Important Dates
July 15 Youth Frisbee Golf Outing 5:30 pm
July 21 Board Meeting 7 pm - RescheduledJuly 22 Midsummer Night’s Gathering 7 pm - St. Edward the Confessor
July 24 Scrapbooking 7 pm
Calling All Gardeners! (and any who just like dirt…)
We had a Mission Gathering in May, and a few people hung around after church to chat about the church’s mission activities, make decisions about the future, and discern further God’s vision for our work together. It was a wonderful meeting, and we have an idea to float your way…
One of our church’s untapped blessings is the land around us, and I continue to hope along with many of you that God will lead us to know how best to use that for God’s greater good. Perhaps, in time, we will be called to develop that property with larger facilities to accommodate numerical growth. Until then, it remains an attractive lawn where child-care children and others can run and play on occasion, but otherwise sits dormant. Well, in last month’s Board Meeting, I asked the church to share a goal and vision with me for the upcoming fall- Community Outreach and Hospitality to Families. Let’s use this summer to prepare to redouble our efforts in autumn to let our neighborhood know that Plymouth Creek is a church that loves its neighbors and their families. As we do that, we should consider what resources we have already, and how we might use those more effectively.
Which is where mission and gardeners come in. What would you say to opening up some of our property to a Community Garden, starting Spring 2010? The idea is simple- we invite our neighbors to till and plant some veggies and flowers on our land, providing a safe outlet for families to work outdoors, while also growing food for people in need. You might want to do some planting, or help manage the garden. Or perhaps you might just enjoy another opportunity to meet your neighbors, while serving their wants and needs.
Can we do this? I don’t know, but it’s worth a conversation. There’s a lot to consider; soil conditions, community outreach, city restrictions, capitol investment, tending the garden, etc. So that’s where I need your expertise. Some of you know much already about gardens, and we all could use your wisdom in thinking this through. Some of you may be more like me, intrigued about learning a new task, but uncertain how exactly to do this gardening stuff. So will you do me a favor? Tear off the bottom of this sheet, if you’re interested, and put it in the collection plate during the offering time (or just return it to the church office). I’ll gather all the responses and be touch for a conversation about community gardening. Is this a way you think you can help serve your neighbors and build bridges into our community? If so, I’ll look forward to a conversation soon, and perhaps even sharing a shovel!
If you are interested in discussing a Plymouth Creek Community Garden, please contact Pastor Shane at pastor@plymouthcreek.org or 763-559-1469.
A Table Before Me: God's Open-Armed AdventureCome Join the Adventure!
2009 Adventure in Mission– TABLE HOSPITALITY
Every month will include a different focus; every quarter will bring a new activity; every season will provide more challenge to increase your understanding of Mission, deepen your commitment to Mission, develop your capacity for Mission stewardship.
July Mission Focus: Unbinding the Gospel
Youth, Food and Frisbee Golf!
Along with Plymouth Presbyterian and St. Edwards the Confessor, Plymouth Creek youth are invited to a cookout and Frisbee golf outing on July 15th, from 5:30-7:30 PM. We will meet up at Parker's Lake Park, do some grilling, meet some new folk from other churches, and then go toss 'the bee' around a bit. The churches will provide meat and food for grilling (Pastor Shane will probably be wearing an apron!); please plan to bring a side dish or some drinks, as well as a Frisbee to 'golf' with. If you're planning to come, let us know what you're bringing. And if you have any questions, or need to arrange a ride to and from, call Pastor Shane.
Vacation Bible School
August 7-9
This year our VBS theme will be “Hunger No More”. The children will discuss the issue of hunger throughout the world and what we can do to combat it. The weekend will include a mission trip to Feed My Starving Children on Sat. August 9 for children in 3rd grade or above. For more information or to register, please go to
pccc.pbworks.com/Vacation-Bible-School-2009, look for materials in the Narthex, or call the church office to have a registration form mailed to you.
Sing with the choir this summer!
The choir will be performing songs throughout the summer in addition to solo performances. Anyone who can make the rehearsal and the scheduled Sunday is welcome to participate. Rehearsals will take place after worship on the Sunday prior to the performance. The first rehearsal will be on July 19 for the July 26 service.
Food Packaging Event
Saturday Aug. 8
11:30 AM -1:30 PM
Come join our VBS youth at this FMSC event. We have 24 spots to fill so we need you! If you will be able to attend, please sign-up on the sheet in the narthex or contact the church office at secretary@plymouthcreek.org or 763-559-1469
Good News!
Minnesota FoodShare’s 2009 March Campaign Exceeds Goal and Raises 33 Percent More than 2008 Campaign
The results are in! The Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign raised 12,020,197 pounds of food and dollars combined. This is over 2 million more than the 2009 goal and a 33 percent increase over the total raised in 2008. The March Campaign is the largest food drive in the state and unique event because 100 percent of the 4.6 million pounds of food and 7.4 million dollars the Campaign raised will go directly to Minnesota food shelves.
“The results are especially exciting given our current economic climate,” said Sue Kainz, Minnesota FoodShare’s March Campaign coordinator, “The March Campaign began in response to the tough economic times of the early 1980’s and it has continued to grow. As more Minnesotans turn to their local food shelves for support, more of their neighbors are giving what they can to help.”
This year cash donations made up 62 percent of the campaign total. This is especially meaningful because due to their access to discount product and programs, food shelves can stretch each dollar donated into approximately four pounds of food. After doing the math, that means the campaign will achieve in 34.3 million pounds, nearly two-thirds of the total food distributed by Minnesota food shelves annually.
Kainz reminds us that although the March Campaign was a great success, food shelves need support year-round, especially during the lean summer months when donations are down and need is up because hungry children do not have access to school lunch programs.
For more information about the March Campaign, please visit www.gmcc.org/foodshare/marchcampaign. Minnesota FoodShare is a program of the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches (GMCC) which operates a family of social service programs and recruits support across denominational lines to help Minnesota families living in poverty. GMCC unites people of faith to serve people in need.
IOCP's Earl Cup Golf Tournament August 6
Sign up now (www.iocp.org) for Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners' Earl Cup Golf Tournament at Baker National Golf Course on Thursday, August 6. Enjoy playing 18 holes on a beautiful course, a great picnic dinner, awards, prizes, and live auction. $150/golfer; $600/foursome. Corporate sponsorships available (contact Nancy Holden—nholden@iocp.org or 952-288-2570).
Registration and putting contest begin at 10:30 a.m., tee off at 11:30 a.m. Host sponsor: Anchor Bank. Proceeds support the work of Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners.
Save the Date!
2009 School for Congregational Learning
August 29, 2009
Spirit
Past, Present, & Future
Valley Southwoods Freshman High School,
West Des Moines, Iowa
Inspiring Worship
Intuitive Keynote Speaker – Rev. Dr. Richard Hamm Executive Administrator, Christian Churches Together
Insightful Celebration
Invigorating Workshops (Including one led by Pastor Shane)
~Friday August 28th Kickoff~
6:00 PM Picnic ~West Des Moines Christian Church
Reenactment ~ Signing of the Declaration & Address
by Rev. John Bolen
Unbinding the Gospel Update
A few months back, the congregation voted to explore the Unbinding the Gospel process that Rev. Isaac and the Board laid out in a series of meetings and newsletter articles. The purpose was to encourage the congregation to learn together, understanding more deeply and courageously the topics of faith sharing and prayer. It’s an exciting idea, and we look forward to where God will lead us in that venture. Since that vote, it has become clear that the timeline proposed to the church was a bit too ambitious, given current demands on people’s time and the plans we’d made already regarding this year of “Open-Armed Adventure.” So we’ve listened to people’s ideas and concerns, prayed for clearer discernment, and have come to a new conclusion about a more empowering ‘way forward.’
This Summer, beginning on July 12th, Rev. Isaac will lead an Adult Sunday School on the book Unbinding the Gospel. Through July and August, we invite people who are intrigued by the study to join us as we read and reflect together. This is similar to our previous proposal, but with two significant changes. 1) If you chose to join us this summer, we are not asking that you commit to leading another small group sometime in the future. We are still looking forward to a congregation-wide study of these resources (perhaps next Lent), but we’ve learned that some are hesitant about committing to leadership at this time. We don’t want that, however, to get in the way of your experiencing some good fruits, so come just prepared to learn and to share. 2) Because the timing of the study and our current situation, we feel it would be unwise to force a congregation-wide study before we’re ready. So we will not plan for a Fall E-vent, but that doesn’t mean we’re not going forward. Instead, we want to take a little more time for the ideas to sink in and work their way through the congregation, and be carefully attentive to the reality of who we are at this time. Look for further announcements as the process moves forward, in a more organic fashion.
So what do you think? Will you attend Summer School, and open yourself to learning more about your faith, and sharing that faith? Living in deeper intimacy with God through prayer? If you can’t make every session because of summer schedules, that’s just fine, don’t let that stop you. Because this could very well be an unforgettable summer adventure!
2009 Honeywell Concert Band Schedule
Jeremae Francis, Director
Jul. 26 – Sun. 7 PM – Centennial Lakes, 7701 France Ave. S, Edina, MN
Aug. 9 – Sun. 7 PM – Como Park Pavilion, St. Paul, MN
Aug. 11 – Tue. 7:30 PM – Lake Harriet Band Shell, 4135 W. Lake Harriet Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN
Pastor's Pen -
Click here to read Pastor Shane's latest letter
You Are All Invited! 
