Weekly E-Pistle: Seventh Sunday of Easter

5/22/2020

In this week's E-Pistle, you'll find:

"Ascension Sunday," Sunday Service Announcement
Last Sunday's Video Links
United in Song Concert Links and Kudos
2020 Pride Celebration Plans
Free Online Rain Garden Class
Pentecost Selfie Party!
Support for Hannah/Star's legislative reform effort!
Social Groups Meeting Online
Birthdays & Anniversaries, Prayer List, and Financial Stewardship

Ascension Sunday:

This Sunday is "Ascension Sunday," as we celebrate Jesus' ascension into heaven.
Did Jesus really disappear into a cloud in front of his apostles?
Tune in this Sunday to our "Video Worship Service," as we learn all about the meaning and symbolism of Jesus' Ascension and what it means for own personal spiritual ascensions.
Message: Pastor Sal. Music: Peter Black, Nancy Plantinga, Kelly and Star Huggett.

Tune in on Sunday at 10 AM via our Facebook page, YouTube channel, or here on our website.

Watch Last Sunday's Service:

Thank you to all who tuned in last Sunday for our Video Worship Service. We had hundreds of people watching and commenting from Michigan, Illinois, California, New Mexico, Kansas, and even Australia! Thank you to our reader, Chris Clark, who joined us from his home in Fennville; to Peter Black for providing the music from his home in Grand Rapids; to Stan Greene for singing a beautiful song for us from his home in Saugatuck; and to Gregg Smith for recording and editing. If you missed the service, you can watch it here.

Thanks to Everyone for Watching and Giving!!

If you missed United in Song on Friday, here it is! So many people to thank, including more than 16 DUCC musicians, Peter Black for his performance and for backing our vocalists, and to Gregg Smith for editing and Pastor Sal for emceeing the event. Of course, big KUDOS go to Nancy Plantinga, for conceiving the plan and encouraging musicians to contribute. Together we raised more than $1,000 for Christian Neighbors! Rumors abound that another concert is brewing for the summer! Stay tuned!

2020 Pride is Not Canceled!!!

The 2020 Community Pride committee has come up with a Covid-safe way to celebrate this year. On June 6 beginning at 11:30a.m, we welcome your vehicles, scooters, motorcycles as we social distance and promenade through the community in a Care-A-Van. Route begins at 2948 Blue Star Hwy, Douglas. Follow the Community Pride Event Page for details.

CJT Master Rain Garden Learning Online

The Creation Justice Team has revived their Rain Garden event, planned for this spring by bringing the learning program online ($40 class is free if you sign up before June 1). To learn why you should care about Rain Gardens and for details about the events, tune in here.

May 31 is Pentecost Sunday, when we traditionally invite church members and friends to wear red to our service, and we take our annual group photo! This year, we'd love it if you would take a photo of yourself watching the Pentecost service online while wearing red, and send it to [email protected]. We will use the photos to make a memento of this time to share with you.

Star Huggett's team is gathering signatures in support of important plastics legislation

This petition from the West Michigan Social and Environmental Justice Team asks Chair James Lower of the Michigan legislature to give HB 4500 a fair hearing. HB 4500 repeals PA 389 of 2016, a law that prevents local governments from regulating single-use plastics. In repealing this, HB 4500 does not mandate that local governments put regulations on single-use plastics; it merely gives them the option to do so. Giving local governments jurisdiction over this is integral to reversing the plastics crisis by holding corporations accountable. Follow this link to sign!

Social Groups Meeting,
Providing Online Support

Spring Street Men’s Group and the True North Women's Group are still meeting via Zoom. "We find great comfort in our tenderness and deepened friendships in these times," says Max. Contact Max Brown with questions about Men's Group and Kathleen Mueller about True North.

Online Giving Reminder

Your Church is working hard to provide for our community and our spirit during this pandemic, continuing to do our peace and justice work.

Without a Sunday collection plate, we are asking church members and friends to consider adopting a new habit of giving to the church: either online or by mail.

It's so easy to give online from our website. Just click here.

Or please consider mailing a check to:
Douglas UCC, 56 Wall Street, PO Box 519, Douglas, MI 49406

We are so very grateful for your continued support of our church, especially during this time.

Birthdays and Anniversaries

May 24- Ron Beisel, 28- Kessie Karg

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 List

Freddy Bell (Wendy Hamlin's grandson, Fred Hamilin's great-grandson); Terry Stough (Catz Dienes' son); Bob Donohue (Jack and Peg Donohue's brother); The family of Jim Lemons; Philip Raywood; Ted Sommer; Molly Gaspar (Mike Valdez' sister); Phyllis Wallis (Kathy Austin's mother); Kristen Molitor (Ann Hopkins' daughter); John Willming; Drew Carter; Ferman Sims (father of Duce Sims); Howard McLauchlan (brother-in-law of Dale and Ted); Jeff Cooley (Jo Cooley's brother); Marcia Sullivan (Jo Cooley's friend), Len Lynch (Kathleen Mueller's brother); Curtis Coffin (Marty Coffin's brother).

Our educators, the caregivers and hospital and care center workers during this Covid-19 pandemic. For the researchers and scientists working on effective tests and treatments for Covid-19. For the leaders and volunteers in every state and city who are stepping up to take care of people every day.

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/remove a name from the Prayer List, please email us.

approved_church_council_minutes_april_2020.pdf
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pastors_report_may_2020.pdf
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Financial Stewardship

May 17
Attendance for Online Services: 634
Weekly Online Giving: $2,568.76
Thank you!!

Your generous giving allows us to sustain our church community and our mission of service. Please consider giving online, which is easily done by clicking ONLINE GIVING.

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