Beloved Community,

It seems like weeks have passed since we gathered this past Sunday for worship. I invite you to take a collective breath, let it out, and remember that God is with you. Take a breath, let it out, and remember that you are born in love, and by love, and for love.

I know this has been an overwhelming week for many in our faith community. To our LGBTQ, immigrant, and refugee siblings — you are seen, you are loved, and you do not walk this journey alone. Please know that your church family is here for you, and that whatever the days ahead hold, we will do our best to make sure you don’t journey alone.

I join in solidarity with Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde's heartfelt plea for mercy and compassion for all who feel vulnerable in our nation today. Her words echo our congregation's fundamental belief that 'Because of who you are, and where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here,' and to follow Jesus’ foundational teaching of loving our neighbors — who Jesus makes pretty clear are everyone around us regardless of their race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, country of origin, spoken language, or documentation status. As we explored in Sunday's message, Paul reminds us that 'To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.' These gifts — whether advocacy, hospitality, or simply showing up in solidarity — are meant for times exactly like these, when our community needs to embody Christ's love in concrete ways.

In fact, in the 10th chapter of the Gospel of Luke, when directly asked “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus launches into the story of the Good Samaritan. At the end, when Jesus asks “Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” The man responds, “He who showed mercy on him.” Jesus said, “Go and do likewise.”

If you somehow missed Bishop Budde’s sermon from the Inauguration Service of Prayer for the Nation (we’ve linked the final minutes of her sermon video, and posted the words, in this newsletter), there has been quite a bit of buzz about her plea for mercy upon the scared and vulnerable in our country. Her plea is what Jesus teaches us to do. May we all be so bold and courageous to use our gifts to do the same.

With gratitude and hope,

Jessica

“Let me make one final plea, Mr. President. Millions have put their trust in you and, as you told the nation yesterday, you have felt the providential hand of a loving God. In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now. There are gay, lesbian and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and Independent families, some who fear for their lives. The people who pick our crops and clean our office buildings; who labor in poultry farms and meat packing plants; who wash the dishes after we eat in restaurants and work the night shifts in hospitals. They…may not be citizens or have the proper documentation. But the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes and are good neighbors. They are faithful members of our churches and mosques, synagogues, gurudwaras and temples. I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President, on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away. And that you help those who are fleeing war zones and persecution in their own lands to find compassion and welcome here. Our God teaches us that we are to be merciful to the stranger, for we were all once strangers in this land. May God grant us the strength and courage to honor the dignity of every human being, to speak the truth to one another in love and walk humbly with each other and our God for the good of all people. Good of all people in this nation and the world. Amen”

LOVE OFFERING

FOR LYNNELLE BILSEY

As we prepare to bid farewell to Lynnelle Bilsey, we invite you to contribute to a love offering expressing our gratitude for her more than three decades of service to our congregation. Give via text (CCSM Lynnelle to 73256) or through our website by clicking the button below (select "Give Now" then "Love offering for Lynnelle"). You can also bring a card and drop one off at the church office or bring it to a Reception of Appreciation on Lynnelle's last Sunday, February 2, during coffee hour.

LOVE OFFERING

DID YOU MISS WORSHIP?

CLICK HERE for last Sunday's entire service.

CLICK HERE for Rev. Jessica's sermon,

"MANY GIFTS, ONE DREAM"

CHURCH LIFE SNAPSHOTS

Alison and Jim Schwandt hosted a competitive, but friendly, cribbage Pick-A-Party. Everyone was all smiles at the beginning of the night, and word has it they were all still talking at the end. :-)

Several of our Youth volunteered at the MLK Day of Service through our Partners at the Peninsula Multi-Faith Coalition.

Kerianne, Manny, Mabbiel, and Hunter (not pictured) marched in San Francisco to honor Dr. King and those who walked from Selma to Montgomery for the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Guests of Krista and Eric Hanson (and puppy Yoki) enjoyed an authentic medieval feast Pick-A-Party, accompanied by facts about dining in that period and a great mulled wine.

THIS WEEK AT CCSM

Thursday, January 23

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

Friday, January 24

1:30 - 3:00 PM — Bella Voce Rehearsal, Fireplace Room

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

Saturday, January 25

4:00-5:00 PM — Youth Organ Concert, Sanctuary

Sunday, January 26

9:45 - 10:15 AM — Joyful Noise Kids' Choir/Music Program, 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

11:45 AM - 12:30 PM — Open Cathedral Sandwich Making

12:00 - 1:00 PM — Second Hour: CCSM Resilient Hub, Part 2, Buckham Room

3:00 - 5:00 PM — Angela's Adult Organ Camp Pick-A-Party, Sanctuary

3:30 PM — Movie Matinee for All Ages: Millions, Buckham Room

Monday, January 27

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM —Monday Women’s Group, Fireplace Room (contact Siew Kang or Melodie Lew)

4:00 - 6:00 PM — Samaritan House Meal Service - To-Go Meals Only, Buckham Room

Tuesday, January 28

10:00 - 11:30 AM — Men’s Coffee Group, Hillsdale Mall Food Court (Contact Peter Held)

4:00 - 6:00 PM — Samaritan House Meal Service - To-Go Meals Only, Buckham Room

7:00 - 8:30 PM — Our Home San Mateo Meeting, Third Floor Conference Room

Wednesday, January 29

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 Rev. Álvaro Durán leads us deeper into Paul's letter to the Corinthians (12:12-20, 26-27), exploring the powerful metaphor of the church as one body with many members. Through Paul's vivid imagery of how each part of the body is essential and interconnected, we'll reflect on what it means to truly be a community where all belong and all are valued. We're also excited to welcome back to worship, Daniel Wang and his mother, Xi Zhang, who will offer a beautiful cello and piano duet of Bach's Pastorale in F Major during our service.

Whether you join us in person or online at 10:30am, come be part of this celebration of our many gifts and how God calls us to use them to bring healing and hope to our world.

PLATE OFFERING for

SUNDAY, January 26:

The California Fire Foundation

The California Fire Foundation provides programs that assist survivors, firefighters, and communities that are affected by natural disaster. The Foundation is currently providing support to victims of the Palisades, Eaton, and other L.A. County wildfires in multiple ways, including gift cards to help pay for groceries, medications, clothing, etc, as well as support for firefighters who are injured or lose their homes.

Make a Gift

YOUTH ORGAN CONCERT

Saturday, January 25 at 4 PM

Just after Christmas, four of CCSM’s young organists headed to France (led by Angela and Robert) for intensive organ study in Lyon, Bordeaux, and Paris. Supported by generous scholarships by the San Francisco Peninsula Organ Academy, Chase Olson, Arthur Tkachenko, Aidan Yao, and Andrew Colburn played many historic instruments and cumulatively took close to 50 hours of instruction with world renowned French organ professors. This Saturday, January 25, at 4 pm, Andrew, Aidan, and Chase will present a program of their trip repertoire on our Casavant. Admission is FREE, so come enjoy our young organists still aglow from their organ adventure.

SECOND HOUR: CCSM Resilient Hub, Part 2

Sunday, January 26, 12–1 pm, Buckham Room

In an effort to address the local impact of an unpredictable world, the Environment Justice Ministry (EJ) has been exploring the creation of a resilient hub at CCSM. A resilient hub is a place where church members and neighbors can go for support when disasters occur. Join us as we learn more about this important topic. Contact Gary White for more information: gwhite2711@gmail.com

MILLIONS OF DOLLARS

Sunday, Jan. 26, 3:30 PM

What if you found a million dollars when you were a kid? Join us Sunday, January 26 at 3:30 pm in the Buckham Room for the British comedy, Millions, popcorn, and stay for dinner. ALL ages welcome! FREE! (Sponsored by the Gran’Its)

CCSM SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS

Available Now - Due March 15

Thanks to the generosity of CCSM members, the Youth Ministry is offering scholarships for the 2025-26 school year to active CCSM members who are high school seniors, college students, or graduate students, with applications due March 15, 2025. For more information and scholarship application packets, go to https://tinyurl.com/CCSM-2025-26-Scholarships or contact Warren Long at longlake15@sbcglobal.net. There are also packets on the Welcome Table in the Narthex.

BEARS, BEARS, BEARS

Got a teddy bear that needs a new home? Please bring new or like-new teddy bears to the church office and place them in the bear collection bin. Gran’Its are collecting them for the At Risk Youth Foundation. Thank you!

SPIRITUAL GROWTH OPPORTUNITY

Join Rev. Dr. Dietra Wise Baker, Assistant Profressor of Community Leadership and the Director of the Walker Leadership Institute at Eden Theological Seminary, on Monday at 12:30pm via Zoom for a conversation exploring Justice as a spiritual practice within and beyond Protestantism and how to live beyond the illusions of an apolitical gospel. Rev. Dr. Wise Baker will then give us some guidelines on how to get started towards a social transformation that includes ALL of God's creation.

COMING UP

Zumba Pick-A-Party, February 1st in Kloss Hall! There's still room to sign up for this great event, led by a professional Zumba instructor. Whether you're an expert or a total novice, this event promises to be great fun. See the flyer for details and share it with your friends and neighbors! Contact Alicia Santamaria for more information.

SECOND SUNDAY AT THE TABLE:

A Monthly Intergenerational Gathering

Beginning February 9th

Beginning February 9, join us on the second Sunday of each month at 5:00 pm in Kloss Hall for Second Sunday at the Table, a bilingual, intergenerational worship experience. We begin with a light dinner at 5:00 pm, followed by worship at 5:30 pm. This relaxed, interactive service brings together people of all ages around shared tables — just as families have gathered to share stories for countless generations. Through conversation, prayer, spiritual practices, communion, and song, we’ll reflect on themes that connect us. This month, we’ll explore 1 Corinthians 13 and practices that ground us in love.

In Advent, families loved this time together in a casual setting where all voices and ages could engage. Now we’re excited to offer it monthly, creating space for connection, reflection, and spiritual growth. Email Rev. Jessica if you would like to help with the service or light supper.

GREEN TIPS