Connections and Pine Tree: October 3, 2022
Pine Tree #6 is out!
to see the latest issue.
It was such a blessing to host Communion with Jorge, and speakers of languages from around the world. It is so powerful to know we can connect with others around the world through the common language of God’s love, and the simple meal of bread and wine.  

Faith in action is not about attention-seeking heroic deeds, but rather the smallest of gestures of grace can connect us and change the world.  

Make this new month about new gestures of grace. Say hello to the person passing you on the sidewalk, thank the cashier, hold off on the honk, smile at a child, listen to the breeze, sit in silence. Every interaction matters. You matter, and your tiny faith can change the world. 

The Search Team and Board Members have been hard at work collaborating to bring action to the data collected from the Search Surveys, 1:1 interviews and Round Table sharing. The passion and commitment to CCSM is evident. Please share the gifts of our community with others. Our message of inclusive love is one that many need to hear and have offered to them. 

Wishing you fall delights this October. 

Peace and blessings,
Rev. Melissa
Click on the video above for the most recent entire worship service, or click HERE to listen to Rev. Melissa Douaire's sermon, SIMPLE BY DESIGN
To Give is To Receive: 
Share Your Love Auction and Pick a Party
CCSM’s 2022-2023 Fundraising Events 

The Share Your Love Auction has launched!  
October 16 is the LAST DAY to donate an item —

The Auction itself runs from 
October 30 through November 6
Pick a Party hosting submissions and party sign ups will follow. 
CLICK HERE to get all the details, and HERE to see the calendar.
To use the SYL auction form, click HERE.

Or contact Sandy McNabb, sandra.j.mcnabb@gmail.com 650.678.5650;
Michele Merfeld Hale, kaymerf@yahoo.com 206.612.6182;
or Diane Kalliam, dkalliam@gmail.com 415.279.1359
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!  
Youth and Family Events

Saturday, October 15 at 9am: Family volunteer activity - help to restore native plants on San Bruno Mountain. Please sign up here and let Sheryl know if you plan to attend! 
Sunday, October 16: 10:30am - 60 Minutes conversation for high school youth led by Mike (he/him) and Sheryl (she/her). Each month, high schoolers choose a discussion topic - this month the focus will be abortion laws (as chosen by the youth last month!). Stay after for lunch and social time with Sheryl. 
Sunday, October 23: 11:30am - Youth can help make sandwiches for Open Cathedral and earn volunteer hours.
Saturday, October 29 at 7pm: Free family movie night at Memorial Park! Come out to watch Jurassic World Dominion under the stars. Let me know if you plan to go so I can connect you to other CCSM families.
Sunday, October 30 at 10:30am: Wear your Halloween Costume to church day! Lots of special fun and treats as well. 
Saturday, November 5 - tentative youth sleepover with other UCC youth in Danville! Plans are just starting for this fun event with our partner UCC churches in the Bay Area. More info to follow! 
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