What's New at Peace | September 4

Worship This Sunday

September 6, 10:30 am

Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost

Matthew 18:15-20

Repairing the World

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

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

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.

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!

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

Levi Mulder — Loyola Marymount University · Film & Television Production

Levi is a Film and Television Production student at Loyola Marymount University's School of Film and Television, focusing on cinematography. His interest in film grew out of his love for the ocean, surfing, travel, and being in nature. He aims to keep building the creative, technical, and business skills needed to make meaningful media while growing as a leader and problem solver. Alongside production, he is strengthening his grasp of producing and entrepreneurship, hoping to become someone who can contribute artistically while also organizing people and bringing projects to life. This fall, Levi will study abroad in London, where a five-week internship will broaden his perspective on the media business.

Nicola Hall — Reed College · Sociology

Nicola is a rising senior at Reed College in Portland, Oregon, studying sociology and preparing to write her senior thesis. She is fascinated by our social worlds and how people interact, believing that critical analysis of social systems can help build a more equitable world where people flourish. Her interests span social norms, the socialization of children, literary analysis, urban planning, and social policy, and she is drawn to social science research. Nicola is proud of her involvement with Peace church, local volunteer organizations, activism, and politics. Outside academics, she loves watercolor painting and ceramics, and finds joy being outdoors, especially hiking through the forest.

Stay tuned next week for more bios!

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 and read stories that can help us think about generosity!

Our first story for the month is What is Given From the Heart by Patricia C. McKissack. In this story, a young boy named James Otis wants to give a gift to Sarah, a girl at his church who lost many of her belongings in a fire. James Otis and his family have had a difficult year, too, but he finds a way to offer something to Sarah. In this sweet story about giving, we learn that being thoughtful is one of the best gifts!

This Sunday is Sunday School! We'll be talking about the parable in Matthew 20, reading The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister, and doing a craft!

You can find this week's story video below.

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.

This week's FallFest organizing call - Book donations

In this week's worship announcements, you'll hear a call to gather your lovingly used books and prep them for donation to our book sale table at the FallFest event. We'd encourage you to sort them in categories like fiction & non-fiction, and further into subjects like gardening, cookbooks, art, travel, spiritual, religious, etc. We won't collect and lay out the books until the early morning of the festival, due to lack of storage. But if you need help getting your donated books to us, please contact Cathy Sarto at catherinegracesarto@gmail.com.

2026-27 Pledges Have Reached a Critical Juncture

Despite a very strong start to our 2026-27 pledge season, pledges to Peace United have stalled over the last month. With a goal of reaching $270,000 in pledges this year, we find ourselves about $14,000 short of meeting this goal. Reaching our $270,000 pledge goal is critical because it would allow the church to operate on a balanced budget. Anything less would be a deficit which means we'd have to draw from our already low reserves.

The annual budget was approved at our Annual Congregational meeting with the caveat that it would need to be adjusted downward if we did not meet our pledge goal by the September Council meeting.

Should we not reach this pledge goal, the Finance committee will present a budget with cuts to our already lean budget for the current year.

If you have intended to pledge, we urge you to make pledging a priority this week. And if you have already pledged, please consider increasing your pledge to help us close our budgetary gap.

With renewed focus on closing our $14,000 gap, we continue to have faith that our Peace United community will rally together to fully fund our needs for this year.

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”.

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 each of us having all manner of health challenges. May there continue to be research that helps cure and alleviate the health problems that continue to challenge our world today.
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 D's sister, who is facing challenges right now.
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 I's son and mother.
For D's family.
For C's cat. May he be well during her time away.
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.

Prayers for our Communities, Country and the World

For an end to violence and war. May our country and leaders choose the path of peace and nonviolence. May those in mourning for loved ones lost to violence and war find comfort.
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.

Prayers of Gratitude

For the good things happening in this church and our wider communities. Gratitude for those who bring hope and chart better paths forward.
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.