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Weekly E-Pistle: 13th Sunday After Pentecost

8/20/2021

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

  • This Sunday's Service Notes -- "At Home with God"
  • Last Week's Service Video -- "The Aramaic Jesus"
  • Our Growing YouTube Audience!
  • Allegan County Covid-19 Transmission Rate increased to "High," Masks Recommended in Service
  • Help for Haiti
  • Lakeshore Cleanup! Can You Help?
  • Myron Was Here: Kudos to Rummage Sale Team!
  • Luke Burnett Memorial Service, August 27, 11am
  • Can You Help Restock the Church Pantry?
  • Time to Sign Up for Crop Walk!
  • Members Needed for Live Broadcast Team
  • 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 Resumes August 22
  • Pastor's Report and Minutes
  • Birthdays & Anniversaries, Prayer Requests, and Financial Stewardship​

This Sunday's Service: "At Home with God"

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At this Sunday's service, we will be putting our focus on Psalm 84, which begins, "How lovely is your dwelling place, O God."  Scripture invites us to make our dwelling place in God, but how exactly do we do that?

Come join us this Sunday at 10 AM, as we explore together how to be "At Home with God."  Message: Pastor Sal. Music: Peter Black and Jeff Spangler. ​Thank you for wearing a mask.

​The Sunday morning service will be recorded and posted later in the day to our church's website and YouTube channel. ​

Last Sunday's Service

The Gospels were written in Greek, but the language Jesus spoke was Aramaic. In recent years, many biblical scholars have taken the Gospels and translated them into Aramaic. In doing so, the teachings of Jesus take on deeper and more profound meanings. Please enjoy last Sunday's service, when we explored "The Aramaic Jesus," with a particular focus on "The Lord's Prayer" in Aramaic. Message: Pastor Sal. Music: Peter Black and Jeff Spangler.  

Or click here to read, listen to, watch, and share last Sunday's homily.

Our Growing YouTube Audience!

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WOW! Our Douglas UCC YouTube channel just surpassed 3,000 subscribers and more than 465,000 views! That's absolutely extraordinary for a small village church like ours! Thank you to all our viewers and subscribers from around the world. Not yet a subscriber? Visit YouTube.com/DouglasUCC and click the red "Subscribe" button.

​Allegan County Covid-19 Transmission Rate increased to "High," Masks Recommended in Service 

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Mask Recommendation for Sunday Services
Because our area transmission rate has increased to "High," 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.

Help for Haiti

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The United Church of Christ is issuing a call to action to help the people of Haiti. A massive 7.2 earthquake on Saturday has killed nearly 1,300 people. Search and rescue efforts are expected to be hampered by Tropical Depression Grace, which came ashore on Monday. Read about this call to action here.

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To donate to this appeal, use this link and designate the gift to “Haiti Appeal.” One can also mail a check made payable to the United Church of Christ, to 700 Prospect Ave., Cleveland, OH 44115. Please be sure to note “Haiti Appeal” on your check in the memo section, or in an attached letter.

 ​Lakeshore Cleanup! August 24, 9-11am

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Douglas Beach Cleanup is coming up, August 24, 9-11am, managed by the Allegan Conservation District and Lakeshore Cleanup Coalition. If you can help, register at https://bit.ly/Douglascleanup.

​Myron Was Here: Kudos to Rummage Sale Team! 

Kudos to our incredible team of volunteers: Dale Lower & Ted Sommer, Kathleen & Peter Mueller, Louise & Bob Kenny, Barb Lucier, Demetrhea Terrien, Peg Donohue, Peter Black & Robert Trenary, Ann Hopkins, Shane Anderson & Michael Tuleja, Julie & Jack Ridl, and Pastor Sal, for organizing the adoption of Myron Freund's possessions, following his wishes to hold this event as a fundraiser for the church. By making it possible (and making it fun!), Myron raised $704.35! We are so thankful for his life and love, and for the friendships that made this event a joyful celebration of Myron.

​Luke Burnett Memorial Service, August 27, 11am 

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We will hold a memorial service in the sanctuary and memorial garden for Mike VerMerris' partner, Luke Burnett, on August 27, at 11a.m, celebrating this wonderful man's time with us. The service will be followed with lunch, and all church members and friends are invited. You can click here to leave a tribute or words of comfort for Mike and their family.  

​Can You Help Restock the Church Pantry? 

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Photo by Claire Mueller
Our Community Care Facilitator, Lynne Snyder, is asking for help restocking the church pantry, a collection of home and healthcare care goods for people who need them. If you are able, please shop and drop them at the Friendship Hall on Sundays. Here are the items we need: Facial Tissues, Toilet Paper, Toothbrushes, Bar Soap. She asks that any extra outer packaging be removed for ease of storage. Thank you!​

​Time to Sign Up for Crop Walk! 

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This year’s CROP Walk for Hunger will take place Sunday, September 12 at 2:00pm. We’ll have details soon, but returning walkers can sign up now and begin fundraising. There’s a new website this year; the DUCC page is 
https://events.crophungerwalk.org/2021/team/douglas-ucc
New walkers are also welcome to sign up! If you have questions, contact Chris Clark.

​Members Needed for Live Broadcast Team 

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Photo by Rafael SanFillipo on Unsplash
We are looking for volunteers to operate the video camera during Sunday services. If you want to help please email Chris Clark - [email protected]. We can train you if you have not done this before.

​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 

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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.
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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 Resumes August 22 

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The Creation Justice Team's "Gardening is Giving" table will be open this Sunday, just 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! You don't need to donate to the table to receive from the Earth! 

Pastor's Report & Minutes

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Photo by Marcus Winkler on Unsplash
Click the links below to read the latest Church Council Minutes and Pastor's Report:
approved_church_council_minutes_july_2021.pdf
File Size: 415 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

pastors_report_august_2021.pdf
File Size: 220 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


​Birthdays & Anniversaries

August 24- Kristi Van Howe, 25- Larry Freeland, 25-Mark Kyle, Sarah Scott,
​28- Barbara & Dick Lucier
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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 

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Pete Wehle; Cheryl Chinski (Jeff Chinksi's sister); David Abbot; Pat Denner; 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; Walt Lawrence; Cole Hartman; Dennis Konarski; Mike Sneedon (Peg and Jack Donohue's friend); 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); 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 15, 2021

In-Person Attendance: 84
​Viewers for August 15 Online Service Videos: 429

Online Donations:  $1,419.05
Collection Plate:  $905.00
Myron Freund Yard Sale: $704.35
​Total:  $3,028.40
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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56 Wall Street • Douglas, Michigan 49406

© Douglas Congregational United Church of Christ. All Rights Reserved.
  • About Us ▾
    • Meditation Garden
    • Retreat House
    • Our Staff
    • Our Stories
    • About Douglas UCC
  • Connect & Serve
  • Worship & Music Videos ▾
    • Podcast Library 🔊
    • Homily Library 📖
  • Calendar & E-pistle ▾
    • E-Pistle
  • Contact
  • Giving
  • Events