"Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, and plead the widow's cause." -Isaiah 1:17

Beloved Community,

Over this past year, I've learned so much about the important justice issues CCSM has championed over the decades in San Mateo and beyond. As many of you know, the work of housing justice has been part of CCSM's ministry for years, and this April, our "Our Home San Mateo" campaign reaches a crucial moment, and we need your presence and support.

As someone who has rented since age 20, I've experienced both amazing landlords and challenging situations. As Easter approaches, I'm reminded of one particularly difficult experience: my landlord told me on Palm Sunday that I needed to be out of my duplex by Easter Sunday—giving me just one week, as a minister, to relocate because contractors needed to move up their timeline by a month. When I explained this was impossible with my work schedule, he simply replied the contractors would be there the day after Easter.

Fortunately, an amazing group of friends—mostly clergy and their families—helped move everything on Easter after their worship services, literally carrying over items in Trader Joe's bags. My friend's husband even moved the refrigerator when my landlord said I could move it or wait three weeks for a new one.

Another time, I went three weeks without heat in winter because I couldn't reach my property manager. I had the resources to buy space heaters and pay the tripled electricity bill, but many don't. Even in my privilege, as a middle-class white woman and natural U.S. citizen, I was scared to stand up for my rights as a tenant. Imagine how scared others who are more vulnerable must feel when in such circumstances.

This campaign, spearheaded by our Latino Ministry and Rev. Álvaro Durán, along with CCSMers Krista Hanson, John Ebneter, Oscar Acuna, Reina Gonzalez, and Karyl Eldridge, works to ensure people have homes with dignified, safe conditions—free from pests and with basic necessities. It's not about rent control—it's about renters' rights and housing security.

The campaign has been building momentum over the past year through plate offerings, Second Hours, and your participation at the January City Council open session. Now, this work comes to a critical moment in less than a month, the day after Easter.

Three Ways to Get Involved:

Justice Dinner – April 6, 5:30 PM @CCSM

Share a meal, learn about the campaign, and watch powerful video testimonies from local renters who have faced housing insecurity firsthand.

Happy Hour – April 8, 5-7 PM @Wursthall San Mateo

Connect with others in a relaxed setting while learning how to support the movement and build community around this important cause.

City Council Meeting – April 21 at 5:30pm

Your presence in solidarity makes a powerful statement to our city leaders—simply showing up demonstrates our community's commitment to housing justice

It’s a busy season, and calendars are filling up quickly, so we hope you can attend one of these events.

There is so much in our world and country that needs our attention right now that it can be overwhelming, but this is one concrete thing we can do here, in San Mateo, to help our neighbors.

In Hope,

Jessica

DID YOU MISS WORSHIP?

CLICK HERE for Last Sunday's Entire Service

CLICK HERE for Rev. Álvaro's sermon,

"Rest & Growth"

THIS WEEK AT CCSM

Thursday, March 27

9:00 AM — Casual Bike Riders, CCSM Parking Lot (Contact John Ebneter, jebneter@aol.com)

10:15 - 11:30 AM — Women's Coffee Group, Food Court at Hillsdale Mall (Contact: Linda Skromme)

4:00 - 6:00 PM — Samaritan House Meal Service, Kloss Hall

7:00 - 8:00 PM — Lenten Bible Study, Zoom

Friday, March 28

1:30 - 3:00 PM — Bella Voce Rehearsal, Fireplace Room

4:00 - 6:00 PM — Samaritan House Meal Service, Kloss Hall

Saturday, March 29

8:30 - 10:30 AM — CC Riders Weekly Bike Ride (Contact Peter Held, paheld1417@gmail.com)

3:00 - 4:30 PM — Pick-A-Party Sound Bath with Chuck Rosenthal, Kloss Hall

7:00 - 8:30 PM — Masterworks Chorale Concert, Sanctuary

Sunday, March 30

9:45 - 10:15 AM — Joyful Noise Kids' Choir/Music Program, Fireplace Room

10:30 - 11:30 AM — Worship Service, in person and online

10:45 - 11:30 AM — Children's and Youth Programs, CE Building

11:30 AM — Coffee Hour, Kloss Hall

2:00 - 3:30 PM — Film Screening: Sally!, Buckham Room

4:00 - 5:30 PM — Masterworks Chorale Concert, Sanctuary

Monday, March 31

4:00 - 6:00 PM — Samaritan House Meal Service, Kloss Hall

Tuesday, April 1

10:00 - 11:30 AM — Men’s Coffee Group, Food Court, Hillsdale Mall (Contact Peter Held, paheld1417@gmail.com)

4:00 - 6:00 PM — Samaritan House Meal Service, Kloss Hall

7:00 - 8:30 PM — Our Home San Mateo Meeting, Third Floor Conference Room

Wednesday, April 2

4:00 - 6:00 PM — Samaritan House Meal Service, Kloss Hall

7:00 - 8:30 PM — Chancel Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary

7:15 - 8:45 PM — Bilingual Worship Service, Kloss Hall and Zoom (Contact Álvaro for Zoom link)

View our full calendar on our website

THIS SUNDAY IN WORSHIP

This Sunday we continue our Lenten Series with the parable of the Lost Sheep and the persistence of the Good Shepherd. Whether we feel lost in life's wilderness or found in moments of clarity, the Good Shepherd persistently seeks us out with reckless love, reminding us that we are never beyond God's reach. Join us this Sunday as we explore how God turns the world upside down to find us, meeting us exactly where we are—scattered or centered, searching or certain—with a love that refuses to let us go.

The plate offering this Sunday is for One Great Hour of Sharing. Details in the Worship Links email, which will also provide additional information on this Sunday's service. Check it out on Saturday at noon in your inbox!

JOIN US!

LENTEN ZOOM BIBLE STUDY:

FINDING GOD IN THE IN-BETWEEN

Thursday, March 27, 7 - 8 PM

This Lent, we invite you to look beyond black-and-white binaries and easy answers and imagine where God might be meeting us in-between the categories we create. Join us for a Lenten Zoom Bible Study as we journey through this sacred season and explore these themes together! Each Thursday from 7-8 PM (March 13 – April 3), we’ll gather online to reflect on the scripture for the upcoming Sunday, reflecting how it speaks to our lives toda. Contact Rev. Jessica with questions.

Zoom Link

SOUND BATH PICK-A-PARTY

Saturday, March 29 at 3:00 PM

**Spaces Still Available**

A sound bath is an immersive somatic experience. Our nervous systems need to be recalibrated on a regular basis. Each experience builds on the next and supports us to be more connected to the liminal space, sharpen our intuition, and experience deep peace. To experience this yourself, follow the QR code above or contact Chuck Rosenthal for more information: chuck@csm-ucc.org.

CELEBRATE WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

FILM SCREENING: SALLY!

Sunday, March 30 at 2 PM

Join us at 2 pm on Sunday, March 30, in the Buckham Room for a special screening of Sally!—an award-winning documentary about Bay Area feminist icon Sally Miller Gearhart. Filmmakers Deborah Craig and Jorg Fockele will be present to share insights about this pioneering activist, writer, and academic.

This free event is sponsored by the San Mateo County UCC Cluster of Affirming Churches: CCSM, Congregational Church of the Peninsula, College Heights, and Island United Church. Refreshments will be served.

Want to help with hosting, set-up, or clean-up? Email Rev. Jessica.

Learn More

MASTERWORKS CHORALE CONCERT

Saturday, March 29, 7 - 8:30 PM

Sunday, March 30, 4 - 5:30 PM

Join us in CCSM's Sanctuary and immerse yourself in consoling and transcendent music. Duruflé’s Requiem is a masterpiece rooted in Gregorian chant that resonates with forgiveness, solace, and the radiant mystery of human existence. We then dive deeper, exploring humankind’s perpetual search for meaning in the vast grandeur of nature with repertoire including Music of the Stars by contemporary composer Cecilia McDowall and Choose Something Like A Star by Randall Thompson. Performed with orchestra. https://masterworksbayarea.com

TAKE ACTION

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

IMMIGRATION INFO FAIR: SUPPORTING OUR MIGRANT COMMUNITY!

Saturday, April 5, 2 PM

Join us in solidarity at this free event, which is open to everyone, regardless of background or language. Learn about migrants' rights in English and Spanish, and feel empowered to share your questions and concerns in a welcoming and safe environment.

Organized by CCSM's Latino Ministry, this is an opportunity to connect, share, and learn together! For more information, please email latino@ccsm-ucc.org.

"When immigrants live in your land with you, you must treat them well. Any immigrant who lives with you must be treated as if they were one of your citizens. You must love them as yourself because you also were immigrants..." Leviticus 19:33-34

COMING UP

SPRING ORGAN CONCERT

With Dr. Angela Kraft Cross

Sunday, April 6, 4 – 5:30 PM

Join us for an inspiring afternoon of music as our Organist and Artist-in-Residence, Dr. Angela Kraft Cross, presents her 32nd annual Spring Organ Concert. With her signature artistry and dynamic presence, Angela will bring our magnificent pipe organ to life with a program that celebrates the beauty and renewal of the season. Whether you are a lifelong lover of organ music or simply curious to experience something new, this is a performance not to be missed! Featuring works by Bach, Vivaldi, Franck, Duruflé, Vierne, and Kraft Cross.

SPIRITUAL CONVERSATIONS

New Discussion Begins Tuesday, April 8

7:15 - 8:30 PM, Zoom

Meets the 2nd & 4th Tuesday of the month

Spiritual Conversations' next reading will be Richard Rohr's latest book, The Tears of Things. We will begin with a time of sharing with each other our feelings about the social and political stresses of these times and supporting each other in fellowship. We will then get into Rohr's book, of which one reviewer has written, "In a world that can feel like a house on fire, Richard Rohr's The Tears of Things is a much-needed road map to wisdom and higher—more hopeful—ground."

Please join us for this time of spiritual solidarity between and beyond us. If you would like to join our discussions every other Tuesday evening via Zoom, starting April 8, please let Chris Wuthmann know at cewuthmann@gmail.com.

CHURCH LIFE SNAPSHOTS

Lasagna and Cannoli Races Pick-a-Party hosted by

Sue Bullis, Sandy McNabb, and David Loughhead

Guests at the Lasagna and Cannoli Races Pick-a-Party enjoying the fruits of their efforts!

GREEN TIPS

Eat less meat. Eat a more local, organic, plant-based diet. Try Meatless Mondays.

DONATIONS

ARE YOU A CAT PERSON OR A DOG PERSON?

Either way, please help the Gran’Its collect ping pong balls, cork wine stoppers, and toilet paper rolls to make toys for the animals needing adoption. Soon, the children and youth will be studying the Lost Sheep, and the “lost" animals at Peninsula Humane Society need some love until they are "found.” (If you have fleece material in your fabric stash, send it along also.) Bring your donations to the church office.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Job Position: Children, Youth, and Families (CYF) Director

We're seeking a creative and passionate leader to guide our children and youth in their faith journeys. Our CYF Director will cultivate an inclusive, engaging environment where young people and their families explore spirituality, build community, and engage in social justice. If you're called to nurture the next generation's faith development through innovative programming and meaningful relationships, we invite you to learn more about this opportunity.