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Weekly E-Pistle: Fourth Sunday of Easter

4/22/2021

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

  • This Sunday's Service Notes -- 4rd Sunday of Easter: "Following the Shepherd's Voice  "
  • Last Week's Service Video -- 3rd Sunday of Easter: "Witnessing the Divine"
  • UCC Officers Speak on Derek Chauvin Verdict​
  • Pride Care-A-Van Coming! Start Your Planning!
  • Lakeshore Community Chorus - Spring Concert, June 6
  • Radar Hill Hiking Club Celebrating National Trails Day
  • UCC Grand West Association Spring Meeting, May 2
  • Summerhouse Lavender Farm and Artz & Gardens Tour, May 8 & 9
  • Qigong Meetups Beginning Tuesdays in May
  • May 1 Household Hazardous Waste Cleanup Day, Volunteers Needed 
  • Friendship Hall News 
  • Birthdays & Anniversaries, Prayer Requests, Minutes & Report, and Financial Stewardship

This Sunday: "Following the Shepherd's Voice"

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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 join us for our "Video Worship Service" this Sunday, as we learn 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 Earth Day and our commitment as a Creation Justice Church. 
Message: Pastor Sal. Music: Peter Black and Stan Greene.


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

Last Week's Video Service

In the gospel reading for the 3rd Sunday of Easter, Jesus tells the apostles, "You are witnesses." Where and when have you witnessed the Risen Christ in your own life? What does it mean to "bear witness" to the Divine Presence? Please enjoy last Sunday's "Video Worship Service," when we explored what it means to "Experience the Divine." Message: Pastor Sal. Music: Peter Black and Pamela Chappell.
Click here to read, listen to, watch, and share last Sunday's homily.

UCC Officers Speak on Derek Chauvin Verdict


​Pride Care-A-Van Coming!

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The annual Care-A-Van for Community Pride is scheduled for Saturday, June 5th. We again will be selling Tee Shirts for $25 apiece for sizes small to Extra large, and $30 for sizes 2X to 4X (please pre-order for smaller or larger sizes, deadline May 10) The color is Heather Blue. Ruth VandenBosh will manage the t-shirt sales and will have a total of 150 shirts available. For pre-orders, email Ruth at ruthvandenbosch@gmail.com. We also will have small Pride flags available for sale and also snap-on car flags. This year, we are having a contest for the Best Decorated Cars with nice prizes!!

Lakeshore Community Chorus
Spring Concert, Online Premier, June 6, 7pm

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Lakeshore Community Chorus is preparing their spring concert to premier online on Sunday, June 6, 2021 at 7pm!! Follow them on their website or on Facebook for more information and links for tuning in!

​Radar Hill Hiking Club Celebrating
​National Trails Day 

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Radar Hill Hiking Club is sponsoring local observance of National Trails Day in the Saugatuck-Douglas-Laketown area on Saturday, June 5, 2021. Our goals are to inform residents and visitors about local hiking trails, as well as advocate for trails and conservation. For more information, follow this link to the Radar Hill website.

​UCC Grand West Association Spring Meeting,
All Are Welcome, May 2, 3pm 

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The Spring Meeting of the Grand West Association will be held on Sunday, May 2, 2021 at 3 PM via Zoom. All church members are invited this year. The keynote address will be given by the Rev. Dr. Michael Montgomery, professor at Chicago Theological Seminary, who will be speaking about “Church on the Other Side of the Pandemic.”
​
To register click here: https://bit.ly/3d3adZn

​Summerhouse Lavender Farm and Artz & Gardens Tour, May 8 & 9 

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Our church members Carol Brown and Dan McGavin,  along with Michael VerMerris, and more local artists will all show their work and at the Opening Weekend of the Summerhouse Lavender Farm, May 8 and 9. It's always a lovely celebration of Creation and Spring. We hope you can enjoy it!

​Qigong Meetups Beginning Tuesdays in May

PictureChildhood sketch by M. Ridl
Church member Gloria Larreau has organized Qigong classes with teacher Kat VanHammen for Tuesdays at noon, beginning May 4, at the Spring Street lawn in Douglas. Classes are 50 minutes long. Donations accepted at the class. Dress comfortably.

This class combines Qigong (the underpinnings of Tai Chi), gentle yoga, and other movement practices to facilitate mindful awareness, stability, strength, and peace. Working with breath, movement, visualization, and meditation, we will explore both the physical and subtle workings of the BodyMind; calm and regulate the nervous system, and discover more of ourselves.


​May 1 Household Hazardous Waste Cleanup Day, Volunteers Needed 

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For the first time in 13 years, a 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 1 from 9 am until 12 pm at the City of Saugatuck Department of Public Works Building (3338 Bluestar Highway).  Download the guidance sheet, below, which provides examples of the types of materials that will be accepted, fees that will charged (if any) and special guidelines for some items. If you have questions, please contact the Tri-Community Recycling committee at glewis@saugatuckcity.com.

Residents MUST have an appointment to drop-off HHW items. Sign up to participate at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409084FADA92BABFD0-household

Registered participants will drive into the DPW site from the Maple Street entrance (behind the DPW garage). If arriving on Blue Star Highway, turn west on North and south on Maple, or turn west on Old Allegan and then north on Maple. Signs and volunteers will direct vehicles to the proper entrance. You will not be able to turn into the DPW site directly from Bluestar Highway.

Donations to help subsidize this event are gladly accepted at:
Venmo at @hhwday2021
PayPal https://paypal.me/pools/c/8y7LCkwQ1j
Or via the event signup link (above)

We need volunteers for Collection Day to provide traffic control and directions. Sign up to volunteer here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409084FADA92BABFD0-hhwday
Note: volunteers WILL NOT touch nor remove any materials in/from vehicles. They will simply direct traffic and provide happy, smiling faces that morning!
household_hazardous_waste_guidance.pdf
File Size: 244 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


​ Friendship Hall News 

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Orie Hawkes watched every minute of the Chauvin trial. Here he is celebrating one important win for justice.
This coming Sunday, I'm sure we will be responding to and sharing our reactions to the Chauvin verdict. Pictured above, church member Orie Hawkes, who watched every minute of the trials, reminds us that indeed, Black Lives Matter. To us all! We hope you can join us in this week's Friendship Hall meeting. Watch your email on Friday for the link!

Last week we showed up a little early for online Friendship Hall, fresh from the online church service, and we complimented Pam Chappell on her song for Sunday, the perfect Easter song, accompanied perfectly by Peter Black, and admired how much better she is looking after her nasty fall last week. In announcements, we had some hilarious chatter and ideas while looking forward to this year's Pride Care-a-van (see above), and noted that the same day there is a Radar Hill event honoring National Trail Day (see above again). So after sitting in your car, you can walk it off in the trails! We looked forward to Gloria Larrieu's Qigong meetups, details above. Pastor Sal made sure we all knew everyone is invited to the May 2 UCC Grand West Association Spring Meeting, where the keynote will address "Church on the Other Side of the Pandemic." The link for registering for the meeting is in the story above. We chatted about The Artz & Garden tour, featuring our church members Carol Brown and Dan McGavin and their Summerhouse Lavender Farm grand opening, hosting church member Mike Vermerris and his gorgeous pottery, along with a Pop-Up composting event hosted by the Tri-Community Recycling Committee, held last weekend. Garnet Lewis jumped on to remind us that we must sign up for an appointment to bring our hazardous waste to the disposal day offered by the Tri-Community Recycling Committee. All the details and links to register are above. We had lots of prayers for lots of church members. Please be sure to look at the prayer list for updates. This is a busy church, and we are so grateful for everyone's work in the world! ​(And yes, Bev Hawkes has a sheep named in her honor, who lives at the Dorothy Day farm along with all the fiber processing equipment she donated to them before she and Orie moved here.)

Birthdays & Anniversaries

PicturePhoto by Mia Cambriello on Unsplash
April 26- Kevin Henry; 30- Linda & Matthew McWebb, May 1- Max Matteson & Bud Baty

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 Requests

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Dennis Konarski; Mike Sneedon (Peg and Jack Donohue's friend); John Leon (Marjorie Reiman's uncle); Marjorie Reiman; Pamela Chappell; Tim Reineck (friend of Pete Wehle and Pam Chappell's); Sandy and Larry Feldman; Cindy Winkler; Eleanor Connell (Shannon Connell's mother), Matt Brazys, Suzanne Cook, and Ken Cassbon (friends of Pete Wehle and Pamela Chappell); Ronald Konarski; Richie Czarnowski (Mark Reiman's friend); Leith Letcher and his family; Dale Lower; Sherri Kanten (Ruth VandenBosch's friend); Diane Carr (Debra Carr's sister); Michael (a friend of Dan Mack's); Mike Boston and Kathy Austin; Myron (Wendy Hamlin's grandson, Fred Hamilin's great-grandson); Chris Stuart (Virginia Stuart's sister-in-law); Kurt McDonald (John McDonald's son); Matt Brazys (Friend of Pete Wehle's); Darren Dixon (Beverly and Orie Hawkes' nephew); Mary Elizabeth Loudin (friend of Laurie VandenBeldt); Richard Graham; Char Clausing (Nancy Plantinga's cousin); Chris Robinson (Peter and Kathleen Mueller's nephew); Gregg Kirchen (Sheryll and Greg VanPortfleet's friend); Daniel Ver Meulen (Susan Fleming's son); Marcia Sullivan (Jo Cooley's friend); Len Lynch (Kathleen Mueller's brother); Curtis Coffin (Marty Coffin's brother). ​

Report and Minutes

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approved_church_council_minutes_march_2021.pdf
File Size: 418 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

pastors_report_april_2021.pdf
File Size: 353 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


​Financial Stewardship

April 18, 2021

Viewers for April 18 Online Service Videos: 675

 Online Donations:  $2,318.00


​Total:  $2,318.00

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.

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  • 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