 Photo by Curated Lifestyle on Unsplash In This Week's E-Pistle, You Will Find:
This Week's Service: Sixth Sunday after Epiphany Photo by Milivoj Kuhar on Unsplash Have you ever rehabbed an old house? I have. Ten of them, including the one Jody and I currently live in which is a work in progress. Feel free to ask her about it. Rehabbing an old house can be rewarding for couples or the reason for marital meltdown. I'm glad to report we're doing just fine! Over the years, I've discovered a relationship between tending old houses and tending churches. Both are a source of joy and frustration, requiring constant maintenance. Both are not without hidden pitfalls. In the meantime, Jesus expands on gracious ways to live in Luke 6:27-36. Sunday's message: "Everything I Know About Anything I Learned By Rehabbing Old Houses" Please join us on Sunday at 10am in our Sanctuary, or online, live on our YouTube channel: Message: Rev. Dan Plasman Music: Peter Black, Jeff Spangler You will always find our latest church bulletin and service music at Bit.ly/DUCCBulletin 
Last Week's Service: Fifth Sunday after Epiphany You’re just going about your business, perhaps literally, when, WHAM! the unimaginable happens. Do you jump to seek an explanation? Do you just want to forget it happened, go back to yesterday? Do you revel in the opportunity? We all have our gut reactions to the unexpected.What does it take to go forward from that point? There is a story in the gospel of Luke (chapter 5) about people whose world was rocked when they first encountered Jesus. They became Jesus’ followers and friends. Please enjoy last Sunday's Service, remembering the gathering of the apostles. Message: Rev. Jody Betten Music: Peter Black, Jeff Spangler Jody and Dan's Office Hours
Call to Courage, February 16 Photo by Michael Dziedzic on Unsplash We find ourselves in a time of tremendous uncertainty. Our daily feeds are filled with unsettling news. Many of us feel fear about the next era in our country and what may come. Here in our church we are entering a new season of leadership and direction. For many, the wellbeing of family and friends weighs heavily on our minds. In moments like these, it's easy to feel overwhelmed or unsure about the path ahead. To help us navigate this challenging time with strength and purpose, we are excited to offer "A Call to Courage," a program inspired by Brene' Brown's acclaimed Netflix special. We are invited to explore what it means to live courageously by embracing vulnerability and facing challenges with authenticity and resilience. We'll reflect on such questions as:
Our gatherings will include group discussions, practical exercises, and moments of reflection, all designed to help us tap into our inner strength and build emotional resilience. It's a journey of learning to show up fully in our lives, not in pursuit of perfection, but in a commitment to authenticity, joy, and connection. Our first informational gathering will take place on Sunday, February 16 after the worship service. There will be substantial snacks. Then, we'll watch the Brene' Brown special together. This is open to everyone, regardless of your familiarity with Brene' Brown's work. It's perfect for anyone looking to navigate life's challenges with a renewed sense of purpose and courage. Let's come together as a community to face this season with bravery, compassion, and connection. Please join us and invite a friend. For more information, please contact Jeremy Lund, or sign up in the Isabel Graham Center. A Beautiful Practice for Honoring Black History Month We are celebrating Black History Month in the UCC at a time when celebration is being quelled and work toward equality and justice suppressed by our government. But the government isn't us, and we can keep working to bend the arc of the moral universe toward justice. Much of that work begins not just in our communities, but deep inside of us. This heartening practice of study and action comes to us from our Social Justice Team via Bob and Louise Kenny's daughter. It is the American Bar Association's 21-Day Racial Equity Habit-Building Challenge, designed as a series of exercises that take just a few minutes each day to perform. You'll find articles, films, TED-X talks, authors and politicians and artists and poets, moving back and forth through time over the long history of the struggle of Black people from the brutal realities of enslavement through the fight to be recognized as full citizens, and the ongoing scourge of racism and ways we continue to withhold justice and fullness of life to people of color. Here is an opportunity to work on the inside, taking up this challenge and giving just a few minutes a day to making the world better. Peanut Butter Drive, through February Photo by Maryam Sicard on Unsplash We are running behind our usual pace in our annual peanut butter drive for Christian Neighbors, which runs through the end of February. Please, if you can, bring jars of peanut butter to the Isabel Graham Center or drop them off at Christian Neighbors. If you don't have time to shop and drop, please consider making an online donation to Christian Neighbors, so they can stock peanut butter for our hungry neighbors.
Inquirers Class, Lunch and Learn, March 16 Photo by Alex Shuper on Unsplash If you are considering becoming a member of Douglas United Church of Christ and want to know more about that process, we are offering an Inquirers Class on Sunday March 16, after the Sunday service. A light lunch will be served. Join us to learn more about DUCC, the United Church of Christ, Progressive Christianity and how to become a member. There will also be time to ask questions. Please let us know of your interest by emailing Jody, Dan, or Julie. Looking forward to seeing you there! Let's Get Windy! Exploring Wind Power Photo by Koushik Chowdavarapu on Unsplash The Creation Justice Team is sponsoring a Creation Justice Sunday on Feb 23, thinking about Wind as a Sacred Resource, especially wind as a resource to address climate change. If anyone has any experience or knowledge of using wind personally to defray household costs, we would love to hear from you! If you have any connection with the wind turbine initiative on the Great Lakes, we also would love to hear from you! Please contact Pete Wehle, Chris Clark or Jody Betten. Thanks! 🎶A Note from Your Music Team 🎶
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. How to Know When We Cancel Services for Bad Weather
Prayer Requests Nancy Plantinga and her family; Jim Solazzo (Anne Hotwagner's uncle); Virginia Stuart; Family of Nancy Grib; Paul and Carrie (Julie Ridl's brother-in-law and sister); Dan McGavin and Family of Carol Brown; Rev. Marchiene Rienstra Family; Ann and Jim Hopkins; 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); Mary Westenbroek; Jerry Elpers and family (Beth Howley's Dad); Max Matteson; Eric Cooley (Jo Cooley's brother) Birthdays & AnniversariesBIRTHDAYS: February 16: Mary Browning February 17: Mark Reiman 18: Bud Baty 20: Mary Alice Townsend 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, February 9: 76
Total Views for February 9 worship videos: 166 Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $330.00 Online Giving: $3,374.98 Total, General Support: $3,704.98 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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