Caring for Creation meeting and C3 Summit, Sunday March 1st

You are invited to participate in a Congregations Caring for Creation “Summit” on Sunday, March 1.

Plymouth’s Caring for Creation working group invites you to join them for a meeting at Noon on March 1 in the Nancy Baltins Room. Come share a meal, conversation and decide action as a faith community caring for creation. (Dinner is available in the neighboring Lenmark room.)

Also that day, from 2 – 4:30 there will be a “Summit” meeting of the statewide Congregations Caring for Creation. Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer, Justice and Peace Studies professor at the University of St. Thomas and recent candidate for the U. S. Senate, will speak. You are invited to:

• Share visions for the road ahead.
• Discuss how to effectively mobilize individuals and congregations in this crucial decade.
• Come and be energized!
• Come and be the change for which the Creation waits!
  

The gathering will be held at First Universalist Church of Minneapolis, 3400 Dupont Ave., Minneapolis, from 2:00 to 4:30 PM. The conversation will be facilitated by Sarah Strickland, of Cincinnatus, Inc.

Third Sunday Meal volunteers needed for Feb. 15th

Third Sunday Meal needs volunteers for Feb. 15, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Join 30 volunteers to serve a hot meal to our neighbors in Lenmark Dining Room. Sign up through Connie Marty, conniem@plymouth.org

Faith and Prayer at The Whitehouse

There are some really interesting notes on whitehouse.gov blog regarding faith as a basis and motivator to do good in the world and our president wisely notes that faith can bring us together for the common good. I would encourage everyone to check out this post about the National Prayer Breakfast and Pres. Obama's remarks, post comments, and discuss! Here is the post about the new White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, this is very encouraging for the kind of work we do...

Advocacy Training January 25th

Join us for an advocacy training session, Jan. 25, 12:15-2:00 p.m. in the Plymouth Fireside room.

All are welcome to take their activism to the next level by attending training at Plymouth by local organizers on how to be an effective messenger on social justice legislation. We'll learn effective techniques and strategies to get our voices heard in the political arena.

Then take your training and message to your legislators at the State Capitol on Feb. 3 for the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition Day on the Hill. You'll be among thousands of faith-based activists speaking out on social justice issues. Register at www.jrlc.org

Join these Advocacy events and plug into a network of people transforming our community. Plymouth Advocacy links our faith with action by organizing for the common good. We're non-partisan, seeing furthering justice as a realization of the Kingdom of God.

Outreach Board Retreat

This past weekend the Outreach Board held a retreat focused around the purpose of Outreach and some strategic planning for the board. We reflected on why we particpate in outreach and what is means to us, why Plymouth is such a strong vehicle for outreach. We then looked at some strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats and focused on some issues. We then came up with some actions and resources needed to address key issues. All of this will information will be put together and we will have a vision for the future of the Outreach Board. We will continue to post on this vision as it comes into focus.

Got campaign withdrawl? Is your inner activist craving action? Explore activism at Plymouth!

What is your burning concern for your community today? Clean water? Access to health care? Education? Host a letter writing table at Plymouth and invite folks in Guild Hall. Ask people to Take Five minutes to be a voice for justice in your area of concern. For all the steps needed to host a Take Five letter writing table, find the "Take Five Steps for Success" tips here.

On Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 5:30PM the Plymouth advocacy working group meets over dinner to consider what is possible for faith-based, grassroots organizing at Plymouth. Hear about Day on the Hill when faith communities advocate legislation to policy makers. Brainstorm for a Coffee and Conversation series on activism and policy shaping. What ideas do you have? Join us! Email stephanieowenlyons@gmail.com for more information.

Simpson Men’s Shelter Dinner -November 13, 2008

We had a great group of 12 volunteers to prepare and serve the dinner. A few of us arrived by 5pm so we could get the lasagna in the oven. By 6 o'clock a large group from Rosemount United Methodist Church arrived to also serve dinner. It was totally our fault for not confirming the date and time with the Simspon coordinator.

After a short time negotiating in a very friendly manner... thanks to all of our volunteers... we were able to come to a solution. They left some of the food, took some back, and donated some to Plymouth for the Third Sunday Meal. I have since sent an apology and offered to help them when they reschedule. They responded kindly to say they appreciated our offer but had pletny of volunteers.

Menu
Lasagna with meat
Baguette Bread and butter
Salad with Salami, olives, cheese, etc.
Apple pie with ice cream
(We scooped the ice cream into small paper cups, placed them on trays put them in freezer)
Apple juice - we heated it and made a hot cider (not much was used)
Milk
Bags of oranges for the following morning's breakfast
Macaroni and Cheese from Rosemount Methodist
Bars and Cookies from Rosemount

Our budget was $574. We spent a total of $425.46

Clean up took longer than expected, as the dishwasher was not operating properly. So, thanks to the hearty group who stayed until the end to get it all clean and put away. I think a lot of the groups use disposable plates, etc. We had about 2 pans of extra lasagna and a couple of extra pies. We left the remaining food and I was told it was put to good use.

I welcome any feedback as to how this event could be improved upon.

--Sandy Klapperich