Fifth Sunday in Lent

3/15/2024

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

This Sunday's Service: What Was I Made For? The Stories that We Tell
Last Sunday's Service: Fourth Sunday in Lent: Forgiveness for Others & Ourselves
This Sunday, Welcome Church Member Jeremy Lund
This Sunday, Congregational Meeting
In Search Of: Communion Bread Bakers
CJT Book Discussion, March 27
Honoring Our People: Easter Lilies for our Altar
All Caregivers Invited: Tuesdays in March
Our Open and Affirming Pastoral Search -- Share this Page!
Spring Equinox Celebration, March 17
Church Council Minutes
Prayer Requests, Birthdays & Anniversaries, Stewardship Drive & Financial Stewardship

This Sunday's Service: What Was I Made For? The Stories that We Tell

Photo by Jamie Ginsberg on Unsplash

In this week's scripture reading, we are reminded that the kingdom of heaven is with us, and within us, always. Please join us for this Sunday's service when our church member Jeremy Lund, puts our focus on the stories we tell, and how very much they matter. Message: Jeremy Lund, Music: Peter Black, Jeff Spangler, Paul Kearny, and special guest Keegan Young.

Download this week's service bulletin here:

order_of_service_march_17_2024.pdf
File Size:	988 kb
File Type:	pdf

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Last Sunday's Service: Forgiveness for Others & Ourselves

Last week, for the Fourth Sunday in Lent, Matthew taught us about mercy and forgiveness. This is both a traditional focus of the Lenten season, and a remarkably useful skill for a happier life any time. Please enjoy last week's service, when our Church Moderator, Mark Johnston led us in service, with music by our Music Director Peter Black, and music team members Jeff Spangler and Lauri Donaldson

This Sunday's Service, Welcome Jeremy Lund

If you haven't had the chance to get to know our church member Jeremy Lund, this Sunday will be a great place to start. This real estate counselor, interior designer, spiritual teacher, classical pianist., French major, linguist, entrepreneur, and storyteller will lead us in service, reminding us that the stories of our life make our life.

This Sunday, Congregational Meeting

Our Church Council will hold a Congregational Meeting on March 17, after church at 11:30, in the Friendship Hall and online via Zoom. All church members are encouraged to attend. Council will be updating us on interim pastoral plans, campus projects, budget and other items. If you wish to attend the service online, please email Julie Ridl for the Zoom info. She will add you to her Zoom list, and will send out instructions for joining us and joining in when we get close to the meeting date.

In Search Of: Communion Bread Bakers

For many years, our church member and friend Elaine Troehler has baked the unleavened bread for our communion service. She has decided it is time to hand this good work over to one or more people in the congregation, and is happy to teach anyone willing to perform this service for the church, alone or as part of a team of bakers. There is a sign-up sheet in the friendship hall for those who wish to learn to bake our communion bread. Let us know if this is you, and we will find a date for our Unleavened Bread class.

CJT Book Discussion, March 27

The Creation Justice Team (CJT) is partnering with Saugatuck-Douglas District Library to offer an open discussion of A Wing and a Prayer: The Race to Save Our Vanishing Birds by Anders and Beverly Gyllenhaal on Wednesday, March 27 at 7:00 pm at the Saugatuck District Library meeting room.

The church has a limited number of copies of the book for sale at $10 (half the Amazon price) on sale in the Friendship Hall.

Three years ago, headlines delivered shocking news: three billion birds had vanished from North America over the past 50 years. That’s one-third of the population -- hummingbirds, crows, warblers, owls, sparrows and more! This book chronicles the race to save birds, as people struggle to overcome habitat loss, deal with climate change, and navigate urban hazards. The authors, retired journalists, traveled from Hawaii to Florida, Kansas to Ecuador to learn about stunning experiments, contentious politics, and groundbreaking technologies. The book offers hope, concluding with a list of dozens of things ordinary people can do to help.

Honoring Our People: Easter Lilies for our Altar

On Easter Sunday, it's our tradition at Douglas UCC to fill our altar with Easter Lilies, offered in memory of our friends and loved ones. Can you help us accomplish this? You can order lilies (and tell us who they are in memory of) for $15 apiece either online (click that button below), or by using the lily envelopes in the church pews. After the Easter service, you can take your lilies home with you if you wish!

Order Easter Lilies Here»»

All Caregivers Invited: Tuesdays in March

Photo by Tyler Nix on Unsplash

Retreat House - Tuesday mornings in March - 10:30 to noon

Caregiving for a loved one is challenging work - physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Often, the only person who can offer understanding and support is another caregiver. Someone who can share experience and learning, and give us strength to continue our journey.

If you are a caregiver, you are welcome to meet at the Retreat House on every Tuesday morning in March from 10:30 to noon. Come as you are (bring a sweet treat if you wish) and you will be welcomed with a hot cup of coffee or tea and an opportunity for caring and sharing.

No sign up needed. Our schedule as caregivers needs to be really flexible. Just show up when you can. Rev. Marty and other caregivers will be waiting to embrace and support you.

Our Open and Affirming Pastoral Search
Share this Page!

Now that the Pastoral Search Committee has completed our church profile, we want to make sure it travels to everyone it should. And you can help with that! We are interested in meeting all ordained pastors who are willing to become ordained in the UCC while serving our church. So the Pastoral Search Team has made a web page available for sharing our profile and what we believe about who we need to lead us. Feel free to share it with a pastor you know. Click on the button below and share this page!

Share Our Pastor Page»»

Spring Equinox Celebration, March 17

Our dear friend, Rev. Ruth Zwald plans to hold an Equinox ritual on March 17 at her farm. Celebrating the day of balance between light and dark, and participating in ritual prepares us to move into the season of light and growth. Spring is the season of new beginnings - and ritual allows us to take a moment to breathe and reflect. Gathering on the Sunday before the actual Equinox gives us time to prepare. Find the details to register in the graphic above, as well as things you would need to bring. You must RSVP via Ruth's email f you plan to attend. Space may be limited. In case of difficult weather, this program will be held in the Friendship Hall.

Church Council Minutes

meeting_notes-approved_2-12-2024.pdf
File Size:	117 kb
File Type:	pdf

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Prayer Requests

Fred Hamlin; Debra Carr; Ann Hopkins; The Chappell-Wehle Family; Carol Brown and Dan McGavin; David Miedema, his parents and family; Karl Fahlstrom (Tom Fahlstrom's brother); 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 (Debra Carr's Sister); Myron (Wendy Hamlin's grandson, Fred Hamilin's great-grandson); Mary Westenbroek; Brian Aikens; Jerry Elpers and family (Beth Howley's Dad); Edie Plantinga (Nancy Plantinga's mother); Max Matteson; Eric Cooley (Jo Cooley's brother); Nicole and John (Wendy Hamlin's daughter-in-law and son)

Birthdays & Anniversaries

Birthdays: March 17- Peter Black, Dan Mack, Tommy Blasco, 19- Joe Mannancheril

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.

Stewardship Drive

Stewardship Drive Giving Week ending March 10
Pledges to Date = $228,800.00
Pledge Fulfillment to date = $121,716.53

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. Or you can help us reach our goal of $275,000 by giving online here:

Make Your Stewardship Drive Pledge or Payment Here»»

Financial Stewardship

In-Person Attendance, March 10: 61
Total Views for March 10 worship videos: 215

Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $10,190
Online Giving: $3,685.83
One Great Hour of Sharing: $132.00
Total, General Support: $13,875.83

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.