 Photo by Dan Plasman In This Week's E-Pistle, You Will Find:BEING THE CHURCH
BEING THE CHURCHThis Week's Service: Tenth Sunday after Pentecost: “Jesus!!! Really???” Getty Images for Unsplash The most disturbing words ever spoken by Jesus are recorded in the 12th chapter of Luke. “I have come to bring fire on the earth. Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I came to bring division. Families will be divided, son against father, daughter against mother!” Yikes! Sounds like many political discussions these days that happen around supper tables. There’s a lot to unpack here. I thought Jesus came to bring peace and harmony accompanied by a whole lot of hugs. I Hope to see you in worship. If you can’t make it, I hope you watch online. Though Jesus might suggest otherwise, I promise it won’t be a slug fest. Please join us on Sunday at 10am in our Sanctuary, or online, live on our Youtube Channel. Message: Rev. Dan Plasman Music: Bob Ruddy, Jeff Spangler You will always find our latest church bulletin and service music at Bit.ly/DUCCBulletin 
Last Week's Service: Ninth Sunday after Pentecost -- Don't Worry, Be Happy? Bobby McFerrin's lovely hit, Don't Worry, Be Happy, makes a good point. Why do we spend so much time worrying? Can we even help it -- when worry keeps us from our joy, or from taking needed action? Jesus told us, "Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes." This past Sunday Rev. Jody helped us take a good look at this problem of worry and consider how we might manage, and even use it, in our own lives. Our music team delivered on that message, and please, stay for the Postlude, when Pete Wehle sings from his beautiful, transplanted heart. Our own portrait in courage here at DUCC. Click on the photo above to watch the entire service, and the button below for Rev. Jody's message Jody and Dan's Office Hours This Week
Summer Food Ministry Our Summer Food Ministry crew includes some rather young volunteers!! Thanks to all who are helping us feed the neighbors! Photo by Pete Mueller In just a few weeks, Rich Marth, our Christian Neighbors liaison reports, DUCC members have generously donated a total of 85 bags of groceries for our Summer Food Ministry. Each bag contained at least: * 1 lb of rice * 1 lb of dried Pinto Beans * 1 14 oz can of diced tomatoes * 1 14 oz can of fruit * 3-4 potatoes * 1-3 onions * 1 btl Vegetable or canola oil * 1 box of toothpaste * 1-2 Toothbrushes * 1 bar of soap The following count is what we need to fulfill our goal through the week over Sept 23. * 1lb bags of Pinto Beans (81 bags) * 1lb bags of Rice (72 bags) * small bottles of vegetable or canola oil (90 btls) * 14 oz cans of Fruit (72 cans) * 14 oz cans of Diced Tomatoes (50) * corn tortillas (35 bags of 30) * 5 lb bags of potatoes (12 bags per week) * Bags of onions (6 onions per bag - 15 bags per week) * toilet paper (15 rolls per week) I will update the list of needs each week. Once again, we truly appreciate the generosity of the DUCC congregation. Your generosity is an awesome thing to see. Please reach out to Rich Marth or Pete Mueller with any questions or concerns. We will update the list of needs each week. Once again, we truly appreciate the generosity of the DUCC congregation. Your generosity is an awesome thing to see. Please reach out to Rich Marth or Pete Mueller with any questions or concerns. Social Justice Team Community Conversations KUDOS to our friend, Claudia Berry, and our Social Justice Team for organizing this past week's presentation from our local League of Women Voters. This was the first of the series of talks being organized by ourSocial Justice Team The team has been busy making connections, and inviting local thought leaders to come to our church and help us understand current challenges to Justice For All right here in our communities. Here are the upcoming dates and times already scheduled. Stay tuned for more from the SJT. Thurs Sept 11, 6:15 pm, Jane Dickie, Indivisible Thurs Oct 9, 6:15 pm, Mark Neidlinger, Saugatuck Public Schools Superintendent Thurs Nov 13, 6:15 pm, Lighthouse Immigration Services Representative to speak All events are scheduled for our beautiful new Friendship Hall. All are welcome! Tango on the Lakeshore, August 23-24 -- Can you help? Tango on the Lakeshore is a celebration of music and dance brought to our community from Chicago by a small group from DUCC. They will be performing at the Saugatuck Women’s Club on Sat Aug 23 and at the Holland Area Arts Council on Sun Aug 24. (And will they show up in service that Sunday? Hmmm....) BUT they need sponsors for 4 musicians at $200 each for the weekend; and housing (1-2 musicians per room) for two nights August 22 and 23. If you are able to support this lovely ministry to our souls, please contact Shannon Connel Listening Ear: Do You Need to Be Heard? Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash Our Listening Ear service has been a great help to our congregation during a tumultuous time, and so, after a successful trial period, this highly trained team of empathic folks -- Paul Burdick, Mike Valdez, Pat Denner, and Doug Sipsma -- will be continuing the service. Their premise is, everyone goes through rough patches in life. Sometimes stress can feel overwhelming. Talking to a caring human helps in so many, sometimes immeasurable, sometimes mystical ways. Our listeners are available at the Isabel Graham conference room on Thursday afternoons from 1 to 3 pm. Inquirers? New Members? Let's Get You Ready for Next Week's Welcome! Photo by Getty Image on Unsplash DUCC will be receiving new members on Sunday August 24 during the worship service. If you haven't taken an Inquirer's Class but would like to join the Church, please reach out to Jody ([email protected] or 616-706-3549) or fill out a welcome card from the back of the pews in the sanctuary, and put it in the Offering Plate, so we can get you ready. Thanks! Reports & Minutes  Photo by Justin Morgan on Unsplash
Prayer Requests Nancy Plantinga, and the Plantinga family; Tere Krueger; Jean Hotwagner (Annie Hotwagner's Mom); Orie Hawkes; Maciek (Matt) Wozniak (Robert Fisher's partner); Elinor Hite (Virginia Stuart’s sister); Dave Lawson; Christine Kerney; 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); John Kerr; Ruth Fahlstrom (Tom Fahlstrom’s daughter); Mary Westenbroek; Jerry Elpers and family (Beth Howley's dad); Max Matteson; Eric Cooley (Jo Cooley's brother). Birthdays & Anniversaries This WeekBIRTHDAYS August 14: David Geen, Michael Valdez, Vickie Austhof August 16: Mary Fechtig August 18: Kathleen Mueller, Nancy Van Dyke August 20: Kenneth Whitcomb ANNIVERSARIES August 19: Sheryll & Greg VanPortFleet August 20: Chris & Karen Clark 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 Application Now Online  Photo by Micheile Henderson on Unsplash Our Grant Committee -- the group who review grant requests from area non-profits for funds from our Isabel Graham fund and congregational offerings, has worked to make the grant application process more accessible to more area organizations. Please make your favorite non-profits aware of this funding source by sharing the link and/or QR code below to your favorite local non-profit groups. Both the link and the code will take them to the online form where they can submit their request. The online address for the grant request form is here: bit.ly/IG-Grant-App Or share this QR code to navigate to the online form:  Financial StewardshipIn-Person Attendance, August 10: 97 Total Views for August 10 worship videos: 126 Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $745.00 Online Giving: $2773.00 IGC rent: $160.00 Total, General Support: $3,678.00 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 When you have events to schedule anywhere on campus, click the button below, scan the calendar for a spot, then contact [email protected] to make your reservation. Reservations are first come, first served. Emailing is always best so she can keep track of requests. VOLUNTEERING & GIVINGLetters for Gaza Here's an opportunity to add to our prayers for Gaza: A letter-writing campaign to participate in and share with your friends and neighbors. It's always a good time to demand action from our representatives. The power of now is joining in a national movement to do so. CLASSESQigong! Photo by Sajad Nori on Unsplash Once again Kat VanHammen will be offering Qigong at the backyard of the Retreat House on Tuesdays at 3pm, until September 9. 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. Soul Collage September 13, Awakening Awe and Gratitude!  The next Soul Collage sessions with our friend Ruth Zwald are scheduled for the Friendship Hall September 13. Two sessions, morning or afternoon, to set your soul exploring and making and asking for guidance. It's always a surprising and stilling journey with Rev. Ruth! To sign up, follow the registration instructions in the poster above. You must register to participate. September 25, Line Dancing, Sign-Up Now Photo by Polina Kuzofkova on UnSplash Sign ups start today for Line Dancing! On Thursday September 25 at 6:30 pm, the Fellowship Hall will become a place for toe taps and grapevines. A fun teacher will help you get the hang of it by teaching simple dance routines followed by more complex ones. No special clothing, experience, or shoes necessary. There is room for only 40 people, so sign up soon to reserve your space. Come enjoy the fun. Ask Betsy York, Virginia Stuart, or Shannon Connell if you have questions. AROUND TOWNLibrary Used Book Sale, This Weekend! Photo by Freddie Marriage on Unsplash The Friends of the Saugatuck-Douglas District Library raises money for special projects not in the library budget. They are holding a sale of used books, at the Library, in mid-August. All proceeds will help the library with special programming. August 14, 12 to 6 pm August 15, 10 to 6 pm August 16, 10 to 2 pm The Red Dock Poetry Reading with Tony Amato and Jack Ridl, August 19, 6:30pm Drumming the Dream Banners with Kat VanHammen Are you good with cloth? Stitching? Quilting? Painting? Bedazzling? Puffy Paints? Our pal Kat is participating in a drum meeting in Washington DC on September 13th. Prayer flags will hang all around this gathering, and we are invited to create our own dream banners to be included in this happening. Kat will be happy to deliver and hang them if you can finish yours by September 5. See poster above for all the info. DUCC Men's Coffee & Conversation |
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