Weekly E-Pistle: Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

6/26/2020

In This Week's E-Pistle You'll Find:

"Open & Affirming" Sunday
Last Week's Service Video
2020 Congregational Meeting Annoucement
Summer Celebration Concert News
New Church Directory Underway
Friendship Hall Roundup
Birthdays & Anniversaries, Prayer List, and Financial Stewardship

"Open & Affirming" Sunday:

June is Gay Pride Month, and this Sunday, we celebrate "Open & Affirming" Sunday in the United Church of Christ. Douglas UCC is proud to be among the first churches to become recognized as an Open & Affirming church, affirming the full inclusion of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender persons (LGBT) in the church's life and ministry. This Sunday during our "Video Worship Service," we will be celebrating the spiritual gifts with which the LGBTQ community blesses our church family and our world. Message: Pastor Sal.
Music: Peter Black, Dan Pierce, and Elizabeth Estes.

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

Last Week's Service

At last Sunday's service, Pastor Sal explored Jesus' charge to sow "di-vision" in our world, and he gave us a replay of his sermon from 2016, when he empowered us all to seek ways to sow justice in our communities. It was a stunning reminder that the work we are doing now is the work we have always been called to do. With music by Peter Black, Stan Greene, and Hannah (Star) Huggett. Here is the video, in case you missed it!

Please Join us Sunday at 11:30a.m. for the
2020 Congregational Meeting on Zoom!

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 annual Budget. More news to share about the year ahead. If you would like to review the constitution and budget in advance of the meeting, write to us at [email protected] for copies. Watch your email on Friday for a meeting agenda and the Zoom meeting I.D.

Our Spring online concert was such a huge success! So our congregants and friends will gather again for another evening of song and celebration, this time to raise funds for our Saugatuck-Douglas Rotary Club. The Rotary has been so generous and done so much to help local businesses and workers during the pandemic, and they deserve some love! Won't you join us on July 3 at 7pm for this wonderful concert? Tune in then by clicking on our Facebook, YouTube, or Website channels!

Mike VerMerris has been working hard, reaching out to current members and welcoming new ones as he works to publish an updated DUCC church directory for 2020-2021! We are still welcoming new members to the church (more on that in an upcoming update), and so there is still time to update your photo or contact information. If you need Mike's email, contact us at [email protected].

Friendship Hall Roundup

Mike Valdez reports that his sister, Molly, who has been recovering from Covid-19, is doing well now.
Jeff Spangler, Jack Ridl, and David Bazany all came through their surgeries and are recovering. All are grateful for your prayers.
Myron Freund is receiving cancer treatment in Chicago, with the help of Dennis Bales and Bubba Beaudreaux. Bubba has set up a Caring Bridge website for Myron. If you would like the link, email Bubba at this address.
Kudos to Lynne Snyder for informing us, and Kudos to YOU for donating to the Saugatuck Drug Store account that receives donations to help local families pay for their prescriptions. The drug store reports that the response from our church members has been fantastic, and they so appreciate your generosity!
Church member Linda Charvat did not conduct an end-of-season sale at her farm this year. But she has lots of leftover healthy rhododendron, azalea, and pieris plants. And she is offering them for free to church members! Download this helpful guide to find the farm and the plants!
We are so happy to celebrate Craig Drager and Dan Pierce's 25th Anniversary! Craig gave a moving tribute to their years together during Friendship Hall!
The Pride Team wants you to know about the free, virtual Hannaniah concert on June 27 at 6pm, live on the OutFront Kalamazoo Facebook page. Sponsored by Douglas Community Pride, and Bell's in Kalamazoo and hosted by OutFront Kalamazoo. Here is the Facebook Event Page.
This Week, instead of Friendship Hall at 11, we will hold the Congregational Meeting at 11:30. Watch your Email for the link and agenda!

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Birthdays & Anniversaries

28- Jodi Berault & Chris Maitner, 29- Jodi Berault, 30- Carol Brown, 2-Jane Brodt, Greg Harvath, 3- Dan Ryan

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.

Prayers

Ron Van Lente (pastor, First United Methodist Church, South Haven), Jeff Spangler; Myron Freund; 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; 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).

Ruth VandenBosch is asking for special prayers for her transgender clients and for all the transgender folk whose lives are being disrupted by threats to their healthcare and coverage for their reassignment surgeries. Please hold them in your prayers.

Prayers for the residents of mid-Michigan, recovering from flooding. Prayers for all of our Covid-19 pandemic first responders, and for the researchers and scientists working on effective tests and treatments for Covid-19. Prayers for 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 or remove a name from the Prayer List, please email us.

Financial Stewardship

June 21
Attendance for Online Services: 469
Weekly Online Giving: $3,099.54

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 texting your donation amount to 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