 Photo by Paris Bilal on Unsplash In This Week's E-Pistle, You Will Find:
This Week's Service: Blessed Are the Persecuted Photo by Ahmet Kurt on Unsplash This week we consider the final of the eight Beatitudes -- Jesus' guides for living well. When we advocate for the least, last, lost and lonely, when we hunger for what's right, when we seek to make peace, when we extend mercy to those considered unforgivable, when we lament the injustice in our world, when we seek to behave as Jesus did, we might not be too well received. To go against the "might makes right' and "the one with the most toys wins" mentality threatens the power structures, economic and political. This week we consider the consequences of living in the way of Jesus... and the rewards. Join us as we think about what it means to be persecuted. Please join us on Sunday at 10am in our Sanctuary, or online, live on our YouTube channel. Message: Rev. Jody Betten, Music: Peter Black, Jeff Spangler You can always find our latest church bulletin and service music at Bit.ly/DUCCBulletin 
Last Week's Service: Twenty-Sixth Sunday after Pentecost: Blessed are the Peacemakers Are you still reeling from the election results? Considering if the worst plays out? And, what does it mean to still live love, to imagine human flourishing for the future, to continue to have hope, to look for the best, to care for the least, last, lost, and lonely? To contribute on the side of goodness and justice, to be a people at peace? This is who we are called to be in all circumstances; as people of God, as those who espouse love, as carers of the common collective. This past Sunday we considered what it means to be a peacemaker, another one of the Beatitudes Jesus suggests contribute to a life well lived. Message: Rev. Jody Betten, Music: Peter Black, Jeff Spangler Jody's Hours in Douglas Week of November 24 Tuesday: 9am - 5pm Wednesday: 10am - 2pm Week of December 1 Wednesday: 10am - 4pm Friday: 10am - 5pm Need to meet with Jody? Email her for an appointment! Soul Collage, November 23 The final SoulCollage® for 2024 will take place on Saturday, November 23 at the Isabel Graham Center. You can choose to attend the morning session from 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM or the afternoon session from 1 PM - 4 PM. Our theme this month is "Exploring Our Community Through SoulCollage®." We create cards to honor people, pets, and places that have influenced our lives. Using copies of photographs or found images, we develop cards to celebrate our unique community. Ideally, you would bring photocopies of photos of family members, friends, pets, or ancestors. I will guide you through the process. You must register for this workshop. Just follow the directions in the poster, above. Starts With Us: Keeping Conversations Civil around the Thanksgiving Table Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Unsplash No need to belabor the obvious: Emotions are high and many of us are dreading talking politics during the holidays. Some of us will cut our holiday gatherings short due to stress and anger — and some of us will even skip a gathering altogether. Here are three tips for healthier, more productive holiday conversations from It Starts With Us... Connecting Gratitude to Giving Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash Our local food pantries, Ladders of Hope and Christian Neighbors, will be inundated with requests from our less fortunate neighbors in this season. We know these agencies depend on our food drives. However, there are some things that can't be collected, but are necessary to stock a food pantry, like fresh produce and meat protein. This Thanksgiving season let's connect our gratitude to our giving. We are invited to set aside an amount to contribute based on something for which we give thanks. For instance:
Flour Drive for Thanksgiving Baskets! We are running a bit short of 5-lb flour bag donations this year, so we are leaving our collection bucket in place in the entryway of the Friendship Hall, and the flour table up through the very end of November. Every year Christian Neighbors works with area organizations to gather ingredients for Thanksgiving dinner baskets for neighbors in need. Our job each year is to provide 5-lb bags of flour to help fill those baskets. If you can help, please drop off (4-5-lb bags only!) at the Isabel Graham Center or in the bin sitting in the Friendship Hall Entryway. Thanks to all who are helping make this holiday truly thankful for so many of our neighbors! The Mess in the Messiah: The 2024 Advent Devotional Unfortunately, this year's printed copies of the UCC's Advent Devotional from Pilgrim Press sold out before we could order copies for sale! But the lovely electronic copy remains available for online sales for $3 per copy, at the Press's website. There's no running out of electronic copies! If you'd like to see it before you buy, stop in to see Julie at the Isabel Graham Center. Christian Neighbors' Giving Tree is Up! Our Giving Tree is up in the Isabel Graham Center! The tree contains heart tags detailing items on the wishlists of our neighbors in need. Choose multiple heart tags if you like. Each gift tag includes instructions for purchase and drop off. Choose as many tags as you like, and we will replenish the tags on our tree while they are available. This year, while our Friendship Hall is under construction, please plan to drop gifts directly at Christian Neighbors' HQ: 6874 Wiley Road, Fennville, MI 49408 (door C11). Deadline for gift drop off is December 12. Join Our Christmas Choir! 🎶 🎶 Join the DUCC Holiday Choir and Be Part of a Beautiful Christmas Tradition! 🎶 There’s still time to add your voice to the Douglas United Church of Christ Holiday Choir! This Christmas Eve, we’ll be singing as part of the beloved Lessons and Carols service—a moving celebration of the season through scripture and song. Rehearsals begin this Sunday, and we’d love to welcome a few more singers to our choir. Sopranos andtenors, we especially need you to help round out our harmonies, but all voices are welcome! Don’t miss this chance to make beautiful music, connect with our wonderful community, and help createan unforgettable Christmas Eve service. We can’t wait to sing with you! 🎵 Rehearsals Begin: Sunday 🎄 Christmas Eve Service: December 24th ✨ For more details, reach out or stop by on Sunday—we’ll save you a seat. Let’s make this Christmas Eve unforgettable together! LCC Christmas Concert, December 7 & 8 I'll Be Seeing You: Holiday Homecoming --The Lakeshore Community Chorus, (including several of our own church members!) under the direction of Artistic Director, Josh Keller, and accompanied by Vivian Boot, presents I’ll Be Seeing You: Holiday Homecomings, music to ignite your holiday season. Sacred music and popular songs take you on delightful (and sometimes challenging) journeys home. Guest singer-songwriter and pianist, Caitlin Cusack, joins the chorus for this fun and inspiring event, a community tradition to start the season. Concerts are Saturday, December 7, at 7:30 pm, Sunday, December 8, at 4:00 pm. Tickets Adults: $28 Students: $15 A Christmas Carol, Opening December 13 The all-volunteer cast and crew are working hard to create a memorable show, with all proceeds going to fund Christian Neighbors. We can't wait to see you! Don't miss being part of this tradition! Tickets available at SaugatuckChristmasCarol.LUDUS.com. Showtimes: Friday, December 13, 2024 8:00 PM Saturday, December 14, 2024 2:00 PM (matinee) Saturday, December 14, 2024 8:00 PM Sunday, December 15, 2024 7:00 PM Friday, December 20, 2024 8:00 PM Saturday, December 21, 2024 2:00 PM (matinee) Saturday, December 21, 2024 8:00 PM Sunday, December 22, 2024 7:00 PM The Venue: Saugatuck Woman's Club,303 Butler St, Saugatuck, MI 49453 In Search Of: Christmas Elves, December 24 at 12:30 PM! Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash We are looking for a few Christmas Elves to help out on Christmas Eve, when we change out our church decor from Advent to Christmas. If you think you can help out on Christmas Eve at 12:30pm, please connect with Pastor Jody, or just show up! SJT Presents: "How to End Christian Nationalism" Our Social Justice Team invites everyone in the church, and anyone from the community to join an 8-week book read starting on Thursday, January 9 at 5:30pm. The book is titled, How to End Christian Nationalism, by Amanda Tyler, and is available at your favorite bookseller. As background for the discussion, the SJT team points to two documentaries available to stream on Netflix called "God and Country," and "The Family," with the same theme. We will share news of location soon. Sign up to join in, in the Isabel Graham Center, 5:30pm, eight consecutive Thursdays ,at the Isabel Graham Center, beginning January 9. Care Team News Luncheon for Area Senior Citizens, Thursday, November 21, Noon, St. Peter's Hall, Douglas Cost: $6 per person Menu: Roast Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Turkey Gravy, Dressing, California Blend Vegetables, Cranberry Sauce and Rolls. For dessert: Volunteers are providing assorted pumpkin desserts. Thanks to Barb Borst, Bert Kupres & All Volunteer Staff at St. Peter's for providing these senior luncheons! Caregivers Group returns to its regular schedule, meeting on the first and third Tuesdays from 11am - 12pm at the Retreat House. This meeting supports people in grief and caregivers in a supportive community The care team also offers Book Lover’s Luncheon on the second Tuesday of December at the Retreat House from 12:30-1:30. Bring your own lunch, and be prepared to share something about books you have read and loved that fed your soul. Rev. Marty Rienstra will be facilitating both of these groups.Senior luncheon Minutes and Reports
Prayer Requests Anne Dooley's daughter, Dee; Dan McGavin and Family of Carol Brown; Barbara Lindsay (Lewis Corbin’s Bridge Partner); Rev. Marchiene 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); James Higgins (Friend of Shane Anderson and Michael Tuleja), Joe Scarpone (Friend of Tom Fahlstrom); Fred Hamlin; Nancy Grib (Friend of Pamela Chappell); Stuart Family; Mary Westenbroek; Jerry Elpers and family (Beth Howley's Dad); Edie Plantinga (Nancy’s Mom); Max Matteson; Eric Cooley (Jo Cooley's brother) Birthdays & AnniversariesBirthdays : November 24- Glynis Whitcomb, 25- Tim Schipper, 26- Dan McGavin, Orie Hawkes, 27- Linda McWebb, 28- Paul Burdick, 30- Max Brown 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 Stewardship DriveStewardship Drive Giving Week ending November 17: New Stewardship Drive Goal: $325,000 Pledges to Date = $300,000.00 Pledge Fulfillment to date = $187,23.53 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: Financial StewardshipIn-Person Attendance, November 17: 85
Total Views for November 17 worship videos:139 Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $885.00 Online Giving: $2,460.57 Total, General Support: $3,345.57 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. |
Previous
|
||||||||
RSS Feed
56 Wall Street • Douglas, Michigan 49406
© Douglas Congregational United Church of Christ. All Rights Reserved.