Second Sunday in Lent

2/23/2024

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

This Sunday's Service -- Second Sunday in Lent: How is Lent Like Springtime?
Last Sunday's Service: First Sunday in Lent: The Obstacle is the Path
This Sunday, Welcome Church Member Rev. Marchiene Rienstra
Congregational Meeting, March 17
The Soul of Politics, March 10, 3pm
Help Us Fill Our Easter Altar with Lilies
All Caregivers Invited: Tuesdays in March
Our Open and Affirming Pastoral Search -- Share this Page!
Honoring Black History: Jazz for Justice, All Saints Church, February 29, 6:30 p.m.
CJT Book Discussion
Spread Hope: The Peanut Butter Drive
February is Carpool to Church Month!
Soul Collage, March 9
Prayer Requests, Birthdays & Anniversaries, Stewardship Drive & Financial Stewardship

This Sunday's Service: How is Lent Like Springtime?

It is still February, but here and there are signs of springtime. Have you noticed? And these signs are inviting us to consider repentance --which is a main theme of this Lenten season --the way Jesus did.

Spoiler: It is not the way we have usually been taught to think of Lent or of repentance. Come and consider another way of thinking of and living them both.

You can join us online on our YouTube Channel at 10am right here.
And you can download our bulletin for Sunday here:

order_of_service_february_25_2024__2_.pdf
File Size:	806 kb
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Last Sunday's Service: The Obstacle is the Path

Scripture describes Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness, how his faith was tested. How have you been tested in your life? Please enjoy last Sunday's service, when our church member, Rev. Pamela Chappell lead us in worship, helping us understand that "The Obstacle is the Path." Worship Leader: Pamela Chappell. Music by Peter Black and Cantor: Jeff Spangler

Here's the Homily!

This Sunday, Welcome Church Member Rev. Marchiene Rienstra

We are delighted to welcome back Rev. Marchiene Rienstra, who will be leading our worship this coming Sunday. Rev. Marty (as many of us call her) is the first woman to graduate from Calvin Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree, and she taught at both Calvin College and Western Theological Seminary. She also became the first woman to be senior pastor in the Reformed Church of America, and she helped establish Mother’s Trust Ashram in Ganges, Michigan. She is also the author of five books on spirituality. She and her husband, John, are members of Douglas UCC, and Rev. Marty serves on our Spiritual Center faculty. You won't want to miss her inspiring message!

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.

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 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!

The Pastor 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.

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!

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 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.

Jazz for Justice: A Centenary Celebration of the
Harlem Renaissance, Feb 29, 6:30 p.m.

Honoring Black History Month, our friends at All Saints Episcopal Church in Saugatuck are exploring the history of the Harlem Renaissance in Music and Art. All are invited, Thursday, Feb. 29 at 6:30pm.

Creation Justice Team: Book Discussion

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.

Spread Hope: The Peanut Butter Drive

Photo by Corletto Peanut Butter on Unsplash

February is our Peanut Better Drive month, when we collect peanut butter for the food bank at Christian Neighbors, through February 29.

This annual event gathers in most of the peanut butter distributed annually by Christian Neighbors to community folks in need.

Through the month of February, we will be gathering jars of peanut butter in the Friendship Hall. Or, if it's more convenient, jars can be dropped off during open business hours at:

Lake Vista SuperValu, 237 W Center St, Douglas
Saugatuck-Douglas District Library, 174 Center St, Douglas
Christian Neighbors Food Pantry, located in the rear of Community Church of Douglas, 6874 Wiley Road

February is Carpool to Church Month!

Photo by Girl with a Red Hat on Unsplash

As a follow-up to the recent worship service that focused on energy, the Creation Justice Team has declared February 2024 “Carpool to Church Month”! We’re asking everyone to find another person or couple with whom to share rides to church. You can tell each other stories, enjoy conversations, and park closer to the door!

Empty car seats represent missed opportunities to cut back on fossil fuel, save money, and build community. Driving can sometimes be a hassle - even in Allegan County. Why not take turns and reduce the stress?

We’re hoping that some people will make this a permanent arrangement. For others, it may prompt them to consider additional ways to reduce car trips. Please join the fun during Carpool to Church Month!

Here are a few carpooling etiquette tips for drivers...

DO pick up on time.
DO communicate if plans change or you’re late.
DO drive extra carefully.
DO keep your car reasonably clean.
DON’T talk on the phone.
DON’T make extra stops.

And for passengers...

DO be ready.
DO communicate if plans change.
DON’T eat or drink in the car.
DON’T distract the driver.

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]

Prayer Requests

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: February 29- Craig Drager, March 2- Carol Watson Ortman

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 February 18:
Pledges to Date = $228,800.00
Pledge Fulfillment to date = $115,827.98

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:

Make Your Pledge or Stewardship Payment Here»»

Financial Stewardship

In-Person Attendance, February 18: 58
Total Views for February 18 worship videos: 201

Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $1,301
Online Giving: $1,775.21
Total, General Support: $3076.21

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.