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Beloved Community,
If you’ve been following along with our Lenten Daily Devotional Card Deck, you know that this week’s Good News Mantra is “God’s love is delightfully surprising.” And this week, that Good News is a reality.
After more than a year of searching, I am delighted to share that we have found our new Children, Youth, and Families Director, and she is exactly who we hoped for. Please join me in welcoming Corinn Morrison to the CCSM family! Corinn brings over two decades of experience working with kids and families in multilingual, multicultural settings right here in the Bay Area. She starts this Sunday, March 1st. Drop her a welcome email at corinn@ccsm-ucc.org, or greet her at Happy Coffee Hour after our 10:30am or 4:00pm services this week. Families, children, and youth: see below for special opportunities to meet her that day!
I also want to take a moment to say thank you to our search committee, Phil Lind, Kim Rey, Donna Lindsay, and Matthew Bunn, who gave so much to this process on top of everything else they already contribute to our congregational life. And they didn't do it alone. Our CYF faith formation and youth group volunteers Kibbie Ruth, Betsy Woodward, Mike Harris, Jacqui Stultz, Mike Mullery, and Michele Cinq Mars; staff Lily Gonzalez, Lin Fenn, and Elaine Kauffman; CYF committee members Troy Grabow, Sean Moran, John Ebneter, and Kerianne Steele; and Rev. Álvaro Duran, who stepped up to lead Sunday evening youth groups and faith formation. All of them have held this ministry together through a long season of transition. If I've left anyone out, please forgive me and know that your contribution is valued!
Hiring Corinn is good news indeed, but it doesn't mean the village is off duty. It takes our entire community to support our young people and their families. The adults who show up consistently for kids and teenagers leave a mark that lasts decades. And the gift goes both ways. Intergenerational community is part of what makes church so special. When older and younger members know each other by name, everyone is richer for it. We are hoping even more people will step in to serve, support, and get to know Corinn, and our youngest CCSMers.
And if you haven’t had a chance to grab a Lenten Card Deck, here is a snippet of yesterday’s prayer to help carry you through the rest of the week.
In hope,
Rev. JV
Surprising God, so often we are surprised by bad news, taken hostage by the media cycle of the day — but from time to time we are surprised by love... we are surprised by joy... we are surprised by hope. Show us how to fan the flame of this good news. Show us how to be people who can surprise others with love, generosity, and kindness. May it be so.
| Meet Corinn Morrison, our new Director of Children, Youth, and Families! | | Connection after the Ash Wednesday Service | | Amazing performance once again by the Z Quartet! | | Nadia, Kerianne, Kay and Rosa catching up after the first 4pm Eucharist service on Sunday | | Antonio shared his work supporting immigrants in Minneapolis and read impactful poems exploring the local immigrant experience. | | Pick-A-Vent sign ups this past Sunday! Events are still available; click here to see the list. | | |
Faith and the Climate Crisis:
An Afternoon with Rev. Jim Antal
Saturday, February 28, 1 - 4pm at CCSM
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Join us at CCSM on Saturday, February 28, from 1–4 PM for a special in-person event featuring the esteemed Rev. Jim Antal, Special Advisor on Climate for the UCC and author of Climate Church, Climate World.
Returning to the Bay Area as a favorite creation care advocate, Rev. Antal will discuss why faith communities must face the moral challenge of the climate crisis and how to do it. The afternoon includes his keynote, an interview, and facilitated breakout groups covering topics such as youth activism, lobbying, and home solutions. This free program is co-sponsored by several local congregations.
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Children, Youth & Families Meet Corinn!
Sunday, March 1, 9:30am in the CE Building and 5pm in the CE Building
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Pick-A-Vent Second Chance + NEW Silent Auction Items 🎉
Sunday, March 1 in Kloss Hall after worship
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Thank you to everyone who made last week's Pick-A-Vent a success!
We're keeping the momentum going with some amazing silent auction items available this Sunday, including:
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Artwork: Beautiful paintings by high school sophomore Alexis Stultz.
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VIP Parking: Two highly coveted, year-long reserved spots in the church parking lot!
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Premium Napa Wine: An exclusive, highly allocated trio of Napa Valley Cabernet.
Curious about what's left? Click here for our updated listing to see how many spots are still available for upcoming events. New spaces have opened up for the Lasagna Dinner with Music and Cannoli Races too! You can sign up on Sunday.
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Enrich your journey with a
Daily Devotional Card Deck or Weekly Devotional
Available in the Narthex
| We invite you to use these daily devotional cards to deepen your spiritual walk through Lent. You might place the stack of cards by your bed to read first thing in the morning, or right before you sleep at night. Display the prayers the resonate with you the most, or use the questions as prompts to journal or reflect. Day by day, may these prayers ground you in the good news of the gospel this Lent. | |
**NEW** Eucharist Celebration in Spanish ⛪️
Sundays at 4pm
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Thank you to everyone who attended the first service this past Sunday! Every Sunday this Lent we will gather for a Eucharistic celebration, a time of prayer, of proclaimed Word and to share bread and wine.
A space to rest from the week's worries, to give thank for life, focusing on God's faithfulness and renew ourselves in hope.
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March for Hope: Donations for Samaritan House
March 15 - 29
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This Lenten season, join us on Jericho Road for the "March for Hope" supporting our Samaritan House neighbors by donating sturdy footwear and socks.
Most Needed Items (Adult Sizes):
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Footwear: New or gently used sneakers, walking shoes, and work boots.
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Socks: New, durable athletic or work socks.
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Financial Gifts: Always welcome to help expand our reach.
How to Give:
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Physical Items: Drop-off bin in the Narthex.
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Cash/Digital: Give during Coffee Hour in Kloss Hall or via the church app under “Jericho Road.”
| | UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES to Connect, Grow, & Serve | |
Dress a Girl Around the World Second Hour 👗
Sunday, March 8 from 12 - 1pm in the Buckham Room
| | Please join us after the service on March 8 for a special presentation about Dress a Girl Around the World, a ministry of Hope 4 Women International, by Ronda Chaney. Since 2006, this nondenominational Christian organization has been bringing dignity to girls globally by ensuring they have at least one new dress to remind them they are worthy of respect and deeply loved by God. | | |
SF Safe House Open House & Add'l Ways to Support 🏠
Thursday, March 12th from 12 - 4pm
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Following our recent plate offering, we invite you to learn more about the vital work San Francisco SafeHouse is doing for unhoused women and survivors in our community.
Open House: Bridge Housing for Women and Children Join SafeHouse on Thursday, March 12, from 12 PM – 4 PM at their newest site, 101 Gough. This is one of the city’s first supportive housing units dedicated specifically to survivors and their children. Learn more at sfsafehouse.org/events.
Other Ways to Help:
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CYF Family Bowling Night 🎳
Saturday, March 14th from 4:30 - 6:30pm
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Our Family Night Out at Bel Mateo Bowl is back! Families with children and youth of all ages are invited for an evening of bowling, pizza, and arcade games ($15/bowler)!
Whether you love bowling or are just in it for the pizza and games, we would love to see you and your family there. As we kickoff 2026, we are looking forward to catching up and creating new memories with our CCSM family.
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Ensemble Mirable: BAROQUE MASTERPIECES
Saturday, February 28th, 6 - 7pm downtown San Mateo
| | | | Experience the "astonishing and powerful" sounds of Ensemble Mirable—featuring one of Ondine's family bands. This acclaimed quartet brings the fire of Bach and Telemann to San Mateo for one night only at Gradus Ad Parnassum. | | |
Click the video below for Rev. Jessica's sermon,
"So Good, It Catches Us By Surprise"
| | Do You Have our new Church Center App? | | | | Church Center is a user-friendly mobile app and web platform designed to help you stay connected with CCSM wherever you are. Download on Google Play or the App Store and search for the Congregational Church of San Mateo. | | |
Alexandra Gillen, Council of Ministries Lead
Kim Rey, Children, Youth and Families
Gary H. White, Environmental Justice
Alison Schwandt, Engagement
Lauren Mathews, Alicia Santamaria, and Kerianne Steele, Latina/e/o Ministry
Annette Daniels, Liturgical Arts
Katherine Vega Stultz, Service and Justice
Dave Olson, Siew Kang, Spiritual Life
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Submit an Announcement
If you would like to submit an announcement, please send it to: kim@ccsm-ucc.org
The weekly deadline is 10AM on Tuesdays.
All submissions are subject to editing.
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Regular Office Hours:
9AM - 4PM
Monday - Thursday
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