Fourteenth Sunday of Pentecost

9/12/2025

Photo by Greg Rakozy on Unsplash

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

BEING THE CHURCH

This Week's Service: Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost - How Do We Love Creation?
Last Week's Service: Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost -- God is Green and All is Good
A New Face in the Office
Celebrating Julie!
Jody and Dan's Office Hours This Week
It's Trunk or Treat Planning Time!
Summer Food Ministry Update
Social Justice Team Community Conversations
September 25, Line Dancing, Sign Up Now!
SJT and SDHC Present: Everyday People, Documentary and Discussion, October 3
Listening Ear: Do You Need to Be Heard?
Prayer Requests
Birthdays & Anniversaries This Week
Financial Stewardship
Celebrating Completion of the Stewardship Campaign
Single -use Plastics Update
Church Calendar

VOLUNTEERING & GIVING

Letters for Gaza

CLASSES

Qigong! Summer into Fall!

AROUND TOWN

Men's Coffee and Conversation

BEING THE CHURCH

This Week's Service: Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

This Sunday we continue our Celebration of Creation with a look at the second chapter of Genesis which offers a more intimate account of the fashioning of human beings. In a sense its ancient poetry. Most scholars today consider these readings mythical. But most myths, if we have the ears to hear them, contain truths. Considering the disturbing and violent news of this past week, I’ve entitled my message: How Do We Love Creation When We Can’t Stop Killing Each Other? Come for the music. Come for the Communion. Come for the message. Come for the coffee in the newly remodeled Friendship Hall.

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

online_bulletin_september_14_2025.pdf
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Last Week's Service: Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

You may have heard of Advent or Lent or Pentecost, all church year seasons. But have you heard of the Season of Creation? It is an official Church Year Season for many denominations (see https://seasonofcreation.org for more info). In the United Church of Christ, in particular, we celebrate creation and seek to protect and steward and restore justice to creation in intentional ways (see https://www.creationjustice.org). For the Sundays of September we will imagine together creation as good - teaching us what creativity looks like, as connected - compelling us to be good stewards, as sacred - understanding all ground as holy, as hurt - mourning with creation as she groans. Last week, we explored Genesis 1, the Hebrew creation story. Click on the image above to watch the whole service, and the button below for just Jody's message.

<< Message >>

A New Face in the Office

Claire Blumer is in the house! 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. You can send her a Welcome email here.

Celebrating Julie!

Celebrating Julie! Julie Ridl, our Administrative Assistant or affectionately known as Minister of Communication, has been a welcoming presence among us, serving skillfully and thoughtfully, in our church office for many years. She has supported teams and committees with grace, represented the church winsomely, delighted us with her careful choice of words and images in our newsletter, problem solved in any pinch, gone over and above more times than we can name, made the Pastors look good at every turn, and been the presence of love for everyone who has entered our doors. Julie is the epitome of savvy and kindness, encouraging all those who come into the office for a task that enhances our church ministries or a listening ear. We wish Julie peace and joy as she moves into a new era of life! Please join us to celebrate Julie during the coffee hour after service on Sunday, Sept 14

Jody and Dan's Office Hours This Week

For The Week of September 14:

Wednesday: 10am to 4pm, Dan and Jody
Thursday: 9:00am to 3:00pm, Jody and Dan
Friday: 10am to 5pm, Dan and Jody

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

It's Trunk or Treat Planning Time

Last year's Trunk or Treat event was a Fall highlight! ET met Pebbles and distant unicorn cousins were reunited. Park rangers and comic characters and gypsies and witches and other frightening characters as well as an angel (your pastor Dan), among others, provided candy for more than 75 people over a couple hours.

If you would like to help plan the second annual trunk or treat, please contact Jody ([email protected], or text 616-706-3549 with your name) by Sept 7. Let's make a Happy Halloween for our neighbors!

Summer Food Ministry Update

What a Congregation!! DUCC members have really stepped up each week in providing provisions for our vulnerable brothers and sisters of SW Michigan. Feeling truly grateful. We have 2 more weeks to go. The generosity of the DUCC Members has been overwhelming and so appreciated. In the last 8 weeks, DUCC members have generously donated a total of 157 bags of groceries for our Summer Food Ministry.

For the last 2 weeks of the Summer Ministry, we are requesting the following
items:
* (36) small bottles of vegetable or canola oil
* (25) 1lb bags of white rice
* (21) Cans of Fruit
* (24) Cans of diced tomatoes
* (7) Bags of onions, (6 onions/bag)
* (10) 5lb bags of potatoes
* (22) Cans of Chicken or Tuna
* (15) Bags of Corn Tortillas
* (10) Rolls of Toilet Paper
* (35) Small Boxes of Toothpaste

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 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

Line Dancing, Sign Up Now, September 25!

Sign ups are hot 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.

SJT and SDHC Present: Everyday People, Documentary and Discussion, October 3

The Saugatuck Douglas History Center, in collaboration with the DUCC Social Justice Team, will present a screening and discussion of everydayPeople, a documentary film produced and directed by Steve Croley, Bridget McCormack, and Jeff Croley in 2011. We will revisit ideas raised in the film in the context of a very different political climate. Nestled next to each other along the Kalamazoo River with populations of just over 1,000, the resort towns of Saugatuck and Douglas have a substantial gay population. In an area with conservative and religious roots, gays and straights do not merely tolerate one another, but are thoroughly integrated politically, economically, socially and religiously. The film explores how and why this is the case, in part by asking residents from farmers to mayors how they account for longstanding gay-straight integration. DUCC is featured prominently in the film which includes interviews with former pastor Andy DeBraber and other DUCC church members. Doors open at 6:00 with the screening at 6:30, followed by panel discussion.

Panelists include Saugatuck Schools Superintendent Mark Niedlinger, filmmakers Jeff Croley and Bridget McCormack and artist/activist Ruth Crowe.

<< Reserve Your Seat Here >>

Listening Ear: Do You Need to Be Heard?

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 Retreat House on Thursday afternoons from 1 to 3 pm.

NEW DATE: What’s Up with Plastic? A Quick Talk with Chris Clark, September 28th, After Service

Photo by charlesdeluvio on Unsplash

Ever wonder what plastic really is, why it’s clogging up our planet, and what we can actually do about it? Chris will break it down—clearly, practically, and with a few surprises. Come for the conversation, leave with real-world ways to reduce plastic in your life and protect God’s creation. Single-use Plastics Update - In conjunction with the Season of Creation, (and due to the need to cancel this presentation in July) on Sunday, September 28 after the service Chris Clark, the former Chair of the Creation Justice Team and champion of this initiative, will reflect on how it's going. Please plan to join us for this informative conversation!

Reports & Minutes

approved_church_council_minutes_aug-12_2025.pdf
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pastors_report__aug_11-sept_7.docx.pdf
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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
September 19: Matthew Blasco
September 21: Barbara Lucier

ANNIVERSARIES
September 17: Lynn DaCosse

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

In-Person Attendance, August 31: 104
Total Views for August 31 worship videos: 132

Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $3,470.00
Online Giving: $2,719.44
Total, General Support: $6,189.44

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.

Celebrating Completion of the Stewardship Campaign

What began in Fall of 2023 as a campaign to continue the legacy of ministry on our church campus is now being culminated due to the generous contributions of YOU! On Sunday, September 21, after the Sunday service, we will reflect on the success of this endeavor, a once in a generation accomplishment. Please join us for this historic celebration!

Church Calendar

Photo by Dari lli on Unsplash

<< 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.