Weekly E-Pistle: 25th Sunday after Pentecost

11/20/2020

In This Week's Epistle, You Will Find:

This Sunday's Service Notes - "Reign of Christ" Sunday
Last Week's Service Video --"Gifts & Talents"
Welcome Rev. Marchiene Rienstra (Rev. Marty)
Virtual Transgender Day of Remembrance, Friday, November 20, 7-9pm
UCC Women of Michigan: For Times Such as This, Tuesday, Dec 1, 7pm
Advent Devotionals Available Saturday
CJT Invites You to a Virtual Potluck
Holiday Family Album. Send us your photos by December 15
Centering Prayer with Pastor Sal -- Meeting Weekly in November/December
Christian Neighbors Needs More Help for Thankgiving Food Baskets
Christian Neighbors -- The Gift of Love, Deadline December 7
Christian Neighbors Flour Drive & Dennis Konarski's Challenge! 580 lbs. and counting! Deadline for Giving is Nov. 22
Friendship Hall News
Birthdays & Anniversaries, Prayer Requests, Reports & Minutes, and Financial Stewardship

This Week's Service: "Reign of Christ" Sunday

This Sunday (the last Sunday in Ordinary Time and the Sunday before Advent) is known as "Reign of Christ" or "Christ the King" Sunday. On this feast day, we celebrate Jesus as fully human and fully divine. Join us this Sunday at 10 AM for our "Video Worship Service," as we explore Jesus as man, myth, and Messiah. Message: Pastor Sal. Music: Peter Black & Jeff Spangler.

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

Last Sunday's Video Worship Service

On the surface, last Sunday's Gospel of the "Parable of the Talents" may sound like an uncomfortable story about greed. But Jesus is offering an important teaching about our own relationship to God. We are endowed with innate talents precisely so that we can invest them, use them, and produce greater good. Here is last Sunday's "Video Worship Service," when we explored how to invest our gifts and talents to bring more of God's abundance into expression. Message: Pastor Sal. Music: Peter Black & Pamela Chappell. Read and share the homily here.

Welcome Rev. Marchiene Rienstra (Rev. Marty)

We are pleased to share that Rev. Marchiene Rienstra is available to provide support for your spiritual journey. One of Pastor Sal’s mentors, Rev. Marchiene (aka “Rev. Marty”) was the first woman to graduate from Calvin Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree, and she taught at Calvin College and Western Theological Seminary. She also became the first woman to be senior pastor in the Reformed Church of America, and she has served half a dozen churches over the years in the Presbyterian, Unity, Reformed and Congregational denominations, including Hope Church in Holland. In addition, she is a graduate of the Academy for Spiritual Formation, and the interfaith seminary which Pastor Sal attended. She is a co-founder of the Interfaith Dialogue Association in Grand Rapids and of the Interfaith Institute in Ganges, Michigan. She is also the author of several books on spirituality. Rev. Marchiene is available to offer “soul support” to anyone who needs someone to listen with “the ear of the heart.” There is no cost, but a love offering to the church would be welcome. You can set up an appointment by emailing her at marchiene@gmail.com or calling 616-540-7233.

Virtual Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil
Friday, November 20, 7-9pm

Hosted by Gender SAFE, Out On The Lakeshore and PFLAG Holland/Lakeshore, on Friday, November 20th they will share their TDOR candlelight vigil ceremony virtually. Watch the vigil and have discussion/support time following the service. Due to the sensitive nature of this subject, we will not be publicly posting the meeting link. Anyone not already connected to PFLAG or Gender SAFE should contact OOTL by email at info@outonthelakeshore.org or call 616.994.8090 if they would like the service link.

UCC Women of Michigan: For Times Such as This, Tuesday, Dec 1

The UCC Women of Michigan are planning a virtual event for Tuesday, December 1, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. Rev. Kim Newport (Pastor, First Congregational UCC, Romeo) is our program leader and the theme is: "For Times Such as This." Esther 4:14 You must pre-register for this virtual event. Please click REGISTER below. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
REGISTER HERE

Advent Devotionals Available Saturday, Retreat House

Advent Devotionals from Pilgrim Press are available starting Saturday, November 21 for $5 each. Find them on the foyer table of the Retreat House with a box for your donation. 15 copies are available on a First Come, First Served basis. Or you may wish to order the devotional online here:
https://www.thepilgrimpress.com/collections/advent-resources/products/draw-near-2020-advent-christmastide-devotional

CJT Invites You to a Virtual "Three Sisters" Potluck

We miss our potlucks! So Creation Justice Team had an idea -- they are inviting you to participate in a Virtual Three Sisters potluck via home cooking and social media this year. For your Thanksgiving meal or for any meal, join us this month by cooking a recipe that includes corn, beans, and/or squash. Take a photo of your dish, and/or send the photo with the recipe to Julie@douglasucc.org. We will post your dishes on the DUCC facebook page. All submissions should be sent by the 30th of November. Happy cooking!

Holiday Family Album. Send us your photos by December 15

We would like to build and share a DUCC Holiday Family Album, and to do that we need your help! Could you please take a selfie, in your favorite holiday clothes (or costumes!), by yourself or in groupings, and email it to julie@douglasucc.org. Your deadline for this mission, should you choose to accept it, is December 15. We long to see one another, and we believe this will be a great way pull our family together safely this year!

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.

Christian Neighbors Needs More Help: Call for Volunteers

2020 Christian Neighbors Thanksgiving Meal Kit Preparation
Still More Volunteers Needed! Please volunteer by end of day Friday if you can help.

Christian Neighbors’ distribution of Thanksgiving Meal Kits to area families is a 37-year-old tradition in our community. In 2019, through a coordinated, two-day effort, more than 60 volunteers organized and packed 400 meal kits, each filled with a dozen items, that fed nearly 1,500 area residents a complete Thanksgiving meal. 2020 will be no different. The need for food continues to be great.

Our event will take place in the gymnasium at Community Church of Douglas, 6874 Wiley Rd. We will have Covid best practices in place. All will be required to: wear a mask over mouth and nose, stand 6 feet apart, sanitize hands, wear plastic gloves, and provide names, phone numbers and emails in case this information is requested by Allegan County Health Department. If you are unable to adhere to these expectations, for whatever reason, please don’t volunteer this year. If you want us to, we will be sure to ask you next year! We need to have our volunteer roster completed by end of day Friday, November 20.

Contact Beth Huffman at bdayhuffman@gmail.com with the date and time you’re willing to come, and your area code and phone number. Here are the fillable volunteer slots:

MONDAY, NOV. 23, 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m., NEED 6 VOLUNTEERS
On Monday, we receive, organize, and count hundreds of nonperishable food items donated from local churches. We will also label and set up ~370 bags that will be packed on Tuesday. Apples, potatoes, onions and donuts are bundled into family-size bags. All need to bring their own masks.

TUES, NOV. 24, 11:30-3 p.m. NEED 5 VOLUNTEERS
These volunteers must be able to carry 15-20 pounds repeatedly. As needed, they will assist clients with shopping and carrying 2 grocery bags and frozen poultry to their vehicles. A few volunteers will help manage line flows. We anticipate approximately 175-200 clients, and they have been given staggered arrival times. All will help with cleaning up and flattening cardboard boxes. You will be in and out of the building often, and handling frozen poultry, so bring gloves and outerwear that can get a little dirty. Wear comfortable shoes. Bring a mask.

Let us know if you can help on Monday or Tuesday by contacting Beth Huffman at bdayhuffman@gmail.com.

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

Thanks so much to all of our church members who have been contributing to our Giving Tree project! We just received a batch of new gift tags for area teenagers. Good gifts for these kids includes cards for SubWay, gas cards, manicure sets and nail polish, makeup, slippers, warm socks, pajamas, cologne -- gifts that cost around $20.00. Gift cards should be for no more than $25. 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.

580 lbs. and counting! Christian Neighbors Flour Drive & Dennis Konarski's Challenge! Please plan to give by Nov. 22

Last year we were able to gift 920 lbs of flour to Christian Neighbors' Thanksgiving Food drive. This year, despite the pandemic, we have collected 580 lbs, -- AND COUNTING. Thank you to everyone who has given so far, and if you plan to give flour, please do so by November 22, dropping off your 4-5lb. bags in the entryway of the Friendship Hall.

Volunteers needed to transport flour to Christian Neighbors' Food Bank on the morning of November 23! If you think you can help with transport, contact Christian Neighbor's liaison Ruth VandenBosch. Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed 4-5 lb flour bags to the Thanksgiving Basket food drive! We are still collecting flour contributions

Remember that 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! For details of the dinner download the PDF below!

Instructions:
1. Drop your 4-5lb bags of flour (bigger bags won't fit in holiday baskets) 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!

thanksgiving_dinner_prize.pdf
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Friendship Hall News

Pam Chappell shared her upcoming surgery on Monday, when she would receive a new hip. We learned that the surgery went very well. She is home and recovering with the aid of Peter and a certain Giant Rainbow Unicorn (GRU). Ruth VandenBosch and Wendy Hamlin shared news and updates on the various Christian Neighbors' holiday drives (see above) and the need for volunteers this year. Chris Clark announced that Christian Neighbors and Ladders of Hope each received a check for $1,200 from CROP Walk donations. Ed Korson checked in from California. Serena and Tom Spina will soon be reunited in Miami as Tom moves his parents from Long Island, where he has been working this past month to help them make their move.

Birthdays & Anniversaries

November 22- Mary Hasenauer, Steve Prokop, 24- Glynis Whitcomb, 25- Tim Schipper,
26- Orie Hawkes, Dan McGavin, 27- Linda McWebb,
28- Paul Burdick, Paul Murphy & Michael Mok
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.

Prayer List

Char Clausing (Nancy Plantinga's cousin); Jerry Ferguson; Brent Havens; Ruth VandenBosch; Sheryll and Greg VanPortfleet; Catz Dienes; the family and friends of Chris Cook, especially Larry Fuerst and Sue Scott; Pamela Chappell; Bubba Beaudreaux and Dennis Bales; Sarah Weaver (Ed Korson's family); Marilyn Ondersma (the Reimans' friend); Chris Robinson (Peter and Kathleen Mueller's nephew); Dan Mack; Leith Letcher and Jim Shewell; Warren Plantinga (Nancy Plantinga's father); Gregg Kirchen (Sheryll and Greg VanPortfleet's friend); Sidney Matheis; Jodi Berault, Dirk Hollebeek (Ruth VandenBosch's godson); Larry Gregsbeek (friend of Mark Reiman); Daniel Ver Meulen (Susan Fleming's son); Vivian Libby (Sheryll Van Portfleet's Mom); Hannah Sherman; Gary Plantinga (Nancy Plantinga's brother); 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.

Reports & Minutes

pastors_report_november_2020.pdf
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approved_church_council_minutes_october_2020.pdf
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Financial Stewardship

November 15
Viewers for November 15 Online Service videos: 617
Online Giving: $1,862.81
Retreat House Use: $225.00
Crop Walk… $10.00
Collection Plate (mailed in)… $3,123.53

Total: $5,221.34

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.