03. THE VIEW FROM HERE 04. MAJOR CHORAL WORK “GLORIA” 05. HOLIDAY BAKE SALE 06. YOUTH EVENTS 08. CHILDREN’S PAGEANT 09.LONGEST NIGHT SERVICE 10. CHRISTMAS AT PLYMOUTH 12. CHRISTMAS EVE 15. PLYMOUTH READS: GOSPEL OF MATTHEW 16. BE AN OFFICE VOLUNTEER!
At the end of the day, what I noticed most was how much I love this church. It feels good to be part of a congregation that sings together. One that goes barefoot on St. Nick Sunday in anticipation of chocolate coins and oranges placed in shoes left out in the Narthex and lingers around the Christmas tree and coffee just a little longer than we have to because we want to be together.
Plymouth Church, you are a blessing in my life. May this Advent also bless you with moments of hope, peace, joy, and love. See you in church.
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On Sunday, December 11, the Chancel Choir will sing “Gloria” by Antonio Vivaldi (1678 1741). “Gloria” is the most familiar and popular piece of sacred music by Vivaldi. Unfortunately, most of his compositions were forgotten by the public, even though his style was influential. The first modern performance of “Gloria” occurred in 1939. According to David Crawford, “Vivaldi, a sickly man since his birth, surely saw enough of life’s tragedies . . . , but no trace of anguish can be found in music like this . . . the ethos of playful optimism prevails.
This quality – perhaps a spiritual peacefulness and an aesthetic stance was surely the most priceless gift the Italian school left to Mozart and us.”
The music, composed for choir with soprano and alto soloists is accompanied by strings, oboe, trumpet, and organ. What a wonderful Sunday to invite friends and family to experience beautiful music at Plymouth.
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The Christmas Pageant is here! We are so excited for you all to see the hard work that all the children and adult volunteers have been working on over the last month. All children participating in the pageant should arrive at the Mayflower Room at 8:30 am. After the pageant, the children will return to the Mayflower Room for our annual Sam Elliott Party, including festive games and activities. We hope to see you on this special Sunday. You don't want to miss it!
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For some, the Christmas season is a time of both joy and sorrow. The days get shorter, and the holidays can bring up memories of lost loved ones or remind us of the difficulties we face in our everyday lives. This year, on Monday, December 19, at 7 pm, Plymouth will hold a candlelight service in the sanctuary in anticipation of the longest night of the year. There will be meditative music and prayer, poetry, and a short message about light in the darkness. Everyone is welcome to attend; come and find a connection with your church community and peace for your soul.
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Plymouth at Christmas
On Christmas Eve, an afternoon spilling into a night of three services, Plymouth will have as many people attend worship as we’ll see on four average Sundays combined!
Year after year, Christmas Eve continues to be a night that Plymouth members, friends, and visitors from across Lawrence mark on their calendar. It is a night of moving reflection. When the organ drops out and members of the congregation rise with their lit candles as they sing “Silent Night” amid tears of reflection on the past year and hope for the future, it is truly a stirring and emotional experience. And one that has clearly brought so many people through our doors for 168 years and counting.
Plymouth’s remarkable Christmas tradition was even documented nationally in the December 1982 issue of Redbook Magazine (see next page).
So here we are again. A new season of Advent is upon us, and it does so as a seeming breath of fresh air at the end of a long year.
On Saturday, November 26, Plymouth staff and volunteers decorated the Sanctuary and Narthex with greens, poinsettias, lights, and bows. The joy present in our annual Hanging of the Greens was just the start of the most beloved season at Plymouth.
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Join in the celebration and magic of the Advent & Christmas Seasons!
Come and be a part of the wonder in worship that Christmas at Plymouth provides. Join in the spirit of the season in the lighting of the Advent Candles, reminding us to have Hope, seek Peace, and hold Joy and Love in our hearts during this season.
Feel the spirit in the amazing music provided by the Chancel Choir as it presents “Gloria” for its Advent Major Choral Work on Sunday, December 11, during the 9:30 am service. Feel the spirit as we watch the Children’s Christmas Pageant on Sunday, December 18, during the 9:30 am service. Feel the spirit on Christmas Eve through our children’s service, Christmas Eve concert, and not one, but two beautiful traditional candlelight serves. And finally come Christmas morning for our one combined service at 9:30 am full of carols of the season.
Advent and Christmas are the renewal of a spirit of hope and a push for peace in the world. At Plymouth, it is one of our most cherished traditions. So join us this year as the spirit of Advent comes to life and carries through another beautiful and memorable Christmas in our historic church and this amazing community of faith.
The Rock 10 Fall ’1811
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4:00 P.M.
CHILDREN’S SERVICE
Kicking off the festivities is an interactive worship service of Angels and Shepherds through song and word, and great fun for the whole family. Join Rev. Caroline Lawson Dean, Plymouth's Minister of Music and Fine Arts, Kim Manz, and Director of Faith Formation Kara Holcombe, for all the Christmas fun.
Families with children are encouraged to come at 3:45 p.m. for the children to get dressed in an angel or a shepherd costume. Worship will begin at 4 p.m. in the sanctuary. It’s the perfect service for young families and the perfect start to a long and exciting night for smallest congregants.
6:00 P.M.
1ST TRADITIONAL CANDLELIGHT SERVICE
This is Plymouth's biggest service of the year. If you and your family are planning to attend, please head to Plymouth earlier than usual to get a good seat. Plymouth is one of several downtown churches, and we will be sharing parking spaces along Vermont. Parking is also available in the parking garages by the Library on Vermont Street, and the Arts Center on New Hampshire Street.
7:30 P.M.
CHRISTMAS EVE CONCERT
The annual concert on Christmas Eve between the 6 and 8 p.m. services will feature music of the season. Come enjoy Christmas music in the quiet stillness of our beautiful sacred space.
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8:00 P.M.
2ND TRADITIONAL CANDLELIGHT SERVICE
Plymouth closes the night of Christmas Eve celebration with our second candlelight service. As the hours of Christmas Eve tick closer to Christmas, the raising of the candles and singing of “Silent Night” for the last time in 2022 can bring with them a chill raising and emotionally resonant impact during this late service.
CHRISTMAS EVE OFFERING
Each year Plymouth takes up an offering during our Christmas Eve services, of which 100% of the monetary donations from this offering are given to our mission partners and other Lawrence organizations. This year we will open this offering starting on Sundays, December 11 and 18, and then again during all three of our Christmas Eve services.
LIVE BROADCAST
WHERE TO WATCH
Plymouth will broadcast all of its Christmas Eve services and Christmas Concert live online at plymouthlawrence.com Unable to join us in person? Tune in and it’s as if you are sitting right in our sanctuary for one of our most beautiful services of the year.
CHILDREN’S CHOIRS
The Carol (2nd 4th grade) and Chapel (5th and higher) choirs will be singing on Christmas Eve at the 6 p.m. service. It is always a magical time having the children’s choirs join the Chancel Choir for “Away in a Manger” and the congregation for “Silent Night.”
There will be one massed rehearsal in the sanctuary on Sunday, December 18 immediately following the conclusion of the 9:30 am service. All children are encouraged to participate. Music is being rehearsed during regular rehearsal time on Sundays from 10:30 11 am.
REMINDER TO PARENTS
Have your singers meet in room 204S to robe and rehearse at 5:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Long hair should be pulled back for safety when carrying lit candles.
PARKING MAP FOR PLYMOUTH CHURCH
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Can you remember the last time you took the time to really savor a good book? Was there a season when you resolved to try something new, something you’d always meant to try but hadn’t yet found the time? We will do both of those things together in the New Year.
Beginning in mid-January, we will closely read the Gospel of Matthew as a congregation. We’ll tackle this stunning work of ancient literature each week in worship and in small groups on Sunday mornings between services.
Our guide for the study is the pre-eminent biblical scholar N.T. Wright. His work is beautifully matched to small group study and is good for individual devotional reading. You can pick up the study guide at church beginning in early January or order your own from your bookseller.
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Want to be a Church Office Volunteer?
We 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 Ann Lounsbury at administration@plymouthlawrence.com or call the office at 785 843 3220 x8, and she’ll be happy to talk to you about this opportunity.
Sign Up to Provide Flowers
We 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 Ann Lounsbury Please call the church office and speak with Ann if you have any questions. Help us beautify the sanctuary this year.
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