Weekly E-Pistle: Transfiguration Sunday

2/21/2020

Timothy Buszka-Hoehn, "The Imposter Syndrome"

Our Pastor Sal is currently on sabbatical, and we have an amazing lineup of inspiring speakers through the end of March (see schedule below). This Sunday, our church member Tim Buszka-Hoehn will give the message, with special music programming by Pamela Chappell and Peter Black.

Tim grew up in a conservative community in Indiana where he lived his life constantly torn between who he was inside and who society wanted him to be. He escaped the battle by finding solace in Douglas, a community which released the chains of self-doubt and has pushed him further than he imagined he could go. He now has a wonderful husband, family, home, and career, sponsored by those who came before him and those who remind all of us to be all we were made to be.

Please join us for 10am service!

A Course In Miracles Made Easy -- Starting Apr 7

Nancy Plantinga and participants will be journeying through the book “A Course in Miracles Made Easy (Mastering the Journey from Fear to Love), by Alan Cohen.

A Course in Miracles, also referred to as ACIM and The Course, is a self-study system of spiritual awakening that teaches the way of inner peace and healing through the power of love and forgiveness. Alan Cohen has been a practitioner and teacher of the Course for 35+ years. The original version of ACIM includes a 600+ page textbook, 365 daily lessons, and a Teacher's Manual. Cohen has taken some of the major teachings of ACIM and brought them into a shorter and more easy-to-understand version. This is a perfect way to begin the journey of ACIM!

There is no financial cost to attend this discussion group, however, you will need to purchase the book and a notebook/journal to help process through your journey of self-discovery.
The discussion group will begin meeting in the Spring Street House on Tuesday, April 14 at 6:30 in Spring Street House, and will continue meeting on the 2ndst and 4th Tuesday of each month through September, or until the entire book has been processed.

Nancy says, "I have started ACIM a few times and gotten bogged down and frustrated with its lengthy text and far-reaching concepts. Yet, the message that I/we need to move from fear to love, from darkness into the Light, truly resonates with me. When I was preparing for my recent talk “Out of Darkness, Into the Light,” I felt strongly guided to get back into my personal journey through the Course. This book by Alan Cohen came forward as well as the desire to form a discussion group to do the same. I'm looking forward to taking this journey with members of my spiritual family!"

If you are interested in being part of this discussion group, please contact Nancy Plantinga. Email her at createpeace4us@gmail.com or call her 616.405.3399

Saugatuck Ash Wednesday Services

For those who wish to observe Ash Wednesday:

All Saints Episcopal is holding Ash Wednesday services at 8am, noon, and 7 pm. The evening service will have hymns. All three Services will offer the imposition of ashes (optional) and Holy Communion (also optional - but all are welcome!).

Ashes-To-Go, with Pastor Sarah from the First Congregational Church, in Downtown Saugatuck
As we begin our Lenten season, open yourself to a "holy interruption"- to be stopped in your tracks and asked: How do you see the Christ at work in your life? Pastor Sarah will have an Ashes-To-Go station set up downtown (look for her near Saugatuck Drug or by the post office.)

2020 Lenten Devotionals
On Sale Soon in the Friendship Hall

Lenten Devotionals for 2020 are on order from the UCC bookstore. They will go on sale for $5 each in the Friendship Hall as soon as they are delivered.

Aspire to Join The Pot-Luck Clean-up Brigade!

Potlucks are so much fun, so delicious, such a great place to collect recipes. And then there's the clean-up! The best part of all! If you want to be part of the few, the proud, the pot-luck clean-up brigade, there's a sign-up sheet for that. In the Friendship Hall. We are looking for new recruits and leaders!

Yarn Swap and 25 Million Stitches,
Feb 26, 6:30pm in the Retreat House

The DUCC Knit Knights would love for you to join us in the Retreat House at 6:30pm, Feb 26. Along with our regular knitting group and a fun free-for-all yarn swap, we'll be welcoming stitchers to contribute to the 25 Million Stitches installation, a craft happening to call attention to the plight of 25 million refugees worldwide. Learn all about it at 25millionstitches.com.

Stephen Ministry Classes Starting Soon

In Matthew 25, Jesus says, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink,
I was a stranger
and you invited me in…”

We have many opportunities to respond to Jesus’ great love by showing that love to others. Stephen Ministry is one of the ways the people of DUCC show love to people who have deep needs for care. We will soon begin our training course for new Stephen Ministers. Please contact Paul Burdick or Laurie Van Den Beldt if you would like to apply to be part of this important ministry.

Stephen Ministers care for those who are experiencing...

Hospitalization
Loneliness
Terminal or chronic illness
Loss of a loved one
Retirement changes
Discouragement
Job loss or change
Separation and divorce
Childbirth
Spiritual crisis

We also care for those who are:

New Church Members
Homebound
Looking for a caring, Christian friend

Stephen Ministers are lay members selected, trained and supervised to provide effective care. At present, three of our lay ministers are engaged in one-to-one caring and confidential relationships with people in our community. Additionally, we have three more ministers now available to provide this kind of love and support to those who are hurting. And, beginning March 2, four or five more church members will begin their training to become Stephen Ministers.

Everyone goes through difficult times. Having someone to care, to listen, and to share God’s love with you can help you get through the experience. If you, or someone you know, might benefit from having a Stephen Minister, please call our church office to get in touch with one of our Stephen Ministry Leaders. When referring a friend or family member, please receive their permission for a contact to be made.

Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act Amendment -- Petitions Circulating!

Language has been filed with the state Board of Canvassers to expand Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to include a ban on discrimination against the LGBTQ community. The Fair and Equal Michigan committee has until May 27 to collect at least 340,047 signatures from valid registered voters in the state to qualify for the 2020 ballot. watch for your chance to sign this non-partisan petition in the Friendship Hall after services in the coming weeks.

Try to track your waste for one week. Sort it into categories. Then look hard: How much of it can be eliminated, reused, or replaced with recyclables? What can you challenge yourself to live without or live with differently? If we all did just one thing differently and mindfully followed the waste streams we create, we could change everything. Meanwhile, stay tuned for news from the Creation Justice Team about upcoming Tri-Government conversations about our recycling services and options for managing our waste. Follow the week-by-week actions in the UCC's 52 Ways to Care for Creation by following this link.

Financial Stewardship

February 16: Attendance: 82
Collection Plate: $835 Online Giving: $689
Total: $1,524

Thank you for your generous giving which
allows us to sustain our church community and our mission of service.
You can also give securely online by clicking ONLINE GIVING.