What's New at Peace | October 9

Worship This Sunday

October 11, 10:30 am

Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost

Accessibility Sunday

Psalm 118:14-24

Witness

by Foster Anderson

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.

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.

Watch on YouTube

Sunday Bulletin

Watch on Facebook

Download our Fall Brochure

Visit our website for more information about what's happening at PUCC

October 11 is Access Sunday, the beginning of Disabilities Awareness Week, and for our worship service this Sunday we have a special guest speaker, Foster Anderson, founder and president of Shared Adventures.

Living an adventurous life, and a quadriplegic since age 17, Foster Anderson has a passion for sharing adventure with others in the disabled community. Shared Adventures is a non-profit organization created in 1994 that offers inclusive recreational and social activities -- especially outdoor activities -- for people with disabilities.

Acronym Games!

It was fun reading the anagrams submitted for Peace.

Why stop there?

This month the Stewardship Committee would like you to come up with anagrams for the word… UNITED.

Please send me your ideas for these anagrams at lisasuehoesing@Gmail.com.

I know they will be creative!

We’re throwing a party, and we’d love for you to join us for our Peace Village FallFest!

On Saturday, October 17, from 11am to 3 pm, we’re celebrating Peace Village, a community of service and ministry groups, musicians, dancers, and clubs that enjoy Peace United Church of Christ’s 900 High Street campus in Santa Cruz.

Used Book Sale at Festival

You have an opportunity to sort through your books and bring them for sale at the Peace Village Fall Festival.

Please bring them to the Fellowship Hall on Friday, October 16, between 10:00 and Noon.

If that's not possible, bring books to the Festival between 9:30 and 10:30 on Saturday the 17th. We will need time to organize them for sale.

Please separate your books into fiction, non-fiction, children's books, cookbooks, etc so they can be easily displayed.

Love Your Neighbor

For the month of October, our theme is LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR!

Who is your neighbor? It's pretty much everyone! When we act in service of our community, we are loving our neighbors.

Our next story for the month is Yours, Mine, Ours: A Celebration of Service and Community by Arun Gandhi and Bethany Hegedus. Drawing on the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, our authors explore what it means to be of service. As children work on a clean-up day at the park, we think about what service is and who it is for.

2026-27 Pledge Drive News:

We have surpassed our goal!

To celebrate our success, we will hold a “Sunday Sundae” - that is, an ice cream feast, after worship on Sunday, October 18. This is also the Sunday of Blessing of the Beasts, so we hope to see lots of families (and pets) that day.

If you have not pledged yet, it’s not too late! Or, if you donate regularly without pledging, you can turn this into a pledge by sending Devon an email at office@peaceunited.org to let her know in writing.

The stewardship committee is a vibrant group that does more than organize the annual fund drive. We honor and promote all the ways we move forward as a community. We are blessed to be able to do so much, beyond the annual fund drive. Consider joining us!

Our next meeting will be held Tuesday, October 27 at 3pm.

Contact Tony Augimeri, chair of Stewardship, via email at pastmoderator@peaceunited.org.

Piano by Moonlight: Candlelit Evenings of Rest and Reverie

Solo piano music by our own Aidan Santa Cruz every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month at 7:30-9:30 at Peace United. Aidan is heart centered and plays free improvisations inspired by classical, jazz and spiritual traditions.

Come to meditate, relax and let go...on pillows, on the floor, or seated. All are welcome. Suggested Donation - $15-25

For updates and more information(like cancellations!) please check out the Facebook group linked here and/or contact Aidan directly: 831-428-2368, aidanfpsc@gmail.com

Did you know that by following Peace on social media and interacting with our posts (liking, commenting, and sharing) you can help other, like-minded people find Peace? You can also find information about events, fun glimpses of things happening at Peace, worship videos, and other news!

Holy One, keep us in the Amazing Grace that is ours through the spirit of Christ, in whose Loving Name we pray

Prayers of Healing and Faith and Continuing Prayers for our Community

For Mary Male's son Johnathan Barclay, hospitalized with stage 4 cancer. May he be comfortable and find peace.
For the Perez and Guardian family.
Prayers for Deborah's grandson and her son's sobriety. May all struggling with addiction be able to break the cycle and know that they are loved.
Prayers of strength and courage for R as she pursues her sobriety. May she also find support, resources, and structure for her journey.
For those struggling with mental health issues and addiction. May resources be made available and affordable so that people can get the help they need.
For Cathy Sarto's mother, who is 94 and was recently hospitalized.
For D and S's families.
For I's family, especially her son.
For Lisa’s grandson Dustin, living with cancer, and Darrell Johnson, in a care home.
For Joyce Cunningham, recovering from a heart attack and surgery.
For the men in E-Unit at SC County Jail, who are under quarantine.
For Kwok's mother-in-law living with dementia, and his sister-in-law going through cancer treatment.
For a program placement to open up for C, so she can pursue her healing.

Prayers for our Communities, Country and the World

For an end to the national and international conflicts that continue to take lives. May leaders and peoples pursue peace and transformative justice.
For pregnant people struggling to find ethical care in states with severe restrictions on reproductive rights and procedures. May they be safe, healthy, and find the care that they need.
For immigrants and their families, everyone in custody, and those experiencing being targeted, oppressed, and dealt with unjustly. May we see God's love flowing through all people and protect our communities.
For those being persecuted in this political climate, especially those among us who are queer and/or immigrants. May hearts open to understanding, love, and compassion.
For women and all students to be safe on college campuses and related events. May there be an end to toxic fraternity culture that hurts everyone.

Prayers of Gratitude

For those who dare to speak truth to power and defy unjust systems. May we all find the bravery to resist injustice and amplify voices that are unheard. Gratitude for people who speak out despite risks to their livelihood and comfort.
For new and old faces in our community. May we continue to walk our spiritual journeys together and support each other on our path.
For those who give of their time and resources to this church and its many programs. We are the hands, feet, and face of God!
For the passion and commitment of children and youth, who inspire all of us to pursue a better world and open our hearts and minds to different ways of being and pursuing reconciliation, justice, joy, and peace.

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).

Find Friends and Activities @ Peace!

At Peace United, there are many opportunities for fellowship, spiritual growth, helping with events and socializing. To help you find a group that you might be interested in joining, our Ministries, Committees, and Groups booklet has been updated. It describes each group and lists the chairperson and their contact information and members. Everyone is welcome so come join us....

You can download our updated booklet HERE.

We Want to Hear Your Voice

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.

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
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.