Eleventh Sunday of Pentecost

8/22/2025

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

Photo by Ahmed on Unsplash

BEING THE CHURCH

This Week's Service: Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost -- The Weight of the World
Last Week's Service: Tenth Sunday after Pentecost -- “Jesus!!! Really???”
So Many New Members This Sunday!! Welcome, Welcome!
Meet Claire!
Jody and Dan's Office Hours This Week
Summer Food Ministry!
Social Justice Team Community Conversations
Tango on the Lakeshore, August 23-24 -- Can you help?
September 25, Line Dancing, Sign Up Now!
Listening Ear: Do You Need to Be Heard?
Prayer Requests
Birthdays & Anniversaries This Week
Grant Application Now Online
Financial Stewardship
Church Calendar

VOLUNTEERING & GIVING

Letters for Gaza

CLASSES

Qigong! Summer into Fall!
Soul Collage September 13, Awakening Awe and Gratitude!

AROUND TOWN

Drumming the Dream Banners with Kat VanHammen

BEING THE CHURCH

This Week's Service: Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost -- The Weight of the World

At various times on our spiritual journey we feel bent over by what feels like the weight of the world due to life's circumstances. We long for healing, relief, respite, comfort, peace, calm. At other times on our spiritual journey we are those people who bring healing into the world. We are Jesus' presence where others have burdens that weigh them down. And, there are times on our journey when we are hypocritical. We hold on to values that keep others from healing, from having a place at the table, from living their full authentic selves. Each of these characters is in our Gospel story for this week from Luke 13 about the Bent Over Woman. Imagine for a minute what it means to be each of these characters and learn about your own journey into greater well-being!

This Sunday we will welcome new members in covenant with DUCC! We also have guest dancers and a guest film director (one of the dancers) to share with us! Please join us for this inspiring Sunday!

Please join us on Sunday at 10am in our Sanctuary, or online, live on our Youtube Channel.
Message: Rev. Jody Betten
Music: Peter Black, Jeff Spangler, Lauri Donaldson
You will always find our latest church bulletin and service music at Bit.ly/DUCCBulletin

ducc_online_program_august_24_2025.pdf
File Size:	2155 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Last Week's Service: Tenth Sunday after Pentecost -- “Jesus!!! Really???”

The most disturbing words ever spoken by Jesus are recorded in the 12th chapter of Luke. “I have come to bring fire on the earth. Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I came to bring division. Families will be divided, son against father, daughter against mother!” What do we do with this passage? Last week Pastor Dan had some ideas for us. Click above to see the whole service, and below for his message.

Here's the Message»»

So Many New Members This Sunday!!
Welcome, Welcome!

More than a dozen new members will join in covenant with us on Sunday morning. Help us welcome them the way we do!

Meet Claire!

Welcome Claire Blumer, our brand new Administrative Assistant at Douglas UCC! Claire combines her professional background in healthcare and administration with a genuine heart for people. She brings organization, reliability, and attention to detail to the life of our church, making sure that members and staff feel supported. Known for her warmth and welcoming presence, Claire will be the first friendly voice or smile who greets those who call or walk through our doors. She is dedicated to helping create a smooth and caring environment where ministry can thrive. Outside of her work, Claire enjoys time with family, nature walks, and exploring her interest in herbal medicine. Claire joins us in the Isabel Graham Center right after Labor Day. You can send her a Welcome email here.

Jody and Dan's Office Hours This Week

For The Week of August 25:

Monday: 5pm to 8pm, Jody
Tuesday: 3pm to 8pm, Jody
Wednesday: 10am to 2pm, Dan
Thursday: Noon to 5pm, Jody and Dan
Friday: Noon to 5pm, Jody and Dan

For evening visits on these days, please call for an appointment.

*Reminder: if you need to see Dan or Jody, please make an appointment with them. Sometimes they are in Douglas but not at the office.

Please call to schedule an appointment:
Jody: 616-706-3549; Dan: 616-828-2293

Summer Food Ministry!

Getty Images for Unsplash

Rich Marth says, "We have 5 more weeks to go! The generosity of the DUCC Members has been overwhelming and so appreciated."

In the past 5 weeks, DUCC members have generously donated a total of 100 bags of groceries for our Summer Food Ministry.

Each bag contained at a minimum:
* 1 lb of rice
* 1 lb of dried Pinto Beans
* 1 14 oz can of diced tomatoes
* 1 14 oz can of fruit
* 3-4 potatoes
* 1-3 onions
* 1 btl Vegetable or canola oil
* 1 box of toothpaste
* 1-2 Toothbrushes
* 1 bar of soap

Our goal is to have a minimum of 15 bags per week.

For the week of 8-25, we are requesting the following items:

* 1lb bags of Pinto Beans
* 1lb bags of Rice
* small bottles of vegetable or canola oil
* 14 oz cans of Fruit
* Corn tortillas (bags of 15-30)

We will update the list of needs each week. Once again, we truly appreciate the generosity of the DUCC congregation.

Please reach out to Rich Marth or Pete Mueller with any questions or concerns.

Social Justice Team Community Conversations

Our Social Justice Team has been busy making connections, and inviting local thought leaders to come to our church and help us understand current challenges to Justice For All right here in our communities. Here are the upcoming dates and times already scheduled. Stay tuned for more from the SJT.

Thurs Sept 11, 6:15 pm, Jane Dickie, Indivisible
Thurs Oct 9, 6:15 pm, Mark Neidlinger, Saugatuck Public Schools Superintendent
Thurs Nov 13, 6:15 pm, Lighthouse Immigration Services Representative to speak

All events are scheduled for our beautiful new Friendship Hall. All are welcome!

Tango on the Lakeshore, August 23-24
Can you help?

Tango on the Lakeshore is a celebration of music and dance brought to our community from Chicago by a small group from DUCC. They will be performing at the Saugatuck Women’s Club on Sat Aug 23 and at the Holland Area Arts Council on Sun Aug 24. Meet them in service this Sunday!!

BUT they need sponsors for 4 musicians at $200 each for the weekend; and housing (1-2 musicians per room) for two nights August 22 and 23. If you are able to support this lovely ministry to our souls, please contact Shannon Connell.

September 25, Line Dancing, Sign Up Now!

Photo by Polina Kuzofkova on UnSplash

Sign ups start today for Line Dancing! On Thursday September 25 at 6:30 pm, the Friendship Hall will become a place for toe taps and grapevines. A fun teacher will help you get the hang of it by teaching simple dance routines followed by more complex ones. No special clothing, experience, or shoes necessary. There is room for only 40 people, so sign up soon to reserve your space. Come enjoy the fun. Ask Betsy York, Virginia Stuart, or Shannon Connell if you have questions

Listening Ear: Do You Need to Be Heard?

Jon Tyson on Unsplash

Our Listening Ear service has been a great help to our congregation during a tumultuous time, and so, after a successful trial period, this highly trained team of empathic folks -- Paul Burdick, Mike Valdez, Pat Denner, and Doug Sipsma -- will be continuing the service. Their premise is, everyone goes through rough patches in life. Sometimes stress can feel overwhelming. Talking to a caring human helps in so many, sometimes immeasurable, sometimes mystical ways. Our listeners are available at the Isabel Graham conference room on Thursday afternoons from 1 to 3 pm.

Prayer Requests

Nancy Plantinga, and the Plantinga family; Tere Krueger; Jean Hotwagner (Annie Hotwagner's Mom); Orie Hawkes; Maciek (Matt) Wozniak (Robert Fisher's partner); Elinor Hite (Virginia Stuart’s sister); Dave Lawson; Christine Kerney; Dan McGavin and Family of Carol Brown; Rev. Marchiene Rienstra Family; Ann and Jim Hopkins; James Higgins (friend of Shane Anderson and Michael Tuleja), Joe Scarpone (friend of Tom Fahlstrom); John Kerr; Ruth Fahlstrom (Tom Fahlstrom’s daughter); Mary Westenbroek; Jerry Elpers and family (Beth Howley's dad); Max Matteson; Eric Cooley (Jo Cooley's brother).

Birthdays & Anniversaries This Week

BIRTHDAYS
August 24: Kristi Van Howe
August 25: Larry Freeland
August 28: Ed Korson
August 30: Garnet Lewis

ANNIVERSARIES
August 28: Barb & Dick Lucier

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.

Grant Application Now Online

Photo by Micheile Henderson on Unsplash

Our Grant Committee -- the group who review grant requests from area non-profits for funds from our Isabel Graham fund and congregational offerings, has worked to make the grant application process more accessible to more area organizations.

Please make your favorite non-profits aware of this funding source by sharing the link and/or QR code below to your favorite local non-profit groups. Both the link and the code will take them to the online form where they can submit their request.

The online address for the grant request form is here:
bit.ly/IG-Grant-App

Or share this QR code to navigate to the online form:

Financial Stewardship

In-Person Attendance, August 17: 89
Total Views for August 17 worship videos: 122

Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $2,056
Online Giving: $2,113.25
Total, General Support: $4,179.25

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.

Church Calendar

When you have events to schedule anywhere on campus, click the button below, scan the calendar for a spot, then contact [email protected] to make your reservation. Reservations are first come, first served. Emailing is always best so she can keep track of requests.

Explore the Calendar»»

VOLUNTEERING & GIVING

Letters for Gaza

Here's an opportunity to add to our prayers for Gaza: A letter-writing campaign to participate in and share with your friends and neighbors. It's always a good time to demand action from our representatives. The power of now is joining in a national movement to do so.

Participate Here»»

CLASSES

Qigong! Summer into Fall!

Photo by Sajad Nori on Unsplash

Kat VanHammen's Qigong class will run through September 9 at the backyard of the Retreat House on Tuesdays at 3pm. And then there will be a short break before Qigong Winter begins in the Friendship Hall October 7, and runs through May!

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.

Soul Collage September 13, Awakening Awe and Gratitude!

The next Soul Collage sessions with our friend and masterful teacher, Ruth Zwald, are scheduled for the Friendship Hall September 13. This artful, soul-honoring class will set you exploring and making and asking your own wisdom sources for guidance. It's always a surprising and stilling journey with Rev. Ruth! To sign up, follow the registration instructions in the poster above. You must register to participate.

AROUND TOWN

Drumming the Dream Banners with Kat VanHammen

Are you good with cloth? Stitching? Quilting? Painting? Bedazzling? Puffy Paints? Our pal Kat is participating in a drum meeting in Washington DC on September 13th. Prayer flags will hang all around this gathering, and we are invited to create our own dream banners to be included in this happening. Kat will be happy to deliver and hang them if you can finish yours by September 5. See poster above for all the info.