Friends,

 

Plymouth Church’s ministry is to partner with what God’s Spirit is doing in the world for love, justice, and peace. Our world needs to hear good news in the face of oppression, injustice, and exclusion. Everything we do is meant to assist us in persevering in loving our neighbor as ourselves as followers of Jesus.

 

Our worship is a weekly time to remind us who we are and whose we are, that we have inherent value and dignity, as does our neighbor, and even our enemy. It is a space set aside to strengthen us for the week in the midst of a world that often proclaims messages of hate. We pray because we need to be inspired to respond and lift each other up. We sing in the hopes that the Spirit will resonate with us to love and care. We hear concerns, baptize people into the way of faithfulness to God’s vision, reflect on our sacred story, and celebrate at a table where there is enough room for all.

 

We are a learning community. We don’t pretend to have all the answers: all are invited as they are, to grow into who they are yet being invited to become. We seek more light in our study of scripture, faith reflections with one another, practices of discipleship, and connecting our faith with the broader concerns of our world. We find often it is more important to ask the right question than to offer the right answer.

 

We seek to be a people of compassion and community, supporting each other when we are struggling, reaching out to those who are hurting in our world, and offering opportunities to serve and be served as brothers and sisters in faith.

 

If you feel led to share good news of love and justice, to connect with others across differences and walks of life, and to respond to injustice through the power of God’s Spirit made known in Jesus, I invite you to speak with me or any other Plymouth members. If you expect perfection, you will be let down. But if you seek a place to practice your faith with others and partner as best you are able with the Divine, this might be the place for you.

 

Peace,

Rev. Dr. Timothy C. Murphy, Senior Pastor and Teacher