Letter from Your Senior PastorBy Rev. Dr. Jared Wortman (he/him)for many things — with the community,friendships, and ministry of Plymouthoften being named as we made our wayaround the circle. We carry so much as acongregation, but I am encouraged andcomforted when I see how we share lightand hope with one another.I love the cover of this issue!As we quickly approach the seasons ofAdvent and Christmas, we contemplatewhat it means to be bearers of hope andlight no matter what challenges we faceas a people and world. The cover imagereminds me of beautiful memories inthe Plymouth Sanctuary and that ourcombined presence and work are alwaysexponentially brighter and bigger thananything we muster on our own. Wehope you’ll use this issue as you planyour holiday, making time to gather atPlymouth in the coming weeks.As I write this just days beforeThanksgiving, I am reminded thatwe have much to be grateful for as weapproach the holiday season. In Biblestudy this week, I listened as participantafter participant shared their gratitude2This issue details some of your favoriteChristmas and holiday traditions. Wehope these reflections compel youto think about the traditions of yourhousehold, exploring and sharing howyour holiday memories have grown andtaken shape over time.When this issue was being planned, Iwas told about an idea for a story aboutthe many tattoos in the Plymouth pews.Little did I know that one of you (I’ll savethe reveal for the article) has a Plymouthtattoo! Be sure to check out this article,which gives a personal glimpse into themeaning beyond the tattoos. From majormilestones to memories of loved ones,this story captures how we carry meaningwith us in profoundly intentional andenduring ways.Similarly, the stories about an upcoming“O Antiphons” exhibit and the symbolsin the Sanctuary are powerful remindersthat artful emblems of faith surroundand support our congregational life.I hope you’ll learn about a recentrestoration effort of the Chi Rhosymbol on the Sanctuary cross andbe encouraged to pay attention to themany elements built into Plymouth’sarchitecture and displayed on the walls.Each symbol and piece of art teachesus something about our “focal reality.”It’s often been observed that whatwe pay attention to determines thedirectionality of our lives. With this inmind, we pay attention to the depictionsof grape vines, blooming roses, boatsweathering storms, Christmas images, andcountless other Christian symbols to drawattention to who we are as a people offaithful, hopeful, and loving community.This issue also contains photos fromthe musician Julian Reid’s recent visitto Plymouth. We hope these photoscapture the rest we’ve shared. You’llalso find an interview with JohnTyson, Pastor for Faith Formation andSocial Justice. As I see it, this issue is amicrocosm of our life together.Happy reading, and let’s keep sharingour light,
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