Weekly E-Pistle: Third Sunday of Advent

12/10/2021

Weekly E-pistle: Third Sunday of Advent

This Sunday's Service Notes — Third Sunday of Advent, “Choosing Joy"
Last Week's Service Video -- Second Sunday of Advent, “Prepare Ye the Way"
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Mask Recommendation
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, December 24, 6 PM
Thank you for Gifting Area Families!
DUCC Christmas Ornament for Sale
Quiet Contemplation Service Time Change
"A Christmas Carol" in Saugatuck - Tickets Now on Sale
Chris Clark's Camino de Santiago Presentation via Zoom, Dec 30, 7pm
Afghan Family Task Force Update
Year-End Giving Statements Coming -- Do We Have Your Correct Address?
Birthdays & Anniversaries, Prayer Requests, and Financial Stewardship

This Sunday's Service: "Choosing Joy"

The late spiritual teacher, Henri Nouwen, wrote: "Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day."

This Sunday, for the "Third Sunday of Advent," we'll light the pink candle, which symbolizes "JOY." There is good news of great joy for all people: the Light is on its way!

Pease join us this Sunday at 10 AM (either in-person or streaming live online) for an inspiring message from Pastor Sal and uplifting music from Peter Black and Pamela Chappell, who'll perform her original song, "Joy in My Heart."

Download the Online Bulletin here:

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Last Week's Service

Our Gospel reading for last Sunday (the 2nd Sunday of Advent) has John the Baptist proclaiming: "Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord!" Please enjoy last Sunday's service, when we explored together what it means to "Prepare the Way." Message by Pastor Sal. Music by Peter Black and Max Brown. We also lit our 2nd Advent wreath candle for "Peace."
Click to our Homily Library 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, stay safe, and have a joyful holiday season,

Here is Michigan's Department of Health and Human Services 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:
CDC infection and transmission rates by county.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
December 24, 6 PM

Please join us (in-person or streaming live online) for our annual Christmas Eve tradition of the candlelight service of "The Lessons & the Carols” on Friday, December 24 at 6 PM. We'll hear the story of the birth of Jesus told through readings from the Gospels and through beloved Christmas Carols that we all know and love.

Thank you for Gifting Area Families!

Photo by Juliana Malta on Unsplash

Thanks so much to all who so generously supported our gift drive for Christian Neighbors, providing warm clothes and household goods to families in need here in West Michigan. As always, the generosity of our little church is always a joy to see!

DUCC Christmas Ornament 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 [email protected]. We can arrange for you to pick up your ornament at the church, or we can send it to you. Shipping is $5 more.

Quiet Contemplation Service Time Change

Photo by Thomas Bormans 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.

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

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

Chris Clark's Camino de Santiago presentation via Zoom, December 30, 7pm

In case you missed Chris Clark's presentation on walking the Camino de Santiago, he will be doing it once more via Zoom on December 30 at 7:00 pm. You can sign up for this presentation in the Friendship Hall, or write to Julie at [email protected], for the link!

Afghan Family Task Force Update

Photo by Hannah Busing 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 [email protected] or 616-340-7970 or Pat Denner at [email protected] 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!

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 [email protected].

Birthdays & Anniversaries

December 13- Salvatore Sapienza, 15- Chelsie Greene, 16- Laurie Beyer Braaksma, Sidney Matheis, Emil "Sonny" Pulik, 17- Dan Dow & Steve Prokop, 18- Margaret Bazany

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 List

Family and friends of Kelly Mok (Michael Mok's niece); friends and Family of Jimmy Hotwagner (Annie Hotwagner's brother); Catz Dienes; Shannon Connell; 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, December 5: 61
Viewers for December 5 Online Service Videos: 553

Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $1,388.00
Online Giving: $3,043.56

Total: $4,431.56

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.