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

THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT March 7, 2021, 10:00 a.m. PRELUDE “Just as I Am” Paul Rutz WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS The Rev. Hal Chorpenning

TIME OF CENTERING SILENCE (ends with the sound of the chime) * CALL TO WORSHIP Lynne Soraci

All: Again and again we come to this space. Again and again, we gather as a community. Again and again, we move closer to God. And again and again, God is here. We are met. We are heard. We are shown the way. So again and again, Let us worship holy God.

HYMN “When Christ Went to the Temple” AURELIA SILENT AND UNISON PRAYERS OF CONFESSION Lynne Soraci Silent time for you to contemplate ways you have fallen short and seek God’s forgiveness

God of justice, we are guilty of building tables, tables that oppression dines on, sexism thrives on, and racism lives on. God of justice, we are guilty of forgetting where we are, of turning faith into a negative tool and the church into a place for insiders. God of our hearts, be in our decision making. Forgive our mistakes. Let us flip every table, belief, or point of view that needs adjusting. Amen.

KYRIE ELEISON John Bell THE ASSURANCE OF PARDON The Rev. Carla Cain TIME WITH CHILDREN Tricia Medlock SCRIPTURE John 2.13-22 Response: Thanks be to God.

SERMON “Turning the Tables” The Rev. Carla Cain MUSICAL OFFERING “Why Do They Shut Me Out of Heaven” Aaron Copland

You can make a pledge for 2021 at plymouthucc.org/pledge. Gifts may be made online at plymouthucc.org/give or mailed to

Plymouth UCC, 916 West Prospect Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80526.

THE SACRAMENT OF COMMUNION The Rev. Jane Anne Ferguson (At home, have bread & wine ready!)

* UNISON PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING The Rev. Jane Anne Ferguson

God, we have been refreshed by your presence at this table. We give back to you gifts of financial resources that we may overturn the tables of injustice. We give all of our gifts knowing that they will give so much more through the abundance of your love’s work in our world. Amen.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE The Rev. Jane Anne Ferguson

Please email prayer requests to prayer@plymouthucc.org

Silent Prayer • Pastoral Prayer • The Lord’s Prayer Our Mother/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 “Lift High the Cross” CRUCIFER BENEDICTION The Rev. Carla Cain POSTLUDE “Allegro maestoso” Felix Mendelssohn

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

When Christ Went to the Temple

Text: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette; Music: AURELIA © 2015 Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Kyrie eleison

Text: Roman rite; Music: trad. Guarani, arr. John Bell © 2008 GIA Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-709014.

Lift High the Cross (verse 1,3,&5)

Text: George Kitchin, rev. Michael Newbolt, alt.; Music: CRUCIFER © 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 liturgist this morning is Lynne Soraci who is a mostly retired speech language pathologist. She and her husband Paul got married at Plymouth 37 years ago. Lynne has served in a variety of capacities and loves being a Deacon. At 6 p.m. our liturgist is Paula Bernander who is a Fort Collins native. She is happy to be returning to evening services and continues to help host the morning coffee hour as part of the Congregational Life Board.

Flowers today are offered by Jim and Tricia Medlock with thanksgiving for ALL who have ever taught Sunday School.

Lent is the season in which we reflect on what we have, what we can do without, and what we need to be giving in thanks. It also helps us determine what assets of both time and money we can allot to our community, God, and the world. In this pandemic there are plenty who need our focus, and we can do so with God's blessings. (from Ross Lane, Stewardship Board) 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.

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

Virtual Coffee Hour (Zoom) 11 a.m.; Board Chairs Training (Zoom-Email Invite) 12 p.m.; Middle School Youth (FH) 4:30 p.m.; Worship service (Zoom - see details below) 6 p.m.

Monday: Wholeness Prayer Group (Zoom-Email Invite) 10 a.m.; Leadership Council (Zoom-Email Invite) 6 p.m.; Plymouth Ringers Meeting (Zoom-Email Invite) 6:30 p.m. Tuesday: Celtic Spirituality II (Zoom-Email Invite) 9:30 a.m.; Staff Mtg. (Zoom-Email Invite) 10:30 a.m.;

Stephen Ministry Training (Zoom-Email Invite) 1:30 p.m.; New Ministry Team Mtg. (Zoom-Email Invite) 6:30 p.m.; Stewardship Board (Zoom-Email Invite) 7 p.m.

Wednesday: Living Celtic Christianity (Zoom-Email Invite) 8 a.m.; Lenten Book Study: Love is the Way (Zoom-Email Invite) 9 a.m.; Prayer Shawls Ministry (Zoom-Email Invite) 2:30 p.m.; Adult Forum Team Mtg. (Zoom-Email Invite) 6:30 p.m.; Cong. Life Board (Zoom-Email Invite) 7 p.m.; High School Youth Group (FH) 7 p.m.

Thursday: Fellowship for a Cause/N2N (Zoom-Email Invite) 9:30 a.m.; Moderators’ Mtg. (Zoom-Email Invite) 5 p.m.; Lenten Devotional Discussion Group (Zoom- Email Invite) 7 p.m.

Friday: Men’s Discussion Group (Zoom-Email Invite) 9 a.m.; Immigration Meals Delivery Program (parking lot) 2:30 p.m.

Saturday: ISAAC Drive Through - Checks Pick up 11 a.m. Sunday: Adult Forum (plymouthucc.org/adults) 9 a.m.; Worship service (view on Streaming page) 10 a.m.;

Tricia on vacation all week; Virtual Coffee Hour (Zoom) 11 a.m.; Middle School Youth Group (FH) 4:30 p.m.; Worship service (Zoom - see details below) 6 p.m.

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10 a.m. Our Sunday morning recorded service streams in a “premiere” at 10 a.m. and can be viewed either directly on our website at plymouthucc.org/streaming or on the YouTube premiere page (links in Saturday email). After the premiere, the service may be viewed on demand at both places.

6 p.m. Our Sunday evening Zoom service link (which changes each week) will be in the Saturday email, and also posts half an hour before the service at plymouthucc.org/6pm. The recorded Zoom service will be available early in the week at 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. Note: For Sunday morning Prayers of the People, they must be received by 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday for recording.

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 January 2021 Pledge Income: $100,635 January 2021 Budgeted Pledge Income: $66,307 2021 Pledge Income to January 31, 2021: $100,635 2021 Budgeted Pledge Income to January 31, 2021: $66,307 Income January 2021 Income: $115,723 Budgeted Income for January 2021: $77,191 2021 Income to January 31, 2021: $115,723 Budgeted Income to January 31, 2021: $77,191 Expenses January 2021 Expenses: $75,328 Budgeted Expenses for January 2021: $83,789 Expenses through January 31, 2021: $75,328 Budgeted Expenses through January 31, 2021: $83,789 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 While our winter books studies continued into February there are changes coming in Adult Forum at 9:00 a.m. on Zoom.

The Adult Forum is a special Lenten series loosely titled “Haven’t We Been Doing Lent For a Year Now? I’m Tired of Giving Stuff Up!” We will discuss how the themes of Lent, wilderness searching, grief, loss, repentance, looking for God, have been present in the pandemic. Today the Adult Forum Team will lead us in exploring the sixth stage of grief, “making meaning” using the work of grief counselors and specialists, David Kessler and Alan Wolfelt. Then we move on to spiritual practices in this time of pandemic for the remainder of Lent!

Lenten Bible Blog "Bible Study?! Who has time to study the Bible?" If this is your normal reaction to the Bible study, try something new for Lent! As a Lenten practice, read our BRIEF weekly Lenten Bible Blog written by David Petersen, Plymouth member and former moderator, fly fisherman, and distinguished Biblical scholar. plymouthucc.org/lent2021

Lenten Prayer Tree The ancient Hebrews had a prayer wall to tuck their prayers into at the temple. We have a prayer tree! Located at the north door of the building, it is up and ready for

your prayers! There are small prayer cards with our Lenten theme logo, “Again & Again.” You can write your prayers on them, then hang them on the tree. Come by as often as you would like in Lent. Bring the whole family! While your prayers are outside (so don’t put any identifying information on them), we will not read them. They are between you and God!

Children & Youth Formation

Did you open your fourth egg and take out some beads? What do the beads mean? Have your bird coloring page ready for children’s moments.

Middle and high school youth groups will be transitioning back to in-person youth group starting on March 1! Middle schoolers will continue to meet every Sunday from 4:30-6:00 p.m., while High schoolers will meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month from 7-8:30 p.m. We will be meeting either outside on the lawn or in the Fellowship Hall, depending on weather conditions. For more info, contact Alli (alli@plymouthucc.org).

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. Stephen Ministry: Continue to keep our Stephen Minister trainees and Leaders in your prayers as they reach the midpoint of their initial training. This week, they’ll learn about “Confidentiality,” a crucial part of Stephen Ministry. Everything a care receiver tells a Stephen Minister, and even the identity of the care receiver, remains strictly confidential, which helps build a safe environment of trust and acceptance that God can use to bring hope and healing. 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 registered nurse interested in helping folks in the congregation understand their health situation? Please contact Carla@plymouthucc.org.

Plymouth Text Connection: We are adding text messaging as a way to stay connected. We hope you will give it a try. WE NEED YOUR CELL PHONE NUMBER! Go to plymouthucc.org/text! Beginning 3/17/21 we will start testing the texting process, then on alternating weeks will have a fun engagement text, then a wellness check-in the following week. 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.