Douglas Congregational United Church of Christ • Douglas UCC
  • About Us ▾
    • Meditation Garden
    • Retreat House
    • Our Staff
    • Our Stories
    • About Douglas UCC
  • Connect & Serve
  • Worship & Music Videos ▾
    • Podcast Library 🔊
    • Homily Library 📖
  • Calendar & E-pistle ▾
    • E-pistle
  • Contact
  • Giving

Weekly E-Pistle: Fifth Sunday of Easter

5/13/2022

 
Picture

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

  • This Sunday's Service Notes — Fifth Sunday of Easter, "A New Commandment"
  • Last Week's Service Video — Fourth Sunday of Easter, "The Shepherd's Voice"
  • KUDOS: Thank You Art Guild!
  • Hazardous Household Waste Day Volunteer Sign-up!​
  • Christian Neighbors needs Kids' Clothes, Pots and Pans
  • St. Peters Senior Lunch resuming!
  • ​Create Community: Spaces for Discovery: SCA Needs You!
  • Qigong Classes, Wednesdays, 11:30 AM
  • New Member Class, May 15
  • Community Pride - June 1 thru 5
  • Soul Collage Workshop with Ruth Zwald, June 11, 1pm
  • Saugatuck Art Club Gallery Show and Art Sale, May 20-22
  • ​Birthdays & Anniversaries, Prayer Requests, and Financial Stewardship

This Sunday's Service: "A New Commandment"

Picture
In the gospel reading from the lectionary for the 5th Sunday of Easter, Jesus gives us a new commandment: "Love One Another." All of the other commandments, he said, can be summed up in this one new commandment. 

Please join us this Sunday at 10 AM (either in-person or streaming live online) as we explore how to love one another in a world so divided. Message: Pastor Sal. Music: Bob Ruddy, Jeff Spangler, and Nancy Plantinga 

Download This Sunday's Online Bulletin:
order_of_service_may_15_2022.pdf
File Size: 915 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


Last Sunday's Service

In the gospel reading for the 4th Sunday of Easter, Jesus tells us that he is the Good Shepherd, and he instructs us to follow his voice. But, how do we hear this voice in our lives today? The UCC's motto is "God is Still Speaking," so how can we attune ourselves more fully to the Divine Voice? Please enjoy last Sunday's service, when we learned how to listen more closely to our inner G.P.S. (God Positioning System), the Divine Voice within which is always leading us to pastures of plenty where our souls can find rest. We will also be honoring Mother's Day.  Message: Pastor Sal. Music: Bob Ruddy and Pamela Chappell

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

Kudos: Thank You, Art Guild!

Picture
Thank you to members of our church's Art Guild for taking down, rolling up, and storing away the Easter decorations until next year. We are grateful to Greg Harvath, Floyd Fleming, Bill Kelleher, Bud Baty, and Jim Bailey for their time, talents, and service to our church.

​Hazardous Household Waste Day Volunteer Sign-up!​ 

Picture

The Annual Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection event will be held for residents of the City of Saugatuck, the City of Douglas, and Saugatuck Township on May 24 from 3 to 7pm at the City of Saugatuck Department of Public Works Building, 3338 Blue Star Hwy. This community service is made possible through the Tri-Community Recycling Committee and generous support from the Rotary Club of Saugatuck/Douglas, the City of Saugatuck, the City of Douglas, Saugatuck Township, the Saugatuck Township Fire Department, and numerous private donors.


Download the guidance sheet below for drop-off instructions and a list of eligible and ineligible items, and items that require fees. Residents MUST have an appointment to drop off HHW items.

Please note this exciting update! The drive this year will include STYROFOAM. If you have styrofoam to dispose of, this is the event for you!


Sign up to participate at https://bit.ly/nohazards

Meanwhile, volunteers are needed on the day of the collection. If you can help serve on that day, sign up at  https://bit.ly/wasted22
hhwdayeventguidancesheetspring04102022.pdf
File Size: 315 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


​Christian Neighbors needs Kids' Clothes, Pots and Pans 

Picture
Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash
Our good friends at Christian Neighbors needs gently used or new clothing for kids -- infant to teen sizes. Also Pots and Pans. If you can help, drop off dontions of these goods at the Christian Neighbors store at the Community Church of Douglas, 6874 Wiley Road in Douglas. Thank you so much for helping Christian Neighbors help our community!

​St. Peters Senior Lunch resuming! 

Picture
Photo by Jan Theodore on Unsplash
Senior Lunches are resuming! Every third Thursday at noon at St. Peter's Catholic Church with a donation of $5 at the door. If a senior you know is having financial challenges, they can eat for free with a ticket from Christian Neighbors. Just give them a call at (269) 857-1050.

​​Create Community: Spaces for Discovery: SCA Needs You! 

Picture
In celebration of two decades bringing art and artists to Saugatuck and Douglas, the SCA is planning an ambitious 4-community, 7-site outdoor art installation in celebration called "Create Community: Spaces for Discovery" with sites in Fennville, Douglas (Wade's Bayou), Holland, and Saugatuck.

You can read ALL about the intent behind the installations (creative placemaking, public art), meet the artists, see each of the installation locations, etc., on our webpages for the project. 

The SCA is offering volunteer opportunities for these installations, including helping paint sticks at the SCA! Volunteers + staff are painting approximately 2,000 sticks red for all 7 installations. No experience needed -- volunteers will have mini rollers and can stand or sit as needed. Painting happens both outdoors and inside our Art Studio.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP for volunteer slots -- lots of days and times through May are available.

​Qigong Classes Wednesdays, 11:30 AM 

Picture
Dear Friends,
I am excited to be offering Qigong in Douglas again this year. We will meet for the first time on Wednesday May 11 at 11:30 am. (Please note the day and time change) and will be meeting this year on the Retreat House lawn. We will gather throughout the summer months on Wednesdays unless the weather is rainy. The class is generally about 50 minutes long.

For those of you who are new to this practice, Qigong is a very simple but deep practice of movement, meditation, visualization and breathing techniques. Similar to Tai Chi, Qigong is rooted in Chinese Medicine and Martial Arts Practice. Different than Tai Chi in that you don’t have to memorize any forms! It is great for cultivating Self and Body Awareness, Stability, Balance, Ease of Movement and Joy and Peace!  It is a very accessible practice for everyone.

As last year, I am offering the class on a donation basis but am requesting that you give a minimum of $5 in order to keep it sustainable. Many thanks to the church for supporting this class, and I am looking forward to seeing last year’s students again and welcome anyone to come try it out.

Please feel free to contact me if you have further questions
Kat VanHammen      Katvanhammen@gmail.com

​New Member Class, May 15 

Picture
If you are interested in becoming a member of our church, Pastor Sal will be holding a New Members Class on Sunday, May 15 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at our church's Retreat House (69 Wall Street). All are welcome to attend. (If you would like to become a member, but are unable to attend the May 15 class, please email Pastor Sal at pastor@DouglasUCC.org).​

​Community Pride - June 1 thru 5 

Picture
Douglas UCC is proud to be a "Silver Sponsor" of the upcoming Community Pride Event in Saugatuck/Douglas from June 1 thru 5. Each day, there were will a series of fun and informative events around town (see poster above) in which we hope you will take part. Our church will have a booth at the "Pride in the Park" event on June 4 at Berry Field.

​Soul Collage Workshop with Ruth Zwald,
​June 11, 1pm 

Picture
Our friend and spiritual teacher Ruth Zwald will be leading a Soul Collage workshop in the Friendship Hall on Saturday, June 11, from 1 to 4pm. If you're interested, register with Ruth at her email adress above. 

​Saugatuck Art Club Gallery Show and Art Sale, May 20-22 ​

Picture
We're looking forward to this wonderful show, featuring the work of many local artists, including church members and friends Carrie Andrews, Max Brown, Paul Burdick, Sue Fleming, Demetrhea Terrien, Mary Alice Townsend, and Betsy York. Opening May 20 at Noon at Capizzo Studio, with a reception at 5pm. 

Birthdays & Anniversaries

May 18 - Sue Fleming, 19- Jack Hartman, 20- Mary Westenbroek,
​21- John Fleming, Jeremy Lund
​​

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

Picture
The Hotwagner Family; Fritz Royce; David Zylstra (Laurie VandenBeldt's friend); Elinor Hite (Virginia Stuart's sister); 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, May 8: 83
Livestream Attendance: 52
​Total Viewers for May 8 Online Service Videos: 368


Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $4,391.07
Online Giving: $6,726.30
​​​
​Total: $11,117.37
​
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.

    Receive the Weekly E-Pistle

    We use MailChimp.

    Previous
    ​E-Pistles

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019


    RSS Feed

Facebook
YouTube
Twitter
Instagram

About ​DUCC

About the Douglas UCC
Staff
Our Stories
Garden
​Retreat House

Sunday Messages ​​& Music

Connect ​& Serve

Calendar ​& E-Pistle

Events Calendar
Events Calendar (mobile view)
​E-Pistle

GIVING

Contact ​US


56 Wall Street • Douglas, Michigan 49406

© 2023. Douglas Congregational United Church of Christ. All Rights Reserved.
  • About Us ▾
    • Meditation Garden
    • Retreat House
    • Our Staff
    • Our Stories
    • About Douglas UCC
  • Connect & Serve
  • Worship & Music Videos ▾
    • Podcast Library 🔊
    • Homily Library 📖
  • Calendar & E-pistle ▾
    • E-pistle
  • Contact
  • Giving