December 2009

Thy Word will once again be heading up collection and distribution of toys for the Toys for Tots program.

We are in need of donations and people to help distribute. A particular need is for the 14-16 year old age group. Last year, some children in that age group did not receive gifts because of a shortage of items.

If you would like to donate, bring new unwrapped items to church by December 13. Toy distribution will take place on December 19 from 8am - 4 pm.

Please contact Al Johnson if you would like to help distribute, or for more information.

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November 2009

Plymouth Creek Christian Church will once again be hosting a sleep out to support IOCP’s efforts to combat homelessness in our area.

We will be sleeping out on November 14th.

We will again gather on the north lawn of the church in our tents, boxes, and cars. Or bring a bedroll and sleep on the floor inside (many people stay with a friend when they lose their housing).

We will have breakfast together before Sunday School

If you would like to make an online donation in support of this year’s sleep out, visit iocp.ejoinme.org/140

Read more!

Crop Walk

CROP Hunger Walk

What is a CROP Hunger Walk?

Neighbors walking together to take a stand against hunger in our world. Together we raise awareness funds for international relief and development, as well as local hunger-fighting.

This year IOCP will receive 6.25 of the NW Suburbs total earnings to help in the local community.

In addition to raising funds, this year’s walkers and congregations are encouraged to bring canned goods to the walk. PCCC has been asked to donate soup for IOCP

The NW Suburbs walk will be held on October 11. If you would like to sponsor a walker, checks made out to CWS/CROP may be given to the walker of your choice. To make an online donation, follow the link on the PCCC website (www.plymouthcreek.org).


Children at Risk
• In developing countries nearly 16 million children die every year from preventable and treatable causes. Sixty percent of these deaths are from hunger and malnutrition.
• The World Health Organization estimates that there are 178 million children who are malnourished across the globe.
• A child born in a developing country is over 13 times more likely to die within the first five years of life than a child born in an industrialized country.
• Ninety percent of the world’s undernourished children live in just 36 countries. Intensified nutrition action in these nations can still lead to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal of halving severe hunger.

Hunger: Facts and Faces
Hunger Progress and Distress
• In September 2000, 189 countries, including the United States, endorsed the Millennium Development Goals to cut in half the percentage of people living in extreme poverty and substantially improve health and education in impoverished countries by 2015.
• In 19 developing countries, the number of hungry has dropped by 80 million over ten years.
• However, higher food prices are likely to push 100 million deeper into poverty.
• Over 923 million people around the world remain hungry – more than the population of the western hemisphere.
• Most of these people are not victims of famine, but suffer from chronic hunger and malnutrition that stunts growth and saps energy and potential.
• Every day, more than 16,000 children die from hunger-related causes – about one child every five seconds.
• 1.4 billion people live below the international poverty line, earning less than $1.25 a day.

What is poverty? To come home and see your children go hungry and not have anything to give them.
Brazil

CWS – Walking With the World for Sixty Years!
• Founded in 1946, Church World Service stands with impoverished peoples around the world as they envision and fashion a better future.
• Last year CROP Hunger Walks and events raised over $17 million to support the hunger-fighting work of Church World Service around the block and around the world.
• With those resources, wells, seeds, tools, and literacy training were provided to African farmers — who are mostly women.
• Emergency medical supplies for flood victims in the United States, health services and safe water for the displaced in Darfur, and vocational training for indigenous communities in Latin America – these are only a few of the ways you are making a difference through your CROP Hunger Walk. Thank you!

If we can conquer space, we can conquer childhood hunger.
Buzz Aldren

The CROP Hunger Walk is a wonderful gathering of people coming from different faiths to work for a common cause – fighting hunger.
Susan Davis, coordinator, Akron CROP Hunger Walk

Sources: Bread for the World; Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); U.N. Development Program; World Health Organization

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September 2009

Disciples of Christ Coffee Project




The Disciples of Christ Coffee Project, a partnership between the Disciples Home Missions, Week of Compassion and Equal Exchange, is a way for your congregation to join hands with small farmer communities across the world. You can put your faith into action by using fairly traded coffee, tea, chocolate and snacks in your congregation and by learning about how our consumer choices impact the global community. Through the Project farmers receive fair prices for their crops, affordable credit and long term trade relationships with a trading partner they can trust, Equal Exchange. In addition, for every pound of fairly traded products Disciples order through the Project, Equal Exchange makes a donation to the Disciples Hunger Relief and Food Security Fund.

Disciples Home Missions, a General Ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), is the enabling and coordinating division of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in congregational program and mission in North America. DHM's priorities include leader development, congregational transformation, faith formation and Christian vocations.

Week of Compassion is the relief, refugee and development ministry fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the US and Canada. WOC helps North American Disciples contribute to relief and development efforts world wide. WOC also encourages and supports volunteer groups in "hands-on" mission and service opportunities in North America and abroad.

Starting in September, coffee purchased through the DOC Coffee Project will be available for members and guests in our
welcome center. Read more!

August 2009

In conjunction with this year’s Vacation Bible School, our Mission of the Month will be “Hunger No More”. We will hold two events this month in an effort to combat hunger locally and globally. The first will be a food packaging event at Feed My Starving Children (information and directions on previous page). The second will be collection of food and money for the IOCP foodshelf on August 9. Please join us in these hunger fighting efforts. Read more!

July 2009

Unbinding the Gospel

We’ve heard about this for some time now. It’s time to get going! On July 12th, Pastor Shane will lead a book study for Unbinding the Gospel, and wants YOU to participate, even if you’re in and out during July and August.

But that’s not all that we’re doing with this resource during July. We want the church, as a whole, to reflect and experience an aspect of Christian Mission that doesn’t often come up in Disciples churches: Faith Sharing. I would say, “Evangelism,” but I don’t think that word communicates clearly what our Mission-of-the-Month is about. Faith Sharing isn’t about ‘converting the godless’ or ‘winning people for Christ,’ which is often what folk mean by Evangelism. The emphasis shifts when you speak of ‘faith sharing’; it becomes a matter of what you do, not what response you receive.

Did you catch the difference? Simply put, you can share your faith with everyone, regardless their faith tradition, as long as you’re being true to yourself, your God and your Christian duty to love your neighbor. And there need not be any agenda behind sharing you faith. It’s worth sharing for sharing’s sake. And you may not even say the word, “Jesus,” because faith is a matter of trust in God that is always bigger and more than what we believe. Is your neighbor frightened that they can’t pay the bills, so you cook dinner for them and their kids? That’s sharing your faith. Does a person next to you on the plane seem anxious to tell her story and have someone listen, so you put down your book and try making a human connection? That’s sharing you faith. Does your adult child call one night desperate to share his concern for

your well-being, or for his own future, so you listen and say, “Thank you,” and tell him you’re glad for the love and respect you’ve developed? That’s sharing your faith too.

In fact, to make this Mission-of-the-Month about more than a group of people studying a book in the library, we’re opening things up wide. During July, outside the Sanctuary on the Welcome Center table/desk, we will place a “Suggestion Box,” expect the title will be “Sharing Faith.” When you come to church, Pastor Shane will ask every person every week to write a little description of something they are doing, have done or plan to do that involves ‘sharing faith’ in a unique and authentic way. And every week, Pastor Shane will lift some of those ideas up in prayer during service, and in the weekly bulletin. Next month, an entire column in the Creeksider will be devoted to sharing Plymouth Creek’s ideas of ‘Sharing Faith,’ so that

the creativity, courage and compassion of our fellow churchgoers can be displayed fully. If you don’t come to church, but think of something good, PLEASE CALL (763-458-1578) or EMAIL

(pastor@plymouthcreek.org). What happens when Christians share their faith? We’ll find out next month, I guess. But it probably looks a lot like life-transforming love…

Read more!

June 2009

Scholarship Fund for Guatemalan Children

Some of you may remember when Tom J., former PCCC Intern and current pastor of Garden City Christian Church, went on mission trips to Guatemala. Upon his return, Tom told us of families living in garbage dumps and children that couldn’t afford to go to school. Since that time, Plymouth Creek has given to a Guatemalan Scholarship Fund on several occasions. The pennies that are collected in the water jug outside the office go to this fund. This month we are focusing on the scholarship fund. Monies collected go to help by school supplies and items necessary for Guatemalan children to attend school. If you would like to contribute, please send a check made out to PCCC with “Guatemalan Fund” on the memo line to the church office or include it with your regular collection during worship service. Thank you in advance for your generosity. Your gifts will help children who would otherwise not have the opportunity to receive an education.

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May 2009

Disciples Mission Fund builds a foundation enabling Disciples to globally share the good news of Jesus Christ. This common fund allows the Disciples to pool their resources accomplishing a greater ministry. One congregation could not achieve this alone. Disciples Mission Fund allows a process of whole church stewardship supporting God-given missions at home and world-wide. They live their theological understanding of Christ's prayer "that they all may be one." As a faithful growing church, Disciples demonstrate true sense of community, deep Christian spirituality and a passion for justice.

What is the Disciples Mission Fund?

Disciples Mission Fund is the Disciples church-wide offering that supports local, regional and general ministry efforts as Disciples reach out in shared mission "from our doorsteps to the ends of the Earth." Historically, the Disciples have achieved greater efficiencies and critical presence through a "one-fund" ministry that proclaims Christ presence within the United States and Canada, and around the world. Once known as "Basic Mission Finance," Disciples Mission Fund today supports a wide array of ministries as Disciples reach out in witness and mission.

Why should our congregation participate in Disciples Mission Fund?

Through Disciples Mission Fund, we equip congregations to reach people in our neighborhoods and around the world with the story of Christ's saving message and ministry. For example: Disciples Mission Fund strengthens our congregational leaders. At our summer church camps, our children solidify their relationship to God and the church. Life-changing programs like Women-to-Women expose our Disciples women to the life experiences of women in settings around the world. Regional ministries train our lay persons, support spiritual and educational development of our clergy, and assist our congregations during periods of pastoral transition. Disciples Mission Fund helps send Disciples on mission trips that not only help those we serve, but that often change the lives of the Disciples who participate. Disciples Mission Fund makes it possible for our students to receive a quality college or seminary education and to be nurtured as community leaders. Our gifts support Disciples conversations within the worldwide faith

community as religious groups strive together to testify to God's hope, love and peace. Disciples Mission Fund strengthens congregations for all-church outreach efforts. Through Disciples Mission Fund, we support evangelism and new church ministry as we reach out in places where our existing congregations have no witness. We provide care and assistance to developmentally challenged individuals. We offer support for volunteers who provide hands-on support for those recovering from disaster; we provide practical and life-giving assistance for communities at home and abroad, like help in digging a well, educating children, providing medicines and teaching peace. Disciples Mission Fund helps change lives in the name of Jesus Christ. In short, Disciples Mission Fund helps strengthen congregations for faithful, effective and innovative ministry in today's changing world.

How is Disciples Mission Fund distributed?

Our gifts to Disciples Mission Fund are shared between the Office of General Minister and President, offices for ethnic faith communities, general ministries, regional ministries, and higher education institutions of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) as those institutions provide ministry to strengthen our congregations for ministry. 7% of the offering goes to Office and General Minister and President, which houses our "head of communion," the General Minister

and President, our general pastor. This office also provides leadership and support for administrative church functions, including the biennial General Assembly when Disciples

gather for worship, fellowship and church business. Special ministries of the Disciples Hispanic and Pacific-Asian communities receive support through Disciples Mission Fund as we striveto support ethnic communities. Of the remaining Offering: Regions share 50% emphasizing strengthening congregations for mission, regional offices support and coordinate mission and ministry in specific geographic areas of the United States and Canada. General ministries share 40% General Ministries strengthen congregations by helping us engage in mission work that our congregations could not achieve alone. Higher education and theological institutions share 10% Disciples learning institutions strengthen congregations by providing educational opportunity for our lay and clergy congregational leaders.

Why should my congregation participate?

Gifts to Disciples Mission Fund help our congregation participate in the shared mission of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ): "To be and to share the Good News of Jesus Christ, witnessing, loving and serving from our doorsteps 'to the ends of the earth.'" (Acts 1:8) Our congregation's local witness, ministry and mission is important. Likewise, it's important for our congregation to participate with other Disciples in a ministry that shares God's love and care with the whole world, throughout our region, the United States and Canada. Our gifts, combined with the gifts of other Disciples congregations, provide ministry and mission that offer greater impact than any congregation could achieve alone.

How are Disciples Mission Fund offerings received?

Disciples contribute to Disciples Mission Fund in three basic ways:

1. Congregations share in mission and ministry of the wider church by giving from their operational budgets and from other designated gifts or bequests. Congregations are encouraged to practice the stewardship of a tithe: to give 10% of their income to the church's shared mission through Disciples Mission Fund.

2. We give through four special offerings, which are received from congregations as "over and

above" gifts by their members to benefit particular emphases of our wider mission as Disciples:

3. Easter Offering supports general ministries as they strengthen congregations for our shared mission.

4. Pentecost Offering supports the new church ministry movement, with Disciples New Church Ministry regional new church ministry efforts sharing the offering.

5. Thanksgiving Offering supports leadership development through colleges, universities and theological institutions.

6. Christmas Offering supports regional ministries in the region where the offering is received, as they strengthen congregations for our shared mission.

7. Individuals make direct gifts through a secure, online Website, or by planned and estate giving.

Is my individual gift tax-deductible?

Yes, like your personal gifts to our congregation, over and above gifts to Disciples Mission Fund are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. If your gifts are made directly to Disciples Mission Fund, you will receive a statement from Treasury Services acknowledging the contribution. If your gifts are made through the congregation, the congregation is responsible for providing appropriate records for tax accounting.

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April 2009

Where is your treasure?

This year, Week of Compassion invites us on a treasure hunt. Not just us, the church whose 2009 theme is all about Adventure, but all the churches of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). You might think this a clever way to dress up the term "fund raising." And it is. But it's more than that too, because the ever-visionary leadership of Week of Compassion has hit on an important spiritual reality that this church understands well.

Let me back up momentarily, and remind y'all who Week of Compassion is. Week of Compassion is the Disciples of Christ entity that coordinates our efforts at international disaster relief, refugee support and poverty development, in partnership with other such Christian agencies around the world. Its new director is Rev. Amy Gopp, who took over the helm this January following the retirement of long-serving Rev. Johnny Wray, who preached at Plymouth Creek last November and happens to be married to Pastor Shane's fiancé’s mother. Besides building and maintaining faithful and effective partnerships around the world, and guiding the distribution of WoC funds to where the greatest need happens to be at any given time, Rev. Gopp is also in charge of an annual fund raising drive, since Week of Compassion is not funded through General Disciples' giving. In other words, they stand alone, and rely on these annual Special Offerings (along with some endowment funds, and periodic giving, on-line and otherwise) in churches throughout the denomination to do what they do, which is help the most vulnerable throughout the world. On average, Week of Compassion responds to a new catastrophe every two days, with upwards of $2.5 million in yearly contributions, 97% of which goes directly to

help folk in need (i.e. administrative and fund raising costs only account for 3% of the annual budget).

And they do so because the people of our denomination have big hearts for a world in need. Go to the WoC website, if you have a spare moment, and read a few of the stories of children saved, lives rebuilt, families lifted out of endemic poverty and into something like self-sufficiency. It's remarkable, not just that this stuff happens, but specifically, that we, Disciples of Christ, make it happen, because our hearts are in the right place. Which is what, I think, WoC means by challenging us to ask this year, "Where is your treasure?" Remember that verse in Matthew 6, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also"? Notice, that isn't the same as, 'Put your money where your mouth is." Rather, Jesus is saying that your money follows your heart's desire, almost inevitably, because we use our resources to make happen what we love most deeply.

Which is why Disciples must have such big hearts, because every year they give money to the world's most vulnerable through Week of Compassion. This Easter Sunday, Plymouth Creek will participate in that annual Special Offering, during both our sunrise and our 10 AM service. So as you consider participating, let me encourage you to ask anew, "Where is my treasure? Can sharing it with a world in need help me discover something about where my heart is too?" If so, I imagine we'll all be pleasantly surprised. Or, given our church's track record for courageous stewardship, maybe not...

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March 2009

"...for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink..." Matthew 25:35

As some of you may know, March is Minnesota FoodShare month. This is a critical time! Use of food shelves is up 28% compared to last year, and families are finding that their budgets aren't covering the cost of the basics.

Support Our Local Food Shelf

During March, Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners (IOCP) is participating in the Minnesota FoodShare Campaign, the largest food and fund drive in the state. With use of the food shelf up 28% this year, the need is more critical than ever. IOCP operates one of the few food shelves in the state that allows weekly visits. It is also the only food shelf to serve the more than 85,000 individuals living in Hamel, Long Lake, Medicine Lake, Medina, Minnetonka Beach, Orono, Plymouth, and Wayzata. From March 1 through April 3, your food or cash contributions to IOCP's Food Shelf leverage additional dollars. The food shelf receives an allocation based on its percent of the total collected. These dollars allow IOCP to replenish high-demand items.

This year Plymouth Creek Christian Church is combining efforts with Thy Word and Yellow Brick Road. Each group is collecting non-perishable food items that will be delivered to IOCP.

Just imagine if each person brings one can each week in March the difference that we can make

in someone’s life!

This year, Steve W. of PCCC is heading the efforts of the three groups that meet in the PCCC

building. If you have any questions, please see Steve.

The Disciples of Christ

churches will be

packaging food at the

Feed My Starving Children

on the following date:

Brooklyn Park location

Monday March 30th

6:00-7:30 PM

Read more!

February 2009

The Souper Bowl of Caring was born from a single prayer: “Lord, even as we enjoy the Souper Bowl football game, help us to he mindful of those who are without a bowl of soup to eat." The Rev. Brad Smith spoke these words as a seminary intern serving in South Carolina in 1990, and a movement was born.

WHAT: A youth-led movement to fight hunger and poverty. The Souper Bowl of Caring unites an army of volunteer groups across the nation, who take local action to address a national problem. Souper Bowl of Caring provides free materials for individual groups' local efforts and raises awareness with national publicity for Souper Bowl of Caring events. Souper Bowl of Caring groups stage food drives, collect money and have service projects in their communities.

WHO: Everyone! Created as a youth-led activity, Souper Bowl of Caring is now a national movement, which has grown to include congregations, schools, civic groups and businesses. These volunteers send 100% of their collections directly to the local charity of their choice. Local food banks, community shelters, soup kitchens, and other organizations get much needed support from the efforts of the Souper Bowl of Caring participants.

WHERE: Across the United States in places of worship, schools, neighborhoods, grocery stores and other businesses. In a country known for its prosperity as well as its generosity, poverty and hunger still exist in most communities. This grassroots movement has given local groups an opportunity to raise awareness as they raise funds and collect goods for their chosen charities.

WHEN: On or near Super Bowl Sunday in February. This movement includes money donation drives, service projects and food collections on or around Super Bowl weekend, transforming the most celebrated time in football into one of the nation's largest youth-led service movements.

HOW: Plymouth Creek Christian Church will be accepting food and monetary donations for the Souper Bowl of Caring during the month of February. Checks may be sent to the church office at 16000 41st Avenue North, Plymouth, MN 55446. Please write "Souper Bowl" on the memo line

-All donations will go to the Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners foodshelf

-The totals collected will be reported to the Souper Bowl to be included in national totals (each non-perishable item is counted as $1).

Souper Bowl of Caring

PO Box 23224, Columbia. SC 29224

1-800-358-SOUP (7687) www.souperbowl.org

Reasons for Caring

One in four people standing in a soup kitchen line is a child.
-Share Our Strength

Thirty-five million working families are considered food insecure in the U.S.
-The Food Research and Action Center

A child's growth, mental development, and academic performance suffer from the lack of food.
-Center on Hunger and Poverty
Brandeis University

Thirty-seven percent of people requesting emergency food assistance are working citizens.
-The U.S. Conference of Mayors
2006 Hunger and Homelessness Survey

MISSION:

Utilizing Super Bowl weekend to mobilize and inspire youth to fight hunger and poverty in their local communities.

VISION:

Transforming Super Bowl weekend into the nation's largest youth-led weekend of giving and serving.

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January 2009

New Beginnings…

“A new beginning -- A fresh start -- A clean slate. A new beginning represents hope…

the January-first sort of hope that you feel when you hang up a brand-new calendar.

You sense that you have been given an extraordinary gift: the opportunity to set new goals and to renew your commitment to reaching those goals.”

~ Evelyn Bence, author of New Beginnings

Let’s start 2009 with a fresh look. Please consider adopting a room to help organize, clean and

renew. Please consider a donation of your time, talents or financial support. The rooms and wish

lists are shown below (other items may be added):

The Young Adults Classroom

New curtains or window shades

Cleaned or new furniture

Working computer with software

Fresh paint for the walls

Carpet cleaned

Removal of unusable or unnecessary items

The Small Children’s Classroom / Nursery

Curtains or window shades

Fresh paint for the walls

Carpet cleaned

New posters or pictures for walls

Locked cabinets/storage for supplies

Removal of unusable or unnecessary items

Remove paint and stains from table

Choir Room

Curtains or window shades

Fresh paint for walls

Music related decorations

Locked cabinet for supplies

Removal of unusable or unnecessary items

Contact the church office if you are interested in adopting a room.

Thank you for helping give our space a fresh look for a year’s adventure in Table Hospitality!

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