SHARE:  

Connections: Week of August 14, 2023




Dear Beloved Community at CCSM, 


What an exciting time for CCSM! Sunday's worship truly felt like a resurrection to me — so much hope, positive energy, and powerful witness to progressive Christianity in service for justice. I am personally SO completely delighted that the congregation voted so overwhelmingly in support of calling Rev. Jessica Vacketta as our next settled senior minister at CCSM. 


I know that I say this every week, but if you missed the service on Sunday, please do go back and watch. I promise you will be on the edge of your seat with Rev. Jessica's powerful storytelling and deeply insightful message. The music, prayer, and other components of the service all worked together so well to make such "good church"! 


This coming Sunday, I know you will all be excited to hear that Rev. Kibbie Ruth will be leading the service. The service will also feature several selections of John Denver's music. It should be a wonderful and very meaningful service. 


I will be thinking of and praying for you all as I am off for a bit of late-summer time away, including a very exciting trip to Sarajevo to present at the European Ethics Society. My paper is about Christian ethical positionality and how we need to critically consider our roles, responsibilities, and histories in offering aid to immigrants and refugees. 


In the meantime, please know that I will be with you in spirit and praying for you all in this deeply exciting time for CCSM. The Spirit is moving us forward to a bright future. In the words of our Moderator Austin Mader-Clark, the night is over and the dawn is nearly here! Praise be to God! 


Peace and blessings,


Sheryl 




IF YOU MISSED THE WORSHIP SERVICE

CLICK HERE FOR LAST SUNDAY'S ENTIRE SERVICE


CLICK HERE TO WATCH

Rev. Jessica Vacketta's powerful and insightful candidating sermon.

Solar Donors Needed
Happy summer everyone! I am writing to give you the latest update on our solar project and to give you an opportunity to make a personal donation of financial support to help us close the gap in its funding.
As many of you will recall, the concept of a CCSM Solar Project was birthed a few years prior to the pandemic by a few concerned members of the congregation. Aware of the worsening state of climate change worldwide, these conscientious members felt CCSM needed to take steps to reduce the church’s own fossil fuel emissions and lower its carbon footprint.
This concern, along with the support of church leadership, led to the formation of the Energy and Environmental Justice Ministry at CCSM three years ago. Due to the diligent work of EEJ, the design and contract of the solar canopy in our parking lot were officially approved by the Board in June 2021. After several snags and a lengthy permit process with the City of San Mateo, construction finally went ahead in March 2023. The solar system is now complete and we are waiting for the permit from PG&E to operate the system.
To help pay the total project cost of $460,000, CCSM has taken a variety of steps. We entered into a financing agreement to benefit from a clean energy governmental incentive of 20% off the total cost of the system which reduced it to $368,000. When the project was initially approved in June 2021, several members of the church were approached, resulting in pledges of $249,000. Additionally, the clergy and the Board have approved the use of up to $100,000 of New Initiative funds for the project, if needed.
So, this is where you come in. To help ensure that CCSM generates clean power far into the future and to help create a powerful legacy for our children’s and grandchildren’s future, you—the members of our congregation—are strongly encouraged to pledge and donate what you can to help complete the funding of the solar project. Our goal is to raise $20,000.
To pledge and make your donation, please contact our bookkeeper, Cheryle Matteo at cmatteo@ccsm-ucc.org or call her at the church office at 650-343-3694. Thank you in advance for helping to secure solar energy for the future of CCSM.
Gary H. White – Lead, Energy & Environmental Justice Ministry



A Year of "Whoa, Whew and, Finally, Hallelujah!"


As we make way for our 32nd Senior Minister at the Congregational Church of San Mateo to start, the Senior Minister Search Committee would love to share a bit of the adventure that led us to this exciting moment in our long history.


The email that shocked the world — or at least, 225 Tllton Ave.


A message from Penny Nixon was always a welcomed sight in our email boxes. But the one sent on April 3, 2022 certainly knocked out our wind — Penny was announcing her retirement from the pulpit. 


News like that hit hard. For 15 years, Penny led our congregation with love, curiosity, intensity, humor, grit, passion and compassion. And even considering the notion of her leaving seemed foreign to many of us. 


The months that followed were filled with tears, laughter, reflection, prayer, and of course, celebration. And as CCSM sent Penny out with a lavish farewell, all of us knew that a seemingly impossible task lay ahead.


A committee was assembled. But a team was born.


One of CCSM's core attributes is the amazing diversity of our congregation. So when it came time to recruit the Senior Minister Search Committee, the intention was to build a group that reflected our diversity. CCSM tapped nine individuals with varying lengths of membership, ages, backgrounds, life experiences, etc. Each of us was a volunteer who had to juggle the important mission at hand with work, families, travel, other church commitments, extracurricular activities, and more.


And here was the final roster of CCSM's Senior Minister Search Committee:


Alexandra Gillen

Dave Olson

Deb Chang

Jim Berthelsen

Kenny Lee

Leslie Burndon

Rebecca Ruedy-Whelan

Sebastian Steinbach

Tracy Avelar


Whether by design, or just old fashioned luck, we seemed to gel from the start. (Spoiler alert: the Search team only grew stronger as the year unfolded.)


The long haul ahead. Hey, who brought the map?


No church rushes into a Sr. Minister search without a little planning and identifying critical milestones. And under the co-leadership of Alexandra and Dave, that dynamic duo kept the group focused, energized, and, yes, very busy. 


The first order of business before opening up the formal search was to revisit and revise our church profile. 


In the summer of 2022, we looked deep in the mirror to reassess our values and strengths, but also to seek opportunities for growth and change. And the one big question that kept popping up over and over again was this:


What does CCSM look like in a post-pandemic world?


We consulted with members of the previous Sr. Minister Search Committee to pick their brains. Sub-teams were spun up to tackle specific objectives. One team created an in-depth survey — a crucial tool designed to collect the thoughts and opinions of our members. Another team ran Competitive Intel, which was created to connect with like-minded progressive churches around the country and to speak with influential ministers, seminary presidents, and others to get the word out about our open position.


Another squad looked at our overall messaging on the web. 


The sub-teams looked at other church websites for inspiration. We dug into our finances. They looked at competitive salaries at other places. We met with Ministry leads for their perspectives. We spoke with members who wanted their voices heard. We captured responses and data. We huddled over what we learned and noodled strategies for the next steps.


And after countless calls and workshops to tinker and re-tinker, we landed on our latest vision for the church, and shortly thereafter, the ready for prime time CCSM Sr. Minister job posting.


Waiting for the phone to ring. Or the email notification to ding.


Casting the net for candidates, and then establishing a consistent review process became our new priority. The team came together to design a process to evaluate candidates. We drafted a set of email templates to keep our prospects in the loop. We wanted a comprehensive setup that gathered the feedback of every candidate who reached out.


News of the open CCSM position was shared by word of mouth and through the help of the UCC Northern California Nevada Conference, where the position was officially posted at the end of 2022.


Before we knew it, interested folks from around the country were answering our call. It started with a trickle in late 2022, shortly after the job opening was posted. And by January 2023, the surge of candidates grew.


We read profile after profile. We Googled names and their current churches. We watched sermons on-line.  We learned about their personal stories, their callings to ministry, their strengths and opportunities. The revised church profile proved itself a reliable filter to help us determine who we thought would align with our values and goals. 


In the spring, a short-list of front-runners emerged. And over the following weeks, that list became further refined. And sure enough, we soon had our final four candidates that we flew out to San Mateo to meet our ministry teams and staff. 


What transpired next was perhaps the toughest part of the journey for the Search team. As the team deliberated to determine which of the abundantly accomplished pastors could be CCSM’s new Senior Minister, we found ourselves in the last weeks with a challenging choice between two very closely qualified candidates. Hours were spent in discussions among the team, looking at feedback gathered through the Ministry-candidate meetings, reviewing the congregational survey findings from fall, 2022, and referring to the profile we had created (as a descriptor for our ideal minister). These steps brought us to the point where we felt confident in making our recommendation to the Board.


The end of a search. The beginning of a new chapter.


18 to 24. Those aren’t the Vegas odds of finding a new Senior Minister. But 18 to 24 months is the average time it takes for a church to find the right person for the job.


So it’s with great pride that your current Search Committee has finished our quest in 14 months. But it’s with even greater pride (and pleasure) that we get to introduce the Rev. Jessica Vacketta as our new Senior Minister of the Congregational Church of San Mateo.


Thanks to the staff, ministry leads, board members, congregants, and UCC counsel who offered their guidance, insights, comments, and assistance during this past year. 


And Jessica, welcome to the family.


Love,


Alexandra, Dave, Deb, Jim, Kenny, Leslie, Rebecca, Sebastian, and Tracy

Song Leaders for Sunday, August 20th

Please come join us as a song leader for this Sunday’s special service featuring songs of John Denver. Join us at 9:15 am in the sanctuary — everyone is welcome!

 

Vocal Workshop with Dr. Bryan Baker, August 30th

You are invited to join a special vocal workshop with Dr. Bryan Baker, director of Masterworks Chorale. All singers at CCSM are welcome. Join us Wednesday, August 30 at 7 pm in the sanctuary. A graphic of Music Notes or Treble Clef would be great if you have one.


Contact Lynnelle at ltbmusings@gmail.com with any questions.





Thanks to all for a great Ice Cream Social Meet and Greet

with new settled senior minister Jessica Vacketta!


 A large and lively crowd attended the Ice Cream Social Meet and Greet for Rev. Jessica Vacketta on August 12. Thanks to all those who helped make this event a success — ice cream scoopers Judi Powell and Marilyn Cintel; Linda Stoick and her Liturgical Arts Ministry, whose flowers brightened the tables; shepherd Jerry Nugent, who ensured that Rev. Vacketta had a chance to chat with everyone; Chase Montara and Oscar Rosa, who helped get everything set up and running smoothly; and Connect & Celebrate team members Mike Harris, Nancy Nugent, Jerry Nugent, Diane Kalliam, and Michele Merfeld (supporting us virtually from Missouri).  




SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPERIENCE CCSM


Don’t go on vacation—come to church! Want to know what goes on behind the scenes, like how decisions are made or the church budget is put together? If you want to observe, learn, or speak up, these opportunities are for you. 

Gatherings, classes, and meetings will be before and after church in the

Buckham Room (both live and Zoom).  

Everyone is invited to participate.


August 20, 11:50 AM

Council of Ministries

Learn how teams of volunteers help the church thrive.

Maybe you could volunteer too!


For more information, email kibbie@ccsm-ucc.org.  


Because these classes might not be available for Zoom participants,

the classes will be be filmed and uploaded to the website.


JOIN CCSM!

New members will be joining on Homecoming Sunday, September 10.  If you are curious about officially becoming one of our flock, please email kibbie@kyros.org for more information.

Next Meeting:

Friday, September 15th


Music and Arts will NOT meet in August, but stay tuned for information about our official beginning of the year on Friday, Sept. 15. Mark your calendars & save the date!



We look forward to seeing you all then, and encourage you to invite someone else from the congregation or a friend who is interested in music and arts. Performance is not required.



Update on the Climate Hope Postcard Project


105 CCSM signers advocated for the EPA's 10 new rules to protect the environment and public health. These cards have now been mailed to the UCC Washington, DC office to be combined with those from other UCC churches across the country and to be delivered to the White House and the EPA in August. Thank you for your participation!

~ CCSM Energy and Environmental Ministry Team

Youth and Family News


Recruiting 2023–24 CCSM Youth Peer Leaders! Sheryl is putting together a small team of youth to help plan youth social events, service projects, intergenerational programs, etc. Are you interested? This is a great thing to put on your college apps, resumes, etc. High school youth in 10th, 11th, and 12th grade are invited. Please let Sheryl know if you are interested. We will meet once/month on Sundays after 60 Minutes and/or on Wednesday evenings before the Wed night service (it’s ok if you can’t make 100% of the meetings).


Sunday, August 20, 10:30am – 60 Minutes with Michele and Mike – Continuing our discussion of values in America.


Saturday, August 26 – LifeMoves Bike Ride to End Homelessness. This is a fun ride for a great cause. There are routes for all ages - kids included! (See below for more information) Please consider signing up as a family.  https://www.lifemoves.org/ride-to-end-homelessness/


Sunday, September 10 – Homecoming Sunday! Please plan to stay after church for facepainting, balloon animals, games, and more! Youth are encouraged to help out—and can earn volunteer hours. Please let Sheryl know if you're available! 



Saturday, September 16 – City of San Mateo Annual Bayfront Cleanup More info/register

here: https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/1857/Bayfront-Cleanup 



Friday, September 29–Sunday, October 1 – Join our local UCCs for a fun youth retreat weekend! More details to follow.

Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for? (Audience) Why should they care? (Benefit) What do I want them to do here? (Call-to-Action)


Create a great offer by adding words like "free" "personalized" "complimentary" or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take an action, so think about inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining"!

Upcoming

Board of Directors

Meetings

all meetings are Sunday at Noon

in the Buckham Room

(unless noted)



September 17

October 8

November 12

December 10


To view June 14 Board Meeting Minutes,

click here or go to https://tinyurl.com/CCSMBoard-061423

Upcoming

Council of Ministries

Meetings

all meetings are Sunday at Noon

in the Fireplace Room

(dates in yellow are combined BoD + CoM)


August 20 (11:50 am)

September 24

October 22

November 12

December OFF



CCSM Council of Ministries
Contact COM: COM@CCSM-UCC.org

Kay Harris - Council of Ministries Lead
Jim Schwandt - Buildings and Grounds
Kim Rey and Troy Grabow - Children, Youth, and Families
Diane Kalliam - Congregational Care
Alison Schwandt - Engagement
Gary White - Energy + Environmental Justice
Sandy McNabb - Connect and Celebrate
Julien Phillips - Latino/a Ministry
Laura McKenzie - Liturgical Arts
Sue Bell - Music
Genel Morgan - Service and Justice
Chris Wuthmann - Spiritual Life/Adult Ed.
Martha Bronitsky - Stewardship
You don't need to wait for the Ministry Fair to learn more, or join a ministry. Contact the Ministry Lead anytime!
Click HERE for CCSM's Governance Manual, and HERE for CCSM's Bylaws

BRING YOUR BLESSING BOX CONTRIBUTIONS

ANY SUNDAY OF THE MONTH!



The "Blessing Box" outside of the entrance of CCSM is a project of the Ministry of Service and Justice, responding to the need for families in our neighborhood to access food and an expression of our call to be the "hands, feet, and face of God" in our community. The container will be in the narthex to collect food (canned, dried and boxed, no fresh food please! donations must be full UNOPENED containers, no fruits, vegetables, or bread) on any Sunday of the month. Thank you for your continuing generosity!

Pray for Ukraine Every Tuesday at 7:30pm


CCSM held a powerful live Prayer Ritual for Ukraine on March 6th, 2022, and will share this ritual ONLINE every Tuesday until the war ends. These are challenging times and this offering is a way to bring our community together and magnify our prayers.


Please share this link with your friends and family so we can extend this offering to as many people as possible.


Link for Prayer Ritual on YouTube: tinyurl.com/CCSM-Ukraine-Prayer


 CCSM SUMMER
OFFICE HOURS

9am - 1pm

Monday - Thursday
225 Tilton Ave. • San Mateo, CA • 94401
650-343-3694
Scan the QR code above or go to
to make a donation or pledge to CCSM.
Don't forget to ask your employer if they have a charitable donation matching program to make your pledge go farther.
GIVE
Contact Us
Facebook  Youtube  
Visit our website: ccsm-ucc.org