 Photo by Qingbao Meng on Unsplash In This Week's E-Pistle, You Will Find BEING THE CHURCH
BEING THE CHURCHThis Week's Service: Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost Photo by Nikola Jovanovic on Unsplash You may have heard of Advent or Lent or Pentecost, all church year seasons. But have you heard of the Season of Creation? It is an official Church Year Season for many denominations (see https://seasonofcreation.org for more info). In the United Church of Christ, in particular, we celebrate creation and seek to protect and steward and restore justice to creation in intentional ways (see https://www.creationjustice.org). For the Sundays of September we will imagine together creation as good - teaching us what creativity looks like, as connected - compelling us to be good stewards, as sacred - understanding all ground as holy, as hurt - mourning with creation as she groans. Journey with us for a time of reflection and inspiration, this first Sunday as we explore Genesis 1, the Hebrew creation story. Please join us on Sunday at 10am in our Sanctuary, or online, live on our Youtube Channel. Message: Rev. Jody Betten Music: Peter Black, Jeff Spangler, Nancy Plantinga You will always find our latest church bulletin and service music at Bit.ly/DUCCBulletin 
Last Week's Service: Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost -- Humility: The Lost Virtue photo by Dan Plasman Humility may well be a lost virtue. Nobody gets ahead by being humble. Candidates never win elections by leading with humility. Most people, myself included, would have a hard time attempting to describe humility. Is it self-deprecation? Modesty? Meekness? Lack of pride? Unassertiveness? Is there any bankable value in practicing humility? Last Sunday’s reading from Luke 14 concerns dinner guests who strive for the best seats at the table. Jesus applauds the humble. What does humility looks like in our world? What’s the nature of true humility? Is it a value worth striving for? We’ll explore this topic in a message entitled: “Humility: The Lost Virtue” Click the image above to see the whole service, or the button below for just Dan's message. Or listen to our Pastor's messages on the DUCC podcast. A New Face in the Office
Jody and Dan's Office Hours This Week
It's Trunk or Treat Planning Time! Last year's Trunk or Treat event was a Fall highlight! ET met Pebbles and distant unicorn cousins were reunited. Park rangers and comic characters and gypsies and witches and other frightening characters as well as an angel (your pastor Dan), among others, provided candy for more than 75 people over a couple hours. If you would like to help plan the second annual trunk or treat, please contact Jody ([email protected], or text 616-706-3549 with your name) by Sept 7. Let's make a Happy Halloween for our neighbors! Summer Food Ministry Update  Photo by Getty Images on Unsplash What a Congregation!! DUCC members have really stepped up each week in providing provisions for our vulnerable brothers and sisters of SW Michigan. Feeling truly grateful. We have 3 more weeks to go. The generosity of the DUCC Members has been overwhelming and so appreciated. In the last 6 weeks, DUCC members have generously donated a total of 121 bags of groceries for our Summer Food Ministry. Each bag contained at a minimum: * 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 Social Justice Team Community Conversations  Our Social Justice 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 Line Dancing, Sign Up Now, September 25! Photo by Polina Kuzovkova on Unsplash Sign ups are hot for Line Dancing! On Thursday September 25 at 6:30 pm, the Friendship 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. SJT and SDHC Present: Everyday People, Documentary and Discussion, October 3 The Saugatuck Douglas History Center, in collaboration with the DUCC Social Justice Team, will present a screening and discussion of everydayPeople, a documentary film produced and directed by Steve Croley, Bridget McCormack, and Jeff Croley in 2011. We will revisit ideas raised in the film in the context of a very different political climate. Nestled next to each other along the Kalamazoo River with populations of just over 1,000, the resort towns of Saugatuck and Douglas have a substantial gay population. In an area with conservative and religious roots, gays and straights do not merely tolerate one another, but are thoroughly integrated politically, economically, socially and religiously. The film explores how and why this is the case, in part by asking residents from farmers to mayors how they account for longstanding gay-straight integration. DUCC is featured prominently in the film which includes interviews with former pastor Andy DeBraber and other DUCC church members. Doors open at 6:00 with the screening at 6:30, followed by panel discussion. Panelists include Saugatuck Schools Superintendent Mark Niedlinger, filmmakers Jeff Croley and Bridget McCormack and artist/activist Ruth Crowe. Listening Ear: Do You Need to Be Heard?  John 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 Retreat House on Thursday afternoons from 1 to 3 pm. 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 September 8: Dave Bohn September10: Jack Dunn September 11: Anne Petersen September 14: Rich Marth ANNIVERSARIES September 8: Pamela Chappell, Pete Wehle 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 Photo by Michiele 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 31: 100 Total Views for August 31 worship videos: 96 Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $280.00 Online Giving: $1,111.90 Total, General Support: $1,391.90 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 CalendarWhen you have events to schedule anywhere on campus, click the button below, scan the calendar for a spot, then contact Claire 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! Summer into Fall! Photo by Sajad Nori on Unsplash Kat VanHammen's Qigong class will run through September 9 at the backyard of the Retreat House on Tuesdays at 3pm. And then there will be a short break before Qigong Winter begins in the Friendship Hall October 7, and runs through May! 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, |
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