In This Week's E-Pistle, You Will Find:
This Sunday's Service: "Spirit of the Cosmos"
We conclude September's "Season of Creation" series this Sunday by putting our focus on the Cosmos or Universe. Christian theologian, Thomas Berry, wrote, "We will recover our sense of the Sacred only if we appreciate the Universe."
Join us this Sunday at 10 AM (either in--person or streaming live online) as we explore the "Spirit of the Cosmos" together. Message: Pastor Sal. Music: Peter Black and Nancy Plantinga Download this week's online bulletin here: 
Last Week's Service Video
Last Sunday, we continued with September's theme of "Season of Creation" by welcoming special guest homilist, Dr. Debra Rienstra, author of Refugia Faith: Seeking Hidden Shelters, Ordinary Wonders, and the Healing of the Earth. She is a professor of English at Calvin University, where she has taught since 1996, specializing in early British literature and creative writing. Please enjoy last Sunday's service and an inspiring "Creation Season" message from Debra Rienstra, along with special music from Ron Rienstra and Peter Black.
Front Door Restoration Complete!
CROP Hunger Walk: A New Record!
Last Sunday's CROP Hunger Walk was a huge success! Our Douglas UCC walkers raised more than $10,000 (a new record!) to help the hungry in Allegan County and around the world! Of the hundreds of CROP Walk teams throughout the entire United States, our Douglas UCC team placed #14 on the Fundraising Leaderboard!! We are so very grateful to all our walkers (Mark Johnston & Jeremy Lund, Jack & Julie Ridl, Mike Mok, Robert Scanlon, Wendy Hamlin, Joyce Wright, Mike VerMerris, Linda Charvat, Chris Clark, Pete Wehle) and to all who sponsored them.
Beach Cleanup Photos: Thank You!
Last Saturday, our Douglas UCC Creation Justice Team led us in another successful Beach Cleanup of Oval Beach in Saugatuck. They collected over 50 pounds of trash (not counting the one car tire that was found)! We are grateful to all who participated (see photo captions above) and to Brad Hopkins and Kathleen Klage for their leadership.
In Memoriam: Rev. Keith Titus
Interfaith Action Video Series with Pastor Sal
For "Season of Creation" month, our very own Pastor Sal Sapienza was invited to give the keynote address forInterfaith Action's video series focusing on ‘The Protection and Preservation of our Common Home.’ You can watch by pressing the red "play" button above.
The Coffee Hour Comeback!
Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
With our Covid numbers dropping and vaccines rising, we will soon restart after-church Coffee Hour! KUDOS to our church member Joyce Wright, who has taken on the role of Coffee Hour Coordinator. If you'd like to offer coffee hour treats or assistance, please contact Joyce by email.
From the Creation Justice Team
Brad Hopkins reported that the beach cleanup was a huge success. The roadside cleanup is still on for Saturday, October 1; contact Eric LeJeune for details. The community read title and dates have changed; we will read The Hidden Life of Trees in late April or early May and Cindy Winkler will be the point person. We are also creating a collection of books related to creation justice, which people will be able to check out from the friendship hall.
Blessing of the Animals, Beery Field, October 2
Please join us on Sunday, October 2, at 2 PM for our 3rd Annual "Blessing of the Animals" officiated by Pastor Sal and Animal Chaplain, Ginny Mikita, from our church. We will meet at Beery Field in Downtown Douglas. This event is sponsored by Lakeshore Pet Boutique in Douglas. Coffee will be provided by Uncommon Coffee Roasters.
We Need You: Highway Cleanup, October 1
The Douglas UCC Creation Justice Team has scheduled our highway cleanup for 9 AM on October 1. We are looking for many hands to work together to make light work of cleaning up our three miles of highway. Sign up on the sheet in the Friendship Hall or by writing to [email protected]. Thank you for helping us keep our corner of the world clean!
On the Brink of Everything: Stephen Ministry Book Read, Thursdays in October
"Every day, I get closer to the brink of everything... When a serious illness or accident strikes, or someone dear to us dies — or we go to a class reunion and wonder who all those old people are — it becomes harder to ignore the drop-off that lies just over the edge of our lives."
-- Parker Palmer The Stephen Ministry team is hosting a book discussion of Parker Palmer's On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity, and Getting Old. Discussions will take place on Thursdays in October, beginning October 6 at 3pm in the Friendship Hall. If you'd like to join in, sign up via the church sign-up sheet, or drop a note to [email protected]. The book is available in e-book, audio book and hard cover formats through your favorite booksellers, including Amazon, right here. Soul Collage Session, October 8
Cultivating a Spiritual Path, October 12
Cultivating a Spiritual Path - On Wednesday October 12 from 6 to 7:30 PM in the Friendship
Hall, Dr. Shannon Connell will provide an interactive presentation aligning with the contemplative direction Pastor Sal encourages in the invitation to “Be Still and Know”. Golden tools will be explored to enhance a contemplative spiritual practice. Guidance will be provided with time for practice, questions, and contemplation. Sign-up sheet is in the Friendship Hall. Download Dr. Connell's flier below.
Styrofoam Collection, September 24
Minutes and Reports 
Birthdays & Anniversaries
September 28- Fred Hamlin, Bill Briggs & Jeff Chinski
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
Kenley Hoove (Stephen Lewis' friend); Dr. Paul Lewis (Stephen Lewis's brother); Michael Lynch; Jennifer Roe-Lazzaro; Mary Baxter (Marjorie Reiman's friend); Dianne Soper (Beverly Hawkes' sister); Elwood Cephus Stith (Mark Reiman's friend); Pete Wehle; Rev. Lou Grettenberger (friend of Ginny Mikita); Rachael Rienstra; Phil Sturdevant (Pete Wehle's friend); Darren Dixon (Beverly and Orie Hawkes' nephew); The Hotwagner Family; David Zylstra (Laurie VandenBeldt's friend); Elinor Hite (Virginia Stuart's sister); Judy Baxter (Kristine Sherman's Mother); Joann DeJonge; Richard and Joanna Weber's grandson Mattox (friends of the Ridls); Al Overweg; Beverly Willming (John Willming's mother); Jay North (friend of Dan Pierce); Hannah Sherman; Maureen Pierce; David Abbot; Sarah Johnson Lock; Vicki Latham (Ruth VandenBosch's cousin); Cole Hartman; Mike Sneedon (Peg and Jack Donohue's friend); Tim Reineck, Matt Brazys, Suzanne Cook, and Ken Cassbon (friends of Pete Wehle and Pamela Chappell); Richie Czarnowski (Mark Reiman's friend); Sherri Kanten (Ruth VandenBosch's friend); Chris Stuart (Virginia Stuart's sister-in-law); Mary Elizabeth Loudin (friend of Laurie VandenBeldt)
Financial Stewardship
In-Person Attendance, September 18 : 83
Total Views for September 18 Online Videos: 260 Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $1,162.00 Online Giving: $1,713.41 Total: $2,875.41 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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