Connections: July 25, 2022 |
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Dear Beloved Community at CCSM,
Thank you so much for joining us in worship on Sunday! After the service, so many people shared their travel stories with me - lessons they have learned when they have been in a strange place, received help from strangers, or otherwise learned from "strangeness." I am so glad that these ideas connected with many of you and that some of you decided to share. Our service also had some amazing music - as always! If you missed the service, please go back and watch.
Sometimes there is a moment in a pilgrimage journey when we are reminded that this time won't last. It might be a phone call from home, something popping into your mind that you will need to do, something from work slipping in. I had a moment like that -- interrupting my "summer vibe" -- last week when I went into a store to look for bug spray. To my surprise, most of the "summer items" had already been put away-- and "back to school" and even Halloween were in full swing!
That experience reminded me that summer, like pilgrimage time, doesn't last. And, in some ways, that makes it sweeter. Those reminders of what is coming next can help us to re-focus on the time that we do have left where we are. It can help us to reflect on what we still want to experience and how to be most present to this special time. It can be jarring to be pulled out of the pilgrimage headspace, but sometimes we can use those moments as a reminder to savour.
At this moment in the summer, I am heading into some vacation time of my own. There will be some great services coming up, including next Sunday (Jan 31) when Rev. Melissa, our new Interim Minister will be visiting us and my good friend, colleague, and mentor Dr. Sharon Jacob (Professor of New Testament) will be preaching. I always learn so much from her and am so delighted she said yes to my invitation to come to CCSM.
Peace be with you now and always,
Sheryl
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Click on the video above for the most recent entire worship service, or click HERE to listen to Sheryl’s sermon
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Volunteer of the Week
Siew Kang
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We are so fortunate that Siew Kang landed at CCSM when she arrived in San Mateo from Taiwan just prior to the pandemic. Siew jumped right in and began volunteering at the Front Desk for us. Siew is also a talented musician and has performed music for worship services. Siew worked with Melanie at the “Coming Back to Community” Sing-a-long event recently. Thank you Siew for sharing your time and talents with us!
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Do you know a CCSM Volunteer you'd like to recognize here? If so, please write two or three sentences telling us about them and send it to Zoe at zmullery@ccsm-ucc.org
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THE SENIOR MINISTER SEARCH COMMITTEE has finalized its schedule for congregational input. The formal process, with an electronic survey and roundtable discussions, will kick-off on Homecoming Sunday. If you'd like to share any thoughts, schedule on one-on-one meeting with a committee member, or learn more about the ongoing process in the meantime, please make contact with Alexandra Gillen, Dave Olson, or stop by the Committee's table at coffee hour in August. We'd love to hear from you.
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BLESSING BOX
comes to CCSM
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Food insecurity is a very real problem is our city. Since 2019, 40% of those who have visited a food bank requesting assistance are there for the very first time.
If you have any extra non-perishable food items please bring them to church to help stock the recently constructed Blessing Box installed on the front lawn on the Tilton side of the building.
Canned foods, pasta, rice, cereal, granola bars, crackers etc all work well.
Thanks so much for your help!
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DO YOU HAVE A NAME TAG? We want to make sure everyone has a name tag when our new interim senior pastor Melissa Douaire is with us on July 31. If you don’t have one, leave a note in the church office or in Zoe’s box, or email Zoe at zmullery@ccsm-ucc.org.
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STARTING AUGUST 7, FIRST SUNDAYS OF THE MONTH ARE COMMUNION SUNDAYS.
If there’s a way you can be in person on the first Sundays of the month, communion is a meaningful time to be together.
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SPIRITUAL CONVERSATIONS RESTARTS AUGUST 8 WITH THINGS HIDDEN
Spiritual Conversations, a book discussion group, will restart Monday, August 8, via Zoom. We’ll be reading and discussing Things Hidden: Scripture as Spirituality by Richard Rohr, a Franciscan priest, popular teacher and speaker.
Father Richard’s book uncovers what the Bible says about morality, power, and the grace and wisdom of God. The book gives readers a vision of how love, meaning, and a mature relationship with the Divine can counteract the fear, greed, hate, and violence of the world and shepherd us on our path to spiritual transformation.
If you’re interested in checking us out, please contact Chris Wuthmann at cewuthmann@gmail.com or Chase Montara at cmontara@ccsm-ucc.org for more information and the Zoom link. The group meets every other Monday from 7:15 to 8:45 p.m. All are welcome.
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Summer brings new possibilities!
As you embark on your summer adventures, whether away or at home, here's a question we would like you to ponder.
What is something you’ve been missing or gave up during the Pandemic that you want to reconnect with this summer?
Was it a spiritual experience, an event, a person, or place? The Liturgical Arts Team will be creating an installation for Homecoming Sunday with anything you provide that is a physical representation of your adventures. It could be a photo, poem, art work, rock, flower, or anything that evokes your experience.
To participate, bring your item(s) to the Church office between August 19 - Sept 1. For our non-local community, please mail to CCSM with Attn: LAM Homecoming included on the outside of your package or envelope. (225 Tilton Ave., San Mateo, CA 94401) All items will be returned if possible.
Let us know:
What type of experience: trip, activity, event, etc.
Who experienced it? Family, friends, others. Include your name
When and location
If you have questions, please contact Laura Pierce-McKenzie, Liturgical Arts Ministry Lead. Contact information in Church directory.
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CCSM Playlists for inspiration
If you're looking for some comfort and inspiration, one place to look might be one of the playlists Chuck has created on Youtube where you can find uplifting prayers and songs selected from our services. You can find the prayers here and the songs here. Please make use of this wonderful resource!
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Pray for Ukraine Every Tuesday at 7:30pm
CCSM held a powerful live Prayer Ritual for Ukraine on March 6th. We have decided to premier this ritual ONLINE every Tuesday until the war ends. We hope you will join us online weekly to continue our prayers and heal our hearts. 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.
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225 Tilton Avenue • San Mateo, CA 94401
(650) 343-3694
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