Seventh Sunday of Easter

5/10/2024

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

This Week's Service, Seventh Sunday of Easter: Welcome Reverend Lillian Daniel
Last Week's Service, Sixth Sunday of Easter: Identity -- A Moving Target
Rev. Jody's Office Hours for the week of March 13
Planning for Pentecost with Rev. Jody, May 14, 4:30pm
May Cereal Drive
Now Recruiting: DUCC Transition Team
17th Annual Benefit for Christian Neighbors, May 19
SJT Reads: The Afro-Christian Convention: Fifth Stream of the UCC, May 23, 7pm
SJT Presents: Karen Graves: The Fight Isn't Over, at the Library, May 31, 4:30pm
Pete Wehle Sings Frank Sinatra: Woman's Club Fundraiser, May 17 & 18
Unity on the Lakeshore Concert, May 18
Prayer Requests
Birthdays & Anniversaries, Stewardship Drive & Financial Stewardship

This Week's Service, Seventh Sunday of Easter: Welcome Reverend Lillian Daniel

In this Sunday's Scripture Reading, Paul is describing the Body of Christ. Who are we to one another? How does our community help our larger communities function? This Sunday, we welcome our Michigan Conference Minister, Rev. Lillian Daniel, back to our pulpit. This great writer and homilist has some thoughts for us at this important time in our church history.

A graduate of Yale Divinity School, Rev. Lillian began her ministry as an Associate Pastor at a
large church in Connecticut, then a solo Pastor at a small urban church in New Haven, Connecticut where the choir outnumbered the congregation. They grew to become a vibrant, interracial, Open and Affirming community, the first of three churches to go through the Open and Affirming process under her leadership. A regular writer for the UCC Stillspeaking Devotionals, she was a founding member of the UCC Writer’s Group that has produced many written materials for the denomination.

Rev. Lillian is a widely read author whose latest book, Tired of Apologizing for a
Church I Don't Belong To generated international conversation about the changing
religious landscape. It continues the theme of her 2013 book When ‘Spiritual But Not
Religious’ Is Not Enough about the growing number of people who claim "none" as their
religious preference. Featured in the New York Times and on PBS, Daniel’s writing has been described as “biting, hilarious, pitch perfect, tender, and often stunningly beautiful,” and her book This Odd and Wondrous Calling is taught in many seminaries.

Lillian Daniel currently teaches UCC History and Polity at Chicago Theological Seminary where she is also on the Board of Trustees. She has taught preaching at a number of schools, including the University of Chicago, University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, and Yale Divinity School.

Lillian Daniel has spoken at the National Cathedral, Duke Chapel, King’s College -London, and Queen’s College - Ontario. She now enthusiastically speaks at UCC churches across the Michigan Conference with a focus on communication, connection and celebration.

Together we will discern what our still-speaking God is calling us to do next.

Join us at 10am Sunday Morning, or live online on YouTube right here.
Download this week's E-Bulletin here:

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Last Week's Service, Sixth Sunday of Easter: Identity -- A Moving Target

What is identity? How is it constructed, what is it good for? Why does it matter? Why do we exist as a church? What would be missing if we were not part of our community? Jesus talks about changing relationships and the value of community. Join us as we explore the important concept of identity during this liminal time. Message: Rev. Jody Betten, Music: Peter Black and Jeff Spangler

Rev. Jody's Office Hours
for the Week of March 13

Rev. Jody's upcoming office hours at the Isabel Graham Center:

Week of May 13
Tuesday the 14th,11am - 8pm
Friday 10am -3pm.

Week of May 20
Wed the 22nd 10am - 3pm
Thurs the 23rd 12pm to 8pm.

Planning for Pentecost with Rev. Jody
Tuesday, May 14, 4:30pm

Photo by Elisa Calvet B. on Unsplash

Pentecost Planning - If you wonder if you should volunteer for the Art Guild, if you were on the Art Guild and want to share some of the history, especially around Pentecost traditions, please join Rev. Jody at 4:30p on Tuesday, May 14 at the Isabel Graham Office building (88 Spring Street), to plan for the Sunday, May 19 Pentecost service. I will share some ideas for my theme for Pentecost Sunday, the meaning and symbolism of the religious tradition, and hopefully, some of the Art Guild can share some of the previous ideas for creating a Pentecost sanctuary. Then we can brainstorm what to do for this year! Please let Jody ([email protected]) know if you are available. Thanks in advance for joining in!

May Cereal Drive

Thanks so much to all the donors who have already dropped boxes of cereal off at the church! Because hunger doesn't take a summer vacation, Christian Neighbors Food Pantry, along with the Allegan County Food Pantry Collaborative, is collecting cereal to distribute this summer to neighbors with children, to keep them nourished through the summer months. The Cereal Drive Ends May 31. You may leave cereal boxes at the Friendship Hall, or in collection boxes around town, or deliver them directly to Christian Neighbors' Food pantry, located at the Douglas Community Church on Wiley. Check out the Christian Neighbors website for more opportunities to take care of our neighbors in need. Or ask our church's Christian Neighbors liaisons, Wendy Hamlin and Rich Marth!

Now Recruiting: DUCC Transition Team

Photo by Lili Popper on Unsplash

To facilitate the Interim Process, we are inviting members and friends of the congregation to be involved in a Transition Team who will guide us through each stage of the process.

There will be planning for and facilitating the various activities of each phase of the process, so one or two coordinators are needed (people with organizational skills, could be the same person for all the phases or a different person for each phase).

We will need people with a variety of gifts, interests, and skills, which are listed with the various phases in the document linked below.

Generally the characteristics of the people involved will be: concern with the best interest of the church, integrity, trustworthiness, creativity, people skills, and respect for the process.

Imagine the time commitment to be 1 1/2 to 2 hours in a planning session for each phase, and the time as necessary to implement or facilitate related activities (perhaps 5 hours per phase or per month).

Please volunteer yourself or suggest a person who you think would be appropriate for each phase. Email names and contact info to [email protected]

17th Annual Benefit for Christian Neighbors, May 19

The 17th Annual Benefit Open House for Christian Neighbors is Sunday, May 19, from Noon to 4pm. Beverages, Hearty Hors d'oeuvres and desserts are provided. Join us with a $100 donation at 2232 Sheffield Lane, home of Arthur Frederick, host.

RSVP BY MAY 14TH in writing to: Box 400, Douglas 49406. Or call Arthur at 269-543-3080 Checks made payable to: Christian Neighbors May Benefit. Please carpool if possible, as parking is limited.

SJT Reads: The Afro-Christian Convention: Fifth Stream of the UCC, May 23, 7pm

The Social Justice Team invites you to read The Afro-Christian Convention: The Fifth Stream of the United Church of Christ, and then gather to discuss it on May 23 at 7 pm in the Friendship Hall. The holy stream of African spirituality that flowed across the Atlantic Ocean, up into the tidewaters of Virginia in 1619, the same stream that overflowed into the worship and work of the United Church of Christ, is celebrated by this volume, and given its long-overdue place in the canon of UCC history. The book was edited by Yvonne V. Delk and published by Pilgrim Press. If you don't have time to read the book, watch this video of Afro Christian Convention. It's a great synopsis of the book, and the broader archival project. The book is available through your favorite booksellers, and on your Kindle through Amazon. Or you can order it directly from the publisher, Pilgrim Press, who delivers more quickly than the average publisher!

SJT Presents: Karen Graves: The Fight Isn't Over, at the Library, May 31, 4:30pm

Our DUCC Social Justice Team, together with the Saugatuck-Douglas District Library, presents the second part of the two-part program featuring historian and neighbor Karen L. Graves:

If you could join us for Part 1, reading Graves' book, that's just great, but it isn't a prerequisite for joining us for Part 2:

Part 2: Saugatuck-Douglas District Library, May 31, 4:30pm
"The Fight Isn't Over": How the History of LGBTQ+ Teachers Informs Current School Battles"

Education historian and Queer Studies author Karen Graves will highlight elements from the history of LGBTQ+ educators that put our current school battles in historical context.

On May 31st she will discuss how LGBTQ+ educators across the nation turned to the courts to protect their jobs, beginning in the late 1960s.

In both talks Graves will discuss why schools have been fierce battlegrounds in the fight for LGBTQ+ civil rights.

Karen Graves is Professor Emerita at Denison University. Her book, And They Were Wonderful Teachers: Florida’s Purge of Gay and Lesbian Teachers, was awarded a 2010 Critics Choice Book Award from the American Educational Studies Association. In 2013 Graves received the Education Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award at the University of Illinois. In 2015 AERA recognized her with its Queer Studies Body of Work Award.

Pete Wehle Sings Frank Sinatra: Woman's Club Fundraiser, May 17 & 18

Our own church member, Pete Wehle is offering his beloved concert of Frank Sinatra Songs to raise scholarship funds for deserving Saugatuck High School seniors. Food, Dancing and Sinatra! What fun! Tickets are $20 and available from Lynne Snyder, or by calling the number above.

Unity on the Lakeshore Concert, May 18

Our friends at Unity on the Lakeshore are hosting a concert and silent auction funder on May 18. The suggested contribution for attending is $25. No one will be turned away!

Get Your Tickets Here»»

Prayer Requests

Joe Scarpone (Friend of Tom Fahlstrom); Fred "Fritz" Royce and Sara Hurley; Sydney Williams and Baby (Kristine Sherman's Daughter); Rev. Marchiene Rienstra Family; Fred Hamlin; Ann and Jim Hopkins; The Chappell-Wehle Family; Carol Brown and Dan McGavin; David Miedema, his parents and family; John Kerr; Dave and Shirley Lawson; Ruth Fahlstrom (daughter of Tom Fahlstrom); Nancy Grib (Friend of Pamela Chappell); Stuart Family; Charlene Burdick (Paul Burdick's Mother); 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)

Birthdays & Anniversaries

Birthdays: May 18- Jo Cooley, Sue Fleming

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 May 5:
Pledges to Date = $228,800.00
Pledge Fulfillment to date = $127,284.90
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 Stewardship Drive Pledges and Payments Here»»

Financial Stewardship

In-Person Attendance, May 5: 83
Total Views for May 5 worship videos: 161

Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $469.00
Online Giving: $2,991.57
Total, General Support: $3460.57

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.