Connections: March 13, 2024 | |
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Greetings, Church!
I've been hosting a couple of friends from Fort Worth this week and have loved getting to play host and tourist around the Peninsula and San Francisco. Sunday afternoon we visited Half-Moon Bay, Pescadero (yes, we made it to Duarte's for their famous artichoke soup), hiked in Butano Park and saw more banana slugs than we could count! On Monday we spent about 12 hours exploring the city- including driving over the Golden Gate bridge on a double-decker bus; yes, we were those people! My heart is full, my feet hurt, and I still keep saying, "I can't believe I live here."
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Several of you have asked me to share the poem I used for my benediction on Sunday. It is by Rev. Sarah Speed and is part of a collection of poetry written for our Lenten Series.
It's so easy to cling to what we know, but often times God is calling us to loosen our grips and open ourselves to new ways of thinking, loving, and being in this world. I hope this poem helps you not only center yourselves this week, but invites you to be open to something new.
As we continue to watch the news unfold in Gaza, I wanted to share an opportunity for you to learn more about the conflict between Israel/Palestine. Global Ministries, the global hands of our denomination, is offering a webinar tomorrow, March 14, at 10am. We've heard "apartheid" used in describing this conflict, and this webinar will unpack what that means.
You can register HERE.
I invite you to join me in continuing to hold in God's light and love everyone around the globe and in our own country who faces violence, hunger, lack of security, and the ongoing trauma from war. May we continue to pray for and be people of peace.
With gratitude, hope, and love,
Jessica
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As many of you know, last July our Board of Directors approved a letter of intent to contract with Rev. Álvaro Durán as Transitional Minister to Latino Ministry (effective when he received his work permit in December). During this period of transition, the Board asked Rev. Álvaro and our Latino Ministry to develop a congregational discernment process focused on this question:
What is our vision for the Latino Ministry as part of CCSM and what
relationships would we like to develop between our Latino/a/x and other members of our community?
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Next Steps
Save the Dates: April 7, 14, 28
and May 5
Where: Kloss Hall
When: 12pm-1:30pm, Lunch Provided
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We’ll gather over lunch for four, 90-minute sessions. We know this is a substantial commitment of time, but believe it is necessary for us to honor this process and do it well. We have condensed this into a four week time frame so that people are able to participate prior to summer travels, and leadership has time to plan for the 2024-2025 programming calendar and 2025 budgeting cycle. We strongly encourage you to attend all four sessions as they will cover a different topic and series of questions.
Please take this short survey that will help provide a picture of where we are as a congregation as we begin the process of discernment.
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If you have any questions about the process, please do not hesitate to contact me, Rev. Álvaro, or Julien Phillips, our Latino Ministry team lead. | |
JOIN US FOR EASTER AND HOLY WEEK | |
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IF YOU MISSED THE WORSHIP SERVICE,
CLICK HERE FOR LAST SUNDAY'S ENTIRE SERVICE
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CLICK HERE for Rev. Jessica's sermon,
“I’M FIXED UPON IT"
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NEXT SUNDAY’S OFFERING: PSR | |
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On Sunday, March 17, the plate offering will go to one of CCSM's significant religious partners, the Pacific School of Religion (psr.edu). You will hear more about PSR at the offering time on Sunday, but click here for a link to a 2-minute video.
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MUSIC AND ART • THIS FRIDAY, MARCH 15, NOON | |
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As usual BYOL (lunch); beverages and dessert are provided. The program will be presented by Music & Art’s (and CCSM’s) own Steve & Sue Bell. Steve will play flute and Sue will play her Celtic harp featuring tunes with an Irish twist.
Please RSVP to Don Harper at: donaldgharper@yahoo.com or 650-553-1800.
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Wander with us this Lent
Spiritual Practices for the Season
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Daily Devotional Cards
This collection of 62 daily devotional cards helps you mark each day from Ash Wednesday through the second week of Easter. The deck includes a weekly centering practice, along with a daily question for reflection, and a short prayer. You might place the stack of devotional cards by your bed to read and reflect on first thing in the morning or right before you sleep at night.
Cards are available in the Narthex.
Prayers by Rev. Sarah A. Speed | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org
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Lenten Reflection Groups
Join Rev. Jessica for a weekly discussion on the upcoming Sunday’s scriptures and theme, Wednesdays from noon to 1:00pm and 6:00-7:00pm. You can switch between groups, join one week, or bounce in and out—whatever works for your schedule!
Wednesdays, 12 noon-1:00 pm and 6:00-7:00 pm
February 21 - March 27
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WORSHIP WITH US, WEDNESDAYS AT 7:15pm | |
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Everyone is welcome at CCSM's weekly bilingual worship service on Wednesdays at 7:15 pm in Kloss Hall. Please join us for an inspiring Lenten sermon, music, communion, and a potluck meal.
We also have a children's program that coincides with worship. Come prepared to experience the Holy Spirit in loving community!
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MEN’S AND WOMEN’S COFFEE GROUPS | |
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Both groups meet in the Hillsdale Mall food court.
Join whenever you can for a time of connecting.
MEN’S GROUP: Tuesdays from 10:00 to 11:30 am. Contact Peter Held for more info, paheld1417@gmail.com
WOMEN’S GROUP: Thursdays from 10:15 to 11:30 am. Contact Carole Melis, clmcomm1@gmail.com, or Linda Skromme, linda.skromme@gmail.com.
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CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES | |
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Sunday, March 24 - Palm Sunday! Special 10:30am service featuring a palm parade, Joyful Noise singing, and our beloved donkey.
5pm - "Stations of Peter" Interactive prayer experience for all ages at church. You can go at your own pace and explore Holy Week as a family.
7pm - Hillsdale High School Performance of Clue! Come out to watch the show and support one of our youth who has a leading role. Tickets are available here.
Wednesday, March 27 - Monthly CCSM Youth social event on Wednesday night! This month we will go to see a movie at the theater in downtown San Mateo. Do you have any suggestions for what to watch? Let me know!
| EASTER Sunday with CCSM Kids | |
Easter Sunday will be a special day for our kids! Kids will begin in the service and then go to the Memorial Garden for a special time of learning about the Easter Story and its connections to renewal and new life in the natural world.
- We'll celebrate new life with a very special craft to take home
- Decorate cookies
- Play special games, and more.
After the service, there will be an Easter Egg hunt on the front lawn!
(Please bring your own basket if you can. We will have bags for those who need)
Thank you to our youth for hiding the eggs once again this year (and for assisting with the kids' activities). This will be a great morning to invite family and friends! Please let Sheryl know if you have any questions (see email link below)
Sunday, April 7 - Family playdate after church! Meet at noon at the King Community Center for a bilingual kids' concert featuring the group 123Andrés. Please bring a lunch to eat in the car or before you leave church.
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PUENTE is seeking volunteers for an upcoming Farmworker Convention Day on March 17!
A variety of kinds of help are needed: beautification, setup, help with registration, childcare, and more. If you’re interested, click HERE for further information.
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LANDSCAPE TO SAVE WATER NATURALLY | |
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Landscape your garden with drought-resistant native plants and native trees.
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THERAPEUTIC SOUND JOURNEY THIS THURSDAY | |
CLICK HERE FOR AN INTRODUCTION TO THIS EVENT! | |
25 YEARS OF HOMEWORK CENTRAL! | |
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Friday, March 22 at CuriOdyssey, Coyote Point!
Please join us at a festive, informative evening to raise crucial funds and to celebrate 25 years of serving North Central students and families. There will be a dinner and auction. Keynote speakers: Diego R Ochoa, Superintendent SMFCSD & Noelia Corzo, SM Board of Supervisors
For more information about auction donations and tickets, please visit our website: smhwc.org/nht
We hope to see you there!
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CCSM Council of Ministries
Email COM@CCSM-UCC.org to connect to any ministry!
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Kay Harris, Council of Ministries Lead
Jim Schwandt, Building and Grounds
Kim Rey, Troy Grabow, Children, Youth and Families
Melodie Lew, Congregational Care
Sandy McNabb, Connect and Celebrate
Gary H. White, Environmental Justice
Alison Schwandt, Engagement/Communications
Julien Phillips, Latino/a Ministry
Pam Ridlehuber, Liturgical Arts
Sue Bell, Katie Bylander, Music
Genel Morgan. Sharon Tobin, Service and Justice
Dave Olsen, Spiritual Life/Adult Ed.
Ivan Raikov, Stewardship
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Email Kay Harris to get connected to a Ministry Lead anytime! | |
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CCSM Committee Chairs
Chris Yeh, Endowment
Martha Bronitsky, Finance
Frank Garritano, Leadership and Governance
Chris Wuthmann, Pastoral Relations
Dave Goulden, Personnel
Phil Lind, Historian
Click HERE for CCSM's Governance Manual, and HERE for CCSM's Bylaws
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PRAY FOR PEACE
Weekly on Wednesdays • 9:30-10:00am on Zoom
In light of the recent events in Gaza, Israel, and the occupied Palestinian territories, we are invited to join Churches for Middle East Peace, an ecumenical partner of the United Church of Christ's Global Ministries, to join others across the world in praying weekly for peace. Registration is free, but required to receive the Zoom Link.
REGISTER HERE
Make a Gift
You can also make a financial gift to help with humanitarian aid for people in Gaza, Palestine, and Israel through the United Church of Christ’s Wider Church Ministries HERE.
Call for a Ceasefire
Send a pre-written message to your elected officials through UCC’s “Just Peace Church” program HERE calling for a ceasefire and encouraging Congress to take immediate action for de-escalation in Israel and Gaza, and support steps towards a lasting peace.
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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 the following food items:
- canned, dried and boxed
- no fresh food please
- donations must be full UNOPENED containers
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no fruits, vegetables, or bread
- We also collect individually wrapped plasticware!
Thank you for your continuing generosity!
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Regular CCSM office hours:
9:00am - 4:00pm
Monday - Thursday
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Scan this QR code or go to ccsm-ucc.org/give
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.
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225 Tilton Ave. • San Mateo, CA • 94401
650-343-3694
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