Weekly E-Pistle: Fourth Sunday of Advent

12/16/2022

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

This Sunday's Service — Fourth Sunday of Advent
Last Week's Service Video — Third Sunday of Advent
Representing DUCC at the Christian Neighbors Dinner
Thank You Art Guild!
Christmas Morning Cookie Exchange!!
January Treat Signups for Coffee Hour
Holiday Reciepts for the Reciept Collection
Just a Few DUCC Christmas Ornaments Available for Sale!
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, December 24, 6 PM
Year-End Giving Statements Coming -- Do We Have Your Correct Address?
Birthdays & Anniversaries, Prayer Requests, and Financial Stewardship

Fourth Sunday of Advent

This Sunday is the fourth and final Sunday of Advent, in which we put our focus on Mary, the mother of Jesus, and her revolutionary song of love. We'll also light our fourth advent candle for "Love."

Please join us this Sunday at 10 AM (either in-person or streaming live online) for an inspiring message from Pastor Sal and uplifting music from Peter Black and Max Brown.

Download the Online Bulletin Here:

order_of_service_december_18_2022.pdf
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Last Week's Service Video — Third Sunday of Advent

The late spiritual teacher, Henri Nouwen, wrote: "Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day." Please enjoy last Sunday's service for the "Third Sunday of Advent," when we lit the pink candle, which symbolizes "JOY." There is good news of great joy for all people: the Light is on its way -- an inspiring message from Rev. Ginny Mikita and uplifting music from Peter Black and Stan Greene.

Representing DUCC at the Christian Neighbors Dinner

Our church members Richard Marth, Brad Hopkins, Joyce Wright (our Christian Neighbors Liaison), Peter Mueller (our Church Council Moderator), and Wendy Hamilin (Christian Neighbors Board Member), represented Douglas UCC at the beautiful luncheon hosted by Christian Neighbors last week. The luncheon celebrated our community's volunteers, the board, and supporters of Christian Neighbors, celebrating the generosity and loving spirit that flows through our community.

Thank You Art Guild!

We are so grateful for our Art Guild! The Christmas altar is breathtaking. Thank you for your vision and hard work, Bud Baty, Bill Kelleher, Jim Bailey, Josephine Berault, Chris Maitner, Floyd Fleming, and Greg Harvath!

Christmas Morning Cookie Exchange!

Photo by Fran Jacquier on Unsplash

Following our worship service on Christmas morning, we will be having a “Cookie Exchange” in the Friendship Hall during Coffee Hour! If you are able, please bring a plate of cookies to share and enjoy.

January Treat Signups for Coffee Hour

Photo by Ruth Georgiev on Unsplash

We love our post-service coffee hours! The treat makers make it happen! If you can supply treats for January coffee hours, please sign up for the January slots. Sign-up sheets are in the friendship hall, or contact Joyce Wright, our Coffee Hour Coordinator, by email.

Holiday Reciepts for the Reciept Collection

Every reciept counts! The grand total collected so far is $97,111, so we are actually able to see the finish line from here! Only $52,889 to go! Those hefty holiday reciepts would be most welcomed! 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.

Just a Few DUCC Christmas Ornaments Left!!

The beautiful Douglas UCC Christmas ornament (pictured above) is now available for sale. Designed and crafted in Poland, the ornament depicts the front of our church in winter. This lovely ornament makes the perfect holiday gift. The cost is $25 each, for sale in the Friendship Hall after Sunday's service. Or you may order an ornament online here.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service,
December 24, 6 PM

Please join us on Saturday, December 24, at 6 PM (either in-person or streaming live online) for our annual Christmas Eve service of "The Lessons and Carols," in which we celebrate the story of the birth of Jesus told through lessons from the Bible and through beloved Christmas Carols that we all know and love. The evening will feature a special performance from the Douglas UCC Holiday Choir. Then, on December 25, please join us at 10 AM for our Christmas morning worship service, followed by a cookie exchange in the Friendship Hall.

Year-End Giving Statements Coming -- Do We Have Your Correct Address?

Photo by Amol Tyagi on Unsplash

As our Financial Team works to prepare year-end giving statements, please help them out by updating your mailing address, if it has changed over the past year. Please send your new mailing address to Michael VerMerris.

Birthdays & Anniversaries

December 18- Margret Bazany, 19- Dee Mikos-Graves, 22- Mary Harris
24- Cambria Whitcomb, Kelsey Whitcomb

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

John Willming; Dave Bazany; Carol Rice; Family and friends of Bill Modsel (Lynne Snyder's Brother-in-law); 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); Phil Sturdevant (Pete Wehle's friend); Darren Dixon (Beverly and Orie Hawkes' nephew); David Zylstra (Laurie VandenBeldt's friend); Elinor Hite (Virginia Stuart's sister); Joann DeJonge; 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, December 11 : 82
Total Views for December 11 Online Videos: 203

Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $8,741.00
Online Giving: $4,497.07

Total: $13,238.07

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.