Weekly E-pistle: 2nd Sunday of Easter

4/10/2023

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

This Sunday's Service — Second Sunday of Easter: "The Benefits of Doubt"
Last Sunday's Service — Easter Sunday: "Resurrection Day"
Remembering Maundy Thursday
Thanks so much to our Art Guild!
Easter Lily Remembrances
Supporting Team Donovan!
Citizen Science -- Participate in Light Pollution Research with the Creation Justice Team
Potluck Survey, Deadline April 15: We'd Love to Hear from YOU!
Wishbone Pet Rescue Alliance Fundraiser, June 3
Birthdays & Anniversaries, Prayer Requests, and Financial Stewardship

This Sunday's Service: "The Benefits of Doubt"

In this Sunday's Gospel reading for the 2nd Sunday of Easter, we hear the "Doubting Thomas" story. The apostle, Thomas, doesn't believe that Jesus has risen from the dead.

When it comes to our faith, we've been led to believe that doubting is an obstacle, when, in fact, the obstacle is certainty. The contemporary Christian writer, Anne Lamott, says: "The opposite of faith is not doubt. It is certainty."

Join us this Sunday at 10 AM (either in-person or streaming live online), as we explore together "The Benefits of Doubt." Message: Pastor Sal. Music: Peter Black and Jeff Spangler.

Download This Sunday's Online Bulletin:

order_of_service_april_16_2023.pdf
File Size:	2322 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Last Sunday's Service — Easter Sunday: "Resurrection Day"

RISE & SHINE! On Easter morning, we rejoiced and rose up, for the Christ Light shows us the way to new life! Whatever challenges we have faced or are facing, we can always transform them in the spirit and message of Easter. The Light of Christ invites us to rise up and walk in the newness of life. This resurrecting power restores and uplifts us. Please enjoy our Easter service, when we joined together in a celebration of resurrection and transformation! Message: Pastor Sal Sapienza. Music: Peter Black, Jeff Spangler, and Lauri Donaldson

Here's the Homily

Photos: Maundy Thursday Supper & Service

Thank you to all who attended our Maundy Thursday supper and service. We are grateful to Jim Bailey for facilitating the evening; to Noelene Wilson and Gregg Smith for assisting in the kitchen; to Peter Black, Jeff Spangler, and Jim Bailey for the music; to Kelly and Joyce Wright for serving as altar drapers; at to ‘apostles’ Pete Poma; Jim and Jan DeVries; Beth Stallinga; Tom Fahlstrom; and Wendy Hamlin.

Thank You, Art Guild!

Thank you to our church's talented Art Guild for the beautiful Easter installation in the church. We are grateful to Jim Bailey, Gemina Petruzzelli, Floyd Fleming, Peter Black, Jodi Berault and Chris Maitner for their time and talents.

Easter Lily Remembrances

Our beautiful Easter installation included a wall of Easter Lilies,
donated by our members and friends,
In Memory of:
Menno & Edythe Bont; John & Anne Honson; Rev. Laird Stuart;
Sharon Rau; Gail Rau Marinari; Stanley & Maureen Rau; John Davis;
Sabrina Tuleja; Sterling Snow; Chris Wagner; Terry Lee Haaksma;
Wilma Haaksma-Silvis; Viola Schuldt; Rick Hamlin; Joan Hamlin;
Mr.& Mrs. Peter Wehle, Sr.; Mr.& Mrs. Louis Chappell; Nicole & John Bell;
Bud & Jane Charvat; Fr. Jake Foglio; Dee Dooley; Dr. Michael Condron;
Bob Roberts; Susan Hayes Kelly; Florence Raywood; Don McKay;
Fred & Miriam Rutz; John Leo Irish; Bruce & Vivian Garlinghouse;
Buzz & Betty Ridl; Mary Apple Minnema; Helen Irene Nesbitt; Paul Murphy;
Richard Graham; Jim Shewell; David Arthur Peders; Frank & Pat Norman;
Stanlee & Claudia Greene; Sidney Matheis; Louise Gilmer; Dianne Soper;
Luke Johnston; Steve Johnston; Gary Johnston; Sherry Johnston;
Diane Lund; Vera & Ann Fahlstrom; Dick and Jane Briggs; Balei Chinski;
Dody & Everett Lynch; Barbara & Bill Mueller; Larry Lemanski; Phillip Gilmer;
Lois & Russell Volkema; Robert & Anita DeNooyer; Kyle Shay McCammon; Luke Burnett; Bob Orlikowski; Anne & Shirley; Jeff & Mary Fleming.
Frank & Anna Muellner; Carol Briggs; Rev. Richard & Billie VandenBosch;
Ron & Nadine Sicard.
And In Honor of:
Kern/Konarski Family & Friends; Tim Schwartz & Larry Labine;
In honor of finding Douglas UCC

Will You Support Team Donovan?

We are Team Donovan, and we're walking toward a world free of MS!

Everyone has the power to change the world for people with MS. We are coming together with thousands of people across the country at Walk MS — a charity walk for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society — to ensure that no one faces MS alone.

We would love your generous support as we prepare for our walk.

Thank You,
Sarah Donovan, Wendy Hamlin and Mike VerMerris

Support Team Donovan Here

Citizen Science -- Participate in Light Pollution Research with the Creation Justice Team

The Creation Justice Team is asking you to take your smartphone outside after dark during the week of April 16 and tell scientists about the brightness of your night sky. It's easy; everything you need to know is under "Globe at Night" at https://ducc-cjt.com/dark-sky/. After submitting your observation online, if you also report the "magnitude number" to Chris Clark (clark.96@nd.edu), then he can provide us a summary the following week. Chris will be at the coffee hour on Sunday, April 16 to answer your questions. The Globe at Night project has already gathered more than 200,000 measurements from people all over the world!

Potluck Survey, Deadline April 15:
We'd Love to Hear from YOU!

Photo by Stefan Vladimirov on Unsplash

Are you ready? Your Church Council is considering a request to restart the monthly Potluck lunches we held on the second Sunday of each month before the Covid pandemic. Please help our Church Council out by taking this very short survey and sharing your thoughts with us. The deadline for completing the survey is April 15 (a memorable deadline). Click the button below to take you to the survey now. Thanks for helping out by participating!

Take the Survey Now

Wishbone Pet Rescue Alliance Fundraiser,
June 3

4 Paws Lakeshore has combined it's efforts with Wishbone Organization, so the 4 Paws Lakeshore name has been dissolved and folded into Wishbone organization.

Wishbone Pet Rescue Alliance presents it's annual fundraiser!

There's No Place Like a Home
Saturday, June 3, 2023
6:00pm - 10:00pm
2755 Blue Star Hwy
Fennville, MI 49408

Join us for an evening of fun with an outdoor venue, music, food, drinks, and wonderful adoptable pets.

Attire: Shelter Chic w/Red Shoes

At the event, you'll find the annual "Hearts of Love" donation program that helps Wishbone provide necessary professional medical care to the animals, as well as several other exciting new ways to help them continue to be the voice and caretaker of Allegan County's homeless animals.

To purchase tickets and/or be a sponsor in various areas of need, click the button below.

Tickets or Donations Here

Birthdays & Anniversaries

16– Jerry Coates

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

Elaine Overweg and Family; Edie Plantinga (Nancy's mother); Dee Baker; Carol Brown; Ernie Toth; Jim Dutcher; Dirk Hollebeek (Ruth VandenBosch's Godson); Peter Black and Family; Max Matteson; Marissa Overweg (Laurie VandenBeldt's granddaughter); Eric Cooley (Jo Cooley's brother); Anne Geraghty (Pat Denner's Sister-in-law); Nicole and John (Wendy Hamlin's daughter-in-law and son); Dan Pierce (Craig Drager's husband); Lisa Marth (The Marths' Sister-in-law); Vicki Latham (Ruth VandenBosch's cousin); Darren Dixon (Beverly Hawkes' nephew); Chris Stuart, (Virginia Stuart's sister-in-law)

Financial Stewardship

In-Person Attendance, April 9: 130
Total Views for April 9 Online Videos: 844

Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $5,683.83
Online Giving: $3,959.37

Total: $9,643.20

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.