Douglas Congregational United Church of Christ • Douglas UCC
  • 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

Weekly E-Pistle: 17th Sunday after Pentecost

9/17/2021

 
Picture

  • This Sunday's Service Notes -- "Sky Sunday: Season of Creation"
  • Last Week's Service Video -- "Season of Creation Begins"
  • Allegan County Covid-19 Transmission Rate is "High," Masks Requested in Service
  • Services are LIVE on YouTube!
  • Remembering Walt Lawrence
  • Follow Chris Clark on his Camino Pilgrimage
  • 2021 Michigan Conference: Registration is open!
  • CJT Beach Clean-up, September 18, 9 am
  • Arbor Circle "Final Taste of Summer," September 21, 6 pm
  • The Last Red Dock Poetry Reading, September 22, 6pm
  • Jim Shewell Memorial Service, September 28
  • Blessing of the Animals, Beery Field, October 3
  • Fall Cleanup Day, October 16, 9am-Noon
  • KUDOS to Douglas Social helpers!
  • Thank You for Crop Walk Donations!
  • Birthdays & Anniversaries, Prayer Requests, and Financial Stewardship​

This Sunday's Service: "Sky Sunday" 

Picture
The theme of our worship for the month of September is "Season of Creation." This Sunday, we will be focusing on the "Sky."  Psalm 19 says: "How clearly the Sky reveals the glory of God." 

The Presence of God is revealed in the sky, the clouds, atmosphere, the cosmos, the universe. Join as this Sunday at 10 AM, as we explore the "Cosmic Christ" together. Message: Pastor Sal. Music: Peter Black and Pamela Chappell.

Join us this Sunday in-person or NOW STREAMING LIVE at 10 AM on our YouTube channel.
Click HERE for a copy of Sunday's bulletin. 


​Last Week's Service Video -- "Season of Creation Begins" 

The theme of our worship for the month of September is "Season of Creation." Last Sunday, we focused on "Planet Earth."  God created this Eden for us to enjoy, yet we have not been good stewards of this gift. Please enjoy last Sunday's livestream service, when we celebrated Gaia, Mother Earth. Message: Pastor Sal. Poetry: Jack Ridl. Music: Peter Black, Jeff Spangler, and Mary Fechtig.
Click here to read, listen to, watch, and share Pastor Sal's homily.

​Allegan County Covid-19 Transmission Rate is "High," Masks Requested in Service 

Picture
Mask Recommendation for Sunday Services
Because our area transmission rate has increased to "High," the Church Council requests that we wear masks at the Sunday Service. Greeters will have masks available for anyone who needs them. You can follow our Covid transmission and infection rate at this link. CDC infection and transmission rates by county. 

​Services are LIVE on YouTube! 

Picture
With much thanks to the Church Council, Chris Clark, and Mike White, we are now livestreaming our church services. Tune in to our YouTube channel at 10am on Sunday mornings to enjoy our services from anywhere you happen to be! 
https://www.youtube.com/douglasucc

Remembering Walt Lawrence

Picture
We announced in last week's service that our dear church member, Walt Lawrence, passed away last week. We will hold a celebration of Walt's generous and loving life at a future date, and meanwhile hold his memory in our hearts and pray for his partner, Stephen Lewis.

​Follow Chris Clark on his Camino Pilgrimage 

Picture
On Sunday we offered a blessing to church member Chris Clark, along with his friend, who have headed to Spain to walk the Way of St. James, also known as The Camino, a 500-mile pilgrimage from the French border to Santiago de Compostela. If you’d like, you can follow their pilgrimage online at “Polarsteps.”  First, you’ll need to sign up with an email or Facebook account at https://www.polarsteps.com/sign_up  Then, after September 15, you’ll be able to see what they're up to at https://www.polarsteps.com/GChrisClark

​2021 Michigan Conference: Registration is open! 

Picture
 ​The 2021 Michigan Conference UCC Virtual Annual Meeting is approaching quickly - the date is Saturday, October 16th via Zoom - and all church members are welcome to attend. All materials, reports and Annual Meeting Handbook will be available on the Conference website prior to the meeting. To register for the Annual Meeting, folow this link (please register before October 16):
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcvfu6urDopGNShGB8EcNR3efdGtqaOSutn

​After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about how to join the meeting. Please plan to join the Zoom at 9:15 a.m. to ensure your audio and video equipment are working properly.

CJT Beach Clean-up, September 18, 9 am 

Picture
Please join the Creation Justice Team, working in partnership with the Alliance of the Great Lakes, on Saturday, September 18, at 9am, for the Beach Clean-Up of Oval Beach to Douglas Beach. Spread the word! Bring family and friends! We'll gather at Oval Beach's parking lot, working until 12pm. If you can help, please sign up via our Facebook Event, or email event coordinator Eric LeJeune, including your phone number, so we can reach out in case of rescheduling. We recommend wearing gloves. Consider bringing a large plastic bucket, and a kitty litter scoop to help pick up small plastic pieces. 

Arbor Circle "Final Taste of Summer," September 21, 6 pm 

Picture
celebrate with us
After so much distancing, we are excited to come together once again! Please join us for an exclusive evening of fellowship with other Arbor Circle supporters and friends, featuring a cooking demonstration and wine-pairing by Mindy Trafman, co-owner, chef, and sommelier of Coast 236, and the opportunity to make a long-term impact on the health and wellness of your community through Arbor Circle's Endowment Fund.

rsvp
$100 per guest, includes cooking class, wine-pairing, and small bites
Please register by September 14 using the button below.

questions
Email our Director of Development, Taylor Greenfield, at tgreenfield@arborcircle.org with questions.
Register here

The Last Red Dock Poetry Reading

Picture
The wonderful annual poetry series at the Red Dock draws to a close on September 22 at 6pm. Much thanks to Isabel's Market & Eatery, who will host the event oudoors. Church member Jack Ridl and Red Dock owner Tony Amato invite Kathleen McGookey to the stage, who will read with Jack. The event is free and open to the public. For details, visit Jack's blog here: 
https://ridl.wordpress.com/2021/09/13/the-last-red-dock-poetry-reading/

Jim Shewell Memorial Service, September 28 

Picture
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, September 28, at 1:30 PM for church member, Jim Shewell, who passed away earlier this year. The service will be held at St. Joseph Cemetery in Lansing, Michigan. Pastor Sal will officiate the service. Afterwards, there will be a luncheon in a nearby park. Please contact Jim's husband, Leith Letcher, if you plan to attend. His contact information is in our Church Directory.

Blessing of the Animals, Beery Field, October 3 

Picture
On October 3, 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. 

​Fall Cleanup Day, October 16, 9am-Noon 

Picture
Photo by Susan Jones on Unsplash
Please join us on Saturday, October 16, from 9 AM till Noon for our "Fall Clean-Up Day." We will be cleaning up the church grounds. Bring garden tools, if you have them. Thank you!!

​KUDOS to Douglas Social helpers! 

Thanks to all who came out to last week's Douglas Social! We had a wonderful time, raising nearly $600 for the church. Special KUDOS to all who helped with the food booth and setup: Gregg Smith; Doug Wierenga; Greg Harvath; Mark Reiman; Peter & Kathleen Mueller; Betsy York; Joyce & Kelly Wright; Ed Korson; Annie Hotwagner & Marty Coffin

​Thank You for Crop Walk Donations! 

Thanks so much to this year's CROP Walk team and all who donated to help feed the hungry locally and around the world! Our team raised "$8,885," which has surpassed last year's total. Our little church's team, led by Chris Clark, including Mike VerMerris, Dan Mack, Joyce Wright, Mark Reiman, and Jack and Julie Ridl,  was ranked #12 nationally in fundraising!!  And our church member Jack Ridl was ranked #16 nationally for individual fundraising! We are all so grateful for this effort!

Birthdays & Anniversaries 

September-19, Duce Sims, 20- Randall Braaksma, 21- Anita Halcyon, Barbara Lucier,
​22- Laurie VanDenBeldt, 24- Elaine Troehler
​

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 

Picture
Helaine Miedema (David Miedema's mother); Brenda Marcy; Ron Turks (Carol Cunningham's son-in-law); Elizabeth Estes; Sidney Matheis; Pete Wehle; Jeff Chinski and Family; David Abbot; Pat Denner; Sarah Johnson Lock; Linda Masten (Mark Reiman's friend); 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 Hamlin'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​

In-Person Attendance, September 12: 83
​Viewers for September 12 Online Service Videos and Crop Walk Videos: 1,459


Online Donations:  
Collection Plate:  $1,145
Douglas Social Donations: $582.00
Online Giving = $3,199.97
​
​Total:  $4,926.97
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

    Receive the Weekly E-Pistle

    We use MailChimp.

    Previous
    ​E-Pistles

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019


    RSS Feed

Facebook
YouTube
Twitter
Instagram

About ​DUCC

About the Douglas UCC
Staff
Our Stories
Garden
​Retreat House

Sunday Messages ​​& Music

Connect ​& Serve

Calendar ​& E-Pistle

Events Calendar
Events Calendar (mobile view)
​E-Pistle

GIVING

Contact ​US


56 Wall Street • Douglas, Michigan 49406

© 2023. 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