CCSM CONNECTIONS: November 20, 2024

Image from Stonewall Columbus

Beloved Community,

Today, on Transgender Day of Remembrance, I invite you to pause to honor and remember the transgender individuals whose lives were taken by violence, while also celebrating the courage, resilience, and beauty of the transgender community. As people of faith, we are called to stand with those who face persecution and to work toward a world where every person can live authentically and safely, embraced in the fullness of who they are, who God beautifully crafted them to be.

In times of both sorrow and hope, gratitude can anchor us and open our hearts wider. This past Sunday I challenged us to begin and end each day by writing down three things for which we are grateful. How is this going for you? I must confess…I’ve missed a couple of nights. (Good thing we aren’t being graded.) That said, I hope you, like me, will recommit to this powerful practice. You don’t even have to write them down. Just lift up three whispered "thank yous" in the morning light, and three more as the day draws to a close.

As Meister Eckhart reminded us, "If the only prayer you ever say in your whole life is 'thank you,' that would suffice." Sometimes the simplest expressions of gratitude can be the most powerful, helping us recognize the sacred in everyday moments while deepening our capacity for compassion and connection with others.

This week, let’s move forward with grateful hearts and a renewed commitment to creating a community where all people are truly seen, valued, and celebrated.

With hope and gratitude,

Jessica

DID YOU MISS WORSHIP?

CLICK HERE for last Sunday's entire service.

CLICK HERE for Rev. Jessica's sermon,

"Thanks"

Stewardship 2025

Thank you to all who have joined us thus far in "Imagining Together" how God’s liberating love will work through us and with us in the season ahead! We are so grateful for your generous gifts as we dream and plan for 2025.

To date we have received 88 pledges totaling $371,000. THANK YOU! We need approximately $189,000 more to reach our 2025 goal.

Your pledge makes a difference – not just in the amount, but in the timing. While pledges are welcome throughout the year, submitting yours by December 1st makes our budgeting process smoother and helps us better plan our programs and services for the coming year.

Can you join us?

It's not too late to make your estimate of giving for 2025, or modify your original pledge. These gifts help us plan for ministry in the year ahead, and we invite you to prayerfully dream how you might be part of this work. Work like transforming our digital presence and enhancing our website, expanding our worship opportunities to include a service that is untraditional and centered on table conversations and activities for all ages, and continuing our work of building a multicultural, multi-generational beloved community that works together to care for our neighbors and each other.

If you have any questions about the budget, please reach out to any member of the Finance Committee.

Learn More

If you missed worship this Sunday, we encourage you to watch this inspiring stewardship reflection from Diane Kalliam.

In this heartfelt reflection, she opens up about her personal experiences with tithing and generosity. Diane beautifully illustrates how our collective gifts empower our church's mission and help us answer God's calling as a community.

2025 Pledge

THIS WEEK AT CCSM

Wednesday, November 20

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 (Spanish/English) Worship and Potluck, Kloss Hall

Thursday, November 21

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

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

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

Friday, November 22

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

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

Saturday, November 23

8:30 - 10:30 AM — CC Riders Weekly Bike Ride (contact Peter Held)

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM — Helping Hands for Veterans Free Medical Clinic, Kloss Hall

10:30 AM - 12:30 PM — Coffee with CC Riders, Village Hub in Woodside (3154 Woodside Road)

Sunday, November 24

9:45 - 10:15 AM — Joyful Noise, CE Building Community 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 - 12:00 PM — Stewardship Celebration at Coffee Hour, Kloss Hall

11:45 AM - 12:30 PM — Open Cathedral Sandwich Making, Kloss Hall Kitchen

11:45 AM - 1:00 PM — Second Hour: Budget Update 2025, Buckham Room

1:00 - 5:00 PM — Advent Decorating, Kloss Hall and Sanctuary

Monday, November 25

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM — Women's Group, Fireplace Room

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

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

Tuesday, November 26

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, November 27

NO Samaritan House Meal Service Today

7:00 - 8:45 PM — Thanksgiving Potluck Service, Kloss Hall and Buckham Room

View our full calendar on our website

THIS SUNDAY IN WORSHIP

Join us this Sunday as we conclude our Prayer 101 series, with a message from Rev. Álvaro Durán, "WOW." Through Psalm 8's beautiful poetry of praise, we'll explore how prayer opens our eyes to God's majesty and our place in creation. Our Joyful Noise choir will enhance our worship with special music, and we'll celebrate the welcome of new members into our church family. We hope you can join us in person or online at 10:30am!

PLATE OFFERING for SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24:

CCSM's General Budget

This year, six of the offering plates are designated for the CCSM General Fund. This designation offers an opportunity for visitors and members of our community who did not pledge during Stewardship to give to our Church, or make an additional gift above and beyond their pledge. The General Budget funds our staff, programs, ministries, along with repairing, maintaining, and improving our campus. Your gift today allows CCSM to continue to be the "hands, feet, and face of God" in our community, and beyond. Thank you for your continued generosity and support!

Make a Gift

CALLING ALL ADVENT ELVES!

ADVENT DECORATING

Sunday, November 24, 1–5pm

Sanctuary & Kloss Hall

We need your help hanging the greens, trimming the trees, and preparing our worship spaces for Advent. Whether you can give an hour, or three, your time is greatly appreciated. Contact Pam Ridlehuber at pridlehuber@gmail.com for more details or let her know you can help!

PICK-A-PARTY

Thank You!!

and Second-Chance Sunday Signups

Thank you so much to everyone who helped make Pick-A-Party a success this year — the C&C team (Mike Harris, Nancy and Jerry Nugent, Sue Bullis, Diane Kalliam, and Michele Merfeld Hale); cashiers Jim Lindsay, Carol Henton, Mike Harris, and David Loughhead; Chase Montara and Jennifer Prince for all kinds of office, logistical, and artistic help; all the hosts who volunteered their time, talents, and homes for parties; and all the others who offered to lend a hand on Signup Sunday. Thank You!

And speaking of signups, if you missed last Sunday's signups, there will be second-chance signups during happy coffee hour on November 24. Party numbers 2, 4, 5, 6, 9,11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18 (1 space), and 24 offer a wide range of fun and still have space available. Here's another copy of the party list: https://tinyurl.com/PaP2024RevisedList.

SECOND HOUR: BUDGET UPDATE 2025

Sunday, November 24, Buckham Room

Join us at 11:45 am in the Buckham Room for a special Second Hour as we discuss our congregation's 2025 Budget. We'll provide an update on this year’s Stewardship Campaign and take a closer look at where our budget stands for 2025.

We’re excited to celebrate our special bilingual Thanksgiving Potluck Service on Wednesday, November 27, at 7:00 pm in Kloss Hall and the Buckham Room. This will be a beautiful opportunity for our church family to come together and express gratitude for another year of blessings.

This intimate service will be led by Revs. Jessica and Álvaro and will take place around tables where we’ll share bilingual prayers, break bread, and enjoy a festive dinner. The church will provide turkey, so please consider bringing your favorite side dish or dessert to share, or just bring yourself and your thankful heart!

To help us prepare enough turkey for everyone, please RSVP to Alicia Santamaría by texting (650) 868-4324 or emailing westcoastalicia@gmail.com.

COMING UP

ADVENT DEVOTIONALS AND CALENDARS

This devotional from Sanctified Art is shaped around several reminders we all need from time to time: you are a blessing; we can’t go alone; do the good that is yours to do; hope is worth the risk; love knows your name; don’t forget to laugh; the road isn’t straight. These reminders root us in the fundamental truths of our faith. Many of them are life lessons we teach to children — lessons that adults continue to learn and relearn.

Starting Sunday, November 24, Devotionals will be located in the Narthex on the Welcome Table, or as a digital version here: online.flippingbook.com/view/811735764/

(Per our purchase agreement, please refrain from posting this link on social media.)

Each day in December, children can color in a new shape on the calendar containing a daily word to learn and use. Our adult (and youth-friendly) calendar is a photo-a-day challenge to share on social media. The daily words are the same for both calendars so all ages can engage in this daily practice. Be sure to tag us in your posts! Pick up your calendars this Sunday in the Narthex.

Advent at the Table:

A New Way to Worship Together

Beginning December 1st at 5:00 pm, join us in Kloss Hall for a unique bilingual worship service that brings together all generations around shared tables – just as families have gathered to share stories for countless generations. In this relaxed, interactive setting, we'll explore the treasured narratives of Advent through conversation, prayer, and song. Rather than a traditional sermon, each week features a brief message followed by guided table discussions that allow everyone — from our youngest to our wisest — to share in the wonder of the season.

Join us as we journey through Advent together, creating new traditions while honoring the timeless practice of gathering to share our stories of faith and sacred rituals.

SECOND HOUR:

RESILIENT HUB AT CCSM

Sunday, December 1 at Noon

Have you noticed that predictability in life seems to have increasingly gone out the window? In an effort to address the local impact of such 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 to for support when disasters occur. Whether it’s a flood, fire, power outage, earthquake, or other event, people impacted might need a temporary place to go — a site equipped with solar energy to enable them to recharge their phones or computers, a place to regroup and determine next steps, or a refuge to have a meal and perhaps spend a night.

To explore this opportunity and give our church members a chance to weigh in on launching this potential program, EJ will hold an in-person Second Hour on Sunday December 1 starting at noon in the Buckham Room. All are encouraged to attend.

CYF: Pizza, Crafts, and Carols!

Sunday, December 1st

Join us for a festive afternoon of pizza, crafts, and caroling practice! Gather with other families in the CE Building Community Room right after church for this holiday prep party. We'll share a delicious meal, create holiday crafts to start the season, and fill the room with joyful music as we practice carols for our special December 8th visit to bring Christmas cheer to our senior friends. Reach out to Rev. Sheryl with questions, and as always, invite friends!

CHURCH CLOSED FOR THANKSGIVING

Thursday & Friday, November 28 & 29

GREEN TIPS

Wow! Look what just passed in Sacramento after we published all those Green Tips about clothing’s environmental impact. Who says we can’t create change? Ha!

“California Passes Responsible Textile Recovery Act. SB 707, which makes apparel producers responsible for the recycle, reuse and collection of their products, marks the nation’s first extended producer responsibility program for textiles.” From the Fashion Dive website