CANCELED!!!

Game Night for Friday, May 30 at 6pm



We are sorry to have to cancel game night last minute, and hope that you will be able to join us next time!

Contact Tom Postlewaite for questions: tapostlewaite@me.com

Pride at 50

Begun in 1975, the Santa Cruz Pride parade and festival is the second-oldest on the West Coast, this year marking 50 years of advocacy, support and progress for the LGBTQ+ community. Peace United Church of Christ is a leading sponsor of and participant in the celebrations on Sunday, June 1, and we invite members and friends to join us…



• for an interfaith worship service at 9:30am downtown on Plaza Lane;
• marching with our parade delegation (assembling at Cathcart and Laurel no later than 10:30am);
• representing our Open and Affirming congregation for one hour at the Peace UCC welcome/information table downtown (Tom Postlewaite, coordinator, sign-up at link here;
• Proudly wear one of our Peace UCC/Queerly Christian t-shirts, available for purchase on Sundays after worship or from the church office, M-F, 9am-2pm, office@PeaceUnited.org, 831-426-2010.

There will be a Pride-themed service in our sanctuary (900 High St.) on Sunday, June 1, beginning at 10:30am, led by the Rev. Matt Broadbent.

Peace United Church of Christ’s New Vice-Moderator: Paula Neef!

The Church Council is thrilled to announce that Paula Neef has agreed to serve as our church’s vice-moderator (a position that has been vacant since last summer).

Her appointment to the post, to serve the remainder of this term (2024-25), has been approved by the council. At the congregational meeting on June 29, 2025, Paula will be installed as vice-moderator when we approved the slate of council members and officers for the 2025-26 term.

Paula has served on the Personnel Committee and she and her husband Jim volunteer for social hour clean-up through the Congregational Support Committee. Both are also involved in community organizations in Scotts Valley where they live.

Thank you, Paula!

In Memory of

Lynn Comeskey

Mary Lois Comeskey invites you to a Memorial Service and Celebration of Life for her husband, Lynn Comeskey.

He died peacefully at home on April 25.

The service will be at PUCC on Saturday, May 31 at 10:30. A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall.

Do you love to sing?

We’re organizing a Sunday morning “pick up” choir that aims to be fun for strong singers and accessible for those with little training or experience. Whether you read music or learn by ear (or both) there’s a place for you in our choir, beginning Sunday, June 8, with rehearsal at 9:30am sharp, singing in that morning’s 10:30am worship service.

We’ll do this again on the second Sunday of July and August, but you don’t have to commit in advance. Just show up!



And the choir isn’t your only chance! Jazz on High director Aidan Santa Cruz is eager to work with you to prepare what you might offer. Solos? Duets? Jazz? Gospel? Reggae? Pop? Voice and/or instrumental, maybe dance or some other artistic expression of worship?

Hit him up some Sunday morning with your ideas (after worship, please) or contact him by e-mail: jazz@PeaceUnited.org

We're Going Public!

We are in the public phase of our Capital Campaign and we hope you will help us spread the word. We have created a GoFundMe account and ask you to forward the appeal electronically to your friends and relatives. Then they can donate with a simple click.

We imagine acting as one body on this effort and ask that you to set aside time to forward the message.

Make the link HERE

Jail Lobby Ministry

May’s Featured Stewardship

Peace’s jail ministry, Prophets of Hope, offers several opportunities to serve community members in need of spiritual and emotional support. Incarceration is traumatic for those in lock-up and for their families and friends. An accessible way Peace offers our “Extravagant Hospitality” at the county jail is through our Jail Lobby Ministry. Two Saturday mornings a month, in the lobby of the Santa Cruz County Jail, we set up a table with drinks, snacks, lists of services, cute things for kids, backed by our smiles and willingness to talk. We soften an intimidating environment as families wait to visit their loved ones, and as others are released. Interested in offering kindness to strangers? We’re recruiting!

Email Jane Heyse, janeheyse831@gmail.com, or Chaplain Beverly Brook, revbevbrook@gmail.com

CYF May Theme: Trust

It's PRIDE week in Santa Cruz, so this week we're sharing a story that is about TRUST and PRIDE!

Our story this week is called "Intersection Allies." It's about a group of friends who are all very different, but who all trust and support each other. The recurring mantra of the book is: "Where there is room for one, there is room for all! Friends can be allies, no matter how small!"  

This PRIDE month, let's remember to love and support all of our sacred differences. We are made to be unique expressions of God's love and God indeed loves us in our uniqueness.  

We hope you enjoy this story and a bit of an early jump on PRIDE Month.  

The story can be found here: https://youtu.be/8xW_VLwereo

Blessings,

The CYF Team

From the A2A Committee

The United States has been observing Mental Health Awareness Month during the month of May since 1949. Each year, businesses, organizations, schools, and individuals dedicate this month to acknowledge those affected by mental illness by presenting innovative ideas, events, and programs to support the treatment and prevention of mental illness.

You may know that I am a Zentangle teacher. Zentangle is a meditative drawing program. It shows you how to create a beautiful graphic design in a few minutes that can help bring you a moment of relaxation in your day.

The A2A committee, in support of mental health month, announces the Zentangle Mental Health videos. Please join us watching them on YouTube.

For mental health month, Zentangle is releasing free videos every day from May 10 through May 31. You can watch them on YouTube and draw along with the creators of Zentangle. The only supplies you need are a piece of paper, a pencil and a pen and the pencil is optional. These are easy fun 15 -minute videos that might bring you a bit of quiet reflection and relaxation, Zen-flow, in your day.

Lisa Hoesing

Comprehensive Campaign - A Place for Peace

Thank you for making your pledges so promptly.

Your Capital Campaign dollars at work! 



Repairs to the exterior of the buildings are underway and painting the preschool buildings begin next week. Buildings and Grounds are working with a termite exterminator to determine the extent of the damage and a plan for remediation.

The Annual Drive now has received 56 pledges with a total of $158,000. The puzzle picture is emerging!

The Comprehensive Campaign  is an invitation to support the church’s mission in three important ways.

• Capital Funds are for deferred maintenance and improvement of our facilities with a goal of $500,000. Donations are payable over three years.
• Annual Funds are pledged each year and are used for operating expenses including staff wages, all our programs, insurance, utilities and financial participation with mission partners like Prophets of Hope, COPA, AFC and UCC missions. The goal is 100 pledges and $300,000.
• Legacy Funds come from your designation of Peace United Church of Christ as a beneficiary in your will/estate plan and are used for projects that you designate or new initiatives such as upgrading AV technology.

If you did not receive a trifold pledge brochure in the mail, you can download a copy using this LINK



Karen Cozza

The Vera Taylor

Scholarship Committee

Accepting applications from church

members for scholarships for 2024-25.

You can learn more about the program here:

https://www.peaceunited.org/verataylor

Who can apply?

• If you are a full-time student or planning to become one, and have been a member of Peace United Church of Christ for at least one year, you are eligible to apply for the Vera Taylor Scholarship. 

Qualifications:

• Attend a college or university or an accredited vocational school, such as culinary arts, dental hygiene, or the like, in an undergraduate or graduate-level program. 

• For mini-grants to learn or enhance skills and strategies for church or community outreach activities by taking training in a program that leads to a certificate or degree for such things but not limited to Hospice, elder care, child care, working with homeless persons or prisoners, crisis hotlines and counseling, English as a second language, and immigration support. 

Where can I find an application? 

• Please contact Tammy at VeraTaylorRep@gmail.com to get a link to the online application.

DEADLINE for applications is TUESDAY, JULY 15, 2025

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

• Prayers for all affected by violence, war and hunger, especially the children in Gaza.
• For students and new graduates.
• For caregivers and for all who are ill and those facing surgery.
• Continuing prayers for Nick Piediscalzi, his wife Sibyl and their family.
• For Mary Lois Comeskey, whose husband Lynn passed away April 25, and for their family.
• For Art and Sandy Schuller, as Art works through a course of chemotherapy for lymphoma.
• 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.
• For Lynn’s friend Vicky, suddenly widowed.

Prayers of gratitude

• For members of the armed forces, who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.
• For organizers and participants in Pride Sunday and for the freedom of choice.
• For trust in each God and each other.
• For marchers, writers, callers, and all standing for liberty and justice for all.
• For courage in the face of fear, hope in the face of despair, and faith in times of darkness.



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.

Read More

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.