An Earth-Based Spirituality: Inspiration from Findhorn and Plum Village,” led by Janelle

Combelic. Climate change is but the latest of the

disastrous consequences of humanity’s mistreatment

of the Earth. Technological solutions to problems seem

to create more problems of their own. What we need

to develop is a more wholesome relationship with the

Earth, one that recognizes the sacredness of all life.

For the last five years I have been living at Findhorn, a well-established eco-village founded on profound spiritual principles. As Thich Nhat Hanh, author of The World We Have and Love Letters to Mother Earth says,

“If we understand our deep connection and relationship

with the Earth, we will have enough love, strength, and

awakening to look after ourselves and the Earth so that we both can thrive.” The forum will be an opportunity

for us to look deeply at what a spiritual relationship with the Earth would mean in our own lives.

Feb. 28 - “The Paris Climate Talks: What’s next?” led by Michelle Betsill. In December 2015, 195 countries agreed on a new multilateral climate change treaty for the first time in nearly two decades. Some see this as an historic turning point in ongoing effort to develop a global response to climate change, while others see

the Paris Agreement as full of vague promises with no real commitments or enforcement mechanisms. We’ll

review the Paris Agreement and think about what it means for the international community’s ability to address

one of the most challenging issues of our time.

In March, the Forums will be sponsored by the Planned Giving Ministry Team. They will provide ways to organize and share your legacy with your loved ones, organizing pictures, family history, finances, and an “ethical will.”

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Can you believe it’s already time for Lent?!? At my house we are still packing away the Christmas decorations, and

now it’s time to turn our attention to preparing for Easter? Lent gives us 40 days to prepare... but, I’m not ready yet! During Lent, tradition encourages us to take stock of our lives by either giving something up or adding something

to our routine. These aren’t mere New Year’s resolutions we’re talking about, some self-help thing we say we are going to do but forget about in a few days, or weeks if we’re really dedicated. No, at Lent we make a small change

to our lives so that we might be more intentional about creating space and awareness for God. We tend to be so busy, so preoccupied, so distracted that we miss out on the extraordinary everyday movements of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We make it from Christmas to Easter without giving much thought to the Gospel and its revelation in our lives.

So, at Lent we slow down and look towards the cross, towards the creating, redeeming, sustaining presence of God that surrounds us every day. We open ourselves up to the Grace that is freely offered to us by the God who loves us. This is Lent, and it begins February 10th with Ash Wednesday. As a family it can be hard to find ways to practice your faith together. Getting to church on a Sunday can be a more painful experience than going to the dentist. You have to fight, beg, and bribe your way to the whole family sitting together in a pew. Don’t give up the good fight; keep coming to church as a family. It is an investment that will pay off; it will have a positive impact on your family, even if right now it is a struggle. This Lent, consider finding something to do as a family that will help everyone make room for God in their busy schedule. Simple things can make a big difference. Have fun with this, and share what you are doing with other families at Plymouth. It’s only 40 days- why not see what happens?Here are a few ideas of how you and your family can build a Lenten practice together:

• Blessing Jar- every day, have each member of the family write one thing they are grateful for, or write an

affirmation of another family member and place it in the jar. On Easter morning read all of the blessings together.

• Prayer Jar- gather craft sticks and write a different categories of prayer (worries, celebrations, hopes,

gratitude, etc) or people (grandparents, teachers, neighbors, etc) on each stick. Put them in a jar and pull

one out each day, using the stick as a prompt for praying together.

• God Sightings- around the dinner table or in the car ask each other how you have seen God that day.• Pray Together- over dinner, before bed, or on a commercial break, say a prayer together, either a new one

or one you all have memorized (Now I lay me down to sleep...)

• Serve Together- you can collect donations for Homeless Gear or serve at a soup kitchen, even walk dogs at Animal House. Find a project you all care about and serve together this month.

• Photo A Day- use one of the reThink Church photo-a-day word prompts to take a picture that represents the season each day. Post it on social media and connect with people across the world.

• Worship- make a commitment to worship together every Sunday in Lent.

• Family Time- have each person choose one thing they would like to do as a family. Everyone gets a turn,

and the family gets more time doing what they love together.

I pray that this season of Lent will be a blessing for your family. May each of you experience the love and joy of Christ and enjoy exploring your faith together.

Grace and Peace,Mandy :-)

The Rev. Mandy HallDirector of Christian Formation

(Children and Youth)

Children and Youth Formation

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Music Notes

Spem in aliumSpem in alium (Latin for “Hope in any other”) is a forty-part Renaissance motet by Thomas Tallis, composed in 1570 for eight choirs of five voices each. This is often considered the greatest piece of English early music.

The event was not even advertised, but spread through word of mouth. Forty Yale musicians were going to

assemble and sing the masterpiece, Spem in alium at 3 P.M. in Christ Episcopal Church near the campus. The nave did not have any chairs, they put rope in the center and we were invited to stand outside of the roped area.

The place was full of students, and tourists who did not know what was really going on but, because people

were lining up to come in, they walked in to check out what was going on. A few music nerds had copies of the

massive score in their hands. After the church chimes rang three times, a group of singers walked in and filled the area inside of the ropes standing in a circle. The conductor, Simon Carrington, walked in and bowed. He gave a brief introduction to the music. He also said that we were so very privileged to witness this historical moment, and he added it was very rare to hear this piece performed live.

And as the music started, Simon was slowly turning 360 degree to give cue to each singer without a score in front of him. It was not a formal concert. It almost felt like a flash mob, where a bunch of music nerds and people who were clueless got together to wait for something to happen. Yet, once the music started nothing else

mattered. You could feel that you were part of the circle of this greatest motet ever composed. Eleven minutes

passed by so quickly. I wish I was not distracted by whether Simon was turning clock-wise or counter clock-wise. I wish I was just listening and experiencing.

Several years later, while living in the rainy state of Washington, the Museum of Tacoma was having an exhibit of St. John’s Illuminated Bible and Janet Cardiff’s The Forty Part Motet. Janet Cardiff, the multimedia artist

from British Columbia, gave one microphone per singer, one for each voice in the Salisbury Cathedral Choir

during a performance in 2000. And it had become a choir of black high-fidelity speakers arrayed in an oval, eight groupings of soprano, alto, tenor,

baritone and bass. This 11-minute motet was being played over and over between 10 A.M. till they closed at 4 P.M. It consisted of a 14-minute cycle, 11- minutes of music and 3-minute break.

(Continued next page)

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You could stand within the circle of

singers and get surrounded or slowly walk

around listening at each speaker to hear

the bass or the first soprano. There were so many options to listen to this masterpiece,

and you could stay there as long as you

desired. The sound filled the whole exhibit room. It really felt like you were riding

a wave made out of sound. The fact that

Spem in alium is performed so rarely, but

this exhibit has traveled and inspired so many people and also provided a most

memorable experience. Probably, this modern technology has provided more

Tallis fans than before.

Amen

Jieun Kim NewlandDirector of Music/Organist

Music Notes, continued

Spem in alium nunquam habui

Praeter in te, Deus Israel

Qui irasceris et propitius eris

et omnia peccata hominum

in tribulatione dimittis

Domine Deus

Creator caeli et terrae

respice humilitatem nostrum

I have never put my hope in any otherbut in You, O God of Israelwho can show both anger and graciousness,and who absolves all the sinsof suffering manLord God,Creator of Heaven and Earthbe mindful of our lowliness

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Many of you know that last spring I had a book published entitled, 45 Days With Jesus; A Discovery Journal Blended with Love from Jesus. The book is a seven week series of readings from the “sayings and doings” of

Jesus with a journal prompt for each day crafted to help you engage the reading for the day. It offers encounters

with the Jesus of history and the spirit of the Risen Christ through seven different lenses: Awareness,

Awakening, Authenticity, Inspiration, Integrity, Healing and Unity, Peace. You can find more information on the book at www.sermon-stories.com under the tab Workshops and Retreats.

Some of you have asked if I would ever lead a book study on the book. I am glad to announce that I have

finally found a way to put that into my part-time schedule here at Plymouth! There will be two ways to

participate in the 45 Days With Jesus Plymouth Lenten Study– in a face to face small group setting and

online through Facebook. Here’s what you need to know to participate:

• You need a copy of the book ASAP so you can start reading and journaling as close to February 2

as possible. You want to be able to join in on the first week’s discussion starting February 9th! Look for copies on sale at the Adult Education book table on Sundays. They are $12.00.

• The face-to-face small group will meet for seven weeks on Tuesdays at noon in the Adult Ed Room

beginning Tuesday, February 9th. Our last session will be Tuesday, March 29, the Tuesday after Easter.

◦ Each session will run for an hour and you are invited to bring a brown bag lunch so you can come

from work on your lunch hour. We will reflect on the week’s theme, pray, and consider your response to readings for the week.

◦ You can sign up for the Tuesday noon small group on the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall or by emailing me at janeanne@plymouthucc.org.

• The on-line Facebook group will be held through a closed group Facebook page – 45 Days with Jesus Plymouth UCC 2016. If you want to be a part of this on-line reflection community, please email me at janeanne@plymouthucc.org and I will make you a member of the group so that you can be part of

the discussions there.

◦ The on-line group will have on-going discussions throughout the week. I will be posting reflection questions each week on Tuesday morning. I will also be available for responding to questions from

the group on specifically on Tuesday evenings.

◦ We will schedule two evening face-to-face group meetings for the on-line folks at a coffee shop to be determined.

• It is possible to be part of both groups! Email me with your questions!

I hope you will join me as we journey with Jesus through Lent this year.

Blessings,

Jane Anne

e

Jane Anne FergusonActing Associate Minister

From our Acting Associate Ministers

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Plymouth Prayers

Church StaffHal ChorpenningSenior Ministerhal@plymouthucc.org

Jake JosephActing Associate Ministerjake@plymouthucc.org

Jane Anne FergusonActing Associate Ministerjaneanne@plymouthucc.org

Jieun Kim NewlandDirector of Music/Organistjieun@plymouthucc.org

Mandy HallDirector of Christian Formation (Children & Youth)mandy@plymouthucc.org

Mark LeeDirector of Christian Formation (Adults)mark@plymouthucc.org

Barbara GregoryOffice Managerbarbara@plymouthucc.org

Brandon ReyhlSextonbrandon@plymouthucc.org

Marie AllenPlacard Designerplacard@plymouthucc.org

Marty MarshPlacard Editor

REMEMBER THAT YOU MAY CALL A PASTOR (HAL, JAKE OR JANE ANNE) ANY TIME YOU ARE UNEXPECTEDLY HOSPITALIZED OR JUST NEED A VISIT OR PRAYER—IF WE ARE ABLE TO BE THERE, WE ARE BLESSED TO MAKE A VISIT. PLYMOUTH’S SUPPORT VISITORS AND CALLING & CARING VISITORS ALSO MAKE PERIODIC VISITS WITH MEMBERS AND FRIENDS. CONTACT PARISHVISITOR@PLYMOUTHUCC.ORG IF YOU’D LIKE TO SET UP A VISITOR.

Plymouth Congregational United Church of ChristAn Open and Affirming congregation Gathered in 1903www.plymouthucc.org, (970) 482-9212

Placard deadline is the 15th of the month (unless otherwise noted in bulletin inserts).

Include “Placard” in the email subject heading and please state in which section your submission should appear. Send your submission in the body of the email

and attach any pictures separately. (No Word docs or pdfs, please.)

LOOKING FOR THE CALENDAR? PLEASE VIEW IT ON OUR WEBSITE @ WWW.PLYMOUTHUCC.ORG

AND CLICK ON “CALENDAR.”

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PEOPLE IN OUR PRAYERSPlease keep the following members and friends of Plymouth in prayer:

Recently in the Hospital:• Patt Moore• Kevin Keller • Golda Jaspers• Chris Koziol

Our Sympathy is with:

• Kathee Houser and family on the death of her brother-in-law• Dean & Eva Wallace and family on the death of their brother-

in-law’s son• Ann Lundeen and family on the death of her mother, Jean

Wheeler, who was also a Plymouth member• Miriam & Jim Poole and family on the death of their

daughter-in-law’s father

Please also pray for all people with cancer and their caregivers.

From our Acting Associate Ministers, continued

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Dear Plymouth Family,Life is filled with countless forms of anniversaries and rights of passage: weddings, graduations,

high school and college reunions, funerals, ceremonies, and other recognitions. Some of these mark milestones of joy and celebration, and others are somber and nostalgic. The anniversary I want to mark with this “Placard” article is likely only a meaningful anniversary for me. This month marks one year since I took over the communications coordination, social media outlets, and weekly emails for Plymouth.

My first goal as communications coordinator was to move us from one weekly update Wednesday email to two weekly emails: The Update and The Overview. This also meant migrating us over to the cloud-based Mailchimp email system. This allows me to edit and work on the Update and Overview from any computer anywhere rather than just being tied to one computer’s desktop program. It also allows the use of pictures and videos in our congregational emails. This has really helped them come to life and inspire us in new ways.

The Tuesday email kept the old name, “Plymouth Update,” but that email is now intentionally designed to be a spiritual meditation or a Plymouth-specific news article from one of the ministers on a rotating basis. The purpose is to communicate a big picture idea. The Tuesday Update has become something many in our community look forward to for Spiritual nourishment on a weekly basis, and it now has a somewhat global readership, as our email list has grown to well over 625 recipients! Please keep forwarding the Update to your friends and encouraging them to sign-up on their own to get these inspiriting emails.

The calendaring and electronic bulletin board side of the old Wednesday Updates then became the new Thursday Plymouth Overviews. The Overviews have developed over the course of the year from short and eclectic news announcements to a much more orderly publication. This has been a labor of love, and I am happy to see the ways the Overview helps us all stay in touch as a congregation and a community. Today the Overview that goes out every Thursday has grown into three segments. First, it has a headline for the week with the most essential information at the top. Second, it has a calendar of events and activities in chronological order. Third, it has ongoing and community bulletin board and the listing of far off events and announcements at the bottom. If you don’t receive either the Update or the Overview every week, email me at communications@plymouthucc.org, and I will work to make sure that these start coming to your inbox immediately.

Happy Anniversary to the New Update and the Overview,

Jake Miles JosephActing Associate Minister

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