In This Week's E-pistle, You Will Find:
This Sunday's Service: First Sunday of Advent
This Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent, a time for us to prepare with great expectation for the birth of the Christ Light within us.
Please join us this Sunday at 10 AM (either in-person or streaming live online), as we focus on the theme of the first Advent candle: HOPE. Message: Pastor Sal. Music: Peter Black and Pamela Chappell Download this week's Bulletin here: 
Last Sunday's Service
Last Sunday was "Reign of Christ" or "Christ the King" Sunday. On this feast day, we celebrate Jesus as fully human and fully divine. Please enjoy last week's service, when we explored Jesus as both man and Messiah. Message: Pastor Sal. Music: Peter Black and Jeff Spangler
Click here to read, listen to, watch, and share Pastor Sal's Homily. In Memoriam: Alan Weathers & Sidney Matheis
Our hearts are heavy as we say goodbye to two of our longstanding church members. Alan Weathers died suddenly at his home on Monday, and Sidney Matheis passed away on Tuesday in the hospital after suffering a stroke. Pastor Sal has been in touch with Alan’s family, and he said prayers at Sidney’s bedside just a few hours before he passed. Please hold both families in your prayers. We will keep you posted when memorial services are planned.
Photos from Douglas UCC's Sedona Retreat
Pastor Sal and our Douglas UCC retreatants returned home last week from a week-long spiritual journey to Sedona and the Grand Canyon. They visited the Church of the Red Rocks (our UCC church in Sedona), as well as the Chapel of the Holy Cross, the Buddhist Peace Park, and several sacred Native American sites. Many thanks to church member, David Geen, for organizing the trip. Enjoy the photo slideshow above.
Carol & Bernie: Our Heroes!
Earlier this week, two of our church members, Bernie Lopata and Carol Rice, were recognized by Casco Township for their heroic and brave actions: pulling two women from a burning car after an accident on 109th (in early September). Kudos to these women! Supervisor Allan Overhiser presents the commendations to Carol (l) and Bernie (r).
Christmas Choir: 1st Rehearsal this Sunday!
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
Peter Black, our Music Director, has been busy gathering our Christmas Eve Choir for the Christmas Eve service. He is holding four rehearsals, held each Sunday after service, beginning this week. If you would like to sing in the choir, you don't need to be able to attend every rehearsal, but we hope you can make as many as possible. Please speak with Peter Black after services to join the choir, or click here to write to him!
UCC Advent Devotional On Sale
Copies of the 2022 UCC Advent Devotional, What’s Left of the Night?, are now available for sale in the Friendship Hall for $5 each. There is a bible text, reflection, and prayer for each day of Advent, which begins on November 27. You can also purchase a PDF version of the devotional for $3 at www.thepilgrimpress.com.
True North's Pullman Project Update
A huge thank you for the church members who have volunteered to help provide for families who live in the Fennville/Pullman area with their needs for Christmas. It was heartwarming to see so many people who stepped up to the plate! Through your generosity, we are helping seven families to have a happy Christmas and get through the winter.
If you are one of the generous people who will be donating funds, please contact Maryjo Lemanski and mention what amount you intend to give. If you are interested in helping, we can use some shoppers for the things these families need. Many generous donors gave money for purchases. Now we need people to search and shop. Click here to contact MaryJo If you are one of the people waiting for a family to sponsor, Mike at the Community Church of Douglas promises the lists will be ready right after Thanksgiving! Click here to contact Mike. Tis the Season for Family Fare Receipts!
We are more than halfway to our goal of $150,000 in food receipts from Family Fare and D&W. When we reach our goal, Family Fare will donate $1,000 to Ladders of Hope Food Pantry in Fennville. Please place your receipts in the "Family Fare" collection box in the Friendship Hall.
Giving Tree is Up!
Our annual Christian Neighbors Holiday Giving Tree is now up in the Friendship Hall. Please consider taking a gift request tag from the tree this Sunday. These gift requests were given by local parents in need of providing holiday gifts for their children. Please purchase the gift request written on the tag and then place the unwrapped gift inside the "Holiday Box" in the Friendship Hall by Sunday, December 4. Thank you, as always, for your generous giving.
Thank You For Exceeding our Flour Goal!!!
Thanks so much for your generous giving! With your help, we were able to donate 139 bags of flour and 3 boxes of rice to help fill Christian Neighbors' Thanksgiving baskets for families in need in our area. Once again the DUCC family comes through for Christian Neighbors! And KUDOS to Wendy Hamlin and Joyce Wright for managing the flour drive and delivery!
December SoulCollage with Ruth Zwald, December 3
Lakeshore Community Chorus Holiday Concert, December 4 
Birthdays & Anniversaries
November 27– Linda McWebb, 28– Paul Burdick, 30– Max Brown
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
Family and friends of Sidney Matheis; Family and friends of Alan Weathers; Doug Petersen; Kirstin Barendsen (cousin of Ruth VandenBosch); Marianna Maver (Friend of many in our congregation); Beverly and Orie Hawkes & Family; Susan Schram & Family; Diane Carr & Family; Kenley Hoove (Stephen Lewis' friend); Dr. Paul Lewis (Stephen Lewis's brother); Michael Lynch; Jennifer Roe-Lazzaro; Mary Baxter (Marjorie Reiman's friend); Elwood Cephus Stith (Mark Reiman's friend); Pete Wehle; Rev. Lou Grettenberger (friend of Ginny Mikita); Rachael Rienstra; Phil Sturdevant (Pete Wehle's friend); Darren Dixon (Beverly and Orie Hawkes' nephew); The Hotwagner Family; David Zylstra (Laurie VandenBeldt's friend); Elinor Hite (Virginia Stuart's sister); Joann DeJonge; Richard and Joanna Weber's great-grandson Mattox (friends of the Ridls); Al Overweg; Beverly Willming (John Willming's mother); Jay North (friend of Dan Pierce); Hannah Sherman; Maureen Pierce; David Abbot; Sarah Johnson Lock; 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); Sherri Kanten (Ruth VandenBosch's friend); Chris Stuart (Virginia Stuart's sister-in-law); Mary Elizabeth Loudin (friend of Laurie VandenBeldt)
Financial Stewardship
In-Person Attendance, November 20 : 81
Total Views for November 20 Online Videos: 568 Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $1,544.00 Online Giving: $4,443.39 Total: $5,987.39 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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56 Wall Street • Douglas, Michigan 49406
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