In This Week's E-Pistle, You Will Find:
This Sunday's Service: "The Hope of Easter"
This Sunday, we celebrate the hope and joy of Easter. We rejoice and rise up, for the Christ Light shows us the way to new life. As we emerge from a time of darkness, the Light of Christ invites us to rise up and walk in the newness of life. This resurrecting power restores and uplifts us. Join us online this Easter Sunday for a joy-filled celebration of hope and new life.
Message: Pastor Sal. Music: Peter Black and Nancy Plantinga. Tune-in on Sunday at 10 AM via our Facebook page, YouTube channel, or here on our website. An Easter Message from our UCC President
Click the video above to watch a 3-minute Easter message from our UCC General Minister and President, Rev. Dr. John C. Dorhauer.
Last Sunday's Service
Last Sunday launched Holy Week, the most sacred time on the Christian Church calendar when we focused on two processions: one of cheers and palms (Jesus's procession into Jerusalem)... and one of jeers and pain (Jesus's procession to the cross), a reminder for us that both light and darkness are necessary for growth. Tune-in to last Sunday's "Video Worship Service," for this very powerful Holy Week service. Message: Pastor Sal. Music: Peter Black and Stan Greene.
Click here to read, listen to, watch, and share Pastor Sal's homily. Maundy Thursday: Online Service
Click above to watch our Holy Week "Tenebrae" service for Maundy Thursday. During this service, we darken the altar and read aloud the seven last words of Jesus.
Gift from Virginia Stewart
Our friend Virginia Stuart gifted us with this wonderful piece in honor of her late husband, Rev. Laird Stuart. The painting is entitled "Jesus Taken from the Cross," by Sadao Watanabe. Watanabe was a Japanese printmaker, famous for his biblical prints rendered in the mingei (folk art) tradition of Japan. The subject matter of Watanabe's prints is exclusively the Gospel, and was influenced by Buddhist figure prints, placing biblical subjects in a Japanese context. The Vatican Museum, the British Museum, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo and many other leading museums in the world have exhibited Watanabe's works. However, Watanabe once remarked that he preferred that his prints hang in the ordinary places of life: "I would most like to see them hanging where people ordinarily gather, because Jesus brought the Gospel for the people," he said.
Highway Cleanup Update
Thanks to church member Greg Plowe, who contacted the Michigan Department of Transportation about cleaning up our stretch of the highway. They told us that, because of the construction planned for the highway this summer, we may not pick up trash this year. They are rebuilding the highway from 130th Avenue on the South End to M40 on the North end, and our stretch falls in the middle. That will mean plenty of work ahead for next year! And a much nicer highway for many years to come. Onward!
Tri-Community Recycling Committee
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New Online Giving Page!
Our online giving pages have now become easier to use, with a new page outlining all the ways we can give to the church, and a new online giving page that makes special collections easier to contribute to. Here is a video showing how it works.
Importantly, if you already make gifts using our online donation site, you don't need to do a thing! Your userid and password and giving history all still work with this new page. And we were able to implement it with no charge to the church. Win! Win! Win!
Importantly, if you already make gifts using our online donation site, you don't need to do a thing! Your userid and password and giving history all still work with this new page. And we were able to implement it with no charge to the church. Win! Win! Win!
Friendship Hall News
Garnet Lewis joined us to ask for volunteers for the Household Hazardous Waste Event (see above). Pastor Sal asked for prayers for Dale Lower, who is battling a neurological autoimmune disease, and receiving tests and treatments soon. Greg Plowe gave an update on his conversations with MDOT regarding our stretch of highway (see above). Max Brown and Doug Sipsma recommend the movie "The Sound of Metal," available from Amazon Prime, the story of a heavy metal drummer who loses his hearing but finds peace in the stillness. Dennis Konarski and Jim Kern are making their way home, stopping for the sights! Jeff Spangler gave us an update on his sister Jakki's recovery after her awful accident. April is National Poetry month, and Jack Ridl is busy with it! Click here to see where he'll be. And we all celebrated Ann Hopkins milestone birthday!
Birthdays & Anniversaries
April 4- Bill Klat & Jim McHugh, 8- Jim McHugh, Dan Dow, 10- Jack Ridl
Birthday and Anniversary cards are a great way we can continue to reach out to one another during this time. 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.
Birthday and Anniversary cards are a great way we can continue to reach out to one another during this time. 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
Eleanor Connell (Shannon Connell's mother), Matt Brazys, Suzanne Cook, and Ken Cassbon (friends of Pete Wehle and Pamela Chappell); Jakki Fox (Jeff Spangler's sister); Ronald Konarski; Julia DeMario (Chris Clark's niece); Richie Czarnowski (Mark Reiman's friend); Leith Letcher and his family; Dale Lower; Sherri Kanten (Ruth VandenBosch's friend); Diane Carr (Debra Carr's sister); Michael (a friend of Dan Mack's); Mike Boston and Kathy Austin; Myron (Wendy Hamlin's grandson, Fred Hamilin's great-grandson); Chris Stuart (Virginia Stuart's sister-in-law); Kurt McDonald (John McDonald's son); Matt Brazys (Friend of Pete Wehle's); Darren Dixon (Beverly and Orie Hawkes' nephew); Mary Elizabeth Loudin (friend of Laurie VandenBeldt); Richard Graham; Char Clausing (Nancy Plantinga's cousin); Chris Robinson (Peter and Kathleen Mueller's nephew); Gregg Kirchen (Sheryll and Greg VanPortfleet's friend); Daniel Ver Meulen (Susan Fleming's son); Marcia Sullivan (Jo Cooley's friend); Len Lynch (Kathleen Mueller's brother); Curtis Coffin (Marty Coffin's brother).
Financial Stewardship
March 28, 2021
Viewers for March 28 Online Service Videos: 864
Online Donations: $3,095.28
Collection Plate (Mail in): $3,125.00
DUCC Special Donations (OGHS): $396.89
Memorials: $100.00
Retreat House Use: $225.00
Facebook donation, February: $1,000
(including $265 raised by Carol Watson Ortman
for her Facebook birthday fundraiser! Thank you, Carol!)
Total: $7,942.17
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.
Viewers for March 28 Online Service Videos: 864
Online Donations: $3,095.28
Collection Plate (Mail in): $3,125.00
DUCC Special Donations (OGHS): $396.89
Memorials: $100.00
Retreat House Use: $225.00
Facebook donation, February: $1,000
(including $265 raised by Carol Watson Ortman
for her Facebook birthday fundraiser! Thank you, Carol!)
Total: $7,942.17
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.
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