In this week's E-Pistle, you'll find:
"Sowing Seeds of Love" - Sunday at Douglas UCC
In Sunday's Gospel reading, Jesus tells "The Parable of the Sower." The spiritual principle of sowing and reaping is common throughout the Bible. This Sunday at our "Video Worship Service," we'll learn how to put this powerful spiritual principle into practice.
Message: Pastor Sal. Music: Peter Black and Star Huggett. Tune in on Sunday at 10 AM via our Facebook page, YouTube channel, or here on our website. Last Week's Service
Here is the video of last week's service, in which Pastor Sal explores and celebrates both our independence and our inter-dependence as children of God. With special music by Peter Black and Brenda Marcy.
The New Church Directory is Here!
Big Kudos to Mike VerMerris, who has been working diligently to update our church directory with new members and old, even including our Pandemic Class of new members, who we will meet very soon! Last changes are being added this week, and Mike will be sending out the final version to your email box as soon as he can. Creating the directory is as huge and complicated as it looks, and Mike has handled it for us for years. Please take the time to thank him for all he does for our community! If you haven't received a copy, but want one, please write to us at OnlineChurch@douglasucc.org for your copy. Recommended: Leda Summit, July 21
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.
Church Leadership Changes
As we announced during our church's Annual Meeting, we are celebrating some leadership changes in our Church council and PRC committee. We thank and honor Glynis Whitcomb and Greg Sherman, who are stepping down from the Pastoral Relations Committee after having served their two-year terms and seeing us through Pastor Sal's sabbatical leave. And we welcome Betsy York and David Miedema to that team. Also, we are honoring Sue Fleming, who has completed her two-year term on the Church Council, and welcome Stan Greene to her at-large position. Thank you to all of these leaders for their hard work and faithful service to the church!
4 Paws Shares Big News
Miichael Bojko, President of 4 Paws Lakeshore, shared this great news: "What an exciting moment it was when 4 Paws Lakeshore presented a check for $50,000 to Wishbone Pet Rescue Alliance on Sunday, June 28. Your generosity, doubled with the matching funds, will make such an amazing difference in the lives of these all-but-forgotten animals. Good news to share during these difficult times. There is good going on in our community! Thank you to all our of our church friends who helped us get to this goal!"
Friendship Hall Roundup
Kudos shared for all the Concert Makers: Nancy Plantinga, Peter Black, the Lakeshore Community Chorus and DUCC Musicians who made A Celebration of Summer, the online concert fundraiser for our local Rotary Club. Well done to all, and thanks for sharing your many talents!
Christian Neighbors Needs Masks for KIDS! The call is out for masks for school kids that will be included in their back-to-school backpacks. Cotton masks, three layers, any style, all sizes because they will be needed 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. Peter Black and Robert Trenary (above) have made the move to Douglas, and are happily enjoying the Village Life. (Deer in the yard is a revelation for our city boy!) So, if you thought you saw Peter biking through town, you DID! Jeff Spangler is doing just great after surgery on his carotid artery. We caught him after a long morning walk in his Palm Beach home, looking extremely well and thankful for the outreach from his DUCC family. Birthdays & Anniversaries
July 12- Ben Lemanski, 14- Kathy Austin & Mike Boston, 15- Scott Overweg, Eve Sandstrom, Marybeth Sims, 16- Paul Burdick & Michael Valdez, 18-John Ortman
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. Prayers
Dave Bazany, Barbara Klatt (Barb Lucier's friend), family and friends of Pastor Ron Van Lente ( First United Methodist Church, South Haven), Jeff Spangler; Myron Freund; 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; 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).
Ruth VandenBosch is asking for special prayers for her transgender clients and for all the transgender folk whose lives are being disrupted by threats to their healthcare and coverage for their reassignment surgeries. Please hold them in your prayers. Prayers for the residents of mid-Michigan, recovering from flooding. 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 Stewardship
July 5
Attendance for Online Services: 540 June Podcast Downloads: 457 Weekly Online Giving: $2,982.30 Total: $2,982.30 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 |
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56 Wall Street • Douglas, Michigan 49406
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