CCSM CONNECTIONS: January 2, 2025

Beloved Community,

As we cross the threshold into 2025, our hearts carry both grief and gratitude. We remember President Jimmy Carter, who left us just days ago at age 100 – a man whose life embodied what it means to live faith through action, to serve with humility, and to work tirelessly for peace and human dignity. And, our hearts ache with the families in New Orleans who began this year in grief and trauma as violence shattered what should have been moments of celebration. In a world where too many communities know the wounds of such violence, we're called to hold both sorrow and resolve – to mourn with those who mourn while working toward the peace our world so desperately needs.

I write to you in these strange days of Christmastide when time feels a bit fluid and perhaps some of us are still enjoying cookies for breakfast (no judgment here – I'm sad all our cookies are gone). These pause points in our usual rhythms, even amid grief and uncertainty, can be holy gifts – moments to breathe, to rest, to simply be.

A year ago, many of you received Star Words in worship – simple words to companion your spiritual journey through 2024. As we prepare to draw new words for 2025, I invite you to reflect in the days ahead: How did your word weave through the fabric of your year? What questions did it raise? What insights emerged? Whatever word found its way to you last January – whether it became a trusted companion or rested quietly in a drawer – each held an invitation to deeper listening and discovery of how God is still speaking in our lives and in our world.

This Sunday, we'll once again distribute Star Words during worship. Each word offers an invitation – not a prescription, but a possibility – a gentle light that might illuminate unexpected paths in the year ahead.

We don't know what 2025 will hold, but we can trust in the slow work of God, and the reassurance that we don't journey alone.

With hope,

Jessica

DID YOU MISS WORSHIP?

CLICK HERE for last Sunday's entire service.

CLICK HERE for Rev. Álvaro's sermon,

"DON'T FORGET TO LAUGH"

THIS WEEK AT CCSM

Thursday, January 2

10:15 - 11:30 AM — Women's Coffee Group, Hillsdale Mall Food Court (Contact Linda Skromme)

2:00 - 3:00 PM — Connect and Celebrate Ministry Meeting, Fireplace Room

4:00 - 6:00 PM — Samaritan House Meal Service, Kloss Hall

6:45 - 8:45 PM — Bell Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary

Friday, January 3

4:00 - 6:00 PM — Samaritan House Meal Service, Kloss Hall

Saturday, January 4

11:00 AM - 1:00 PM — Richard Kogl Memorial Service and Reception, Sanctuary and Buckham Room

Sunday, January 5

10:30 - 11:30 AM — 60 Minutes – High Schoolers, Fireplace Room

10:30 - 11:30 AM — Worship Service, in person and online

10:45 - 11:30 AM — Children's and Youth Programs, CE Building

11:30 AM — Coffee Hour, Kloss Hall

12:00 - 1:00 PM — Second Hour: 2025 Budget Q&A, Buckham Room

1:00 - 4:30 PM — LAM and Volunteers Take Down Christmas Decorations, Sanctuary

Monday, January 6

4:00 - 6:00 PM — Samaritan House Meal Service, Kloss Hall

7:00 - 8:30 PM — Governance Committee Meeting, Zoom

7:15 - 8:30 PM — Spiritual Conversations, Zoom

Tuesday, January 7

10:00 - 11:30 AM — Men’s Coffee Group, Hillsdale Mall Food Court

4:00 - 6:00 PM — Samaritan House Meal Service, Kloss Hall

Wednesday, January 8

4:00 - 6:00 PM — Samaritan House Meal Service, Kloss Hall

7:00 - 8:30 PM — Chancel Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary

7:15 - 8:45 PM — Bilingual Worship Service, Kloss Hall

View our full calendar on our website

THIS SUNDAY IN WORSHIP

Join us this Sunday as we step into the new year with the Magi's journey from Matthew's gospel (2:1-12). Rev. Jessica Vacketta will explore how "THE ROAD ISN'T STRAIGHT," reflecting on how our paths, like those ancient travelers from the East, rarely follow a straight line. Through music, communion, and community, we'll discover what it means to embrace the unexpected turns that shape our journey. Whether you join us in person or online at 10:30am, come be part of this timeless story of seeking and finding God in surprising ways.

PLATE OFFERING for

SUNDAY, January 5:

Open Cathedral

Sandwich-Making Supplies

On the fourth Sunday of every month, you will find our volunteers — adults and kids alike — busy making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, which are added to 100 paper lunch bags filled with juice, chips, and mandarin oranges. Volunteers then take them up to San Francisco to be distributed to the homeless by Open Cathedral. If you have ever participated in this assembly line activity, you can vouch for the fun atmosphere! Come join in sometime!

Make a Gift

Second Hour: 2025 Budget Update

This Sunday, members of the Finance Committee will be available to answer questions on our 2025 budget prior to the annual meeting. Committee members are also available to discuss the budget individually before the meeting. The 2025 proposed budget can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/CCSM-2025-ProposedBudget

COMING UP

Last call for ENGLISH TOGETHER

Training: January 6 or 7 Sessions: January 13-March 10

After a successful launch of English Together this fall, we are excited to bring together the next group of Practice Partners & English Learners. As a reminder, CCSM partners with a nonprofit based in Palo Alto to bring a structured conversational approach to improve confidence, build connections, and enhance community. To learn more about the program, please sign up for an upcoming interest meeting on ZOOM here: https://englishtogether.org/interest/. When registering please note that you are part of CCSM.

Those who haven’t been practice partners before are encouraged to join a Training Session January 6th or 7th @7pm via Zoom. Our sessions will run Monday evenings, January 13 – March 10, 7-8pm. There will be holiday breaks and hybrid options. IMPORTANT: If you are interested, please reach out to Katherine at vegastultz@yahoo.com for additional information.

FAITH RETREAT FOR

HIGH SCHOOLERS

Saturday, January 11, 2025

Hey high schoolers! Join other UCC youth for an exciting day of exploration and connection at Niles Discovery Church. We'll dive into meaningful conversations about faith, justice, Jesus, and how we can make a difference in our world. Whether you're thinking about Confirmation or just curious to learn more, this retreat is for you! Already confirmed? Come share your experience and help guide the conversation! Interested? Let Rev. Jessica know if you are interested by this Sunday, January 5!

CCSM ANNUAL MEETING

Sunday, January 12, Noon

The congregation meets annually to receive ministry updates and reports, approve the new budget, elect board members and ministry leads, and attend to additional business requiring a congregational vote and/or congregational input. This year's meeting will be held over a light lunch in Kloss Hall and also via Zoom. Observers are welcome; only CCSM members may vote on the Action Items. If you have questions regarding your membership status, email jessica@ccsm-ucc.org.

We must have a minimum of 75 members in attendance for quorum per our by-laws, so please plan to join us for this important meeting. We will also have Zoom available at http://tinyurl.com/ccsm-boardmtg and will be able to take a poll for voting. If you can join us in person rather than online, please do. Absentee voting will be available.

This is a unique opportunity to work side by side with those of other faiths and cultures to benefit our local community. Projects include preparing soup mixes and a BBQ for shelter residents, working on school campus improvements and gardening, assembling care kits, knitting baby hats, decorating pillow cases, tying fleece blankets, making t-shirt grocery bags, sewing stuffed animals for police and firefighters to distribute, making paracord bracelets for military personnel, creating animal beds and toys, putting together science kits, cleaning up local parks, and singing for residents in senior centers. REGISTER by January 9 by clicking the button below. Projects fill up fast, so be sure to sign up soon!

INTERGENERATIONAL SERVICE-LEARNING TRIP

Immigrant Welcome, Tuscon, Arizona

CCSM is planning an intergenerational service-learning trip June 15 - 20, 2025 to Tucson, Arizona, focusing on Immigration in coordination with UCC and an affiliated non-profit, Be the Neighbor.

On the Immigrant Welcome, Tucson trip, we “will immerse ourselves in a week of education, collaboration, and hands-on service to help understand what it means to welcome and support our immigrant neighbors.” On the trip, participants will “engage in desert walks to gain perspective on the challenges faced by those crossing the border, participate in humanitarian aid efforts, and contribute to building projects that support local communities."

Rev. Jessica Vacketta is quite familiar with the Be the Neighbor programs and envisions participation by youth (middle school, high school, and college students) and adults on this mission trip which matches well with CCSM’s guiding principles and understanding of Who Is Our Neighbor?

A planning team is working out the details of Itinerary, Group size, Transportation, Costs and Funding and will host a Second Hour on Immigrant Welcome, Tucson in the new year.

Stay tuned for more information on how to participate in this exciting opportunity on a very relevant issue! Email Rev. Jessica if you would like to be added to the interest list.