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In This Week's E-Pistle, You Will Find:
This Week's Service: Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost: How Does Community Sustain Life?
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The book of James (Ch 5) gives suggestions for what to do when things get dicey. But James didn't know about compassion fatigue and burn out and climate change and mental health trauma and ACES scores. The Gospel reading suggests cutting off the body part that causes the trouble - your heart? your energy? your car? your history? not very practical! What can we draw from James' suggestions of prayer, singing, confession, connecting with the weather, anointing, touch, reconciliation? Join us on Sunday for some practical suggestions of the value of these things for today.
Please join us on Sunday at 10am in our Sanctuary, or online, live on our YouTube channel Message: Rev. Jody Betten, Music: Peter Black and Jeff Spangler Download our online bulletin, below, to follow online: 
Last Week's Service: Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost: First or Last -- What Will it Be?
In December 1859, President Lincoln responded to a request for a short sketch of his life by writing: “There is not much of it, for the reason, I suppose, that there is not much of me. If anything be made out of it, I wish to be modest, and not go beyond the material.” This humble statement from a great President! According to the Oxford Dictionary humility is a modest or low view of one's own importance, humbleness." How does one remain humble and yet not diminish one's self? How do we live and "not go beyond the material" as Lincoln wrote? Join us on Sunday a conversation on humility considering James 4 and Mark 9.
Message: Rev. Jody Betten; Music: Peter Black, Jeff Spangler, and Max Brown Pastor Jody's Office Hours
Week of September 30
Monday: 10am - 3pm Wednesday: 10am - 3pm Saturday: 9am - noon Week of October 7 Wednesday: 10am - 3pm Thursday: Noon - 6pm, Friday: 10am - 3pm Ministry Fair! A Success!
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Members are raving. The ministry fair was "Fun!" "Successful!" "Informative!" "We should do this every year!" "We got new volunteers!" A dozen groups showed their stuff... over at the Retreat House - Soul Care Library, the Care Givers Support Group and a potential grief group, and in the Friendship Hall - Music Team, Sunday Treat Organizers, Congregational Care Team, True North, Creation Justice, and Christian Neighbors. If your BINGO card from the event is filled out -- all 12 squares initialed -- bring it with you on Sunday! There will be a drawing for the lovely DUCC Thermos!
October is Souptober!
Christian Neighbors Food Pantry is getting ready for winter and would like to stock its shelves with canned soup for its clients. For the month of SOUP-TOBER (Oct 1-31), Christian Neighbors is requesting donated cans of soup. You are invited to drop off cans of soup in the Friendship Hall all month long. Financial donations are also welcomed. Hit the button below to make a financial donation to the soup fund:
SoulCollage with Ruth Zwald, Tomorrow, September 28
How do you tap your inner wisdom? How do images help our brains connect the dots? What ancient images and symbols do all humans respond to? How can art help us make connections in community? These and many other questions and mysteries are celebrated and put to practical use in Rev. Ruth Zwald's SoulCollage workshops. If you've never been, maybe tomorrow is your time! Register today for tomorrow's workshops by emailing Ruth.
Deadline is Monday for Church Directory Updates!
Caregiver and Grief Support Tuesdays: The Fall Schedule
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This fall quarter, October through December, the Retreat House is offering a time for caregivers to gather and share their experience and insights and resources on the first Tuesday of each month from 11:00-12:30. The content of our meeting will come from whoever attends, as has been the case this summer. The meeting is open to anyone who finds themselves in significant care-giving mode at this time in their lives. All you have to do is show up at the above time. Rev. Marty will be there to welcome and support and learn from you!
On the other Tuesdays of each fall month, at the same time as above, Rev. Marty will be present to hold the space and offer a time for sharing experiences and resources related to grieving after a major loss in our lives. Again, this will be a time to support and learn from each other. Being able to share grief and the grieving process is vital to our ongoing well-being and opportunities to do this in a sustained ongoing way are important. All you have to do is show up. Beach Cleanup, October 5!
Our big Beach Cleanup Day is almost here! Bring a big bucket or two, meet us under the tent at the Oval Beach Parking Lot. Bring friends! Bring family! Let's get our Earth-Love on!
Blessing of the Animals, October 6, 2pm
It's time to round up your well-behaved non-human family members for a blessing at Beery Field. Revs Jody and Ginny will be presiding at this event organized and hosted by the wonderful owners of Lakeshore Pet Boutique in downtown Douglas. If your pets wouldn't enjoy a crowd of pets and owners, you can bring a photo of them with you. Our pastors do long-distance blessings too.
Your Family's Bread? Worldwide Communion Sunday, October 6
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On October 6 churches around the globe will be celebrating the Sacrament of Holy Communion, The Lord's Supper or the Eucharist on World Wide Communion Sunday. In solidarity with our siblings around the world we would like to use various breads from our ethnic traditions in this service. If you have a special loaf of bread from your heritage that you would like to contribute, please let Pastor Jody ([email protected]) or Mike VerMerris ([email protected]) know. Thanks!
Neighbors in Need Collection, October 6
This Sunday, you'll find an envelope and flyer in your bulletin, describing the UCC's Neighbors in Need Special Collection. This year's theme is “Mental Health Justice For All!” In 2015, the General Synod of the United Church of Christ passed a resolution to become WISE (Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive, and Engaged) for mental health. A just world for all is a world where the human rights and well-being of people with mental health challenges are respected, no matter who you are or where you are in life’s mental health journey.
We will be taking this special collection for the broader UCC ministry on Sunday, October 6. All donors' gifts are matched by our Church Council before traveling on to the UCC. One-third of the offering supports Council for American Indian Ministry (CAIM). Two-thirds are used by Justice and Witness Ministries to provide grants to UCC churches and organizations, as well as supporting a variety of justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and direct service projects. Meal Maker's Mixer, October 9
Photo by Matthew Moloney on Unsplash
Are you already signed up to be a meal provider or are you interested in becoming one? Join us for a Meal Makers Mixer. October 9, 5:30 - 7:30 at the Isabel Graham Center (Spring Street next to the church). Fun exchange of ideas about providing meals to those in need. Door prizes, recipe ideas, meal labels, conversation around a simple soup supper. Sign up by contacting Kelly Jacobsma [email protected].
Relativity! A Play and Fundraiser: October 17 through 20
A wonderful cast of characters, (church members Jim Kern, Shannon Connell, Virginia Stuart) will be staging a performance of Relativity, a remarkable play about the remarkable (shocking?) life of Albert Einstein. Ticket Sales will help fund our Stewardship Drive.
Relativity is set in 1948, in Princeton, NJ, where Albert Einstein continues to research, advise, and teach. He is 69 years old and well beyond his crowning revelation of E=MC(2). Other characters are Miss Dukas, his live-in housekeeper, and Margaret Harding, a journalist who approaches him about conducting an interview with him. As the play evolves, the mysterious circumstances of Einstein’s first child’s death reveal a dark secret from his past, and Einstein and Margaret must come to terms with the secret and the consequences of his past decisions. Ultimately, Relativity asks “what if?” and provides a probative glimpse into the great man who may not have been a good man. Relativity is for mature audiences, not because of language, sexual content, or any other traditionally sanctioned element. Teens and college students would benefit from seeing this show. It is a thoughtful, compelling story about adult decisions and filled with intellectually challenging arguments and questions. But, it is a very easy play to follow. It runs about 75 minutes without intermission. Trunk or Treat, October 31
Calling all creatives......we are excited to announce our 1st Douglas UCC "Trunk or Treat" - a fun and exciting way to give back to our wonderful community. This event will provide our community with a safe place to bring their kids to trick or treat on Halloween night - but instead of going door to door - they will go from trunk to trunk (car/SUV trunks). We are looking for people to decorate the back trunk (and more if you want) of your vehicle in a creative Halloween theme. You can dress up yourselves to match if you would like. We will then line our cars up next to each other around the church parking area (spots will be assigned). Each vehicle will be passing out candy/treats (must be wrapped, nothing homemade) - so you will stay at your trunk (bring your own lawn chair if you'd like). The event will begin at 5:30, with lineup/parking taking place by 5 p.m. The fun will last until 7:30. We will have community voting for the following categories: FUNNIEST, MOST CREATIVE, and SCARIEST vehicle (trophies, prizes and bragging rights to the winners). For more information or to register your vehicle in the lineup, please contact Mark Johnston at [email protected] or Jeremy Lund at [email protected]
Minutes and Reports 
Prayer Requests
The 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); Tim Mikita (Ginny Mikita's Father); James Higgins (Friend of Shane Anderson and Michael Tuleja), Joe Scarpone (Friend of Tom Fahlstrom); Fred Hamlin; Carol Brown and Dan McGavin; John Kerr; Dave and Shirley Lawson; Ruth Fahlstrom (daughter of Tom Fahlstrom); Nancy Grib (Friend of Pamela Chappell); Stuart Family; Mary Westenbroek; Brian Aikens; Jerry Elpers and family (Beth Howley's Dad); Edie Plantinga (Nancy Plantinga's mother); Max Matteson; Eric Cooley (Jo Cooley's brother)
Prayers for all victims of sexual assault, that they may find justice and healing, for all in the military and their families; all who are homeless or addicted or abused or neglected or rejected or hungry; The UCC; the Grand West Association; our Church Council; our Stephen Ministers; for our Pastoral Search Team, our Church Transition Team, our church committees; our communities, our schools, our nation and our planet. And for all the people no one ever thinks to pray for. Birthdays & Anniversaries
Birthdays: October 2- Nan Belschner, Gary Nicodemus,
3- Mark Johnston, 5- Stanlee III (Duke) Greene Anniversaries: October 5- Tim Farmer & Tom Slater 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. Grant Proposals
Photo by Micheile Henderson on Unsplash
Know a worthy non-profit in need of some financial support? Download and send them the application below, or connect with any member of our Grant Proposal Team. You'll find them here.
Stewardship Drive
Stewardship Drive Giving Week ending September 22:
Pledges to Date = $228,800.00 Pledge Fulfillment to date = $162,247.42 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: Pledge or Pay Into Stewardship Fund Here»» Financial Stewardship
In-Person Attendance, September 22: 86
Total Views for September 22 worship videos: 167 Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $2,674.00 Online Giving: $3,292.38 Total, General Support: $5,966.38 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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