Second Sunday of Easter

4/25/2025

Photo by Dan Plasman

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

This Week's Service: The Pope. The Earth. Our Yards.
Last Week's Service: Easter Sunday: Easter is a Verb
Jody and Dan's Office Hours This Week
Easter KUDOS! Art Guild, Choir, Lilies!
UCC's Lily Grant for Intergenerational Services -- Let's Explore This!
Media Mavens! AV Team Wants YOU!
CJT Asks: Share Your Success!
Will You Support Sarah Donovan in Her Annual MS Walk Tomorrow?
May is Cereal Drive Month -- Feeding Kids Through the Summer
Global Spirituality Book Series With Rev. Marty begins May 2!
Christian Neighbors Fundraiser, May 4
Christian Nationalism Meetup, New Date and Time, May 8, 6pm
Next SoulCollage, May 10
Congregational Church in Saugatuck Invites All to Ladies Tea
Minutes & Reports
Prayer Requests
Birthdays & Anniversaries This Week
Financial Stewardship
Church Calendar

This Week's Service: The Pope. The Earth. Our Yards.

Photo by Dan Plasman

Jorge Mario Bergoglio died this past Monday. The world knew him as Pope Francis. For twelve years he led the Roman Catholic Church in advocating for justice and steadfastly stood with migrants. His stance with the LGBTQ+ community was more welcoming than any previous pontiff. Pope Francis was also passionate about caring for the planet and had much to say about the ongoing destruction that occurs around the globe. As we observe Earth Day this Sunday at DUCC, we will be introduced to some practical and necessary earth-keeping ideas that might be as close as your own backyard.

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
You will always find our latest church bulletin and service music at Bit.ly/DUCCBulletin

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Last Week's Service: Easter Sunday: Easter is a Verb

At our lovely Easter Sunday Service last week, Dan reminded us all that Easter is not one day of the year, but the way we live and move in the world -- if we're doing it right. If we're doing it right, Easter is a verb. Here is the Easter Sunday Service.

Here's the Homily»»

Jody and Dan's Office Hours This Week

For the Week of April 27:

Wednesday: 10am to 3pm, Jody
Friday: 10am to 3pm, Dan

*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

Easter KUDOS!! Art Guild! Lilies! and That Amazing Choir!

It Takes a Wonderful Village to Make an Easter Celebration...

A Song of Thanks To Our Marvelous Holiday Choir-- You came with warm hearts, open ears, and voices ready to rise. A few rehearsals later, you filled our Easter morning with music that soared, shimmered, and sang of new life. You blended harmony and hope, brought the joy of Easter into every phrase, and filled our sanctuary with something holy. You didn’t just sing—you glowed! And to the one who waved his hands and worked the magic: Stan Greene—what a gift you are! With patience, energy, and a joyful spirit, you made room for every voice, drew out our best, and reminded us why we sing together in the first place. Thank you all for the music, the laughter, the dedication, and the love that rang out in every note.
With gratitude, Peter and The Entire DUCC Family

Choir Members, Led by Director Stan Greene-- Scott Dewitt, Tom Fahlstrom, Bert Hallewas, Pete Wehle, Lynne Snyder, Chris Clark, Dan Plasman, Doug Petersen, Shirley Lawson, Lauri Donaldson, Jeff Spangler, Pamela Chappell, Demetrhea Terrien, Linda Knieriemen, El Clough, Kathleen Mueller, Anne Petersen, Amy Bateson, Laurie Vandenbeldt, Shannon Connell, and Virginia Stuart.

Our Amazing Art Guild Team-- Thank you for blessing us with your imaginations, and embodying what it means to Be the Church! The Chancel gave us a beautiful setting and metaphor for our Easter Celebrations: Gemina Petruzzeli, Scott Bryers, Greggie Gerrans, and Greg Harvath

Lily Donations in honor of: Laird J. Stuart, Kenneth Schultz, Rick Hamlin, Joan Hamlin, Dr. Michael Condron, John and Carol Dooley, David Kaiser and Sandra Titus, Balei Chinski, Wilma and Terry Hacksma, Florence Raywood, Gertrude Marquertle, In Honor of New DUCC Church Family, Beth Perona, Joseph Marth, Brittany Allen, Susan Kelly, Andrew Gutzman, John and Billie Petersen, Frank and Rhoda Studley, Bert’s Pappa, Mamma, Mom, Dad, Stan and Maureen Rau, Kenny Krause, Vivian and Bruce Garlinghouse, Buzz and Betty Ridl, Paul Fredrickson, Pat and Tom Donovan, Barbara Snow, Margaret and Ed Reinards, Emma and James Brady, William and Margaret Clark, Rick Hamlin, Joan Hamlin, Fred Hamilin’s parents and siblings, Laura and Virginia, Warren and Helen DeWitt, Lamont Dirkse, Tom and Vena Fahlstrom, Ann Fahlstrom, Thank you for Revs Jody and Dan

UCC's Lilly Grant for Intergenerational Services -- Let's Explore This!

The Michigan Conference UCC has received a Lilly Endowment Grant to explore Intergenerational Services in Churches. If you are interested in exploring this idea for DUCC or have questions, please let Pastor Jody know (text 616-706-3549) with name and "Yes to intergen service" or email her at [email protected]. Thanks!

Media Mavens! AV Team Wants YOU!

Photo by Galina Nelyubova on Unsplash

We are in search of the tech-attracted people among us. Training available. We need one more person to staff the sound booth (Hey if the pastor can do it, you can! Ask Pastor Dan about his experience!) and one more person to handle the video. Super fun! Super important! Once a month opportunities! Please contact Chris Clark or Lewis Corbin for more info. These people get the best seat in the house every Sunday!

Creation Justice Team Asks:
Share Your Success!

Our Creation Justice Team is interested in ways that you might have made changes to care for God’s creation over the past several years of our programming. For example, Have you done something to reduce light pollution by replacing your outside light fixtures or putting a shield around current fixtures? Have you done something to expand the canopy in our area by planting a tree or two? Have you removed a part of your lawn and planted native plants and pollinators? Have you reduced your use of plastic by using glass or another material? Have you started composting? Please let Chris Clark know so that we can celebrate your actions. Please send examples to Chris at [email protected].

Will You Support Sarah Donovan in Her Annual MS Walk Tomorrow?

We are members of Team Donovan, and we're walking toward a world free of MS. Everyone has the power to change the world for people with MS. We are coming together with
thousands of people across the country to Walk MS — a charity walk for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society — to ensure that no one faces MS alone. We would love your generous support as we prepare for our walk.

Thank You, Sarah Donovan and all the Members of Team Donovan!

Support Team Donovan Here»»

May is Cereal Drive Month -- Feeding Kids Through the Summer

Photo by John Matychuk on Unsplash

Soon you will see a cereal collection box in the foyer of the Friendship Hall. During the month of May, Christian Neighbors and Ladders of Hope (two organizations we support at Douglas UCC), in partnership with the Allegan County Food Pantry Collaborative (ACFPC), is collecting cereal throughout area communities to provide additional food to our clients with children during summer break.

Why? Because hungr doesn't take a summer vacation, and cereal is a nutritious, vitamin-rich food that needs no preparation, is easily stored, and is well-liked by children.

You are invited to drop off boxes of cereal in the foyer of the Friendship Hall.

And You can find additional convenient drop spots all over the county and a way to make a financial donation to this drive right here:

Cereal Drive Donation Places»»

Global Spirituality Book Series With Rev. Marty begins May 2!

Our increasingly connected world is moving from being separated by various religious traditions into an interwoven global spirituality which connects us. At Mother's Trust on the first Friday of each month from May to November, 4:00-5:30pm join us for a book series led by our own Rev. Marty Reinstra. Details in the document you can download, below.

global_spirituality_book_series_-marty_reinstra__1___1_.pdf
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Christian Neighbors Fundraiser, May 4

Since it's inception, Douglas UCC and its people have supported the work of Christian Neighbors. And so did our friend Arthur Frederick, who held an annual benefit at his home that raised a significant portion of this food and household goods provider for neighbors in need.

Our community suffered the loss of Arthur last year, and we honor him by taking up Arthur's lead and example, with this legacy annual fundraiser. We hope you can join in, enjoy hors d'oeuvres, beer and wine in the company of friends and supporters of the work of Christian Neighbors, a local 501C3 organization that helps individuals and families in need.

Sunday, May 4, 2025
1:00p to 3:00p
The Saugatuck Yacht Club
15 Park Street, Saugatuck

Requested Donation of $75.00 Checks payable to: Christian Neighbors.
Checks mailed to: All Saints’ Church, 252 Grand Street, Saugatuck, MI 49453
or dropped off at the event.

For questions, please check with our church members Bert Hallewas and Kirsten Stannis.

Christian Nationalism Meetup, New Date and Time, May 8, 6pm

Our Christian Nationalism Book Study follow-up discussion has been postponed to Thursday, May 8, at 6pm, following our Quiet Contemplation Service. Join us to brainstorm on next action steps!

Next SoulCollage, May 10

You don't even know your own wisdom! It's inside you, but how do you connect with it? There are great methods for seeking answers and direction from your own mind/heart/body. And Soul Collage is an especially fruitful one. Our friend Ruth Zwald is a longtime teacher of the SoulCollage process for using imagery and guided meditation practices to help us discover our own wise counsel. Her classes draw people from throughout West Michigan. Even other SoulCollage teachers attend her sessions. So we are delighted to host her classes here at Douglas UCC. You can join in on any class to learn how to learn this way of self discovery and healing. To sign up, follow the directions above.

First Congregational Church of Saugatuck Invites All to Ladies Tea, May 3 at 2pm

Minutes & Reports

approved_church_council_minutes_mar_2025__1_.pdf
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Prayer Requests

Elinor Hite (Virginia Stuart's sister); Dave Lawson; Chris Warner (Friend of Pete Wehle); Ken Rans (friend of Pete Wehle); Rich Marth; Christine Kerney; Nancy Plantinga and her family; Family of Jim Solazzo (Anne Hotwagner's uncle); Carrie Andrews and Family of Paul Fredrickson; 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); Fred Hamlin; John Kerr; Ruth Fahlstrom (daughter of Tom Fahlstrom); Mary Westenbroek; Jerry Elpers and family (Beth Howley's Dad); Max Matteson; Eric Cooley (Jo Cooley's brother)

Birthdays & Anniversaries This Week

Birthdays: April 28- Susan Sorg,
30- Jennifer Keogh-Schwarb
Anniversaries: April 30- Linda & Matthew McWebb,
May 1- Bud Baty & Max Matteson

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.
Battling Power outage! Stay tuned!

Financial Stewardship

In-Person Attendance, April 20: 121
Total Views for April 20 worship videos: 211

Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $4,976.00
Online Giving: $3,039.39
Total, General Support: $8,015.39

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

Our Church calendar is online! Use it to look for space for your event, click on an event to get all the details, or copy an event to your own calendar software. So convenient! When you have events to schedule anywhere on campus, scan the calendar for a spot, then contact [email protected] to make your reservation. Email is best so she can keep track of requests.

Church Calendar»»