Weekly E-pistle: Palm Sunday

3/31/2023

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

This Sunday's Service — Palm Sunday: "Holy Week Begins"
Last Sunday's Service — Fifth Sunday in Lent: "Rise Up to New Life"
Creation Justice Team Update
Potluck Survey: We'd Love to Hear from YOU!
Order Your Easter Lily Plant
No Quiet Contemplation Service Thursday, April 6
Maundy Thursday Sign-Up
DUCC Movie Night: Radical Grace, April 12
Soul Collage, April 1
Birthdays & Anniversaries, Prayer Requests, and Financial Stewardship

This Sunday's Service: Palm Sunday

This Sunday begins Holy Week, the most sacred time on the Christian Church calendar. On Sunday, we will focus on two processions: one of cheers and palms (Jesus's procession into Jerusalem) and one of jeers and pain (Jesus's procession to the cross), a reminder that both light and darkness are part of the spiritual journey.

Join us this Sunday at 10 AM (either in-person or streaming live online) for this very powerful Holy Week service. All in attendance will receive palm branches. Message: Pastor Sal. Music: Peter Black and Jeff Spangler.

Download This Sunday's Online Bulletin:

order_of_service_april_2_2023.pdf
File Size:	2111 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Last Week's Service

In the gospel reading for the 5th Sunday in Lent, we'll hear the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. How are we to understand this story spiritually? What did Jesus mean by saying, "I am the resurrection and life?" Please enjoy last week's service, as we explored what it means to experience new life in the Spirit. Message: Pastor Sal Sapienza. Music: Peter Black and Nancy Plantinga.

Here's the Homily!

Creation Justice Team Update

The Creation Justice Team met on March 27. As a follow-up to the book discussion, the team has begun to organize an event where people will learn how to protect their land from development. We also encourage folks to take advantage of the Allegan County Tree Sale before April 14.

More: Look for activities around Dark Sky Week, April 15-22. We are planning to plant a prairie garden in downtown Douglas using seeds from the library. There should soon be a self-checkout library in the Friendship Hall, featuring books related to Creation Justice.
Our next meeting is April 24 at 6 PM. All are welcome.

Potluck Survey: We'd Love to Hear from YOU!

Photo by Stefan Vladimirov on Unsplash

Your Church Council is considering a request to restart the monthly Potluck lunches we held on the second Sunday of each month before the Covid pandemic. Please help our Church Council out by taking this very short survey and sharing your thoughts with us. The deadline for completing the survey is April 15 (a memorable deadline).

Take the Survey 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. For online orders, please let us know the person or persons you wish to remember with your lily by emailing Julie.

No Quiet Contemplation Service
on Thursday, April 6

Photo by Chelsea Shapouri on Unsplash

Because we will be holding our Maundy Thursday service (see below) on April 6, there will be no Quiet Contemplation Service held on that day.

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.

DUCC Movie Night: Radical Grace, April 12

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.

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.

Birthdays & Anniversaries

April 4- Bill Klatt & Jim McHugh, 8- Jim McHugh, Dan Dow
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

Marissa Overweg (Laurie VandenBeldt's granddaughter); Eric Cooley (Jo Cooley's brother); Jack Ferguson; 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 26: 84
Total Views for March 26 Online Videos: 591

Collection Plate & Mailed Donations: $1,699.00
Online Giving: $3,362.15

Total: $5,061.15

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.