Weekly E-Pistle: Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

7/17/2020

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

"Climbing the Spiritual Ladder"- Sunday's Service Notes
Last Week's Service Video, "Nurturing the God Seed Within."
Welcome Spring 2020 Class of New Members!
Congregational Care Team in Search of Leadership
PFLAG Holland/Lakeshore Zoom meeting July 17, 7pm
DUCC Directory, Last Updates (for Even More Church Members!) Headed for Your InBox!
LEDA Online Summit on Race and Inclusion is Online July 21
Friendship Hall Roundup!
Giving Online, all the Links You Need
Birthdays, Prayers, Financial Stewardship Report

"Climbing the Spiritual Ladder" - Sunday at DUCC

This Sunday, we will explore the Old Testament passage from this week's lectionary: the story of "Jacob's Ladder." In it, Jacob has a dream of a long ladder connecting the earthly realm with the spiritual realm. Did you know that you, too, have access to Jacob's Ladder? Join us for our video worship service this Sunday, as we explore this ancient Scripture passage together.
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:

What will you sow, what will you nurture into fruit? Are you tending the God seed that's in all of us, or the noxious weeds of fear, jealousy, anger, hurt? Pastor Sal explores this powerful metaphor used in many faith and wisdom traditions, and in Jesus' most famous teachings. Also meet our full new members' class! Music by Peter Black and Star Huggett, and reading by Chris Clark.

Welcome New Members!

Last Sunday, we officially welcomed 17 new members to our church! Yes, even with our church building being closed for four months, our church continues to grow! We welcome:
Top row (left to right): Tracey Shafroth; Joyce and Kelly Wright; Jim Kern; Liz Wilson.
Middle: Tim Lemanski; Greg and Sheryll VanPortFleet; Barb and Tim Schipper; Becca Wasso.
Bottom Row: Mark and Marjorie Reiman; Jeff Chinski and Bill Briggs; Jack and Rebecca Klott.

Congregational Care Team Facilitator:

Thank you to our church member, Cindy Winkler, who is stepping down as facilitator of our church's Congregational Care Team. We are so grateful to Cindy for her leadership and years of service in this role. We are currently seeking a new Congregational Care Team Facilitator. The facilitator receives incoming care requests (for meals, rides, shopping, etc.) from congregants in need, and then contacts Congregational Care Team members about meeting those needs. If you think you may be interested in serving as our new Congregational Care Team Facilitator, please email Pastor Sal for more information.

Final Directory Coming to an Inbox Near You!

Michael VerMerris had a lot of folks to add to this edition of the DUCC Church Directory 2020-2021! And then there were more! So the updated version will land in your in-box over the weekend. And if you don't get one, but want one, write to us at [email protected] for your copy!

PFLAG Holland/Lakeshore
Zoom meeting July 17, 7pm

PFLAG is holding their July PFLAG Holland/Lakeshore Zoom meeting on Friday, July 17, beginning at 7 pm. They have invited therapist and rights-for-all advocate Sara A. Showalter Van Tongeren, LMSW to join in the online meeting.

The program will be a discussion of two topics:
(1) responses to the June 15 Supreme Court decision that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 barring workplace discrimination protects gay and transgender employees, and
(2) responses and future plans regarding the Holland Non-Discrimination Ordinance.

The Zoom meeting link is available by emailing the meeting coordinator at this address.
Topic: PFLAG Holland/Lakeshore
Time: Jul 17, 2020 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

July 21, LEDA Summit on Race & Inclusion, Online!

Our Social Justice team encourages you to register and attend the Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance (LEDA) annual Summit on Race and Inclusion being held online July 21, 9a.m. to 4pm. The day-long conference examines the effects of racial disparities and explores strategies for their elimination, involving hundreds of participants from across the state of Michigan. Registration fees support the ongoing work of this vital organization. Learn about the summit and register here.

Friendship Hall Roundup

We spent most of our time hearing the beautiful stories from new members, about how they discovered DUCC and made their decisions to join the church. (See New Members Story, above). After many nods of recognition and Namastes and quite a few sniffles, we gave them a big virtual round of applause!
We discussed our Governor's requirement to wear masks, and the spiking of Michigan's numbers again since opening the state. Please know that we are all required to wear masks indoors in public places and outdoors in crowded places. And businesses and organizations must turn away anyone from their doors who are not wearing a mask, with few exceptions.
Ruth VanDenBosch needs a Bella-the-dog sitter on July 21. She will drive friends to Grand Rapids for surgery that day, and is looking for a sitter for her wonderful dog. Bella is an easy pup to care for, quite a lap dog. Please contact Ruth if you can care for Bella on July 21 either in her home or yours.
If you are a Mask Maker, please consider donating masks in various sizes to Christian Neighbors for their Kids' backpacks program. They request cotton masks, three layers, any style, all sizes for elementary to high school kids. Please wrap each mask in plastic and designate them for the school backpacks in your packaging as you drop them off at Saint Peter's.
Many of us shared Kudos for Linda Charvat for sharing her gifts of rhododendrons, azaleas, and pieris, so freely with the church and church members. Our gardens will be a riot of blooms in the spring, including in front of the Friendship Hall! And then we can thank her again!

Thank You for Exploring Online Giving!

We appreciate that our church members and friends have responded to the pandemic by giving online and keeping our work in the world thriving through generous giving.

Of course, online giving is available through both our website and Facebook pages. But you might prefer to use our online payment app, Give+ from your smartphone. Or you can manage single or repeating donations through text-to-give, by texting your donation amount to (844) 931-2849.

However you choose to support our work, we thank you so much for your help! Every bit matters!

Birthdays & Anniversaries

July 21- Carol Cunningham, 22- Larry Fuerst, 24- Elizabeth Estes, Michael Mok, Jerry Nelson, 24-Elaine & Alton Overweg, 25- Kelly Wright

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

Patricia Carr (Debra Carr's sister), Barbara Klatt (Barb Lucier's friend), Myron Freund; Terry Stough (Catz Dienes' son); Bob Donohue (Jack and Peg Donohue's brother); Ted Sommer; Phyllis Wallis (Kathy Austin's mother); Drew Carter; Jeff Cooley (Jo Cooley's brother); Marcia Sullivan (Jo Cooley's friend), Len Lynch (Kathleen Mueller's brother); Curtis Coffin (Marty Coffin's brother).

Prayers for all of our Covid-19 pandemic first responders, and for the researchers and scientists working on effective tests and treatments for Covid-19. Prayers for all in the military and their families; all who are homeless or addicted or abused or neglected or rejected or hungry; The UCC; the Grand West Association; our Church Council; our Stephen Ministers; our church committees; our communities, our schools, our nation and our planet.

To add or remove a name from the Prayer List, please email us.

Financial Stewarship

July 12
Attendance for Online Services: 442
Facebook Giving: July 1-15: $196.90
July 15 Collection Plate (Mailed-in Donations): $3,700
Weekly Online Giving: $1,821
Total: $5,717.90

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.

Or you may send checks by mail to:
Douglas Congregational United Church of Christ
56 Wall Street, PO Box 519
Douglas, MI 49406