Plymouth Church supports local and world social justice ministries. Through our history, Plymouth seeks to engage major social issues of the times. Plymouth offers a variety of service opportunities for volunteers to get involved and address issues of need and injustice.
Community Service & Social Action Board
Community Service and Social Action (CSSA) Board administers grant and mission programs that provide financial resources to congregation-selected social innovation and community service organizations.
Holy Rollers are a group of Plymouth Church members and friends who provide painting services to charitable organizations, low-income housing and those in need.
Mary’s Ministry is a team of women dedicated to helping the homeless and formerly homeless who are served by the Church of Mary Magdalene and Mary's Place.
To break the cycle of hospitalization and homelessness, Plymouth Healing Communities provides companionship, housing and deep respect to homeless individuals living with mental illness.
Community Service and Social Action (CSSA) Board administers grant and mission programs that provide financial resources to congregation-selected social innovation and community service organizations.
Holy Rollers are a group of Plymouth Church members and friends who provide painting services to charitable organizations, low-income housing and those in need.
Mary’s Ministry is a team of women dedicated to helping the homeless and formerly homeless who are served by the Church of Mary Magdalene and Mary's Place.
To break the cycle of hospitalization and homelessness, Plymouth Healing Communities provides companionship, housing and deep respect to homeless individuals living with mental illness.
Community Service and Social Action (CSSA) Board works to fulfill its stated mission of opening the congregation to the transforming spirit of God in ways that lead to social change by responding to needs of the wider community and the world. This includes allocating 25% of annual pledges for community service and social action, and facilitating ministries that encourage Plymouth members to engage with social justice efforts in the community and the world.
CSSA fund offers three grant programs to focus Plymouth members contributions to achieve our service mission:
CHANGE GRANTS:
Large, three-year grants for work on long-term, systemic change and opportunities for direct involvement in that work. A new recipient is selected every two years (two-year cycle with grant application period typically during the summer.
2021 Change Grant Recipient:
TBA
INSPIRATION GRANTS:
Inspiration Grants provide one-time grants to agencies that engage the concerns and passions of the congregation (one year cycle, with grant application period every year TBA).
CONTINUING SUPPORT GRANTS:
Continuing Support Grants help ministry teams and core Plymouth programs receive funding, typically for smaller one-time needs or year-to-year programs to receive funding without a formal grant process.
EcoPower
“Seeking joy and justice through harmony with God’s creation”
The EcoPower Ministry Team is a diverse group of Plymouth members who share a love for nature and a desire to make this an active part of our church life.
Through a variety of projects and collaborations, we are working to . . .
Live out the Judeo-Christian call to be good stewards of God's Earth
Help people enjoy and connect with nature
Celebrate God’s creation in worship
Integrate sustainability into our church building and activities
Foster leadership in the wider community on issues of environmental justice
Holy Rollers
"It is wonderful to see the residents come out of their apartments to see the freshly painted hallways – it makes them happy to have us there. At the end of the day I’m tired, but it feels really good."
Are you looking for a service opportunity in the community, and enjoy hands-on work? The Holy Rollers are a group of Plymouth Church members and friends who paint together once/month.
Past projects have included Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) low-income housing buildings, Plymouth Housing Group buildings and at Mary’s Place day center for homeless women and children.
We will also consider home maintenance projects for Plymouth members upon referral from the Plymouth ministry staff. No experience is necessary – join us and you can learn on the job!
TIME COMMITMENT
One Saturday a month for painting; occasional Saturdays for other work.
Mary's Ministry Team
Women helping women and their children on their journey out of homelessness.
A team of women dedicated to helping the homeless and formerly homeless who are served by the Church of Mary Magdalene and Mary's Place. At Mary’s Place, women and their children can find comfort in the form of meals, hospitality, social services, health services and spiritual fulfillment.
Mary’s Ministry team members collect lingerie, hats, gloves, scarves and toiletries. They also help at the Church of Mary Magdalene and Mary's Place fundraising events such as the Hats and Tea annual auction and the annual luncheon. Ministry Team members also build one-on-one relationships with the women of Mary’s Place by interacting with the women in a variety of ways. These relationships mean so much both to the women of Mary’s Place and to the members of Mary’s Ministry Team.
TIME COMMITMENT
Serve lunch four Saturdays per year. Variable, depending on availability and interest.
Peace Action
"Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it." — Psalm 34:14
Peace Action Group is an action group of CSSA Board.
This ministry team seeks to:
Educate itself and the congregation on issues of peace and justice in the world,
Take appropriate Christian action to promote peace, unity and reconciliation,
Provide a voice in the community for expressions of peace and justice
Support opportunities to train and mobilize nonviolent activists
TIME COMMITMENT
One meeting/month on 1st Sunday of the month
Organizations Supported
Friends Committee on National Legislation
http://www.fcnl.org
Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action www.gzcenter.org
Physicians for Social Responsibility http://www.psr.org (includes links to WA)
National UCC Justice and Peace Action Network (JPANet) http://www.ucc.org/justice/jpanet
Washington State Religious Campaign Against Torture http://www.wsrcat.org
Western Washington Fellowship of Reconciliation, http://www.wwfor.org
Abolish Nukes http://www.abolishnukes.com
Faith Action Network (FAN) www.fanwa.org
Peace Action Group is an action group of CSSA Board.
This ministry team seeks to:
Educate itself and the congregation on issues of peace and justice in the world,
Take appropriate Christian action to promote peace, unity and reconciliation,
Provide a voice in the community for expressions of peace and justice
Support opportunities to train and mobilize nonviolent activists
TIME COMMITMENT
One meeting/month on 1st Sunday of the month
Organizations Supported
Friends Committee on National Legislation
http://www.fcnl.org
Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action www.gzcenter.org
Physicians for Social Responsibility http://www.psr.org (includes links to WA)
National UCC Justice and Peace Action Network (JPANet) http://www.ucc.org/justice/jpanet
Washington State Religious Campaign Against Torture http://www.wsrcat.org
Western Washington Fellowship of Reconciliation, http://www.wwfor.org
Abolish Nukes http://www.abolishnukes.com
Faith Action Network (FAN) www.fanwa.org
Plymouth Healing Communities
Through Plymouth Healing Communities, Plymouth church reaches out, renews hope and rebuilds lives to those who are homeless and living with mental illness.
Plymouth Healing Communities (PHC) was formed in 2000 by members of Plymouth Church to respond to the growing need of mentally ill homeless people in our community. PHC has since become its own separate organization, with ongoing support and funding from Plymouth Church. To break the cycle of hospitalization and homelessness, Plymouth Healing Communities provides companionship, housing and deep respect to homeless individuals living with mental illness.
Since Plymouth Healing Communities began in 2000:
The House of Healing has been home to more than 95 of the most vulnerable members of our community
Residents of the House of Healing have seen an 82% reduction in hospitalizations in the two years following their stay.
All residents were homeless before coming to the House of Healing. Today, most of our alumni are living in stable housing.
Social Justice Action Group
"What does the Lord require of you? To do justice, to love kindness, to walk humbly with your God." — Micah 6:8
The UCC Justice and Peace Action Network (JPANet) is our denomination's grassroots advocacy network composed of individual members and local UCC churches. The JPANet both educates and engages its members in shaping public policy in keeping with God's vision of a just and loving society. Their work is grounded in General Synod resolutions, consonant with historic UCC witness, and formed by a biblical understanding of prophetic ministry. JPANet members collectively advocate on a variety of issues for social change that promotes the Common Good.
