Weekly E-Pistle: Fourth Sunday in Lent

3/17/2023

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

This Sunday's Service — Fourth Sunday in Lent: "A New Vision"
Last Sunday's Service — Third Sunday in Lent: "Living Water"
John Pavlovitz Photos
One Great Hour of Sharing
Order Your Easter Lily Plant
Maundy Thursday Sign-Up
Community Discussion: The Hidden Life of Trees, March 22
DUCC Movie Night: Radical Grace, April 12
MS Awareness Month
Soul Collage, April 1
Help for Turkey and Syria
Birthdays & Anniversaries, Prayer Requests, and Financial Stewardship

This Sunday's Service: "A New Vision"

In the gospel reading for the 4th Sunday in Lent, we explore one of the miracles attributed to Jesus: a beggar blind from birth is healed and can now see.

Join on Sunday at 10 AM (either in person or streaming live online) as we explore the meaning of this miraculous story for our lives today. Message: Pastor Sal Sapienza. Music: Peter Black and Stan Greene.

Download This Sunday's Online Bulletin:

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Last Week's Service

In the gospel reading for the 3rd Sunday in Lent, Jesus encounters the Samaritan woman at the well. He tells her of the "living water" that never runs out. What did Jesus mean when he spoke of "living water"? Where and how can we partake in it? Please enjoy last Sunday's service, when we considered the location and meaning of "Living Water," as we celebrated the 3rd Sunday in Lent. Message: Pastor Sal Sapienza. Music: Peter Black, Jeff Spangler, and Elizabeth Estes

Here's the Homily

Photos: John Pavlovitz at Douglas UCC

On Saturday, March 11, a sold-out crowd packed Douglas UCC for an "Evening with John Pavlovitz." The popular pastor, author, and activist last spoke at our church in 2018, and we were so delighted to welcome him back for an inspiring presentation and discussion. Afterwards, John signed copies of his books and posed for photos. See the slideshow above. Thank you to all who attended and to church member, Brenda Marcy, for the wonderful photos.

One Great Hour of Sharing

This week, please consider "One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS)," the UCC special mission offering of the United Church of Christ. These donations support disaster, refugee/immigration, and development ministries throughout the world. When a disaster strikes or people are displaced or made refugees by violence or extreme poverty, you are part of the immediate response and of the long-term recovery.

Because the UCC relates in mutual partnership to churches and organizations through Global Ministries and worldwide response & recovery networks, your contributions to One Great Hour of Sharing put you in the right place at the right time for the relief, accompaniment, and recovery of the most vulnerable. You meet immediate needs and you address the underlying causes that create those needs in the first place.

Watch for the special envelopes in your bulletin on Sunday, or if you choose, give online now here:

Give Online Now

Order Your Easter Lily Plant

On Easter Sunday, we hope to have our altar filled with Easter lilies! Please consider purchasing an Easter Lily plant for $15. You can do so in honor or memory of a loved one, whose name will appear in the bulletin on Easter Sunday. You can take the plant home after our Easter service. To purchase a plant, please use the special "Flower Offering" envelopes in the pews this Sunday or order online. Thank you!

Order Lilies Online

Maundy Thursday Sign-Up

Our annual Maundy Thursday supper will be held on April 6 at 6 PM in the Friendship Hall, followed by a service in the church. If you plan on attending, please sign the sheet in the Friendship Hall or email Julie Ridl.

Community Discussion:
The Hidden Life of Trees, March 22

On Wednesday, March 22 at 7:00 pm in the Saugatuck-Douglas District Library, there will be a discussion of The Hidden Life of Trees, a bestseller by Peter Wohlleben. This event is co-sponsored by the DUCC Creation Justice team. The library has multiple copies of the book, an ebook can be borrowed through Hoopla, and it's easy to buy a new or used copy online. An audiobook is also available for purchase. Finally, several streaming services offer the critically acclaimed film adaptation of the book.

In The Hidden Life of Trees, Peter Wohlleben shares his deep love of forests and explains the processes of life, death, and regeneration. Much like human families, many trees live with their children, communicating and supporting them as they grow. Trees cooperate to share nutrients and mitigate the impacts of extreme heat and cold. As a result, trees in a community can live to be very old, while solitary trees often have a tougher time and die sooner. The author describes how scientific discoveries have informed his work and explains that eco-friendly practices are not only economically sustainable but also beneficial to the health of all of our planet’s denizens.

Peter Wohlleben spent more than 20 years working for the German forestry commission before leaving to run an environmentally friendly woodland. He now works for the return of primeval forests, while also caring for wild and domestic animals.

Movie Night: "Radical Grace" at Douglas UCC, followed by Q&A with Director, Rebecca Parrish,
Wednesday, April 12 at 6 PM

We are excited to announce a very special "Movie Night" at Douglas UCC on Wednesday, April 12 at 6 PM in the Friendship Hall for a screening of the award-winning documentary, Radical Grace, followed by a Q&A with its director, Rebecca Parrish. Produced and narrated by Oscar-winner, Susan Sarandon, Radical Grace follows three fearless nuns who risk their place in the Church to follow another higher calling: social justice and inclusion. You won't want to miss this powerful and inspiring film. Popcorn and refreshments will be served. This event is free and all are welcome.

March is MS Awareness Month

Every March is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness month, a time for sufferers, family members, and supporters to share information, sympathy, and camaraderie, drawing attention to this disease of the central nervous system. To learn more about this disease and how you can help support people with MS, visit the national MS society here.

Next Soul Collage, April 1

Our friend and spiritual teacher, Ruth Zwald is offering the next Soul Collage gathering in the Friendship Hall on April 1. Follow the instructions above if you'd be interested in exploring this quite fun and deeply empowering method of self exploration and affirmation.

Help for Turkey and Syria

The news continues to unfold about the devastating earthquake on the border of Turkey and Syria. The death toll continues to rise, and the numbers of displaced people run to more than 1 million.

Amid this current uncertainty, you can be certain that with your financial support the United Church of Christ is there, helping those in need. To support this effort, you can give online by following the button below, or text UCCDISASTER to 41444. You can also mail a check made payable to the United Church of Christ, PO BOX 71957 Cleveland, OH 44194. Please be sure to note “Turkey and Syria” on your check in the memo section.

All donations will be deposited into the International Emergency fund designated for “Turkey and Syria Earthquake Response.” Your generous financial support will be used by our partners in the areas of greatest need, for relief and long-term recovery.

Give Online Here

Birthdays & Anniversaries

March 19- Joe Mannancheril, 25- Meridith Ridl

Birthday and Anniversar;y 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 List

Anne Geraghty (Pat Denner's Sister-in-law); Nicole and John (Wendy Hamlin's daughter-in-law and son); Dan Pierce (Craig Drager's husband); Marianna Maver (Friend of many of us); Lisa Marth (The Marths' Sister-in-law); Kirstin Barendsen (Ruth VandenBosch's Cousin); Vicki Latham (Ruth VandenBosch's cousin); Darren Dixon (Beverly Hawkes' nephew); Cole Hartman (Kathy Hartman' son); Chris Stuart, (Virginia Stuart's sister-in-law)

Financial Stewardship

In-Person Attendance, March 12: 84
Total Views for March 12 Online Videos: 1,309

Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $8,809.00
Online Giving: $3,329.07

Total: $12,138.07

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.