 In This Week's E-Pistle, You Will Find:BEING THE CHURCH
BEING THE CHURCHThis Week's Service: Third Sunday of Pride Month -- Trinity Sunday Says Pastor Dan: We continue to acknowledge the infectious Spirit of Pentecost and celebrate in this month of June all that is Pride. My reflection this Sunday includes some personal admissions – life experiences I have never shared before with a congregation. I think it’s time. One is a confession prompted by a recent 50-year High School Reunion; the other is an awareness about what ministry looks like. Both are related to a story found in Acts 10 that includes: a dream, a sheet lowered from heaven, “unclean” animals, and the invitation of God to celebrate it all. Oh, and lots of good music too! Please join us on Sunday at 10am in our Sanctuary, or online, live on our YouTube channel. Message: Rev. Dan Plasman Music: Peter Black, Jeff Spangler, Lauri Donaldson You will always find our latest church bulletin and service music at Bit.ly/DUCCBulletin 
Last Week's Service: Second Sunday of Pride Month -- Pentecost Spirit  Last Sunday was Pentecost Sunday. As is the custom at DUCC, we WEAR RED. Why RED? As the story unfolds in the book of Acts 1, the disciples of Jesus gathered in a house in Jerusalem to celebrate and commemorate the Jewish observance known as the Feast of Weeks. Think harvest festival. Something strange happened that day. The biblical writer describes it as tongues of fire (RED no doubt) resting on their heads. Others in the city experienced the same. It's a wild story that defies all description. But this much is a matter of record. Once timid and fearful, the people who experienced Pentecost became more focused, more loving, more determined to change the world for the better. We saw red. We recommitted ourselves to the work. Click the photo above for the whole service, or the button below for Dan's thoughts. Jody and Dan's Office Hours This Week
Garden Cleanup Kudos! Our beautiful Meditation/Memorial Garden is especially gorgeous right now, thanks to this crew, who put their hands and backs into the spring cleanup. KUDOS to (L to R) Bill Briggs, Linda McWebb, Jeff Chinski, Max Brown, and Mike VerMerris. Thank you all for perpetuating the beauty of this sacred space! Pride Party in Douglas!  It was a Joyous Day thanks to Community Pride organizers and the many many people who turned out for the care-a-van and the festival. DUCC was very much present in spreading the love to everyone. Happy Pride everybody! Congregational Meeting June 29 Our Annual Congregational Meeting is June 29, 2025, immediately following the Sunday service in the Friendship Hall. The agenda will include a vote to approve the budget for 2025-26 (attached, below), a progress report about capital improvements to the campus and the Campus Stewardship Drive, a summary of church activities in the past year, and a vote to install new members to Church Council, among other agenda items. The current Council will present the following slate of three candidates for leadership positions on the 2025-26 Church Council:
We sincerely hope you will participate in this important annual meeting of the congregation. A Zoom link for the meeting will be provided to church members upon request. Just write to Julie to request the link before June 28. We will be voting to accept the draft minutes from last year (posted below), and on new officers for the church, and our budget (posted below), so all members' attendance is highly encouraged!
Say Goodbye to Single Use Plastics at DUCC, Effective July 1 Photo by Brian Yurasits on Unsplash Effective July 1, 2025, our church will no longer use these single-use plastic items in its buildings or at church-sponsored activities:
This measure was proposed by the Creation Justice Team and approved by the Church Council on February 25. In July, the Creation Justice Team will make a presentation on this topic, with time for questions and answers. Communications Team Forming Photo by Getty Images on Unsplash We are forming a DUCC Communications Team, people with skills and backgrounds in PR, graphic design, photography, and written and AV communications to broaden the messaging of DUCC to our communities, to guests who visit, to online communities, to people who don't yet know that we are here. Email Barb Witt if you have interest. Two Grant Committee Openings |
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| grant_committee_openings__1_.pdf |
Church Office Greeters -- Could This Be You?
Photo by Belinda Fewings on Unsplash
The church office at 88 Spring Street needs a small team of greeters who create a welcoming presence during office hours, help direct people to the events and happenings at Douglas UCC, answer the phone, pass along messages, and connect people with information on all the happenings in this busy church. Familiarity with the use of office equipment, a friendly demeanor, and willingness to team up with other greeters to establish and strengthen this important team is all we're looking for. See the opening announcement below and note the June 15 deadline for sharing your interest!
| office_greeters_opening.pdf |
In Search of a Bookkeeper
Getty Images on Unsplash
We have an opening for a Bookkeeper, someone to pay the bills and record them in Quickbooks, working with the Treasurer to track payments to our suppliers and vendors. Position reports to the treasurer. See description and hiring process, below.
| bookkeeper_opening__1_.pdf |
Prayer Requests
Orie Hawkes; Tony & Stephanie (Wendy Hamlin's family); Maciek (Matt) Wozniak (Robert Fisher's partner); Family of Fred Hamlin; Elinor Hite (Virginia Stuart’s sister); Dave Lawson; Rich Marth; Christine Kerney; Nancy Plantinga and her family; 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 Week
Birthdays: June 15- Austin Belschner, 16- Marjorie Reiman, Marcy Weston, 17- Elizabeth Mannancheril, Gordon Stannis, 18- Kirsten Stannis
Anniversaries: June 16- Susan & Lee Sorg, 19- Kirsten & Gordon Stannis
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.
Battling Power outage! Stay tuned!
Anniversaries: June 16- Susan & Lee Sorg, 19- Kirsten & Gordon Stannis
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.
Battling Power outage! Stay tuned!
Financial Stewardship
In-Person Attendance, June 8: 98
Total Views for June 8 worship videos: 127
May Podcast Downloads: 3,941
Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $1,233
Online Giving: $2,013.18
Total, General Support: $3,246.18
Strengthen the Church Collection: $414.00
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.
Total Views for June 8 worship videos: 127
May Podcast Downloads: 3,941
Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $1,233
Online Giving: $2,013.18
Total, General Support: $3,246.18
Strengthen the Church Collection: $414.00
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
Our Church calendar is online! Use it to look for space for your event, click on an event to get all the details, or copy an event to your own calendar software. So convenient!
When you have events to schedule anywhere on campus, scan the calendar for a spot, then contact [email protected] to make your reservation. Reservations are first come, first served. Email is best so she can keep track of requests.
When you have events to schedule anywhere on campus, scan the calendar for a spot, then contact [email protected] to make your reservation. Reservations are first come, first served. Email is best so she can keep track of requests.
VOLUNTEERING & GIVING
Letters 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.
CLASSES
Qigong is back! Tuesdays at 3pm, Retreat House Lawn
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. 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.
HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!!
Two Dana Nessel Events in Saugatuck/Douglas! June 16 and 17
Michigan Attorney General is going to be Priding all over this month including TWO (2!) visits to Saugatuck-Douglas mid-June. Saugatuck-Douglas Indivisible will host her on June 16, in person and on Zoom. Register for this event. And we at Douglas UCC will be hosting her here on June 17 , in the IGC at 10am. Come for coffee, and hear from our Proud AG!
Looking for Booth People for Holland Pride in the Park, June 28
HOLLAND PRIDE IS MOVING TO BEAUTIFUL KOLLEN PARK THIS YEAR!
240 Kollen Park Drive, Holland, MI
Read All About It Right Here: https://www.outonthelakeshore.org/events
Out On the Lakeshore is proud to present the 2025 Holland PRIDE Festival!
Saturday, June 28, 2025, 1 pm to 6 pm
And Douglas UCC will be there! So! We need Pride Booth Volunteers for:
See the sign-up sheet in the Isabel Graham Center or see Holland Pride Representatives:
Pastor Dan Plasman [email protected]
or
Dennis Konarski [email protected]
240 Kollen Park Drive, Holland, MI
Read All About It Right Here: https://www.outonthelakeshore.org/events
Out On the Lakeshore is proud to present the 2025 Holland PRIDE Festival!
Saturday, June 28, 2025, 1 pm to 6 pm
And Douglas UCC will be there! So! We need Pride Booth Volunteers for:
- loading & transportation
- set-up
- booth representatives
- tear-down and return to Douglas
See the sign-up sheet in the Isabel Graham Center or see Holland Pride Representatives:
Pastor Dan Plasman [email protected]
or
Dennis Konarski [email protected]
MORE COMMUNITY EVENTS
June 14: No Kings Day, Tomorrow, June 14, Holland, South Haven, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, etc.
Have you been hearing the buzz about the No Kings protests scheduled for June 14? Because our country doesn't do kings? There is a march just announced here in Saugatuck/Douglas, and in Holland, South Haven, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, and close to you, wherever you are, judging by the map above.
Here's the scoop on the Saugatuck/Douglas march:
https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/800892/
There is a protest scheduled in Holland is at 2pm, Centennial Park, hosted by Indivisible.
Or find one closer to you on this map, searchable by Zip Code. You'll have a whole lot of protests to choose from.
These protests are being sponsored by a very many organizations. Here's the list.
Here's the scoop on the Saugatuck/Douglas march:
https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/800892/
There is a protest scheduled in Holland is at 2pm, Centennial Park, hosted by Indivisible.
Or find one closer to you on this map, searchable by Zip Code. You'll have a whole lot of protests to choose from.
These protests are being sponsored by a very many organizations. Here's the list.
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