Peace United Church of Christ
August 21 - 23, 2015
We believe in wonder and gratitude.  We practice extravagant welcome and curiosity and
celebrate our many, many ways of being human.  We strive for compassionate living and peacemaking in service with others.  When you visit, we hope you'll find a delightfully diverse, deliberately Christian, and decidedly progressive church!  Join us this Summer as we live into the Light of the Spirit...and practice the ways of peace as a people of God...
This Sunday
August 23 @ Peace 
                

Come join us for our annual 

BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS

You're  invited to bring beloved pets of all kinds, stuffed animals or pictures of dear and departed furry friends. 
It's loud! It's joyous! 
It's our annual blessing 
for all creatures, great and small!


Why this celebration of animal life? Humankind is only one of a multitude of species that inhabit this wild planet.  Yet we often believe that the world and all its inhabitants to have been created expressly for us. All summer long, we've been considering our responsibility to care for the earth and all its creatures. On this very special Sunday, we intentionally allow creation to be our scripture, listening for the song of God in the voices of the animals who bring so much blessing, healing, and joy to our lives all year long. Join us as we raise a barking, singing, playing chorus of praise! This Sunday, we're led in worship by Yael Lachman, by our Chancel Choir and Cheryl Anderson, and by the whole joyful, barking, wiggling chorus of creatures who will be our special guests. As always, your spirit, and your song, make us complete!


Deadline for Registration is September 4th: Retreat with Peace this Fall!

All-Church Retreat at Camp Monte Toyon

September 19-20, 2015

 

As autumn arrives, come away with your church family to Camp Monte Toyon, a beautiful and restful retreat center! Rest in the woods, share a conversation with a friend, breathe, and pray. Fun for all ages featuring: hiking, crafts, age specific programs, campfire sing along, worship, and starlit nights.

 

The retreat begins Saturday, September 19 with check-in at 11:00am followed by camp provided lunch. We will depart after worship on Sunday.

 

Adults and youth (11 years and older): $80

Child (6-11): $40 (additional children ages 6-11 in each family are free; children 5 and under are free)

Includes lodging and three meals (Sat. lunch through Sun. breakfast.)  Partial scholarships are available!

 

To register: Bring or send this form and payment (made out to Peace United with RETREAT in the memo line) by Friday, September 4th to Peace UCC, 900 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060.

 


Coming up @ Peace
EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

Starting Tuesday, September 1st  TUESDAY CRAFTERNOONS  
Adults and kids of all ages are invited to bring  any craft or handwork project you enjoy, and join us for a relaxing afternoon of crafting. If you don't have a project to work on, no problem: we'll provide some crafting supplies each week, along with tea and hot cocoa. Everyone is welcome, so bring your neighbors and friends! We'll be in the Fireside Lounge, every Tuesday from 3:30 to 5:00.

Saturday, September 12th @ 10am: Beach Cleanup at Moran Lake State Beach
Join us as we celebrate the beauty of the day, and care for our "adopted" beach! 

Saturday-Sunday,September 19-20 ALL CHURCH RETREAT
Join us for rest and play in the redwoods at Camp Monte Toyon in Aptos! Pick up a registration form in the church lobby or from the office or download here.

Sunday, September 27th  SUNDAY SCHOOL KICK-OFF & ALL-CHURCH BBQ 
Join us right after worship for our annual fall barbecue lunch! We'll have games, a bounce house for kids, great food -- and lots of time to visit with friends new and old as we all return from our summer adventures!
Peace Makes a Difference!
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY CHURCHES RESPOND TO TRAGEDY 

 

In these difficult weeks following the tragedy at the Tannery Arts Center, we hold in our hearts the Middleton family, and all those who are grieving Maddy's death. We also continue to pray for AJ Gonzalez and his family. To help all those affected, the churches of Santa Cruz County have set up a fund to assist Maddy's family with living expenses, and to provide trauma and grief counseling, along with social and community services, to those affected at the Tannery Arts Center.

 

If you would like to contribute to this fund, please send a check to Santa Cruz Bible Church, 440 Frederick Street, Santa Cruz, 95062.  The check may be made out to SANTA CRUZ BIBLE CHURCH, but it is IMPORTANT to put "Madyson Middleton" in the check memo line, so that the funds are correctly assigned. 


 

UCC RESPONDS TO BURNED CHURCHES

People across the United Church of Christ are stepping up to support recovery and rebuilding of burned African American churches and communities. Be part of the UCC's response.  Funds raised will be used to help begin the re-establishing of the churches, so members and the community will have opportunity to worship together and heal together. Your continued prayers are needed and requested. Donations are also welcomed, and may be sent online through the   United Church of Christ Emergency USA fund  . Designate your gift by noting the disaster in the memo line of the check, for example "Burning Churches". For more information go to the  UCC Website .


UCC GENERAL SYNOD ADOPTS 
A Call to Take Actions toward a Just Peace in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Farther explanation and a summary of the resolution adopted by the General Synod can be found  here .  See more information at the
UCC-Palestine Israel Network for ways this resolution may impact peace and possibilities  in the Holy Land. 


MORE FROM GENERAL SYNOD 30

Want to watch sermons, speakers and other great stuff that happened at General Synod in Cleveland? Choose from several video options on the General Synod 2015 website. WATCH HERE 

 

In the Wider Community
ON CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME

On Friday, September 4, 9:30am-2:00pm at St Francis Center in San Jaun Bautista join in a day of celebration and study around the theme of Pope Francis' recent encyclical letter. The day will include discussions lead by Brother Keith Warner, Ph.D. of Santa Clara University, who will also be keynoting the Oct. 1 Progressive Christian Forum event, Holy Mass and lunch. A suggested donation of $25 covers the day's events.


A FESTIVAL OF COMPASSIONATE COMMUNICATION
 
Saturday, September 19, 9:30am-5pm Nonviolent Communication Santa Cruz will here at Peace for their fall workshop. Learn new skills in compassionate communication to use with friends, family and at work. To register and learn more: www.nvcsantacruz.org or 831 440-8979


A COMMUNITY FORUM ON THE POPE'S ENCYCLICAL

Thursday, October 1, 7:30-9:00pm at Markey Community Center at the Resurrection Catholic Community Church, 7600 Soquel Dr, Aptos. Join the Progressive Christian Forum and Resurrection Catholic Community for an evening's reflection on the Pope's Encyclical and visit to the United States.
Have You Visited Us?
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

Who We Are...
We're an
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 Relational 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.
waterdance


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Contact Us
Peace United Church of Christ
900 High Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
831 426-2010
This Week's Children, Youth & Families E-News
Click here to see more about upcoming events for families!


This Month's
Still Speaking
Click here to see our monthly newsletter, "The Still Speaking Journal" of events and ideas!

Pray for One Another
We invite one another to hold our friends and many others in prayer, inviting God's light to shine upon those in need...

Terry Kelly
Linda Appleton and son, Derek
Stew Jenkins
Kathy and Lance Merkhofer



Making Connections
This Week's Reading
   
Dogsology
 
From all that dwell below the skies
Let songs of hope and faith arise
Let peace, goodwill on earth be sung
Or barked or howled by every tongue!
 
Rev. LoraKim Joyner