Aside from bodies and brains, God gave us voices — song voices! Our song voices have the power to calm and heal, to assemble and bond, and to prepare and rally us together in common causes. Song voices are not just powerful soothers, assemblers and preparers but also magical instruments; invisible flowing wands. Who can explain getting from Seattle to Olympia in 15 minutes? It felt like that — because we were singing! Who can explain the transformation of a few hundred noisy advocators into attentive quiet listeners, then becoming singers themselves, bound together in “We Are Marching in the Light of God.” Twelve singing kids commanded a group of 300! And when Gov. Gregoire arrived, the serenade (from less ten feet away) was both grounding and a call for particular and unified action.

After singing to the Governor and listening to her words about money, programs and a budget that any grown-up and kid knows doesn’t pencil out, we sang some more  for Kelli Linville (D, Bellingham, Chair of House Ways and Means) and Sen. Debbie Regala (D, Tacoma).

Then we were off to the Republican wing of the Senate and into the Republican caucus room (a place few groups get to go!) to offer our thanks for their hard work. We sang for Sen. Mike Hewitt (R, Walla Walla Senate Minority Leader), Sen. Linda Parlette (R, Wenatchee, Caucus Chair), Sen. Janea Holmquist (R, Moses Lake, Senate Whip) and Republican Caucus staff as well.  We also picked up Sen. Jim Hargrove (D, 24th District, Olympic Peninsula).   He was in the Republican Caucus room talking to one of his colleagues at the time.  He just joined in on the fun and really appreciated it. 

We then went to the Senate Gallery where we watched the floor action for a while. The choir fist bumped, high fived and thanked the security folks. After that we went down to the Governor’s office where the choir got to look at portraits of the previous Governors and the Governor’s conference room. Everybody got Governor-signed pens from Becky at the reception desk. They thanked the state trooper assigned to the office and thanked the Governor’s staff. 

The little “amoeba” (AKA “My Plymouth Kids,” as Robin endearingly called them) kept moving up and down from one corner of the Capitol to the other. They sang to folks and lobbyists in the Rotunda. People passed by remarking they could hear singing from everywhere and how wonderful it sounded. We talked about the size of the chandelier (as big as a VW bus!) and how it kept swaying for days after the Nisqually earthquake. And let’s not forget our parking attendant buddies for whom we sang on the way in; high fives and fist bumps on the way out. 

Did we learn about policy making and government? I don’t know. Did we learn about advocacy and cause? I don’t know. Did we see and feel first-hand the powers and joys of our gifted voices? Yes, indeedy! A tearful and grateful Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen (D, Camano) said it best, “Thank you. Thank you. I was having a really rough day and you all turned it around. You made my day!” And after hugs for each and every singer, she went back to her hard day’s work…humming. I’m sure of it!

—Tom Maul for the Plymouth Children’s Choir

Dean Attridge has made scholarly contributions to New Testament exegesis and to the study of Hellenistic Judaism and the   history of the early Church. His publications include Hebrews: A Commentary on the   Epistle to the Hebrews, First-Century Cynicism in the Epistles of Heraclitus, The Interpretation of Biblical History in the Antiquitates Judaicae of Flavius Josephus, and Nag Hammadi Codex I: The Jung Codex, as well as numerous book chapters and articles in scholarly journals.

He has edited eleven books, most recently, with Margot Fassler, Psalms in Community. He has been an editorial board member of Catholic Biblical Quarterly, the Harvard Theological Review, the Journal of Biblical Literature, and the Hermeneia Commentary Series. He has been active in the Society of Biblical Literature and served as president of the society in 2001.

 
Be part of the growing international campaign as you sign this petition to abolish nuclear weapons!   Members of the Peace Action Group will have petitions available for your signature in the Lounge & at coffee hour on March 21 and 28. 

—Peace Action Group

Many of us recycle and compost at home, and now    Plymouth is participating in Seattle’s commercial      composting program.  Since 2006, Seattle’s commercial compost program has tripled, with over 800 businesses participating (see September 19, 2008, P-I article, http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/379713_organics19.html ).  Plymouth’s goal is to increase what we compost and   recycle so that we can switch from 2 garbage pick-ups a week to one!  Our efforts are supporting Seattle’s goal of recycling 60% of all waste by the year 2012 — significantly reducing the garbage that must be shipped to landfills. 

You may have noticed the compostable hot and cold cups with green bands around the bottom - these can go in the green compost bins instead of the garbage.  When you finish your tea, coffee, or juice, toss the cups with the green bands into the bin with the green liner. We can also toss table scraps and napkins in the compost bins.  However, disposable soup bowls, foil tea bags, and  plastic utensils must go in the garbage bin – the one with the black plastic liner – until we get compostable bowls and utensils.  

We can all help out by tossing only compostable waste into the bins with the green liners.  If garbage (soup bowls, plastic, foil) ends up in the compost bins, it     contaminates the compost so we have to put the compost bags into the garbage dumpster. 

Thanks for your efforts to recycle and compost at Plymouth!

— Cindy Lantry

—Mary Stevens, Children and Youth Board, Chair, with Lauren Cannon, Interim Minister for Faith Formation

Plymouth Moderator's Blog: http://tinyurl.com/yc49jox

Shoen Presentation

The youth share their HUGE thanks to all who participated in Game Night + the Silent Auction Saturday January 30. Pam Van Dalfsen planned a delicious dinner, pulled together by youth with their fearless Kitchen Manager, Eppie Williamson. There were tasty  offerings in the Dessert Dash, games, and over 40 items/services/experiences in the Silent Auction. Over 100  people + kids spread out through Hildebrand Hall for a very fun evening.  Bless Maryann Counts for donating a beautiful mantel clock, won in a raffle by Lora Bennett.  Over $4,000 was raised towards the Heifer mission.  It was such a great time, let’s do it again next year!

Mission Trip Loan Repaid

In March 2009 after several hours of prayerful, thoughtful, respectful listening and discernment, 14 teens from the Youth Forum Ministry decided to extend a loan in the amount of $1205.00 to Olivia Armstrong.  After  using this money to embark on a mission trip to Peru for her senior project, Olivia came back to share her experiences with the rest of the group on their May Washington Coast weekend.  I am pleased to share the loan has been repaid in full.  Thanks to everyone for their part in this new venture.  When I shared the story with Interim Minister Tom Stiers, he suggested next year when there is no mission trip, perhaps five youth can be granted such a loan.  May it be so! 

—Cory Maclay

Our leadership for the Plymouth Men’s Retreat this year — we’re delighted to be able to announce — is coming from our own Interim Sr. Pastor Tom Stiers.  This will be a great chance for all of us to be with and learn from a man of deep wisdom, with one who has provided Plymouth with such loving and skilled leadership over the past year.

The Plymouth Men’s Retreat is coming up soon, so get the date onto your calendars:  March 12 – 14.  The Silent Retreat will run for one day prior, and will be led again by Tom Colwell.  The Silent Retreat will be, starting Thursday, March 11, then closing as the Men’s Retreat begins on Friday.  Sign-ups for either or both retreats will begin for three weeks on Sunday, February 21 and continue on to February 28 and March 7.  Costs are $90.00 per person ($86.00 Sr. 62+) for the Men’s Retreat; $139.00 ($125.50 Sr. 62+) for both retreats; Silent Retreat-only is $53.00 ($51.00 Sr. 62+), covering all meals and lodging.  Scholarship help is always available.

So put the weekend on your calendar, sign up, and come explore with other Men of Plymouth the depths of what makes you you.

—Tom Colwell

Parking for Meetings  When you come to Plymouth for an evening meeting, you may park in the Plymouth garage for free after 4:30 p.m.  If you park in the IBM garage, you will be charged their posted rates.  We no longer have an agreement with them for evening parking.  When you come to Plymouth for a daytime meeting, you may park in the Plymouth garage for $3.00.  Bring your parking ticket to the church office for validation.  There are no special rates in the IBM garage. If your meeting is on a Saturday, the Plymouth garage will be open at least one half hour before the meeting begins.  Parking is free.  The garage gates are closed after the meeting begins.  You need to return to your car via the elevator or stairs to the Plymouth garage.  The sensor at the exit gate will allow you to drive out.

Special Church Events and Saturdays When there are church events scheduled at Plymouth, e.g. a church choir concert, the Plymouth garage will be open for parking.  If the event is on a weekday, parking is free after 4:30 p.m.  Ahead of 4:30 p.m. you pay $3.00.  There are no discounts in the IBM garage.  If the event is on a Saturday, the Plymouth garage will be open at least one half hour before the event begins. Parking is free. The garage gates are closed after the event begins. You need to return to your car via the elevator or stairs to the Plymouth garage.  The sensor at the exit gate will allow you to drive out.

—Wendy Blight