Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

9/6/2024

Photo by Allef Vinicius on Unsplash

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

This Week's Service: Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost: More from James
Last Week's Service: Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost: The World Needs More Straw
Pastor Jody's Office Hours
Bulletin Experiments!
FCUCC Concert Series: Southside Denny, September 8, 3pm
Water Filter Funder, September 11, 6pm, Alley's
Congregational Care Team Meeting, September 20, 9am
SoulCollage with Ruth Zwald, September 28
It's Membership Directory Update Season!
Beach Cleanup, October 5!
Your Family's bread? Worldwide Communion Sunday, October 6
Relativity! A Play and Fundraiser: October 17 through 20
Prayer Requests
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Grant Proposals, Stewardship Drive & Financial Stewardship

This Week's Service: More from James

Photo by Ales Dusa on Unsplash

You've probably heard of transactional relationships; give-and-take relationships in which each person acts, expecting something in return. You've maybe heard it this way "quid pro quo." You maybe have heard of it in the church as well -- "We need more members because we're not meeting budget." James mentions this problem when he points out that the gathering of Jesus-followers of his day are paying attention to the rich in the community -- because their membership can benefit the church -- at the expense of the poor who need their help. What's the antidote? Join us on Sunday as we consider our own quid pro quos and how to protect ourselves from those sorts of relationships.
Message: Rev. Jody Betten, Music: Peter Black, Jeff Spangler, Lauri Donaldson
Join us in church at 10am, or streaming live on our YouTube channel here.

Last Week's Service

We are all connected to the great collective, to the energy of love, and there is nothing that will separate us from that. Yet, in that sacred text we call the Bible -- a book with 66 books in it -- there is one book, the book of James, that witnesses to another truth: what we do matters. How we behave makes a difference. Will our life be peaceful and "heavenly" or tortuous and "hellish?" So, what are those behaviors? Join us as we explore possibilities for how to behave that make a difference in our lives and in the world.

Message: Rev. Jody Betten, Music: Peter Black, Jeff Spangler, Lauri Donaldson

Here's the Homily»»

Pastor Jody's Office Hours

Jody's office hours for the week of September 9:

Wednesday: 8:30am - 3pm
Thursday: 3pm - 8pm
Friday: 10am - 3pm

For the week of September 16:

Tuesday: 10am - 3pm
Wednesday: 10am - 3pm
Friiday: 9am - 3pm

Bulletin Experiments!

Photo by Aakash Dhage on Unsplash.

Our bulletin/program covers are produced by the United Church of Christ. They often explain initiatives or programs of the UCC, and include commentary on one of the lectionary texts. For the next few weeks due to a staffing shortage with the producers -- leaving us with no covers from the UCC (and because regularly the picture and notes on the back don't fit with our focus for the week) -- we chose to try out a new format. Thanks to our bulletin team, Julie Ridl and Lewis Corbin, we have a creative new possibility. As you use it this week, we invite you to consider what you like about it and what could be better about it. Please use link below to share... For now our large-print bulletins will remain the same. But you can always let us know how those can be better too!

Share Your Thoughts Here»»

FCUCC Concert Series: Southside Denny, September 8, 3pm

At our sister church in South Haven, the Summer Concert Series next features Chicago blues guitarist/vocalist Southside Denny, who brings his charismatic style of finger-picking and slide guitar to the First Congregational UCC Summer Concert Series in South Haven on Sunday, September 8 at 3pm. Now living in Montréal, this South Bend native is touring through the Midwest in support of his new CD, “Heal It.” $20 at the door, general admission. Call Diane & Lisa for more info, (520) 370-5912. You can them know you're coming on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/share/bXJY1UMd3oXKP5gG/?mibextid=9l3rBW

Water Filter Funder, September 11, 6pm, Alley's

Our church members Stacy Honson and Dick Bont are supporting the “Water Filters for Families” program for the poor communities that surround Puerto Vallarta. This program provides clean water for a family for 10 years for just $50.

You are invited to join Dick and Stacy for food and beverages and more information about the program. Bring your checkbook! If you are interested in helping but cannot join in at the fundraiser, you can send a check payable to our local rotary club. Please put “PV Filters” in the memo line:

Rotary Club of Saugatuck-Douglas
431 Spear Street
Saugatuck MI 49453

Dick and Stacy want you to know:

Just inland from the beaches and tourist areas of Puerto Vallarta, many families do not have access to clean, safe drinking water. Many communities are not on the municipal water purification system. Sometimes families purchase water for 28 pesos ($1.40) for 4 gallons but the average working person makes little more than 65 pesos ($3.50) per day. Many families in these communities get their water from the filthy rivers which are multi-use including use for animals and sewage.

This clean water program was started in 2012. To date, we have given more than 6,000 individual water filters to families, homes and schools in the Puerto Vallarta area, free of charge to the recipients. More than 20,000 people have received the benefit of clean, safe drinking water under this program!

A number of these communities are up in the mountains, and several other communities are accessible only by boat. In addition to receiving the water filter, “Water Filter School” is held offering instructions on the use, cleaning and maintenance of the filter. Clean water storage, hand washing and sanitation are also discussed, and large posters are provided to schools and health centers which outline the importance of clean water and sanitation.

To date, funding has been provided through donations from individuals, charitable organizations, Rotary Clubs, and also through 2 Rotary District Grants, and 3 Rotary International Global Grants.

The cost of a filter kit is $50 USD. Because of the low cost of this filter, we are able to supply people immediately with safe, clean drinking water. The filters are supplied by Sawyer, which has a history of working with Rotary to provide clean, safe drinking water worldwide. The filters do not require any fuel, chemicals, batteries or particular knowledge. They require a clean bucket and regular cleaning with clean water. The syringe needed to clean the filter is provided with the filter, as are all instructions for use.

The life expectancy of a filter is 1,000,000 gallons or 4,000,000 liters. For most families, this will give them clean drinking water for about 10 years.

The families using the filters are very pleased that they have been given the gift of clean, safe drinking water. The people have expressed their gratitude and happiness, and community members state that the provision of clean, safe drinking water has had a significant positive impact on these communities!

Congregational Care Team Meeting,
September 20, 9am

The Congregational Care team invites you to gather, brainstorm, share best practices, develop planning and staffing to provide care for our congregational members. Please let Jody know of your interest and they will include you on the email for notes and agenda. Bring your heart and your thoughts to the Friendship Hall, September 20, 9am.

SoulCollage with Ruth Zwald, September 28

Our friend Rev. Ruth Zwald will offer her next sessions with SoulCollage. With the excellent response she has been receiving, she now offers two sessions for each theme -- one in the morning, and the other in the afternoon. You can choose to attend either the morning workshop or the afternoon workshop - whichever time frame works best for you.

The theme for this month is: The Fields of Autumn: Exploring the Landscapes of Change Through SoulCollage®. Through a gentle guided meditation, we learn and listen to what is changing in our lives, and create a card or two that expresses those parts of ourselves. We will explore themes of gratitude, of harvest, and of things that may be challenging us. Instructions will be provided. It can be a surprising and insightful journey.

All the details are in the poster above. Please note the time options: either 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM or from 1-4 PM.

Please respond to Rev. Ruth through the email above to claim your spot. Be sure to specify if you would like to join the morning or the afternoon session. It is the perfect workshop to invite a friend. Space is limited to 16 participants at each session.

It's Membership Directory Update Season!

It's time to add or update your information in our Instant Church Directory!

Remember, you don't have to be a church member to be included, but you do have to be in the directory to use the directory.

Julie Ridl will be happy to help you update your entries, by appointment at the church office.

Of course, if you are using the phone app or the desktop app, you can make changes yourself any time you like! We hope you will make those changes by September 30!

We strongly encourage using the phone app and desktop app, which is always the most accurate and up-to-date, and because it keeps paper and ink and waste out of landfills. If you need help figuring out how to add it to your smartphone, check in with Julie Ridl, Chris Clark, or Mike VerMerris.

We nudge for updates to be made by SEPTEMBER 30 because a few of us really are not comfortable with technology and need print copies. With fresh updates, we will take orders for print versions in October.

The directory is the easiest way to find and connect with your church pals, figure out who's on which committee, manage your committee lists, and find your helpful church council members.

Beach Cleanup, October 5!

ur Creation Justice Team is planning our annual community beach cleanup for Saturday, October 5. Save the morning, and watch for details. If you can help organize the event, reach out to Kathy Klage or Brad Hopkins.

Your Family's bread? Worldwide Communion Sunday, October 6

Photo by Slashio Photography on Unsplash

On October 6 churches around the globe will be celebrating the Sacrament of Holy Communion, The Lord's Supper or the Eucharist on World Wide Communion Sunday. In solidarity with our siblings around the world we would like to use various breads from our ethnic traditions in this service. If you have a special loaf of bread from your heritage that you would like to contribute, please let Pastor Jody ([email protected]) or Mike VerMerris ([email protected]) know. Thanks!

Relativity! A Play and Fundraiser: October 17 Through 20

A wonderful cast of characters, including our own church members Jim Kern and Shannon Connell will be staging a performance of Relativity, a remarkable play about the remarkable (shocking?) life of Albert Einstein. Ticket Sales will help fund our Stewardship Drive.

Relativity is set in 1948, in Princeton, NJ, where Albert Einstein continues to research, advise, and teach. He is 69 years old and well beyond his crowning revelation of E=MC(2). Other characters are Miss Dukas, his live-in housekeeper, and Margaret Harding, a journalist who approaches him about conducting an interview with him. As the play evolves, the mysterious circumstances of Einstein’s first child’s death reveal a dark secret from his past, and Einstein and Margaret must come to terms with the secret and the consequences of his past decisions. Ultimately, Relativity asks “what if?” and provides a probative glimpse into the great man who may not have been a good man.

Relativity is for mature audiences, not because of language, sexual content, or any other traditionally sanctioned element. Teens and college students would benefit from seeing this show. It is a thoughtful, compelling story about adult decisions and filled with intellectually challenging arguments and questions. But, it is a very easy play to follow. It runs about 75 minutes without intermission.

Buy Tickets Here

Prayer Requests

The Rienstra Family; Karen Clement (Friend of Debra Carr's); Ann and Jim Hopkins; Sally LaRowe (Linda Charvat's friend); Janice Campbell children & grandchildren (Pete Wehle's friends); Tim Mikita (Ginny Mikita's Father); James Higgins (Friend of Shane Anderson and Michael Tuleja), Joe Scarpone (Friend of Tom Fahlstrom); Fred Hamlin; Carol Brown and Dan McGavin; John Kerr; Dave and Shirley Lawson; Ruth Fahlstrom (daughter of Tom Fahlstrom); Nancy Grib (Friend of Pamela Chappell); Stuart Family; 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)

Prayers for all victims of sexual assault, that they may find justice and healing, for all in the military and their families; all who are homeless or addicted or abused or neglected or rejected or hungry; The UCC; the Grand West Association; our Church Council; our Stephen Ministers; for our Pastoral Search Team, our Church Transition Team, our church committees; our communities, our schools, our nation and our planet. And for all the people no one ever thinks to pray for.

Birthdays & Anniversaries

Birthdays: September 8- Dave Bohn, 10- Jack Dunn, 11- Anne Petersen, 14- Rich Marth
Anniversaries: September 8- Pamela Chappell & Pete Wehle

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.

Grant Proposals

Know a worthy non-profit in need of some financial support? Download and send them the application below, or connect with any member of our Grant Proposal Team. You'll find them here.

ducc_6_2022_grant_application.pdf
File Size:	79 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Stewardship Drive

Stewardship Drive Giving Week ending September 1:
Pledges to Date = $228,800.00
Pledge Fulfillment to date = $159,204.02
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:

Pledge or Pay into Stewardship Fund Here»»

Financial Stewardship

In-Person Attendance, September: 98
Total Views for September 1 worship videos: 170
Podcast Total Downloads in August: 3,485

Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $1,627
Online Giving: $1,187.13
Total, General Support: $2,814.13

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.