Worship This Sunday
Sep 12 - 10:30 a.m.
In our Sanctuary
Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost
Proverbs 21, Mark 8:27-30, 34-36
May I Know Your Name?
Sermon by Pastor Dave
Coffee, Tea and Treats on the patio after worship
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.
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Note from the office of Peace UCC
Several people in our community have received e-mail requests purporting to be from Pastor Dave asking for “a favor.” Please be aware that these e-mails are a scam, sent by imposters, usually trying to get money from you. They are not from Pastor Dave and, indeed, they are not originating from a PeaceUnited.org address, which is why there really isn’t anything we can do about them except to warn you!
Peace United staff and leaders will never ask 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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The Neil Rogers A/V Fund
To date, we have a grand total of $26.144.89 in contributions, including the generous donation ($15,000) that Anne Rogers made in memory of her husband Neil. A few more donations would ensure that we can purchase all the needed equipment. Let’s make it happen!
We can look forward to better microphones and speakers for improved sound in the Sanctuary and for the streaming audience, too. With extra cameras, the streaming programs will bring the audience into view. Kevin and team soon will have up-to-date equipment to manage the new equipment, too.
You can give one of three ways:
- By mail via check with “AV Fund” in the memo line.
- By using the “DONATE” button on our website, and selecting “AV Fund” from the drop down menu
- By using the “Special Offering” envelopes on Sunday morning
Thank you for generously helping us reach our goal!
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Congregational Meeting
Council has called a special Congregational meeting for September 26, 2021. It will be held after worship in the Sanctuary. The purpose is to review and approve a set of relatively minor (but still important) revisions to the Peace United Church of Christ Constitution and Bylaws, recommended by Council. Click here to review the proposed text, along with an explanation of the reason(s) for the changes. Since we only have one item of business to discuss, the meeting should be relatively short, allowing you to get on with your day as expeditiously as possible.
Council is recommending changes in three categories: 1) correction of typographical errors and small wording changes to clarify language; 2) language to allow on-line meetings and electronic voting; and 3) restructuring of the section on committees, removing the recitation of all of the various committees and replacing it with a specification for commissioning and managing committees. The specifics of what committees exist and how they operate will be contained in the Policy and Procedure Manual where they can be more easily maintained.
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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!
Sundays in August... Sign up for a Sunday to read live and in-the-flesh 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.
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Searching for Program Assistant
Musical Mondays, PUCC’s weekly after-school program of music and fun for kids will be starting up again on September 13. Information on how to register will be coming out shortly. Right now, we’re asking you to help us fill a vacancy in our staff. We’re looking for a Musical Mondays "Program Assistant.” If you know of anyone who may be right for this position, please have them send a cover letter and resume to office@PeaceUnited.org.
The Ideal candidate will:
- Be willing to commit to assisting with 10 weeks of rehearsals and one show;
- Have experience and enjoy working with children;
- Be prepared to provide safety and support for a group of approximately 10 elementary-aged children;
- Be able to follow a simple agenda/lesson plan;
- Have an interest in music, theater, dance, and/or visual arts;
- Be vaccinated and prepared to mask indoors (note: students will be masked except while eating, social distancing per CDC requirements);
- Hold or be willing to obtain a first aid certification;
- Possess a valid California driver's license.
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We need Sunday
Tech Assistants!
Lower your stress, and increase your overall sense of well-being
How, you ask? By volunteering one Sunday a month to assist Kevin Rothwell in the production of our worship experience. Research shows that learning a new language (I-Pad) improves your brain function; working in community and making new friends lowers your stress and volunteering provides an overall sense of well-being!
There actually is very little to learn but all of the above hoods true! Please sign-up by clicking the button below or for more information contact Beverly or Kevin by email using revbevbrook@gmail.com or kevin.rothwell@yahoo.com
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What About Masks?
Out of our commitment to extravagant hospitality, remembering especially the many children and youth who have not yet been vaccinated against Covid, we will ask you for a few more weeks to continue wearing masks while we're indoors. We thank you for your kind consideration of the health and safety of our entire community at PUCC.
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Introducing the Vera Taylor Scholars for 2021-22
The Vera Taylor scholarship committee is pleased to share this letter from a fourth returning scholar, Chloe Woodling, this week.
Here is Chloe's update on her academic path:
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Tent of Abraham
Santa Cruz County
You are invited to join in a celebration of community & friendship
September 19, 2021
1:00 – 4:00
At Twisted Tree Campground
at DeLaveaga Park
We will greet old friends and make new ones, sing and play together!
What to bring:
The whole family & some friends
A dish to share (list ingredients)
Musical instruments
Games etc.
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Greeting, kindred spirits,
This week we take a moment to acknowledge Tashlich, a day of repentance for our Jewish friends during their high holy days, beginning Sept 7 (new moon) this year. Tashlish means to “cast off” and is a day of repentance at the start of the new year, which often includes a ritual of casting pebbles or bread into flowing water.
The Head of the Year
By Marge Piercy
The moon is dark tonight, a new
moon for a new year. It is
hollow and hungers to be full.
It is the black zero of beginning.
Now you must void yourself
of injuries, insults, incursions.
Go with empty hands to those
you have hurt and make amends.
Many Blessings,
Bonnie Lange
"Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day,
if you listen carefully, you can hear her breathing."
~ Arundhati Roy
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A Peace Artist Group
Join with church members and others for a weekly session of meditative drawing on Saturdays at 4:00 beginning on September 11th
Lisa Hoesing leads this simple Zentangle class on line. On September 11th she begins a 6-week series of a rainbow of small tiles connected by ribbon.
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A Natural Blessing of Compassion
May we be gentle with ourselves and each other.
May we treat ourselves and each other with the kindness of a child and the dignity of an elder.
May our discipline be and easy expression of self-love, self-nurturance, self-forgiveness.
May we feel held in the lap of the Earth and the love of our family, and know this as home.
May we never lack of wonder.
This week we open our hearts and offer prayers for:
- Celebration of life for Harriet Pedersen, who died one year ago. She was the mother of Kristin Owen
- Anne Rogers, as she settles into her new community in Texas
- Joel, from Yakima, WA, who died on Sunday, his family and countless friends
- All those with cancer, including Mary Male
- Nancy, caring for Greg who has dementia
- Our dedicated health care workers facing the current surge of Covid patients,
- We offer prayers for all Covid patients, Covid victims and their loved ones
We pray for wisdom to prevail with the recall election for California’s governor
We offer prayers for everyone continuing to recover from hurricane Ida as well as the devastation from the ongoing wildfires
Prayers of safety for the citizens, especially women, of Afghanistan under the Taliban
In the midst of the countless joys and the endless suffering, we ask that love be the source of our courage, compassion, and commitment.
This day and all days, always and in all ways. Amen
Many Blessings,
Bonnie Lange
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We Want Your Face!
Most of us cringe when we see ourselves in photos, but you probably have one photo that shows your face the way you would like other people to see it. We want that photo for our records! Pastor Dave especially is interested in having a pictorial record because there are so many of you he hasn't yet been able to meet in person.
Here's how you do it...please email Devon a digital photo of yourself and she will take care of the rest! Thank you. We look forward to "seeing" you soon.
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Office Hours!
Some days we're on campus, some days we're remote, but 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, staff are attending to the business of our church office: 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. As on-campus activities increase in the months ahead, so will our in-person presence in the church office, Monday through Thursday.
Pastor Dave also is working out of 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.
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Small Groups and Ministries of Outreach
Use this link to find information about our various small groups and
ministries here at PUCC.
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Buildings & Grounds Needs Your
"Free Service Tags"
Every City of Santa Cruz resident with refuse service gets four “Free Service Tags” annually, good for extra curbside trash or a free “dump run” at the city dump. Most of us don’t need these tags and they remain unused.
Your Buildings and Grounds team can put these Tags to good use, though! As you might imagine, our 6-acre campus generates a lot more yard waste than will fit in the curbside carts, and we make frequent dump runs.
If you have City “Free Service Tags” that you won’t use, please consider donating them to the church. Just mail or drop them off at the church office, and receive our heartfelt thanks!
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We're registered on Amazon Smile! Learn more and designate Peace UCC as your chosen charity to receive 0.5% of your Amazon Smile purchases, at no cost to you, here.
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Our conference staff and the offices have
moved to a new address. The new address is
1320 Willow Pass Rd., Suite 600, Concord, CA 94520
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Sign up here to further peace and justice around the world
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Find out more about global ministries here.
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Get a daily devotional here.
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