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Fourth Sunday of Easter

4/28/2023

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

  • This Sunday's Service — Fourth Sunday of Easter: "Divine Life in Little Things" 
  • Last Sunday's Service Video -- Third Sunday of Easter: "The Road to Emmaus" 
  • Welcome, Rev. Keith Mannes
  • Kudos to Welcome Center Cleaning Team
  • Kudos to Team Donovan 
  • Christian Neighbors' May Cereal Drive
  • Reaching for the Stars, Unveiling, May 6, 6pm
  • UCC Grand West Association Spring Meeting - Sunday, May 7, 3pm
  • Brooke Townsend: Caring for the Children of India through Education, May 9, 6pm
  • Lakeshore Community Chorus - Spring Concert, Road Trip, May 21
  • Pride Events Ahead! Save the June Dates! 
  • Wishbone Pet Rescue Alliance Fundraiser, June 3
  • Birthdays & Anniversaries, Prayer Requests, and Financial Stewardship

This Sunday's Service: "Divine Life in Little Things"

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God’s living presence and power is evident in the small things of life – in our ordinary, mutual human-ness. Jesus defeats death in the ordinary actions of love. We want Jesus to prove himself in massive works, or think that in order to experience him we must leap tall buildings and climb lofty summits. Nope. The power and life of God are right in front of you, in the smallest experiences, and in “everyday people.” Right here, in our ordinary, even mundane lives.

Join us this Sunday at 10 AM (either in person or streaming live online), as we explore "The Divine Life in Little Things" for the Fourth Sunday of Easter. Message: Rev. Keith Mannes. Music: Peter Black and Jeff Spangler.

​Download This Sunday's Online Bulletin:
order_of_service_april_30_2023.pdf
File Size: 2402 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


Last Week's Service

In the gospel reading for last Sunday, two disciples -- confused and saddened by Jesus' death -- are walking the road to Emmaus, when they encounter a stranger in their midst. As they walk and talk together, the stranger enlightens and consoles them. The two disciples then invite the stranger to a meal. In the breaking of the bread, they recognize the stranger as Jesus. How often on the road of life do we fail to recognize God's presence in our midst? Please enjoy last Sunday's service, when we explored"The Road to Emmaus."  Message: Pastor Sal Sapienza. Music: Peter Black and Stan Greene. 
Here's the Homily!

Welcome, Rev. Keith Mannes

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This Sunday, we welcome special guest preacher, Rev. Keith Mannes. An ordained minister for more than 30 years, Rev. Mannes made national and local news in 2020 when he resigned his position as senior pastor of the Christian Reformed Church in East Saugatuck over the congregation's support of Donald Trump. Since then, he has transferred his ordination to the United Church of Christ, where he currently ministers as a hospice chaplain. He and his wife, Alicia, a professional counselor, are members of Holland UCC. Please read Keith's powerful essay in last month's Reformed Journal to learn more about him.

​Kudos to Welcome Center Cleaning Team 

KUDOS to our wonderful Cleaning Team, who worked hard to Clean up our new Welcome Center space at 88 Spring Street: Michael VerMerris, Paul Burdick, Laurie VanDenBeldt, Rich Marth, Dave Bohn, Kelly Wright, and Jack Ridl. We are still getting the space ready for prime time, but we are so close! Watch this space for our open house announcement!

​Kudos to Team Donovan 

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KUDOS to Sarah Donovan, Wendy Hamlin, and Michael VerMerris, who together raised more than $2,000 to help fund research to fight Multiple Sclerosis in Grand Rapids' Walk for MS. Thanks to our church members who donated and to Team Donovan for their fight!

Christian Neighbors' May Cereal Drive 

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Photo by Nyana Stoica on Unsplash
Because hunger doesn't take a summer vacation, Christian Neighbors Food Pantry in Douglas is collecting cereal to distribute this summer to its clients with children. You are invited to drop off boxes of cereal at the Friendship Hall from May 1-31 to help stock their shelves, or donate in any of the ways outlined in the poster above. Thank you, as always, for your generous giving.

​Saugatuck Douglas Fennville Arts Initiative Unveiling of Reaching for the Stars, May 6, 6pm 

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Reaching for the Stars, a sculpture by Cleveland artist Hector Vega honoring the campesinos (migrants). Their hard labor working in the fields feeds millions and also helps to feed and support their families. Mark your calendars for May 6, 6-9pm when the first public sculpture in Fennville, in front of the Fennville District Library will be dedicated and celebrated! Food by local restaurants and music by Fierro. Everyone is welcome!

​UCC Grand West Association Spring Meeting - Sunday, May 7, 3pm 

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We will be hosting the UCC's Grand West association of churches' Spring Meeting on Sunday, May 7 from 3 to 5pm, both live and on YouTube The service will celebrate our retiring Area Conference Minister, Rev. Ruth Fitzgerald. No RSVP needed. All are welcome. 

​Brooke Townsend: Caring for the Children of India through Education, May 9, 6pm 

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Our friend Brooke Townsend, daughter of church members Mary Alice and Stephen Townsend, and niece of church members Sue and John Fleming, has returned from India to share her images and stories from her journey and her work with The 25 Group. If you can join us, please sign up for the event using the sign-up sheet in the Friendship Hall, so we can plan for refreshments. Or email Julie Ridl, who will add you to the list.

​Lakeshore Community Chorus - Spring Concert, Road Trip, May 21 

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Celebrate the brink of summertime on Sunday, May 21 at 4:00pm with Lakeshore Community Chorus as it presents “Road Trip: Adventures on Route 66” on stage at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts! The Artistic Director of the chorus is our own church member and a member of our music team, Nancy Plantinga. The chorus itself includes many of our church members, and the concerts sell out quickly! Click the button below to reserve your seats:
Buy Tickets Here

Pride Events Ahead - Save The June Dates!  

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It's time to save these dates for the annual Community Pride MI celebrations in Saugatuck and Douglas. And HollandPride's 20th year celebrating Pride Month. Once again, Douglas UCC is proud to sponsor our area pride events. We hope to see you, here, there, and everywhere. Watch the E-pistle for opportunities to get involved!

​Wishbone Pet Rescue Alliance
​Fundraiser, June 3 

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4 Paws Lakeshore has combined it's efforts with Wishbone Organization, so the 4 Paws Lakeshore name has been dissolved and folded into Wishbone organization.

Wishbone Pet Rescue Alliance presents it's annual fundraiser!

There's No Place Like a Home
Saturday, June 3, 2023
6:00pm - 10:00pm
2755 Blue Star Hwy
Fennville, MI 49408

 Join us for an evening of fun with an outdoor venue, music, food, drinks, and wonderful adoptable pets.

Attire: Shelter Chic w/Red Shoes

At the event, you'll find the annual "Hearts of Love" donation program that helps Wishbone provide necessary professional medical care to the animals, as well as several other exciting new ways to help them continue to be the voice and caretaker of Allegan County's homeless animals.  

To purchase tickets and/or be a sponsor in various areas of need, click the button: ​
Tickets or Donate Here

Birthdays & Anniversaries

April 30– Linda & Matthew McWebb, MAY 1– Max Matteson & Bud Baty, 
4– Virginia Stuart, 5– Michael Tuleja

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

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Edie Plantinga (Nancy's mother); Joyce Potts (Ed Korson's Friend); Elaine Overweg and Family; Dee Baker; Carol Brown; Ernie Toth; Jim Dutcher; Dirk Hollebeek (Ruth VandenBosch's Godson); Peter Black and Family; Max Matteson; Marissa Overweg (Laurie VandenBeldt's granddaughter); Eric Cooley (Jo Cooley's brother); 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); Lisa Marth (The Marths' Sister-in-law); Vicki Latham (Ruth VandenBosch's cousin); Darren Dixon (Beverly Hawkes' nephew); Chris Stuart, (Virginia Stuart's sister-in-law)

​Financial Stewardship

In-Person Attendance, April 23: 86
​Total Views for April 23 Online Videos: 579

​
​Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $500.70
Online Giving: $4,036.23​​​​
​Total: $4,536.93
​​
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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© 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
  • Events