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.

Housing Implementation Project (HIP)

Committee Update

Peace Village Housing Project - April 8, 2024

We’re moving forward! With alacrity and dispatch, as it were.

Now, with the city council’s final approval, and the period for filing any CEQA litigation against city approval having passed, we are working diligently through the process of finalizing the legal and land use agreements we need to put into place, in order to implement our project.

Negotiating with our project development team, and in consultation with our project attorney, we are working out the final form of seven or eight permanent documents that will need to be signed by our church Moderator on behalf of the church. Completion of these will enable our developer team to begin assembling the capital formation necessary to proceed with construction.

We plan to brief the church Council on this process at its next meeting, and to present the Council with our completed work products at the following Council meeting, on May 16, 2024. Following that meeting, we plan to present our complete set of proposed legal instruments and request for approval to our church as a whole at a special Congregational Meeting on Sunday,

June 9, 2024, after worship service.

Unbounded thanks and congratulations are due to the many members and friends of our church who showed up for us and supported us through the 16-month long city planning approval process.

In the months to come, Sibley Simon of Envision Housing and the Workbench development team will get on with the work on assembling their equity investment and construction financing vehicles, preparing detailed architectural and building plans, completing foundation engineering designs, updating costs and the project financial model, and coordinating the commencement of construction, which we anticipate in 2025 or 2026.

May God speed our work!

Jim Weller

Our next Council meeting is Thursday, April 18, at 6:30 to 8:00pm on Zoom. Please join us as our guest. Learn about the great work being done by various committees. How do we govern and make decisions with discernment? It’s an opportunity to appreciate the “behind the scenes” activities that support our vibrant and growing community.

Below is the link. We are excited to see you on Zoom.

(We use this same link every month.) 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86505810901?pwd=bHJ2VHVqNGpXSFlKOGpENldjTTM1Zz09

Missed previous meetings? Find reports and minutes in Google Drive.

Here's a link:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1H2UdOTsMfwGxDotbM-IcKE9eR31vz644

Thank you,

Maryse

Membership and Things Like That

Whether you’re “ready to decide” or “just looking,” come learn more about Peace United Church of Christ at two after-worship gatherings especially for people who may be interested in church membership.

Sunday 28 April - Noon to 1pm in the sanctuary:

Getting acquainted, with a discussion of the vision, mission and ministry of our church led by Pastor Dave. (Also, we’ll send you home with important printed information.)

Sunday 5 May - Noon to 1pm in the sanctuary:

Getting connected with church leaders highlighting opportunities to participate, lead and make a difference, moving from “friend” to “member.”

Please understand that attending these events will not obligate you to anything more. This is just our way of saying we’d like to get to know you, to provide an opportunity for you to learn more about the church, and to facilitate access to membership… if that’s how the Spirit is moving!

New Members will be formally received and welcomed into the church during the 10:30am worship service on Sunday, May 12

Questions? Contact: PastorDave@PeaceUnited.org, tel. 831-426-2010

Spring Bible Study

Good Text: Reclaiming Scripture from the Grip of Homophobia

…And it’s not just homophobia! The liberating call of scripture is distorted by any number of “authoritarianisms” that claim a place in our culture, politics, and churches. This four-session Wednesday evening Bible study invites a close reading and honest listening to scripture as Good Text and liberating Word, 6:45 to 8:00pm, May 1, 8, 15 & 22, led by Pastor Dave in the Fireside Lounge. Get more from this experience by reading The Seven Deadly Sins of White Christian Nationalism, by Carter Heyward (Rowan & Littlefield, 2023).

Moderator Report April 2024

The Easter season is always busy. And it is always so uplifting. We completed it with a wonderful Easter service. We rang bells, there was a brass band, the choir, and Vlada on the Organ.

The music soared, and we chanted "He is risen indeed!”.

Traditional Easter, egg hunts, and Easter brunch were on tap for that wonderful day. The brunch was elevated with nice piano playing by Luke Shepherd. At one point, some people got up and went over and sang with him. He was very accommodating and let us choose all the songs.

The next week, I took off to Shasta. I visited with my son, his partner, their 4 1/2-year-old daughter Harmony, and their brand new-one month old, (born on leap day), infant baby boy Espen. Then my son declared I was only 30 years old, and we all had to go skiing. So we did. It was a wonderful visit.

The Accessible to All Committee, A2A, has reserved the front left seating area in our sanctuary as a place for people who might want to sit there so they can see and hear the service better. You'll see a sign of that effect in the sanctuary. We also obtained a special transfer wheelchair.

I worked with the Nominating Committee, and the Stewardship Committee. which you'll hear more about in other reports.

All the committees are beginning to write their annual reports, which will be put into our large annual report for everyone to read late in May.

We have many exciting events in May and two congregational meetings in June.

Authentic Living, Loving Service:

An Exploration of Joy, Community, and Service with the Expressive Arts

10:30 am - 12:30 pm for four Tuesdays - April 16 - May 7

Joy shared is joy multiplied. When our authentic passions merge with our desire to make a difference, the delight grows exponentially! It is no accident that you love what you love in this life - it's an integral part of who you are and a resource for purposeful living. 

You're invited to join this 4-week series, using the expressive arts to explore how the things that bring you joy integrate with your way of being and serving in community. We'll play with movement, sound, drawing, and writing as expressive media, discovering and rediscovering what makes us come alive and how it can gain fuller expression. You don't need any prior artistic training or experience - just a willingness to play, enjoy, and learn something new. 

To register, please contact Lanakila@lanakilamusic.com. 

Climate Change Advocacy and Fellowship

Lisa Hoesing and Dr. Pam O’Dell are working to connect Peace United members with spiritual events and volunteer efforts to fight climate change. Dayenu Interfaith Climate Action will be holding events on a regular basis and we are informing and encouraging our members to attend.

Save the Date:

The first event is  April 5, 7pm at Temple Beth in Santa Cruz. This is a Interfaith Climate Service-more info coming soon!

Getting Involved:

Meanwhile, interested church members should send an email to Pam at pamodellgovaffairs@outlook.com. We are looking for a Santa Cruz based coordinator that can team up with Pam to coordinate local efforts. Please let us know if you are interested.

Pam is temporarily located in Sacramento and may be coordinating climate action there if there is sufficient interest.

Please come enjoy this great concert!  The date for the concert here at Peace United Church is this Sunday, April 15, 2024 at 2:00. (with several of our church members performing in the concert!) The Cantiamo choir joins Ensemble Monterey Chamber Orchestra for an evening of Aaron Copeland! Appalachian Spring, the suite from his opera The Tender Land, with soloists and chorus, and the amazing 1947 acapella choral work - In The Beginning. Sat in Monterey, Sun in Santa Cruz.

Tickets available at ensemblemonterey.org

Lord our God, keep us in the Amazing Grace that is ours through Jesus Christ

• Prayers for Cheryl Anderson who had a back injury, and for Susie Land who had a minor stroke.

Continued prayers for

• Nick Piediscalzi’s brother Fred, for Art Alm’s neighbor Kristin and her family, Dorothy Creely’s peace of mind, Mary Coneway’s heart valve replacement, Lisa Johnson’s grandson Dustin for cancer treatment.
• Prayers for all who grieve the loss of loved ones and homes, are at the effect of violence and war, all who are oppressed and bullied, unhoused and incarcerated, experiencing physical, mental, emotional and spiritual illness, addicted and at the effect of fear.
• Prayers for peace and an end to all war, especially for mercy in Palestine and Gaza.

With gratitude

• For Bill Walton’s sister Karen’s successful cancer treatment. 
• For the healing we receive in our bodies, minds, and spirits.
• For Jane Heyse, holding the center of our Congregational Support committee and our kitchen. 
• For those who serve the Good in their paid and unpaid work, stepping up in churches and all forms of service to others.

Thank You, in Jesus’ Holy Healing 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, 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.

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