Saints,

What a wonderful worship service we shared together last Sunday as we began our Pride Month series, Celebrating Queer Voices.

The Argentine Queer theologian Marcella Althaus-Reid once challenged the Church to ask: What truths about God become visible when we listen to those whom respectable religion has pushed to the margins?

It is a question that feels especially important as we journey through Pride Month.

Listening is one of the most underestimated spiritual practices. It requires humility. It asks us to resist the temptation to assume we already know the whole story. It invites us to encounter God in unexpected places and through unexpected people.

Throughout this month, I invite you to listen deeply to stories, experiences, perspectives, and voices that may be different from your own. Listen not to debate, persuade, or respond, but simply to understand. Listen with curiosity. Listen with compassion. Listen with the expectation that God may still have something new to teach us.

One of the gifts queer communities offer the wider Church is a profound witness to resilience, creativity, and hope. Again and again, LGBTQ+ people have built families, friendships, networks of care, and communities of belonging in circumstances that often seemed impossible. Their witness reminds us that life is stronger than fear, that love can flourish even in difficult seasons, and that hope endures when people choose to show up for one another. At its best, this is also the calling of the Church.

We are not merely individuals who happen to worship in the same building. We are a community bound together by grace, shaped by one another’s stories, strengthened by one another’s courage, and sustained by God’s presence among us.

As we continue through this season, may Pride Month become an opportunity not only to celebrate queer voices, but also to rediscover the joy, beauty, and sacred responsibility of belonging to one another. And may we find, in that shared belonging, the unshakable hope that God is still at work among us, drawing us ever deeper into love.

Rev. Álvaro.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

Such a fun and interesting WWII pick-a-vent! Huge thanks to the hosts and guests for a fantastic event.

Monday was cleaning day for our church solar panels. Regular upkeep ensures we’re capturing every bit of sunshine to power our building efficiently and responsibly.

Thank you to everyone who brought so much joy and enthusiasm to Sunday’s Pride series kickoff! A special shoutout to our musicians and service participants for making it such a beautiful experience. Missed the service? Click to watch the replay on Youtube or the sermon on Spotify!

THIS WEEK

Help Us Celebrate PRIDE

Pride Month is here, and CCSM is ready to celebrate!

This Saturday, June 13, come help us embody God's love in community at the San Mateo Pride Festival on Saturday, June 13, from 11:00am-5:00pm. It’s a joyful and visible way to share our message of love and inclusion with the wider community.

If you're at the festival- please come by and say hi, and bring a friend! We'll have a fun art project and would love to get to meet your people outside of church.

We still have spots available to volunteer as a tent "host." If you can help , please sign up here.

Second Hour: Mental Health 101

Sunday, June 14 after worship

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) San Mateo invites you to "Mental Health 101," an interactive learning experience built for our community. Bring yourself, a friend, or a family member as we dive into mental health awareness and share the vital resources available to you. We are not alone on this journey.

Board of Directors Meeting

Tuesday, June 16 from 6 - 8:30pm via Zoom

All are welcome to attend the next Board of Directors meeting via Zoom. Each month there will be a unique Zoom link for Board meetings. Email Frank Garritano, our Board Moderator, for more information.

Agenda

Zoom Link

Summer Youth Group

Wednesdays throughout summer from 6 - 7:30pm

This summer, we are introducing a new midweek program for our Children, Youth, and Family (CYF) ministry. While Sunday morning programming will continue as usual, we are launching a trial Wednesday evening youth group to see how a midweek schedule best serves our families.

When: Wednesdays, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Who: Elementary through High School students
Led By: Corinn

Our Focus The primary goal of this summer pilot is community building. We aim to provide a relaxed, supportive environment where students can connect, build meaningful friendships, and establish the foundation for a lasting faith. Snacks will be provided.

Call for Volunteers To make this initiative a success, we need the support of our wider church community. We are currently seeking two adult volunteers each week to assist as sponsors. If you are interested in supporting our youth this summer, please email Corinn to learn more.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Celebrate Pride

Saturday, June 20 at 4pm at the Congregational Church of the Peninsula

Village Pub in Back 🍻

Tuesday, June 23 from 7 - 8:30pm in the Fireplace Room

Join us for another evening at The Village Pub in the Fireplace Room on Tuesday, June 23rd from 7pm - 8:30pm.

This is a perfect, low-key opportunity to connect with new people and discover something new about familiar faces. Come ready to chat, laugh, and simply enjoy hanging out with your community.

To get the conversation started, start thinking about these questions before you arrive:

What piece of popular culture (contemporary book, play, movie, song, or album) has changed the way you think about the world? Why and how?

Where have you traveled lately... and what made it so special (or not, if it wasn’t!)?

All Ages Welcome: Family Dance Party

Saturday, June 27 from 5 - 7pm in Kloss Hall

We’re looking for friendly volunteers to help plan and make the evening extra special! Email Corinn at corinn@ccsm-ucc.org if you'd like to help us make it a fun night for everyone.

Ring in the Summer with Handbells! 🔔

Sundays beginning July 12

Looking for a fun, musical way to connect this summer? Handbells is back, and we are opening the doors to everyone! Whether you are a seasoned ringer, a singer, an instrumentalist, or just looking to try something completely new, we would love for you to join the fun. No prior experience is needed!

When: Sundays, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (July 12 - August 9)

Where: The Choir Room

Who: Upper elementary students, teens, and adults of all skill levels. Drop-ins and visitors are always welcome!

Come make a joyful noise with our wonderful co-leaders, CJ and Ondine.

Coming Soon: ¡Libres en Cristo 2026!

Sunday, July 12 from 3 - 5pm

What happens when we learn to read the Bible with new eyes? How do culture, history, and religion shape what we believe about God, sexuality, and ourselves?

Next month the Latino Ministry will launch ¡Libres en Cristo!, a new process of theological formation and spiritual restoration for LGBTQ+ people and their communities of faith. Through ten interactive sessions, participants will explore the Bible, human diversity, Christian history, spirituality, and freedom from a thoughtful, affirming, and Latino-centred perspective. Additional details, dates, and registration information will be announced soon. Because some of the most important questions deserve more than simple answers.

Save the Date: Bobby Jo Valentine

Sunday, July 18 at 7pm

Ticket details and purchasing information will be available soon!

TAKE ACTION

Help Stop Your Tax Dollars from Subsidizing Family Separation

Faith in Action Bay Area invites you to stand in solidarity with immigrant families by supporting the No Taxpayer Dollars for Family Separation Act (AB 2465). This critical bill, which stops California tax dollars from funding or subsidizing companies that profit from immigrant detention and family separation, just passed the Assembly and is now heading to the State Senate. Please consider taking time today to email your state senator and urge them to vote YES on AB 2465.

Click Here to Email Your Senator

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