 Photo by Jody Betten This Week In the E-Pistle, You Will Find...
This Week's Service: First Sunday of Advent - What Time is it? Image from The Episcopal Church of Saints James and Andrew Happy New Year! I know, that seems a bit premature, right. We haven't even gotten through Thanksgiving much, less Christmas! It's not even December. And yet, it is the beginning of a new year in the Church Year Seasons. Advent is the first season, the season of waiting for the coming of the baby Jesus, the one around whom the Christian Story revolves. And for good reason, he started a movement! The Church Year Seasons acknowledge that movement. Christmas celebrates Jesus' birth in counter cultural circumstances. Then Epiphany - the season when we shine a light on Jesus' ministry. Lent is a journey into a deeper spirituality as we observe Jesus walking with integrity to his death. Easter celebrates the reality of life after death in the story of Jesus' resurrection. Pentecost celebrates the coming of God's spirit inspiring the followers of the Jesus' way to create a community of love and justice. Ordinary Time takes us full circle through Pride Season and Creation Season and other times of imagining a world where all flourish! But I digress. Join us Sunday as we think about waiting; and what it might mean that one is taken and one is left as the story in Matthew 24 goes. Please join us on Sunday at 10 am in our Sanctuary, or online, live on our Youtube Channel. Message: Rev. Jody Betten Music: Peter Black, Jeff Spangler, Lauri Donaldson 
Last Week's Service: Twenty Fourth Sunday after Pentecost - Giving Thanks ... for Our Scars Image by Megan Watson on Unsplash Thanksgiving Day is just around the corner. A time to gather with family and friends. A time to give thanks for what we have. A time, perhaps, “to count our blessings and name them one by one” as the old hymn reminds us. Last Sunday, Dan discusses a deeper understanding of giving thanks. Is it possible to give thanks for our losses, our deprivations, our setbacks, a pain that still resides within? What might it mean to give thanks for our scars? Thanks to All! The Installation Service was Celebrative and Impactful Thanks To All! So many people made the Installation Service impactful and celebrative! For all the participants, planners, prayers, attendees, servers, well wishers, food preparers, cleaner uppers, flower arrangers, technicians (at the last minute), reader, emcee (you know who you are), last minute helpers, online friends, Association and Conference guests, we are incredibly grateful! Consider us plugged in, connected, fully functioning, perfectly fitting in our appropriate places (not sure what the warranty looks like;-); we're with you for the time we have in ministry together! We feel affirmed! Jody and Dan's Office Hours This Week
Join Our Christmas Choir! 🎶 🎶 Join Our Christmas Choir! 🎶 There’s something truly special about voices joining together at Christmas. Whether you’ve sung in choirs for years or are thinking about joining for the first time, you are warmly invited to be part of this year’s ✨Christmas Eve Lessons & Carols celebration.✨ Each December, our choir helps the story of Christmas find its voice -- a long-standing tradition that fills our church with hope, harmony, and joy. Singing together lets us reconnect with friends, welcome new faces, and share in the quiet joy that music brings to this holy season. ✨Every voice matters; together, we create something truly beautiful.✨ 🎵Rehearsals are at 11:30 a.m. We’ll meet each Sunday after the morning service in the sanctuary,🎵 ✨led by Stan Greene.✨ While it’s great to attend every rehearsal, please don’t let a busy schedule keep you from joining—the more voices, the more joy! ✨ Come share in the music, the spirit, and the joy of the season. ✨Questions? Contact Peter Black, Music Director. ✨ Social Justice Team, Review Speakers & Share Ideas for Next Steps On Tuesday December 2, at 6pm (*please note new day and time.) anyone interested will gather in the Friendship Hall to review and discuss the information that we gathered from the speakers that we heard from the League of Women Voters, Superintendent of Saugatuck Douglas Schools, Indivisible and now Lighthouse. Please review for yourself anything you remember as being compelling or interesting as a way we might help those organizations or ideas you have from something that was said. We'll share ideas for next steps. Please plan to join us! Creation Justice Team, Recycling Packing Materials and Other Holiday Item Recycling Packing Material and Other Holiday Items 'Tis the season for packages! Cardboard boxes can be recycled, and many of their non-gift contents can be reused. You can take packaging materials, such as air pillows, "peanuts," bubble wrap, and insulated boxes, to "The Shipping Department" on 8th Street in Holland. For more information on this and other recycling venues, see the Creation Justice Team's website. Other items:
Second Sunday Luncheon, December 14th
Church potlucks, now called Second Sunday Luncheons, will help us continue to create community while sharing a meal together. Thank you to everyone who helped set up, clean up and provide food for our first Second Sunday Monthly Luncheon. Forty-five people attended. Our next lunch will be December 14 following the service. Bring what you are able (entrees, salads, desserts, bread etc) and if you can't bring anything, please bring yourself. All are welcome! If you are interested in helping to set up or clean up, there will be a new Event Committee signup sheet in the Friendship Hall so that we can establish email communications when asking for help with set up or take down going forward. Listening Ear: Do You Need to Be Heard? Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash Our Listening Ear service has been a great help to our congregation during a tumultuous time, and so, after a successful trial period, this highly trained team of empathic folks -- Paul Burdick, Mike Valdez, Pat Denner, and Doug Sipsma -- will be continuing the service. Their premise is, everyone goes through rough patches in life. Sometimes stress can feel overwhelming. Talking to a caring human helps in so many, sometimes immeasurable, sometimes mystical ways. Our listeners are available at the Retreat House on Thursday afternoons from 1 to 3 pm. Card Ministry Photo by Immo Wegman on Unsplash Do you love receiving cards in the mail when you're sick, recovering from surgery, have a birthday or anniversary, or need a reminder that you're being prayed for? Maybe sending cards to folks in those situations is a way you could bring a smile to someone's day! If you are willing to send a card on behalf of DUCC for members' birthdays or anniversaries, for healing or prayers, for one month, please contact Pastor Dan or Pastor Jody. If you have cards that you aren't using that would be appropriate for such occasions, please drop them off at the office for our use. A couple minutes to let someone know they are thought of, a quick trip to the post office, that's all it takes to bring a smile! Looking for a Volunteer Program Coordinator Photo by Per Loov on Unsplash Do you love to bringing people and ideas together? We are looking for a volunteer to share their talents in coordinating the programs at DUCC. This opportunity provides organizational support to ensure the effective coordination and scheduling of the church’s programs (Speakers, classes, etc.). Serving as an important link between the Church Council, pastoral staff, and various teams, this role facilitates collaboration and positive communication concerning education and programming to support the mission and growth of our church. Please reach out to Barb Witt at 617-340-7970 or email below. Thank you for your prayerful consideration. Prayer Requests Tere Krueger; Orie Hawkes; Elinor Hite (Virginia Stuart’s sister); Dave Lawson; Christine Kerney; Dan McGavin and Family of Carol Brown; Rev. Marchiene Rienstra Family; Ann and Jim Hopkins; John Kerr; Ruth Fahlstrom (Tom Fahlstrom’s daughter); Mary Westenbroek; Max Matteson; Eric Cooley (Jo Cooley's brother); Ian Blumer (Claire Blumer's nephew); East Congregational UCC. Birthday's & Anniversary's This WeekBIRTHDAYS: November 30: Max Brown December 4: Shane Anderson December 5: Brad Hopkins & David Nadeau December 6: Chris Maitner & David Bazany Birthday and Anniversary cards are a great way to connect with one another. If you wish to mail a card to one of our church members, the addresses can be found in our Church Directory. * If you have had any changes in your information, please know you can go to the Directory and update yourself, or contact Claire to change/update.* New "easy" Options to Change Your Contribution to DUCC Photo by Micheile Henderson on Unsplash New (Easy) options to change your current contribution to DUCC In response to input we have received from members and friends, we are offering new ways to change your contributions.
Give by Text MessagePlease, consider giving online. To donate by text, open a new text message on your mobile phone, type 844-931-2849 in the “To” field, and in the message body, type only the dollar amount of your gift (for example, 50 for a $50 donation). Then press Send. You’ll receive a message confirming your donation. Church Calendar Photo by Dari lli on Unsplash UNIITED CHURCH OF CHRIST NEWSPrayer Circle for All Churches Photo by Martin Bennie on Unsplash The Grand West Association Council is continuing their covenantal prayer circle for all our churches. This is one of the Councils attempts to better connect in our region as a faithful community. The two year prayer circle includes our 22 UCC churches, and also UCOM and the Michigan conference staff. The "church of the month" for November is East Congregational UCC. The "church of the month" for December is En Vivo UCC. Thank you for keeping them in our prayers. UCC Advent 2025 resources offer paths for 'awakening, preparing and dreaming' This season’s Abolition Advent Calendar will center on “The New Old Story of Freedom: Practicing New Worlds into Life.” Coordinated by the UCC’s Racial Justice Ministries and Join the Movement Toward Racial Justice, this year’s Advent Calendar brings together quotes from Octavia Butler’s novel Parable of the Sower, Advent scripture readings, stories of past and present abolitionists, and visionary practices drawn from Andrea Ritchie’s book Practicing New Worlds: Abolition and Emergent Strategies. CLASSESUCC Advent Devotional, "Soon & Very Soon" |
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 | Advent Devotional - The United Church of Christ Advent reflections for this year are around the theme, “Soon and Very Soon” inviting us to imagine a world where all is at peace, where all people thrive. Copies of the devotional are available for $5.00 in the Friendship Hall. As a community we will gather on Thursdays, December 4, 11, 18, from 3:30 - 5:00pm to reflect together on these writings and how we wait during Advent for the coming of the Prince of Peace in a manger as a baby. Please sign up in the Friendship Hall near the devotional if you plan to attend. |
Silent Retreats, In a frantic, noisy world...
"Be still, and know that I am God"
Photo by Victoria Prymak on Unsplash
Start Advent – the season of hopeful waiting – with a Silent Retreat
✨Wednesday, December 3 at the Retreat House✨
Join Rev. Marty Rienstra and Rev. Doug Petersen for a guided silent retreat.
Shared silence is a powerful way of being in communion with God and each other.
Combined lunchtime (12- 1pm) for sharing experiences and asking questions.
✨Continue to hone your ‘Silent’ skills✨
Come and go as you please!
and at peace in the midst of life’s noise and turmoil.
✨Please sign up in the Friendship Hall✨
✨Wednesday, December 3 at the Retreat House✨
Join Rev. Marty Rienstra and Rev. Doug Petersen for a guided silent retreat.
Shared silence is a powerful way of being in communion with God and each other.
- Two sessions (10:00 to noon and/or 1:00 to 3:00) Attend morning, afternoon, or both!
Combined lunchtime (12- 1pm) for sharing experiences and asking questions.
✨Continue to hone your ‘Silent’ skills✨
- Rev. Marty or Rev. Doug will hold space for solitude and silence
Come and go as you please!
- Join the Meditation Hour offered in the sanctuary every Thursday from 5:00 to 6:00.
and at peace in the midst of life’s noise and turmoil.
✨Please sign up in the Friendship Hall✨
Qigong - Pauses while Kat Recovers
Photo by Leonie Clough on Unsplash
First of the Financial Literacy Series was Enlightening and Fun! Next One January 7!
On Thursday 11/5, eighteen people shared an interesting and enlightening evening with our own Wayne Titus. Wayne shared his 30 years of financial experience as he laid out the next five subject-specific events to be held on the first Wednesdays -
January through June (not April). Next session is on January 7, 2026.
It’s not too late to join in and become financially wiser! Invite a friend, if you like.
Sign up for one or all of them in the Friendship Hall so Wayne can send you preparatory information.
January through June (not April). Next session is on January 7, 2026.
It’s not too late to join in and become financially wiser! Invite a friend, if you like.
Sign up for one or all of them in the Friendship Hall so Wayne can send you preparatory information.
AROUND TOWN
Celebrate The Winter Solstice, December 21
Men's Coffee and Conversation
Thank You for the Rice for Christian Neighbors!
Thank you for your generous donations of rice for Christian Neighbor's Thanksgiving Meal Kits. It is through the kindness and generosity from our community that Christian Neighbors is able to provide this special holiday meal to those in need. Thank you!
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