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CONNECTIONS: June 12, 2024

Photo from CCSM Picnic

Greetings, Church!

It was great to see so many of you at our church picnic on Sunday- over 100 people attended! I hope you’ll join me in thanking Sandy McNabb and our Connect & Celebrate Ministry Team. The food was delicious, and fellowship even better!

As we continue to Celebrate PRIDE at CCSM, in one week we will have our special Pride Worship Services: Wednesday, June 19 at 7:15pm (Bilingual) and Sunday, June 23 at 10:30am. We would love to lift up and celebrate Queer voices in worship, so if you identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community and would like to help lead in worship those days, please let me or Rev. Alvaro know.

We are also looking for volunteers to help host a film screening on June 30 on the documentary 1946: The Mistranslation that Shifted Culture. The film chronicles how the misuse of a single word changed the course of modern history. Several people stopped by our table at San Mateo PRIDE and either grabbed a flyer or shared that they had seen the film, it was great, and they were happy to see that we are offering a free screening of it this month. Beyond local reviews, this documentary won the “Best of Fest” at the Palm Springs International Film Festival last year, Audience Award at DOC NYC in 2022, and the Audience Choice Award for Best Film at the Cleveland International Film Festival in 2023! Our screening is June 30 at 2pm in Kloss Hall. 

As we see rainbows everywhere this month, and celebrate the diversity and beauty of all God’s children, I leave you with this poem by Ann Weems that I shared as a final blessing with our Board of Directors at their monthly meeting last night: 

I’d Write For You a Rainbow

By Ann Weems

If I could, I’d write for you a rainbow

And splash it with all the colors of God

And hang it in the window of your being

So that each new God’s morning

Your eyes would open first to

HOPE and PROMISE.

If I could, I’d wipe away your tears

And hold you close forever in shalom

But God never promised

I could write a rainbow,

Never promised I could suffer for you,

Only promised I could love you.

That I do. 

With hope, gratitude, and love,

Jessica

Did you miss worship?

CLICK HERE FOR LAST SUNDAY'S ENTIRE SERVICE

CLICK HERE for Rev. Jessica's sermon, "True Kindred"

THIS WEEK AT CCSM

Wednesday, June 12

• 7:00 - 8:30 PM — Chancel Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary
• 7:15 - 8:45 PM — Bilingual Worship and Potluck, Kloss Hall

Thursday, June 13

• 10:15 - 11:30 AM — Women’s Coffee Group, Food Court, Hillsdale Mall (contact linda.skromme@gmail.com)
• 6:30 - 7:30 PM — Personnel Committee Meeting, Fireplace Room
• 7:00 - 8:30 PM — Carillon Bells Rehearsal, Choir Room

Saturday, June 15

• 8:30 - 10:30 AM — CC Riders Weekly Bike Ride (contact Peter Held for more info)
• 10:30 AM — Coffee with CC Riders, Village Hub in Woodside (3154 Woodside Road)

Sunday, June 16

• 10:30 - 11:30 AM — Worship Service in person and online
• 10:30 - 11:30 AM — Youth and Children's Programs, Memorial Garden
• 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM — Coffee Hour in the BUCKHAM ROOM today!
• 11:45 AM - 1:15 PM — Second Hour: Nuevos Caminos, Kloss Hall

Tuesday, June 18

• 10:00 - 11:30 AM — Men’s Coffee Group, Food Court, Hillsdale Mall (contact Peter Held, paheld1417@gmail.com)
• 12:00 - 2:00 PM — OFFICE CLOSED for Staff Training

Wednesday, June 19

• OFFICE CLOSED
• 7:00 - 8:30 PM — Chancel Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary
• 7:15 - 8:45 PM — Bilingual Worship and Potluck, Kloss Hall

PLATE OFFERING for SUNDAY, JUNE 16:

CCSM EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FUND

Did you know that CCSM has an Emergency Assistance Fund? Through unexpected hardships, illness, or job loss, sometimes our members and neighbors face urgent challenges. That's were the Emergency Assistance Fund comes in.

This fund allows us to meet the

needs of our community, in the moment, by helping with groceries, gas cards,

utility assistance, and more. No amount is too small, and all gifts are used

directly to support those in need.

Help us be God's hands and feet and

face when needed most.

SECOND HOUR: NUEVOS CAMINOS, JUNE 16

The Next Leg of the Journey

Next Sunday, June 16, in the Second Hour, the Latino Ministry will update you on the progress of the congregational discernment process, Nuevos Caminos 2024. Whether you have participated in the previous sessions or not, you are more than welcome to attend. Please join us to learn more about the next leg of the journey. 

As a vibrant faith community, we celebrate, embrace, and reflect God's diversity. The future of our multicultural ministry is not just a journey but a grand adventure that we can all embark on together, regardless of our backgrounds or levels of involvement. Your unique perspective and contribution are always welcome.

CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES

CYF now has its own Google calendar... click HERE!

All summer: CCSM Summer Kids' Program! Kids of all ages will gather with Elaine and Lily in the Memorial Garden for activities and stories related to spirituality, care for the Earth, and community service.



June 23: 60 Minutes. Join us for a special 60 minutes where our youth will create a new ministry video for our partners at Peninsula Precious Plastics!

June 23-27: UCC Western Youth Regional Event, Long Beach

We have a small but mighty group of middle school youth headed to this event. Please keep this small, but mighty, group of students and adults in your prayers as they prepare.

HAVE YOU REGISTERED FOR CAMP?!?!

It's not too late to sign up for the BEST week ever with amazing people in God's beautiful creation!

July 2024 - UCC Camp Tamarack Sessions

Senior High: July 14-20

Junior High: July 21-27

Junior (4th-6th grade): July 28-August 3

Camp Tamarack is in the high Sierras, east of Fresno. When the snow melts at over 7,000 feet, Camp Tam is revealed. Tent cabins, a lodge, fire bowl, worship area, grassy meadow, lakes close by, and propane lighting make for an amazing, rustic experience! Our Camp Cook, Kymberly, is always guaranteed to cook up delicious meals for all to enjoy! To learn more, contact Rev. Jessica

July 26-28, 2024 - Cabin Weekend for High School Youth at Mike and Lee Mullery's place in the mountains. Spend the weekend connecting with Spirit in nature and deepening friendships. Email Michele Cinq Mars for more information.

We will be holding our special Pride worship services next Wednesday, June 19 (bilingual service), and Sunday, June 23. These are excellent opportunities to invite an LGBTQ+ friend, ally, or family member who may be distanced from the church or all looking for a radically inclusive faith community.

May the colors, the joy of celebration, and the solidarity in the struggle for the rights and dignity of all people continue to flow in our community this Pride month!

To help lead in worship email Rev. Álvaro or Rev. Jessica

MUSIC & ART, JUNE 21 AND JULY 19

Music and Art will meet informally in June and July. There will be no hostesses or programs, just getting together for fellowship. Be watching for notices of the summer social gatherings. 

Upon notification please RSVP to Pat Pepper at pjpepper31@gmail.com or by phone: 650-343-4286 so we can let the church know many tables and chairs to set up.

Photo from May's gathering with special guest, Emily Beach.

Giffords Law Center Annual Celebration

Thursday, June 20

Summer Solstice Sound Bath

Thursday, June 20

Bring reusable bags to the grocery store and use a reusable water bottle.

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.

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
• no fruits, vegetables, or bread



• We also collect individually wrapped plasticware!

Thank you for your continuing generosity!

CCSM Council of Ministries

Email COM@CCSM-UCC.org to connect to any ministry!

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

Email Kay Harris to get connected to a Ministry Lead anytime!

CCSM Committee Chairs

Chris Yeh, Endowment

Martha Bronitsky, Finance

Frank Garritano, Leadership and Governance

Chris Wuthmann, Pastoral Relations

Dave Goulden, Personnel

Phil Lind, Historian

Regular Office Hours:

9:00am - 4:00pm

Monday - Thursday

Closed Wednesday, June 19