 An Act of Faith: Peaceable Kingdom by Edward Hicks In This Week's E-Pistle, You Will Find:
This Week's Service: First Sunday of Advent, Pastoral Search Team Sunday The gift of the prophets is to remind God's people of God's dreams for the world, a dream of justice and peace, of love and mercy, of creativity and joy! You are a people who bring that into the world, as a community and as individuals who serve our community and world generously and graciously. As you gather this week for service, may you see yourselves as a prophetic presence in the world! Join us for the next step in the Search process for a new minister. Please join us on Sunday at 10am in our Sanctuary, or online, live on our YouTube channel. Message: Mark Johnston and Pastoral Search Team, Music: Peter Black, Jeff Spangler You can always find our latest church bulletin and service music at Bit.ly/DUCCBulletin 
Last Week's Service: Twenty-Seventh Sunday after Pentecost, Blessed are the Persecuted Last week we considered the final of the eight Beatitudes -- Jesus' guides for living well. When we advocate for the least, last, lost and lonely, when we hunger for what's right, when we seek to make peace, when we extend mercy to those considered unforgivable, when we lament the injustice in our world, when we seek to behave as Jesus did, we might not be too well received. Watch our recorded service videos to consider with us the consequences of living in the way of Jesus... and the rewards. Message: Rev. Jody Betten, Music: Peter Black, Jeff Spangler Jody's Hours in Douglas
We Have A Candidate -- What Comes Next? Getty Images The Douglas UCC search committee was formed just over a year ago. After a thorough and, we believe, Spirit-led search process we have a candidate to strongly recommend to the congregation for our new settled pastor. Next week Sunday, December 1, the search team will be using the homily time to name the candidate, walk you through our process, and answer questions related to the work that led us to the recommended candidate. On Friday December 6, from 5-8pm there will be a meet-and-greet with the candidate at the Isabel Graham Center. This will be an informal “drop in” format conducive to asking questions and learning more about the candidate. On Saturday December 7, between 6-7:30pm there will be an opportunity for a Zoom call for those out of town or otherwise unable to attend on Friday. If you'd like to join in, write to Julie Ridl for the link, before December 7. On Sunday December 8 the candidate will be giving the homily and immediately afterward the congregants will vote on whether to accept the search team’s recommendation and “call” the new candidate. You can join via Zoom for voting by writing to Julie Ridl before December 8 for instructions. The search team is grateful for the support, help, and prayers of the congregation through this process, and we look forward to the conversations ahead. --The DUCC Pastoral Search Team Transition Team's Survey Results We want to thank of all of those who participated in the Transition Team's Interim Survey. We had more than 100 people participate, who shared some very valuable insight. The comment section is summarized with four or five condensed overview statements; however, the detailed responses were shared with church leadership and the Search Committee. Thank you again for your participation. Click on the document below to download the results for your own review. -- The Transition Team A note from Pastor Jody: I am incredibly appreciative of the work of the Transition Team in helping me think about and plan for each phase of the Interim Time. We have accomplished a great deal with the wisdom and experience of each person! With Gratitude for Pam Chappell, Lewis Corbin, Nancy DeWitt, Dennis Konarski, Jeremy Lund, Anne Petersen, Demetrhea Terrien, Barb Witt, and for a time, Louise Kenny 
Connecting Gratitude to Giving -- Online Makes it Easy! We've just made micro gifts easier! Our local food pantries, Ladders of Hope and Christian Neighbors, will be inundated with requests from hungry neighbors this winter. We know these agencies depend on our food drives. However, there are some things that can't be collected, but are necessary to stock a food pantry, like fresh produce and meat protein. For these, our food banks depend on monetary donations. This Thanksgiving season let's connect our gratitude to our giving. We are invited to set aside an amount to contribute based on something for which we give thanks. For instance:
We've made the donations even easier, by providing a way to make these small, regular donations online, here at our Giving Page. Click the image above, or the button below, and maybe condsider bookmarking it, will you? Thanks to church member Chris Clark for this idea! Thankful for Advent Installation Volunteers! Big KUDOS and thanks to church members and friends for helping us ready our church for this Advent season: Greg Harvath, Roye McDonald and our new friend Wayne (whose last name we will learn!). Please thank them in person in the weeks ahead! Thank You For the Flour-ing The DUCC congregation donated approximately 110 bags of flour in our annual drive this year, which is equivalent to approximately $400. With this generous donation, Christian Neighbors will not need to order flour for the remainder of 2024. Christian Neighbors is very grateful for the on-going support of DUCC. Thanks to all who helped with this annual drive, and especially to Rich Marth, for delivering all that flour in many batches over the month of November. The Mess in the Messiah | 2024 Advent Devotional: Order PDF, Download Calendar Printed copies of the UCC's Advent Devotional sold out before we could order them, but the downloadable copies are available for sale for just $3. If you'd like to see it before you buy, stop in to see Julie at the Isabel Graham Center. And there is a terrific Advent Calendar Available from the press too. Use the download button below, or stop into the office to get a copy. Christian Neighbors' Giving Tree is Up! Our Giving Tree is up in the Isabel Graham Center! The tree contains heart tags detailing items on the wishlists of our neighbors in need. Choose multiple heart tags if you like. Each gift tag includes instructions for purchase and drop-off for the gifts. Choose as many tags as you like, and we will replenish the tags on our tree while they are available. This year, while our Friendship Hall is under construction, please plan to drop gifts directly at Christian Neighbors' headquarters: 6874 Wiley Road, Fennville, MI 49408 (door C11). Deadline for gift drop off is December 12. Lakeshore Community Chorus, December 7 & 8 I'll Be Seeing You: Holiday Homecoming --The Lakeshore Community Chorus, (including several of our own church members!) under the direction of Artistic Director, Josh Keller, and accompanied by Vivian Boot, presents I’ll Be Seeing You: Holiday Homecomings, music to ignite your holiday season. Sacred music and popular songs take you on delightful (and sometimes challenging) journeys home. Guest singer-songwriter and pianist, Caitlin Cusack, joins the chorus for this fun and inspiring event, a community tradition to start the season. Concerts are Saturday, December 7, at 7:30 pm, Sunday, December 8, at 4:00 pm. Tickets Adults: $28 Students: $15 West Michigan Voices of Pride Holiday Concert, December 8, 3pm  Join the West Michigan Voices of Pride (formerly the West Michigan Gay Men's Chorus) for a musical afternoon to celebrate the holiday season and our 16th Anniversary of creating change one voice at a time! Sunday, December 8 at 3:00 PM Fountain Street Church, Grand Rapids Admission is free, and donations will be accepted. A Christmas Carol, Opening December 13 The all-volunteer cast and crew are working hard to create a memorable show, with all proceeds going to fund Christian Neighbors. We can't wait to see you! Don't miss being part of this tradition! Tickets available at SaugatuckChristmasCarol.LUDUS.com. Showtimes: Friday, December 13, 2024 8:00 PM Saturday, December 14, 2024 2:00 PM (matinee) Saturday, December 14, 2024 8:00 PM Sunday, December 15, 2024 7:00 PM Friday, December 20, 2024 8:00 PM Saturday, December 21, 2024 2:00 PM (matinee) Saturday, December 21, 2024 8:00 PM Sunday, December 22, 2024 7:00 PM The Venue: Saugatuck Woman's Club,303 Butler St, Saugatuck, MI 49453 Christmas Eve Service, December 24, 6pm Please join us on Tuesday, December 24, at 6 PM (either in-person or streaming live online) for our annual Christmas Eve service, when we celebrate the story of the birth of Jesus and sing beloved Christmas Carols. Everyone is welcome! SJT Presents: "How to End Christian Nationalism," begins Jan 9, 5:30pm Our Social Justice Team invites everyone in the church, and anyone from the community to join an 8-week book read starting on Thursday, January 9 at 5:30pm. The book is titled, How to End Christian Nationalism, by Amanda Tyler, and is available at your favorite bookseller. As background for the discussion, the SJT team points to two documentaries available to stream on Netflix called "God and Country," and "The Family," with the same theme. We will share news of location soon. Sign up to join in, in the Isabel Graham Center, 5:30pm, eight consecutive Thursdays ,at the Isabel Graham Center, beginning January 9. Care Team News Caregivers Group returns to its regular schedule, meeting on the first and third Tuesdays from 11am - 12pm at the Retreat House. This meeting supports people in grief and caregivers in a supportive community The care team also offers Book Lover’s Luncheon on the second Tuesday of December at the Retreat House from 12:30-1:30. Bring your own lunch, and be prepared to share something about books you have read and loved that fed your soul. Rev. Marty Rienstra will be facilitating both of these groups.Senior luncheon Prayer Requests Anne Dooley's daughter, Dee; 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; Dave and Shirley Lawson; Ruth Fahlstrom (daughter of Tom Fahlstrom); Nancy Grib (Friend of Pamela Chappell); 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 & AnniversariesBirthdaysDecember 4: Shane Anderson December 5: Brad Hopkins, David Nadeau December 6: Chris Maitner, David Bazany December 7: Dan Sutherland 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 Stewardship DriveStewardship Drive Giving Week ending November 24: New Stewardship Drive Goal: $325,000 Pledges to Date = $300,000.00 Pledge Fulfillment to date = $187,23.53 Thank you to all who pledged toward our Campus Stewardship Drive. Weekly Stewardship Drive totals are posted here and on the giant ‘thermometer’ poster in the Friendship Hall. If you have not received a pledge card, you can pick one up in the Friendship Hall. Or you can help us reach our goal of $275,000 by giving online here: Financial StewardshipIn-Person Attendance, November 24: 112
Total Views for November 24 worship videos:185 Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $6,213.00 Online Giving: $1,541.38 Total, General Support: $7,754.38 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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56 Wall Street • Douglas, Michigan 49406
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