Weekly E-Pistle: 23rd Sunday after Pentecost

In This Week's E-Pistle, You Will Find:

• This Sunday's Service Notes - "Keep Your Lamps Burning"
• Last Week's Service Video --"All Saints Day"
• Centering Prayer with Pastor Sal -- Meeting Weekly in November/December
• The Pilgrim's Beatitudes by Chris Clark
• Mike VerMerris with West Michigan Potters Guild Show, November 6-7
• Christian Neighbors -- The Gift of Love, Deadline December 7
• Christian Neighbors Flour Drive & Dennis Konarski's Challenge!
• Registration is Open for UCC Michigan's Annual Meeting
• Friendship Hall News
• Birthdays & Anniversaries, Prayer Requests, and Financial Stewardship

This Sunday: "Keep Your Lamps Burning"

During this Election Season and this time of COVID, many of us are feeling emotionally and spiritually drained. Do you have enough oil in your lamp?  In Sunday's Gospel, Jesus tells "The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids," five of whom did not prepare enough oil in their lamps, so at this Sunday's "Video Worship Service," we will explore how to keep our spiritual lamps lit and burning, especially during such challenging times as these.
​Message: Pastor Sal. Music: Peter Black & Stan Greene.

Tune in on Sunday at 10 AM via our Facebook page, YouTube channel, or here on our website.

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Last Week's Video Service: All Saints Day

All Saints Day is celebrated on November 1. On this day, we not only recognize and celebrate historic saintly figures of the church, but we also remember all of our loved ones who have died and are now in the heavenly realm. Please enjoy last week's very special "All Saints Day" service. Message: Pastor Sal. Music: Peter Black and Elizabeth Estes. You can read and share the Homily online here.

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Centering Prayer with Pastor Sal -- Meeting Weekly in November/December

During the months of November and December, Pastor Sal will be leading a "Centering Prayer" meditation via Zoom each Wednesday night from 5:30 PM to 6 PM. Each session will begin with a short talk, followed by a 15-minute silent prayer practice. If you are interested in taking part in these sessions, please email Pastor Sal.

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The Pilgrim's Beatitudes by Chris Clark

​The Pilgrim’s Beatitudes

Blessed is the pilgrim who walks humbly,
For she shall be lifted up.

Blessed is the one who tolerates difference,
For he shall enjoy the beauty of diversity.
Blessed is the one who consoles her companion,
For her spirit shall find grace.

Blessed is the pilgrim who shares the struggler’s load,
For his burdens shall seem light.

Blessed is the one who is kind to the unpleasant, 
For she shall be loved.
Blessed is the one who leaves nature undisturbed,
For he shall please the Creator.

Blessed is the pilgrim who slows down for the laggard,
For she shall never be late.

Blessed is the one who sees beyond disappointment, 
For he shall be fulfilled.
Blessed is the one who shares food with a stranger,
For she shall not want.

Blessed is the pilgrim who is open to serendipity,
For he shall be pleasantly surprised.

Blessed is the one who does not judge others,
For she shall know justice.
Blessed is the one who takes time to reflect,
For he shall come to understand.

Blessed is the pilgrim who respects the sacred space,
For she shall hear the voice of God.

-- Chris Clark

Chris says: "I’m still hoping to a walk the Camino in Spain. When Pastor Sal read the Beatitudes on Sunday I was inspired to write a variation that incorporated advice I’ve read about making the most of a pilgrimage. Some folks will recognize Micah 6-8 in there, as well as echoes of Matthew 25:42-45."
You will find this piece on Chris' website here:
https://gchrisclark.com/2020/11/02/the-pilgrims-beatitudes/

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Mike VerMerris' Online Show with
West Michigan Potters' Guild, Nov 6-7

Our own Mike VerMerris is a member of the West Michigan Potters' Guild. This year in order to keep their customers and members safe and healthy, they are offering a virtual show. The show will go live at noon on Friday, November 6, and will end at 5:00 PM on Saturday, November 7.

During that time, you can visit the show at: https://westmichiganpottersguild.com/shows-and-events

​There you will find a list of participating guild members and their links and contact information. You will be able to purchase work directly from each artist. Fall show participants include: Michael VerMerris, Madeline Kaczmarczyk, Eric Strader, Neven Allen, Tom Richards, Julie Devers Tonya Rund, Rita Shields, Nicole Klotz, Sue Sawyer.

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Christian Neighbors -- The Gift of Love,
​Deadline December 7

Christian Neighbors is getting to work early this year to help kids in our area have a warm and happy Christmas. As in years past, our DUCC family can help by buying warm clothes and toys. In the foyer of the Retreat House, look for the Giving Tree poster, and the envelope of gift tags containing details of gifts needed. Take one or several! Instructions are included on the tags. Gather your gifts and drop them, unwrapped please, in the big gift box or deliver them to Christian Neighbors at the Community Church of Douglas by December 7. We need volunteers to help families select gifts for children too. Call Christian Neighbors at 269-857-1050 for work dates and times. And as always, thank you so much for giving your time and treasure in this way.

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​Christian Neighbors Flour Drive
​& Dennis Konarski's Challenge!

​Last year our Douglas UCC family gathered more than 900 pounds of flour for the Christian Neighbors Thanksgiving Food basket program, feeding 404 area families. And Chef Dennis Konarski, our church member, is issuing a challenge designed to beat that number in 2020, when we have so many more people facing difficult holidays. Chef Dennis is offering to cook a full Thanksgiving Dinner for 6 for the household that contributes the most flour to this year's drive! 

Our drive this year is being managed differently, to keep everyone safe:
1. Drop your flour off in the provided bin in the entryway of the Friendship Hall. 
2. Write your contribution on the sign-up sheet if you would like to be considered for the prize!
3. We will be accepting flour contributions through Sunday, November 22.
Thank you for all of your generous giving to look after our community members!

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Registration is Open for
​UCC Michigan's Annual Meeting

Registration is open for the Virtual 2020 Annual Gathering of UCC's Michigan Conference. Click here to register. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing the link you need to join the meeting. The gathering will take place on Saturday, November 14th beginning at 9:30 a.m.  The meeting organizers ask that you plan to join Zoom at 9:15 a.m. so that we can begin promptly at 9:30. The Annual Report Booklet will be available prior to the gathering on the Conference website, and in the Michigan Conference Weekly Newsletter. More information will be shared as plans come together. ​

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Friendship Hall News

We were smart enough not to try to sing Happy Birthday to Jeff Spangler on Zoom, but we celebrated him! We also celebrated Hannah Grace and Pastor Sal in the news. We prayed for Fred Hamlin, who was hospitalized with shortness of breath. (We hear he is doing better.)  Ed Korson shared his voting experience -- Saugatuck Twp had already received 1,600 ballots as of Friday! Ed also reported that he is heading to Palm Springs, but will work to stay in touch, and keep attending Friendship Hall Zoom meetups. We shared Heather Cox Richardson's post here, worth revisiting. Bob and Louise Kenny and Pastor Sal recommended the documentary, "As I See It," available on Prime. Have hankies on hand! We remembered how much we miss watching Peter Black's feet when he plays. Wishing for a Pete's Feet Cam. We had some fun naming Dan Mack's new knee, coming this week! Candidates: Daft-knee, Dan-knee, Rod-knee, Don-knee? We celebrated Orie and Bev Hawke's new generator. We loved on Jack Ridl, who is having trouble with pain and reduced mobility in his hands and arms. 

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Birthdays & Anniversaries

November 8- Alton Overweg, Sr., 9- Elinor & Michael White, 11- John Willming,
​12- Maeve Kuhn, 13- Liz Wilson
Birthday and Anniversary cards are a great way we can continue to reach out to one another during this time. If you wish to mail a card to one of our church members, addresses can be found in our Church Directory. If you don't have a directory, please let us know, and we will email one to you.

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Prayer Requests

Chris Robinson (Peter and Kathleen Mueller's nephew); Fred Hamlin; Dan Mack; MackMcKenzie Sang (Pamela Chappell's granddaughter); Leith Letcher and Jim Shewell; Warren Plantinga (Nancy Plantinga's father); Gregg Kirchen (Sheryll and Greg VanPortfleet's friend); Sarah Swift; Tom & Serena Spina; Sidney Matheis; for the family and friends of Marjorie Brettschneider, sister of Bill Klatt; for the family and friends of Fr. Jake Foglio, especially Linda Charvat; Max Matteson, Jodi Berault, Bill Blue (Jack and Julie Ridl's Friend); Fran David (Betsy York and Demethrea Terrien's friend); Dirk Hollebeek (Ruth VandenBosch's godson); Larry Gegsbeek (friend of Mark Reiman); Freddy; Daniel Ver Meulen (Susan Fleming's son); Barb Lucier; Vivian Libby (Sheryll Van Portfleet's Mom); Rachael Overweg;  Anna Lisa Cox (Friend of Jack and Julie Ridl and Social Justice Team); Grant Oliver (Kirt Oliver's son); Alan Weathers; Hannah Sherman; Gary Plantinga (Nancy Plantinga's brother); Roye McDonald; Jodi Berault; Sarah Hurley and Fred Eagle Royce; Mary Harris; Patricia Carr and her husband Riley (Debra Carr's family); Barbara Klatt (Barb Lucier's friend); Myron Freund; Terry Stough (Catz Dienes' son); Ted Sommer; Phyllis Wallis (Kathy Austin's mother); Drew Carter; Jeff Cooley (Jo Cooley's brother); Marcia Sullivan (Jo Cooley's friend); Len Lynch (Kathleen Mueller's brother); Curtis Coffin (Marty Coffin's brother). 

All of our Covid-19 pandemic first responders, and for the researchers and scientists working on effective tests and treatments for Covid-19. Prayers for all in the military and their families; all who are homeless or addicted or abused or neglected or rejected or hungry; The UCC; the Grand West Association; our Church Council; our Stephen Ministers; our church committees; our communities, our schools, our nation and our planet.

To add or remove a name from the Prayer List, please email us.

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Financial Stewardship

November 1
Viewers for November 1 Online Service videos: 670
Podcast Total Downloads in October: 422

Online Giving: $2,148.44

Total: $2,148.44

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.
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Or you may send checks by mail to:
Douglas Congregational United Church of Christ
56 Wall Street, PO Box 519
Douglas, MI 49406