15th Sunday after Pentecost

9/8/2023

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

This Sunday's Service — 15th Sunday after Pentecost: "Gathered in Love"
Last Sunday's Service —14th Sunday after Pentecost: "I Am That I Am"
September 24 Campus Stewardship Meeting
Looking for a Few Good Mt. Baldhead Run Volunteers
Social Justice Team Meeting, Sunday, Sept. 10
Water Filters for Families Fundraiser, September 13
A Host Family for Benjamin?
Save the Date: 2023 Blessing of the Animals, October 1
CJT and Alliance of the Great Lakes September 16 Beach Cleanup 9am to Noon!
Planning the Creation Justice Season -- Can You Help?
Heads' Up! Membership Directory Update Ahead!
Save the Date: Annual Household Hazardous Waste Dropoff!
Walkers on Deck! Fundraising for October 8 Crop Walk!
Next SoulCollage Workshop with Rev. Ruth Zwald, September 9
Birthdays & Anniversaries, Prayer Requests, and Financial Stewardship

This Sunday's Service: "Gathered in Love"

In the gospel reading for the 15th Sunday after Pentecost, Jesus tells his disciples, "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Gathered together in love, we become one body in Christ.

Join us this Sunday at 10 AM (either in person or streaming live online) as we explore Jesus's greatest commandment: "to love God and to love one another." Message: Pastor Sal Sapienza. Music: Peter Black and Jeff Spangler

Download this Sunday's Online Bulletin:

order_of_service_september_10_2023.pdf
File Size:	2116 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Last Sunday's Service —14th Sunday after Pentecost: "I Am That I Am"

Last Sunday, Labor Day weekend, we put our focus on the Old Testament reading for the 14th Sunday after Pentecost. We heard the famous story of Moses and the Burning Bush. In it, Moses asks for God's name. God replies, "I am that I am." What did God mean by this? Please enjoy last Sunday's service, when we explored the meaning of "The Great I AM." Message: Pastor Sal Sapienza. Music: Peter Black and Jeff Spangler.

Here's the Homily!

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, and all church 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.

Looking for a Few Good Mt. Baldhead Run Volunteers, Sept 10

The Mount Baldhead Race committee is looking for a few more Race Volunteers (aka: High Energy Saugatuck-Douglas Ambassadors) to help keep people safe and pointed in the right direction.

If you think you can help by cheering and pointing, sign up here:

https://runsignup.com/Race/Volunteer/MI/Saugatuck/MtBaldheadChallenge

It’s easy and fun! Do it as a couple, bring your kids, a cowbell, or other form of (not too obnoxious “audio encouragement” to add to the festive atmosphere.

Friendly Reminder: This is the sole fundraising source for the Boys and Girls Club of Saugatuck-Douglas, an after school program that serves hundreds of local youth and families throughout the school year and all day during the summer. For many parents (and especially single parents) these programs are a LIFELINE! By volunteering you perpetuate these essential programs…and YOU get a free race jersey in a special (bright!) color. You are also welcome to join the after race party at Wicks Park on Saturday morning. Cocktails, games, music, comradery…”Pure Saugatuck” right?

Feel free to forward onto other community minded friends and please join us…you won’t regret it. Its very fun and for an essential cause.

PS: If you would like to make a discrete donation to the Boys and Girls Club of Saugatuck-Douglas You will see a way to do that on the site above. Take heart knowing that 100% of all donations are used to fund the operation of the local club.

Social Justice Team Meeting, Sunday, Sept. 10

The DUCC Social Justice Committee will be meeting this Sunday at 11:15 at the Spring Street Office Building after the Sunday Service. All who are interested in the Social Justice Committee are welcome to attend.

Water Filters for Families Fundraiser
September 13, 6pm, Alley's

Our church members Stacy Honson and Dick Bont are supporting the “Water Filters for Families” program for the poor communities that surround Puerto Vallarta. This program provides clean water for a family for 10 years for just $50.

You are invited to join Dick and Stacy for food and beverages and more information about the program. Bring your checkbook! If you are interested in helping but cannot join in at the fundraiser, you can send a check payable to our local rotary club. Please put “PV Filters” in the memo line:

Rotary Club of Saugatuck-Douglas
431 Spear Street
Saugatuck MI 49453

Dick and Stacy want you to know:

Just inland from the beaches and tourist areas of Puerto Vallarta, many families do not have access to clean, safe drinking water. Many communities are not on the municipal water purification system. Sometimes families purchase water for 28 pesos ($1.40) for 4 gallons but the average working person makes little more than 65 pesos ($3.50) per day. Many families in these communities get their water from the filthy rivers which are multi-use including use for animals and sewage.

This clean water program was started in 2012. To date, we have given more than 6,000 individual water filters to families, homes and schools in the Puerto Vallarta area, free of charge to the recipients. More than 20,000 people have received the benefit of clean, safe drinking water under this program!

A number of these communities are up in the mountains, and several other communities are accessible only by boat. In addition to receiving the water filter, “Water Filter School” is held offering instructions on the use, cleaning and maintenance of the filter. Clean water storage, hand washing and sanitation are also discussed, and large posters are provided to schools and health centers which outline the importance of clean water and sanitation.

To date, funding has been provided through donations from individuals, charitable organizations, Rotary Clubs, and also through 2 Rotary District Grants, and 3 Rotary International Global Grants.

The cost of a filter kit is $50 USD. Because of the low cost of this filter, we are able to supply people immediately with safe, clean drinking water. The filters are supplied by Sawyer ,which has a history of working with Rotary to provide clean, safe drinking water worldwide. The filters do not require any fuel, chemicals, batteries or particular knowledge. They require a clean bucket and regular cleaning with clean water. The syringe needed to clean the filter is provided with the filter, as are all instructions for use.

The life expectancy of a filter is 1,000,000 gallons or 4,000,000 liters. For most families, this will give them clean drinking water for about 10 years.

The families using the filters are very pleased that they have been given the gift of clean, safe drinking water. The people have expressed their gratitude and happiness, and community members state that the provision of clean, safe drinking water has had a significant positive impact on these communities!

A Host Family for Benjamin from Germany?

Greenheart exchange is looking for short-term housing for an exchange student, a boy from Germany named Benjamin. He is arriving September 8, and has a temporary family until the end of September, but needs a host family for the rest of the school year.

Benjamin has very good English and four years of French. He plays soccer, tennis, and handball, and is a coach for 7 and 8 year olds for handball. He has a dog at home, but is mildly allergic to cats. He considers himself very social and likes to spend time with family and friends. He likes to bake with his mom. He listens to both classical and popular music.

His host family will provide meals, emotional support, and reasonable transportation. He will be going to Saugatuck High School.

Host families can be any age over 26. Retirees make great host parents as well as people who have children of any age. Questions? Call Julia Colingsworth, 269-225-7418 or email to [email protected].

Save the Date: 2023 Blessing of the Animals

The Blessing of the Animals is coming up! Mark your calendars for Sunday, October 1 at 2pm. Bring along your animal friends who do well in a crowd. Or bring photos of your animals who feel safest at home. The service will be led by Pastor Sal and Rev. Ginny Mikita and sponsored by our dear friends at Lakeshore Pet Boutique.

CJT and Alliance of the Great Lakes September 16 Beach Cleanup 9am to Noon!

It's that time! As our summer traffic winds up, and all around the Great Lakes, teams like our DUCC Creation Justice Team are working with the Alliance for the Great Lakes to clean up our beaches (and collect data on the types of garbage and pollution we are experiencing). All are welcome to bring friends and family members to gather anything from the beach that doesn't belong on the beach. Bring along buckets if you have them. Other equipment will be provided. Find the CJT team at Oval Beach starting at 9am to receive instructions. And thank you for helping keep our beautiful beaches beautiful!

Planning the Creation Justice Season -- Can You Help?

The Creation Justice Team is organizing the first of four seasonal services for October 1. The theme is "Harvest Moon" and the goal is to highlight issues related to food, such as local sourcing, packaging, growing your own, and protecting crops. We're looking for a small group of people to help decide which areas to focus on and then do things like choose music, prayers, and readings. If you're interested in helping, please contact Chris Clark

Heads' Up! Membership Directory Update Ahead!

It's time to update our membership directory! Yaay! We will be handling things just a bit differently this year -- to keep your data safe and to be sure everyone has the type of directory they most prefer, while simultaneously working to tamp down the consumption of paper!

There will be three phases to our process: Revisions, Production, and Distribution.

September 3 - 16 is our Revision Phase. This is your time to make any changes you wish to make to your entry in the directory. Here's how:

1. Make Changes! You can make changes in person after church on September 3 or 10, or during office hours (M, W, F 10am to 3pm). Look for Julie in both places, and she'll help you. You could also email Julie Ridl with any revisions you wish to see. Copies of our current directory will be on hand at the church and in the church office for your review.

2. Submit a New Photo (or not)! Our new directory will make room for larger photos in a square format. Please send any new photos to Julie, or see her during office hours, and she'll gladly take a new photo for you.

3. Order Your Directory! During this revision period, you'll see a sign-up sheet in the Friendship Hall and at the Church Office where you can choose the format you wish to have, either print or PDF (electronic document). Or email Julie Ridl and tell her which format you wish to receive. We won't be mass emailing copies of the directory, so if you wish to have one, this step is necessary.

Stay Tuned! Production will take place the week of Sept. 17, and we plan to have new directories out by the end of September.

Save the Date: Annual Household Hazardous Waste Dropoff!

The Annual Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection event will be held for all Tri-Community (City of Saugatuck, the City of Douglas, and Saugatuck Township) residents on Tuesday, September 26 from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the City of Saugatuck Department of Public Works Building (3338 Bluestar Highway). This community service is made possible through the Tri-Community Recycling Committee and generous support from the Rotary Club of Saugatuck/Douglas, the City of Saugatuck, Saugatuck Township, KLSWA, and the Saugatuck Township Fire Department. Find all the helpful information about what will be accepted and where at the links below. You must sign up for a drop-off time so the committee can plan their day!

Here are the links for HHW Day
1. sign up to drop off https://bit.ly/HHWDay2023
2. sign up to volunteer https://bit.ly/HHWDay2023Vol

Walkers on Deck! Fundraising for October 8 Crop Walk!

CROP Hunger Walks raise funds to end hunger here in Southwest Michigan and around the world. Our local walk on October 8 is one of the thousands that take place around the country. If you would like to be a walker-fundraiser on the DUCC team, please contact Mike Mok by email and/or sign up online right here:
https://events.crophungerwalk.org/2023/team/douglas-ucc

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.

Birthdays & Anniversaries

September 10- Jack Dunn, 11- Anne Petersen, 14- Rich Marth

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

Pamela Chappell & Pete Wehle; Dan Pierce; Ruth VandenBosch; Mary Browning; 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 September 3: 103
Total Views for September 3 Online Videos: 604
Podcast Downloads in Augst: 2,206

Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $1,349.00
Online Giving: $4,860.81
Total: $6,209.81

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.