 In This Week's E-Pistle, You Will Find:
This Sunday's Service: "Epiphany Sunday" This Sunday, we will celebrate 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" this Sunday, as we explore 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. Tune in on Sunday at 10 AM via our Facebook page, YouTube channel, or here on our website. Last Week's ServiceOn the 1st Sunday after Christmas, the Christian Church celebrates the "Feast of the Holy Family," where we put our focus on Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. At last Sunday's "Video Worship Service," Pastor Sal gave an inspiring message about "Faith and Family," and we enjoyed uplifting music from Peter Black and Jeff Spangler. Plus, we shared the "Holiday Slideshow" of our Douglas UCC family. Read and share the homily, podcast, and video here. DUCC Mid-Year Congregational Meeting |
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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!
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Centering Prayer Websites, Apps and Books!
During the months of November and December, Pastor Sal led a Centering Prayer group, who met weekly to learn about and engage in this meditative form of prayer. Along the way, Pastor Sal shared a number of helpful resources for exploring and deepening our centering prayer practice including these:
Contemplative Outreach, a "spiritual network of individuals and small faith communities committed to living the contemplative dimension of the Gospel." This community offers many ways of approaching this practice, including a Centering Prayer meditation app for your phone!
MeditationChapel.org We found it a powerful experience to meet together online to pray in this way. And behind this link is an "online multi-faith community of contemplatives," including a long, long list of online prayer groups from many faith traditions. There is almost no time of the day or day of the week when a meditative prayer community is not available to you from somewhere in the world! Read the rules and register with this group to receive the Zoom links. Meditation Chapel nurtures unity and world peace through the sharing of divine stillness and sacred listening. They support groups of all faith traditions in offering and sharing the contemplative experience.
Open Mind, Open Heart, by Thomas Keating, known throughout the world as a teacher of and writer on contemplative prayer. A Cistercian (Trappist) monk of St. Benedict's Monastery in Snowmass, Colorado, he was one of the founders of the Centering Prayer Movement.
We hope you'll enjoy exploring these resources. Do you have more questions about centering prayer? Just ask Pastor Sal!
Contemplative Outreach, a "spiritual network of individuals and small faith communities committed to living the contemplative dimension of the Gospel." This community offers many ways of approaching this practice, including a Centering Prayer meditation app for your phone!
MeditationChapel.org We found it a powerful experience to meet together online to pray in this way. And behind this link is an "online multi-faith community of contemplatives," including a long, long list of online prayer groups from many faith traditions. There is almost no time of the day or day of the week when a meditative prayer community is not available to you from somewhere in the world! Read the rules and register with this group to receive the Zoom links. Meditation Chapel nurtures unity and world peace through the sharing of divine stillness and sacred listening. They support groups of all faith traditions in offering and sharing the contemplative experience.
Open Mind, Open Heart, by Thomas Keating, known throughout the world as a teacher of and writer on contemplative prayer. A Cistercian (Trappist) monk of St. Benedict's Monastery in Snowmass, Colorado, he was one of the founders of the Centering Prayer Movement.
We hope you'll enjoy exploring these resources. Do you have more questions about centering prayer? Just ask Pastor Sal!
Friendship Hall News
We had a lovely meetup with more than 40 church members and friends joining us this past Sunday. Rachael Overweg joined us from her home up north, and shared that her child has chosen the name Marissa in her new identity as a woman! We made a spontaneous decision to hold a virtual shower for Marissa, sending her warm, feminine clothes, cosmetics, toiletries, and feminine decor for her living space. if you'd like to participate in the shower, write to Julie for Marissa's address! Brenda Marcy shared her feelings about her Christmas season this year, which brought to mind the phrase, "Bidden or unbidden, God is here," the translation of the Latin phrase, above, that she keeps in her home. It's the same phrase Carl Jung had inscribed in marble over the door of his home. Bev Hawkes shared a beautiful quote from spiritual author and contemplative Mirabai Starr, that she felt summed up the feeling she and Orie have gotten since joining our community:
"It turns out that the world is filled with special beings, grappling our way through the anxiety of solitary conundrums and tasting the occasional reprieve of connection. When you realize this, your body lets out its breath and relaxes. The curse lifts. You come in from the cold. You hold out your cup, and some other special being fills it with sweet, milky tea spiced with fragrant herbs. You drink."
And Dale Lower is looking for print copies of the Myron Freund obituary from the Commercial Record. If you have a copy and can share it, please mail it to him at his address in the directory. If you have trouble finding it, just email Julie for it!
"It turns out that the world is filled with special beings, grappling our way through the anxiety of solitary conundrums and tasting the occasional reprieve of connection. When you realize this, your body lets out its breath and relaxes. The curse lifts. You come in from the cold. You hold out your cup, and some other special being fills it with sweet, milky tea spiced with fragrant herbs. You drink."
And Dale Lower is looking for print copies of the Myron Freund obituary from the Commercial Record. If you have a copy and can share it, please mail it to him at his address in the directory. If you have trouble finding it, just email Julie for it!
Birthdays & Anniversaries
January 4- Greg Gerrans, 5- Beverly Hawkes, 6- Louise Kenny,
7- Rhonda Gehringer, Fred Idema, Wolf Waaso, 8- Andy Danos
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.
7- Rhonda Gehringer, Fred Idema, Wolf Waaso, 8- Andy Danos
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
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; 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.
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
December 27
Viewers for December 24 and 27 Online Service Videos: 1,717
Online Giving: $2,931.89
Facebook Giving for end of November: $305.00
Christmas Fund: $120.00
Misc. Donation: $300.00
Collection Plate: $2,710.00
Retreat House/Church Use: $375.00
Advent Devotionals: $5.00
Christmas Ornaments: $245.00
Total: $6,991.89
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.
Viewers for December 24 and 27 Online Service Videos: 1,717
Online Giving: $2,931.89
Facebook Giving for end of November: $305.00
Christmas Fund: $120.00
Misc. Donation: $300.00
Collection Plate: $2,710.00
Retreat House/Church Use: $375.00
Advent Devotionals: $5.00
Christmas Ornaments: $245.00
Total: $6,991.89
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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