Open & Affirming Sunday

6/23/2023

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

This Sunday's Service — 4th Sunday after Pentecost: "Open & Affirming Sunday"
Last Sunday's Service Video — 3rd Sunday after Pentecost: "Father's Day & Juneteenth"
Thank You for Helping Children First Lakeshore
This Sunday! DUCC Annual Meeting, after Service
Opera Modo!
Call for Altar Flowers!
Wellness Team Encourages CPR Training
Volunteers needed for Venetian Fest! Sign Up Online!
Forest Bathing: A Guided Experience, July 8
Tickets are on Sale! West Shore Aware Gala, August 19
Minutes and Reports
Birthdays & Anniversaries, Prayer Requests, and Financial Stewardship

This Sunday: "Open & Affirming" Sunday

Every year on the last Sunday in June, United Church of Christ congregations around the country celebrate "Open & Affirming" Sunday.

Over 30 years ago, Douglas UCC was among the very first churches in the entire United States to become recognized as an "Open & Affirming" church, meaning that we are a congregation that welcomes and celebrates the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in our church's life and ministry. All in attendance on Sunday will receive a free Douglas UCC "Love is Love" button (pictured above).

Pease join us this Sunday at 10 AM (either in-person or streaming live online), as we celebrate the special spiritual gifts with which the LGBTQ+ community blesses our church family, our Saugatuck/Douglas community, and our world. Message: Pastor Sal Sapienza. Music: Peter Black and Jeff Spangler

Download This Sunday's Online Bulletin:

order_of_service_june_25_2023.pdf
File Size:	228 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Last Sunday's Service Video — 3rd Sunday after Pentecost: "Father's Day & Juneteenth"

Last Sunday we will celebrated both Father's Day and Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day. We put our on focus on the gospel reading from Sunday's lectionary, in which Jesus calls the first apostles to go out and declare that the Kingdom of Heaven has come near. Please enjoy the service video, with an inspiring message from Pastor Sal Sapienza and uplifting music from Peter Black and Nancy Plantinga.

Here's the Homily

Thank You for Helping Children First Lakeshore!

Douglas United Church of Christ presented a $5,000 check to Children First Lakeshore, a Saugatuck/Douglas-based non-profit dedicated to feeding children affected by hunger throughout Allegan County. Pictured (left to right) Janet Schmidt, Glen McNeil, Joe Blodgett, Jim Sellman, Pastor Sal Sapienza, Beverly Hawkes, Michael Mok, George Stoutin.

This Sunday! DUCC Annual Meeting,
after Service

Our Annual Church Business Meeting will be held on Sunday, June 25, at 11:30 AM in the Friendship Hall after service. All church members are wholeheartedly encouraged to attend.

Pastor Sal and our church leaders will be giving us updates. We'll affirm new Council members, and we’ll be approving last year's minutes and reviewing and approving the church budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

You can email Julie to request a copy of the budget for review, and click below to download a copy of last year's meeting minutes, which will also be posted in the Friendshiip Hall.

2022_draft_annual_meeting_minutes.pdf
File Size:	110 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Opera Modo!

Thank you to all who attended Saturday night's performance of "D[x]n Pasquale" at Douglas UCC. The cast and crew from Opera MODO were absolutely extraordinary!

Call for Altar Flowers!

Photo by Kendall Scott on Unsplash

Summer is here, and so are the blossoms! If you would like to dress our altar with lovely blooms, see the Altar Flower sign-up sheet in the Friendship Hall. Just write your name and a note next to the date, and tell us if you would like your flowers to hold the memory of a special event or a loved one. Or email Julie Ridl to help you.

Wellness Team Encourages CPR Training

Our Wellness Team encourages all members to gain or refresh their skills in CPR. Lots of local training from Holland Heart Safe Community ahead:

Saturday, July 8, 9am & 10am: 1-hour Hands-only CPR Class.
Wednesday, July 19, 4pm & 5pm: 1-hour Hands-only CPR Class.
Friday, July 21, 9am & 10am: 1-hour Hands-only CPR Class.

All classes held at Evergreen Commons, 480 State St, Holland, MI 48423. Email or call [email protected] or 616-834-0602 to request a spot. Max capacity: 30 per class.
Interested in a CPR Class, but nothing listed works for your schedule? Email/call at [email protected], 616-834-0602 and let them know you are interested!

Volunteers Needed for Venetian Fest!
Sign Up Online!

The Rotary Club of Saugatuck/Douglas is looking for volunteers to help with the Venetian Festival on July 28 and 29. One of our three local Rotary initiatives is to protect and enhance the waterways (and local ecosystems). As a starting point, we have opted for a laser light show instead of the fireworks, and if Rotary continues to carry the mantle for this event in coming years, we plan to include an awareness/educational component to the weekend. Volunteers who sign up by June 25 will receive a really cool t-shirt with the new logo! See church member Kirsten Stannis (or the website) for details or questions.

Forest Bathing: A Guided Experience, July 8

Photo by kazuend on Unsplash

Shinrin-yoku, or Forest Bathing, is a Japanese practice that encourages you to slow down and reconnect with the natural world through all your senses. Our Creation Justice Team is partnering with the Saugatuck-Douglas District Library to offer you a free, guided forest bathing experience.

On Saturday, July 8, join Katie Venechuk (of In Your Element), at either 10.30 am or 12.30 pm for a gentle 90-minute interaction with nature in a local park. Directions will be provided to participants after registration. Although there is no charge for this program, space is limited, so please call or email the library to reserve your spot.

All About Shinrin-yoku

Tickets are on Sale! West Shore Aware Gala, August 19

The Summer Event is Coming! The White Party Rainbow Reunion is August 19, and tickets are on sale now. Follow the button below for tickets, sponsorship opportunities, and more details.

Tickets and Info

Minutes and Reports

Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash

pastors_report_june_2023.pdf
File Size:	133 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

approved_church_council_minutes_may_2023.pdf
File Size:	202 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Birthdays & Anniversaries

June 25- Jack & Julie Ridl, 26- El Clough, 27- Stephen Lewis
28- Jodi Berault & Chris Maitner, 29- Jodi Berault,
30 – Carol Brown

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

Stan Greene; Betsy York; Dick Bont; Tom Fahlstrom Sr. (Tom Fahlstrom's Dad); Mary Westenbroek; Brian Aikens; Family of Doug Smith; Jerry Elpers and family (Beth Howley's Dad); Edie Plantinga (Nancy Plantinga's mother); Joyce Potts (Ed Korson's Friend); Eric Cooley (Jo Cooley's brother); Nicole and John (Wendy Hamlin's daughter-in-law and son)

Financial Stewardship

In-Person Attendance June 18: 127
Total Views for June 18 Online Videos: 449

Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $2,590.00
Online Giving: $2,825.75
Total: $5,415.75

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.