03. THE VIEW FROM HERE 04. THANK YOU, BARBARA HOLLAND! 06. PLYMOUTH LANGUAGE PROGRAM 08. FACILITIES MASTER PLAN SURVEY 09. HOW CAN WE PRAY FOR YOU? 10. 2021 WOMEN’S RETREAT 11. NATURE WALK 12. HOLY WEEK 2021 13. EASTER SUNDAY 2021 14. MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAM PRESENTED BY NAMI 15. ODDS & ENDS
What comes next will depend, in part, on how well we attend to the less visible effects of the collective trauma we’ve endured. Post-traumatic stress responses can linger long after the traumatizing situation is over. Our brains and bodies are slow to let go of the protective shields that kept us safe during a trauma. It helps to pay attention to the uncomfortable feelings or memories that may arise. Recovery will come more easily if we attend to the pain, offer ourselves grace, and ask for help when we need it. May I demonstrate? Here goes: I need your help. One of my greatest heartaches is the loss of your company. I’ve missed visiting you in the hospital. I’ve missed Wednesday night dinners in the Mayflower Room. I’ve missed you, and I need your help. As the weather warms up and we all get our vaccines, I want us to catch up in the months ahead. I want to meet you for lunch outdoors, grab a coffee, meet you in the park, or sit on your porch and hear how you’re doing. Let’s go for a walk together or meet up in the church courtyard for a talk. Let’s share our stories. The stories of what we’ve lost and what we hope may yet be. Grief and trauma are slow healing. Our souls are resilient, but they need time and help to heal. I know that’s true for me. If it seems true for you, let me know. I’d love to get together.
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n a recent Saturday morning, the MillerColeman crew spent several hours hard at work in our yard. We gathered up long-forgotten toys from their various winter burrows. We swept out the garage and carport and hosed down the patio furniture. Then we invited a few friends over for an evening in the backyard around a fire and a pile of pizza boxes. Our kids and theirs ran wild together until the sun set, and one last game of hide and seek was played. It was a good day. Underlying it all, though, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the other shoe was about to drop. It was only a year ago that spring brought with it a life-altering crisis. Just moving through the season of Lent and planning for Easter brings up difficult emotions from those harrowing first days. I recognize how I’m feeling right now. It’s a posttraumatic stress response. In this case, the trauma isn’t quite ‘post’ yet. We’re still in this pandemic, and we’ll be living with its effects for a long time. With the vaccines rolling out, it feels like we’re moving beyond the acute phase of the crisis. It’s time to talk about what comes next.
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I remember being struck by how deeply Barbara cared about Plymouth, its mission of inclusive Christianity, and the vital role the church can and DOES play in the community and beyond.
-Jeremy Winfrey
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f you've ever been on the phone with Barbara Holland, you know the woman has one of the best phone voices you will ever hear. It's pleasant, calm, and above all else, crystal clear. There is no mumbling or lazy pronunciation for this daughter of a long -time English teacher.
As Plymouth's Business Administrator for nearly 18 years, Barbara was an absolute warrior and tireless ambassador for the church. She put into place the business practices she knew so well to help oversee, manage, and stabilize church finances. She was a crucial component in ending Plymouth's debt in 2018. Free of debt, Plymouth could devote more to mission and service work and enhancing church life for the congregation through inspirational worship and improvements to our sacred space and buildings.
I will never forget answering my phone on the afternoon of April 1, 2008. I'd gone in for my second interview to become Barbara's new Administrative Assistant in the church office. There it was, the golden phone voice, "Jeremy, this is Barbara Holland from Plymouth Church…" ringing with happiness that made me feel so welcome at Plymouth right from the start.
As a Plymouth member - she and her family joined the church in 1996 - Barbara shared her time and talents well before and during her time on Plymouth's staff. Barbara served on Boards, volunteered for events, her children were active members of the youth program, and her family was integral to creating Plymouth's Gathering of Grace service in 1999. Her oldest sons worked with then Associate Pastor Rev. Christopher Grundy in developing the order of worship. Barbara's husband, Tom Holland, even played in the original Gathering of Grace Band.
I'm sure there were plenty of candidates for the position who were not big, hairy guys who had only ever worked in construction as an adult. When Barbara, an accomplished businesswoman and mother of a big, beautiful, and growing family, has a hunch about someone or something, though, you should trust her. I'm so grateful Barb took a chance on me. The natural and wonderful conversation we fell so easily into in those interviews was the beginning of a great friendship.
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The impact of her gifts and contributions' lasting legacy at Plymouth speaks for themselves even if she was never quick to take credit for them.
"I loved stopping by Barb's office," Liz added, "to chat about our families, or current events, or books, or Game of Thrones. I loved laughing with her about things that went wrong or surprisingly right. This year was particularly hard on us all as we lost those easy social moments together in the building. But I'm glad Barb's not going anywhere; I'll still get to see her on Zoom calls and one day—God willing—back in the sanctuary and Mayflower Room Sunday mornings."
When Barbara announced her resignation as Plymouth's Business Administrator to pursue other professional opportunities, the news was bittersweet for everyone on staff. As Rev. Dr. Valerie Miller-Coleman said in her announcement of Barbara's resignation during the service on Sunday, February 7, 2021, "In the months since I joined the staff here, I've come to rely on Barb's wisdom and her commitment to our mission. No one is more committed to Plymouth's mission than Barb Holland. She has poured her heart, her sweat, and tears into her work here and served faithfully through seasons of growth and joy and challenge, all of it."
As for me, Barbara is so much more than a coworker. To me, Barbara has been my mentor, my biggest supporter, alley, and loyal friend. When I began working at Plymouth, my daughters, Rose and Sophia (now both college students), were in first and second grade. Barbara's youngest daughter, Louisa, was in sixth grade (now a college graduate). Barbara’s family was always so welcoming of mine. I became friends with her sons and saw firsthand the care, love, and pride she took in the family she raised.
Thankfully, the Plymouth community is not losing Barbara altogether. As Valerie said that morning, "Barbara plans to continue in worship and fellowship as a member of Plymouth's congregation with her family."
I have been working as the Church's Director of Communications since the summer of 2017. Five summers before that, Barbara and I attended a Church of Progressive Renewal conference in Atlanta, Georgia. At this conference, Barbara brought up with me the need for a more complete and concerted communications plan for Plymouth. Barbara and I, aided by the arrival of Rev. Eleanor McCormick to Plymouth in 2014, brought this idea to reality.
"What a true joy it has been to partner with Barb in ministry together," Rev. Caroline Lawson Dean said. "She loves our church deeply - and that love is so apparent when you work with her behind the scenes. Anytime I entered Barb's office, she received me with grace, and I always left with clarity and good wisdom. Barb has been the glue for our staff team during the pastoral transition and during this pandemic season. She has so much institutional perspective, and we will miss her dearly on our staff. I send her out with many blessings & gratitude for her faithful work."
Barbara is always forward-thinking. She demanded that I push myself a little harder to be a little better at what I did and can do for the church. Though I will miss her at Plymouth, I do not doubt that whatever she chooses to do in a professional capacity from this point will be a success. Thank you, Barb. For all of us at Plymouth, I say job well done, my friend.
"For nearly 18 years, Barb Holland was the brain of Plymouth Church," Plymouth Welcome and Care Coordinator Liz Smith said. "If you had a question, Barbara with her family at Plymouth on Sunday, May you took it to Barb. If 26, 2019 for the baptism of her grandson, Everett, she didn't know the anheld by his mother below. swer, which was rare, she would direct you to the person who did. But Barb wasn't just knowledgeable about the arcane inner workings of Plymouth. Barb is a delightful human being. Barb let her love for Plymouth shine in all of her work and always made sure to thank us, her coworkers, profusely for the work we do to keep this place going."
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pate in our English or Spanish classes for very low or no cost. When the pandemic hit last year and meeting in person was no longer an option, we faced a decision: pausing the program or pivoting to an online program. We chose to experiment with the latter, and I’m glad to say that the decision to continue with the program has not only allowed PLP to continue bringing positive impact to the Lawrence community, but it has, in fact, grown the impact five-fold; to communities all across the U.S!
-Michelle Schmidt
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llow me to introduce myself. My name is Michelle Schmidt of the Plymouth Language program (PLP). First of all, I just wanted to send a BIG thank you to all Plymouth Church members for helping make the program possible. Without your support, we would not have reached a milestone in enrolling over 160 students this semester!
Our online Spanish program currently enrolls over 40 students, mostly from the Lawrence/Topeka area with a few from Chicago, Arizona, and a few other states. Our free English program currently enrolls over 120 students from the West Coast, Midwest, East Coast, and even so far as the nation of Colombia. And of these, we’ve heard stories after stories of our English students finally landing a job after a few
For a few years now, Plymouth Church has partnered with the Midland Group to fund the PLP -- a local notfor-profit language program. In years past, we’ve been meeting at Plymouth Church on Tuesday and Thursday nights. It was an enriching time of learning where our local community could gather and partici-
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semesters polishing up their speaking and writing skills through PLP. We’ve received thank you emails from families who were able to find PLP as an enriching community to join in a season when they were feeling isolated. Our program has also allowed a 20year old student in California to connect with her aunt in Colombia, who is taking our class to learn English so they can communicate better. These are just a few of the many impacts PLP has been able to make this semester. Thank you for making this possible. I also want to thank Plymouth members who have also volunteered with us, whether as a teacher or conversation partner. PLP would be nothing without its volunteers, and your time serving these students makes their learning experience more meaningful than you will ever know. My email inbox is full of students who want to say how grateful they are for a program such as PLP and how fantastic our teachers are. Many of our students also enjoy the programs so much that they request us to offer summer classes. Summer classes are currently in discussion, but it sure is nice to know that our program is genuinely needed and wanted in communities everywhere. I’m honored to be part of such a meaningful program, and I credit all of you again for allowing us to make a difference in so many peoples’ lives! If you are interested in learning more about the Plymouth Language Program, please visit our website at plymouthlanguage.org or email me. And whether you can support us financially, through volunteering, taking a class, or through prayers please know that we are utterly grateful for all that your church has allowed our program to be.
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hat do you love about our church building? Is there something about it that gets under your skin? How might we care for our beautiful, historic building in the years ahead? Over the coming months, Plymouth will refine a plan to guide our work to maintain and improve the accessibility and functionality of our building. The more we hear from you about what you love, hate and hope for the building, the better that plan will be. Please take three minutes to share your thoughts with the Facilities Master Plan steering committee using the link below.
TAKE THE SURVEY
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PRAYER REQUESTS
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REGISTER HERE! 10
Sign Up Here
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SUN 4 APRIL
SERVICE @ 9:30 AM
BROADCAST-ONLY LIVE! @ plymouthlawrence.com and on the radio @ FM 101.7 & AM 1320.
EASTER LILIES & THE PASTORS’ EMERGENCY FUND. To make a donation, click on the Easter Lily to the right.
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T
he Plymouth Mental Wellness Resource team would like to invite you to participate in a critical workshop hosted by our church’s mission partner, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
well-being. The course is taught by a team of trained volunteer family members, Robin Wood, Bev Hyde, and Bill Wood, who know what it’s like to have a loved one with a mental illness in their family.
If you have a family member or close friend who deals with a mental illness and would love to understand their condition better so you can better relate and help them, this is your opportunity to get that education.
There is no cost to participate in the NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program. Classes will be held via Zoom on Saturdays f rom A pr il 3 to A pr il 24. Sessions will be held 9:30 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
“Family to Family” is an educational program with eight sessions structured to help family members understand and support their ill relatives while maintaining their own
Please call 785-840-5889 or email Bill Wood by March 25 to register for the class.
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FACILITIES UPDATE
Christian Education Storage clutter removed last week. New blinds to replace missing damaged blinds in 210S. New office paper shredder to come for the Main Office. New Sound board installed by Bob Newton and programming and tutorials are going well. Better lighting installed in the Head Start storage area of the South Church basement. Thyssennkrupp quarterly elevator inspections complete. Annual inspections of the North Church kitchen fire suppression system is complete.
Upcoming
Facilities Committee approval of a 17 SEER Trane AC unit to replace failing one in the South Church. This unit supplies cooling to the Head Start Pantry and Kitchen, the South Church first floor hallway, men’s and women’s restrooms, and the Choir Room. Now it’s on to the Stewardship Board for final approval of expenditures. The Facilities Committee approved of the continued stonework needed to replace the abated stone chipping and falling off the Old Church. This is a continuation of a process begun in summer 2020. We have a quote from IMR Co. in place to match the areas with removed stone and rebuild the
sandstone pieces. This is on to the Stewardship Board for final approval. The deposit has been made to replace several nonfunctioning windows in the North and South Churches. Due to Covid issues in producing these windows in factory, and installation scheduling being pushed back, the installation will now be done later this spring instead of this month. Installation of back-flow dampeners to satisfy new city and state ordinances, will also be pushed back a month or two for the same reasons. This work is part of the automated sprinkler system serving the South Church. This work will be done by Jayhawk Fire and Sprinkler Systems. Plymouth is currently in conversations with Rueschhoff about the costs of a security camera and buzzable button access at the front desk for the back alley door. Starting the removal of some of the South Church basement clutter.
JUSTICE MATTERS ANNOUNCEMENT You are invited to the annual Nehemiah Assembly. This year the assembly will be held as drive-in event at the Douglas County Fairgrounds parking lot on Saturday,
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May 3 at 6:30 - 8 p.m. This year has been significant as we recognize in Lawrence and Douglas County that we have racial and economic injustices. Unjust laws, policies, procedures, and practices result in racial and other discrepancies and biases in our schools, those experiencing homelessness, and in misuse of the jail when community treatment and support systems would be less expensive, more effective, and safer for all of us. Justice Matters is a non-profit community organization formed by member networks in 17 affiliated faith congregations (such as Plymouth) and neighborhoods. Please join in the community as we strive to become a just and welcoming place for all people.
2021 VIRTUAL AUCTION Please save the date for Plymouth's second Virtual Auction, which will be in early August. Are you downsizing? Has the pandemic allowed you time to clean out closets, garages, and storage spaces? Please don't get rid of all that stuff yet. Our mission partners will benefit if you donate those items to this church auction. Or do you have a talent or service you could share? More details will follow as the auction date approaches.