WHO is Welcome?
YOU are welcome here at Plymouth Church: No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey: Married, single, partnered, or divorced. Young or old. Straight, gay, trans, bi, or undecided. Rich or poor. Wise or foolish. Clean record or adjudicated. Conservative or lefty. Natural-born citizen or undocumented immigrant. Ambulatory or wheelchair racer. Full of belief or full of doubt. All are welcome!
We have said these words before eating Communion: “Gathered with Jesus that night were one who would doubt him, one who would deny him, and one who would betray him, and they would all leave him alone before the night was over. And he knew it. Still he sat down and ate with them. If he was ready to eat with them, he’s ready to eat with you: baptized or not, confessed or not, perfect or not, sure or not, saint or sinner or a little of both—all you have to be at this table is hungry.”
If you’re hungry—or even just a bit peckish—we hope you’ll join us!
WHEN is Worship?
We worship together every Sunday at 10am, usually in our beautiful sanctuary, occasionally in another space in the building, outdoors in the garden on “the point,” or at a local park.
WHAT is Worship Like?
Our worship is explicitly Christian, but we welcome the insights and leaders of other religions to broaden our thinking and bring us closer to God, and there is no test of belief to worship with us; believers, questioning believers, and disbelievers are all welcome.
Plymouth’s worship is designed to be a mix of traditional and modern, expected and unexpected. At the beginning of each service, worshipers on-site receive a paper bulletin to guide them through the service; a link to the bulletin is provided for on-line worshipers. From week to week, the structure of the service is designed to remain comfortingly similar, a rhythm of spoken word and music. It moves from welcome, through confession and assurance, through a children’s sermon, through Bible reading(s) and sermon, through community prayers, then an offering, and finally sending back into the world.
Most weeks, music is led by our large vocal choir, accompanied by piano or our 3000-pipe Moller organ, timpani, drum kit, and occasionally other instruments. We also have a handbell choir that plays periodically. Most of our music comes from the Western European tradition of church music, but it’s not at all uncommon to hear Dixieland jazz, spirituals, music from other cultures, or popular music that speaks to the week’s theme.
On the first Sunday of each month, we share Communion together.
Children are welcome at all our worship services! See our Christian Formation page to learn more.
