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The White Rose
by Kathy Rooney


Munich, Germany. 22 February 1943.

Sophie Scholl, her brother Hans, and their friend Christoph Probst slowly climbed the steps of a scaffold in Munich. A few minutes later, all three were executed by the Nazi government for crimes against the Third Reich. Their indictment read in part that they were guilty of “treasonous aiding and abetting the enemy”.

The previous June, they and several of their friends from the University of Munich organized a small resistance group, the first in Germany since the start of the war. They called it the White Rose. The White Rose was nonviolent. Their goal was to educate about what was happening in Germany and throughout Europe, and to encourage people to do what they could to defeat the Third Reich. Members began writing and distributing their leaflets throughout the university and in the city.

Sophie soon became the leader and was fearless in her efforts, leafleting wherever she could. The group also mailed their writings to professionals in the area, hoping to gain support. They received no support. The first leaflet was written in June of 1942 and the last in February 1943. By then, the Gestapo was aware of White Rose and notified the university staff to be aware of any suspicious activity. 

On February 18, Sophie was at the university distributing the sixth leaflet when a janitor saw her and apprehended her. Hans and Christoph were arrested shortly thereafter. After a sham trial, they were sentenced to death by guillotine. Soon after that, the rest of White Rose were arrested, and the group disbanded.

The White Rose never came anywhere near their goal of encouraging others to join them in their goal of resisting the Nazi regime. Today, however, they are remembered and honored in Germany and throughout Europe. There is a museum in Munich dedicated to them.

Sophie’s last words, as she was led to her death, still resound today:

Such a fine, sunny day, and I have to go.

But what does my death matter, if through us

thousands of people are

awakened and stirred to action?

She was 21 years old.

A Conversation about Legacy Living


All are welcome to join Sally Marshall and Kim Weir, who will host a Zoom meeting to provide information about including PUCC in your estate plans. 
When: Monday, July 6 at 7pm to
To Register and More information: please email Sally at sally.marshall@nyu.edu, and she will send a calendar invitation with a Zoom link for the meeting

Opportunities to Put

Our Faith and Fellowship in Action

An Opportunity to Support GOTV and the Environment


When: Sunday, July 19, after worship in the Fellowship Hall

Who: Everyone is invited
What: Join the Earth Care Team in writing postcards to Florida voters for their upcoming August primaries.

The postcards are provided by the Environmental Voter Project - a nonpartisan, nonprofit, get-out-the-vote (GOTV) organization that identifies non-voting environmentalists and encourages them to turn out and become consistent voters. 

The message and materials will be provided!

Many hands make light work!

The PUCC Giving Garden is up and growing! You can join the group every Sunday after worship.

✍🏼 Register to Vote! Find your Way to the Polls! 🗳️

Your voice matters. Your vote matters.

If you are eligible to vote, now is the time to register, confirm your registration, and prepare to participate the election in November. Democracy is not something that happens far away from us - it is shaped by ordinary people who choose to show up, speak up, and participate in the life of their communities.

Voting is one of the ways we care for one another, advocate for our neighbors, and help shape the future we will share together. Every election has consequences for our communities, our schools, our economy, our healthcare, our freedoms, and the well-being of those most vulnerable among us.

Make a plan. Register. Vote early if you are able. Encourage family and friends to participate. Let us be people committed to hope and to action.

Theology Book Club - Fall Selection

The Theology Book Club has made its selection for this fall's reading:

The Meaning of Jesus: Two Visions, by Marcus Borg and N.T. Wright

The book is available now at Northshire Bookstore in Saratoga Springs. Ask for the book for the “PUCC Club” and you should receive a 20% discount.

2026-2027 Youth Programming

Please take a moment to register for our fall Toddler Room and Sunday School programming. You can follow the link. We can't wait to see everyone again on September 13th! https://forms.gle/m2uf1CMDnMDJmpkM8

Where is my Potluck Dish?

The Deacons now have a white bin with a red sign, to collect dishes that the congregation have used for serving food for potluck events. During coffee hour the bin will be placed in the fellowship hall. Afterwards, it will be placed in the locked deacon closet to keep them accounted for and safe for future pick up.

It would be very helpful for the Deacons to put your name on the bottom of your plates.

Praying With and For Each Other

One of the gifts of being a faith community is knowing that we do not carry our concerns alone, and that we can share our joys more widely. When we pray for and with one another, we strengthen the bonds of care and deepen our sense of belonging.

To access the Prayer List, please click on the link below

Prayer List

We invite you to hold these requests and joys in your prayers. We also invite everyone to share your requests over email with Pastor Amaury. Requests received Saturdays before 5pm will be included in the congregational prayer the following Sunday, and on this list the following week.

Wishing all a Good Holiday Weekend!

Next Sunday, we will not be able to livestream the worship service on YouTube. We hope to see many of you on Sunday, at 10 am, in person. We also wish all who are traveling safe and good roads and skies.

Sharing Announcements with the Congregation

The MidWeek is the main source of information about the life of worship, discipleship, learning, and witness of the congregation.

Announcements requests shall come from committee chairs to Pastor Amaury two weeks before the MidWeek you prefer the announcement to be shared. Sunday morning announcements before worship will only be shared by Pastor Amaury as a digest of what goes out on the MidWeek.

Announcements and the MidWeek are to share information about the life of worship, discipleship, learning, and witness of the congregation.

Thank you!

You may send your donation, contribution to your faith promise, or correspondence to the PUCC by mail to 
PO Box 582, Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866