Weekly E-Pistle: Second Sunday of Advent

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

• This Sunday's Service — Second Sunday of Advent
• Last Week's Service Video — First Sunday of Advent
• The Giving Tree! Gift Deadline is this Sunday, Dec 4
• UCC Advent Devotional on Sale
• DUCC Christmas Ornaments for Sale
• Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, December 24, 6 PM
• Lakeshore Community Chorus Holiday Concert, December 4
• "A Christmas Carol" - Tickets Now on Sale
• Holiday Poetry Reading Online — December 14, 7 PM 
• Year-End Giving Statements Coming -- Do We Have Your Correct Address?
• ​​​Birthdays & Anniversaries, Prayer Requests, and Financial Stewardship

This Sunday's Service: "2nd Sunday of Advent"

Our Gospel reading for the 2nd Sunday of Advent has John the Baptist proclaiming: "Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord!"  But what exactly IS 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 for the Way! 

​Message by Pastor Sal. Music by Peter Black, Jeff Spangler, and Lauri Donaldson.

We will also be lighting our 2nd Advent wreath candle for "Peace."

Download the Online Bulletin here:

order_of_service_december_4_2022.pdf
File Size:	928 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

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Last Week's Service

Last Sunday was the first Sunday of Advent, when we prepared with great expectation for the birth of the Christ Light within us. Enjoy last week's service video, when we focused on the theme of the first Advent candle: HOPE.

Message: Pastor Sal. Music: Peter Black and Pamela Chappell

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

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The Giving Tree!
​Gift Deadline is This Sunday, Dec 4

​Our Giving Tree Deadline is this Sunday! Thanks to everyone who has helped us by taking a gift tag from the Giving Tree these past few weeks, and purchased gifts for area families. 

If you haven't had a chance yet, there is still time! Gift Tags are availabile in the entryway of the Friendship Hall. Just take one from the poster there, purchase the gift requested on the tag, then place the unwrapped gift inside the "Holiday Box" by Sunday, December 4. Thank you, as always, for your generous giving!!!

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​UCC Advent Devotional On Sale 

Copies of the 2022 UCC Advent Devotional, What’s Left of the Night?, are now available for sale in the Friendship Hall for $5 each. There is a bible text, reflection, and prayer for each day of Adven. You can also purchase a PDF version of the devotional for $3 at www.thepilgrimpress.com. ​

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​DUCC Christmas 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 each, for sale in the Friendship Hall after Sunday's service. Or you may order an ornament online here.​

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Christmas Eve Candlelight Service,
​December 24, 6 PM

Please join us on Saturday, December 24, at 6 PM for our annual Christmas Eve service of "The Lessons and Carols," in which we celebrate the story of the birth of Jesus 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. 

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Lakeshore Community Chorus Holiday Concert, December 4 

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​"A Christmas Carol" Tickets Now on Sale!!!

Well, if you've been hanging around campus during the evenings of November, you no doubt have witnessed the Saugatuck Village Players at work preparing for the annual performance of A Christmas Carol, hosted by the Saugatuck-Douglas Women's Club. Performances this year run from December 9 to 18, and the tickets will go quickly! 

​ Click here to purchase your tickets!

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Annual Holiday Poetry Reading Online --
​December 14, 7 PM

Photo by Trust Tru Katsande on Unsplash

Jack Ridl has run a poetry workshop for more than 14 years, entitled The Landscapes of Poetry. The Landscapes poets have formed a supportive and enriching community, and during the holidays, they offer a free reading of their remarkable work for friends and family. Because they are located across the country, this reading is held via Zoom, and is scheduled this year on December 14, at 7 PM.

The poets are: Annie Valkema, Kathleen Markland, GF Korreck, Sharon Arendshorst, Beth McBride, Ruth Zwald, Jeff Munroe, Robbi Hartt, Marianna Maver (in absentia, but present in our hearts)  Mary McSchmidt, Peg Padnos, Jim Allis, and hosted by Jack Ridl.

All are welcomed. Click here to use the contact form on Jack's website to request a link for this performance.

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​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.

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Birthdays & Anniversaries

December 4– Shane Anderson, 5– Brad Hopkins, David Nadeau, 
6– David Bazany, Chris Maitner, 7– Dan Sutherland, 9– Carol Jaworowicz, 
10– Linda Charvat, Chris Clark, Derek Hoehn
 
​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.

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Prayer Requests

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)

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​Financial Stewardship

In-Person Attendance, November 27 : 97
​Total Views for November 27 Online Videos: 522
Total Podcast Downloads in November: 2,630

​Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $1,011.00
Online Giving: $1,263.77
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​Total: $2,274.77
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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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