Weekly E-pistle: Second Sunday of Advent

12/3/2021

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

This Sunday's Service Notes — Second Sunday of Advent, “Prepare Ye the Way"
Last Week's Service Video -- First Sunday of Advent, "The Birth of Light in You!"
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Mask Recommendation
Giving Tree Gift Tags Are Here
DUCC Christmas Ornament for Sale
Chris Clark's Camino De Santiago Talk
"A Christmas Carol" in Saugatuck - Tickets Now on Sale
CJT presents "All Creation Waits," Author Gayle Boss on her Beautiful Advent Devotional, December 7, 7pm, Online
Afghan Family Task Force Update
Holiday Poetry Reading — December 9 via Zoom
Year-End Giving Statements Coming -- Do We Have Your Correct Address?
Birthdays & Anniversaries, Prayer Requests, and Financial Stewardship

This Sunday: "Prepare Ye the Way"

Our Gospel reading for this Sunday (the 2nd Sunday of Advent) has John the Baptist proclaiming: "Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord!" Join us this Sunday at 10 AM (either in-person or streaming live online), as we explore together what it means to "Prepare the Way." Message by Pastor Sal. Music by Peter Black and Max Brown. We will also be lighting our 2nd Advent wreath candle for "Peace."

Download the Online Bulletin here:

order_of_service_for_december_5_2021.pdf
File Size:	207 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Last Sunday's Service

Last Sunday was the first Sunday of Advent, a time for us to prepare with great expectation for the birth of the Christ Light within us. Please enjoy last Sunday's service, when we lit our first Advent candle, and Pastor Sal gave an inspiring Progressive Christian message on "The Power of Hope." Music by Peter Black and Nancy Plantinga.

Click here to read, listen to, watch, and share Pastor Sal's Homily.

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Mask Recommendation

So 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, stay safe, and have a joyful holiday season,

Because our area transmission and death rate continue to climb, Michigan's Department of Health and Human Services has issued a mask advisory for this holiday season for all gatherings:

https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98158-572726--,00.html

You can follow Allegan County's Covid transmission and infection rate at this link, though it won't be udated until after the Thanksgiving holiday:
CDC infection and transmission rates by county.

Giving Tree Gift Tags Are Here, Gifts Due December 7

The DUCC Giving Tree is up in the Friendship Hall, full of tags bearing the gifts we can supply to Christian Neighbors for families in need in our community. Grab a tag, shop for the gift on the tag, and deliver it by December 7, unwrapped, to the Friendship Hall entryway, where you'll see this poster, above, and a large box ready to accept your gift. If you would like to participate, but can't get to the church, write to Julie@douglasucc.org, and she will email you a gift tag.

DUCC Ornaments for Sale

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. To place an order, please email us at welcome@douglasucc.org. We can arrange for you to pick up your ornament at the church, or we can send it to you. Shipping is $5 more.

Chris Clark's Camino De Santiago Talk!

Thanks and KUDOS to Chris Clark for sharing his 500-mile pilgramage along the Camino de Santiago in Spain! Chris promised to take his church family along the journey, and he certainly did, ending with this lovely presentation last Sunday!

"A Christmas Carol" in Saugatuck
Tickets on Sale Now!

Tickets are now on sale for "A Christmas Carol," a Saugatuck holiday tradition for over 30 years. Performances are held at the Women's Club in Downtown Saugatuck beginning on Friday, December 10. Our very own Peter Black is the musical director of the show, and church member, Jim Kern, serves as the narrator this year. There are only 8 performances total, so tickets will sell fast. For performance dates/times and to purchase tickets, visit: https://saugatuckchristmascarol.ludus.com/

CJT presents "All Creation Waits," Author Gayle Boss on her Beautiful Advent Devotional, December 7, 7pm

"This Advent Season, the Creation Justice Team recommends "All Creation Waits," a stunning devotional by Gayle Boss (who has also published a companion Lenten Devotional). Her beautiful studies of wild animals quieting for the winter, awaiting the Light, is beautifully illustrated with woodcuts by David G. Klein. Gayle will join us for an online Author's talk on December 7 at 7pm via Zoom! Meanwhile, you can order your own copies of the devotional from your favorite bookseller, or directly from the publisher here: https://paracletepress.com/products/all-creation-waits

If you'd like to join us for this talk, sign up on Eventbrite here.
Or sign up in the Friendship Hall after service on Sunday.

Afghan Family Task Force Update

Photo by Tim Marshall on Unsplash

Afghanistan Refugee Family Household Needs: Although we have not had a family assigned to us yet, we have been busy getting organized and identifying basic necessities to set up a household. Once we know when our family is going to arrive, we will most likely have to move fairly quickly.
Please feel free to contact Barb Witt at bjm2822@aol.com or 616-340-7970 or Pat Denner at dendronus@yahoo.com or 269-509-2911 for a list of specific items still needed. One or both of them are available after church services in the Friendship Hall with lists in hand.

As soon as we receive news of our sponsor family's arrival and location, we will begin accepting donations to help provide for our family, and we will announce giving goals and process in an upcoming E-Pistle and in service.

Thanks to all for sharing your blessings with those in need.

Landscapes of Poetry Holiday Reading, December 9, 7pm

Photo by Trust Tru Katsande on Unsplash

Jack Ridl has run a poetry workshop for more than 13 years, entitled The Landscapes of Poetry. These poets have formed a supportive and enriching community, and during the holidays, they offer a free reading of their remarkable work. Because they are located across the country, this reading is held via Zoom, this year on December 9, at 7pm. Here are the poets:

Annie Valkema, Kathleen Markland, GF Korreck, Sharon Arendshorst, Beth McBride, Ruth Zwald, Jeff Munroe, Robbi Hartt, Marianna Maver, Mary McSchmidt, Peg Padnos, and hosted by Jack Ridl

All are welcomed. Use the contact link on Jack's website to ask for the link if you wish to enjoy these amazing voices.

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 at mikenv@sbcglobal.net.

Birthdays & Anniversaries

December 5- Brad Hopkins, David Nadeau, 6- David Bazany, Chris Maitner, 7-Dan Sutherland,
9- Carol Jaworowicz, 10- Linda Charvat, Chris Clark, Derek Hoehn,
11-Anita Halcyon & Spouse, Stephen Townsend

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. If you don't have a directory, please let us know, and we will email one to you.

Prayer Requests

Jay North (friend of Dan Pierce); Diane Carr (Debra Carr's sister): MaryAnn Debbink (Steve Debbink's mother); Pete Wehle; Family and friends of Kenny Cassabon (Pete Wehle and Pamela Chappell's); Julie Ridl; Hannah Sherman; Maureen Pierce; Family and Friends of Darlene Walker (Greg and Sheryll VanPortfleet's friend); 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, November 21: 60
Viewers for November 21 Online Service Videos: 653
November Podcast Downloads: 159
Total Podcast Downloads: 9,322

Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $160.00
Online Giving: $776.34

Total: $936.34

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.