What's New at Peace | September 11

Worship This Sunday

September 13, 10:30 am

Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost

Founders Day

Ephesians 4:25-5:2, Matthew 18:21-22

Mercy Strained

Sermon by Pastor Dave

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

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

Our 2026-2027 Pledge Drive is at $264,858.11!

We are only $5,141.89 short of meeting our goal of $270,000 and moving forward with a balanced budget!!!

We expect to fill this $5,000 gap with the remaining households who have indicated their desire to pledge. If you have intended to pledge, we urge you to do so. If you donate regularly, your donation goes to our general funds. You can turn this into a pledge by sending Devon and email at office@peaceunited.org to let her know in writing.

We are very close to meeting our goal. We continue to have faith that our Peace United community will rally together to fully fund our needs for this year.

In the next Stewardship Zoom meeting on September 22nd at 3:00 pm we have several topics to discuss as we broaden our ministry. (Yes, we are more than the Annual Fund Drive.) We will explore ways to celebrate our success, the Peace Neighborhood Network, and Featured Ministries to name a few. Consider joining this vibrant group. Lend your talent to our Peace UCC community. Contact Tony Augimeri, chair of Stewardship, via email at stewardship@peaceunited.org.

We also continue to honor all the ways/initiatives we move as a community. We are blessed to be able to do so much, beyond our “budget”.

Student Lunch

We are ON for Second Sunday Student Lunch right after worship this coming Sunday, September 13. There’ll be good things to eat, including a vegetarian dish from Pastor Dave, and a chance to reconnect with old friends and make new. We’ll have lunch going in the Upper Room no later than Noon.

Senior Perennials begins its new season on September 20, 2026

We will begin with a walk through the sanctuary to discover the symbols of faith embedded in the architecture and design of our church. We will also describe how our nearly 170 years old church transformed from the First Congregational Church of Santa Cruz to Peace United Church of Christ. After worship you are invited to gather at the entrance to the sanctuary to begin our mystery/history tour.

The Vera Taylor Fund is proud to support these students on their educational journeys. This week, meet Cameron and Josette.

Cameron Martinez— UC Santa Cruz · Marine Biology

Cameron is entering his second year studying Marine Biology at UC Santa Cruz, and is eager to begin his upper-division coursework. To build experience, he is spending the summer in StemDiv's professional development program and volunteering on a telemetry project tracking the movement and home range of chestnut-backed chickadees across campus. While he holds a special interest in ornithology, he is also excited to earn his scuba certification and pursue underwater research. Cameron's main goal is to gain more research experience in ecological and wildlife conservation, whether in a lab or an internship. His hobbies include birdwatching, swimming, cooking vegan food, and living in an eco-friendly way.

Josette Thomas — Austin Community College · Occupational Therapy

After working in public education in Austin, Texas, for the past three years, Josie Thomas is beginning a new chapter by returning to school at Austin Community College as a proud future Riverbat. She is just getting started on the prerequisite courses required for a career in healthcare, including Anatomy, Neuroanatomy, Biology, and Statistics. She looks forward to one day serving patients through one-on-one care. Please keep her in your prayers as she balances online classes, full-time work, and this exciting transition. Once she has completed these prerequisite courses, she will be excited to share more about her next steps with the congregation.

Stay tuned next week for more bios!

Please, Read this Book!

These are especially challenging times for Transgender people who have been made a contentious topic in our culture wars, often talked about but not so often listened to. Nico Lang’s book, American Teenager: How Trans Kids Are Surviving Hate and Finding Joy In A Turbulent Era (Abrams Press, 2024) tells the story of eight trans youth, with extensive quotations from them and contextual narrative that helps us to hear and understand.

Pastor Dave will be leading a small group, Thursday evenings in October (1st through the 22nd) to discuss this book and to pray together, listening for ways that we might be more open and supportive.

January 19, 2027 we will host a public event with the author here at our church. Nico Lang is an award-winning reporter and editor. They are an LGBTQ+ correspondent for VICE and a frequent contributor to NBC News and Xtra. Their work has been featured in the New York Times, Rolling Stone, Esquire, Harper’s Bazaar, Washington Post, Vox, BuzzFeed, Jezebel, The Guardian, Out, The Advocate, and the L.A. Times.

Kids' Night Out is Friday, September 18 from 6 - 8 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. We will make personal pizzas, play games, do a craft, and read a story!

If your kiddos would like to join us, RSVP to Joliene at cyf@peaceunited.org

This month we'll be focusing on our theme of....

Generosity!

This month we are focusing on a parable in Matthew 20. Jesus tells a story of laborers working in a field and how the landowner was generous with the workers. We will explore this story in Sunday School KNO by reading stories that can help us think about generosity!

This week's story is Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson. In this story, a new child comes to school. Maya is different from the other children; her clothes are worn and her food is unlike what most kids bring to school. Most of the children at school are unkind to her. Maya doesn't stay at the school for long, but our protagonist learns that being kind feels better than being unkind.

Through this story, we can learn that one of the best ways to be generous is with our time and words. When we extend kindness to others by spending time with them, listening to them, and saying kind things, we can help brighten others' days and our own. Being kind might be the easiest way to be generous!

You can find this week's story video below.

From the Worship Enhancement Committee

Thank you! Thank you! The Worship Enhancement Committee was delighted by the eager generosity of our congregation in providing beautiful, creative, meaningful arrangements for the sanctuary during the summer Sundays. You shared your loving memories, birthday and anniversary celebrations and gratitude for the people God has blessed you with in glorious ways. If, throughout the year, you'd like to contribute an arrangement just contact Lynette to get it on our calendar. Worship is made sweeter when God's creations are brought inside!

Lynette (mlette117@gmail.com) for the Worship Enhancement Committee

colorful-letters-forming-word-peace_53876-31436 image

Acronym Games!

From stewardship- just for fun- we're proposing a little game that you can all join in on.

It's a chance for you to help us expand our usage of those most important words like Peace and United and Church.

Can you make an acronym out of the name of our church? PEACE

To make an easy acronym, make a word that starts with each letter of our name. Example: (Please Eat All Crinkly Edges.)

Send your acronyms in to me: Lisa Hoesing at

Lisasuehoesing@gmail.com

You can see all the wonderful creative entries next month in the Enews!

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. FallFest celebrates those relationships and strengthens our networks of common cause. We invite the wider community to enjoy food, festivities, and games, and to get a taste of the many important and exciting things that happen here.

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 the families of those who are incarcerated. May they know that they are cared for and seen on their journey.
For Lisa’s grandson Dustin, living with cancer, and Darrell Johnson, in a care home.
For Fernando, who may face deportation in the coming months, and for his family and community. Prayers for his attorneys as they try to ensure that Fernando can remain with his family in the U.S. and continue to build his life here.
For Kwok's mother-in-law living with dementia, and his sister-in-law going through cancer treatment.
J prays for more volunteers to come to the jail and bring incarcerated people a message of hope and revitalization.
For our family members, friends, and loved ones who are incarcerated. May they find hope and may our system move toward transformational justice.
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.
For Jane Heyse, recovering in the hospital from a serious flu and asthma-related illness, and for her spouse, Bob, who was also recently hospitalized. May they recover well and fully.
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.

Prayers for our Communities, Country and the World

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 all affected by natural disasters and human violence, terror, war and displacement, especially the children.
For the people of Nepal in the aftermath of terrible flooding.
For those traveling to foreign places to build a future. May we create a world where people can thrive in their communities and in which immigration is not criminalized.
For an end to the national and international conflicts that continue to take lives. May leaders and peoples pursue peaceand transformative justice.

Prayers of Gratitude

For peaceful protestors all over the county, country, and world. May we continue to stand up for our values.
For all who give much of their time and talent to our church, and for those who pledge.
For Fernando's attorneys, family, and community as they support him and each other during these uncertain times.
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.

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.