In This Week's E-Pistle, You Will Find:
This Sunday: "Celebrate Your Independence"
This Sunday is July 4th, in which we celebrate "Independence Day." America is the land of the free, but what does a life of spiritual freedom really look like?
Please join us this "Independence Sunday" at 10 a.m., as we celebrate liberty and justice and spiritual freedom for all. Message: Pastor Sal. Music: Peter Black and Stan Greene. The Sunday morning service will be recorded and posted later in the day to our church's YouTube channel. Last Sunday's Service
June is Gay Pride Month, and last Sunday, we celebrated "Open & Affirming" Sunday in the United Church of Christ. Douglas UCC is proud to be among the first churches to become recognized as an Open & Affirming church, affirming the full inclusion of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender persons (LGBT) in the church's life and ministry.
Please enjoy last Sunday's service, when we celebrated the spiritual gifts with which the LGBTQ community blesses our church family and our world. Message: Pastor Sal. Music: Peter Black and Jeff Spangler. Click here to read, listen to, watch, and share Pastor Sal's homily. Thank You to Faith Leaders from Michigan's Governors 
Click the image above to launch the lovely video message we have received from Michigan's Governor and Lt. Governor for faith leaders who have worked so hard during the pandemic to support our communites. This means you! Here's the link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/6mvegmjha80krrf/Faith%20Leaders.mp4?dl=0
Happy 80th to Dick Riekse!
Happy milestone birthday to our church member Dick Riekse!
Annual Meeting: Thanks and 2020 Approved Minutes
We had such a great turnout in person and on Zoom for the 2021 Congregational meeting last Sunday! Thanks so much for your time and attention, church members! Here are the approved minutes for last year's meeting, below.
Peter Black's Garage Sale, July 1-2
Photo by Donatella D'Anniballe on Unsplash
Peter Black and Robert Trenary are finishing up their big move to Douglas with a garage sale! The sale runs through Friday. Stop by to pick up some treasures!
Friday and Saturday July 1,2, from 8 am - 1pm; 391 Mountain Ash Lane, Douglas, MI 49406 Selling: Furniture - Dining Room table and chairs, Other Various, Antiques; Kitchen -- Appliances and Tools, lots of vintage; Decorating - pictures, frames, rugs, and much , much more. New Members Class: July 18
If you are interested in becoming a member of our church, we will be holding a New Members Class on Sunday, July 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 88 Spring Street, the house behind the church. All are welcome to attend. (If you would like to become a member, but are unable to attend the class, please email Pastor Sal at pastor@DouglasUCC.org).
LGBTQ+friendly AA meetings starting up July 2
The regular Friday-evening AA meetings held in the Friendship Hall are starting up on July 2 at 7:30 PM. Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who have had a drinking problem. It is nonprofessional, self-supporting, open and inclusive, apolitical, and available almost everywhere. There are no age or education requirements. Membership is open to anyone who wants to do something about their drinking problem.
Rummage Sale to benefit DUCC, August 14, Volunteers Needed!
Photo by Charisse Kenion on Unsplash
Our dear friend Myron Freund, left instructions that his possessions be sold and the proceeds from the sale be donated to Douglas UCC. So we will have a Rummage sale at the retreat house on August 14, 10am to 3pm. We won't be pricing anything, just asking for donations for the items you adopt.
We will need volunteers to help us set up the sale in the yard, and manage the donations. If you can help, please send word by email to welcome@douglasucc.org. Lakeshore Community Chorus
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UCC Synod is Online this year, registration is open!
The UCC's General Synod gathers July 11-18, online this year. All are welcome to attend. Our own Pastor Sal will be serving as a delegate this year.
Click here to review the 50 powerful workshops being offered, and to register for the event: www.generalsynod.org/
At General Synod, the church gathers to discern the Spirit’s calling in this present day. General Synod 33 will begin on July 11, 2021, with opening worship and will continue through July 18, 2021. Although General Synod convenes to conduct the business of the Church, we approach this work in a spirit of worship. In that spirit, continuing throughout Synod, we invite the entire church to join us in prayer for our gathered time together.
Each day the Rev. Janet Ross, national setting chaplain, will provide a prayer request on the UCC.org homepage. We invite you to incorporate the prayer requests into your daily prayer practices or to pray daily for General Synod as the Spirit leads. We are praying for the manifestation of God’s presence and power among us as we attend to the work of the church. We are praying for restorative times of worship and witness. We pray that every attendee will find in our offerings loving affirmations of belonging. We pray for courage. We pray for joy. We pray for wisdom. We pray for our resolutions. We pray for love. We pray for smooth technology. We pray for patience and grace.
We simply ask that you pray for the church. Because of our faith, we know our prayers will reach God and the hearts of those who gather.
Click here to review the 50 powerful workshops being offered, and to register for the event: www.generalsynod.org/
At General Synod, the church gathers to discern the Spirit’s calling in this present day. General Synod 33 will begin on July 11, 2021, with opening worship and will continue through July 18, 2021. Although General Synod convenes to conduct the business of the Church, we approach this work in a spirit of worship. In that spirit, continuing throughout Synod, we invite the entire church to join us in prayer for our gathered time together.
Each day the Rev. Janet Ross, national setting chaplain, will provide a prayer request on the UCC.org homepage. We invite you to incorporate the prayer requests into your daily prayer practices or to pray daily for General Synod as the Spirit leads. We are praying for the manifestation of God’s presence and power among us as we attend to the work of the church. We are praying for restorative times of worship and witness. We pray that every attendee will find in our offerings loving affirmations of belonging. We pray for courage. We pray for joy. We pray for wisdom. We pray for our resolutions. We pray for love. We pray for smooth technology. We pray for patience and grace.
We simply ask that you pray for the church. Because of our faith, we know our prayers will reach God and the hearts of those who gather.
Men's Group Trip to Gilmore Car Museum, July 19
Birthdays & Anniversaries
July 6- Lin Anderson, 7- Peg Hart, Dick Lucier, 10- Jim Kern
Birthday and Anniversary cards are a great way we can continue to 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. If you don't have a directory, please let us know, and we will email one to you.
Prayer Requests
Olive Johnson (Lin Wisehart's mom); Pat Denner; The family of Len Lynch, including Kathleen and Peter Mueller; Alice Reimard (Sarah Donovan's sister in law); John David (Pete Wehle's friend); Margaret and Dave Bazany and their daughter, Jennifer; Sarah Johnson Lock; Linda Masten (Mark Reiman's friend); Pam Carr (Debra Carr's sister); Vicki Latham (Ruth VandenBosch's cousin); Sarah Ver Meulen (Susan Fleming's Daughter); Mike VerMerris and all of Luke Burnett's family; Cole Hartman; Walt Lawrence; Shannon Connell; Dennis Konarski and the Konarski family; Mike Sneedon (Peg and Jack Donohue's friend); Pamela Chappell; Sandy Feldman; Tim Reineck, Matt Brazys, Suzanne Cook, and Ken Cassbon (friends of Pete Wehle and Pamela Chappell); Richie Czarnowski (Mark Reiman's friend); Dale Lower; Sherri Kanten (Ruth VandenBosch's friend); Michael (a friend of Dan Mack's); Myron (Wendy Hamlin's grandson, Fred Hamilin's great-grandson); Chris Stuart (Virginia Stuart's sister-in-law); Darren Dixon (Beverly and Orie Hawkes' nephew); Mary Elizabeth Loudin (friend of Laurie VandenBeldt); Chris Robinson (Peter and Kathleen Mueller's nephew); Gregg Kirchen (Sheryll and Greg VanPortfleet's friend); Daniel Ver Meulen (Susan Fleming's son); Marcia Sullivan (Jo Cooley's friend)
Financial Stewardship
June 27, 2021
In-Person Attendance: 81
Viewers for June 27 Online Service Videos: 579
Podcast downloads, June 2021: 307
Online Donations: $1652.85
Facebook donations for May: $329.12
Collection Plate: $1,226.00
Donation for use of the church piano: $50
Total: $3,257.97
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, or sharing through the donate buttons on
Facebook or Instagram, or at our website.
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