Weekly E-pistle: 7th Sunday after Epiphany

2/18/2022

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

This Sunday's Service Notes — 7th Sunday after Epiphany, "Love Your Enemies"
Last Week's Service Video — 6th Sunday after Epiphany, "The BE- Attitudes"
Welcome, Rev. Marchiene Rienstra!
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Mask Recommendation
Afghan Task Force Update: Drivers Needed!
Church Council Minutes & Pastor's Report
Birthdays & Anniversaries, Prayer Requests, and Financial Stewardship

This Sunday's Service: "Love Your Enemies"

In Sunday's gospel reading, Jesus says: "Love your enemy. Bless those who persecute you. Turn the other cheek." Is Jesus telling us to be a "door mat," or do his words carry a far more subversive meaning?

Join us this Sunday at 10 AM (either in-person or streaming live online) as we explore what it truly means to "love your enemy." Message: Rev. Marchiene Rienstra. Music: Peter Black and Pamela Chappell.

Download this Sunday's Online Bulletin:

order_of_service_february_20_2022.pdf
File Size:	1171 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Last Week's Service

In Last Sunday's gospel reading, Jesus gives what's become known as the "Sermon on the Plain," a set of teachings that include four of the Beatitudes: blessed are the poor, the hungry, the sorrowful, and the persecuted. Richard Rohr says that the Beatitudes are the greatest wisdom teachings of Jesus. Please enjoy last Sunday's service, when we explored these "attitudes" for how to "be." Message: Pastor Sal. Music: Peter Black and Stan Greene.
Click here to read, listen to, watch, and share Pastor Sal's Homily.

Welcome, Rev. Marchiene Reinstra!

This Sunday, we are delighted to welcome Rev. Marchiene Rienstra as our guest preacher. She was born to medical missionary parents who served in India and Pakistan. Her first 14 years of life in India influenced her love of interfaith traditions. Later, she and her surgeon husband, John, along with their four children, lived and served in Nigeria, Ethiopia and Mexico. Back in the U.S., she became the first woman to graduate from Calvin Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree, and she taught at both Calvin College and Western Theological Seminary. She also became the first woman to be senior pastor in the Reformed Church of America, and she helped establish Mother’s Trust Ashram in Ganges, Michigan. She is also the author of five books on spirituality. You won't want to miss her inspiring and powerful message.

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Mask Recommendation

Michigan Public Health office advises masking in all indoor public places and maintaining a safe distance from others. If you forget your mask for church services, fresh KN95 masks and hand sanitizer are available at all doors to help you and others stay well.

Michigan's Department of Health and Human Services mask advisory for gatherings:
https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-100997_100998---,00.html

Follow Allegan County's Covid transmission and infection rate at this link:
CDC infection and transmission rates by county.

Afghan Task Force Update: Drivers Needed!

Photo by Mayur Gala on Unsplash

Morning and Afternoon Drivers Needed!

We are so excited to share that the young man we are sponsoring from Afghanistan has secured a good job at Haworth in Holland, just a 15-minute drive from Douglas. He will be working Monday thru Friday from 6:30 AM to 5 PM beginning on February 21.

Until he learns how to drive and gets a driver's license, we will need volunteers to drive him to and from work. If you can help, please e-mail Bob Kenny or sign the sheet in the Friendship Hall on Sunday. Thank you.

Meanwhile, your generosity has been most humbling and most welcome. Donations to the general fund supporting the family can be made online here, or send a check to Douglas UCC, PO Box 519, Douglas, MI 49406. Please write "Afghan Family" on the memo line!

Church Council Minutes & Pastor's Report

Photo by Debbie Hudson on Unsplash

pastors_report_february_2022.pdf
File Size:	207 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

approved_church_council_minutes_january_2022.pdf
File Size:	144 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Birthdays & Anniversaries

February 20- Mary Alice Townsend, 22- Beth Miller, 24- Greg VanPortfleet

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

Judy Baxter (Kristine Sherman's Mother); Dan & Barb Witt and family; Kathy Hartman and family; Joann DeJonge; Richard and Joanna Weber's grandson Mattox (friends of the Ridls); Shirley Lawson & Family; Jane Grady & Family; Paul Burdick; Paul Murphy; Al Overweg; Beverly Willming (John Willming's mother); Jay North (friend of Dan Pierce); Diane Carr (Debra Carr's sister): Hannah Sherman; Maureen Pierce; Helaine Miedema (David Miedema's mother); Ron Turks (Carol Cunningham's son-in-law); David Abbot; Sarah Johnson Lock; Linda Masten (Mark Reiman's friend); Vicki Latham (Ruth VandenBosch's cousin); Cole Hartman; Mike Sneedon (Peg and Jack Donohue's friend); Tim Reineck, Matt Brazys, Suzanne Cook, and Ken Cassbon (friends of Pete Wehle and Pamela Chappell); Richie Czarnowski (Mark Reiman's friend); Dale Lower; Sherri Kanten (Ruth VandenBosch's friend); Michael (a friend of Dan Mack's); Myron (Wendy Hamlin's grandson, Fred Hamlin's great-grandson); Chris Stuart (Virginia Stuart's sister-in-law); Mary Elizabeth Loudin (friend of Laurie VandenBeldt); Chris Robinson (Peter and Kathleen Mueller's nephew); Daniel Ver Meulen (Susan Fleming's son); Marcia Sullivan (Jo Cooley's friend)

Financial Stewardship

In-Person Attendance, February 13: 38
Livestream Attendance: 79
Total Viewers for February 13 Online Service Videos: 551

Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $1,640
Online Giving: $2,714.88

Total: $4,354.88

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.