CCSM CONNECTIONS: October 16, 2024

On Saturday, October 12, the Z Quartet wowed a full house with Musical Tapas

Greetings, Church!

Several of you expressed appreciation for Pierre Teilhard de Chardin's, "Patient Trust," reflection I read on Sunday and asked that I send you a copy of this piece- and so that is what I share with you today. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin was a French philosopher, paleontologist, and Jesuit priest. His words remind us of the importance of patience as a spiritual practice. I hope this message continues to resonate with you as you read it again.

Patient Trust

By Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Above all, trust in the slow work of God.

We are quite naturally impatient in everything to reach the end without delay.

We should like to skip the intermediate stages.

We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new.

And yet, it is the law of all progress.

that it is made by passing through some stages of instability-

and that it may take a very long time.

And so I think it is with you;

your ideas mature gradually- let them grow,

let them shape themselves, without undue haste.

Don't try to force them on,

as though you could be today what time

(that is to say, grace and circumstances acting on your own good will)

will make of you tomorrow.

Only God could say what this new spirit

gradually forming within you will be.

Give Our Lord the benefit of believing that his hand is leading you,

and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself

in suspense and incomplete.

May Teilhard de Chardin's wisdom inspire us to trust in the slow work of God, embracing the present moment while looking forward with hope. Let these words be a source of centering and encouragement in the days ahead.

With gratitude and hope,

Jessica

DID YOU MISS WORSHIP?

CLICK HERE for last Sunday's entire service.

CLICK HERE for Rev. Jessica's sermon,

"We Are Evolving"

THIS WEEK AT CCSM

Wednesday, October 16

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, October 17

10:00 AM - 1:30 PM — Peninsula Solidarity Cohort Meeting, Buckham Room

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

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

NO Samaritan House Meal Service Today

Friday, October 18

12:00 - 2:30 PM — Music and Art, Buckham Room

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

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

Saturday, October 19

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

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

Sunday, October 20

9:45 - 10:15 AM — Joyful Noise, CE building Community Room

10:30 - 11:30 AM — Worship Service in person and online - World Communion Sunday

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

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM — Coffee Hour, Kloss Hall

12:00 - 1:00 PM — Second Hour: Stewardship Kick-Off and 2025 Budget, Kloss Hall

Monday, October 21

1:00 - 2:30 PM — Burlingame Music Club, Kloss Hall

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

7:00 - 8:00 PM — English Together Language Sharing Session, Kloss Hall

Tuesday, October 22

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

12:00 - 1:00 PM — Recology Workshop and Lunch, Buckham Room

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

7:00 - 8:30 PM — Sound Bath with Chuck Rosenthal, Kloss Hall

Wednesday, October 23

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

View our full calendar on our website

MUSIC & ART

Friday, October 18, 12:00 PM

Guest Speaker: Doug Bell

Following a brief business meeting at noon in the Buckham Room, we will enjoy a program by Doug Bell, an artist/historian who lectures on Byzantine Christianity and its influence on Russian icon paintings, including his own. He will present slides of authentic icons, their place in time, and symbolism. And he will bring his own beautiful paintings and explain his inspiration in them.

Remember to BYOL - bring your own lunch. Beverages and dessert are provided.

Please RSVP to Genel Morgan, glmrn12@gmail.com or 650-759-7318, so we can have the correct number of tables and chairs set up.

This Doug Bell is NOT the son of Susan and Stephen who played in worship on Sunday.

This Sunday in Worship

This Sunday we'll kick-off our annual Stewardship Pledge Campaign! Rev. Jessica will be preaching "Imagine Together: A Sense of Wonder" on Matthew 6:26-30 and we are excited to welcome several musicians to worship: Aidan Yau, Don Harper, Cora and Roma Olvera, and our beloved Joyful Noise Choir and Chancel Choir.

Following worship we invite you to pick up an informational brochure at our Welcome Table or during Coffee Hour to learn more about this year's campaign "Imagine Together." Your support is vital to our church's mission and ministries. Thank you for prayerfully considering your commitment this year. We hope to see you Sunday in person, or online, at 10:30am.

PLATE OFFERING for SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20:

Planned Parenthood Mar Monte

Planned Parenthood Mar Monte improves and transforms the lives of over 220,000 people every year throughout mid-California and Northern Nevada. They offer in-person care and, for many services, telehealth visits. With 34 health centers, they provide a range of reproductive and primary health services, including birth control, pregnancy testing and options counseling, STD/STI testing and treatment, HIV testing, breast and cervical cancer screening, abortion, pediatrics, and adult family medicine. With women's healthcare under attack in the U.S., we at CCSM have the opportunity to make our voices heard as we support women's health through this vital healthcare entity.

Make a Gift

SECOND HOUR: Stewardship Kick-Off

and 2025 Budget

Sunday, October 20, 12:00 PM • Kloss Hall

As the Finance Committee and Board of Directors start work on drafting next year's budget, we hope you'll join us for an important "Second Hour" conversation following the service as we discuss our needs for 2025. This is your opportunity to learn about our narrative budget and financial plans, pick up a pledge card, and ask questions, as we work together to shape our future at CCSM.

40 Days, 40 Prayers

As we prepare to go to the polls

As the election approaches, we encourage you to take a moment to pause, reflect, and center yourself from all of that is swirling in our heads and on the news. This 40-day prayer resource is adapted from Rev. Karen Winkel. Click the button below for all 40 days of prayers or grab a copy of the prayers outside the sanctuary.

40 Days, 40 Prayers

RECOLOGY HOME RECYCLING WORKSHOP

Tuesday, October 22, 12:00 PM • Buckham Room Lunch Provided

The proper recycling of household items can be a confusing and frustrating experience. Does black plastic go in the outside blue recycling bin or in the black trash bin? Does a jar containing old use-by-date food go in the trash bin or the green composting bin? And what about paint or chemical fluids? Where do they go?

To help answer these and other questions you might have on municipal trash collection and recycling in San Mateo, Susan Lake and the Environmental Justice Ministry have arranged for a representative from Recology to come give a special workshop on home recycling and recycling at CCSM.

All are welcome and encouraged to attend. To help us plan for food, please email Susan at susan.a.lake15@gmail.com by October 18 to let us know how many will be attending. Thanks!

COMING UP

LAST CALL FOR PICK-A-PARTIES!

Did you mean to submit a party by October 13, but just got too busy? Fortunately, there's still time! We have some great parties, but can use more, as well as silent auction donations. Have an idea but no time to fill out a form? Need help on a venue or how to make your party successful? Just need ideas of what you could host? Email/call Sandy McNabb, Mike Harris, Sue Bullis, Nancy Nugent, Michele Merfeld, or Diane Kalliam (all in the directory, or just start with Sandy - sandra.j.mcnabb@gmail.com). And if you've got the details worked out, but just missed the deadline, never fear, the forms are here: tinyurl.com/CCSM-2024-PaP-Sub.

And SAVE THE DATE for our Pick-A-Party Sign-Up Sunday – November 17.

All Saints Day & Día de los Muertos

This sacred time of remembering will be celebrated in two services:

Our Latino Ministry will host a special Día de los Muertos worship service on Wednesday, October 30, where we will come together to create our communal remembrance altar, a symbol of our shared respect and love for our departed loved ones. Please bring photographs, favorite foods, objects that remind you of loved ones, candles, prayers, and names written on cards.

All Saints Day will be observed in worship on Sunday, November 3. We invite you to send in names of your loved ones to be remembered at our All Saints service. Please send those names to Jennifer by Wednesday, October 30.

Join Us for a Sound Journey

Tuesday, October 22 at 7:00 PM

A sound journey is an immersive somatic experience. Our nervous systems need to be recalibrated on a regular basis. Each experience builds on the next and supports us to be more connected to the liminal space, sharpen our intuition, and experience deep peace. Join Chuck to experience this yourself on Tuesday, October 22 at 7:00 PM. Register at thelogosmethod.com

ANNUAL HALLOWEEN ORGAN CONCERT

Friday, October 25, 8:00 PM in the Sanctuary

CCSM's Music Ministry Committee welcomes you to this fun, family-friendly event! Young organ students and CCSM's own Phantom of the Cassavant, Angela Kraft Cross, will perform a cavalcade of musical treats.

This is concert is one of our annual fundraisers for our music ministry. If you are able, and would like to make a gift, we suggest a contribution of $20 for adults and $10 for children, students, and seniors. Little ones under 10 attend for free!

To add to the fun, we encourage all our guests to come dressed in costume. Don't miss out on this fantastic musical experience!

SECOND HOUR: Going Solar at Home

Sunday, October 27, 11:45 AM • Buckham Room

Thinking of Going Solar at Home? The Environmental Justice ministry and the Solar Ambassador task force is hosting a Second Hour program after church on October 27. We will present how Going Solar can reduce your carbon footprint, discuss the advantages and process of installing photovoltaic cells on your home to produce electric energy sustainably, and answer questions.

GREEN TIPS