THIS WEEK AT PEACE   
 November 28-30, 2014 
 

   

In This Issue
Taize First Fridays
Who Are We?
This Week's Poem
San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus
Multifaith Thanksgiving
Advent at Peace United
Cities of Compassion Program
'Like' Us on FACEBOOK
You can 'like us' on FACEBOOK and get connected to all kinds of news and ideas at Peace United Church of Christ.  Even more,  you can use FACEBOOK to connect friends with the interesting ideas and great events at Peace United every week.
Like us on Facebook
Check out this month's issue of news and ideas, here in PDF format!
Have You Visited Recently?
If you have, your visit matters to us.  It's often strange to visit a church for the first time: to see new faces, hear old words spoken in new ways.  We appreciate your trust, and we eagerly await the chance to see you again.

When you return, there will likely be a name-tag with your name on it, a chance for us to greet you more personally.  Always, your questions and your curiosity thrill us.  Return with these, return with your whole selves...

And know that you are God's blessing.

Every day.

potter's hand

Taize Songs & Prayers:
DECEMBER 19

TAIZE describes a way of worship that invites simple song and contemplative prayer.  Our own TAIZE service moves now to the THIRD FRIDAY EVENING of each month.  It runs about an hour, a simple and peaceful way to end your week.

Join us as for a gathering of chant, song and prayer--by candlelight.  We continue on Friday, DECEMBER 19th at 8 pm.

Taize Prayers  
It's a soulful way to connect with your Spirit, and a great way to lean graciously into the weekend.  We gather in the sanctuary at 8.
 
Mystics of all ages are welcome!


 
Prayers for Friends
You're encouraged to make daily prayer a vital part of your spiritual practice.  This week, we hope you'll keep these friends in your prayers:

The family of DENNISE BROWN
The family of BESS BLODGETT
LOU HILDEBRANDT
DONNA NATION recovering from surg.
ANDREA LOSEE recovering from surg.
ANN RUPERT recovering from surg.
All who've had surgery recently
THE PEOPLE OF FERGUSON, MO
THE PEOPLE OF THE UKRAINE
Who We Are...
We're an OPEN & AFFIRMING congregation of the United Church of Christ--which means we take diversity seriously and we welcome all God's children as full and beloved members of our community.

We're part of COPA (which stands for COMMUNITIES ORGANIZED FOR POWER IN ACTION)--and in that way we work in solidarity with peoples of many traditions, bringing justice and decency to public life on the Central Coast.

We're decidedly CHRISTIAN, and in the most inclusive, generous way possible.  We believe that--at its core--the gospel is a call to compassion.  And that's what we try to be about every day, every week.
  Jesus 106

Quick Links
UCC Daily Devotional
Start your day off right. Sign up to receive The United Church of Christ's Daily Devotional, delivered each morning to your e-mail inbox and check out the other resources they offer to help 'Feed Your Spirit'. 
Wider Church Community
Looking for more about our wider church community?

You'll find out more about the

And, the UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST website is a great place for inspiration and connection too!

This Week's Poem

 

O Emmanuel

  

O come, O come, and be our God-with-us,

O long-sought with-ness for a world without,

O secret seed, O hidden spring of light.

Come to us Wisdom, come unspoken Name,

Come Root, and Key, and King, and holy Flame,

O quickened little wick so tightly curled,

Be folded with us into time and place,

Unfold for us the mystery of grace

And make a womb of all this wounded world.

O heart of heaven beating in the earth,

O tiny hope within our hopelessness,

Come to be born, to bear us to our birth,

To touch a dying world with new-made hands

And make these rags of time our swaddling bands.

  

by Malcom Guite - Sounding the Seasons

WHAT'S HAPPENING:
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30
WORSHIP @ 10:30am
Advent swings into town Sunday, as we turn our eyes to the coming of God's light and the radically new initiatives of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  Join us for worship, as we gather around the Advent candles and set our minds on the lovely, renewing presence of God.
ADVENT WREATHS before/after  
Our Sunday School friends invite folks of all ages to join them in making advent wreaths, before (9:30) and after (12 noon) worship.  You'll find all you'll need in the Lounge!
REFLECTIONS FROM THE HOLY LAND  
At 12:15 (in the sanctuary), Dave Grishaw-Jones invites interested friends to join him for reflections around his recent trips in the Middle East.  What kinds of experiences has he had in the Middle East this year?  How have those experiences shaped (and shifted) his sense of mission and discipleship?  What might the church be doing for peace and justice in a radically conflicted region?  We'll be together for an hour...and see where the conversation leads.   
 
   

   


This year's holiday concert promises even more energy, more wonder and more fun!  It's our biggest fundraiser of the year!  INVITE YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS! AND GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!

Peace United Church is a radically inclusive Christian community, open & affirming, committed to a vibrant expression of love and friendship.  This concert's one of the best ways to show your friends just what we mean!



   

MULTIFAITH THANKSGIVING
A Service of Gratitude,
A Gathering of Traditions 

Wednesday, November 26th, 
6pm to 7pm in the Peace United Sanctuary

Friends from a variety of faith traditions and backgrounds will gather to celebrate THANKSGIVING together. Leaders from Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, Native American, Unitarian and Quaker traditions will offer prayers and music in their own language and style -- creating a celebration of our diversity and a deepening of compassion among us. Thanksgiving is a unique opportunity to express our gratitude to one another--for the rich and wonderful ways we express our faith, our passion, our courage and our beliefs.

A special free-will offering will be received for the work of the INTERFAITH SATELLITE SHELTER in Santa Cruz County.  Peace United Church is a sponsoring church and a host site! 

   

GETTING ADVENT STARTED

  

GREENING THE CHURCH FOR CHRISTMAS
Saturday, November 29th @ 9-11am
Join in an intergenerational circle of Peace United friends as we spend a couple of hours decorating the church for Advent and the Christmas holiday. Afterwards we'll gather around the piano for some old-fashioned carols, egg nog and goodies in the Lounge! Join us for a morning of joy, fun and Christmas cheer!

CHRISTMAS PROJECT: ANGELS 
Sunday, November 30th and through the season 
Again this year, we're invited to help migrant families experience some of the joy of Christmas.  You can stop by the table at worship this week and 'adopt' a family--then purchase gifts and share your joy with them!  Look for the Angels Table this week! 
 
ADVENT WREATH CRAFT EVENT
Sunday, November 30th @ 9:00 and again after church
This year again all ages of our church family will join together in making advent wreaths to lead us through the season. Join us before and/or after church in the lounge. If you have a wire wreath form from last year, please bring it to use again.  And anyone who has greenery that can be cut and brought in for the wreaths, we will need plenty! Please bring them the morning of the 30th to the lounge. Thank you!

INTERGENERATIONAL POTLUCK &
SERVICE OF CANDLES AND JOY 
Sunday, December 14th @ 4:30 pm 
Our Advent Potluck takes place on 12/14.  It's a festive, intergenerational affair, beginning with a fabulous potluck feast in the Fellowship Hall.  After eating, we'll head into the Sanctuary for a simple, beautiful event for all ages--featuring a spiral walk through evergreens and candles.  Join us for a lovely, peaceful celebration of the peace of Christmas!

   

ENVISIONING:

COMPASSIONATE SANTA CRUZ 

 
DECEMBER 3rd,
7 pm in the Sanctuary
seattle charter Peace United Church is supporting a project linking Santa Cruz to the "Cities of Compassion" program globally.  Working with other churches and nonprofits, we're helping Mayor Elect, Don Lane, and others in brainstorming around new initiatives.  Join this wider community of friends, from around the city, for a planning session on making Santa Cruz a more compassionate community.  For more information, see Dave Dodson or Dave Grishaw-Jones at Peace United.

   

SACRED CIRCLE DANCE 

DECEMBER 3rd, 7-9pm
This month in Fellowship Hall
Monthly circle dance happens on Wednesday. Dances range from lively to meditative, and each is taught before we dance it. Moving together in a circle is one of the oldest ways in which people have celebrated community and togetherness.

Beginners welcome
No partners needed

FREE

Join us!

   

REMEMBERING...
BESS BLODGETT died at the age of 104 on November 1.  A Celebration of Bess' Life will be held on Tuesday, December 23, at 2 pm at the Dominican Oaks Retirement Community on Paul Sweet Road.  We pray for Bess' many friends and her extended family--in this time of sadness and farewell.

   

FURNISHINGS FOR NEW HOME 
 
We celebrate as one of the WINGS families, a mom with 4 kids, finds housing and moves in this weekend! They are asking for help in gathering needed furniture and supplies to help make it home.
 
They are looking for:
  • 4 twin beds (bunks okay) with pillows & sheets
  • dining table with 6 chairs
  • coffee table
  • comfortable chair
  • 4 dressers (or 3 if one is large)
  • kitchen dishes for 6
  • cookware
  • blender
  • kitchen towels
  • bath towels & washcloths

If you can help, please let Peggy know, peggy.benedum@wingsadvocacy.org or 831 566-3738

   

AMOS AWARD NOMINATIONS
Lift up the Prophets!
Peace United Church of Christ presents the annual Amos award every year on Martin Luther King weekend and is looking for nominations. The Amos award is presented to a faith-based community member, not necessarily from Peace United, who exemplifies the prophetic commitments to human rights, peace and justice. Past recipients from Peace United have been Elizabeth Shilling for her work with Live Oak Community Center and Peter Klotz-Chamberlain for his work with Resource Center for Nonviolence. If you have a nomination, please submit it to Ken Thomas - kenthomas@cruzio.com 

   

SERVING PEACE
If you're intrigued or curious, give us a call and see what might be possible.  Serving Peace is a great way to grow your faith and extend the common good! 

SHELTER SPONSOR COMMITTEE 
Peace United is one of several churches participating in a rotating shelter program for local homeless families.  We host the shelter in our CE Building every Sunday night.  A "Sponsor Committee" of church representatives gathers monthly to oversee the project and advance its mission of compassion and care for families.  If you're interested in representing Peace United on the Committee, email Dave Grishaw-Jones or give him a callThis is an important ministry in compassion and encouragement!

MISSION TEAM 
The Mission Team helps our church follow through on our commitments to compassion and justice--in Santa Cruz County and around the world.  In particular, we help connect Peace United's people to the many opportunities around for service, advocacy and public witness.  Would you like to join us?  Contact Ken Thomas for information on upcoming meetings.
 
PARISH VISITATION TEAM
This team, here at Peace United, offers friendship to members and friends unable to attend church regularly.  Team members call on these folks once a month and maintain contact by phone.  It's a key part of our life together in the body of Christ.  Interested?  Call leader Dave Dodson at 459-9968.

SING, SING, SING!
choir graphic
Once again the Chancel Choir invites members and friends to consider singing a ministry...and join the choir!  Under the direction of Cheryl Anderson, the choir rehearses each Monday evening at 6 pm in the Music Room at Peace United.  Be in touch with Cheryl if have any questions at 277-9017.

   

MISSION TRIP OPPORTUNITY TO CUBA

Global Ministries of Southern California, which is a joint offering between the UCC and DOC (Disciples of Christ), has openings for its mission trip to Cuba from Feb 2-13. Cost is $2300. If interested, contact Quinn Wildman at qwildman@yahoo.com or (831)227-0538. Quinn has gone on mission trips to Latin America every year since 2007, and went to Cuba with the same group in 2010. A work project is planned as part of the trip but no specific skills are required.

   

Peace United is at the dynamic heart of all kinds of community events and gatherings.  You can click through to links for these events here; and let us know what's cooking in your neck of the woods!

   

NOW THAT YOU'VE FOUND US. . . 
We hope you'll join us for a Sunday service sometime soon.  There's a place for you, and a welcome table for you, at PEACE United Church of Christ.   Our values are inclusive and expansive, and we perceive in faith a chance to change the world for the good.  With compassion.

dave gj In the meantime, if I can be helpful to you, I hope you'll give me a call and come in for a cup of tea.  It's my joy to serve this community and to extend God's welcome and affirmation to you. 

Wherever you are on life's journey, you're welcome at PEACE United!

Sincerely,
Dave Grishaw-Jones
Senior Minister at Peace United Church