Weekly E-Pistle: First Sunday after Pentecost

6/5/2020

Trinity Sunday:

The first Sunday after Pentecost is Trinity Sunday, an opportunity for us to reflect intentionally on one of Christianity’s most important (and challenging!) ideas. And, as the global pandemic continues to unfold, now compounded by turmoil over George Floyd’s murder by a police officer, the question is unavoidable: How can the doctrine of the Trinity help in this time of crisis? That'll be the focus of this Sunday's online video worship service, so please join us. Message: Pastor Sal. Music: Peter Black and Pamela Chappell.

Tune in on Sunday at 10 AM via our Facebook page, YouTube channel, or here on our website.

Watch Last Sunday's Service:

Thank you to all who tuned in last Sunday for our Video Worship Service. Pastor Sal began the service in black and white, reading aloud a letter from our UCC leadership about the murder of George Floyd, who we honored during our prayer time. Peter Black played two powerful hymns, calling upon the Spirit to "renew the face of the Earth" and to "send down your fire of justice." Stan Greene spoke of our "unity in diversity," and Elizabeth Estes sang of our being "stronger together." If you missed the service or would like to re-watch it, you can view it here.

Our Pentecost Family Photos:

Thank you to all who sent in photos of yourselves wearing red last Sunday as you watched our Pentecost service from home. We received photos not only from our church members in Michigan, but from people in California, New Mexico, Florida, Illinois, and Kansas. Our family is growing! We will be sharing the photos in a slideshow during this Sunday's video worship service.

We officially welcome new members to our church twice a year: once in the Spring and once in the Fall. We were unable to hold our Spring New Members class in person due to the Coronavirus, but Pastor Sal will be holding the class online via Zoom on June 18 at 6 PM. If you are interested in becoming a member of our church, please email Pastor Sal to register for the class.

Save the Date: June 28, 11:30a.m.
Congregational Meeting!!

Please watch your email for an invitation to join us for our annual Congregational Meeting via Zoom on June 28 at 11:30a.m. We will hear from Pastor Sal and our leadership teams, who will give a state-of-the-church update. And we will vote on changes to our Church Constitution and approve our Budget. If you would like to study the constitution and budget before the meeting, write to us at OnlineChurch@douglasucc.org for copies.

Defining Masculinity

Our friends at Resilience in Holland are holding online learning programs on the subject of defining and redefining masculinity. They are hosting a 5-week Virtual Defining Masculinity Conversation Series on Wednesday mornings at 11a.m. Each program runs for approximately 90 minutes. Conversations will engage topics such as the Meaning of Manhood, Healthy Relationships, Emotional Vulnerability, and how men can become an ally for change. This virtual series is free and open to all, although space is limited. To register for the Virtual Defining Masculinity Series, please use the link below. Recordings will be available on our website after each session, along with a guided outline on how to facilitate these conversations with the men in our community. Registration link: https://bit.ly/2B2kUdX

Friendship Hall Recap:

At Friendship Hall meetup this past Sunday, we gathered with one thing on our mind, grieving and looking for ways that George Floyd's murder in Minneapolis might be raised up as a memory and turning point for us as individuals and as a congregation, to learn and grow in faith and love. Pastor Sal pointed us to the UCC's program the Cross and the Lynching Tree, held online last Sunday, which is available to watch online here; to the UCC's White Priviledge Curiculum, helping us learn how to be better allies, available here. The full letter from the UCC that Sal read in last Sunday's service can be found here. Please consider Friendship Hall and participating with our Social Justice Team good places to find support and pray for healing in our country. And the UCC wants you to be aware of these actions we can take now:

Know your rights at demonstrations and protest
Take steps to demand an end to Stand Your Ground laws
Protect voting rights within your states: Our Faith Our Vote 2020

Thank you for giving

Your Church is working hard to provide for our community and our spirits during this pandemic and time of crisis, while continuing to do our peace and justice work.

Without a Sunday collection plate, we are asking church members and friends to consider adopting a new habit of giving to the church: either online or by mail. Did you know there is an app for that? Download the GivePlus+ app to your smart phone, and find DouglasUCC in the local listings, and you can easily schedule and manage your church giving right from your phone!

And as always, it's so easy to give online from our website. Just click here.

Or please consider mailing a check to:
Douglas UCC, 56 Wall Street, PO Box 519, Douglas, MI 49406

We are so very grateful for your continued support of our church, especially during this time.

Happy Birthdays and Anniversaries

June 7 - Dan Urquhart, 8- Michael Lynch, 9- Tamara Ritt, 10- Catherine Dienes, Jim Hopkins, Matthew McWebb

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 List

Freddy Bell (Wendy Hamlin's grandson, Fred Hamilin's great-grandson); Terry Stough (Catz Dienes' son); Bob Donohue (Jack and Peg Donohue's brother); The family of Jim Lemons; Philip Raywood; Ted Sommer; Molly Gaspar (Mike Valdez' sister); Phyllis Wallis (Kathy Austin's mother); Kristen Molitor (Ann Hopkins' daughter); John Willming; Drew Carter; Ferman Sims (father of Duce Sims); Howard McLauchlan (brother-in-law of Dale and Ted); Jeff Cooley (Jo Cooley's brother); Marcia Sullivan (Jo Cooley's friend), Len Lynch (Kathleen Mueller's brother); Curtis Coffin (Marty Coffin's brother).

Prayers for the residents of mid-Michigan who are working to recover from last week's rains and flooding. Prayers for our educators, the caregivers and hospital and care center workers during this Covid-19 pandemic. For the researchers and scientists working on effective tests and treatments for Covid-19. For the leaders and volunteers in every state and city who are stepping up to take care of people every day.

All in the military and their families. All who are homeless or addicted or abused or neglected or rejected or hungry; The UCC; the Grand West Association; our Church Council; our Stephen Ministers; our church committees; our communities, our schools, our nation and our planet.
To add/remove a name from the Prayer List, please email us.

Financial Stewardship

May 31
Attendance for Online Services: 554
Weekly Online Giving: $1823.50
Thank you!!

Your generous giving allows us to sustain our church community and our mission of service. Please consider giving online, which is easily done by clicking ONLINE GIVING.

Or you may send checks by mail to:
Douglas Congregational United Church of Christ
56 Wall Street, PO Box 519
Douglas, MI 49406