Plymouth United Church of Christ, Grand Rapids

Today our senior highlight is on Grace Heemstra (she/her/hers)
Grace is graduating from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with minors in Public Relations and Music. We wish Grace the best of luck with her future endeavors! Congratulations Grace! We are so proud of you!

Today our senior highlight is on Simon G. Lange (he/she/they)
Simon graduates with a Diploma with Highest Honors from Grand Rapids Christian High. Simon will be attending Eastern Michigan University in the fall to study Japanese.
Simons quote for you is:
"Not now honey, I'm infodumping."
Congratulations Simon! We are so Proud of you Simon!

Today our senior highlight is on Clementine Bahr-Attanasie (she/her/hers)
She is graduating with an IB Diploma from City High/Middle School.
She will be attending Loyola University Chicago in the fall to study Forensic Science.
Congratulations Clementine! We are so proud of you!

Rev. Bruce Roller is the first of our Guest Preachers who will be filling in while Rev. Jo Bahr is on Sabbatical. Rev. Bruce Roller is recently retired as Executive Director after 21 years at UCOM (United Church Outreach Ministry) and is occupying himself with supply preaching and a new writing project. He resides in Grand Rapids with his husband, pianist Philip Pletcher and their angel puppy Sherry. We look forward to hearing you preach Rev. Bruce Roller!

Yesterday was a busy day at Plymouth UCC! We celebrated Pentecost by welcoming new members, having an all church birthday party and sending Pastor Jo off with a blessing and prayer. Pastor Jo left us with this prayer we did in unison. Divine Disrupter, in the heart of the ordinary, you stir and surprise. We welcome your chaos as we release instincts to control. Though evil makes rigid, oppresses with order, exploits through unjust rules and regulations, your love is a force of agitation, drawing the faithful together, rowdy with hope. May it be so among us today. Amen.

For Pentecost, a timely special mission offering called Strengthen The Church! In covenant with congregations across the United Church our Plymouth family is asked to support this offering. The funds raised fund leadership development, new churches, youth ministries, and innovation in existing congregations. The Michigan Conference and the U.C.C. at the national level share funds from this offering equally. As God calls our congregations to be the church, our generosity will help awaken new ideas, plant new churches, and develop the spiritual life in our youth and young adults. The Strengthen the Church offering will be highlighted on Pentecost Sunday, May 19th. Our Plymouth family is welcome to donate through-out May. Follow the link to donate; https://support.ucc.org/ways-to-give/our-churchs-wider-mission/strengthen-the-church/strengthen-the-church-give

Today our staff spotlight is on Bill Bokhout! He has been the Music Director at Plymouth since 2011! Bill has over 40 years experience in church music as well as a professional opera singer and classical recitalist. Bill is the Chorus Master and Collegiate Program Director for Opera Grand Rapids. He and Hollis are directors of the Children’s Opera Studio and work with elementary school children presenting fully staged operas across the country. Bill is the composer of 6 children’s operas and the Plymouth song “We are all one family” Join us in thanking Bill for everything he does at Plymouth!

Today our staff spotlight is on Rev. Peter Ross! Rev. Peter Ross has been the custodian at Plymouth since 2021. He’s more then a custodian, you will often find him imparting his knowledge at Drinks and Deconstruction and in our new theological study group. You might also see him preaching this summer during Pastor Jo’s Sabbatical. Peter would like to leave you with this quote from 1 Corinthians 1:27, God Doesn't Call the Qualified, He Qualifies the Called.

This coming Sunday May 19th is the last time Pastor Jo will be preaching before their sabbatical starts! Don't worry they will be back on rally day September 15th. This is an opportunity to renew the energy and mission of both the minister and the congregation, this will be an important opportunity for all of us to rest and renew. Please join us in our send off of Pastor Jo this Sunday!

For all mothers, grandmothers, step-mothers and motherlike figures in our lives, may God bless them abundantly, we pray to Mother Creator, For all those longing to be mothers, may she console them through their hard times and bless them with the gift of conception.

Its fair trade day and we wanted you to know that we have made serving fair trade coffee during fellowship hour at Plymouth is a priority! We have served the fellowship blend from equal exchange for over a decade! Equal Exchange’s mission is to build long-term trade partnerships that are economically just and environmentally sound, to foster mutually beneficial relationships between farmers and consumers and to demonstrate, through our success, the contribution of worker co-operatives and Fair Trade to a more equitable, democratic and sustainable world. To learn more visit: https://shop.equalexchange.coop/pages/about-us

Are you interested in joining a study group that will delve into theological topics like who is God, what is salvation, what is sin, and discuss the relevant cultural and historical variations of belief. Then we have the group for you! Email us at: [email protected] to let us know you would like to join us.

Plymouth is a social justice church, are you interested in joining our new social justice together group? This group is a discussion and action group dedicated to promoting social justice and serving in social justice ministry activities together. If you are interested please email us; [email protected]

Happy Administrative Assistant Day!!! We are choosing to highlight today because she is our administrative assistant! Abigael became our administrative assistant in October of 2023. She is a single mom to 4 children she adopted in 2020. She is also our diaconate chair. You will find her running around on Sunday morning wearing many hats. She loves this community and loves the people she gets to see who come visit her in the office. She has also taken over as our social media coordinator, so if you are wondering who is writing these posts its most likely her!

Calling all crafters! Plymouths' new crafting group is a group for crafters, makers, and artists of all kinds to come together to build relationships, have fun, and work on whatever craft or project you like! If you are interested in joining this group please email us: [email protected]