Third Sunday of Easter

4/17/2026

Photo by Adrian Dascal on Unsplash

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

This Week's Service: Had I Been Jesus's Manager, I Would Have. . .
Jody, Dan & Claire's Office Hours This Week
Inquirers? New Members? Let's Get You Ready, April 26 and May 10
Sunday Pancake Breakfast is This Sunday! All Are Welcome!
Creation Justice Team, Night Magic Book Read, April 19
Friends of Christian Neighbors Spring Benefit, Save the Date, Sunday, May 3
Nominating Committee Update: An Invitation to Shared Leadership
Listening Ear: Do You Need to Be Heard?
Prayer Requests
Birthdays & Anniversaries This Week
Financial Stewardship
Last Week's Service: Second Sunday of Easter - Certainty and Faith
Deadline for Announcements for the May 1 E-Pistle - *April 23
Church Calendar

THANK YOUS

Creation Justice Team for Dark Sky Week!

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST NEWS

Grand West Association Prayer Circle for All Churches

CLASSES

Qigong & Tea! Tuesdays at 3pm, Friendship Hall
Next Financial Series Session Scheduled, May 6

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Walking for Hungry Neighbors, CROP Walk, May 17
DUCC's Afghan Family is Growing - A Used SUV is Needed
Stand in Protest - Holland, Fridays from 12-1pm
Men's Coffee and Conversation
Centering Prayer Going Deeper, South Haven, Church of the Epiphany

This Week's Service: Third Sunday of Easter-
Had I Been Jesus's Manager, I Would Have. . .

Photo by Dan Plasman

Easter is a season, not merely a day. This Sunday we continue with another post-Easter appearance of Jesus as he walks alongside two disciples (one named Cleopas) on their way to an obscure village called Emmaus. They invite Jesus to join them for a meal. At the supper table, Jesus blesses and breaks bread, and in that moment they “recognized” him.
It’s a quiet and cozy story, which causes me to wonder: Why didn’t Jesus put on a bigger show — more public appearances, more elaborate displays to prove he was alive? Had I been Jesus’s manager, I would have . . . I’ll tell you more this Sunday!

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

DUCC Bulletin/Hymns 04/19/2026
File Size:	680 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Jody, Dan & Claire's Office Hours This Week

For The Week of April 12:
Tuesday: 1-4pm, Jody & Dan
Wednesday: 10-3pm, Dan
Friday: 10-3pm, Jody

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

Please note, 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. Do not reply.

Reminder: if you need to see Dan or Jody, please make an appointment with them. At times they are in Douglas but not at the office.
Please call to schedule an appointment:
Jody: 616-706-3549; Dan: 616-828-2293;
Office: 269-857-2085

Inquirers? New Members? Let's Get You Ready!
Dates: Sunday, April 26 and May 10

Photo by Getty Images on Unsplash

Sundays April 26 and May 10 for those who are interested in becoming a member of Douglas UCC or who just want more information, please join us for these informative sessions on The United Church of Christ, Progressive Christianity, and Membership in Douglas UCC. Please sign up on the Welcome Card in the seat rack, or email Jody of your interest.

JODY'S EMAIL

Sunday Pancake Breakfast is This Sunday,
April 19! All Are Welcome!

All are Invited to the Pancake Breakfast
Sunday, April 19 after the Service
In the Friendship Hall

Thank you, once again, to our church member, John Willming and his team of volunteers, for facilitating the breakfast. It is always a fun way to celebrate together!
Please, fuel our flapjack mission...Donations being accepted to cover costs.

*Note, No Second Sunday Luncheon in April

Creation Justice Team - Book Read
Night Magic by Leigh Ann Henion

Photo by Harshit Suryawanshi on Unsplash

On Sunday, April 19 at 2 pm
the Saugatuck Douglas District Library
There will be a book discussion. The book is called Night Magic and it is described as Adventures among glowworms, moon gardens and other marvels of the dark.

The library has extra copies so you can check out one and come to the discussion. You can come whether or not you have read the book. Just good to connect with other people who are learning about life in the night. All are Welcome!

Friends of Christian Neighbors Spring Benefit
Save the Date, Sunday, May 3

Please mark your calendars for Sunday May 3, 2026
1-3 PM at the Saugatuck Yacht Club.
A $75 donation (or more), per person, is requested.
All proceeds benefit Christian Neighbors (501c3).

This year, the annual fundraiser for Christian Neighbors is coordinated by our Douglas UCC, in cooperation with several local churches. We are still looking for volunteers on the committee to plan and/or staff the event; logistics, food, publicity, sponsorships, etc... One or two meetings a month is all it takes. Attending the Benefit without volunteering is very important also! If interested, please contact Bert Hallewas by email below, or 248-462-9345.

For all payments: please write in memo line: "2026 Spring Benefit".
Checks can be written to "Christian Neighbors" at the event, or mailed ahead of time to: DUCC PO Box 19 Douglas, MI 49406. Electronic payments are possible by debit/credit card, PayPal and Zelle. Please use the QR codes below.

BERT'S EMAIL

Nomination Committee Update
An Invitation to Shared Leadership

At our Mid-Year Congregational Meeting, DUCC affirmed a desire to move toward a more transparent and intentional process for identifying Church Council leadership. In response, a Nominating Committee has been formed to guide this effort in a spirit of prayerful discernment and shared ministry.
The Nominating Committee includes:

Wayne Titus (Chair, Council Representative)
Bernice Lopata (Council Representative)
Linda Page - McWebb (Congregational Representative)
Barbara Lucier (Congregational Representative)

Over the coming weeks, the Committee will be inviting the congregation into a thoughtful process of discernment—seeking to match the gifts, experiences, and sense of calling within our community to the leadership needs of DUCC.
At-Large members of Church Council play an important role in our shared leadership model. They serve as connectors—helping strengthen communication between committees, Council, and the congregation, while participating in the ongoing work of guiding our church’s mission.
This is an exciting time in the life of DUCC as we continue to grow as a shared leadership community.
If you feel a nudge—or even a quiet curiosity—about serving in this way, we warmly invite you to reach out to any member of the Nominating Committee. We would welcome a conversation with you as you explore whether this might be a place where your gifts and sense of calling could serve the life of our church.
We look forward to this journey of discernment together.

Listening Ear: Do You Need to Be Heard?

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

Our listeners are available at the Retreat House
In Person, or by Phone
Thursday afternoons from 1 to 3 pm.

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, 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.
P. Burdick @ 616-856-1372, M. Valdez @ 616-990-1126, D. Sipsma @ 269-998-5112

Reports & Minutes

Photo by Justin Morgan on Unsplash

Pastors Report
File Size:	19 kb
File Type:	docx

Download File

Church Council Minutes
File Size:	87 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Prayer Requests

Jenny O'Neal (friend of Laurie VanDenBelt & Shirley Lawson); Martha Longpre Dooley (Anne Dooley's mother); Virginia Stuart; Family of Alan Gibson (Kirsten Stannis's Father); Adelle Van Daalen and the Family of Jay Van Daalen; Charlene Burdick (Paul Burdick's mother); Orie Hawkes; Elinor Hite (Virginia Stuart’s sister); Dave Lawson; Christine Kerney; Ann and Jim Hopkins; 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); Lakeview UCC

Birthday's & Anniversary's This Week

BIRTHDAYS
April 22: Robert (Bob) Skaggs
April 23: Michael Ritt
April 24: Ginny Mikita, Greg Kurek
April 25: Lisa Titus

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

April 12 In-Person Attendance : 76
April 12 Total Views for worship videos: 65

Weekly Offerings: $4,751
Weekly Budget: $4,615
Weekly to Budget: + $136

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

Last Weeks Service: Second Sunday of Easter- Certainty and Faith

In our culture darkness has a bad reputation. Yet, without darkness, we couldn’t see the stars. Darkness is also essential for rest and good health. And when we pass through dark times, the light on the other side can seem even brighter. During the Easter season we’re reminded that the tomb came before the promise of new life. We can say “yes!” to the darkness and the light, to all that is lifegiving! Click below for the full service and/or Pastor Jody's message.

FULL SERVICE

JODY'S MESSAGE

Deadline for Announcements for May 1 E-Pistle - Thursday, April 23!

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

Claire is taking a few days off. Therefore, the deadline for announcements to go into the May 1
E-Pistle is Thursday, April 23, 2026. Thank you!

CLAIRE'S EMAIL

Church Calendar

Photo by Samuel Regan on Unsplash

EXPLORE THE CALENDAR

THANK YOUs

Thanks to the Creation Justice Team for Their Brilliant Support of the Night Skies!

Photo by Rad Pozniakov on Unsplash

The Creation Justice Team and Saugatuck-Douglas Friends of the Night Sky would like to
offer a shout-out to all of the DUCC folks who contributed time and talent to Dark Sky Week, including Pastor Jody, Peter Black, Jeff Spangler, Lauri Donaldson, Claire Blumer,
Doug Sipsma, Paul Lucas, Brad Hopkins, Paul Burdick, Kathy Klage, Brenda Marcy,
Betsy York, and Chris Clark. Thank you!

UNIITED CHURCH OF CHRIST NEWS

Grand West Association Prayer Circle

Photo by Wu Yi on Unsplash

Lakeview UCC - April Church of the Month

The Grand West Association Council of the Michigan Conference UCC
facilitates a prayer circle for all our churches.
Thank you for keeping Lakeview UCC

EXPLORE LAKEVIEW UCC

CLASSES

Qigong, Tuesdays at 3pm - Friendship Hall
Tea Time Afterwards at 4pm

Photo by Enzo Shances 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.

Financial Literacy Series
Next Session This Wednesday, May 6

Next session is on Wednesday, May 6 2026
In the Friendship Hall
January through June (not April)

It’s not too late to join in and become financially wiser! Invite a friend, if you like.
Sign up for one or all of them in the Friendship Hall.
Wayne can send you preparatory information.

AROUND TOWN

Walking for Hungry Neighbors
CROP Walk, May 17

Sometimes life takes an unexpected turn. A local two-income family faced new challenges when their son was diagnosed with autism and their daughter needed extra support in school. Choosing care over career, one parent stayed home with the kids, and the family turned to a local food bank to help make ends meet.

For over 50 years, the CROP Hunger Walk has supported families like this one—locally and globally. Our church has set a goal of raising $5,000 for this year's walk in Holland on May 17. One quarter of all funds raised will go directly to nearby food banks, while the rest will support grassroots efforts worldwide.

To support this effort, click on the button below and either (1) click the orange “Donate now” button or (2) scroll down for the blue “Join the team” button, and choose Douglas UCC.

TO DONATE

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

Photo by Karson Chan 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 Alex Radelich 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: May 6th and 20th
No Reservations
Blue Star Barns Coffee and Bikes
3483 Blue Star Hwy
Saugatuck, Michigan 49453