In This Week's E-Pistle, You Will Find:
This Week's Service: "Open & Affirming" Sunday
Every year on the last Sunday in June, 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.
Pease join us this Sunday at 10 AM (either in-person or streaming live online), as we celebrate the spiritual gifts with which the LGBTQ community blesses our church family and our world. Message: Pastor Sal. Music: Peter Black and Nancy Plantinga. Download this week's online bulletin here: 
Last Week's Service Video
Last Sunday, we celebrated Juneteenth, also known as "Emancipation Day," commemorating the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans. In Sunday's lectionary, we also heard the gospel story of Jesus setting a bound man free. Please enjoy last Sunday's Service, when we celebrated freedom and recommitted ourselves to building a just world for all. Message: Pastor Sal. Music: Peter Black and Max Brown.
Click here to read, listen to, watch, and share Pastor Sal's Homily. Annual Congregational Meeting,
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Help Us Help Everybody:
Please Take the Stephen Ministry Survey!
To make sure our Stephen Ministry meets the needs of our church members, they have designed a survey, we hope all members of the congregation will take. You can take this quick survey online by hitting the button below. Or paper copies of the survey are available in the Friendship Hall. Thank you so much for helping us help you!
Faith and Pride: Interfaith Action's
Clergy Roundtable
Last week, our Pastor Sal participated in Interfaith Action's Clergy Roundtable, "Faith and Pride." Please enjoy this video of the round table discussion among Southwest Michigan clergy.
The Zinnias are In!
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Kudos to our church member, David Geen, for planting our corner Zinnia garden for 2022. The garden is planted in loving memory of our late church member, Jim Shewell, who with his husband, Leith Letcher, planted Zinnias for us every year.
Downsizing Sale, July 1
Sale of Household Goods at 6845 Maple Lane in Johnson Village
From 1:00PM to 5:00 PM on Friday, July1st
Assorted household items and furniture, including: bookcases, lamps, vacuum cleaner, wooden file cabinet, paper shredder, fans, many suitcases and duffle bags, kitchen items. Glassware, cookbooks, stained glass ceiling lamp and pictures and frames, lovely dining room table with hand painted inlaid tiles, books and CDs.
From 1:00PM to 5:00 PM on Friday, July1st
Assorted household items and furniture, including: bookcases, lamps, vacuum cleaner, wooden file cabinet, paper shredder, fans, many suitcases and duffle bags, kitchen items. Glassware, cookbooks, stained glass ceiling lamp and pictures and frames, lovely dining room table with hand painted inlaid tiles, books and CDs.
The New Spring Street Garden
and Free Leftover Plants this Sunday
The Social Justice team has put in many hours re-establishing our neighbor's raised garden beds at the corner of Chestnut and Union Streets in Douglas, where our Afghan friends can grow vegetables and herbs. Gardening has been a shared love between our Afghan friend and his dad, and he was able to call him to share the new garden with his dad on Father’s Day!
VanTil's Greenhouse generously donated 199 vegetable plants, and the family was not able to plant them all. So, after this Sunday’ service, the remaining vegetable plants will be available to take home. A small donation, while not required, will help offset the costs incurred in purchasing the soil, mulch, and deer fencing required to prepare the vegetable garden for the family. Big thanks to the generous property owner, who is offering her raised garden beds to the cause.
VanTil's Greenhouse generously donated 199 vegetable plants, and the family was not able to plant them all. So, after this Sunday’ service, the remaining vegetable plants will be available to take home. A small donation, while not required, will help offset the costs incurred in purchasing the soil, mulch, and deer fencing required to prepare the vegetable garden for the family. Big thanks to the generous property owner, who is offering her raised garden beds to the cause.
Forming Soon: An Audio-Visual Advisory Group
Photo by Christian Wiediger on Unsplash
The Douglas UCC AV Team will soon be forming an Audio-Visual Advisory Group to help plan and develop our AV capability. They are looking for people with many kinds of backgrounds and interests in recording for live-streaming and in-church broadcast, with an interest in always improving the experience inside the church building and in our homes on Sunday mornings. If you think you might like to join this advisory group, email Julie.
Summer Book Read: Refugia Faith, by Dr. Debra Rienstra
This August, Rev. Marchiene Rienstra ("Rev. Marty") will be facilitating a weekly book discussion group on the new book, Refugia Faith: Seeking Hidden Shelters, Ordinary Wonders, and the Healing of the Earth, which was written by her daughter-in-law, Dr. Debra Rienstra.
The term "refugia" refers to "places of refuge." In the book, Dr. Reinstra leads us in an exploration of refugia faith, drawing connections between the refugia of the spirit and the refugia of God's creation.
The book group will meet every Tuesday in August from noon to 1:30 PM at Rev. Marty's home in Douglas (66 Lakeshore Drive) on the back deck overlooking Lake Michigan. Bring your own lunch and a copy of the book, which is available for purchase on Amazon or can be ordered at your local independent bookseller.
If you plan on taking part in the book group, please email Rev. Marty ([email protected]) or sign the sheet in the Friendship Hall.
The term "refugia" refers to "places of refuge." In the book, Dr. Reinstra leads us in an exploration of refugia faith, drawing connections between the refugia of the spirit and the refugia of God's creation.
The book group will meet every Tuesday in August from noon to 1:30 PM at Rev. Marty's home in Douglas (66 Lakeshore Drive) on the back deck overlooking Lake Michigan. Bring your own lunch and a copy of the book, which is available for purchase on Amazon or can be ordered at your local independent bookseller.
If you plan on taking part in the book group, please email Rev. Marty ([email protected]) or sign the sheet in the Friendship Hall.
4 Paws Lakeshore Thanks You!
Our church member, Mike Bojko, writes, "Our 4 Paws Lakeshore - Masquarade Party on June 4th was a huge success. We had 160 tickets sold, and we enjoyed the venue of The Ravine's Cottage Club House. We were also entertained by Sunny L.A., which was a huge hit. We want to thank all patrons of Douglas United Church of Christ for its support. We were able to give Wishbone Pet Rescue Alliance a check in the amount of $75,000. Thanks to all and the Community. Our best event ever!!"
We Are Looking for Affordable Housing Options for Afghan Family
Photo by Mayur Gala on Unsplash
Our family from Afghanistan is beginning to investigate affordable housing options in Allegan and Ottawa counties. We have a list of reduced rent and subsidized housing options. If you are aware of any affordable housing in either county, please email Karen Clark ([email protected]) or Pat Denner ([email protected])
Brooke Townsend's Ukranian War Experiences, July 5, 6 PM
On July 5 at 6pm, Brooke Townsend, niece of church member Mary Alice Townsend, will present a talk and slideshow on her Ukranian War experiences. Brooke is a Humanitarian Photographer and the Executive Director of The 25 Group. After graduating with a bachelors in Biblical Justice, she began advocating for the poor and marginalized around the world. Through the sharing of stories and project funding, The 25 Group creates opportunities for donors to change the world with their giving. Throughout the last 8 years, The 25 Group has worked in 14 countries with more than 38 different organizations to donate nearly $500,000. Join us to hear stories of impact and how you can help those in need around the globe. Please use the sign-up sheets in the Friendship Hall so we can plan for seating and refreshments!
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Minutes & Reports
Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash
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Birthdays & Anniversaries
June 26- El Clough, 27- Stephen Lewis, 28- Jodi Berault & Chris Maitner, 29- Jodi Berault,
30- Carol Brown, July 2- Jane Brodt, Greg Harvath
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.
30- Carol Brown, July 2- Jane Brodt, Greg Harvath
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
Pete Wehle; Rev. Lou Grettenberger (friend of Ginny Mikita); Rachael Rienstra; Dick Bont; Tom Pearson (Wendy Hamiln's son); Phil Sturdevant (Pete Wehle's friend); Darren Dixon (Beverly and Orie Hawkes' nephew); The Hotwagner Family; David Zylstra (Laurie VandenBeldt's friend); Elinor Hite (Virginia Stuart's sister); Judy Baxter (Kristine Sherman's Mother); Joann DeJonge; Richard and Joanna Weber's grandson Mattox (friends of the Ridls); Al Overweg; Beverly Willming (John Willming's mother); Jay North (friend of Dan Pierce); Hannah Sherman; Maureen Pierce; David Abbot; Sarah Johnson Lock; Linda Masten (Mark Reiman's friend); Vicki Latham (Ruth VandenBosch's cousin); Cole Hartman; Mike Sneedon (Peg and Jack Donohue's friend); Tim Reineck, Matt Brazys, Suzanne Cook, and Ken Cassbon (friends of Pete Wehle and Pamela Chappell); Richie Czarnowski (Mark Reiman's friend); Sherri Kanten (Ruth VandenBosch's friend); Chris Stuart (Virginia Stuart's sister-in-law); Mary Elizabeth Loudin (friend of Laurie VandenBeldt)
Financial Stewardship
In-Person Attendance, June 19: 82
Total Views for June 19 Online Videos: 491
Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $6,433.00
Online Giving: $5,635.38
Total: $12,068.38
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.
Total Views for June 19 Online Videos: 491
Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $6,433.00
Online Giving: $5,635.38
Total: $12,068.38
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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