Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

7/3/2026

Photo by Marek Studzinski on Unsplash

In This Week's E-pistle, You'll Find:

This Week's Service: A Journey with No Map
Two Summer Services - 8:15 & 10:15! Please, Join Us!
Jody, Dan & Claire's Office Hours This Week
Next Douglas Social, July 16 - Looking for Volunteers
Social Justice - Summer Food Ministry
Creation Justice - Recycling Textiles ... and More!
Archives Team - The Search is On!
*Update from Campus Steward
Memorial Garden Updated on Find A Grave
Prayer Requests
Birthdays & Anniversaries This Week
Financial Stewardship
Easy Way to Change Contribution
Want to Add Flowers to Our Chancel?
Last Week's Service: Jesus & Congregational Meetings
Church Calendar

THANK YOUs

Thank You for Joining Us for the Annual Congregational Meeting

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST NEWS

Grand West Association Prayer Circle, Muskegon First Congregational UCC
UCC Urgent Request for Venezuela after devastating Earthquakes

CLASSES

Qigong & Tea! Tuesdays at 3pm, Friendship Hall

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Prayers for Peace, Monday, July 6 at First Reformed Church in Holland
DUCC's Afghan Family is Growing - A Used SUV/Minivan is Needed
Stand in Protest - Holland, Fridays from 12-1pm
Men's Coffee and Conversation

This Week's Service: A Journey with No Map

Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash

A 250 year old country is just a teenager in the scheme of ages of countries in the world. And, these days we act like a spoiled brat, bully adolescent, at that! But teenagers grow and change and become. It's one of the most spiritual times in the life of a human, a time when we assess our upbringing, the values our parents instilled, and are beginning to be engaged in a broader world where we see other options for ourselves. Not to mention, we are in the middle of a revolution, a time of unraveling and reconsidering, as a species, our very survival. Who are we as individuals on this journey? Who are we as a faith community? Who are we as a nation in this complex, changing world? Of course, we can't thoroughly answer those questions in one 12 minute reflection, but we will explore one metaphor from the stories of our spiritual ancestors this week. Please join us!

Please join us, Sunday at 8:15 or 10:15 am in our Sanctuary, or 10:15 am online, live on our Youtube Channel.
Message: Rev. Jody Betten
Music: Peter Black, Jeff Spangler, Lauri Donaldson

DUCC Bulletin/Hymn July
File Size:	723 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Two Summer Services - 8:15 or 10:15am
All Are Welcome!

Jody, Dan & Claire's Office Hours This Week

For The Week of July 5:
Wednesday: 10-4pm, Jody
Thursday: 10-4pm, Dan & Jody
Friday: 10-3pm, Dan

Claire's Office Hours:
Tuesday: 10-4pm
Wednesday: 10-4:30pm
Thursday: 10-4:30pm (work from home)
Friday: 10-4pm

If you need to see Dan or Jody, please make an appointment with them.
Please call to schedule an appointment:
Jody: 616-706-3549; Dan: 616-828-2293;
Office: 269-857-2085

Jody and Dan will respond to emails during office hours. If you get an email asking for money from Jody or Dan, this is a scam

Next Douglas Social, July 16
Looking for Volunteers

Douglas Socials are an evening of gathering with a community of friends! We've been invited to host one more this summer. Very grateful to all the volunteers who helped with the Social on June 18! The next one is on July 16 at the History Center. We need a people to volunteer this last one. Are you available?
There is a sign up sheet in the Friendship Hall. Email Bert if you have questions.

BERT'S EMAIL

Social Justice - Summer Food Ministry

We are so grateful for the generosity of the DUCC congregation. We have been able to fill 20 bags of groceries for each of the first 2 weeks. Thank you. We are hoping to sustain this generosity throughout the summer months. For the next couple of weeks we are requesting:
.
* 1 lb bag of dried pinto beans (40 bags)
* 1 lb bag of white rice (40 bags)
* 1 small btl vegetable oil. (40 btls)
* 1-2 cans of diced/sliced fruit (20)
* 1/2 dozen potatoes (3 or 5# bags)
* 1/2 dozen yellow onions. (3-5# bags)
* small tooth paste (20-40)
* a dozen or so corn tortillas.(5-8 30ct bags)

The St Felipe De Jesus volunteers have also requested men’s t-shirts (new or mildly used) size M & L. Contact Rich Marth or Pete Mueller with any questions. Thank you!

Creation Justice - Recycling Textiles ... and More!

Photo by Denzi Demirci on Unsplash

Most clothing, towels, and bedding are NOT biodegradable. A 2025 report says polyester alone accounts for 59% of global fiber production.
If you want to clear out items that are not good enough to be reused, please take them to Goodwill. They bundle the material and sell it to after-market vendors who repurpose the textiles as rags, insulation, and other products.

The Creation Justice Team has a web page, that tells where to recycle batteries, tires, appliances, tech, paper, light bulbs, prescription drugs, plastic bags, packing materials, and more. Also, see Kathy Klage if you have large chunks of styrofoam.

CREATION JUSTICE'S WEB PAGE

The Archives Team - Requests for Archives

The search is on!
The Archive Committee (Karen Clark and Betsy York) are looking for items that might belong in the church archive. Check your attics, basements, and old shoeboxes. Any important documents, artifacts, or other items that have historical or legal information will be accepted and later sorted.

Please label the outside of the box with a list of contents. Drop them off at IGC during Claire's office hours. The boxes can be left in the common room in the corner.
Thank you.

Photo by Olivia Pedler on Unsplash

Campus Steward - Door Code Update

Photo by rc.xyz NFT gallery on Unsplash

The Campus Steward is resetting all door codes this coming week. If you believe that you need a code to do the work of the church, please contact Steve McFadden.
**UPDATE: The new door codes have not been completely reprogrammed but will be done by July 13. Once completed, everyone with a code will receive an email from Steve McFadden plus a general announcement will be made. Old codes will remain until August. If you have any comments or questions please contact Steve at 773 469 8736 or email. Thank You for your patience!

STEVE'S EMAIL

Memorial Garden Update on Find A Grave

The Douglas UCC Memorial Garden is now much better represented on the Find a Grave website. Thirty-two memorials were added, and they can be found by family historians and genealogists around the world.
Find a Grave is a free, volunteer-run resource with more than 265 million memorials. Now that the basic information is in place, anyone who wishes can add photographs, biographies, or other memories to a loved one’s memorial. If you’d like help doing that, Chris Clark can assist—or you can create a free Find a Grave account and make the additions yourself,

CHRIS'S EMAIL

Prayer Requests

Prayers from June, 28 Service: Tom's daughter and a struggling friend, Scorpio who's in prison, family of VicFran who was deported and died in the Venezuela earthquake, joy for release of Luis detained for 7 months, joy for pastor and family staying at the Retreat House, Lauri's sister, Lisa who is back in rehab, joy from Greg and Kris for supportive community, for caregivers, from Rose for Jake, for our country, for the places where fires are raging.

Ongoing Prayers:
Anne Hopkins and the family of Jim Hopkins; Bev & Orie Hawkes; Jenny O'Neal (friend of Laurie VanDenBelt & Shirley Lawson); Family of Alan Gibson (Kirsten Stannis's Father); Adelle Van Daalen and the Family of Jay Van Daalen; Charlene Burdick (Paul Burdick's mother); Elinor Hite (Virginia Stuart’s sister); Dave Lawson; Christine Kerney; Ruth Fahlstrom (Tom Fahlstrom’s daughter); Mikey (friend of Ruth Fahlstrom) Mary Westenbroek; Eric Cooley (Jo Cooley's brother); Ian Blumer (C. Blumer's nephew); Muskegon First Congregational UCC

Birthday's & Anniversary's This Week

BIRTHDAYS
July 6: Linda Anderson
July 7: Dick Lucier
July 10: David VanDyke, Jim Kern

ANNIVERSARIES
July 7: Patrice & Stan Greene
July 9: Beverly & Orie Hawkes

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.

Financial Stewardship

June 28 In-Person Attendance : 8:15 = 20, 10:15 = 63
June 28 Total Views for worship videos: 52

Weekly Offerings: $2,361
Weekly Budget: $4,615
Weekly to Budget: -$2,253

Thank you!!
Your generous giving allows us to sustain our church community
and our mission of service in the world.

Easy Way to Change Your Contribution

Photo by Michiele Henderson on Unsplash

New (Easy) options to change your current contribution to DUCC
In response to input we have received from members and friends, we are offering new ways to change your contributions.

You can e-mail Bill Briggs for information regarding your current contribution amount and/or request that your current contribution be changed.
There are now forms and envelopes on the table just inside the door of the Friendship Hall that can be completed and placed in the collection plate to request changes. We will be happy to take care of it for you!
You can use the simple fillable form below and forward to Bill Briggs.

We are thankful for your ongoing support of DUCC and the Mission and Outreach that are key to our Congregation. Please contact Bill Briggs if you need any further information.

BILL'S EMAIL

DUCC Contribution Change Form
File Size:	42 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Want to Add Flowers to Our Chancel?

Photo by Carrie Cronan on Unsplash

Flowers bring life and beauty to our sanctuary! If you would like to bring flowers for the sanctuary, there is a sign up sheet in the Friendship Hall. Sign up for a Sunday to honor a loved one or celebrate a special milestone.

Last Weeks Service:
Jesus & Congregational Meeting

Photo by Dan Plasman

Jesus & Congregational Meetings is not a worthy title for the reflection this Sunday, but it is what it is. So, I'm sticking with it. Jesus said some outrageous things like: "Do not think I have come to bring peace . . . I have come to bring a sword . . . Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me . . . and whoever loves one's child more than me is not worthy of me . . . Those who find their life will lose it." Last Sunday Pastor Dan did a little digging, and explored some good news in all this, plus a whole lot of great music! Listen/view below.

FULL SERVICE

DAN'S MESSAGE

Church Calendar

Photo by Warren Umoh on Unsplash

EXPLORE THE CALENDAR

THANK YOUs

Thank You for Joining Us for the Annual Congregational Meeting!

Photo by Alli Remler on Unsplash

UNIITED CHURCH OF CHRIST NEWS

Grand West Association Prayer Circle

Photo by Martin Bennie on Unsplash

July - Muskegon First Congregational UCC Church

The Grand West Association Council of the Michigan Conference UCC
facilitates a prayer circle for all our churches.
Thank you for keeping Muskegon First Congregational UCC Church in your prayers.

MUSKEGON UCC INFORMATION

Support for Venezuela after Earthquakes

DONATION INFORMATION

CLASSES

Qigong & Tea, Tuesdays from 3-5pm

Photo by Robin Jonathan Deutsch on Unsplash

Qigong Winter Class
Tuesdays, 3pm - 4 pm
Followed by Tea/Chat 4 - 5pm
Friendship Hall
Led by Kat VanHammen

Qigong is a wonderful, 5,000 year-old practice from China, very much like Tai Chi. It involves simple movements that build strength, flexibility, balance and well being. It also employs visualization, breath, and mindfulness to integrate the body, mind, and spirit and develop our felt sense of Interbeing. Class is one hour long and involves both sitting and standing practice although it can be done sitting if needed. There is a requested donation of $10 per class but for those of you on limited incomes, any amount will be gratefully received.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Prayers for Peace in Holland, July 6
All Are Welcome

First Reformed Church, 630 State Street, Holland
Hosting a "Prayers for Peace" service
Monday, July, 6 from 5:30-6:00-PM.
All members of the Holland/Zeeland/Saugatuck community
are invited to join together to pray for peace
in the United States and around the world.

What to expect at our Prayers for Peace service:
Prayers for Peace services are casual, but structured. We generally have between 25 and 50 attendees from across Holland/Zeeland/Saugatuck who meet in the First Reformed Church sanctuary. Each service focuses on a particular issue in need of God’s peace (for example, the Middle East).
The service begins with a hymn and scripture reading appropriate for the day’s topic followed by a short topical message (less than five minutes). Most of the service is a time of prayer, starting with a short aloud prayer by the leader, followed by a period of silent and extemporaneous prayers by those in attendance. The service closes with a chorus or the doxology.
In the message and the prayers we focus on the humanitarian impact of conflicts, and strive to avoid political issues. Thank you! Reach out if you have questions.

DUCC's Afghan Family is Growing
A Used SUV/Minivan is Needed

Photo by Pranav on Unsplash

A Used SUV is Needed. DUCC’s Afghan Family is a growing family of 6 and they have an immediate need for a larger vehicle than their Prius. If you are considering selling a used SUV at a reasonable price, they would be grateful to be considered. If you can assist, please contact Bob (312-636-7657) or Louise (847-800-4236) Kenny. Thank you.

Stand in Protest

Photo by DJ Paine on Unsplash

The protests against Huizenga and the Trump administration continue each Friday from 12-1 pm at 170 College Ave., the corner of College and 7th in Holland. We need more to demonstrate, so please come join us as we continue to bring attention to the wrong doing going on in our country. Looking forward to seeing you there.

Men's Coffee and Conversation

DUCC MEN, JOIN US!
Men's Coffee & Conversation
1st and 3rd Wednesday @ 10am

New Dates: July 1st and 15th
No Reservations
Blue Star Barns Coffee and Bikes
3483 Blue Star Hwy
Saugatuck, Michigan 49453