 Photo by Dan Plasman This Week In the E-Pistle, You Will Find...
BEING THE CHURCHThis Week's Service: Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost - Generosity of Giving Photo by Dan Plasman Does being generous lead to better health? It’s never been proven. Does being generous lead to a longer life? No research confirms that. Does being generous protect one for everyday calamities? If only that were true. Then why be generous? Why support worthy causes? Why give money to civic organizations? Why support Douglas United Church of Christ? Winston Churchill noted: “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” We will ponder such things this Sunday in a message entitled “The Generosity of Giving.” Please join us on Sunday at 10 am in our Sanctuary, or online, live on our Youtube Channel. Message: Rev. Dan Plasman Music: Peter Black, Jeff Spangler, Lauri Donaldson 
Last Week's Service: Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost - Generosity of Grace Photo by Ubaid E. Alyafizi on Unsplash Last week Jody reminded us God's grace, and love is unconditional. What risk might you take if you knew that you were loved beyond your wildest imagination? What could you try if you truly believed that you were worthy beyond your ability to know? If all you have to give in this world is yourself, how might you behave differently? The Christian understanding of God is that God loves you unconditionally, that you are worthy of living your best life, that you cannot fall out of grace with God. Grace, a gift, that brings you back to yourself whenever you remember it compels your best. Jody reflected on God's generosity, a gift of unconditional love, grace. Jody and Dan's Office Hours This Week
You're Invited! Trunk or Treat (October 31) Trunk or Treat – Coming to Douglas UCC! Friday, October 31st, from 5–7 pm Our parking lot is about to get spooky, sweet, and just a little silly! Here’s the deal: we’re inviting YOU (yes, you!) to join in the fun by:
Flyers are available to help spread the word, and there’s a sign-up sheet in the Friendship Hall for anyone who wants to participate. Whether you’re handing out candy, smiling, or just complimenting costumes, we’d love to have you there. It will be a frightfully fun evening—and remember, the more trunks we have, the more treats (and laughs) for everyone! Social Justice Team Community Conversation Our Social Justice Team has been busy making connections and inviting local thought leaders to come to our church and help us understand current challenges to Justice For All right here in our communities. Here are the upcoming dates and times already scheduled. Stay tuned for more from the SJT. Lighthouse Immigration Services Thursday, November 13, 6:15 pm Representative to speak All events are scheduled for our beautiful new Friendship Hall. All are welcome! Second Sunday Luncheon, November 9th
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 November 9 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 Jennie Razumnaya 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! Prayer Requests Nancy Plantinga, and the Plantinga family; 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; James Higgins (friend of Shane Anderson and Michael Tuleja), Jose (friend of Tom Fahlstrom); John Kerr; Ruth Fahlstrom (Tom Fahlstrom’s daughter); Mary Westenbroek; Jerry Elpers and family (Beth Howley's dad); Max Matteson; Eric Cooley (Jo Cooley's brother). Birthday's & Anniversary's This WeekBIRTHDAYS October 26: Kenneth Hemminger October 29: Paul Lucas October 30: Pat Denner November 1: Jeff Spangler ANNIVERSARIES October 31: Loran Atkinson, Gary Nicodemus 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.* 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 NEWS  The Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson, United Church of Christ General Minister and President/CEO joined more than 70 other faith leaders in signing on to a statement authored denouncing political violence and attacks on free speech. CLASSESQigong, Tuesdays in the Friendship Hall Photo by Sajad Nori on Unsplash Kat VanHammen's Qigong Winter classes began in the Friendship Hall on October 7. The classes will run through May! Qigong is a wonderful, 5,000 year-old practice from China, very much like Tai Chi. It involves simple movements that build strength, flexibility, balance and well being. It also employs visualization, breath, and mindfulness to integrate the body, mind, and spirit and develop our felt sense of Interbeing. Class is one hour long and involves both sitting and standing practice although it can be done sitting if needed. There is a requested donation of $10 per class but for those of you on limited incomes, any amount will be gratefully received Financial Literacy Seminars, November 5th! Soul Collage November 8, Restoring Our Soul The next Soul Collage sessions with our friend and masterful teacher, Ruth Zwald, are scheduled for the Friendship Hall November 8. This artful, soul-honoring class will set you exploring and making and asking your own wisdom sources for guidance. It's always a surprising and stilling journey with Rev. Ruth! To sign up, follow the registration instructions in the poster above. You must register to participate. AROUND TOWNMen's Coffee and Conversation October is "SOUP-TOBER"! Drumming the Dream Banners with Kat VanHammen, New Date November 2! Dark Sky Event: Canceled Until April! Photo by Slava Abramovitch on Unsplash |
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56 Wall Street • Douglas, Michigan 49406
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