Connections: September 5, 2022

HOMECOMING next Sunday!
I hope you all had an enjoyable Labor Day weekend with friends, family and whatever makes your heart sing.

We had an amazing guest preacher, Rev. Riana Shaw Robinson, reminding us no matter how messy our lives are, we are fiercely loved by God; loved like a mama bear protecting her cubs. Even in the moments where it feels like an absence of God's presence, we are loved. It is the lift we all need these days.

Labor Day marks the end of summer schedules and the beginning of our programming. We hope to see all of you at Homecoming Sunday, September 11th. Plan on staying after for socializing and connecting with the CCSM community. We will have an enhanced coffee hour with more treats, kids activities, and opportunities to learn more about how to offer your talents and share your interests at CCSM.

Please complete the on-line Senior Minister Search Committee’s survey as soon as you can. If you need help filling out the survey, on Homecoming Sunday there will be a table with computer assistance, and the option of paper surveys. 

Oh, also, I will be preaching for the first time at CCSM and am thinking about revealing secrets of the universe. 

Peace and grace, 

Rev. Melissa Douaire
Click on the video above for the most recent entire worship service, or click HERE to listen to Rev. Riana Shaw Robinson's sermon.
Click on the video for a message from our Moderator, Julie Lenden, and our Interim Senior Pastor, Rev. Melissa Douaire!
THE SENIOR MINISTER SEARCH COMMITTEE wants your input!
The CCSM Senior Minister Search Committee wants to hear from all members and friends. Please take five to ten minutes between now and Wednesday, Sept. 14th to complete the CCSM Congregational Input Survey.

We will share a summary of responses at the Round Table meetings and use this input to recruit, interview, evaluate and recommend a candidate that best meets CCSM's needs. (Round Table meetings will take place Sept. 18 and 25 after church, and on Zoom on Sept. 21 at 7pm.)

CLICK HERE for the survey or scan the QR code.

If you would like to share thoughts beyond those captured in the survey, please contact Alexandra Gillen (alexandragillen@yahoo.com) or Dave Olson (dave.olson17@comcast.net) to schedule a conversation with one of the search committee members.

Your participation is critical. The more clearly we're able to articulate who we are, the more likely we are to attract candidates who share our vision for this beloved community.

Thank you!

Volunteer of the Week
Deb Chang
Deb Chang serves on our Board of Directors as an At-Large member, and is also a member of the Senior Minister Search Committee. Deb is primarily an online member at this time, and has been hosting our Virtual Coffee Hour for the past several months as well. Come and say a big “thanks” to Deb on Sundays after service. The ZOOM link is in the Bulletin and Deb also posts the link in the Facebook comments.
Thanks, Deb, for role-modeling ways other online members can volunteer. And for all you do for CCSM!
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
Carne Asada Feast • October 8 • 5-7pm
The final event of our Coming Back to Community series—Rev. Jorge's Carne Asada Feast—will be held October 8, from 5-7 p.m. While it was fully registered when initially offered, spots have opened due to the rescheduling. 

Let Rev. Jorge (jbautista@ccsm-ucc.org), Sandy McNabb (Sandra.j.mcnabb@gmail.com) or Diane Kalliam (dkalliam@gmail.com) know if you’d like to attend. Rev. Jorge is a great host and cook; this is an event not to be missed!  
HOME and HOPE has now merged with LIFE MOVES! 
This is a good thing for both organizations. HOME and HOPE has been struggling these past couple of years with their model for housing families and this merger gives strength to HOME and HOPE and LIFE MOVES. We at CCSM will have many more opportunities to serve those that are struggling to find housing here in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. I will be working with Lynnelle Bilsey, who manages all volunteers for LIFE MOVES, to find more ways that the CCSM community can be involved doing things that are more fun than sleeping on the floor in Kloss Hall. Please watch for future updates and ways for us to serve.

—Donna Lindsay
Former coordinator for HOME and HOPE
and now the contact person for LIFE MOVES at CCSM
Did you miss the latest issue of the Pine Tree?

Click HERE to go straight to Issue #5.
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.
If you’re not able to be with us in person, you’re invited to share in communion while online with us from wherever you are; just have some bread and juice ready and you can participate with us that way.
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.

Link for Prayer Ritual on YouTube: tinyurl.com/CCSM-Ukraine-Prayer
225 Tilton Avenue • San Mateo, CA 94401
(650) 343-3694