 Photo by Martin Sanchez on Unsplash In This Week's E-Pistle, You Will Find:
This Week's Service: Baptism Sunday Photo by Frank Van Hulst on Unsplash Reverend Keith Mannes returns on Sunday, inviting us into the Flow. Here's what he's thinking: "At a holiday party, I ran into a friend I had not seen in thirty years. He is a fervent believer in Jesus and a worshiper of God. If he were a tree, you would say he is good, and solid to the core. Yet, I have to say: He is miserable. He is a fussbudget for God, always nagging himself and others. He told me that his spouse and children are weary of him. As I listened to him, I saw flickering reflections of myself, at times in my life. "This week’s reading from Luke shows us Jesus being baptized. As I have pondered Jesus, and the river, my soul feels such relief – relief for my soul, and some peace for my fussbudget friend, too. This is the relief and peace I hope to share on July 12." Please join us on Sunday at 10am in our Sanctuary, or online, live on our YouTube channel. Message: Rev. Keith Mannes Music: Peter Black, Jeff Spangler You will always find our latest church bulletin and service music at Bit.ly/DUCCBulletin 
Welcome Back Rev. Keith Mannes!
Last Week's Service: Epiphany Sunday The story of the Magi. Is it even true? There are so many inconsistencies and unlikely events how can it be? If it’s not historical , what is Matthew’s purpose in writing it? Last Sunday as we celebrated Epiphany ,or the manifestation of Jesus as God-With-Us, we’ll looked toward the Magi, King Herod and the Starlight to offer guidance for our spiritual journeys. Last week we enjoyed the leadership of our church member, Rev. Linda Knieriemen. Here is her homily again. Enjoy! Pastors Jody and Dan on Vacation! Our new settled pastors at Douglas UCC, Rev. Dan Plasman and Rev. Jody Betten, will take up their duties on Tuesday. Meanwhile, if you need pastoral help this week, give Julie Ridl a call or drop her an email, and she'll make sure one of our member pastors get back to you! Helping Southern California/Nevada: The UCC's Global Hope Team The UCC’s Global Hope team is connecting with partners in SoCal and Nevada and around the country to coordinate support services and gather resources for victims of the SoCal fires and for the Altadena Community UCC church, which has been destroyed. We can support this team's work and specific requests for funds here. You can write a check made out to the UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST. Please note "Califorinai Wildfires 2025" on the check so that your donation reaches the right fund. Mail it to: United Church of Christ PO Box 71957 Cleveland, OH 44194 Please be sure to note "California Wildfires 2025" in the memo section of your check. The UCC's EIN is: 34-1927041 SJT Presents: "How to End Christian Nationalism" Our Social Justice Team hosted a pretty full house (but there's always room for more) last night to begin a series of discussions of the book, "How to End Christian Nationalism" by Amanda Tyler. It's never too late to join in on this book read, which will continue to meet almost weekly into February. Contact the leaders Bev Hawkes or Bob Kenny for details and dates if you wish to join in. SoulCollage, January 11 Tomorrow, January 11, Ruth Zwald's SoulCollage® workshops for 2025 begin , with the creative opportunity to use SoulCollage® to help set your intention for the new year. Visualizing your goals and hopes for the year ahead will assist you in keeping that focus. There are two upcoming opportunities. The first workshop is scheduled for Saturday, January 11, choosing either a morning workshop from 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM or an afternoon workshop from 1 PM -4:00 PM, hosted in the Isabel Graham Center at 88 Spring Street. All the details are in the poster above. The workshop is designed for those new to SoulCollage, as well as those with SoulCollage experience. Just RSVP to Ruth (details above) for either the morning or afternoon event. The second opportunity is at The Dominican Center in Grand Rapids on Saturday, February 8 from 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM. Here is a link for that event: https://www.grdominicans.org/program-retreat/soulcollage-winter-wonderings/ Space is limited at both events, so register soon! Caregivers and Grief Group Photo by Pablo Merchan on Unsplash The CareGivers and Grief Support Groups have combined, (caregiving and grief go hand-in-hand, after all), meeting the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month at the Retreat House at 11 AM. Rev. Marty is on a sabbatical, so our church member Wendy Hamlin will be coordinating the sessions in her absence. King: A Life -- With Author Jonathan Eig, Jan 20, Noon On Martin Luther King Day, January 20 at Noon in the Isabel Graham Center, we will host Calvin University's January Series (free to attend and to watch online) kicks off with a talk from 2024 Pulitzer Prize winner Jonathon Eig, author of King: A Life. Church member Karen Clark is organizing a viewing of this talk at the Isabel Graham Center, 88 Spring Street in Douglas. The program will be broadcast from 12:30 to 1:30pm. Doors will be open at noon. Bring a friend! Let's learn more about this remarkable man's life, together. A Great Wild Mercy: Jack Ridl and Carrie Newcomer Collaborate Online Jan 23 Internationally beloved Singer/Songwriter/poet/activist Carrie Newcomer will join Jack Ridl for a conversation between song and poem on Thursday January 23 at 7pm on Zoom. Their event, A Great Wild Mercy, (the title of Newcomer’s latest album) will be presented on Zoom as part of the monthly poetry-and-music Vespers program Hosted by the UU Church of Detroit. The link for the program will be sent automatically to the Detroit UU Vespers, Carrie Newcomer, and Jack Ridl email lists. If you are not on any of those lists or unsure, contact Jack through his website, ridl.com, and he will make sure you receive the link either early in January or on the day before the performance.There are only 100 available audience spots, so attendance will have to be first come/first served. (However, the program will be recorded and released on YouTube later this month.) Here’s guaranteeing you an inspiring way to give the new year a second kick start. And your heart is certain to be warmed, comforted. uplifted. Newcomer’s many albums are available through your favorite music shops and she co-hosts a thoughtful, meditative podcast with Parker Palmer, The Growing Edge. Jack’s latest collection of poetry, ALL AT ONCE is available wherever books are sold, and directly from the publisher, CavanKerry Press, right here. Restorative Circle Facilitator Training: January 23-24 January 23-24 from 9am-4pm at Lavender House in Holland, MI. We are living in a fractured society where conflict and division is tearing at the social fabric. This two-day training is for anyone who is eager to actively build strong communities, families, work environments and faith communities. You will learn how to communicate and collaborate during times of conflict or even just around different points of view. You will develop skills that can be put to practice immediately in informal ways and will also learn how to facilitate a formal restorative circle as well. Registration is limited to 12 so be sure to register early. You can register with this Registration Link: tinyurl.com/RCTrainingJan2025 or for more information about restorative circles go to HollandRestorativeCircles.org. Prayer Requests Virginia Stuart; The VanPortFleet Family; Family of Nancy Grib; Paul and Carrie (Julie Ridl's brother-in-law and sister); Bev Hawkes; Dan McGavin and Family of Carol Brown; Barbara Lindsay (Lewis Corbin’s Bridge Partner); Rev. Marchiene Rienstra Family; Karen Clement (Friend of Debra Carr's); Ann and Jim Hopkins; Sally LaRowe (Linda Charvat's friend); Janice Campbell children & grandchildren (Pete Wehle's friends); James Higgins (Friend of Shane Anderson and Michael Tuleja), Joe Scarpone (Friend of Tom Fahlstrom); Fred Hamlin; John Kerr; Ruth Fahlstrom (daughter of Tom Fahlstrom); Stuart Family; Mary Westenbroek; Jerry Elpers and family (Beth Howley's Dad); Edie Plantinga (Nancy’s Mom); Max Matteson; Eric Cooley (Jo Cooley's brother) Birthdays & AnniversariesBIRTHDAYS January 12: Darris Cichock, Jim Sullivan January 13: Elaine Overweg January 14: Larry Gammons January 15: John Rossi January 16: Joyce Wright January 17: Bruce Dybas January 18: Michael Blasco Birthday and Anniversary cards are a great way we can reach out to one another. If you wish to mail a card to one of our church members, addresses can be found in our Church Directory. Financial StewardshipIn-Person Attendance, January 5: 84
Total Views for January 5 worship videos: 152 Podcast downloads in December: 4,915 Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $1,295.00 Online Giving: $2,072.91 Total, General Support: $3,367.91 Thank you!! Your generous giving allows us to sustain our church community and our mission of service in the world. Please consider giving online, which is easily done by texting your donation amount to 844-931-2849. |
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