Weekly E-Pistle: 16th Sunday after Pentecost

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

• "The Spirituality of Water" - This Sunday's Service Description
• "Creation Justice Season Begins"- Last Sunday's Service Video
• "Just Peace" Sunday, September 20
• The Blessing of Isabel's!
• Douglas "Pride Celebration Garden": Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, September 19, 3pm
• Spring Street Mens' Group Startup, September 21
• UCC Grand West Association's Invitation to Serve
• "Blessing of the Animals" at Beery Field with Pastor Sal, October 4, 2pm
• Blessings for the Backpack of the Soul by Chris Clark is Ready for Order! 
• Friendship Hall "Coffee Hour" News
• Reports & Minutes
• Birthdays & Anniversaries, Prayer Requests, and Financial Stewardship Report

This Week's Service: "The Spirituality of Water"

The theme of our worship this month at Douglas UCC is "Season of Creation."  This Sunday, we will be focusing on the Spirituality of Water. Our bodies and our planet are mostly made of water. Water is necessary for life. Jesus spoke of "living water." Join us this Sunday for our online "Video Worship Service" as we explore this sacred gift. Pastor Sal will be giving an inspiring message, and members of our church's Creation Justice Team will lead us in word and prayer. Plus, there will be uplifting music from Peter Black and Nancy Plantinga, who will perform Daniel Nahmod's beautiful song,  "Water."

Tune in on Sunday at 10 AM via our Facebook page, YouTube channel, or here on our website

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Last Week's Service Video:

Last Sunday, we focused on "Forest/Wilderness."  In Hosea 2, God says, "The Wilderness will lead you to your heart where I will speak." Please enjoy last week's "Video Worship Service," as Pastor Sal gives an inspiring message about venturing into the wilderness, along with uplifting music from Peter Black and Elizabeth Estes.

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Just Peace Sunday, September 20

The Thirtieth General Synod called on the congregations of the United Church of Christ to mark the Sunday preceding September 21 (which the United Nation recognizes as the “International Day of Prayer for Peace”) as "Just Peace" Sunday. Here is the UCC's Geofrey Black discussing this year's theme for Just Peace Sunday: Seeking Racial Equity and a Just Economy.

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Blessing of Isabel's

This past Sunday afternoon, a small gathering of staff members, friends, and family gathered to celebrate and bless Isabel's Market, the new market and eatery at the corner of Blue Star and Wiley Road. Isabel's is named for DUCC's own Isabel Graham, who endowed the DUCC Fund that provides generously for our community. Isabel's is the work of four church members, Elizabeth Estes, Mary Fechtig, Vicky Cobb, and Garnet Lewis, who invited Pastor Sal to say a blessing over the new venture. Pastor Sal gave a lovely blessing and presented this Hamsa, part of the Jewish tradition, representing the hand of God guiding this work. Isabel's opened for business on Thursday morning to a line running out the door and into the parking lot!

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Douglas Pride Celebration Garden:
​Ribbon Cutting, Sept 19, 3pm

The "Pride Celebration Garden" Opening Ceremony is planned for Saturday, September 19, at 3 PM. Come see the beautiful new public garden at 147 Center Street in Downtown Douglas, which honors the contributions and legacy of our church members, Carl Jennings and Lawrence Gammons. The beautiful fence around the garden was designed and crafted by our church member, Chris Maitner. The Ribbon Cutting ceremony will begin at 3 PM with a blessing from Pastor Sal and words from the Mayor of Douglas, followed by live music. Mask-wearing and social distancing will be observed. All are welcome.

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Spring Street Mens' Group Start-up: Sept 21

The Spring Street Men’s Group will begin its new season of meetings on Monday Sept. 21, 7 to 9 pm. New members are welcome to join by emailing Max Brown through this link. The group will continue to meet online via Zoom. Thanks to the expert internet tech support of Stan Greene, there will be "break-out rooms" for smaller group sharing. The group is an opportunity for men to learn to lead with their feelings and not “what they do," creating a brotherhood of friendships and support in difficult times. Watch the short video above.

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UCC Grand West Calling for Lay Leaders

Our UCC Grand West Association organizes its committees by gathering both ministers and lay leaders who come from area UCC churches. They are calling for volunteer lay folk to serve on various committees. The Committee on Ministry works with credentialing new clergy coming to serve a church in the association. The Planning Committee is responsible for planning and coordinating the two general meetings of the association. The Nominating Committee nominates persons to serve as officers of the association. If you might have an interest in serving on one of these committees, please contact Pastor Sal to learn more. Download the flyer below for more details. Thank you.

invitation_lay_leaders_grand_west.pdf
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Blessing of the Animals

On October 4, at 2 pm, at Beery Field in Douglas, Pastor Sal and Lakeshore Pet Boutique will offer a Blessing of the Animals. The event will be a standing affair, with animals leashed or in carriers, fully in control of their humans. You may bring a chair, and you must wear a mask and observe social distancing guidelines.  Uncommon Coffee Roasters is providing hot chocolate. Please download the flyer below to share with your pet-loving friends!

animal_blessing_flyer.jpg.pdf
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Blessings for the Backpack of the Soul
is Ready for Order!

Church member Chris Clark had been planning a Camino de Santiago pilgrimage when Covid 19 hit, spoiling his plan to hike the trail, but launching him on a new path. Chris studied and collected Camino and hiking meditations, songs, and prayers from many faith traditions. And so, encouraged by Pastor Sal, friends, and family, he has worked hard over the past months to collect these resources into an anthology of inspiring blessings for hikers titled Blessings for the Backpack of the Soul. The book is now published and available for soft cover purchase as well as e-book download from his website. Find details here:  https://gchrisclark.com/book/

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Friendship Hall "Coffee Hour" News

Kudos to Dan Mack and Mike Vermerris who will be working to submit our Memorial Garden name plates to the Find-a-Grave website so that family geneaology researchers may more easily find them.
We remembered in our prayers the victims of 9/11 and their families and the families and friends of people in the travel industry; the families and friends of nearly 200,000 people lost to Covid-19 in the U.S. and the 925,000 who have died worldwide; the families displaced and lives lost in the wildfires in California, Oregon, and Washington.
With churches in the area going to in-person services in October, Pastor Sal let us know that we are taking the advice of our UCC denomination and watching, waiting, and learning from other denominations that may be choosing to return to in-house services in the coming weeks. Also, when we do decide to hold in-person services, we will continue to provide online services for people who are not comfortable meeting in person and for our new friends and members who do not live in the area. 
Pastor Sal asked that we please plan to wear our party hats and bring your noisemakers for the Online Friendship Hall on September 27, when we will celebrate Fred Hamlin’s 90th birthday!!!

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Birthdays & Anniversaries

September 20- Randall Braaksma, 21-Anita Halcyon, Barbara Lucier,
​22-Laurie VanDenBeldt, 24-Elaine Troehler
Birthday and Anniversary cards are a great way we can continue to reach out to one another during this time. 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.

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Prayer Requests

Dirk Hollebeek (Ruth VandenBosch's godson); Larry Gegsbeek (friend of Mark Reiman); the family of John and Sue Fleming on the passing of John's brother, Gary; Freddy; Nancy Chancellor (Beverly Hawkes' daughter); Daniel Ver Meulen (Susan Fleming's son); the family of Mary Geraci (Stan Greene's friends); Barb Lucier; Vivian Libby (Sheryll Van Portfleet's Mom); Rachael Overweg; Patricia Rempel (Ed Korson's sister-in-law); Anna Lisa Cox (Friend of Jack and Julie Ridl and Social Justice Team); Grant Oliver (Kirt Oliver's son); Jim Hopkins; Alan Weathers; Hannah Sherman; Gary Plantinga (Nancy Plantinga's brother); Roye McDonald; Jodi Berault; Sarah Hurley and Fred Eagle Royce; Mary Harris; Patricia Carr and her husband Riley (Debra Carr's family); Barbara Klatt (Barb Lucier's friend); Myron Freund; Terry Stough (Catz Dienes' son); Ted Sommer; Phyllis Wallis (Kathy Austin's mother); Drew Carter; Jeff Cooley (Jo Cooley's brother); Marcia Sullivan (Jo Cooley's friend); Len Lynch (Kathleen Mueller's brother); Curtis Coffin (Marty Coffin's brother). 

Midwest residents and farmers who have suffered widespread destruction of crops and homes from the August 10 derecho storm. All of our Covid-19 pandemic first responders, and for the researchers and scientists working on effective tests and treatments for Covid-19. Prayers for all in the military and their families; all who are homeless or addicted or abused or neglected or rejected or hungry; The UCC; the Grand West Association; our Church Council; our Stephen Ministers; our church committees; our communities, our schools, our nation and our planet.

To add or remove a name from the Prayer List, please email us.

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Reports & Minutes

approved_church_council_minutes_august_2020.pdf
File Size:	68 kb
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pastors_report_september_2020.pdf
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Financial Stewardship

September 13
Viewers for September 13 Online Service and Saint of 9/11 video: 1,006
Weekly Online Giving: $2,798.71
Collection Plate (by mail): $1,180.00
Total: $3,978.71

Thank you!! 
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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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Or you may send checks by mail to:
Douglas Congregational United Church of Christ
56 Wall Street, PO Box 519
Douglas, MI 49406

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