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UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST OF LAWRENCE, KANSAS

03. THE VIEW FROM HERE 04. WELCOME HEATHER! 05. YOUTH & FAMILY MINISTRY NEWS 10. WELCOME SUNDAY!

11. JAZZ IS BACK! 12. MUSIC & FINE ARTS NEWS 15. SAVE THE DATE - PLYMOUTH ACADEMY 16. VIRTUAL COMMUNITY AUCTION 18. JUSTICE MATTERS 20. PLYMOUTH FALL PICNIC 21. PLYMOUTH’S FALL WOMEN’S RETREAT 22. NA ROOM RENOVATIONS

Front cover photo credit: Dana Dole.

of Care and Welcome, out into her next chapter of life with blessings and celebration. We welcomed the Rev. Heather Coates into the role of Pastor of Care and Welcome. Our Director of Faith Formation, Kara Holcombe, shepherded our Youth Service Corps team through a clean-up day at Tall Oaks Conference Center in Linwood – holy ground where our confirmation students will retreat for spiritual formation and discernment. A brilliant new Sunday School curriculum is being prepared for our classrooms this fall, as are outstanding Plymouth Academy offerings. Dinner Theater is back this fall for a night of music, good food, and fun. Our Stephen Ministers are operating at full capacity and preparing to train a new class. We commissioned Sarah Witten to serve among them as a highly trained Stephen Leader. Moderator-elect Scott Morgan is putting the Bylaws Task Force through our paces as we review the history and functions of good governance in this congregation. Moderator Devon Kim continues to ably guide the Facilities Master Plan to its final stage – a vision of a church building ready for all that God is preparing to do among us. See what I mean? We’re in a season of preparation for growth. You can feel the energy and focus building as the last details come together for the launch of fall programs. This month’s Rock Magazine is coming to you at home, so you’ll have it in hand as you set your calendar for the months ahead. I can’t wait to see what God will do with us next. It’s going to be so beautiful. I promise you don’t want to miss this.

his time of year always feels to me a bit like we’re creeping up the first hill of a rollercoaster. Click, click, click, up and up, and then slowly cresting that highest point. You can see for a long way from up here, and oh, my goodness, what a ride it will be.

See you in church,

The church staff and lay leaders have spent the summer evaluating the impact of our ministries and setting goals for the year ahead. We’ve dug into the corners of our mission spending plan and thought about whether another three hundred dollars here might make a significant impact or, if possible, combine functions and streamline expenses in another area. We’ve drawn charts on the whiteboard and laid out the choreography for church events, classes, worship, and more through June 2023. The view from here is pretty stunning. It’s humbling and a little awe-inducing to see how abundantly we’ve been blessed with dreams and visions for the months ahead. As Jacob said upon waking from his night of dreams and visions, “Surely, God is in this place.” It’s true. I see God’s fingerprints all over Plymouth Church these days. We sent Liz Smith, our Coordinator

ello Plymouth! I am so happy to be returning to Plymouth as your Pastor of Care and Welcome. Many of you may remember me from my work here at Plymouth as the Director of Christian Education. I can’t believe how tall the children I used to work with are! My new role at Plymouth will have me, among other things, shepherding new members, coordinating care ministries, and regularly leading worship, including weddings and funerals. What have I been doing in my time away from Plymouth? Well, I’ve been busy. While serving as your CE Director, I began to discern a call to ministry in the United Church of Christ. My first call, and the place where I was ordained, was St John’s UCC - a great little church in southern Douglas County. I also taught World Religions at Bishop Seabury Academy.

This summer, I started a three-year program at SoulJourners (an institution run by the Benedictine Sisters in Atchison, KS) to train as a Spiritual Advisor. I hope to find ways to share this work with you as I progress in the program. My other significant life change in my time away from Plymouth is that I got married! (We will be celebrating our fifth anniversary in August). After that, I convinced Scott to move into my house in East Lawrence (we have since renovated), where we spend a lot of time growing tomatoes and peppers in what I sometimes refer to as our urban farm. I look forward to getting reacquainted with all of the long-time members of Plymouth. And getting to know all the new faces I see in the pews. I hope we will all grow together in faith as we walk together in community.

his group is for dads with littles ages 0-6 to gather in fellowship and fun at local playgrounds at 9 am on the second Sunday of each month. Older siblings are, of course, welcome to join in the fun. Coffee and Donuts will be provided. UPCOMING PLAYDATES Saturday, August 13 @ Burroughs Creek Park - 900 E. 15th Street Bring your swimsuits to play in the park’s new splash pad! Saturday, September 10 @ Centennial Park - 9th and Iowa Streets

riends are welcome! Learn more about Sunday School, Children’s Choirs, Confirmation, Handbell Choirs & High School Gatherings! RSVP at plymouthlawrence.com in the weekly church emails, or by using the QR code to the right.

t's our first Youth Lock In of the new school year! Plymouth youth grades 6 - 12 are invited. Friends are most welcome. It's a night of games and fun. Sign up by August 17 at plymouthlawrence.com, weekly church emails, or by using the QR code to the right.

hat is MOPS? Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) believes in the simple but revolutionary idea that remarkable things happen when moms come together. MOPS began in 1973 when a group of moms with young children banded together to share their lives and parenting journeys. Over the past 45 years, MOPS has expanded our reach to include ALL moms. In addition, MOPS partners with churches and organizations worldwide to equip and encourage moms in more than 68 countries. NEXT MOPS MEET UP Saturday, August 20, 9 am @ South Park - 1141 Mass Street This is a wonderful opportunity for mothers of children ages 0-6 to meet and socialize with one another. For more information contact Kara at christianed@plymouthlawrence.com.

e are so excited about our new Sunday School and Choir program for 2022-2023, which begins on Sunday, August 21! Please take the time to register your child for Sunday School and Children’s Choirs at plymouthlawrence.com, in the weekly church emails, or by using the QR code below.

lymouth’s Children’s Choirs are part of the Sunday School program. Each choir meets from 10:30-11:00 a.m. on Sundays. All children are welcome and encouraged to participate. In addition, each choir sings for worship several times from August through May. Choirs are a great way to build a love for singing, learning to read music, building singing skills, and having fun with friends. CHILDREN’S CHOIRS Cherub Choir (PreK-1st Grade) is directed by Paula Aiken and meets in 205S on the second floor of South Church. In addition to singing, this choir helps build motor skills by including hand and physical movements and instruments. Besides singing for worship, the Cherub Choir sings for the Children’s Christmas Pageant. Carol Choir (2nd-5th Grade) meets in 204S on the second floor of South Church. In addition to singing, this choir introduces using printed music

to build reading skills. The Carol Choir also sings for the Children’s Christmas Pageant and at the 6 p.m. Christmas Eve service with the Chapel and Chancel (adult) Choirs. A highlight of past years has been the presentation of a musical in conjunction with the Chapel Choir. Chapel Choir (6th – 12th Grade) meets in Althaus Chapel. Moving into the Chapel Choir means building more music reading and singing skills and singing in parts. This choir sings for the Children’s Christmas Pageant and with the Carol and Chancel Choirs at the 6 p.m. Christmas Eve service. Traditionally, this Chapel Choir has presented a musical in conjunction with the Carol Choir.

andbell ringing is a fun, collaborative ensemble where each person rings two bells. You don’t need to read music or have any previous experience, as we will teach you everything you need to know. Ringing is a hands-on team-building social musical ensemble. New ringers are always welcome. Rehearsals begin again on Sunday, August 21. YOUTH HANDBELL CHOIR REHEARSALS High School Handbell Choir: 11 am - Noon Sunday mornings in the Bell Room (207N) Middle School Handbell Choir: 3:30-4:30 pm Sunday afternoons in the Bell Room (207N - before Confirmaiton) For more information please contact Kim Manz at music@plymouthlawrence.com.

ll youth grades 6th12 and everyone who signed up to help with Plymouth’s Sunday School program are invited to this night of celebration as we prepare to kick off an exciting year of youth and family programming at Plymouth.

unday, August 28, marks our first official night of Youth Group gatherings of the new church year. Middle school youth students (grades 6-8) are invited to their first Youth Group gathering Sunday, August 28 at 4:30 pm to learn all about Plymouth’s Confirmation program for the coming year. Register your student using the QR Code below. High School Youth, join us on Sunday, August 28, from 5:30 - 7 pm to learn about Youth Service Trips at Plymouth. This meeting will also be a reunion night for the youth who went on the Service Trip to Austin, Texas, this summer.

elcome Sunday marks the start of Plymouth’s yearly programming, from Christian Education for youth and adults to music ensembles, fellowship, and special events. So pack the house on August 21. It’s going to be the start of a great year.

fter three long years, Jazz is back at Plymouth Church as a part of Welcome Sunday! Join the Plymouth Jazz Combo on Sunday, August 21, for classic tunes like “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” and “Birth of the Blues” and the Chancel Choir singing “Operator” made famous by the Manhattan Transfer. Improvisation, which is at the heart of jazz, provides a metaphor for the Creator’s act toward the creation and toward human creators. You won’t want to miss this excellent worship experience as we step outside the box and invite the “cool” sound of jazz to bring us closer to God! It’s a great Sunday to invite friends and guests.

n 1974 the first three octave set of handbells was presented to Plymouth Church as a living memorial to Brad Fisher, who had passed away at the age of 11. That wonderful memorial started the tradition of a large and successful handbell program. Plymouth purchased additional handbells to accommodate the growing number of ringers. In addition to the original three -octave set, Plymouth owns a fiveoctave set and five octaves of handchimes.

o you love to sing? Did you sing in choir in high school and have not sung since? Come sing in the Chancel Choir! We are always look for more voices to add to this welcoming and friendly ensemble. The choir sings a wide variety of music from the Renaissance through contemporary newly published works. Each year the choir sings two major choral works with orchestral accompaniment. The next major work will be on Sunday, December 11.

Handbell ringing is a fun, collaborative ensemble where each person rings two bells. You don’t need to read music or have any previous experience; as we will teach you everything you need to know. Ringing is a hands-on teambuilding social musical ensemble. New ringers are always welcome.

Don’t worry if you can’t make a strict weekly commitment. We still want you, AND we have at least two parties each year! Rehearsals are in the Mayflower Room on Thursday evenings from 78:30 p.m. Come ift your voice up to God in song!

Please contact Kim Manz for more information at music@plymouthlawrence.com.

he Plymouth String ensemble rehearses Wednesday evenings from 7-8 p.m. in the Althaus Chapel. All string players playing at the high school level or above are invited. Plymouth Strings plays for worship several times throughout the year. Please contact Kim Manz at music@plymouthlawrence.com for more information.

o you play flute, clarinet, oboe, sax, or bassoon? Would you be interested in playing in a woodwind ensemble at Plymouth? The ensemble could rehearse weekly. Or it could rehearse for a few weeks, play for worship, take a break and start up again. Contact Kim Manz, at music@plymouthlawrence.com, if you are interested in playing.

ome join the Plymouth Players for a fun social evening filled with murder, mayhem, music, and great food and fellowship. Watch the website, Sunday bulletins, and future Rocks for updates and how to purchase tickets.

ircle your calendars and save the date for the Plymouth Virtual Community Auction. The auction will be held online, and your help is needed to make it the best ever! The third annual virtual auction will be September 7-18. Start planning now for what you will donate to the auction. Think about those items that you have stored in your closets and spare rooms for too many years. Now is the time to donate them so their value can be translated into financial support for our mission partners. Perhaps you have a special talent, event, art object, or vacation home to share. This is our major fundraising event of the year, so donate and then shop, bid, and buy at the auction site in September.

Donations Ideas there are many more possibilities! • • • • •

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Any item of a minimum value of $25 or more and in good condition Original art (Plymouth is blessed with many artists in the congregation) Sporting event tickets Concert tickets Hosted dinners in your home (we know there are phenomenal cooks at Plymouth) Hosted Game Nights Restaurant gift certificates Gifts certificates from any local company Gift certificates for “get-aways” Used (but in good condition) furniture Antiques Sports Equipment Errand services Homemade quilts, knitted or crocheted afghans, etc. Crafting lessons Sporting lessons (Pickleball, anyone?) Themed baskets of items Cooking lessons Music or art lessons Trips to anywhere Vacation homes or timeshares Signed memorabilia Work Days (fall yard clean-up, painting, window washing, etc.)

Please Do Not Donate: • • • •

Items with a value less than $25 Clothing and Shoes Books Electronics

How to Donate It is easy to donate an item – just complete the form at plymouthlawrence.com, in the church emails, or the QR code below with the donated item and a picture.

If you have questions or need assistance with the donation form, please email

pccauction@gmail.com or call Barbara Russell at 785719-9517 or Kathy Wehmeyer at 913-579-7788.

stream of about $1 million annually for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

Treatment & Recovery Campus Justice Matters led the effort to support crisis mental health services and successfully got a measure on the ballot to dedicate a quarter-cent sales tax to mental services. In addition, it organized people in advocating for and securing approval of the Treatment & Recovery Campus to provide services and housing for individuals with serious mental illness and addiction.

all is fast approaching, and with it brings the Justice Matters Kickoff at Plymouth! We have missed seeing you and look forward to a host of in-person activities in August and September! During this time, we invite you to take a fresh look at Justice Matters, past and present, and our new leadership team, and we hope you will join us for one of our events.

Current Initiatives

Who is Justice Matters?

Past Successes

Criminal Justice Reform The “Jail No” campaign halted a major expansion of the county jail and successfully shifted the community’s focus to alternatives to incarceration and the decriminalization of poverty. In addition, justice Matters is collaborating with local criminal justice leaders to move forward on initiatives around bail reform, reducing failure to appear, and expanding cite & release policies.

Affordable Housing Justice Matters played a lead role in getting a 1/20th cent sales tax for affordable housing on the ballot and approved. The measure provides a sustainable revenue

Ending Homelessness In 2021, Justice Matters received a commitment from community leaders to end chronic homelessness using the “Built for Zero” model, which fourteen communities

Plymouth is one of 16 faith communities involved in Justice Matters, a local non-profit that takes a grassroots approach to identifying systemic, root causes of injustice and identifying long-term solutions to those causes. Justice Matters has made a difference in people's lives through many accomplishments.

across the country have used to end homelessness effectively. In addition, the current County Commission chair is committed to employing a recently conducted needs assessment to inform a comprehensive plan to end homelessness. Restorative Practices in Schools Punitive responses to student misbehavior often create more problems than they solve. Restorative justice provides an alternative by focusing on healing harm. Justice Matters has encouraged the school district to adopt restorative practices. Middle and high school teachers have been trained in restorative practices, and elementary school training will take place during the upcoming school year. Elder Care Last year’s Justice Matters listening process revealed that many assisted living or long-term care people feel isolated and warehoused. As a result, justice Matters is working with county leadership and local healthcare providers to address the shortage of qualified staff needed to provide quality care.

Join Us! All of these initiatives required "people power" to increase community awareness and influence community leaders to act. Over the next several weeks, you'll be hearing more from Plymouth's Justice Matters leadership team as we work to build people's power and strengthen Plymouth's voice in countering systemic injustice.

AVE THE DATE! Rev. Caroline Dean and Women’s Retreat Facilitator Cindy Novelo invite all adult Plymouth women to join us September 23-24, 2022, for a soulful and rejuvenating time on retreat together. This year, as women’s rights are being curtailed, we will share stories from our own lives, from the lives of our female ancestors, and from women across time and throughout the world who have inspired us. We do this so that we might feel the strong bonds and connections that have always brought women together to support each other in times of challenge. We gather together in retreat to step away from the busyness of our daily lives to re-center and restore. We gather to revitalize our spirits as we learn to love ourselves more deeply, to find joy and light, so that we might have the capacity to be of greater service to this sacred world in which we live. We gather to foster community, strengthen the bonds that tie us together, and ultimately free us to be all God intends us to be so that we may each shine our own unique lights in the world. Something magical happens when women gather together. We hope you will be a part of what we know will be an amazing weekend! Registration opens on August 26, 2022.

ew people at Plymouth are even aware of the room most frequently in use in our beloved space. No, it’s not the Mayflower Room, not the Sanctuary, not the chapel, not even the Head Start classrooms. Instead, it’s a little room in the church’s basement just below the Narthex. This room is used multiple times a day throughout the year to host Narcotic Anonymous meetings. This room represents one of the most critical aspects of Plymouth’s community missional outreach.

Meiers, Terry Frankenfeld, and Dave Miller. Other contributors to this project not pictured are Doug Funk, Nick and Garret Ernzen, Cliff Tisdale, and Chris Claflin. Plymouth says thank you to all of them for their dedication to community missional work by making our space welcoming and comfortable to all who use that room and will use it in the future. Job well done!.

For years this room has needed intensive love and care as it began to fall into disrepair. So in the summer of 2022, Plymouth’s Facilities and Maintenance Committee and a team of dedicated and skilled Plymouth members and friend volunteers worked through the heat and labor to substantially renovate the NA room. They installed better lighting to brighten up the room. They removed walls to open up the space. They installed beautiful new flooring. And they rebuilt the bathroom in the most startling improvement to the space. Pictured above from left to right are Ken Johnson, Doug Eason, Dick Orchard, Sarah Cauthon, Rex Russell, John

Want to be a Church Office Volunteer?

e have an amazing team of Volunteer Receptionists: Lavenna Boyer, Sharon Kindall, Jane Bireta, Gayle Sherman, Elinor Schroeder, and Carol Wallace. They help the office run by answering phones, greeting visitors, and working on projects as they come up. We are looking for additional volunteers for Friday morning, Tuesday afternoon, and Thursday afternoon. If you are interested in being part of this awesome team, please contact Lor i H er pi ch at admin is tr ation@plymouthlawrence.com or call the office at 785-843-3220 x8, and she’ll be happy to talk to you about this opportunity.

e have some openings for Sunday flowers through the remainder of this year. You can provide them, or the office can order them for $67. The signup sheet is just outside the office by the elevator. Sign up and fill out the form that is also by the signup sheet and either put it in the collection plate or leave it in the church office for Lori Herpich. Please call the church office and speak with Lori if you have any questions. Help us beautify the sanctuary this year.