Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

7/31/2026

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

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

This Week's Service: Wrestling with Ambiguity
Two Summer Services - 8:15 & 10:15! Please, Join Us
Jody, Dan & Claire's Office Hours This Week
We Knead You! Help Us Bake the Communion Bread!
Two Baroque Girls at DUCC, Wednesday, August 5
Social Justice - Summer Food Ministry Update from Rich Marth
Creation Justice Announcement - Bountiful Summer Gardens
Memorial Garden Updated on Find A Grave
Prayer Requests
Birthdays & Anniversaries This Week
Financial Stewardship
Easy Way to Change Your Contribution
Last Week's Service: Another Messy Story
Church Calendar

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST NEWS

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

CLASSES

Qigong & Tea! Tuesdays at 3pm, Friendship Hall

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Douglas Social Backyard Bash, August 13 at the History Center
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: Wrestling with Ambiguity

Photo by Ryan Fish on Unsplash

We continue exploring the life of Jacob who we’ve come to know as a conniving cheat. Nonetheless, God is with him. He faces challenges in life from his brother and then from his uncle. Even so, he creates success for himself. But the culmination of the story is yet to come. This week Jacob comes face to face with his brother. Will they reconcile? And, what about the stranger with whom Jacob must wrestle before meeting his brother? Are there any lessons for us on our spiritual path? Join us to find out.

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

DUCC Bulletin/Hymns August
File Size:	974 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 August 2:
Wednesday: 10:30-8:30pm, Jody & Dan
Friday: 10-3pm, Dan

Claire's Office Hours:
Tuesday: 12-4pm
Wednesday: 9-4pm
Thursday: 9-4pm
Friday: 9-4pm

Jody and Dan will respond to emails during office hours. 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;

If you receive an email from Jody or Dan asking for money, this is a scam.

Communion Bread Bakers Needed
We Knead You!

Photo by Kate Remmer on Unsplash

Our Communion Bread is specially baked by members of DUCC. We are looking for a few folks who want to learn this recipe of unleavened bread. It's a one month commitment for about 90 minutes to 2 hours and with enough people only 3 or 4 times a year. If this is something that inspires you, please talk to Jody. We'll schedule a time for instructions when we have a few people available.

JODY'S EMAIL

Two Baroque Girls - Wednesday, August 2!
All Are Welcome!

Douglas United Church of Christ Presents
Two Baroque Girls in Concert
Wednesday, August 5, at 7:00 p.m. in the DUCC sanctuary.
Douglas United Church of Christ
located at 56 Wall Street, Douglas, Michigan.
Admission is pay according to your enjoyment level.
A light reception with refreshments will follow the concert.

Their program, We’re Not Completely Baroque!, brings together soprano Viviana Kloostra and mezzo-soprano Rebecca Russcher for an evening of music that is elegant, expressive, and anything but ordinary. Accompanied by collaborative pianist Todd Wilkie, the duo will sing their way through four centuries of exquisite music, including Baroque vocal masterpieces, German Lieder, and a few delightful surprises along the way.
Known for their warmth, humor, and generous stage presence, Two Baroque Girls make arias and art songs feel fresh, expressive, and deeply human. This is classical music without the powdered-wig attitude: beautiful singing, dramatic storytelling, and a relaxed evening of discovery in one of Douglas’ most welcoming spaces.The concert is open to the public.

Social Justice - Summer Food Ministry
Update from Rich Marth

Thank you for the continued and amazing generosity of the DUCC congregation. We have been able to fill 20 bags of groceries for the past 7 weeks. With approximately 5 weeks to go, we are hoping to continue the support for the volunteers of St Felipe De Jesus. The following is a list of items to fill the 20 bags per week. Value of each bag is approximately $28. Changes are in bold.

* 1 can of pinto beans
* 1 can of Diced Tomatoes
* 1 lb bag of white rice. (15 bags needed for Aug 4th)
* 1 small btl vegetable oil. (20 bottles needed for Aug 4th)
* 1-2 cans of diced/sliced fruit. (20 cans needed for Aug 4th)
* 2-4 potatoes   (3-5, 5lb bags for Aug 4th)
* 1-3 yellow onions.  (1-2, 5lb bags for Aug 4th)
* small tooth paste   (20 small travel tubes for Aug 4th)
* 3-5 bags of Ramen Noodles. (40-60 individual pkgs for Aug 4th)
* 10-12 soft corn tortillas
* 1-2 rolls of toilet paper

The St Felipe De Jesus volunteers have requested Sun block or lotion, 30 SPF. Once again, thank you for your generosity!!

Questions, please contact Rich Marth or Pete Mueller

RICH'S EMAIL

PETE'S EMAIL

Creation Justice - Bountiful Summer Gardens

Summer is a bountiful time for gardens in Michigan. We realize that folks may have extra produce growing they wish to share. For the next few weeks (until there is no more to share) we offer a table in the Friendship Hall for this purpose. Please bring your extras. Place them on the table and watch them disappear! Thanks to all for your generosity!

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

July 26 Service: Jeff - gratitude for a clear cancer diagnosis, Tom - thanks Joe's issues all resolved, Pete - loves his wife, Doug & Leigh - new baby Daisy, Anne - daughter found a job, for all those looking, Shirley - for Kelly's health, For the family of the boy killed by a falling tree.

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); Eric Cooley (Jo Cooley's brother); Ian Blumer (C. Blumer's nephew); Newaygo Congregational UCC

Birthday's & Anniversary's This Week

BIRTHDAYS
August 2: Paul Kerney

ANNIVERSARIES
August 6: Shane Anderson & Michael Tuleja

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

July 26 In-Person Attendance : 8:15 = 17, 10:15 = 65
July 26 Total Views for worship videos: 71

Weekly Offerings: $5,648
Weekly Budget: $4,615
Weekly to Budget: +$1,033

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 Micheile Henderson on Unsplash

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

Last Weeks Service: Another Messy Story

Photo by Dan Plasman

The Hebrew scriptures, particularly stories found in the Book of Genesis, can be raw and racy. It’s all there to read and absorb. Family feuds. Sibling jealousy. Lying and Deception. Nothing proper and pristine about these tales. Last Sunday's selection from Genesis 29 is no exception. Over a period of 14 years, Jacob marries two sisters with a couple of handmaidens thrown in. I wonder if the idiom “What goes around comes around” is truer than we might first imagine. Does the energy and behavior we put into the world eventually find its way back to us? Some things to explore. Click below for Full Service, or Pastor Dan's message

DAN'S MESSAGE

FULL SERVICE

Church Calendar - Summer

Photo by Andrew Seaman on Unsplash

EXPLORE THE CALENDAR

UNIITED CHURCH OF CHRIST NEWS

Grand West Association Prayer Circle

Photo by Todd Kent on Unsplash

August - Newaygo 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 Newaygo Congregational UCC Church in your prayers.

LINK TO NEWAYGO UCC

Support for Venezuela after Earthquakes

TO DONATE

CLASSES

Qigong & Tea, Tuesdays from 3-5pm

Photo by Brad Switzer 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.

AROUND TOWN

Douglas Social at the History Center
Up Close & Wild Animal Booth, August 13

Backyard Bash at the History Center
Rescheduled to August 13, 2026, 5:30pm - 8:00pm
Outdoor, Family Friendly, Food & Beverage
Infant/Toddler, Youth, Teen, Adult
The Library and the History Center
Invite you to not one, but TWO summer celebrations for all ages!
There will be live music, drinks, food, games, and activities for kids.
Thursday, August 13 at the History Center 5:30-8:00pm
Up Close and Wild animal booth
presented by our friends from the Outdoor Discovery Center.
Saugatuck-Douglas History Center
130 W Center Street, Douglas, MI 49406

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

Photo by Padraig Treanor 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 Sandra Sietamaa 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: August 5th and 12th
No Reservations
Blue Star Barns Coffee and Bikes
3483 Blue Star Hwy
Saugatuck, Michigan 49453