Weekly E-Pistle: First Sunday After Epiphany

1/8/2021

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

This Sunday's Service Notes - "The Baptism of Jesus"
A Message from our UCC President in response to the U.S. Capitol Attack
Last Week's Service Video --"Second Sunday After Christmas -- Epiphany"
Mid-Year Congregational Meeting, January 10, 11 a.m. via Zoom!
Sign up for your vaccine!
Congratulations New Stephen Ministers!
Thank you from Kathy & Mike
Reverse Advent Calendar Reminder
Friendship Hall News
Birthdays & Anniversaries, Prayer Requests, and Financial Stewardship

This Sunday's Service: "The Baptism of Jesus"

In Sunday's Gospel reading, we'll hear the story of Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. Most Christians have been baptized at some point in their lives, either as infants or as adults. But, what exactly is the meaning and significance of the ritual of baptism? Please join us this Sunday for our "Video Worship Service," where we'll celebrate Jesus's baptism and explore the meaning and purpose of baptism in our lives today.
Message: Pastor Sal. Music: Peter Black and Elizabeth Estes.

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

A Message from our UCC President

After the attack on our nation's Capitol building this week by domestic terrorists, our UCC President, Rev. John Dorhauer, offers us words of prayer and hope. Read his words HERE.

Last Sunday's Video Service

Last Sunday, we celebrated the Epiphany, when the Magi followed the Star of Wonder and were guided to that Perfect Light. Who were the Magi, and how does their story apply to our lives today? Tune in to our "Video Worship Service" for last Sunday, when we explored how the "Journey of the Magi" can inform and transform our own spiritual journeys today.
Message: Pastor Sal. Music: Peter Black, Jeff Spangler, and Steve Debbink.

Mid-year Congregational Meeting, Sunday, 11am
We Hope You Can Join Us!

Congregational Meeting: Our mid-year Congregational Meeting will be held via ZOOM on Sunday, January 10, 2020, at 11 AM, in lieu of the regular online Friendship Hall meetup. Watch your inbox for the link on Friday, January 8! We hope you can join us! Download the meeting agenda, below, and if you wish to review the new Financial Procedures Handbook, download the copy below. If you would like to review a print version of the new handbook, email Julie to let her know.

congregational_meeting_agenda.pdf
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financial_procedures_handbook__1_.pdf
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Sign Up for your Vaccine!

Our region is organizing our local public health departments to distribute vaccines in West Michigan. Click here to visit Vaccinate West Michigan for news of distribution in our region. If you are an Allegan County resident and wish to have a vaccine and/or volunteer to help out , follow this link to the Allegan County Health Department website. Hope is on the horizon!

Congratulations New Stephen Ministers!

Last Sunday, we welcomed four new Stephen Ministers (pictured above), who have completed their 50 hours of training and are now ready for service. Congratulations to Patricia Denner, Doug Sipsma, Demethrea Terrien, and Michael Valdez! We are so appreciative of their willingness to serve our church family in this way by providing support to church members. We are also grateful to our Stephen Leaders, Paul Burdick and Laurie VanDenBeldt. If you could use an empathic listening ear in these difficult days, contact Pastor Sal or Paul Burdick to request a Stephen Minister.

A Lovely Thank You from Kathy & Mike

Dear Pastor Sal and our church friends,

Words are not enough to express how humbled and honored we were to receive your kind words and well wishes before leaving home. The items in the gift basket will ever remind us of our beloved church with the personalized tile proudly displayed in our undecorated apartment! Although we are now living in North Carolina, pieces of our heart will always remain with all of you in Michigan.

Also, thank you for all of your prayers and support for my wonderful mother, Phyllis Wallis, who transitioned to the next life on January 2. She always felt so welcome when she visited our church.

With love and gratitude,
Kathy and Mike

Reverse Advent Calendar Reminder

The Reverse Advent Calendar Food Bank project is ON! Get out a nice sturdy box, download and print out the helpful files below, and fill your heart while you fill your box!

reverse_advent_calendar_notes.pdf
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reverse_advent_calendar.pdf
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Friendship Hall News

At Friendship Hall Zoom meetup this week, Pastor Sal shared that Kathy Austin's mom, Phyllis Wallis, made her transition after spending a good Christmas with her family. You may send condolences to Kathy and Mike's current address in North Carolina here: 4403 Waterford Valley Dr., Apt. #218, Durham, NC 27713. We learned that after an eventful early delivery, Jane Brodt's daughter Lisa gave birth to her healthy and beautiful daughter, Harper, pictured above. Blessings on Harper, her parents, Lisa and Michael, and all of Jane's family! We learned that Gregg Smith's step-dad, Bill Tucker, is struggling with Covid-19, and we offered prayers for his recovery. We received thanks from Rachael Overweg for the virtual shower we are holding for her daughter, Marissa. See last week's E-Pistle for details, and contact Julie if you'd like to participate. And we met and heard from our four new Stephen Ministers, and thanked them and blessed them in their new service! See article, above!

Birthdays & Anniversaries

January 12- Darris Cichock, Arni Scheving, 13- Bruce Dybas,
Elaine Overweg, 14- nelson Hart, 15- John Rossi, 16- Joyce Wright

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 Requests

Kathy Austin and Mike Boston and their family; Barbara Muller; Bill & Sue Tucker (Gregg Smith's parents); Emil 'Sonny' Pulick (Sue Fleming and Mary Alice Townsend's dad); David Lezondra; Andrea Kane (friend of Dick and Barb Lucier); Lisa and Michael and baby Harper McLoughlin (Jane Brodt's daughter and son-in-law and new granddaughter); Mary Elizabeth Loudin (friend of Laurie VandenBeldt); Richard Graham; Max Brown; the Klott Family; five members of family of Max Brown's sister; Audrey Looman and Michael Titus, (friends of Ruth VandenBosh; Ruth Pearson (Wendy Hamlin's sister, Fred Hamlin's daughter); Jimmy Hotwagner; Char Clausing (Nancy Plantinga's cousin); Brent Havens; Ruth VandenBosch; the family and friends of Chris Cook, especially Larry Fuerst and Sue Scott; Pamela Chappell; Bubba Beaudreaux; 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); Terry Stough (Catz Dienes' son); Ted Sommer; 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.

Financial Stewardship

January 3, 2021
Viewers for January 3, Online Service Videos: 795
Podcast listeners, December: 397

Online Donations: $5,275.19

Total: $5,275.19

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.