For those unable to join us in person, there will be a live videocast 

of the worship service at 10:30 a.m. on Sundays.

Go to the church's website, or use one of the links below.

If you miss the live service, you can find it archived on YouTube.

Midweek Lenten Services

Join us for Taize, a Contemplative Service. Wednesdays during Lent, March 1-April 5, from 8:00-9:00 pm in the Sanctuary. 

Taize is a form of sung prayer. We gather by candlelight to sing, listen and meditate, accompanied by guitar. 

Senior Perennials 

Senior Perennials will meet this Sunday 3/19 in the lounge after church. Please get your coffee and join us from 11:45-1PM as Joyce Cunningham leads us in some fun activities called “Numbers All Around Us!” Please bring ideas for future meeting programs! Hope to see you there!

If you would like more information, contact: 

Lynn Walton,  [email protected]

Moderator Notes: Invitation to be our Guest

Once a month the council meets to discuss current issues. Our next meeting is Thursday, March 23rd at 6:30 to 8:00pm. Please join us as our guest to learn about the great work being done by various committees. It’s another opportunity to be involved and appreciate the “behind the scenes” activities that support our vibrant and growing community. Below is the link. We look forward to seeing you on Zoom. (Use this same link every month.)

Council Meeting Zoom Link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86505810901?pwd=bHJ2VHVqNGpXSFlKOGpENldjTTM1Zz09

Maryse Postlewaite

We Want to Hear Your Voice

Sign Up to Be A Liturgist!

We would love to have you as a liturgist (reader) in one of our Sunday morning worship services. It's a wonderful way of serving!

Sign up for a Sunday to read live and in person and we'll connect with you by e-mail on the Tuesday prior, sending all the information you'll need for getting ready.

If you'd like to give it a try, click on this link to choose a date.

Meditation Group Forming



Are you looking for a Lenten practice, or some way of acknowledging this season of waiting? We offer a five-session group on Mindfulness Meditation, from 10 to 11:30am. The dates are March 11 through April 8.  

Weekly gatherings in the library (enter through the church office) for Mindfulness Meditation, a practice that teaches you to slow down racing thoughts, let go of negativity, and calm both your mind and body. Members of our Pastoral Care Team, Philip Spradling, a psychotherapist, and Susan Ezequelle, a hospital chaplain, will lead.

Through the series, our intention is to deepen our own spiritual lives and develop a community around contemplative practice. The sessions will be instructional and will allow time for meditative practice and discussion. While we would like to establish some continuity, it isn't necessary to come every week. No previous experience necessary -- all are welcome! 

Stewardship Committee

This year’s Stewardship Committee members are Bill Walton, Bob Lange, Karen Cozza, Jane Heyse, and Lisa Johnson.

The committee will be meeting over the next couple of weeks to develop a work plan and communications schedule. We will prepare an information package and pledge form. Working with the Finance Team and Council, we will establish a Pledge Objective to support the 2023-2024 budget, consistent with the Church’s Mission, Program and operational needs. We expect to announce the initiation of the Pledge season by the end of March and complete our work by the first week of May.

You can expect weekly reports of progress, and follow-up calls as we approach the end of the season.

Easter Flowers for our Sanctuary

Spring flowers and Easter Lilies bring our Sanctuary alive for the celebration of Easter Sunday. We appreciate donations to help provide the flowers. You can donate in memory of a loved one and we will print those designations in the Easter bulletin. 

You can send donations 2 ways:

-By check sent to the office

• Please include "Memorial/Milestone" in the memo line, and a note explaining who or what is being remembered or honored

-From our website (linked here) using the "Donate" button

• Please select "Memorial/Milestone" from the drop down menu
• After entering your donation amount, choose "Write a Note" and enter the details about who is being remembered or honored. Or, email the office to let us know your designation. Your words will be printed in the bulletin

COPA Housing Academy

Pastor Dave and the Peace COPA team are co-hosting this Sunday’s Civic Academy on Housing at Holy Cross Church. Please join us to experience how COPA works and to get housing built across the region!

The development of ‘housing for all’ has been one of COPA’s six key issues for 20 years, and right now we have an amazing opportunity to back our elected officials who do the right thing!

Last Sunday, several Peace members attended Temple Beth El’s Civic Academy on Housing to learn about the complexities of developing housing, hear stories about how the lack of affordable housing is affecting the fabric of our community, and plan strategies to ensure that our elected officials address this deficit. Ken Thomas led the teaching on how we arrived at this crisis point and the opportunity of the housing element.

Let’s go together! Contact Cathy Sarto for more information, and so we can carpool: [email protected]

• Sunday, March 19 at Holy Cross Church, Santa Cruz from 2:00 - 4:00. Focus: City of Santa Cruz, 3rd District of County 

• Saturday, March 25 at First United Methodist Church in Watsonville, Time TBD. Focus:  Watsonville

Who should attend: Renters, Property Owners, Homeowners, Employers - ALL of us!  

Embracing Golden Pond:

The 9th Stage

A Lenten Zoom Discussion on the Spirituality of Aging

Thursdays, March 9, 16, 23

from 10:30 am to Noon

Nick Piediscalzi, a bona fide nonagenarian, and septuagenarian Matt Broadbent invite you to a discussion and reflection on “Golden Pond:” a look at the emotional and spiritual work of aging. 

This is for the aged, those who hope to get there, and anyone who loves an older person.

Those who register ahead of time will receive informational material by email.

Join us on Zoom using this LINK. 

Outline

Session 1: Circling Golden Pond: A look at the original 8 stages of life as developed by Erik Erikson with an introduction of the 9th Stage.

Session 2: Diving into Golden Pond: A deep dive into the 9th stage and the meaning of Gero-Transcendence.

Session 3: Reflections of Golden Pond: Responding to the questions that have emerged from the previous two sessions

READ MORE HERE

For more information email Matt Broadbent at [email protected].

Peace Walkers - A Beautiful Day at Pleasure Point

Peace Walkers visit different trails each Tuesday morning. The walk this week was at Pleasure Point. We leave Peace Rocks at our favorite spots.

We meet to walk on Tuesday mornings at 8:30 am at a designated location. We hope that you will join us sometime.

If you are interested, contact Susie Land

[email protected]

Team Peace served up SIX gallons

of chili for the Faith Communities Mid County Homeless Coalition 6th Annual Chili Cook-Off Friday February 10.

The event was held at Resurrection Catholic Community Church in Aptos to a sold out crowd of over 225 chili chompers! Lynette Adelson provided her secret white bean chili recipe. Jim Weller, Lisa Johnson, Cathy Sarto, Mira Haslam, Lynette Adelson and Melodee all prepared one to two gallons each of chili (which was all gone by the end of the evening).

Team Peace consisted of Cathy Sarto, Jim Weller and Lisa Johnson

who served up a bowl of peace white bean chili to attendees. The band from La Selva Beach played music and a local Hula club performed.

The event raised over $10,000 for the mid county shower program for the homeless.

All of the local churches and attendees had a great time and competed with lots of enthusiasm. It was great to see so many Peace United members in the crowd. Can't wait for next year!

Snacks for Sunday Socials

Sundays Peace Church offers Beverages and Snacks before and after our 10:30-11:30am worship. Friendly socializing builds community!

Use THIS LINK to sign up to bring a tasty and healthy snack item to one of our Sunday Socials. Each week we like to share baked goods, fresh fruit, and always something for those on low sugar and gluten free diets.

Drop off in the kitchen anytime between 9:30 and 10:30am. THANK YOU!

Contact Jane Heyse, Sunday Kitchen Coordinator with questions: [email protected] or 831-252-9247.

Watch Out For Scammers

Peace United staff and leaders will never solicit you by e-mail, asking you to purchase or send gift cards or electronic funds for any purpose. Contact the church office if you have any concerns about emails you may receive.

Masks Optional

On February 23, the church council voted to make the wearing of masks optional for worship services beginning on March 12. If you have concerns about this change, or feel that it will affect your attendance on Sunday morning, please reach out to share your concerns with our pastor, [email protected] or our moderator, Maryse Postlewaite, [email protected]

Throughout the pandemic, the church has kept the health and well-being of our community at the forefront of decision-making. Every few months we have reviewed and revised our COVID safety policies, striving to respond to new scientific knowledge and adapt to a dynamic public health situation.

With the rollout of many new treatments and a high degree of vaccination, both state and federal agencies are ending the special status of COVID-19 as a public health emergency. In most public spaces, wearing a mask is now optional. This feels like the right time for our church to move to a masks-optional policy as well.

Small Groups and Ministries of Outreach

Use this link to find information about our various small groups and

ministries here at PUCC.