Plymouth United Church of Christ Making a more loving world
	Open and Affirming 2010 Moholt Dr. (Directions) Eau Claire, WI 54703 715-835-5475	Worship at 10:30 am Sunday Fully accessible

What to expect

At Plymouth, we are casual in dress and style, but serious about the Bible's progressive message of justice, peace, and love for all people. We like to say that we are anti-excellence and pro-participation. Don't worry, our worship leaders (including the pastor) make mistakes, too, and so will the people around you. And that's okay!

• Worship begins at 10:30, but we always have helpers in case you arrive late.
• Children are always welcome, and we prefer that adults and children worship together, for we have much to teach each other.
• Dress casually. You will see shorts, Packers jerseys, and camo. You'll also see some ties ad fancy hats.
• Sing loud (we don't care if you're "in tune"), but if you prefer not to sing? Then enjoy the chorus around you. No pressure!
• Participate, and feel free to make mistakes. We do, too. But if you need a space of non-participating, that's okay, too.
• Be yourself. We are a home for saints and sinners, and don't expect anyone to pretend to be someone they aren't.
• Worship lasts about one hour.
• You will not be introduced or singled out, though you will be greeted warmly.
• Do you need to fill out the hospitality card? No, you don't - but if you would like to receive our newsletter, be contacted by the pastor, or have questions, we ask that you do fill it out. And by filling it out, we can send you a thank you note, and the pastor can invite you to enjoy a coffee - but you do not have to accept the invitation.
• You do not need to put anything in the offering plate. You're our guest! (Though if you fill out the hospitality card and put that in the plate, we like that!)
• You are invited to receive/celebrate Communion: we have an open table, believing that since Jesus never turned anyone away, we should not do so, either. But sometimes people choose not to participate, and that's okay, too. Only do what is comfortable for you. If you have more questions, please contact Pastor David at david@pcucc.com.

  More of what you can expect

  We sing old hymns, new hymns, international music, and any songs that have a message of hope and love. We use piano, guitars, brass, violins, flutes, ukeleles, and whatever else someone has handy. You may very well be handed a bit of percussion as you enter the sanctuary, so everyone can play along! We have time for people to pray silently, offer prayer concerns out loud, and pray together for our community and the world. Sometimes we light candles for prayers, taste salt, hand out food, write prayers on paper, wash hands, serve one another bread and wine, dip our hands in the baptismal font, or any number of rituals to use our bodies as well as our minds and hearts. Our worship begins and ends with the message of God's infinite and unbreakable love for all of us, without condition, judgment, or guilt.

  Anything you will be expected to say will be printed in the bulletin. We know that most people don't know all the "Christian language", so we make it easier (and less awkward!) by printing out prayers and hymn texts and other responses. If you get stuck or lost, we will help you out. If you do something "wrong", don't worry - we do, too! Our worship leaders, including Pastor David, have gotten things out of order, played the wrong music, played at the wrong time... no worries! And if you are running late, we will help you find a place to sit and make sure you are comfortable.

  

  Theological things you might not be interested in, but just in case you are...

  An important part of our tradition of the United Church of Christ is that we are non-creedal and non-doctrinal, meaning that we do not require adherance to any specific set of beliefs. Our roots are in the Puritans and Pilgrims, for whom religious freedom recognized that each of us are on unique journeys of belief and faith, and that we gather as a church to be in dialogue about what we believe. We are covenanted to challenge and support one another in our beliefs and our faith journeys. We like to say in the UCC that we have no tests of faith, only testimonies of faith. Membership is not based on acceptance of a belief system, but a desire to join a community that strives together to get closer to God's truth than any of us can do alone, while serving our community with acts of love.

  We invite you to join us on that journey!

  Plymouth's Open And Affirming Statement, our official statement of accepting all people, particularly our LGBT brothers and sisters, but also all people.

  The United Church of Christ Statement of Faith, a beautiful prayer of statements about God (not doctrinal beliefs).
  

  Join Us for Worship

  Sunday morning fellowship (coffee and treats) at 10:00 am and worship at 10:30 am.

  Join us for monthly potlucks and other special events

  See our calendar for a list of upcoming activities. You need not be a church member to join in on any of them!

  Join us as a member of the congregation!

  You need not be an official member of the congregation to participate in anything we do, but we extend the hand of fellowship in this way to anyone who wishes to deepen their faith and become more serious about their journey with Jesus. If you would like to join, please speak with Pastor David! Membership is open to anyone who desires to be part of our church.

  Join us at one of our three outdoor retreat centers/camps!

  We have two outdoor retreat centers in Wisconsin that are usable year-round and which offer summer camps for children and families, as well as special camps for autistic children and family camps for families with autistic children, and family camps for LGBT families. We also offer other programming throughout the year, such a Wild Women Weekend, golfing retreats, gourmet weekends, prayer and spiritual retreats, scrapbooking, quilting, arts and crafts, and weekends designed just for relaxation. The link above will take you to the website of our three camps, Moon Beach near Minoqua, Daycholah Center on Green Lake, and Cedar Valley, NW of Milwaukee in the heart of Washignton County.

  ---

  Plymouth United Church of Christ
  Rev. David J. Huber, Pastor
  2010 Moholt Drive
  Eau Claire, Wisconsin, 54703
  715-835-5475
  
  Menu buttons code by The Site Wizard -->