Weekly E-Pistle: 21st Sunday after Pentecost

10/20/2023

In This Week's e-pistle, You Will Find:

This Sunday's Service -- 21st Sunday after Pentecost: "Was Jesus Political?"
Last Sunday's Service -- 20th Sunday after Pentecost: "Stewardship Sunday"
Douglas UCC Fall Concert Series: Tickets Now on Sale!
Grand West Association Fall Meeting -- This Sunday, October 22
Introducing DUCC Members and Friends Online and Phone App!
Soup-Tober! Let's Fill Christian Neighbors' Shelves!
Honoring the Ancestors, Dia de los Muertos, November 1
Author Event: Beyond Religion with Craig Vander Mass, November 9 at 7 PM
Soul Collage: Listening to Our Inner Child, November 11
Birthdays & Anniversaries, Prayer Requests, and Financial Stewardship

This Sunday's Service: "Was Jesus Political?"

In the gospel reading for the 21st Sunday after Pentecost, Jesus says, "Render to Caesar what is Caesar's, and render to God what is God's." Is Jesus telling us to keep politics and religion separate, or is he saying something else?

Join us this Sunday at 10 AM (either in person or streaming live online) as we explore how giving our all to God requires our speaking Truth to the Caesars of today. Message: Pastor Sal Sapienza. Music: Peter Black and Max Brown

Download this Sunday's Online Bulletin:

order_of_service_october_22_2023.pdf
File Size:	1568 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Last Sunday's Service -- 20th Sunday after Pentecost: "Stewardship Sunday"

Last Sunday was our "Stewardship Sunday" service. We gathered to worship, to celebrate and respond to God’s generosity with our gratitude and our gifts, for "God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7). Please enjoy last Sunday's service, when we celebrated God's abundant blessings and explored the spiritual law of giving and receiving. Message: Pastor Sal Sapienza. Music: Peter Black

Here's the Homily!

Douglas UCC Fall Concert Series: Tickets Now on Sale!

Tickets are now on sale for two AMAZING upcoming concerts at Douglas UCC: Michelle Willis on October 26, and Bobby Jo Valentine returns to Douglas UCC on November 3! Tickets for each concert are just $15. Get yours now: https://michellewillis.bpt.me and https://bobbyjovalentine.bpt.me

Grand West Association Fall Meeting -- This Sunday, October 22

The Grand West Association Fall Meeting is in-person at First Congregational UCC, Muskegon, starting at 3 PM, October 22. There is also an option to join via Zoom. If you did not receive the Zoom link, please email lisa@michucc.org. All are welcome to attend, but registration is required.

Introducing DUCC Members and Friends Online and Phone App!

With KUDOS to the many advisors and testers who helped to prepare our online directory for prime time, we are happy to say that the online church directory is now available!

The company we chose, Instant Church Directory, is well trusted by many church congregations, for ease of use, and ease of updating information to keep us all current. It's also well respected for the layers of security it uses for keeping our information safe.

This company gives us access to our directory from BOTH a desktop or laptop computer, AND the handy apps available for your iPhone or Android phone.

When you log in for the first time, you will use your email and choose a password that will work on either your computer or your phone. You must use the email address you provided for the directory when you register. Only people already in the directory can gain access to the directory! That's a security feature, of course!

The system uses a two-step verification system to make sure you are you. Once you enter your email and choose your password, the company will immediately send you an email. That email contains a link you must click to complete your registration and be let into the app or website.

Go ahead! You can log in today!

Click below for detailed instructions for each device you wish to use:

Step-by-step log-in instructions for iPhone, iPad, or any IOS device.

Step-by-step log-in instructions for Android phones or devices.

Step-by-step log-in instructions for the website: members.instantchurchdirectory.com.

Soup-Tober! Let's Fill Christian Neighbors' Shelves!

Christian Neighbors Food Pantry is getting ready for winter and would like to stock its shelves with canned soup for their clients. For the month of SOUP-TOBER (Oct 1-31), Christian Neighbors is requesting donated cans of soup. You may drop off your donated cans in the designated box at the Friendship Hall.

Financial donations are also welcomed, and can be made through the Christian Neighbors Douglas website, here: ChristianNeighborsDouglas.org

Thanks in advance for helping warm and nourish local families this year!

Honoring the Ancestors, Dia de los Muertos, November 1

Our friend and spiritual teacher Ruth Zwald is once again offering "Honoring the Ancestors: Dia de los Muertos," on November 1, in our Friendship Hall. Connecting to our ancestors is a vital part of spiritual work. Drawing on the Mexican traditions of Dia De Los Muertos involves us in an evening of sharing stories and food, creating an altar, as well as a chance to connect to our ancestors in a guided meditation. To sign up, follow the instructions in the poster above!

Free Author Event: Beyond Religion
Thursday, November 9 at 7 PM

Please join us on Thursday, November 9, in the Friendship Hall, as we welcome author, Craig Vander Mass, who will be discussing his latest book, Beyond Religion: Finding Meaning in Evolution.

In Beyond Religion, Dr. Vander Maas integrates science, religion, psychology, and politics in the ultimate pursuit of truth. From the Big Bang to human evolution to the history of the Bible, Beyond Religion is a well-balanced blend of scholarly research mixed with personal reflections of the author’s own spiritual development.

Throughout the book, Vander Maas makes it clear that human evolution and spiritual transformation will require both “growing up” (committing to ongoing education and introspection) and “showing up” (putting compassion into action). You won't want to miss this fascinating discussion.

The event is FREE and refreshments will be served. Afterwards, Dr. Vander Maas will be selling and signing copies of his books.

Soul Collage: Listening to Our Inner Child, November 11

Birthdays & Anniversaries

Birthdays: October 22- Mary Harris 24- Cambria Whitcomb Kelsey Whitcomb
Anniversaries: 24- Glynis and Kenneth Whitcomb

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.

Prayer Requests

Dave and Shirley Lawson; Clark McMillion (Chris Clark's friend); Richard Mead (friend of Tom Fahlstrom); Ruth Fahlstrom (daughter of Tom Fahlstrom); Ann Hopkins, Pamela Chappell & Pete Wehle; Dan Pierce; Ruth VandenBosch; Mary Browning; Nancy Grib (Friend of Pamela Chappell); Stuart Family; Charlene Burdick (Paul Burdick's Mother); Diane Carr; Myron (Wendy Hamlin's grandson, Fred Hamilin's great-grandson); Betsy York; Mary Westenbroek; Brian Aikens; Jerry Elpers and family (Beth Howley's Dad); Edie Plantinga (Nancy Plantinga's mother); Joyce Potts (Ed Korson's Friend); Max Matteson; Eric Cooley (Jo Cooley's brother); Nicole and John (Wendy Hamlin's daughter-in-law and son)

Financial Stewardship

In-Person Attendance October 15: 82
Total Views for October 15: 443

Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $685.00
Online Giving: $1,901.83
Total, General Support: $2,586.83

This Week's Stewardship Drive Giving: $35,200.00
Stewardship Pledges to Date: $188,632.00

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, or sharing through the donate buttons on
Facebook or Instagram, or at our website.