Weekly E-Pistle: 11th Sunday After Pentecost

8/6/2021

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

This Sunday's Service Notes -- "On Earth As It Is In Heaven"
Last Week's Service Video -- "I AM: The Bread of Life"
Welcome New Members!
Allegan County Covid-19 Transmission Rate increased to "Subtantial," Mask Recommendation
Members Needed for Live Broadcast Team
Art of the People, Levi Rickert, August 12, 7pm
Creative Spark: Celebration of the Bodewadmi (Potawatomi) Tribe, “Keepers of the Fire,” August 14, 11-4pm
OOTL Needs Volunteers for Two Pride events August 14
All Are Welcome: Stephen Ministry Info Session, August 29, 11:30am
Sign up for Jason Quigno, "Art of the People" Talk at SDHC, August 26, 7pm
Gardening is Giving Table, Sundays, All Season Long
Rummage Sale to benefit DUCC, August 14, Spread the Word
Birthdays & Anniversaries, Prayer Requests, and Financial Stewardship

This Sunday: "On Earth As It Is In Heaven"

This Sunday, we welcome guest preacher, Rev. Dr. David Van Dyke, who is filling in for our vacationing Pastor Sal. Rev. Van Dyke is a retired minister in the Presbyterian Church. He and his wife, Nancy, have been attending Douglas UCC since retiring full-time to Saugatuck in 2019. This Sunday, he will be preaching on John 6:35, 41-51. Music: Peter Black and Stan Greene.

Last Week's Service Video -- "I AM: The Bread of Life"

In last Sunday's gospel reading, Jesus says, "I am the bread of life." Jesus wasn't taking about his physical self, but about the "I AM," Spiritual Self, which dwells in each one of us. Are you nourishing yourself with this "daily bread," or are you finding yourself spiritually malnourished?Please enjoy last Sunday's service and learn some practical ways to feed your spirit, enrich your soul, and partake daily of this life-giving bread. Message: Pastor Sal. Music: Peter Black and Jeff Spangler.

Or click here to read, listen to, watch, or share Pastor Sal's Homily!

Welcome New Members!

During the August 1 service, we were delighted to welcome ten new members to our congregation. Pictured left to right, Bernie Lopata, Carol Rice, Anne Peterson, Lynne Snyder, Virginia Stuart, Meridith Ridl, Michael Tuleja, Shane Anderson, David Bohn.
Not pictured: Arturo Inda

Allegan County Covid-19 Transmission Rate Increased to "Substantial," Mask Recommendation

Mask Recommendation for Sunday Services
Because our area transmission rate has increased to "Substantial," the Church Council recommends that we wear masks at the Sunday Service. Greeters will have masks available for anyone who needs them.

CDC Update

Updated information for fully vaccinated people given new evidence on the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant currently circulating in the United States.
Added a recommendation for fully vaccinated people to wear a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high transmission. (At this posting, Allegan County is listed as Substantial Risk.)
Added information that fully vaccinated people might choose to wear a mask regardless of the level of transmission, particularly if they are immunocompromised or at increased risk for severe disease from COVID-19, or if they have someone in their household who is immunocompromised, at increased risk of severe disease or not fully vaccinated.
Added a recommendation for fully vaccinated people who have a known exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 to be tested 3-5 days after exposure, and to wear a mask in public indoor settings for 14 days or until they receive a negative test result.
CDC recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to schools, regardless of vaccination status.

Members Needed for Live Broadcast Team

Photo by Rafael SanFilipo on Unsplash

We are looking for volunteers to operate the video camera during Sunday services. If you want to help please email Chris Clark - clark.96@nd.edu. We can train you if you have not done this before.

Art of the People, Levi Rickert, August 12, 7pm

Levi Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the editor and publisher of Tribal Business News, as well as the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Levi will speak on the Standing Rock protest about The Dakota Access Pipeline a 1,200 pipeline, which runs from North Dakota to Illinois. Protests of the Dakota Access Pipeline occurred at several places because of concerns about the pipeline's impact on the environment and to sites sacred to Native Americans. Indigenous nations around the country oppose the pipeline, along with the Sioux tribal nations.

Creative Spark: Celebration of the Bodewadmi (Potawatomi) Tribe, “Keepers of the Fire,”
August 14, 11-4pm

OOTL Needs Volunteers for Two Pride events August 14

Out on the Lakeshore (OOTL) needs volunteers for our two August 14 events: the Open House in the Park at Centennial Park, and the Drag Show at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts. If you can help, please click on and fill out this form: https://forms.gle/iwTJdJUr7je3MpJJ7

All Are Welcome: Stephen Ministry Info Session, August 29, 11:30am

Would you like to learn more about our church's Stephen Ministry program? On Sunday, August 29, our Stephen Leaders, Paul Burdick and Laurie VandenBeldt, will be hosting an informational Q&A about the Stephen Ministry program at the Spring Street cottage behind the church from 11:30 a.m to 12:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend.

Sign up for Jason Quigno, "Art of the People" Talk at SDHC, August 26, 7pm

DUCC and the Social Justice Team invites you to enjoy the Art of the People Exhibit and hear a talk by Jason Quigno, August 26 7-8 pm. Attendance is limited to 30 people. Please sign up for this event at the link below or in the Friendship Hall.

Jason Quigno is one of the most prominent sculptors living in the Midwest today. Carving for hours each day to shape each stone, Jason’s work often draws upon his Anishinaabe heritage and the contemporary abstractions that are inspired by the land and nature.

Jason will share his views on curating the Art of the People Exhibit, his perspective on being an Anishnaabe in contemporary time and his process on how he carves a stone.

"When I create I am always pushing myself, my designs and the limits of the stone to bring out a fluid and balanced form, and to create artwork that is graceful, delicate ,and has a sense of movement. You don’t think of stone as having these qualities but these are some of the things I strive for in my work.”

See the sign-up sheet in the friendship hall, or...
Click here to sign up online for this free event: https://bit.ly/ArtofThePeople

Gardening is Giving Table, Sundays, All Season Long

Beginning this Sunday, July 25, and every Sunday as the season lasts, the Creation Justice team is hosting their "Gardening is Giving" table outside the church. Drop off the produce of your gardens -- vegetables, herbs, flowers, divided plants -- and pick up any produce you would like to take home! Thanks in advance for your work to share your harvest!

Rummage Sale to benefit DUCC, August 14,
Spread the Word!

Photo by Simone Pellegrini on Unsplash

Our dear friend Myron Freund, who passed away in December after contracting Covid-19, left all of his belongings to our church. On Saturday, August 14, we will hold a rummage sale in the Retreat House Lawn from 10am until 3pm. We won't price Myron's things, but will ask for donations from anyone who would like to re-home them. Thanks, in advance, to our wonderful team of helpers! We are still looking for someone with a truck to help transport any remaining items to Christian Neighbors.

Birthdays & Anniversaries

August 9- Bob Kenny; 11- Shirley Lawson, Sue Scott, Larry Spencer, 12- Julie Ridl
13- Michael Riemke & Dan Ryan, Sheryll VanPortfleet,
14- David Geen, PollyAnn Marie, Michael Valdez, Tom Wendell

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. If you don't have a directory, please let us know, and we will email one to you

Prayer Requests

Hannah Sherman; David Abbot; Pat Denner; The family of Len Lynch, including Kathleen and Peter Mueller; Alice Reimard (Sarah Donovan's sister in law); 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); Daniel Ver Meulen (Susan Fleming's son); Marcia Sullivan (Jo Cooley's friend)

Financial Stewardship

August 1 2021
In-Person Attendance: 90
Viewers for August 1 Online Service Videos:332
Podcast Downloads in August: 293
Online Donations:  $2,692.06
Collection Plate:  $1,904.00
Total:  $4,596.06
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.