Getting to Plymouth
Directions
Plymouth is located at 232 East Onondaga Street between Columbus Circle and Warren Street. Note that traffic on this street runs one way, from the Circle to Warren.
You can view details by clicking here for a Google Map.
Where can I park?
There is ample free street parking on the blocks around our church on Sundays, as well as in the lots behind the Catholic diocese building. For those able to walk a short distance, parking here will allow those with mobility impairments or small children to use the spots directly in front of the church.
Accessibility
The church Sanctuary, all gender restrooms, and the meeting room used for forums and serving refreshments are accessible by a ramp from East Onondaga Street. We are committed to making our beautiful old building ever more accessible. For this reason, we recently installed an elevator that has made our lower level meeting and gathering rooms, first floor worship and gathering spaces, and second floor classrooms fully accessible. Hearing assistive devices are available in the back of the Sanctuary, including hearing loops for those with hearing aides with T-coil technology.
What to expect
What can I expect when I come?
We know it can be hard to walk up to a church you’ve never been to before, not knowing what will be on the other side of the doors. We try to make it as easy and welcoming as possible. On East Onondaga Street, you’ll see a set of big red doors (there’s a ramp to them if that’s helpful to you). Most Sundays, our minister will be standing outside to say hi when you arrive. Inside the doors you will be greeted by our greeting team who can help you locate a place to hang your coat, restrooms, nursery, etc. They will direct you to our Sanctuary where you will be welcomed by our ushers who will offer you a bulletin, show you where our hearing assistive devices are if you need them, and assist you with any questions. The worship bulletin has guides on where to find things if you are new to our worshiping community. Most Sundays, services last about an hour. See our Worship page for more on the flavor of our services.
Then What?
After the service is Community Time in Memorial Hall, next door to the Sanctuary. This is a time to hang out, relax, and refuel for the rest of the morning. If you’re a newcomer, be warned: we won’t leave you hanging out alone in the corner; we’ll come talk to you! Coffee and snacks are always provided. Most Sundays, we then gather in that same space for the Plymouth Forum, a presentation by experts on issues of the day. Most weeks all programming winds up at 12:00—just in time for brunch (ask us and we’ll tell you the best places nearby)!
What is there for children and youth?
Most Sundays, children and youth participate in part or all of the main worship service. Children’s worship bulletins, worship activity kits, and books can be found on the worship activity shelf in the back of the Sanctuary. The worship activity kits and children’s bulletins provide quiet but engaging activities for children to connect with the service. Noisy, lively, wiggly kids and babies are welcome in our worship, but we do know that sometimes parents need to get out of the room with their kids for a while, so the sound from the service is piped into Memorial Hall, a room right next door (ask an usher if you need help finding it).
Every Sunday there will be a sign right through the entrance of our big red doors, directing you on what’s in store for your kids that Sunday during worship. Almost every Sunday, kids will be invited to come up front for our Story for All Ages, a mini-sermon given by our Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries, by the minister, or by a church member. After that, all kids will either be invited to the PrayGround at the front, right-hand side of the Sanctuary OR kids through third grade will be invited to head upstairs with our staff and volunteers for Chapel Time, a child-centered worship service. Parents, especially visitors and first-timers, are welcome at the PrayGround and Chapel Time, too! At the PrayGround we do a quiet individual or collaborative activity that connects with the scripture or theme of worship for the day. Children typically return to their seats during the hymn following the sermon. In Chapel Time we pray, sing, and learn the stories of the faith. After worship, kids break out into age-specific classes for a church school experience we call Learning Community. If you need assistance, please ask our greeters or ushers. All of our staff and volunteers are trained in procedures designed to keep kids safe and are carefully background-checked.
The Plymouth nursery is currently closed. However, we have resumed our search for a new head nursery worker. If you or someone you know would be interested in this paid opportunity to work with our infants and toddlers, please contact Tara Sandlin at tsandlin@plymouthsyr.org.
What should I wear?
Worshippers at Plymouth wear a wide variety of clothes to worship. Some of us come in our Sunday best. Others wear more what they would wear to an arts event. Others of us can’t afford a wide array of clothes, and so wear the same clothes we wear during the week. You’ll see people with perfect hair and pearls sitting next to people wearing what they had on when they woke up at the shelter that morning. Whatever clothes help you get into a spirit of praise are perfect; God cares way more about your intentions than about your outfit!