Results from the focUS Survey conducted in February are available for review, and they highlight the many strengths of our church community, some frustrations, and an eagerness to move forward together to live out our fullest potential. The survey was delivered as part of Plymouth’s focUS initiative which was designed to help members, staff, and... Read More
Honoring the Plymouth Just Peace Covenant, the Easter Special Offering will be gifted to the following initiatives and non-profit organizations serving Des Moines Metro people, who are most in need and striving for social and/or economic justice. The projects selected for this year’s gifts are: Family Promise of Greater Des Moines – The funds will... Read More
The Plymouth Women Scholarships are awarded once a year to two or more college students who are preparing for a career in service such as seminary, social work, education, medicine, etc. Applicants must be a junior, senior or graduate student in a college or university. Plymouth members are given preference, but any qualified person may... Read More
After a long hiatus, it is hard to get back on the horse. But this feels like a good week to jump back in. This week, we learn how to pray with Jesus. And, really, we learn a lot more than that. But before we dive in, let’s stop and take stock of our surroundings.... Read More
Plymouth Church is humbled in gratitude for all that we have freely received from God. We continue to grow in generosity by giving to the less fortunate food, clothing, furniture and money. We want our monetary gifts to flow out from Plymouth Church and into the hands of organizations or initiatives serving people most in... Read More
This week’s blog post will be a bit of a grab-bag hot rambling mess, owing to the fact that this is a transitional point in the church year. Nov 25 marks the end of this church year. A new year begins on Sunday, December 2 –the first Sunday of Advent. This is always a busy... Read More
Ready for something completely different? This week’s Scripture lesson is unfamiliar, full of seemingly strange and difficult names. It may take a little more work to see what is going on here. But the work will be worth it! As the story comes into focus, it seems shockingly relevant to us. This is a... Read More
It is a question that some of us never consider. It is a question that some of us cannot escape. Throughout history, some of us have killed each other over different answers to this question. What does God want? This week, the Prophet Micah is trying to tell us. Micah 5:2-5a, 6:6-8 2 But you,... Read More
…Big Things One Day Come. (In case you don’t get the reference) Self-plagiarism alert: Most of this blog post is adapted from a sermon that I preached at The Community Church of Little Neck in February of 2003. In so many ways, we have been trained to seek our salvation in big dramatic gestures.... Read More
Wisdom is wonderful! But it will only get you so far. Just ask Solomon. I Kings 3:5-9, 16-28 5At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask what I should give you.” 6And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he... Read More
Our “Rooted in Creation” summer series continues with the second chapter of Genesis and an entirely different creation story. Genesis 2:4-25 4 These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created. In the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, 5when no plant of the field was yet in... Read More
Do you know the hardest thing about preaching –or, to be more precise, the hardest thing about writing a sermon? Discipline. The discipline to recognize that something you REALLY want to say does not, in fact, belong in the sermon. But do you know the best thing about having a blog? It gives me... Read More
Don’t miss a single piece of programming at Plymouth Church this summer! Our Summer Program Guide 2019 includes everything happening for every age. Pick up a copy in the church’s literature racks, or download a PDF copy by clicking here.... Read More
This week’s Scripture reading reminds me of a punk rock song. No, seriously. Belfast’s own Stiff Little Fingers has a song called “Nobody’s Hero.” It’s a (loud, angry) reminder that human beings have a habit of trusting too much in mere mortals. But the thing is: you don’t need a punk rock song to... Read More
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