Weekly E-Pistle: 21st Sunday after Pentecost

10/15/2021

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

This Sunday's Service Notes -- 21st Sunday after Pentecost: "Called to Serve"
Last Week's Service Video -- 20th Sunday after Pentecost: "All Things are Possible"
Allegan County Covid-19 Transmission Rate is "High," Masks Requested in Service
Special Collection: UCC's "Neighbors in Need" Fund
A Special Visit from Rev. Ruth McCarty and Friends
Let's Celebrate Christian Neighbors' 40th Anniversary, October 18
Join in online for "Freed for Life," Fundraiser for 70 x 7 ministry, October 28
Community Book Read, "The End of Night" by Paul Bogard, November 2
Save the Date: Brother Al Mascia's Concert, Saturday, November 13 at 7 PM
Exploring Support for Afghan Refugees -- Want to Know More?
Fall Cleanup Day, October 16, 9 am-Noon
Birthdays & Anniversaries, Prayer Requests, and Financial Stewardship

This Sunday's Service: "Called to Serve"

In the gospel reading from Sunday's lectionary, Jesus tells the disciples that anyone who seeks to be great must become a servant for others. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said something similar: "Everyone can be great because anyone can serve." Join us this Sunday at 10 AM (eiter in-person or live online) as we explore the ways we can serve one another, especially the least of these in our midst. Message: Pastor Sal. Music: Peter Black and Stan Greene.

Join us this Sunday in-person or STREAMING LIVE at 10 AM on our YouTube channel.
>>>>> Click HERE to download a copy of SUNDAY'S BULLETIN.

Last Sunday's Service: "All Things are Possible!"

In last Sunday's Gospel lesson, a rich, young man asks Jesus what it takes to attain eternal life. Jesus tells him to rid himself of his possessions. The rich man feels like this is impossible, but Jesus reminds him that nothing is impossible with God. What are the things in your life that are "possessing" you? Do you feel like it's impossible to rid yourself of them? Please enjoy last Sunday's service, when we discovered what it truly means to live a rich, full life.
Message: Pastor Sal. Music: Peter Black and Jeff Spangler.
Click here to read, listen to, watch, and share Pastor Sal's Homily.

Special Collection: UCC's "Neighbors in Need"

This Sunday, we will be taking a special collection for the UCC's "Neighbors in Need" fund, which supports our church's wider mission. Please use the special "red sticker" envelopes in the pews this Sunday or donate online. To learn more, please visit www.ucc.org/nin. Thank you for your generous giving.

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

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 Allegan County's Covid transmission and infection rate at this link:
CDC infection and transmission rates by county.

A Special Visit from Rev. Ruth McCarty & Friends

Last Friday, Rev. Ruth McCarty (first woman pastor of Douglas UCC: 1982-1986) led a group of senior residents from Covenant Living in Grand Rapids to tour our church campus and to hear a presentation from Pastor Sal. Afterwards, lunch was enjoyed at Isabel's Market in Douglas, where owner and church member, Elizabeth Estes, talked with the group about Isabel Graham’s legacy to our church and community.

Let's Celebrate Christian Neighbors' 40th Anniversary, October 18

Christian Neighbors' rich, 40-year history and the generous support from our community members will be honored in an open house from 10am to 1pm on October 16 at their location at the Community Church of Douglas. Please join Pastor Sal and other area faith leaders on Saturday as Christian Neighbors celebrates 40 years of feeding, clothing, and caring for neighbors in need. We hope you can join us!

Join in online for "Freed for Life," Fundraiser
for 70 x 7 ministry, October 28, 6:30pm

Join 70x7 Life Recovery on October 28 at 6:30 PM for our Virtual Fall Fundraiser: Freed to Grow.
Watch from the comfort of your own home. At 70×7 Life Recovery, we get to experience growth every day, and we can't wait to share participant stories and program updates with you! Visit 70x7liferecovery.org/fall-fundraiser for event details!

Community Book Read, "The End of Night" by Paul Bogard, November 2

Did you know that the over-lighting of our night skies is not only a problem of wasted energy and money, but is damaging to our health and well-being, and that of all the creatures who share our planet home?

Did you know that generations are growing up without ever seeing the night skies many of us remember from our childhood?

What if we could fix this?

What if our towns were known not only for our coastline and nature trails and shops and restaurants, but also for our night skies?

The DUCC Creation Justice Team invites you to read and discuss the gorgeously written and critically acclaimed The End of Night by Paul Bogard. The book is available in print and electronic form from the Saugatuck-Douglas District Library, the Fennville Library, and is available as an audiobook, narrated by the author. A few copies are available to check out from the Friendship Hall. It is also available from your favorite booksellers.

On November 2, at 6:30 pm, we will gather at the Friendship Hall to discuss the book and explore local and national efforts to reduce light pollution in our skies. This event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited, so please sign up in the Friendship Hall, or online at the link below to help us with our planning.

Following CDC recommendations, facemasks are requested for all participants while indoors, regardless of vaccination status.

Save the Date: Brother Al Mascia's Concert, Saturday, November 13 at 7 PM

"Save-the-Date" for Brother Al Mascia's concert on Saturday, November 13 at 7 PM at Douglas UCC. Brother Al was the pastor of Douglas UCC from 1996 to 2001. It will be great to welcome him back. You can learn more about Brother Al and his ministry at his website: www.BrotherAl.org.

Our Social Justice Team is Exploring Support for Afghan Refugees -- Want to Know More?

The Social Justice Team had a great turnout in person and on Zoom Thursday morning as we welcomed Katie Carpenter from Bethany Christian Services, who described all the ways congregations like ours can support refugee families located in our region. Our Social Justice Team is exploring support for locally placed Afghan refugee families. This discernment process identifies many levels and opportunities for support, through donations of talent, time, and treasure. Sign up in the Friendship Hall if you'd like to join in on these conversations, or email Bob Kenny, Social Justice Team Facilitator, to share your interest.

Fall Cleanup Day, October 16, 9 am-Noon

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!!

Birthdays & Anniversaries

October 17- Pete Wehle, 18- Demetrhea Terrien & Betsy York, 20- Jen Chada,
21- Lin Anderson & Elaine Troehler, 22- Barb Schipper

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

Deb & Al Atkinson; Helaine Miedema (David Miedema's mother); Brenda Marcy; Ron Turks (Carol Cunningham's son-in-law); Elizabeth Estes; Sidney Matheis; Pete Wehle; David Abbot; Sarah Johnson Lock; Linda Masten (Mark Reiman's friend); Vicki Latham (Ruth VandenBosch's cousin); Sarah Ver Meulen (Susan Fleming's Daughter); Cole Hartman; 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, October 10: 81
Viewers for October 10 Online Service Videos: 519

Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $975.00
Online Giving: $2,559.65

Total: $3,534.65
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.