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Beloved Community,
As we journey through Lent, I've been using our Daily Devotional reflection cards to begin and end my days. This week’s questions and prayers have all centered around our theme from Sunday, "Stranger & Neighbor." Who are my neighbors? Do I know their names? Am I a good neighbor?
At the same time, I’m mindful that this week marks five years since COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic. I can still clearly see the aisles of Trader Joe's in Fort Worth, Texas, when the news broke, and remember wondering—should I buy some extra groceries? I remember that Sunday, March 15—our first of many Sundays with empty sanctuaries and buildings. I can picture our Fellowship Hall, which was still set up for a fundraising event that would never happen. I remember walking around that first quiet Sunday morning and feeling like I was in a post-apocalyptic film, certain things would be "back to normal" by Easter.
I can't, and I can, believe it's been five years. And while we are still recovering from the pandemic—and some individuals, businesses, and churches never did—I know the pain and fear of that time still lingers for many. Yet, as I reflect back through the lens of "neighbor & stranger," I also remember sacred moments. Glimpses of the kin-dom of God breaking through.
I remember sitting on my front porch watching our pre-recorded worship service, sipping my coffee, and for the first time in six years, actually getting to know the neighbors on my street as they walked their dogs or watched their kids riding bikes. I remember people standing outside hospitals holding up signs of appreciation for healthcare workers, ringing cowbells and banging pots and pans in gratitude. Good Samaritans were everywhere—distributing food and toiletries, sewing masks, staffing vaccine clinics, delivering groceries. I remember how quickly people advocated for public school teachers after just a week of remote learning. Families weren’t terrified of eviction because local governments prioritized keeping them housed. People came together to be the best neighbors because we realized how connected we were, how much we needed each other, and that when we worked together, there was enough for everyone.
People came before profits. Compassion was as bountiful as our California poppies. And while I’m grateful to have moved beyond the isolation, grief, and uncertainty of those days, I grieve that we left behind the deep, collective care that briefly united us. That kind of
love—the kind that crosses dividing lines and puts people first—is still possible. It has always been possible.
In these days when the world once again feels harsh and cruel, I pray that God will bring us back to compassion and help us remember how to love one another as God loves us. To be the neighbor Jesus taught us to be.
In hope,
Jessica
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CLICK HERE for Rev. Jessica's sermon,
"Stranger & Neighbor"
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DAILY DEVOTIONAL CARD DECKS
Your Lenten Companion
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Now Available in the Narthex at the Welcome Table
Looking for a meaningful way to journey through Lent? Pick up our special collection of 52 daily devotional cards designed to guide you from Ash Wednesday through Easter. Each beautifully crafted card offers a thoughtful question for reflection and a short prayer to center your spirit.
How to Use Them:
- Follow the numbered sequence for a progressive spiritual journey
- Keep by your bedside for morning reflection or evening contemplation
- Use as journaling prompts for deeper personal reflection
- Share in small groups or around the dinner table for group discussion
These simple devotionals offer a perfect way to create meaningful moments of reflection during this Lenten season. Stop by the Welcome Table in the Narthex to pick up your deck today!
Credit Info: Prayers by Rev. Sarah A. Speed | A Sanctified Art LLC |sanctifiedart.org.
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JOIN US TONIGHT!
LENTEN ZOOM BIBLE STUDY:
FINDING GOD IN THE IN-BETWEEN
Thursday, March 13, 7 - 8 PM
This Lent, we invite you to look beyond black-and-white binaries and easy answers and imagine where God might be meeting us in-between the categories we create. Join us for a Lenten Zoom Bible Study as we journey through this sacred season and explore these themes together! Each Thursday from 7-8 PM (March 13 – April 3), we’ll gather online to reflect on the scripture for the upcoming Sunday, reflecting how it speaks to our lives today. This is a great opportunity for conversation, connection, and deepening our faith during Lent. We'll conclude our Lenten journey with an in-person gathering over dinner at Wursthall on April 10, celebrating the connections we've made and the insights we've discovered together. Contact Rev. Jessica with questions.
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Thursday, March 13
9:00 AM — Casual Bike Riders, CCSM Parking Lot (Contact John Ebneter, jebneter@aol.com)
10:15 - 11:30 AM — Women's Coffee Group, Food Court at Hillsdale Mall (Contact: Linda Skromme)
4:00 - 6:00 PM — Samaritan House Meal Service, Kloss Hall
6:00 - 9:00 PM — Peninsula Solidarity Cohort and HLC Event, Buckham Room
7:00 - 8:00 PM — Lenten Bible Study, Zoom
Friday, March 14
1:30 - 3:00 PM — Bella Voce Rehearsal, Fireplace Room
4:00 - 6:00 PM — Samaritan House Meal Service, Kloss Hall
Saturday, March 15
8:30 - 10:30 AM — CC Riders Weekly Bike Ride (Contact Peter Held, paheld1417@gmail.com)
Sunday, March 16
7:00 - 9:00 AM — Golf Affinity Group (Contact Peter Held, paheld1417@gmail.com)
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
12:00 - 1:00 PM — Second Hour: Human Trafficking, Buckham Room
3:00 - 4:00 PM — English Together Plus, Fireplace Room
3:00 - 5:00 PM — Saratoga Symphony Concert, Sanctuary
Monday, March 17
4:00 - 6:00 PM — Samaritan House Meal Service, Kloss Hall
Tuesday, March 18
10:00 - 11:30 AM — Men’s Coffee Group, Food Court, Hillsdale Mall (Contact Peter Held, paheld1417@gmail.com)
4:00 - 6:00 PM — Samaritan House Meal Service, Kloss Hall
6:30 - 8:00 PM — Board of Directors Meeting, Buckham Room and Zoom
7:00 - 8:30 PM — Our Home San Mateo Meeting, Third Floor Conference Room
7:15 - 8:30 PM — Spiritual Conversations, Zoom
Wednesday, March 18
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 and Zoom (Contact Álvaro for Zoom link)
View our full calendar on our website
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This Sunday we continue our Lenten worship series, Everything In-Between. This week we'll reflect on "Faith & Works," through the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42. In many translations, Jesus says that “Mary has chosen the better part,” which has been used to create a divide between Mary and Martha. However, in the Greek, Mary has chosen the “good portion,” and Martha’s tasks are called “ministry.” Therefore, perhaps Mary represents our faith, our desire to know God intimately, and Martha represents our good works, our desire to transform the world. Both are needed, and both are good.
Join us in person or online as we reflect on finding balance between listening and doing, between faith and works, between being and serving. See you Sunday!
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PLATE OFFERING for
SUNDAY, March 16:
San Francisco SafeHouse
San Francisco SafeHouse works to empower and support women who are experiencing housing instability and sexual exploitation or trafficking by providing survivor-centered spaces, services, advocacy, and community education. Women experience homelessness and the street economy much differently than their male counterparts. San Francisco SafeHouse is the only long-term transitional housing program focused on supporting adult survivors of sexual exploitation and trafficking in San Francisco.
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SECOND HOUR: HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Sunday, March 16, 12 - 1 PM
During Second Hour, we will hear from Betty Ann Hagenau, Founder & Executive Director of Freedom Insight, formerly the Bay Area Anti-Trafficking Coalition, who speaks boldly on the reality of human trafficking and what we can do about it. Betty Ann will update us on the many faces of human trafficking in the Bay Area and beyond, equipping us not only with knowledge but also with the steps to effectively and safely report what we see.
Please take ten minutes to watch Betty Ann's moving story of interviewing former traffickers in San Quentin prison: “Activate” film.
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SARATOGA SYMPHONY CONCERT
Featuring Angela Kraft Cross!
Sunday, March 16, 3 - 5 PM
Enjoy a free classical music orchestra concert in the Sanctuary, featuring our own Angela Kraft Cross as soloist for an Organ Concerto. All pieces in the program were composed during the Romantic Period, showcasing its passionate character. Conductor Dr. Jason Klein will discuss each composition before performance, enhancing the audience experience. Visit the Saratoga Symphony website for more details: https://saratogasymphony.org/concerts/. No reservations required.
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SPIRITUAL CONVERSATIONS
New Discussion begins Tuesday
Tuesday, March 18, 7:15 - 8:30 PM, Zoom
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Spiritual Conversations' next reading will be Richard Rohr's latest book, The Tears of Things. Rohr is a New York Times bestselling Franciscan spiritual writer, and his book discusses how the wisdom of the Hebrew prophets applies to the violence and despair of our times. The book explores the question, "What can we do with our private disappointments and the anger we feel in such an unjust world?" If you would like to join us for bi-weekly discussions Tuesday evenings via Zoom, starting March 18, please let Chris Wuthmann know at cewuthmann@gmail.com. If you have book recommendations or would like to suggest how Spiritual Conversations could be of greater interest to you, please let us know.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
Tuesday, March 18, 6:30 - 8 PM
Buckham Room & Zoom
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All are welcome to attend the next Board of Directors meeting in person or on Zoom. Going forward, each month there will be a unique Zoom link for Board meetings. This month’s link: https://tinyurl.com/CCSM-BoardMtg-Zoom. Email Don Ruthroff, our Board Moderator, for more information. | | |
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ARE YOU A CAT PERSON OR A DOG PERSON?
Either way, please help the Gran’Its collect ping pong balls, cork wine stoppers, and toilet paper rolls to make toys for the animals needing adoption. Soon, the children and youth will be studying the Lost Sheep, and the “lost" animals at Peninsula Humane Society need some love until they are "found.” (If you have fleece material in your fabric stash, send it along also.) Bring your donations to the church office. Thank you!
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VOLUNTEER TO HELP IMMIGRANT FAMILIES:
RAPID RESPONSE HOTLINE
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Fear and false reports of ICE activity are isolating immigrant families in San Mateo County—keeping kids home from school, stopping people from getting food, and disrupting livelihoods. You can help.
The Rapid Response Hotline needs trained volunteers to verify ICE activity and stop the spread of misinformation. Join us in standing with our neighbors and ensuring our community stays strong.
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COMMUNITY IMMIGRATION TRAINING EVENT- THIS SATURDAY!
Saturday, March 15, 10 AM - 3 PM
City College of San Francisco Mission Campus
Invitation by our Immigration Task Force member, Kerianne Steele
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Join the San Francisco Labor Council, Bay Resistance, San Francisco Rising, and Jobs with Justice for important community immigration trainings at the CCSF Mission Campus. The day will include an opening plenary session in the morning, a community lunch, and afternoon workshop breakouts designed to equip both immigrants and non-immigrant allies with skills to protect our communities.
Workshop Topics Include:
- Defending Our Immigrant Communities and Workers
- Immigrant Rights & Workplace Power (hosted by Legal Aid at Work, SF Labor Council, and TUWU)
- Train the Trainer on Know Your Rights (priority for bilingual volunteers)
- Sanctuary Schools (for teachers, parents, students, and school workers)
- Sanctuary Healthcare Facilities (for healthcare workers)
- Emergency Family Plan & Role Play Know Your Rights
- Accompaniment & Deportation Defense
- Know Your Rights for Immigrant Tenants
RSVP Information:
Please note: You'll need to register in advance through one of the RSVP links above.
This event offers valuable resources for our congregation members interested in supporting immigrant rights and protections. For questions, please contact Kerianne.
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GIFFORDS CELEBRATION OF COURAGE
Wednesday, March 19 at 6 PM
The Masonic Theater in San Francisco
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Our Ministry of Service and Justice invites you to attend the GIFFORDS Celebration of Courage. Join Gabby Giffords, Senator Mark Kelly, Senator Chris Murphy, and other special guests as they recommit to the mission of building an America free of gun violence. This inspiring event includes a reception at 6 pm, followed by a program from 7–8:15 pm.
If you're interested, contact Genel Morgan, glmrn12@gmail.com, to RSVP or for more details! (A contribution is not required to attend.)
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CELEBRATE WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
WITH A SPECIAL FILM SCREENING
Sunday, March 30 at 2 PM
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Join us at 2 pm on Sunday, March 30, in the Buckham Room for a special screening of Sally!—an award-winning documentary about Bay Area feminist icon Sally Miller Gearhart. Filmmakers Deborah Craig and Jorg Fockele will be present to share insights about this pioneering activist, writer, and academic.
This free event is sponsored by the San Mateo County UCC Cluster of Affirming Churches: CCSM, Congregational Church of the Peninsula, College Heights, and Island United Church. Refreshments will be served.
Want to help with hosting, set-up, or clean-up? Email Rev. Jessica.
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Following the Ash Wednesday Service, our Latino Ministry hosted a delicious meal in Kloss Hall. | |  |
We had another delicious meal at our Second Sunday Service, thanks to Chef Alvaro and his sous chefs! | | |
Our English Together participants celebrated a graduation for this session on Monday Night. | | |
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JESUS FISHES for FOLLOWERS
With the help of Lin Fenn, members of our newest Sunday School class created a beautiful illustration of Jesus and the fishermen who gave up their nets and boats to follow him. The artists were our three-, four-, and
five-year-olds. Check out the art in Kloss Hall!
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A cost-effective way to lower your heating and air conditioning bill is to insulate the walls of your home. You can also install double-pane windows in your home to prevent heat loss and further lower energy costs.
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We're seeking a creative and passionate leader to guide our children and youth in their faith journeys. Our CYF Director will cultivate an inclusive, engaging environment where young people and their families explore spirituality, build community, and engage in social justice. If you're called to nurture the next generation's faith development through innovative programming and meaningful relationships, we invite you to learn more about this opportunity.
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We are seeking an experienced and collaborative choir director to provide interim leadership for our 12-18 member choir through the Lent, Easter, and Pentecost seasons. If you are interested in joining our progressive and inclusive UCC congregation to lead meaningful worship music during this transitional period, we invite you to learn more about this opportunity.
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Kay Harris, Council of Ministries Lead
Kim Rey, Troy Grabow, Children, Youth and Families
Melodie Lew, Congregational Care
Gary H. White, Environmental Justice
Alison Schwandt, Engagement
Lauren Mathews, Alicia Santamaria,
Kerianne Steele, and Katherine Vega-Stultz, Latina/e/o Ministry
Pam Ridlehuber, Liturgical Arts
Katie Bylander, Music
Genel Morgan, Sharon Tobin, Service and Justice
Dave Olsen, Siew Kang, Spiritual Life
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Email Kay Harris to get connected to a Ministry Lead anytime! | |
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Submit an Announcement
If you would like to submit an announcement, please send it to:
jprince@ccsm-ucc.org
The weekly deadline is 10 AM on Tuesdays.
All submissions are subject to editing.
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Regular Office Hours:
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday - Thursday
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