Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

8/7/2026

Photo by zdenek machacek on Unsplash

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

This Week's Service: Pits Are Inevitable
Grateful to All Involved in The Two Baroque Girls Concert!
Two Summer Services - 8:15 & 10:15! Please, Join Us
Jody, Dan & Claire's Office Hours This Week
We Knead You! Help Us Bake the Communion Bread!
Social Justice - Summer Food Ministry, Look for Update Every Week
Creation Justice Announcement - Bountiful Summer Gardens
Memorial Garden Updated on Find A Grave
Prayer Requests
Birthdays & Anniversaries This Week
Financial Stewardship
Want to Add Flowers to Our Chancel?
Last Week's Service: Wrestling with Ambiguity
Church Calendar

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST NEWS

Grand West Association Prayer Circle, Newaygo Congregational UCC
UCC Urgent Request for Venezuela after devastating Earthquakes

CLASSES

Qigong & Tea! Tuesdays at 3pm, Friendship Hall

COMMUNITY EVENTS

West Shore Aware, White Party Fundraiser, August 15 at Johnson Farms
Douglas Social, This Coming Thursday, August 13 at the History Center
DUCC's Afghan Family is Growing - A Used SUV/Minivan is Needed
Stand in Protest - Holland, Fridays from 12-1pm
Men's Coffee and Conversation

This Week's Service: Pits Are Inevitable

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

Nothing like a good story about family feuds, lots of jealousy, back stabbing intrigue,
and plenty of dysfunction! The stuff of daytime soap operas. It’s all pretty much there in the
stories we’ve been hearing about in the book of Genesis. Next Sunday’s story is a continuation
of family messiness. Joseph, donning a coat of many colors, is tossed into a pit and sold to a
bunch of Ishmaelites on their way to Egypt. I hear that special music is being planned from
“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” Hope you can join us this Sunday at 8:15 or
10:15.

Please join us, Sunday at 8:15 or 10:15 am in our Sanctuary, or 10:15 am online, live on our Youtube Channel.
Message: Rev. Dan Plasman
Music: Peter Black, Jeff Spangler, Lauri Donaldson

DUCC Bulletin/Hymns August 9 2026
File Size:	1056 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Grateful to All Involved in the Two Baroque Girls Event! Thank You!!

What a wonderful time we had Wednesday evening hosting the Two Baroque Girls and their concert, We’re Not Completely Baroque! As Doug S. posted, it was “...a glorious night, food for the soul.”

Members, friends, neighbors, and people we had not yet met filled our church. The sanctuary came alive with glorious music, drama, humor, and the unmistakable joy of artists doing what they love. There was a warmth in the room that extended well beyond the stage, as friends connected, new friendships began, and all of us shared an evening of beauty and delight.

But we all know that an event like this takes a congregation.

A special thank-you to Linda K. and Linda C. for embodying DUCC’s spirit of extravagant welcome as they greeted everyone coming through the doors. Bud brought the gorgeous zinnias that brightened the stage, and Lynne S. provided the beautiful flowers for Friendship Hall, along with the lemon poppyseed cake that everyone raved about. Joyce and El prepped and arranged all that delicious food, a tremendous amount of work, and made the reception look every bit as beautiful as it tasted. And last but certainly not least, thanks to Bill B. and his big, beautiful basil!

We are deeply grateful to everyone who helped make this evening possible, and to everyone who came out to support live music at DUCC. Music has a remarkable way of bringing people together, opening our hearts, and reminding us that beauty still matters. What a gift it is to have such wonderful artists in our community, and what a privilege it is to welcome them into our church.

Two Summer Services - 8:15 or 10:15am
All Are Welcome!

Jody, Dan & Claire's Office Hours This Week

JODY'S EMAIL

DAN'S EMAIL

For The Week of August 9:
Tuesday: 3-8pm, Jody & Dan
Wednesday: 12-5pm, Jody
Thursday: 12-7pm, Dan & Jody
Friday: 10-3pm, Dan

Claire's Office Hours:
Tuesday: 12-4pm
Wednesday: 9-4pm
Thursday: 9-4pm
Friday: 9-4pm

Dan and Jody each work half time. Some of their hours each week are worked in their home office. Some of their hours are spent in Douglas. Some of their hours in Douglas are in the office and some are in the community. If you would like to meet with one of them, please contact them directly by text or email to set up a time.
Jody: 616-706-3549; Dan: 616-828-2293;

If you receive an email from Jody or Dan asking for money, this is a scam.

Communion Bread Bakers Needed
We Knead You!

Photo by Kate Remmer on Unsplash

Our Communion Bread is specially baked by members of DUCC. We are looking for a few folks who want to learn this recipe of unleavened bread. It's a one month commitment for about 90 minutes to 2 hours and with enough people only 3 or 4 times a year. If this is something that inspires you, please talk to Jody. We'll schedule a time for instructions when we have a few people available.

JODY'S EMAIL

Social Justice - Summer Food Ministry
Look for Updates Every Week

Thank you for the continued and amazing generosity of the DUCC congregation. We have been able to fill 20 bags of groceries for the past 8 weeks. With approximately 4 weeks to go, we are hoping to continue the support for the volunteers of St Felipe De Jesus. The following is a list of items to fill the 20 bags per week. Value of each bag is approximately $28. Changes are in bold.

* 1 can of pinto beans, (Good for next week, Aug 11th)
* 1 can of Diced Tomatoes. (15 cans needed for Aug 11th)
* 1 lb bag of white rice. (15 bags needed for Aug 11th)
* 1 small btl vegetable oil. (18 bottles needed for Aug 11th)
* 1-2 cans of diced/sliced fruit. (18 cans needed for Aug 11th)
* 2-4 potatoes   (3-5, 5lb bags for Aug 11th)
* 1-3 yellow onions.  (1-2, 5lb bags for Aug 11th)
* small tooth paste   (20 small travel tubes for Aug 11th)
* 3-5 bags of Ramen Noodles. (40-60 individual pkgs for Aug 11th)
* 10-12 soft corn tortillas (Good for Aug 11th)
* 1-2 rolls of toilet paper.
* 1 Bar of Soap. (20 needed for Aug 11th)

The St Felipe De Jesus volunteers have requested Sun block or lotion, 30 SPF and long sleeve T-shirts.
Once again, thank you for your generosity!!
Questions, please contact Rich Marth or Pete Mueller

RICH'S EMAIL

PETE'S EMAIL

Creation Justice - Bountiful Summer Gardens

Summer is a bountiful time for gardens in Michigan. We realize that folks may have extra produce growing they wish to share. For the next few weeks (until there is no more to share) we offer a table in the Friendship Hall for this purpose. Please bring your extras. Place them on the table and watch them disappear! Thanks to all for your generosity!

Memorial Garden Update on Find A Grave

The Douglas UCC Memorial Garden is now much better represented on the Find a Grave website. Thirty-two memorials were added, and they can be found by family historians and genealogists around the world.
Find a Grave is a free, volunteer-run resource with more than 265 million memorials. Now that the basic information is in place, anyone who wishes can add photographs, biographies, or other memories to a loved one’s memorial. If you’d like help doing that, Chris Clark can assist—or you can create a free Find a Grave account and make the additions yourself.

CHRIS'S EMAIL

Prayer Requests

August 2 Service: Paul for trees being destroyed, Pam for peace, Kate for friend Martie, Toni for love of the community.

Ongoing Prayers: Anne Hopkins and the family of Jim Hopkins; Bev & Orie Hawkes; Jenny O'Neal (friend of Laurie VanDenBelt & Shirley Lawson); Family of Alan Gibson (Kirsten Stannis's Father); Adelle Van Daalen and the Family of Jay Van Daalen; Charlene Burdick (Paul Burdick's mother); Elinor Hite (Virginia Stuart’s sister); Dave Lawson; Christine Kerney; Ruth Fahlstrom (Tom Fahlstrom’s daughter); Mikey (friend of Ruth Fahlstrom); Eric Cooley (Jo Cooley's brother); Ian Blumer (C. Blumer's nephew); Newaygo Congregational UCC

Birthday's & Anniversary's This Week

BIRTHDAYS
August 9: Bob Kenny
August 10: Brian Tubergen
August 11: Larry Spencer, Shirley Lawson,
August 12: Julie Ridl
August 13: Sheryll VanPortFleet
August 14: David Geen, Michael Valdez, Vickie Austhof

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.

Financial Stewardship

August 2 In-Person Attendance : 8:15 = 18, 10:15 = 60
August 2 Total Views for worship videos: 57

Weekly Offerings: $2,873
Weekly Budget: $4,615
Weekly to Budget: -$1,741

Thank you!!
Your generous giving allows us to sustain our church community
and our mission of service in the world.

Want to Add Flowers to Our Chancel?

Photo by Carrie Cronan on Unsplash

Flowers bring life and beauty to our sanctuary! If you would like to bring flowers for the sanctuary, there is a sign up sheet in the Friendship Hall. Sign up for a Sunday to honor a loved one or celebrate a special milestone.

Last Weeks Service: Wrestling with Ambiguity

Photo by Ryan Fish on Unsplash

Last Sunday we continue exploring the life of Jacob who we’ve come to know as a conniving cheat. Nonetheless, God is with him. He faces challenges in life from his brother and then from his uncle. Even so, he creates success for himself. But the culmination of the story is yet to come. Last week Jacob comes face to face with his brother. Will they reconcile? And, what about the stranger with whom Jacob must wrestle before meeting his brother? Are there any lessons for us on our spiritual path? Click below for the Full Service, or Jody's Message.

FULL SERVICE

JODY'S MESSAGE

Church Calendar - Summer

Photo by Andrew Seaman on Unsplash

EXPLORE THE CALENDAR

UNIITED CHURCH OF CHRIST NEWS

Grand West Association Prayer Circle

Photo by Todd Kent on Unsplash

August - Newaygo Congregational UCC Church

The Grand West Association Council of the Michigan Conference UCC
facilitates a prayer circle for all our churches.
Thank you for keeping Newaygo Congregational UCC Church in your prayers.

NEWAYGO UCC

Support for Venezuela after Earthquakes

TO DONATE

CLASSES

Qigong & Tea, Tuesdays from 3-5p

Photo by Brad Switzer on Unsplash

Qigong Winter Class
Tuesdays, 3pm - 4 pm
Followed by Tea/Chat 4 - 5pm
Friendship Hall
Led by Kat VanHammen

Qigong is a wonderful, 5,000 year-old practice from China, very much like Tai Chi. It involves simple movements that build strength, flexibility, balance and well being. It also employs visualization, breath, and mindfulness to integrate the body, mind, and spirit and develop our felt sense of Interbeing. Class is one hour long and involves both sitting and standing practice although it can be done sitting if needed. There is a requested donation of $10 per class but for those of you on limited incomes, any amount will be gratefully received.

AROUND TOWN

White Party Fundraiser by West Shore Aware

WEST SHORE AWARE

White Party Fundraiser

Douglas Social at the History Center
Up Close & Wild Animal Booth, August 13

Backyard Bash at the History Center
Rescheduled to August 13, 2026, 5:30pm - 8:00pm
Outdoor, Family Friendly, Food & Beverage
Infant/Toddler, Youth, Teen, Adult
The Library and the History Center
Invite you to not one, but TWO summer celebrations for all ages!
There will be live music, drinks, food, games, and activities for kids.
Thursday, August 13 at the History Center 5:30-8:00pm
Up Close and Wild animal booth
presented by our friends from the Outdoor Discovery Center.
Saugatuck-Douglas History Center
130 W Center Street, Douglas, MI 49406

DUCC's Afghan Family is Growing
A Used SUV/Minivan is Needed

Photo by Padraig Treanor on Unsplash

A Used SUV is Needed. DUCC’s Afghan Family is a growing family of 6 and they have an immediate need for a larger vehicle than their Prius. If you are considering selling a used SUV at a reasonable price, they would be grateful to be considered. If you can assist, please contact Bob (312-636-7657) or Louise (847-800-4236) Kenny. Thank you.

Stand in Protest

Photo by Sandra Seitamaa on Unsplash

The protests against Huizenga and the Trump administration continue each Friday from 12-1 pm at 170 College Ave., the corner of College and 7th in Holland. We need more to demonstrate, so please come join us as we continue to bring attention to the wrong doing going on in our country. Looking forward to seeing you there.

Men's Coffee and Conversation

DUCC MEN, JOIN US!
Men's Coffee & Conversation
1st and 3rd Wednesday @ 10am

New Dates: August 5th and 19th
No Reservations
Blue Star Barns Coffee and Bikes
3483 Blue Star Hwy
Saugatuck, Michigan 49453