Fort Collins, CO An Open and Affirming Congregation plymouthucc.org

THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY January 24, 2021, 10:00 a.m. PRELUDE “There is a spirit that delights to do no evil…” Ned Rorem WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS The Rev. Hal Chorpenning TIME OF CENTERING SILENCE (ends with the sound of the chime) * CALL TO WORSHIP The Revs. Cain, Chorpenning & Ferguson

Women: When the day comes and we ask ourselves, Where can we find light in this never-ending shade?

Men: We’ve learned that quiet isn’t always peace. And the norms and notions of what just is Isn’t always justice.

Women: And yet the dawn is ours before we knew it. Somehow we do it.

Men: If we merge mercy with might and might with right Then love becomes our legacy.

Women: When the day comes when we step out of the shade, Aflame and unafraid. The new dawn blooms if we free it.

All: For there is always light if we are brave enough to see it, If only we are brave enough to be it.

from “The Hill We Climb” by Amanda Gorman read at the 2021 Inauguration

HYMN “O Praise the Gracious Power” MARION TIME WITH CHILDREN The Rev. Jane Anne Ferguson SCRIPTURE Mark 1.14-20 Response: Thanks be to God.

SERMON “Talking about Jesus” The Rev. Hal Chorpenning MUSICAL OFFERING “The Summons” traditional Scottish tune

Gifts may be made online at plymouthucc.org/give or mailed to Plymouth UCC, 916 West Prospect Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80526.

* UNISON PRAYER OF DEDICATION The Rev. Carla Cain

God, for the blessings of hope and new beginnings, for the blessing of faith and the example of Jesus, we give you thanks. We dedicate our offerings for the work that Jesus began…the work of building your kingdom. Amen.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE The Rev. Carla Cain

Please email prayer requests to prayer@plymouthucc.org

Silent Prayer • Pastoral Prayer • The Lord’s Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

PASSING THE PEACE

HYMN “Hope of the World” CHARTERHOUSE BENEDICTION The Rev. Hal Chorpenning POSTLUDE “Fanfare” Ned Rorem

Permission to podcast/stream music is through One License #A-709014 and Christian Copyright Solutions #11133.

Musicians this morning Blair Carpenter, cantor • Mark Heiskanen, organ and piano

Aaron McGrew, flute

O Praise the Gracious Power

Text: Thomas Troeger; Music: MARION © 1995 The Pilgrim Press. All rights reserved. Reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-709014.

Hope of the World

Text: Georgia Harkness, alt.; Music: CHARTERHOUSE © 1995 The Pilgrim Press. All rights reserved. Reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-709014.

Welcome to Plymouth Congregational Church! We are an Open & Affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ, including all without regard to their race, gender, physical or mental ability, economic status, sexual orientation or gender identity. Our congregation has also voted to become a Peace with Justice church, stressing its importance in our common life. And we voted to become an Immigrant-Welcoming Congregation, which offers a respectful, compassionate welcome and inclusion of immigrants in our midst. Learn more about us at plymouthucc.org Keep in touch! Please keep Barb Gregory apprised of any address, phone or email changes, barbara@plymouthucc.org. In addition, you can send Barb short (4 or fewer lines, please) pieces for the bulletin insert at plymouthucc.org/copy

The Rev. Hal Chorpenning, sr. minister hal@plymouthucc.org The Rev. Jane Anne Ferguson, associate minister janeanne@plymouthucc.org The Rev. Carla Cain, associate minister carla@plymouthucc.org Mark Heiskanen, director of music/organist music@plymouthucc.org Alli Stubbs, interim director of Christian formation for youth alli@plymouthucc.org Tricia Medlock, interim director of Christian formation for children tricia@plymouthucc.org Anna Broskie, it/communications coordinator anna@plymouthucc.org Barb Gregory, office manager barbara@plymouthucc.org

970-482-9212 www.plymouthucc.org

Our Annual Congregational Meeting will be held at noon NEXT SUNDAY, January 31 via Zoom. Watch your Saturday email for a link. Please note: If you would like to see the complete line-by-line budget proposed for 2021, our treasurer, Jim Medlock, will meet you over Zoom and walk you through it. Please contact Jim at treasurer@plymouthucc.org to make an appointment. The Annual Report will be issued as a PDF document. "The price of democracy is eternal vigilance." If we are to preserve our democracy, we need to go beyond keeping a close and constant watch for those persons, groups, and ideologies which wish to destroy us. We need to be stewards of our nation, using our time, talents, and money to keep us striving to obtain the ideals which are our foundation. Stewardship is action. (from Bill Thompson, Stewardship Board) Flowers today are given by Karen and Tom Guter in honor of their 50th wedding anniversary. Since Barb is now working part-time at home, please email her if she does not answer your call at the Plymouth office. If she is away or on vacation, it will say that on the reply you get to your email. Thank you. 2021 Flower Chart: If you would like to give altar flowers for a Sunday service, please let Barb (barbara@plymouthucc.org) know and she will sign you up!

THIS WEEK @ PLYMOUTH Today: Adult Forum (plymouthucc.org/adults) 9 a.m.; Worship service (links on Streaming page) 10 a.m.;

Virtual Coffee Hour (Zoom) 11 a.m.

Monday: Wholeness Prayer Group (Zoom-Email Invite) 10 a.m.; Adult Book Study (plymouthucc.org/adults) 7 p.m.; Trustees Board (Zoom-Email Invite) 7 p.m.

Tuesday: Celtic Spirituality II (Zoom-Email Invite) 9:30 a.m.; Staff Mtg. (Zoom-Email Invite) 10:30 a.m.; Financial Review Comm. Mtg. (Zoom-Email Invite) 7 p.m.

Wednesday: Living Celtic Christianity (Zoom-Email Invite) 8 a.m.; Admin. Mtg. (Zoom-Email Invite) 11 a.m.; Prayer Shawls Ministry (Zoom-Email Invite) 2:30 p.m.; Midweek Vespers service (links on Streaming page) 7 p.m.

Thursday: Christian Formation Board (Zoom-Email Invite) 6:30 p.m.; Adult Book Study (plymouthucc.org/adults) 7 p.m.

Friday: Men’s Discussion Group (Zoom-Email Invite) 9 a.m. Saturday: ISAAC Drive Through - Checks Pick up 11 a.m.

Sunday: Adult Forum (plymouthucc.org/adults) 9 a.m.; Worship service (links on Streaming page) 10 a.m.; Virtual Coffee Hour (Zoom) 11 a.m.; Annual Congregational Mtg. (Zoom-Email Invite) 12 p.m. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

We’re now using Vimeo for our livestream services. You can find the link either for Sunday worship or Midweek Vespers by going to plymouthucc.org/streaming. For more information on Zoom software go to plymouthucc.org/zoom. If you haven’t received an Email Invite for your event, please contact your Group Leader. Be sure to upgrade your Zoom client to 5.0 here: https://zoom.us/download

For Prayer concerns and requests in worship, please email them to prayer@plymouthucc.org. Pastoral Care is still happening! Carla, Jane Anne and Hal are all happy to set up online coffee with those who might want or need it or even to meet in the Memorial Garden (weather permitting) with masks at a safe distance. Just call us…you probably received a fridge magnet with our cell phone numbers (in the Placard, too!).

From the Budget & Finance Committee: Just wanted you to know that your financial support is much appreciated and helpful! You can pay pledges online at plymouthucc.org/give or by mailing your check to the church. Thanks for your generosity! Pledge Income December 2020 Pledge Income: $55,292 December 2020 Budgeted Pledge Income: $67,454 2020 Pledge Income to December 31, 2020: $806,603 2020 Budgeted Pledge Income to December 31, 2020: $809,448 Income December 2020 December 2020 Income: $61,417 Budgeted Income for December 2020: $79,884 2020 Income to December 31, 2020: $979,316 Budgeted Income to December 31, 2020: $958,602

Expenses December 2020 December 2020 Expenses: $87,259 Budgeted Expenses for December 2020: $80,123 Expenses through December 31, 2020: $919,470 Budgeted Expenses through December 31, 2020: $961,476 Zoom coffee hour begins after the service ends You won't be able to get into the Zoom link before 11 a.m. Look for the link in your Saturday email from Plymouth. Need assistance? Do you need financial assistance with groceries, rent or medication? We have some funds available to help. Contact one of your pastors.

Adult Formation Adult Forum Resuming January 10th! Join us Jan. 10 17, 24, and 31 as we jump back into our conversation around the UCC curriculum, White Privilege: Let's Talk. We’ll revisit the Spiritual Autobiographies we began in November and continue using the curriculum to explore how White Privilege intersects with our lives and faith. Links to the curriculum videos and prompts for writing your own spiritual autobiography can be found at plymouthucc.org/adults

Last chance to sign up for our two CF Adult Books studies: Right Here, Right Now; The Practice of Christian Mindfulness, led by Viki Johnson on Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom and Me and White Supremacy led by Jillian Harrison and Tiffany Ayraud at 7:00 p.m. on Monday evenings on Zoom. Register at plymouthucc.org/adults.

Children & Youth Formation

Prayers are with all who are trying to learn in this difficult time, for parents, students, and teachers, plus for all others working in the schools as students return to in-person learning over these weeks. Middle and high school youth groups are up and running again in 2021! Middle school youth group meets every Sunday at 4:30 p.m. via Zoom, and High school youth group meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. Activity kits filled with snacks, games, and all the materials needed for youth group have been sent out to youth who have been active this year. If you haven’t been able to attend yet but are interested in joining us in the new year, send an email to alli@plymouthucc.org and we’ll get an activity kit delivered to you!

Small Groups & Fellowship Ministries The church is OPEN … but we won’t be gathering in person inside the church until further notice. If you are looking for a new small-group activity to try, call any of our ministers, and we’ll help plug you in! Celtic Christianity, Healing prayer, and some new opportunities will be available. New documentary film reveals the hidden impact of COVID19 on Larimer County immigrant essential workers whose industries are hard hit economically. Panel discussion following. Register for Zoom link: https://bit.ly/HispanicVoicesCovid19. Sponsors: ISAAC, Mujeres de Colores, Fuerza Latina, Alianza NORCO, The Family Center, La Cocina, BIPOC Alliance, and the Fort Collins Area Interfaith Council.

Stephen Ministry: Interested in being part of a compassionate ministry that provides care to folks experiencing a medical crisis, grief, life transitions/challenges or a spiritual crisis? If you are interested, please contact Carla@plymouthucc.org. Our Stephen Minister trainees are learning about “The Art of Listening” this week—an essential part of Stephen Ministry. They will learn how to use a variety of active listening skills to help hurting people share what they’re going through and move toward healing. Please continue to pray for our trainees as they grow in their ability to provide caring ministry on behalf of our congregation. Visiting Ministry: Feel called to regularly visit or touch base with the homebound? Please contact Carla@plymouthucc.org. Faith Community Nursing (FCN): Are you a licensed nurse interested in helping folks in the congregation understand their health situation? Please contact Carla@plymouthucc.org. The card project is on hold until the threat of Covid-19 is history. Hopefully, you will continue to collect the cards that you no longer need and bring them to Plymouth once we are able to be together at church. If you need/want to donate them right away or have other questions about this project, just call Mary Kay or Ron Graver. In the meantime please hold the women and the staff at the facility close as confinements such as theirs are so vulnerable during this pandemic. Thank you in advance for your continued generosity.

Calendar Requests/Booking Zoom Rooms While the building is closed, we have church-owned Zoom online “rooms” for remote meetings, small groups, etc. Please visit plymouthucc.org/cal or just go to our website and select the News & Events link at the top of the page. The request form can be found at the button by the Calendar. Choose “Zoom Room” as your meeting room, and we will get back to you with information you can send your group members.