This week's homily by Stan Greene: Answering the CallOur Pastor Sal is currently on sabbatical, and we have an amazing lineup of inspiring speakers in the coming weeks. This Sunday, Stan Greene will be giving the message, the title of his homily is “Answering the Call.” Stan Greene has worshipped at Douglas UCC since 2016 and joined the congregation in May 2018. He participates in our music ministry and with the Spring Street Men's Group and the Social Justice Team. Stan and his wife, Patrice, live in Saugatuck Township. We hope you can join us this Sunday at 10 AM for an inspiring message from Stan and uplifting music by Elizabeth Estes and Peter Black. Being the Church: First Sabbatical Service! We DID IT!As one church member put it: 'It was a little like having a party in the house when our parents are away." Well, okay, maybe not EXACTLY like that, but we did gather in a mild ice storm for our first Sabbatical Sunday, and made a lovely service featuring an astonishing homily by Elizabeth Estes (copies of the homily available by writing to [email protected], with volunteer service leaders for all the service parts. And it was lovely. The game is afoot. We've got this! Insert your encouraging cliché here. And for those of you who are some place warmer or missed the service: Yes, folks, YouTube is on sabbatical too. That is, you have to be at the happening to experience the happening. Right? So come home already! Your family misses you! 2020 Women's March: DUCC and EverywhereThis fourth year, the Saugatuck-Douglas Women's March has taken over both towns in a celebration of womens' power to organize, vote, and move this country forward in peace and justice for all. Friday Jan. 17: KNOCK DOWN THE HOUSE (free screening) Saugatuck Center for the Arts 6 pm: Poster Making & Voter Registration 7 pm: Movie Saturday Jan. 18: TOAST TO TENACITY (local women speaking informally at Douglas restaurants) 10:00 am Sue Fleming @ Everyday People Cafe "How We Heal - A Blessing Circle" 10:00 am Dr. Laurie Birkholz @ Borrowed Time "Gender Bias in Healthcare, An Informal Conversation 11:00 am Glenna DeJong, PhD @ Alley's Dinner & Bowl "It's Not a Movement If Everyone is Just Sitting Around" INTENTION SETTING WORKSHOP Douglas United Church of Christ, 56 W. Wall St. Douglas 12 Noon GATHER FOR MARCH 12:30 Beery Field Fire Circles, Poster Making, Community Meet & Greet SPEAKERS 1:00 Levora Barnes, Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party (5-10 mins) 1:10 Elizabeth Welch, Candidate Michigan State Supreme Court (5-10 mins) MARCH 1:15ish March Begins 1:45 Marchers start to arrive at Coast 236 Restaurant - Detroit/Chicago DJ Christa Schrupp will be spinning tunes for 1-2 hours/street blocked off in front of Coast - UnCommon Grounds will provide coffee - Coast 236 will have food & drinks available OTHER Downtown Douglas will be hosting a HER-story pop-up of local women leaders & social change. Douglas businesses will be highlighting women artists, have special cocktails and features running over the week. Creation Justice: "Dark Skies" Speaker, Jan. 21, 6:30 PMOn January 21 at 6:30 pm, please come to hear Peter Burkey speak on the over-lighting of our skies and the effect this trend has had on our health and the health of neighboring species. The event will be held in the Friendship Hall, where you can sign up to let us know you will attend the event. Peter has been a supporter of the International Dark Sky Association for decades and is an advocate for quality, dark-sky-friendly lighting. His talk will include information on the effects of poor lighting and how they can be remedied. For more information, visit this event at the Creation Justice Team Blog. Pancake Breakfast, February 2! Our February Potluck will be a Pancake Breakfast in the Friendship Hall on FEBRUARY 2, rather than the second week of February. Thank you, once again, to our church member, John Willming, for facilitating the breakfast. It is always a fun way to celebrate together! 52 Ways to Care for CreationThe UCC's Creation Justice Ministry is sharing an environmental action we can take each week of 2020 to make powerful change on behalf of our planet. We'll be sharing these in the E-pistle, and a copy of the entire document is available on the bulletin board in the Friendship Hall. 3. Green Your Laundry Routine
4. Plan to Participate in Faith-Rooted Ecumenical Advocacy efforts, including Ecumenical Advocacy Days 2020Creation Justice Ministries is one of more than 40 co-sponsoring Christian organizations for the annual Ecumenical Advocacy Days conference in Washington, DC. This is a valuable gathering that connects Christian communities nationally to worship, learn about timely issues, develop leadership skills, and take action for justice. This year's theme is "Imagine! God's Earth and People Restored." Learn more at www.advocacydays.org. Early Bird registration ends March 16. When considering who to send, think about who is eager to make a difference, but might not otherwise be able to pay their own way. You can also check the website of your state's Interfaith or ecumenical council to see if they are planning advocacy days in the state capitol. Financial Stewardship Report:January 12: Attendance: 87
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