Connections and Pine Tree
August 22, 2022
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Issue #5 is here! Take a look at summer news and previews of what's coming. Click HERE to go straight to the issue.
Here's a taste:
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Dear Beloved Community at CCSM,
What a service we had yesterday! Thank you so much to Rev. Ben for a very powerful service, including so much wonderful music. His message about the pilgrimages we each go on as we change throughout our lives resonated so much with me. His insightful, wise, and deeply caring message was so timely, as summer draws to a close and we reflect on and prepare for the year ahead and how we might change and grow. If you missed it, please go back and watch!
I've been reflecting that sometimes the hardest distance on a pilgrimage is the space between where we are and where we thought we'd be. Often as a journey nears its end, we reflect on where we thought we would be at this point. And sometimes it is clearly better than where we are — and sometimes it is not.
I know I am struggling a bit with that right now. Getting sick while I was in Peru was really disappointing. There is a lot that I hoped to do but didn't. The feelings I am left with now aren't just gratitude and fulfillment. But I am trying hard to remember that even though I didn't get all the places — literal or figurative — that I'd hoped, I did get somewhere. Travel is a blessing in and of itself. It is a blessing to be feeling better than I was. It isn't a given to have a wonderful everyday life and home (and church!) to get to return to.
Maybe you're also feeling a bit mixed at this point on your own pilgrimage. Maybe it hasn't been what you'd thought or what you'd hoped. I invite you to honor those feelings, but also try to lean into the blessings at the same time. Neither story is complete on its own, most journeys have disappointments as well as gifts we couldn't even have anticipated at the outset. And wherever you are and whatever you may be feeling, know that you are a deeply valued member of the CCSM community. And we are ready to welcome you home, with whatever disappointments or joys may be in your suitcase. We're ready to help you unpack!
Wishing you many blessings for this coming week 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 Rev. Ben Meyer's sermon
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SOME DATES TO BE AWARE OF:
Each Sunday in August, congregants can meet with members of the Search Committee during Coffee Hour to ask questions and hear about the process.
End of August through early September: 1:1 interviews will be held with Ministry Leads (and others upon request) and members of the Search Committee and select Board Members.
Beginning September 1 through September 14, the church members will be asked to complete an electronic survey, which will gather helpful information from the church members that the Search Committee will use as they conduct their search for a Settled Pastor. There will be technical support available during Coffee Hour on Homecoming Sunday, September 11. And hard copies available on the first two Sundays in September for those who are not comfortable with the online format.
Second Hour Round Table Discussions will be hosted by the Board and Search Committee on September 18 and 25th after service.
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We will be soon by saying “farewell for now” to Deb and Len Flaherty, two amazing CCSM volunteers, who will be moving up to Oregon for the next chapter in their lives. During their years with CCSM, Deb and Len have just about done it all. From ushering to sending cards for the Month of Sundays Ministry, from being part of the Memorial Reception Committee to baking treats for Coffee Hour and singing in the choir, it is hard to find a service position that either Len or Deb hasn’t filled.
Deb and Len epitomize what CCSM membership truly means. They have role-modeled responsibility, participation, cheerful service, and generosity so well. We will all miss Deb and Len (and Len’s beautiful bass voice) so much. But we hope to see them soon on-line! Best of luck to you both!
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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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Upcoming Preacher Schedule
We'll have a variety of voices and perspectives throughout the rest of the summer. You won't want to miss any of these!
Aug 28 Rev. Talitha Amadea Aho
Rev. Talitha Amadea Aho serves as a pastor at Montclair Presbyterian Church in Oakland, California, where she is responsible for children's and youth programming. She has been in ministry to the young since she was old enough to qualify as a chaperone at Presbyterian camps and churches. She holds an MDiv and an MA in biblical studies from San Francisco Theological Seminary and the Graduate Theological Union.
Sep 4 Rev. Rhiana Shaw Robinson
Rev. Riana Shaw Robinson is the Minister of Formation at Oakland City Church - a community that seeks to be People Who Don't Belong Together, Gathered Around Jesus, For the Sake of Those That Don't Belong. Riana expanded the church's City Engagement partnerships and spearheaded efforts to help the community live more deeply into its anti-racist values through teaching, relationship building, and deep listening. She feels called to name the work and abiding hope that is necessary to create the Beloved Community.
Riana is ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Reformed Church in America. She holds a Masters of Divinity at Pacific School of Religion and a B.A. in Ethnic Studies from Mills College. Before stepping into vocational ministry, Riana worked at various non-profits that focused on racial, social, and environmental justice. She served on the Steering Committee of the Faith Alliance for a Moral Economy and is passionate about faith-rooted advocacy.
Riana is an East Bay native and currently lives in Oakland with her husband, 8-year-old son, and three-year-old twins. She is extremely proud of her oldest daughter who is a senior at Howard University in Washington DC.
Sept 11 Rev. Melissa Douaire — our new Interim Senior Minister!
Melissa earned her MDiv from Chicago Theological Seminary and has served as an Interim Pastor and Pastor in the Chicagoland area. Melissa has certificates in grief counseling and intentional interim ministry, among other disciplines.
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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.
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Invitation to Participate in Homecoming Sunday 2022
Earlier this summer, we asked everyone to contemplate a simple question:
What was something you missed or gave up during the Pandemic that you reconnected with this summer?
Was it a spiritual experience, an event, a person, or place?
Whether you attend worship at 225, on Wednesday evenings, or virtually, we invite you to share your experiences with your CCSM family. The Liturgical Arts Team will be creating an installation for Homecoming Sunday with anything you provide that represents your experience. It could be a photo, poem, art work, rock, flower, or anything that evokes your experience.
This is a wonderful way to enrich the life of our community!
INSTRUCTIONS
To participate, bring your item(s) to the Church office starting August 19 through Sept 5.
FOR OUR VIRTUAL COMMUNITY, please mail to CCSM (225 Tilton Ave., San Mateo CA 94401) with Attn: LAM Homecoming included on the outside of your package or envelope. All items will be returned if possible.
You can also EMAIL any stories or pictures to Laura Pierce-McKenzie. Her email is in the Directory.
Please include:
- What type of experience was it? trip, activity, event, etc.
- Who experienced it? Family, friends, others. Include your name
- Date and location
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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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