 Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash This Week In the E-Pistle, You Will Find...
BEING THE CHURCHThis Week's Service: Twenty Fourth Sunday after Pentecost - Giving Thanks...For Our Scars Photo 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. This Sunday, however, I’m suggesting 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? I hope you can join us, either on site or online. 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 
Last Week's Service: Twenty Third Sunday after Pentecost - What Can You Imagine? Photo by Jody Betten Jody reminded us, God is making all things new. God is always doing something new. Jody shared stories of their vacation in Greece: (1) Athens - the big city surrounding the Acropolis with the 2500 year old remains of the Parthenon. (2) Meteora - six, 14th-century monasteries which appear to be suspended in the air still home to active religious folks. (3) Monemvasia - a rock off the coast first inhabited in the 3rd-century BC which at one time was home to 30,000 people and today only 10 people live there full time. Besides being inspired by what there was to see, they were enthralled by the spirit of a people who are so connected to their past and so proud of who they are today. Reminding us the new ways that God is working among us here at DUCC, and that God is always doing something new. Installation Service and Celebration |
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 | For The Week of November 23: Monday: 10-3pm, Jody Tuesday: 10-3pm, Dan Wednesday: 10-3pm, Jody & Dan For evening visits on these days, please call for an appointment. * Reminder: if you need to see Dan or Jody, please make an appointment with them. Sometimes they are in Douglas but not at the office. * Please note, if you get an email from Jody asking for money or gift cards, please don't comply. This is a scam! Please call to schedule an appointment: Jody: 616-706-3549; Dan: 616-828-2293 |
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. ✨
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!
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!
Update from the Communications Team
Photo by Elshan Neymatov on Unsplash
We would like to update everyone on what the Communication Team has accomplished
and are working on:
and are working on:
- We have Welcome Brochures available to take home, give to neighbors or colleagues, or people we recognize as visiting us on Sundays. They are located in at both of the entrances.
- A printed two week calendar is now available in the Friendship Hall with the church’s activities and events.
- If you have an announcement that you would like presented at the beginning of the service, write it out on a notecard ( provided in the entrances) and give it to Jody or Dan before the service.
- We are working on a way to reach out and staying connected to congregants who we miss seeing on Sundays. If you have any ideas send them to Barb Witt.
- We are working on some sandwich boards to help communicate Listening Ear and Contemplation.
- We encourage you to follow DUCC on Facebook and share postings to increase both awareness and followers.
- We have updated the ads we place in the Commercial Record so they are on a four-week rotation with a different message each time.
- See any member of the team if you have any ideas for improving communication in DUCC: Barb Witt, chair; Lewis Corbin, Tom Fahlstrom, Greg Gerrans, and Gemina Petruzzelli
- Please send any photos you may have from church events to Greg Gerrans for social media use to the email below.
Creation Justice Team Announcement
This education and action-oriented group will meet on Monday, November 24 at 4:30 in the Isabel Graham building. All levels of interest are welcome. We will continue our discernment of our goals and direction focusing on Native Landscapes and Dark Skies. For any questions, please contact Betsy York, Chair.
Creation Justice Team, Recycling Packing Materials and Other Holiday Items
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:
'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:
- WRAPPING PAPER - recyclable IF it has no metallic coating, sparkles, or plastic coating. If you scrunch up a clump of wrapping paper in your hand and it resists being scrunched, then it’s probably NOT recyclable.
- GREETING CARDS - recyclable IF they have no glitter, foil, ribbons, or buttons.
- RIBBONS and bows - NOT recyclable.
- TISSUE wrapping paper - NOT recyclable. However, it's biodegradable if it doesn't contain any shiny bits or plastic.
Second Sunday Luncheon, December 14th
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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.
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 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.
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 Week
BIRTHDAYS:
November 23: Steve McFadden
November 24: Glynis Whitcomb
November 25: Tim Schipper
November 26: Dan McGavin and Orie Hawkes
November 27: Linda McWebb
November 28: Paul Burdick
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.*
November 23: Steve McFadden
November 24: Glynis Whitcomb
November 25: Tim Schipper
November 26: Dan McGavin and Orie Hawkes
November 27: Linda McWebb
November 28: Paul Burdick
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 Message
Please, 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
Prayer 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 cycle includes our 22 UCC churches, and also UCOM and the Michigan conference staff.
The "church of month" for November is East Congregational UCC.
Thank you for keeping them in our prayers.
The "church of month" for November is East Congregational 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.
CLASSES
UCC Advent Devotional, "Soon & Very Soon"
Reflections for the coming Year
 | 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"
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, 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
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
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
Men's Coffee and Conversation
Annual Drive for Thanksgiving Kits
Asking for Rice this Year
Photo by Kalyani Akella on Unsplash
It’s November, and with it comes Christian Neighbors’ distribution of Thanksgiving Meal Kits to area low-income families - a 45-year-old tradition in our community. In 2024, 75 volunteers organized, packed and distributed 330 meal kits that provided a Thanksgiving meal to roughly1200 area residents. This year, our church is being asked to collect Rice – 1lb Bags to contribute to these meals. Please consider donating one or more of these items. 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!
Please put your donation in the vestibule area of the Friendship Hall.
Please put your donation in the vestibule area of the Friendship Hall.
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