Rev. Dr. David C. Fisher
Senior Minister

75 Hicks Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
TEL: 718-624-4743
info@plymouthchurch.org

Editor: Ann Geismar

This Week & Next at Plymouth

Plymouth hosts other events for the community including weekly AA and DA meetings. Please visit our Calendar of Events or call the Church Office for schedule information.

End-of-Summer eBulletin Schedule

This week's eBulletin is a double issue covering the period from August 26 to September 12. The next eBulletin will be published Thursday, September 9. Please send your next submissions to Ann Geismar, Director of Communications, by 12:00 noon on the 9th.

Notes from the VBC Rainforest

This is the week that Plymouth Church turned into a living jungle, and not just because of the happy buzz of children. Vacation Bible Camp and its "SonQuest Rainforest" program moved in for five days beginning Monday, August 23, bringing with it a forest of giant vines and tropical artwork.

Some 75 DiscoveryLand children joined VBC this week. The majority of them -- the youngest campers -- have stayed on-site for a special curriculum that combines tropical adventure and nature discovery with lessons from the Bible. Each morning the various "tribes" assemble -- the Toucans, Butterflies, Spider Monkeys, Dart Frogs, Lemurs and Fossas (a cat-like mammal from Madagascar, in case you didn't know) -- and begin exploring the Plymouth jungle. To the sound of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" as well as more traditional DiscoveryLand songs, campers keep busy with projects like creating tropical creatures from paper bowls in Hillis Hall and playing leapfrog in Beecher Garden.

As it so happens, this year's rainforest theme hits closer to home than one might suppose. VBC Director Julia Rassmann notes that DiscoveryLand's on-going projects to raise money for the Mission School of Hope in Cameroon now have special meaning. Because the Mission School serves a population that has been displaced by the loss of native rainforest, even our youngest children have gained an understanding of why we need to care for God's creation and our neighbors.

As the jungle took root within Plymouth, older tween campers traveled on special adventures outside our doors, visiting Alley Pond Environmental Center, the Queens Hall of Science and Flushing Meadows Pitch & Putt. Weather permitting, a trip to Governor's Island is also in the works.

Many Plymouth volunteers have helped make this year's VBC a success, including volunteer coordinators Kirsten Loreen and Julie Veto, marketplace mastermind Starr McFerrin-Clancy and Children's Christian Education Chair Tania Kleckner. Here's a shout-out, as well, to James Koster for the awesome mural in the Gym and Tom Bettridge for his photographs, including the snapshot shown here. And of course VBC would never have reached the rainforest and beyond without the time and talent of our Plymouth teachers and helpers. Thank you!

VBC Families: The celebration continues this evening: Kids and parents are invited to the VBC BBQ beginning at 6:30 in the Playground (enter at 75 Hicks). Hot dogs, hamburgers and drinks will be provided; potluck sides, salads and/or desserts are appreciated. 

Welcome Back to Plymouth on Kick-off Sunday

On Sunday, September 12, Plymouth welcomes a new church year and the return of many members and friends from their summer vacations. It's also the return of the 11:00 worship schedule as well as something brand new worth celebrating: the arrival of our Assistant Minister, Al Bunis.

Please plan to join us at this special Kick-Off. After the 11:00 service, we'll gather in Beecher Garden four our annual barbecue picnic. Along with good food and fellowship, there will be information on new programs, including the Fall 2010 ACE schedule. Parents should also make a note that this is the day when registration for the MFC Children's Programs and Children's Choirs begin.

Mark the date, and stay tuned for future announcements on potluck and RSVP requests. Until then, a happy end-of-summer!

The Children's Choir Program for 2010-11

Plymouth's music program for young children is preparing a new year of fun and learning. Children age 3 through 7th Grade are encouraged to join the choir program led by Minister of Music Bruce Oelschlager. Here's more information about the three choirs and their schedules. Please note that registration begins on Kick-off Sunday, September 12. Questions? Please pick up a new brochure at the church or contact Bruce Oelschlager at the Church Office.

Cherub Choir
Age 3 through Kindergarten
Rehearses Thursdays, 3:30-4:00 p.m. beginning September 23

Junior Choir
Grades 1 & 2
Rehearses Sundays, 12:30-1:00 p.m. beginning September 19

Pilgrim Choir
Grades 2-7
Rehearses Thursdays, 4:30-5:30 p.m. beginning September 23

This Sunday & Next at Plymouth

The Sunday 8/29 service will be held at 10:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary. Assistant Minister Al Bunis will be preaching.

The Sunday 9/5 service will be held at 10:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary. The Rev. David C. Fisher will be preaching.

DiscoveryLand Moves to the Playground: DiscoveryLand classes will be on hiatus through Sunday, September 5. After the children's sermon, children may stay with their families or be dismissed to the Playground for supervised play. The Nursery will continue its regular summer schedule in the Blue Room on the 2nd Floor of the Church House.

Food Drive Collection for the Flatbush-Tomkins Congregational Church Food Pantry continues through Sunday, September 5. Foods needed include canned meat, fish, poultry,  beans, canned vegetables and fruits, rice or pasta, and soups. There are collection boxes located in the narthex of the sanctuary and in the Church House lobby.

Plymouth Tour at 11:30: The History Ministry offers free tours every Sunday after the worship service. Those interested are invited to gather at the Lincoln pew (no. 89) in the Sanctuary at 11:30. Questions? Please contact Director of History Ministry Services Lois Rosebrooks at the Church Office.

As always... Large-Print Versions of the Order of Worship are available at every worship service. Please ask one of the ushers for a copy. Don’t forget to wear your Nametags at Fellowship. And keep in mind that Parking Validation Stickers to cover up to three hours at the Central Parking Systems garage (75 Henry Street at Orange Street) are available. Please ask an usher for assistance. 

On the Plymouth Calendar

Kick-Off Sunday Arrives September 12: This is also the Sunday to welcome our new Assistant Minister and register for kids' programs. See details above.

Weekday Programs Return from Summer Hiatus: After Labor Day weekend, Plymouth welcomes the return of many of our regular programs, including the Women's Bible Group on Wednesday, September 8, and the Plymouth Choir on Thursday, September 9. Eager to make sure your group's schedule gets on the calendar? Please contact Faten Labib (c/o Amy Talcott's email address) and Ann Geismar with your updates.

Church Announcements

Registration for Weekday Children's Programs Begins on Kick-Off Sunday: The Ministry to Families and Children has announced the Fall 2010 schedule of our popular weekday programs. Registration begins on Kick-off Sunday, September 12 (via email and phone September 13). Please note that class size is limited, and registration priority is given to children of church members. Questions? Pick up a detailed flyer at the church, or contact Julia Rassmann, MFC Director, at the Church Office.

Mini Explorers
For ages 12 - 24 months
Tuesdays at 9:30-11:00
One Session (10 weeks) from 9/21 - 12/7

Little Explorers
For ages 24 - 36 months
Mondays and Wednesdays at 9:30-11:00
Two Sessions (10 weeks each) from 9/20-12/6 and 9/22-12/1

Buildings in the Bible
For children Grades K&1 and 5&6
Grades K&1: Mondays at 3:30-5:00
Grades 5&6: Thursdays at 3:30-5:00
One Session each group (10 weeks): 9/20-12/6 and 9/23-12/2)

Help Keep Plymouth Safe: After an incident last Sunday when a wallet was stolen by an outside visitor who entered through the Sanctuary after worship, we'd like to remind everyone A) to keep your personal belongings with you, and B) to carefully close the Sanctuary doors behind you. If you choose to exit through the Sanctuary after the ushers have closed the doors, please stop and check the latch to make sure it has locked. Thank you!

Brooklyn Heights Synagogue in Residence 9/8 & 9/9: We welcome our neighbors from the Brooklyn Heights Synagogue to Plymouth for their annual Rosh Hashanah services. Services will be held in the Sanctuary on Wednesday evening, September 8, and during the day on Thursday, September 9. Many church spaces will be in use, including Hillis Hall, the Gymnasium, Reception Room, Music Room and classrooms. The synagogue's Yom Kippur services continue Friday 9/17 & Saturday 9/18. If you have any questions about room access, please contact Faten Labib c/o Amy Talcott's email address at the Church Office.

Reception Room Closed for Floor Refinishing: Work is continuing on the hardwood floors in the Reception Room. The room is scheduled to be closed through the month of August. All meetings scheduled for the Reception Room have been moved; please contact the Church Office if you have any questions. 

Rev. David Fisher on Sabbatical in August: Please note that Rev. Fisher is on sabbatical this month, returning to the pulpit on September 5. Al Bunis, our newly appointed Assistant Minister, will be filling in on Sundays and offering limited pastoral care to those in need. Please call the office to reach him.

Amy Talcott on Leave: Amy Talcott, our Assistant Administrator and Events Coordinator, is on personal leave through mid-September. During her absence, Faten Labib will be filling in. She will be picking up email through Amy's email address; feel free to contact Faten for items  you would direct to Amy (scheduling, room requests, rentals, etc.). To help us double-check requests during this time, please send your summertime communications to both Ann Geismar and Amy Talcott.

Jacque Jones to be a Presenter at Final Grace Church Hymn Sing: Grace Church's beloved August Hymn Sing tradition, now in its 6th year, invites the Brooklyn Heights community to come together to sing familiar as well as unfamiliar hymns. Led by Paul Richard Olson, organist and choirmaster at Grace, the Hymn Sings have been held every Tuesday of August; the final meeting is this Tuesday, August 31, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Grace Church, 254 Hicks Street. Of particular interest to Plymouth is the presentation by our own Jacque Jones, offering some thoughts on contemporary hymnody. Grace Hymn Sings are free, air-conditioned (!) and open to the public.

To contact a member of the Plymouth Church Staff, please visit the Staff Directory on our web site.

The Plymouth eBulletin is published weekly. The submission deadline is Thursday at 12:00 noon. Please submit your news items and photographs to Ann Geismar, Director of Communications.

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