Weekly E-Pistle: 22nd Sunday after Pentecost

10/22/2021

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

This Sunday's Service Notes -- 22nd Sunday after Pentecost: "Seeing with New Eyes "
Last Week's Service Video -- 21st Sunday after Pentecost: "Called to Serve"
Allegan County Covid-19 Transmission Rate is "High," Masks Requested in Service
"Huts for the Homeless" - Rev. Willie Watt: Sunday, October 24 at 11:30 AM
Special Collection: UCC's "Neighbors in Need" Fund
Kudos for Fall Cleanup Crew!
Tri-Community Recycling Committee's Reusable Bags for Sale
Jack Ridl Interviews U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo for Holland's Big Read, October 25, 10am
Join in online for "Freed for Life," Fundraiser for 70 x 7 ministry, October 28
Flour Collection for Christian Neighbors beginning November 7
Community Book Read, "The End of Night" by Paul Bogard, November 2
Brother Al Mascia's Concert, Saturday, November 13 at 7 PM
Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil, November 20, 7pm
Exploring Support for Afghan Refugees -- Want to Know More?
Reports & Minutes
Birthdays & Anniversaries, Prayer Requests, and Financial Stewardship

This Sunday's Service: "Seeing with New Eyes"

In Sunday's gospel reading, a blind man is able to see through the power of belief. Jesus tells him, "Your faith has made you well."

Join us this Sunday morning at 10 AM (either in-person or online) as we take a "Vision Quest" to discover the ways in which we are spiritually blind and learn how to "see more clearly" with new eyes of the Spirit. Message: Pastor Sal. Music: Peter Black and Jeff Spangler

Join us this Sunday in-person or STREAMING LIVE at 10 AM on our YouTube channel.

Here is this Sunday's Online Bulletin:

order_of_service_october_24_2021.pdf
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Last Sunday's Service

In the gospel reading from last 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." Please enjoy last Sunday's service, when we explored the ways we can serve one another, especially the least of these in our midst. Message: Pastor Sal. Music: Peter Black and Stan Greene.
Click here to read, listen to, watch, and share Pastor Sal's homily.

"Huts for the Homeless" - Rev. Willie Watt
Sunday, October 24 at 11:30 AM

This Sunday, October 24, at 11:30 AM, Rev. Willie Watt from Lifeline Ministries will be leading a presentation in our Friendship Hall about his "Huts for the Homeless" project. All are welcome to attend. Watch the short video above for an introduction.

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.

Special Collection: UCC's "Neighbors in Need" Fund

Thank you so much to all you gave to our Neighbors in Need collection last week. We collected $230 the fund, which our church will match for a total of $460 to the National UCC. Thanks for all who supported this important mission!

Kudos for Fall Cleanup Crew!

Thank you so much to all the church members who came out last Saturday to help us clean up the campus for the winter! KUDOS to: Bob Kenny, Sue Scott & Larry Fuerst, Kathleen & Peter Mueller, Paul Burdick, Greg VanPortfleet, Doug Sipsma, Linda Rieske, Jack Ridl, and Pete Wehle!

Tri-Community Recycling Committee's Reusable Bags for Sale!

The Tri-Community Recycling Committee is excited to announce that the reusable bags are here!!! Get yours while supplies last. They will be sold outside Lake Vista (Demonds) and at the BP station this Saturday. Check out the article in the Commercial Record for all the details. All proceeds will go to funding the 2022 Household Hazardous Waste Day (HHW).

Jack Ridl Interviews U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo for Holland's Big Read, October 25, 10am

For this Year's Big Read Lakeshore, held at Hope College, the lakeshore community is reading Joy Harjo's An American Sunrise. Joy Harjo is a member of the Muskogee nation, a poet, musician, playwrite, and author, and is serving in her third term as the United States' Poet Laureate. There are many events surrounding the Big Read Lakeshore, among them a Q&A conducted by our church member Jack Ridl, a member of this year's Big Read Lakeshore Board. All are welcome to join this virtual event.

You can register for this and other Big Read events here.

Join in online for "Freed for Life," Fundraiser for 70 x 7 ministry, October 28

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!

Flour Collection for Christian Neighbors beginning November 7

It's time for our annual flour drive, to provide for the holiday food baskets prepared by Christian Neighbors and shared with our neighbors and friends in need this holiday season. If you'd like to participate, please drop your flour off at the Friendship Hall, either inside, on the flour table, or in the bin just inside the Friendship Hall door. We will be accepting flour contributions through Sunday, November 21.

Thank you for all of your generous giving and looking after our community members! And if you know a family that needs a food basket for Thanksgiving Dinner, please write to us at welcome@douglasucc.org.

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.

Brother Al Mascia's Concert,
Saturday, November 13 at 7 PM

Brother Al Mascia's will offer a 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.

Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil, November 20, 7pm

Douglas UCC is proud to serve, once again, as one of the sponsors of this year's Transgender Day of Remembrance vigil, which will take place at Centennial Park in Downtown Holland on Saturday, November 20, at 7 PM.

Exploring Support for Afghan Refugees -- Want to Know More?

The Social Justice Team is exploring all the ways congregations like ours can support refugee families located in our region. 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.

Reports & Minutes

Photo by Debbie Hudson on UnSplash

pastors_report_october_2021.pdf
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approved_church_council_minutes_september_2021.pdf
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Birthdays & Anniversaries

October 24- Julie Kirschbaum, Glynis & Kenneth Whitcomb,
25- Maryjo Lemanski, Robert Riddle, 26- Ken Hemminger

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

Sarah Donovan; Marjorie and Mark Reiman; and Greg and Sheryll VanPortfleet; 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 17: 66
Viewers for October 17 Online Service Videos: 636

Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $1,070
Online Giving: $2,341.62

Total: $3411.62

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.