You are Welcome at Peace Church!
No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!
At Peace UCC, we come from many different walks of life, seeking to follow the way of Jesus together. Our congregation is made up of folks who are young and old (and in between), gay and straight (and in between), rich and poor (and in between), women and men (and in between), liberal and conservative (and in between). We embrace our differences as we seek what unites us: a heart for God’s love and justice in the world.
We are a member of the United Church of Christ, whose purpose is “To love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength and our neighbor as ourselves.” We are in covenant with UCC congregations across our denomination, with whom we share resources, support, and mutual accountability. You can learn more about what UCC congregations believe here.
Do you want a church community where all are welcome and differences are celebrated?
Do you seek to be a follower of Jesus and live in the way of his countercultural love and justice?
Do you take the Bible seriously, but not always literally?
Are you looking for meaningful ways to serve God and others in the church, community, and world?
Would you like a church where kids and youth are a visible and vital part of the community?
Do you believe God is still speaking?
If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, Peace may be a good fit for you!
What to expect at Peace
Which service should I attend?
During the program year (September-May), we offer two worship services. Our 8:30am service is a smaller crowd and a quieter service, with communion every week. If you are an early riser, sensitive to noise, or value receiving communion every week, this is the service for you. Our 10:30am service is larger and louder, with our choir singing, a Story for All Ages and kids programming, and communion on the first Sunday of the month. If you have kids (especially elementary age and younger), love choir music, or enjoy sleeping in, this is the service for you. Both services include the same sermon and hymns. We invite new visitors to try both services to see which best fits your needs.
During the summer (June-August), we worship in one 9:30am service. We alternate indoor and outdoor services.
What should I wear?
There is no dress code at Peace. You’ll see people dressed in jeans and t-shirts, though some enjoy dressing up. Wear what makes you feel most comfortable. Note that our Sanctuary is not air-conditioned, so dress for the weather if you come on a hot day.
Where should I sit?
There are no assigned seats! If you prefer less kid noise, you’ll be happiest on the left side of the Sanctuary as you enter. If you have young children, the right side of the Sanctuary is for you, with two praygrounds inside and outside the doors with materials to engage with worship. The speakers function differently in different places in the room, so if you are hard-of-hearing, we invite you to try different seats to see what works best for your needs.
What if I have accessibility needs?
We work to make our building and worship services as accessible as possible for folks with needs around mobility, vision, hearing, and sensory processing. We have an elevator, disabled parking, and accessible restrooms. We can offer ASL interpretation upon request. We offer large-print bulletins. We have noise-canceling headphones and fidgets for managing sensory needs. If there are other accommodations that would help you participate more fully in worship, please reach out to our pastor.
Who can receive communion?
Everyone is welcome to receive communion. Communion is served every Sunday at the 8:30am service and on the first Sunday of month at the 10:30am service. We always use alcohol-free grape juice and we offer gluten-free elements kept separate from the bread.
Do you have programs for kids on Sunday mornings?
We do at our 10:30am service.
During the program year (September-May), we offer nursery care, providing supervision for children up to age 5. Our nurseries are staffed by paid, trained, and background-checked nursery staff.
Elementary-age children begin in worship and are invited forward for the Story for All Ages. They may then join their peers for Children’s Church for the remainder of the worship service.
On the first Sunday of the month, we worship intergenerationally, and children are invited to receive communion at their parents’ discretion.
Activity books and bags can be found on the table in the Narthex.
What is your music like?
Peace Church is lucky to welcome a wide variety of musicians and musical selections during worship. A Sunday may feature the choir, a string quartet, a folk band, or local musicians and groups. The hymnals use inclusive and expansive language and reflect a diversity of Christian traditions.
What is there to do before and after worship?
Every Sunday we host coffee hour, where all are invited down to the Fellowship Hall for cookies and coffee. During the program year, we offer an Adult Forum at 9:30am between worship services, providing opportunities for faith formation and education on local organizations and issues.
Church Membership
We welcome all who are interested in learning more about Peace Church - what we believe, how we interact in the community, and how we’re structured - to join us for orientation sessions. We have these gatherings twice a year. Each time there are two options for orientation sessions and interested folks are invited to attend one. Orientations are held on Sundays, one after the 10:30 service and one between services. It’s a wonderful opportunity to meet people and ask questions in a smaller setting. People interested in joining Peace are encouraged to attend both sessions, but it is not mandatory. New members are received into the church on a Sunday soon after the orientation sessions.
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For more information, and to find out the dates of the next sessions, contact the church office.