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?
Please join us this Sunday at 10 AM (either in-person or streaming live online), as we explore the "Journey of the Magi." Message by Pastor Sal. Music by Peter Black and Stan Greene. Download the Online Bulletin here: 
Last Sunday's Service
Last Sunday was the final Sunday of the year. As is our longstanding year-end tradition, we at Douglas UCC participated in a very powerful "end-of-year" ritual: The Burning Bowl ceremony. It's a ceremony of purification, transformation, and renewal. We hope you will enjoy last Sunday's service, when we let old things pass away so that all things can be made new. Message by Pastor Sal. Music by Peter Black and Jeff Spangler.
Click here to read, listen to, watch, and share Pastor Sal's Homily. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Mask Recommendation
We're taking this opportunity to remind everyone that following the new Michigan Public Health advisory for masking in all indoor public places, it's important to wear a mask in services and church meetings, maintain a safe distance from others, and withhold hugs and handshakes when passing the peace. If you forget your mask, fresh masks and hand sanitizer are available at all doors, and we encourage you to use them when entering and exiting church buildings. We want you to be well, and stay safe.
Here is Michigan's Department of Health and Human Services mask advisory for all gatherings: https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-100997_100998---,00.html You can follow Allegan County's Covid transmission and infection rate at this link: CDC infection and transmission rates by county. KUDOS to Our Stream Team!
Kelly Wright, on camera, and Mike White on the sound board. Photo by Chris Clark
For weeks now, our church services have been streamed live to YouTube by DUCC's wonderful Stream Team, led by Chris Clark and including Dave Bohn, Vicky Cobb, Lewis Corbin, Dan Mack, Gregg Smith, Robert Trenary, Mike White, Cindy Winkler and Kelly Wright. Kudos to all for helping church members and friends from around the world stay connected in worship and community!
Mid-Year Congregational Meeting, After Service on January 9, 11:30 AM
On Sunday, January 9, after service at 11:30am in the Friendship Hall, we will hold our Mid-year Congregational Meeting. We will also be broadcasting it via Zoom, so if you prefer to join us online, watch your email for the invitation to join in.
Quiet Contemplation Service Time Change
Photo by Ben White on Unsplash
"Yes! Blessed are those holy hours in which the soul retires from the world to be alone with God. God’s voice…is everywhere. Within and without, [God] speaks to our souls, if we would hear. Only the din of the world, or the tumult of our own hearts, deafens our inward ear to it. Learn to commune with [God] in stillness, and [God], whom thou hast sought in stillness, will be with thee when thou goest abroad.” – E. B. Pusey
The beginning and end times for our Thursday Hour for Contemplative Prayer at DUCC have changed from 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm to a new time of 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. This change will be in effect until Spring 2022. This is a time each Thursday to "Be Still and Know," practice contemplative prayer, or simply sit in the quiet of our church for an hour to still the mind in community. The hour begins with the lights dimmed. A brief seasonal call to prayer is spoken; followed by a period of silence while soft music plays. The hour concludes with a closing prayer. Afghan Family Task Force Update
Photo by Nina Strehl on Unsplash
Beginning in Mid-January, we will be temporarily housing an Afghan Family in the Spring Street House until longer-term housing in Holland can be found. We will not be collecting the majority of the items that people have so graciously volunteered to donate until that more permanent housing is found; However, we will be in touch with individuals if something on the list is a more immediate need for Spring Street. We have been in touch with the family and have identified some additional items they would love to have to make Spring Street feel a little bit more like home. Their needs include some cookware as well as supplies for the two-year-old, such as winter gear, clothing, and diapering supplies. We will have the more complete list on Sunday after service. If anyone is interested but will not be at service on Sunday, they can email Barbara Witt (bjm2822@aol.com) or Pat Denner (dendrimus@yahoo.com) for more details. We are blessed to have such a giving church family!
Year-End Giving Statements Coming -- Do We Have Your Correct Address? 
Photo by Amol Tyagi on Unsplash
As our Finance 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 at mikenv@sbcglobal.net.
Birthdays & Anniversaries
January 2- Doreen & Tamara Ritt, 4- Greg Gerrans, 5- Beverly Hawkes, 6- Louise Kenny, 7- Ronda Gehringer, Fred Idema, Wolf Waaso, 8- Andy Danos
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 Direct Prayer Requests
Paul Burdick; Jane Grady and Family; Family and Friends of James (Jim) Eric Kruse; Kevin Farley; Paul Murphy; Al Overweg; The Cox Family; Beverly Willming (John Willming's mother); friends and Family of Jimmy Hotwagner (Annie Hotwagner's brother); Jay North (friend of Dan Pierce); Diane Carr (Debra Carr's sister): Family and friends of Kenny Cassabon (Pete Wehle and Pamela Chappell's); 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, December 26: 40
Livestream Attendance: 52 Viewers for December 26 Online Service Videos: 449 Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $2,790.25 Online Giving: $2,570.64 Total: $5,360.89 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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56 Wall Street • Douglas, Michigan 49406
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