In This Week's E-Pistle, You will find:
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! Worship Leader: Pastor Sal Sapienza. Message: Rev. David Van Dyke. 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: 
Last Week's Service: First Sunday of Advent
Lalslt 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 focused on the theme of the first Advent candle: HOPE.
Message: Pastor Sal Sapienza. Music: Peter Black and Nancy Plantinga Kudos to our Art Guild
Kudos to Art Guild members, Floyd Fleming, Josephine Berault, Chris Maitner, Gemina Petruzzelli, and Greg Harvath, for this year's beautiful Advent installation, which they have dedicated in loving memory of Bill Kelleher. We are so grateful for their talents and service.
Need for Volunteers on the AV Team
We are so grateful for our many wonderful volunteers who make our Sunday Worship special each week. Right now, we especially need volunteers to operate the sound board during Sunday service. In the past few months our team has made vast improvements by standardizing the settings and streamlining the operations. If you are interested in joining our team and helping with this very important position, please contact our volunteer coordinator, Mike VerMerris, 269.325.4043, [email protected].
Advent Devotional Sale
The UCC Advent-Christmastide devotionals are here! You'll find them on sale in the Friendship Hall for $5 each. Online supplies have sold out!
A Christmas Carol Tickets Available Now!
Tickets for this year's production of A Christmas Carol are on sale now! This year the show will feature accompaniment by our own Peter Black! You can purchase tickets at the button below, and find information and show times on their facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063547270036 ...or call the box office at 616.218.3408 Monies raised through ticket sales go to local food pantries. Last year the production raised more than $12,000 to feed our neighbors! Farewell Brunch for Pastor Sal, December 17
Date: Dec 17, 2023
Location: Douglas UCC Friendship Hall Time: 11:30-1pm Our Pastoral Relations Committee invites you to a farewell brunch for Pastor Sal, immediately following the Sunday service on December 17. Food and drink are already planned, so simply come as you are after service. This gathering of our beloved Douglas UCC community celebrates the abundant gifts that have been shared with us during Pastor Sal's tenure. We're celebrating him before the Christmas Season begins, and through the end of the year, to give as many people as possible the chance to say their goodbyes and offer their good wishes to our teacher, counselor, shepherd, and friend. The PRC will be placing a card box in the Friendship Hall that morning for anyone who would like to drop in a personal card for Pastor Sal. Pastor Sal's last church service at Douglas UCC is Sunday, December 31. Holiday Cookie Exchange: December 24
Photo by Yulian Karadzhov on Unsplash
Following our worship service on December 24, we will be having a “Cookie Exchange” in the Friendship Hall during Coffee Hour! If you are able, please bring a plate of cookies to share and enjoy!
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service of the "Lessons & Carols": December 24 at 6 PM
Please join us on Sunday, December 24, at 6 PM (either in-person or streaming live online) for our annual Christmas Eve candlelight service of "The Lessons and Carols," in which we celebrate the story of the birth of Jesus told through lessons from the Bible and through beloved Christmas Carols that we all know and love. The evening will feature a special performance from the Douglas UCC Holiday Choir.
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 Julie Ridl at [email protected], or you may choose to update your address yourself in the church directory app.
Birthdays & AnniversariesBirthdays: December 10- Chris Clark, Linda Charvat; 11- Stephen Townsend 13- Pastor Salvatore Sapienza; 15- Chelsie Norman, Sarah Donovan 16- Emil "Sonny" Pulick 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. Prayer Requests
John Kerr; Mike Mok; Dave and Shirley Lawson; Clark McMillion (Chris Clark's friend); Ruth Fahlstrom (daughter of Tom Fahlstrom); Nancy Grib (Friend of Pamela Chappell); Stuart Family; Charlene Burdick (Paul Burdick's Mother); Diane Carr; Myron (Wendy Hamlin's grandson, Fred Hamilin's great-grandson); Betsy York; Mary Westenbroek; Brian Aikens; Jerry Elpers and family (Beth Howley's Dad); Edie Plantinga (Nancy Plantinga's mother); Joyce Potts (Ed Korson's Friend); Max Matteson; Eric Cooley (Jo Cooley's brother); Nicole and John (Wendy Hamlin's daughter-in-law and son)
Stewardship Drive Update
Stewardship Drive Giving Week ending November 26:
Pledges to Date = $225,849.00 Pledge Fulfillment to date = $106,663.58 Thank you to all who pledged toward our Campus Stewardship Drive. Weekly Stewardship Drive totals are posted here and on the giant ‘thermometer’ poster in the Friendship Hall. If you have not received a pledge card, you can pick one up in the Friendship Hall. Financial Stewardship
In-Person Attendance December 3: 107
Total Views for December 3 worship videos: 602 November Podcast Downloads: 4,667 Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $4,662 Retreat House, Advent Devotionals, Church Use: $375.00 Online Giving: $2,728.62 Total, General Support: $7,765.62 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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