Can Plymouth Church be the answer to Jesus’ prayer? We are about to find out. When my friend Allen Hilton was here in September, he reminded us of Jesus’ prayer for all who would become disciples: that they may all be one (John 17:21). As Jesus sees it in John’s Gospel, our... Read More
It’s here! It’s finally here! Around the weekend of September 7-8, a lot of the things I love best about Plymouth Church come back from the summer hiatus. Choirs return. Church school resumes. Confirmation kicks-off. 9 to Dine begins again And, this year, we will see some new things: a Wednesday noon class on... Read More
Today we unveil the syllabus for A Course on Friendship, an adult education class that Matt Mardis-LeCroy will be offering on Wednesdays over the lunch hour. Plan on joining him -and plan on bringing a friend!... Read More
Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ in Des Moines, Iowa seeks a full-time Director of Child and Family Ministries. We are a progressive congregation of approximately 3,200 members, committed to inclusivity and diversity. We are looking for someone with the creativity and commitment to help us build upon our vibrant tradition of engaging children in... Read More
We are talking about growing in love –love of God, love of neighbor, love of self. But what does love of God have to do with love of my neighbor? Maybe more than we think. Genesis 32:24—33:11 24Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.25When the man saw that... Read More
Sometimes the Scriptures hit a little close to home. As we struggle with the aftermath of multiple mass shootings in this country—as we grieve and grapple with the horror—our summer sermon series invites us to consider the story of Cain. Genesis 4:1-17 Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore... Read More
We say it almost every time we gather: At Plymouth Church our purpose is to grow in love of God and neighbor. But what does that mean? And how do we do it? That is what the rest of the summer is about. Beginning this weekend and continuing right through Labor Day, our preaching... Read More
EDITORIAL NOTE: This weekend, we will wrap up our Rooted in Creation Series and hear Mary Kate Buchanan’s very first sermon at Plymouth Church! In the meantime, here is text of my sermon from the Saturday July 13 and Sunday July 14. Revelation 22:1-5 Then the angel showed me the river of the... Read More
“The only Commandment I ever obeyed — ‘Consider the Lilies.” -Emily Dickens This week our Rooted in Creation series continues with an excerpt from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. It is, among other things, an invitation to stop, listen and learn from the creation. The lilies are trying to tell us something. Matthew... Read More
Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ in Des Moines, Iowa—a vibrant and progressive congregation of approximately 3,200 members—seeks a full-time Director of Operations and Finance. We are looking for someone with the vision and creativity to help us become the church we are supposed to be. Working closely with the Senior Minister, the Director of... Read More
It is Pie Weekend at Plymouth Church -a time to consider God’s invitation to share what we have! (What, you may ask, is Pie Weekend? It’s pretty simple: everybody brings a pie. To church. And we eat the pies. Together. This year it will serve to kick off our 2020 Stewardship campaign. You really... Read More
Here is the thing about friends: sometimes they betray us. No one knows this better than Jesus. Mark 3:13-18 13 He went up the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted, and they came to him. 14And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to... Read More
Halloween is upon us! And while I struggle with my own deep denial about the Beggar’s Night forecast (brrr!), I am also turning my attention to the weekend that will follow. The practice of celebrating All Saints Day is an ancient one. According to my trusty (and rarely consulted) Oxford Dictionary of the... Read More
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