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.

Check out the latest newsletter for Prophets of Hope, our jail ministry program.

Pastor Note:

by the Rev. David Pattee

We’re back from two weeks in India with a lot to share and celebrate, including our great joy in coming home to Santa Cruz and Peace United Church of Christ. How blessed we are to have found our place with you.

We come home with a lot of care and concern too: for friends and churches devastated and communities laid waste by fires in southern California; for our environment and the ever-increasing cost of climate change in dollars and lives; and for the health and soul of our nation about to be led by a prince of lies who urges “drill baby, drill,” avers that wind turbines to generate electricity “drive whales crazy,” and dismisses climate change as a “hoax.”

I love India and my Indian family and friends. Luke too has been bitten by the bug, and I’m sure we’ll go again, together. But one of the things that struck me most powerfully on our two-day stay in Delhi, was that the air quality in this global magnet city was even worse than on my last visit. The Air Quality Index that stays in the mid-20s for Santa Cruz, regularly goes over 400 for extended periods in Delhi with the effect that a day outside in unfiltered air is like smoking more than a pack of cigarettes. (India Central Pollution Control Board.)

I say this because, just like here, Indian scientists and environmental advocates understand the causes and have lots of practical recommendations for how to reduce air pollution but, so far, they haven’t been able to manage the politics of meaningful change.

Politicians understand the problems too, but most recognize their interests more in slowing the change than leading it.

History and habit, feelings and fears too often trump the facts and our concern for future generations… and one of the world’s great cities could die from the impasse.

Last night, coming into Santa Cruz, I smelled smoke. It was just little fires on the beach, but it scared me.

If would like to make a financial contribution to disaster relief efforts in southern California, follow the link on the home page at UCC.org.

I’ll see you in church.

Dave

If you celebrate a January birthday or just want some extra Sunday celebratory time, join us this Sunday, the 12th, for Birthday Blessings 

during Worship. We want to honor YOU!

These Friends Have January Birthdays:

David Koo, Corinne Wipke, Lynn Walton, Nathan Kwok, Wai Yip Kwok,

Sue Robinson, Mary Lois Comeskey, Peter Klotz-Chamberlin

Busy Hands Team

Do you enjoy what we call hand work? Or post-apocalyptic skills like knitting, crochet, embroidery, or sewing? Would you like to work together in community on your projects? The Busy Hands team could be for you!

We love working on our personal projects together, and sometimes we also focus on projects for Peace UCC.

We invite you to join us!

We meet on Wednesdays from 3-5 pm in the Fireside Lounge.

In the past, our church has hosted similar groups, especially before COVID when we could meet in person. Often, we'd have two meetings with an hour or two in between, making it easier to stay at church and work together. We'd sit, chat, and craft—knitting, crocheting, and more.

These days, our gatherings are focused on planning and distributing supplies for Projects for Peace, though many people also enjoy working on their crafts at home.

CYF January Theme: Peace and Justice

Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy inspires our theme for January. As we move through the season after the Epiphany, we are reminded of how the Wise Ones can teach us to follow the path of peace and justice, like MLK. We’ll be exploring our hopes and dreams for a better world together (with stories, crafts, pizza, and music!). 

Our Kids’ Night Out is Friday, January 17 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  Please remember to RSVP if you expect your child(ren) to attend. Register if you have not already done so for the year.  

Also, remember that we’ll have fun kids’ activities planned for Family Worship Sunday on January 19.



Hello Peace United Friends & Family:

Game Night and Light Bites

Game Night! Join us January 31st from 6:00 to 8:30. Bring your friends. There will be Corn hole, ping pong, Blokus, Mexican Train, Scattagories, and Backgammon and much more.

We will have “Light Bites”. If you'd like you may bring something to share. 

Bring a game you enjoy. We'd love your help with set-up and/or clean-up. For more information contact Tom Postlewaite at tapostlewaite@icloud.com.

Loving God, keep us in the Amazing Grace that is ours through Jesus Christ, in whose Holy Name we pray

• Prayers for Jane Heyse, whose sister Chris recently passed away after hospice care.
• For Colleen Fleming’s son Anthony.
• For Joyce and Stan Cunningham’s daughter Roxanne, whose family lost their home in the Palisades fire.
• For Lynn and Bill Walton’s son Johnnie, needing heart treatment to get back on the kidney transplant list, and in need of new housing due to the sale of his long-time rental home.
• Continuing prayers for Sandy Schuller’s mother and for Maryse Postlewaite’s mother Catherine, both in in Hospice care, and for Lisa Johnson, her grandson Dustin, and Philip Spradling’s friend David Zink, all in cancer treatment.

Prayers of gratitude for the long, inspired life of President Jimmy Carter.

In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen!  

You may request prayers by emailing Prayers@PeaceUnited.Org,

calling Lynn Walton (600-7343), or calling the church office (426-2010).

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.

Watch Out For Scammers

Peace United staff and leaders will never solicit you by e-mail or text message, 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.

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Office Hours!

Monday through Friday, from 9 am - 2 pm staff are in the office, attending to the business of our church: monitoring e-mail, answering telephones and/or responding to messages, working on the dozens of different projects and connections that keep our ministry moving forward.

If you plan to come into the office, please call ahead to schedule a time when we know someone will be in to assist you. You can reach us by e-mail using the list below or by phone, 831-426-2010.

• Pastor, the Rev. David Pattee - pastordave@peaceunited.org
• Facilities Manager, Aaron Abeyta - facilities@peaceunited.org
• Office Manager, Devon Obert - office@peaceunited.org
• Bookkeeper, Susan Robinson - bookkeeper@peaceunited.org

Pastor Dave works from the church office, Monday through Thursday, and most weeks will have office hours on Saturday too, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Friday is his day off. In case of emergency, the pastor is available by cell phone, 773-255-8095. If you would like to schedule a meeting or would like to "drop by", please contact us via email using this link to make an arrangement.

Small Groups and Ministries of Outreach

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

ministries here at PUCC.