In This Week's E-Pistle, You Will Find:
This Sunday's Service: "Holy Welcome"
In the gospel reading from this Sunday's lectionary, Jesus says, "Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me." In the UCC, we say we are the church of "Extravagant Welcome," but extending a holy welcome to all can be challenging, especially during the divisive times in which we are living.
Please join us this Sunday at 10 AM (either in person or streaming live online), as we explore what it means to truly extend a "Holy Welcome" to all people. Message: Rev. K'Lynne McKinley. Music: Peter Black and Bob Kruse Download This Sunday's Online Bulletin:
UCC General Synod: June 29 to July 4
Pastor Sal is currently attending the UCC General Synod in Indianapolis, where he has been elected to serve as a Conference delegate. The Synod is the national gathering of all the UCC churches. Please keep him and all of the delegates in your prayers this week, as they vote on several important resolutions and elect a new UCC President and General Minister. To learn more: www.GeneralSynod.org
Welcome, Rev. K'Lynne McKinley!
Pastor Sal is currently attending the UCC National Synod in Indianapolis, so this Sunday we welcome Rev. K'Lynne McKinley who will be leading worship for us. K’Lynne is an ordained minister with the United Church of Christ and holds a Doctor of Ministry from Portland Seminary. She is a Certified Educator through the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education and has been the CPE Program Manager at Trinity Health Ann Arbor Hospital since June of 2017. K’Lynne is married to Sarah and together they have three children (Noah, Lyrik and Salem), two frenchie-pugs (Clarke and Charley), and a five-month-old foster baby (Santino). As a family, the McKinleys love to travel and try new things.
Last Week's Service
Every year on the last Sunday in June, United Church of Christ congregations around the country celebrate "Open & Affirming" Sunday.
More than 30 years ago, Douglas UCC was among the very first churches in the entire United States to become recognized as an "Open & Affirming" church, meaning that we are a congregation that welcomes and celebrates the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in our church's life and ministry. Please enjoy last Sunday's service, when we celebrated the special spiritual gifts with which the LGBTQ+ community blesses our church family, our Saugatuck/Douglas community, and our world. Message: Pastor Sal Sapienza. Music: Peter Black and Jeff Spangler Meet Our 16 New Members!
It was such a thrill to welcome 16 new members to our DUCC family this past Sunday! And here they are, pictured left to right: Jim DeVries, Rev. Linda Knieriemen, Lauri Donaldson, Renee Zita, John McDonald and Bruce Belich, Anne Dooley, Lisa and Wayne Titus, Rev. Colette DeNooyer, Jan DeVries, Bob DeNooyer, Nancy and Scott DeWitt. Not pictured: Scott Bryers, and Todd Smith
DUCC Annual Membership Meeting Highlights
Thanks to all who attended our annual meeting this past Sunday, and special thanks to our presenters: Peter Mueller, Mike Mok, Stacy Honson, Julie Ridl, Kathleen Mueller, Beth Stallinga, Marchiene Rienstra, and Beverly Hawkes. We honored retiring church council members, Moderator Peter Mueller, Recording Secretary Beverley Hawkes, and member-at-large David Geen, and welcomed new Council Moderator Mark Johnston, Recording Secretary Michael VerMerris, and member-at-large Mike Mok.
Retreat House's New Meditation Space
KUDOS to the team that has renovated Pastor Sal's old office into a new meditation space in the Retreat House: Marchiene Rienstra, Gemina Petruzzelli, Kathleen Mueller, Dick Bont, and Kelly Wright! And KUDOS to the Retreat House's visioning, marketing, and management team, guiding the future of this contemplative ministry Gemina Petruzzelli, Marchiene Rienstra, Beth Stallinga, Colette DeNooyer, Barbara Flynn, Kathleen Klage, and Kathleen Mueller.
Coming Up in Campus Stewardship...
“This Little Church That’s Been Entrusted to Our Care”
As outlined at our Annual Meeting, there are many areas of our church campus in need of important repair and updating. Here's our wish list: 88 Spring Street
Sanctuary and Friendship Hall
We hope to fund these projects through targeted gifts totalling $79, 725 to complete them all. You can keep watch on our funding goal at the funding poster soon to be placed in the Friendship Hall, and posts here. Meanwhile, consider if you can support these needed improvements. You can donate online at the button below, or post a check with “DUCC Campus Stewardship” in the memo line to: Douglas UCC, PO Box 519, Douglas, MI 49406. Memorial for Sidney Matheis, July 9, 11:30am
On Sunday, July 9, at 11:30 a.m., we will honor the life and legacy of our church member and friend Sidney Matheis. All church members are invited to join in this service, and after, as we spread the ashes in our Memorial Garden.
Fox17 News story featuring Larry Gammons
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