In This Week's E-Pistle, You Will Find:
This Sunday, A Lenten Lesson:
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Last Sunday's Service: Messengers of God
Last Sunday, we celebrated World Wildlife Sunday, with special focus on the birdlife around us. Wild birds have much to teach us, especially about the state of our shared home. Please enjoy last week's service, when Rev. Ginny Mikita led us in worship, with music by visiting pianist Daniel Tague and our Cantor, Jeff Spangler
This Sunday, Welcome Church Member Mark Johnston
This week, our church member Mark Johnston will lead us in service. Mark, of course, serves as the Moderator of our Church Council. He manages that position very well while also serving in an executive role, traveling around Europe and the US in support of his 60-member Customer Care team at the Finland-based finance software company he helps lead. Mark was ordained in the Nazarene Denomination, and served as a youth pastor before he was rushed out the door when he came out as a gay man. He holds a JD from the Illinois Institute of Technology and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management. He is a proud papa of four kids, one of whom, Luke, passed away at age 8. He has been married to Jeremy Lund for 10 years. He and Jeremy began attending DUCC remotely from Chicago in 2017, and became members in 2019 after moving here.
Sunday Special Collection: One Great Hour of Sharing
This Sunday we will take a special collection for the UCC's One Great Hour of Sharing® -- one of four special mission offerings of the United Church of Christ. This Lenten Offering supports the disaster, refugee, and development ministries of the United Church of Christ within our Wider Church Ministries. When you give to the UCC's OGHS Fund, the UCC is able to help families around the world become stronger, healthier, and better equipped to address hardships and catastrophes that would otherwise leave them destitute and hopeless. We ask for and match donations to this special fund just once a year. Thank you for your giving! You can make this donation at church, online directly to the UCC at the button below, or through our giving page..
The Soul of Politics, March 10, 3pm
We are honored to co-sponsor this important discussion, organized by our friends at Holland UCC, which will be moderated by our church member, Stan Greene. As our social justice committee explores the threat of Christian Nationalism to the future of our country and our church, this timely discussion is aimed to help us find the path forward for this election cycle and beyond.
Congregational Meeting, March 17
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 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.
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). Contact Chris Clark OR borrow a copy from the library!
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.
The church has a limited number of copies of the book for sale at $10 (half the Amazon price). Contact Chris Clark OR borrow a copy from the library!
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.
Help Us Fill Our Easter Altar with Lilies
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, following the button below, or by using the lily envelopes in the church pews. After the Easter service, you can take your lilies home with you!
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 care-giver, 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 care-givers needs to be really flexible. Just show up when you can. Rev. Marty and other care-givers will be waiting to embrace and support you.
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 care-giver, 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 care-givers needs to be really flexible. Just show up when you can. Rev. Marty and other care-givers 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!
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 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 if you plan to attend. Space may be limited.
Soul Collage, March 9
Rev. Ruth Zwald's next SoulCollage workshop is scheduled for Saturday, March 9 in the Friendship Hall. Ruth has had a great response to these workshops, and is now offering two sessions, a morning and an afternoon time.
The theme for this month is: Using SoulCollage® to Reflect, Listen and Grow. Through a gentle guided meditation, we learn and listen to what is stirring in our lives, and create a card or two that expresses those parts of ourselves. If you are an experienced SoulCollager, she will also be encouraging you to work on the Transpersonal suit of your deck. Instructions will be provided. It can be a surprising and insightful journey.
All the details are in the attached flyer. Please note the time options: either 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM or from 1-4 PM.
These workshops take a lot of preparation, so you must sign up in advance for this workshop by contacting Rev. Ruth directly by email: [email protected]
The theme for this month is: Using SoulCollage® to Reflect, Listen and Grow. Through a gentle guided meditation, we learn and listen to what is stirring in our lives, and create a card or two that expresses those parts of ourselves. If you are an experienced SoulCollager, she will also be encouraging you to work on the Transpersonal suit of your deck. Instructions will be provided. It can be a surprising and insightful journey.
All the details are in the attached flyer. Please note the time options: either 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM or from 1-4 PM.
These workshops take a lot of preparation, so you must sign up in advance for this workshop by contacting Rev. Ruth directly by email: [email protected]
Prayer Requests
Fred Hamlin; Debra Carr; Ann Hopkins; The Chappell-Wehle Family; Carol Brown and Dan McGavin; Dan Mack; 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; 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 10- Linda Marth, 12- Annie Hotwagner, 16- Gemina Petruzzelli
Anniversaries: 10- Joyce & Kelly Wright
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.
Anniversaries: 10- Joyce & Kelly Wright
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 3
Pledges to Date = $228,800.00
Pledge Fulfillment to date = $118,587.98
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:
Pledges to Date = $228,800.00
Pledge Fulfillment to date = $118,587.98
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:
Financial Stewardship
In-Person Attendance, March 3: 66
Total Views for March 3 worship videos: 265
Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $924.00
Online Giving: $1,619.06
Total, General Support: $2,543.06
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.
Total Views for March 3 worship videos: 265
Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $924.00
Online Giving: $1,619.06
Total, General Support: $2,543.06
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.
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