Weekly E-Pistle: Easter Sunday

4/15/2022

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

This Sunday's Service Notes — Easter Sunday
Last Week's Service Video — Palm/Passion Sunday, "Two Processions"
Spirit Journey to Sedona, Arizona, Including a Day-trip to the Stunning Grand Canyon!
Lake Michigan Region Climate Change Forum with Tom Skilling, April 16, 2 PM
4 Paws Lakeshore Fundraiser to support Wishbone Pet Rescue, June 4
Let's Take Another Look at Poetry, April 18, 7 PM
We Need You: Highway Cleanup, April 23, 9 AM
CJT Movie Night: The City Dark, April 27, 6:30 PM
Donate to help Ukrainians
Save the Date, DUCC's 140th Anniversary Block Party, June 5
Birthdays & Anniversaries, Prayer Requests, and Financial Stewardship

This Sunday's Service: Easter Sunday

RISE & SHINE! This Easter morning, we rejoice and rise 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.

Be with us this Easter morning at 10 AM (either in-person or streaming live online) as we join together in a celebration of resurrection and transformation! Message: Pastor Sal Sapienza.
Music: Peter Black, Jeff Spangler, and Nancy Plantinga

Download This Sunday's Online Bulletin:

order_of_service_april_17_2022.pdf
File Size:	776 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Last Sunday's Service: Palm Sunday

Last Sunday began 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 that both light and darkness are part of the spiritual journey. Please enjoy last Sunday's service, when we gathered for this very powerful Holy Week service. Message: Pastor Sal. Music: Peter Black and Jeff Spangler.

Click here to read, listen to, watch and share Pastor Sal's Homily.

Spirit Journey to Sedona, Arizona, Including a Day-trip to the Stunning Grand Canyon!

Photo by Avi Naim on Unsplash

November 10th - 16th, 2022

Join our beloved and inspirational Pastor Sal as he leads us on a 6-day exploration of Mind, Body and Soul to Sedona and the Grand Canyon in Arizona, one of the most beautiful regions in America. Arizona, and specifically Sedona and the Grand Canyon, both have an immense spiritual and artistic heritage. This is a perfect opportunity to realize and develop your own inner awareness with Pastor Sal as our spiritual teacher!

Attached are all the details, including the Reservation Form with pricing information.
Call or email David Geen with questions or to make your reservations:
Cell - (313) 492-9574 [email protected]

The group is limited to only 20 people, maximizing the experience for everyone.

mind_body_and_soul_2022_-_pastor_sal_in_sedona.pdf
File Size:	2517 kb
File Type:	pdf

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Lake Michigan Region Climate Change Forum with Tom Skilling, April 16, 2 p.m.

Thank you to church member Kathleen Mueller, who alerted of this event from The League of Women Voters Lake Michigan Region. The league invites the public to attend their first annual
Climate Change forum:

Developments in Climate Change Science and Policy:
“Code Red” in the Great Lakes and Beyond
Saturday, April 16, 2022
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Venue Six 10, 610 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60605.
In Person or On-Line.

Tom Skilling, Chief Meteorologist for WGN-TV, will host a distinguished panel to discuss recent developments in climate change science, law and policy, and the future of climate change strategy. Joining Mr. Skilling on the panel are: Seth Darling, Interim Chief Science & Technology Officer for the Energy and Global Security Directorate at Argonne National Laboratory; Attorney Mary Gade of Gade EnvironmentalGroup, LLC, and former Regional Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Region V; Donald J. Wuebbles, PhD, Professor of Atmospheric Science and Presidential Fellow at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana and Coordinating Lead Author on several international climate assessments led by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that resulted in IPCC being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.

Your registration can be made from links and instructions contained in this document:

climate_forum_digital_flyer.1__1_.pdf
File Size:	192 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

4 Paws Lakeshore Fundraiser, June 4

Thanks to church member Mike Bojko for sharing news of this fundraiser to support Wishbone Pet Rescue!

June 4
6:00pm - 10:30pm
The Cottage at The Ravines
3520 Palmer Dr

This year's fundraiser will feature indoor and outdoor spaces, music, a new menu of hearty appetizers, cocktails, adoptable pets, and new ways to help Wishbone Pet Rescue Alliance be the voice of Allegan County's homeless animals. Join us for a great evening and find out how you can help. Masquerade masks are optional but so much more fun!

RSVP to attend or learn how to upport this event here: https://www.4pawslakeshore.org/events-609141.html

Let's Take Another Look at Poetry, April 18, 7pm

"Why in our culture do most people fall out of love with poetry? We savored it as children. What happened?" -- Jack Ridl

On April 18, from 7- 8:30pm, our church member Jack Ridl will hold a conversation about poetry at the Saugatuck-Douglas District Library. Please call the library at 269-857-8241 to reserve your seat. There is no charge for admission.

Jack Says, "In this workshop we will be open about what stands in our way to appreciating, enjoying, understanding, being enriched by poetry. Some may discover a new way of reading. Some may discover that instead of reading a poem, one can explore it from many starting places. Some may hear its music. Some may create a painting in the mind’s eye. Who knows what will happen? Let's find out together."

We Need You: Highway Cleanup,
April 23, 9 AM

The Douglas UCC Creation Justice Team has scheduled our highway cleanup for 9am on April 23. We are looking for many hands to work together to make light work of cleaning up our three miles of highway. Sign up on the sheet in the Friendship Hall or by writing to [email protected]. Thank you for helping us keep our corner of the world clean!

CJT Movie Night: The City Dark, April 27, 6:30PM

The Creation Justice Team presents “The City Dark” at Saugatuck-Douglas District Library, on April 27 at 6:30pm. The viewing will be followed by open discussion, plus information on updating your outdoor lighting to meet dark sky standards.

Donate to help Ukrainians

The United Church of Christ is appealing for support for refugees and for elderly and other vulnerable people who are displaced within Ukraine and unable to leave. As a member of the ACT Alliance, UCC support is being targeted to people most in need through humanitarian relief partners with a history of working in the region.

All donations will be deposited into the International Disasters fund designated for “Ukraine Relief.” Your generous financial support will be used by our partners in the areas of greatest need. One can also mail a check made payable to the United Church of Christ PO BOX 71957 Cleveland, OH 44194. Please be sure to note “Ukraine Relief Fund” on your check in the memo section.

Read more about how you can support the UCC's drive for the people of Ukraine here.

Save the Date, DUCC's 140th Anniversary Block Party, June 5

Photo by Gaelle Marcel on Unsplash

SAVE THE DATE! This year, Douglas UCC celebrates its 140th Anniversary! In celebration, we will be having a "Block Party" with food and live music in front of the church on Pentecost Sunday, June 5, from 11 AM to 1 PM. More details to follow!

Birthdays & Anniversaries

April 21- Ron Sieracki

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

Michael Mok and friends and family of Paul Murphy; Wendy Hamlin; Roye McDonald; Michele Turner and Family; Judy Baxter (Kristine Sherman's Mother); Joann DeJonge; Richard and Joanna Weber's grandson Mattox (friends of the Ridls); Paul Burdick; Al Overweg; Beverly Willming (John Willming's mother); Jay North (friend of Dan Pierce); Hannah Sherman; Maureen Pierce; Ron Turks (Carol Cunningham's son-in-law); David Abbot; Sarah Johnson Lock; Linda Masten (Mark Reiman's friend); Vicki Latham (Ruth VandenBosch's cousin); Cole Hartman; Mike Sneedon (Peg and Jack Donohue's friend); 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); 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, April 10: 82
Livestream Attendance: 64
Total Viewers for April 10 Online Service Videos: 968

Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $3,830.00
Online Giving: $5,984.41

Total: $9,814.41

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.