Weekly E-Pistle: 12th Sunday after Pentecost

8/18/2023

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

This Sunday's Service — 12th Sunday after Pentecost: "Persistent in Faith"
Last Sunday's Homily --11th Sunday after Pentecost: "Walking on Water"
Hawai'i 2023 Wildfires Relief Fund
Save the Date: September 24 Campus Stewardship Meeting
See you at the Social!
Catching up with the Afghan Family, August 27, 11:30 am
Meet our New Retreat House and Spiritual Center!
Next SoulCollage Workshop with Rev. Ruth Zwald, September 9
Reports and Minutes
Birthdays & Anniversaries, Prayer Requests, and Financial Stewardship

This Sunday's Service: "Persistent in Faith"

In Sunday's Gospel reading for the 12th Sunday after Pentecost, a Canaanite woman comes to Jesus asking for help in curing her child. Jesus, at first, is dismissive of her, telling his disciples to "Send her away!" Nevertheless, she persisted, until Jesus tells her, ""Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish."

Please join us this Sunday at 10 AM (either in person or streaming live online) as we explore what it means to be bold and persistent in speaking our truth and putting our faith into action. Message: Pastor Sal Sapienza. Music: Peter Black and Pete Wehle

Download this Sunday's Online Bulletin:

order_of_service_august_20_2023.pdf
File Size:	2633 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Last Week's Service

In last Sunday's Gospel reading, the apostles are in a boat during a storm, and they are gripped with fear. Jesus calms the storm with the words, "Peace, be still." Often, when we are in the storms of life and our world is being rocked, we, too, are overcome with fear. The Good News is that Jesus gives us the tools to transform our fear into faith. Please enjoy last Sunday's service, when we learned the tools to "walk on water" and explore the path of "Fear-Less Living." Message: Pastor Sal Sapienza. Music: Peter Black and Jeff Spangler

Here's the Homily!

Hawai'i 2023 Wildfires Relief Fund

From our UCC Hawaii Conference: "We might be different congregations, but we are one ‘ohana: a unified, radiant, and transforming expression of the body of Christ. During this time of crisis in Maui, we want to be of help and assistance to our ‘ohana in distress. Offerings and collections taken through your local church can be sent to the UCC Hawaii Conference Office where we will work to distribute the funds to devastated areas and those in need. Individuals may also donate online directly through the Conference's Hawai‘i 2023 Wildfires Relief Fund, which is also accessible via our website at hcucc.org/donate. Thank you for your generous giving."

Save the Date: September 24 Campus Stewardship Meeting

Our Church Council is busy setting campus stewardship goals -- a project list for strengthening, securing, and updating our campus buildings, along with a plan for funding these projects. After church and coffee, at 11:30 am on September 24, our Church Council will hold a special Campus Stewardship Meeting in the Friendship Hall. We will be reviewing and voting on this plan. So all members are encouraged to attend! We will provide Zoom access if we have members interested in participating in this way. Please let church admin Julie Ridl know as soon as possible if you require Zoom to participate.

See You at the Social!

It's around the corner and up Center Street! It's the event of the summer! It's the Douglas Social! Stop by our booth for a hug and a hotdog!

Catching up with the Afghan Family,
August 27, 11:30 am

Twenty months ago, this young refugee family arrived at our campus, taking up residence in Spring Street House. Your generous welcome and the hard work of the Social Justice Team made it possible for this young family to restart their lives in the United States. Join us on August 27, after church in the Friendship Hall, to hear from the family about how they are doing, and what their entry has been like for them.

Meet our New Retreat House and
Spiritual Center!

Photo by Daniel Oberg on Unsplash

The Retreat House is gaining an additional purpose! Starting in September, certified spiritual leaders within DUCC will offer 'tastes' of wide-ranging spiritual discussions to small groups of 4-6 people in the first week of each month.

Each month, new 1-1/2- to 2-hour classes will allow our members and friends to ask questions, try new methods of prayer and meditation, and appreciate the depth of spiritual leadership within our church.

These one-time classes begin the first week in September.

Rev Marchiene Reinstra
GOD IS TALKING. ARE YOU LISTENING?
Ways you can experience God’s Presence and Guidance
Wednesday, September 6, 10:30-noon
There is a Loving Divine Presence that surrounds us and lives within us. We will explore how we can experience this Presence and receive much needed wisdom and guidance for our daily lives through prayer and meditation.

Barb Flynn, Certified Spiritual Advisor
WHAT IS SPIRITUAL DIRECTION? IS IT RIGHT FOR ME?
Thursday, September 7, 10:30-noon
We will explore what spiritual direction is, a bit about its history, and why someone would choose a spiritual guide. A Spiritual guide helps another to recognize and freely name what God is doing in their lives.

Rev. Ginny Mikita, Animal Chaplain
DOG MEETS GOD
Can our pets lead us to the Divine?
Friday, September 8, 10:30-noon
We will explore how other of God’s creatures intersect with our own spirituality, and we will engage in an experience which may be practiced at home with an animal companion or wild animal.

Sign-up sheets will be in the Friendship Hall, or you can contact Julie to be put on a class list.

All groups will be limited to six persons.

If more are interested, there will be more opportunities to participate in these prayer and meditation experiences.

Next SoulCollage Workshop with Rev. Ruth Zwald, September 9

Our friend and spiritual teacher Ruth Zwald will be leading a Soul Collage workshop in the Friendship Hall on Saturday, September 9, from 1 to 4pm. If you're interested, register with Ruth at her email address above.

Reports and Minutes

Photo by John Schnobrich on Unsplash

pastors_report_august_2023.pdf
File Size:	115 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

approved_church_council_minutes_july_2023.pdf
File Size:	71 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Birthdays & Anniversaries

August 21– Kathy Davelaar Van Rees, Carey & Fred Idema24– Kristi Van Howe, 25– Larry Freeland

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.

Prayer Requests

Nancy Grib (Friend of Pamela Chappell); Stuart Family; Charlene Burdick (Paul Burdick's Mother); Diane Carr; Myron (Wendy Hamlin's grandson, Fred Hamilin's great-grandson); Betsy York; Mary Westenbroek; Brian Aikens; Jerry Elpers and family (Beth Howley's Dad); Edie Plantinga (Nancy Plantinga's mother); Joyce Potts (Ed Korson's Friend); Max Matteson; Eric Cooley (Jo Cooley's brother); Nicole and John (Wendy Hamlin's daughter-in-law and son)

Financial Stewardship

In-Person Attendance August 13: 101
Total Views for August 13 Online Videos: 621

Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $4,177.00
Online Giving: $3,079.54
Total: $7,253.54

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.