THIS WEEK AT PEACE   
 October 17-19, 2014 
 

   

Taize Songs & Prayers: OCT 17
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, October 17 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!


 
In This Issue
Taize First Fridays
Who Are We?
This Week's Poem
This Sunday at Peace United
Day of the Dead
Serving Peace
Harvest Madrigal Dinner
'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.
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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

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 DOROTHY HEAL
BESS BLODGETT
LOU HILDEBRANDT
SARA, BARRETT and WILDER HUTTO
DONNA NATION recovering from surg.
THE TONEY FAMILY
THE BRANDALISE FAMILY
KAYLA HOESING, JAMES BALCO & DON
ANDREA LOSEE recovering from surg.
All who've had surgery recently
All who are giving birth this summer
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

  

Seek Him in all souls...

good or bad,

attractive or unattractive

in the depths of each...

there is God.


 Harzrat Inayat Khan


 

 

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19th
WORSHIP @ 10:30am 
Paul's Letter to the Philippians offers some of the New Testament's oldest and strangest "Jesus language": "Though he was in the form of God," Paul says, "he did not count equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness" (Phil 2:6-7).  Paul offers Jesus as a shining example and urges his friends in Christ to 'empty' themselves as Jesus did.  "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit," he says, "but in humility regard others as better than yourselves."

How do we take on the example of Jesus in our own lives?  What does it mean to 'empty' ourselves in his same spirit?  In his meditation this week, Dave Grishaw-Jones wonders about emptiness, prayer and faith.  How does a life of self-emptying humility fill you with confidence and purpose?

As always, the church is dynamic, inclusive and full of spirit!  We've got jazz, the chancel choir and a cast of many from all walks of life.  Join us for communion, prayer and song!   



   

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26

8:30: Fall Baptismal Celebration:
Join us at West Cliff and Almar for our fall celebration of baptismal choice, faith and the power of water!  Call Dave Grishaw-Jones at 426-2010 if you'd like to be baptized or to renew your baptismal vows.

10:30: Day of the Dead
We celebrate our annual 
DAY OF THE DEAD later in the morning.  Our Sunday Schoolers and Youth will create an altar at 9am that morning - come join us then or bring your photos & mementos to place on the altar with you to church.
 

   

FALL CLASSES
We're delighted to offer these two unique classes to all members and friends this fall.  You'll find contact information below.

SPIRITUAL PATHS TO HEALING 
SUNDAYS, 5 pm to 6:30 pm in Fellowship Hall

blind healing Beginning Sunday, October 12, this 8-week series offers an extended conversation around the arts and practices of healing and wholeness.  Each week, we'll welcome a practitioner from a particular spiritual tradition (from Judaism to Buddhism, from Islam to Christianity).  And that practitioner will help us understand the tradition's commitments and practices around health and well-being.  For more information, contact the office at 426-2010 or see the October edition of "Still Speaking."

This exciting multifaith course is sponsored by Chadeish Yameinu Jewish Renewal Community and Peace United Church of Christ. 

CONFLICT & CRISIS IN ISRAEL-PALESTINE 
TUESDAYS, October 7-December 2, 6 to 7:45 pm
at UCSC

This Cowell College course is open this fall on Tuesday evenings.  We'll have a carpool leaving from Peace United Church at 5:30 pm each Tuesday night.  From 6 to 7:45 each week, a special lecturer will offer perspective on the region and the conflict.  From 8 to 9, church folks are invited, if able, to participate in a discussion of the material presented.

For information on the carpool, call Carol Trabing at 951 250-0429.  For more about the course and its schedule, contact Dave Grishaw-Jones at the church.

MOSAIC: FOR YOUNG ADULTS, STUDENTS
SUNDAYS, 4 pm to 5:30 pm in the Library

Dave Grishaw-Jones hosts a weekly gathering of students and young adults--those of us interested in exploring faith and questioning life and experiencing prayer and communion.  All young adults are welcome--including college students on the local scene.  We meet in the library just off the main office--and the fun begins Sunday, October 5.

THURSDAY BIBLE STUDY

THURSDAYS, 12:30 to 2 pm, every week

Again this fall, Dave Grishaw-Jones welcomes members and friends to a mid-week bible study, each Thursday afternoon in the library.  We gather to share scripture and reflect on its meaning in our lives.  And we always enjoy new epiphanies and good friends.  All are welcome! 

   

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.

   

 HARVEST MADRIGAL DINNER
  Sunday, November 9
  6:30 pm
  in Fellowship Hall


 Come enjoy the Chancel Choir    and Children of the Musical  Mondays program under  the direction of Cheryl Anderson. It all supports the  music  program at Peace.

 Tickets are $40 adults / $20 children and must be  reserved or purchased in advance (vegetarian option  available).

 Call the church office @ 426-2010.

   


 NOVEMBER 23rd 4:30-7:30
  In Fellowship Hall

 Mark your calendar and plan to stay after church
 for an All-Church Congregational Gathering and  Meeting.

   

 

 It's our 25th season of Supper Club and we want  everyone to be part of this fun group.  There are many  benefits to being a Supper Clubber but, put simply, it  provides us a wonderful opportunity to get to know  each other better in a social setting.   So, how does  Supper Club work?  

 

 Supper Club is divided into a number of smaller groups  each consisting of six or eight people (made up of  couples, or a mix of singles and couples).  The  individual groups usually meet in each other's homes  three or four times during the year to share a meal  provided by its members-you may be asked to bring an  appetizer, salad, or dessert while it's likely the  host/hostess will provide the main entr�e.  While  most  groups hold dinners in members' homes, we also  have  a restaurant group for those who prefer to eat  out. 

 It's easy to be a Supper Clubber!   

 

 Just contact:

 Joanna Hildebrandt, 438-7874 johilde@comcast.net    OR

 Sue Robinson, 429-1597, suelloyd@cruzio.com

 

   

 NONVIOLENCE IS   

 PARTICIPATORY:

  Resource Center for Nonviolence   

  Annual  Dinner & Program

 

 Friday, October 24
th
 @ Peace United

 

 5-6:00 pm:  Social Hour and

Silent Auction

 6:00 pm:  Dinner (Gourmet 

Vegetarian fare)

 7:00 pm:  Program featurin

 political scientist, author and  professor, Erica Chenoweth,  speaking on

"Nonviolence is  Participatory"

 

 Dr. Chenoweth co-authored "Why Civil Resistance  Works."  She's an Associate Professor at the University  of Denver's Josef Korbel School of  International  Studies and an Associate Researcher at  the Peace  Research Institute.

 

 This dinner is a fundraiser for the RCNV. The program  only charge is $8 to 25, sliding scale. For information  on dinner reservations, call 423-1626.

 

   


TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28th @ 7:00
 Bookshop Santa Cruz 
 Author Talk with 
Azar Nafisi
 in Peace United's Sanctuary

 Azar Nafisi, the bestselling author of Reading Lolita  in  Tehran, will discuss and sign copies of her new  book,The Republic of Imagination: America in Three  Books - a hymn to the power of fiction to change lives.

 Tickets are $31.50 and include two tickets to the  event and one copy of The Republic of Imagination
 

   


 OCTOBER 30th 4:30-7:30
 In Fellowship Hall

 Bring your family for a spooky, fun time. Dress up in  your wildest costume for the fashion show!
 A $5 donation is requested, but no one turned away.
 For questions contact Sharon Papo 425-5422 x101,  spapo@diversitycenter.org

 Co-sponsored by The Diversity Center, Theta Pi Sigma,  UCSC Cantu Center and Peace United.

   

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!

MUSICAL EVENTS
LECTURES & READINGS
CHILDREN'S & FAMILY EVENTS
SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS
INTERFAITH EVENTS
LGBT EVENTS

   

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