CCSM CONNECTIONS: October 9, 2024

Álvaro visits Trine in El Salvador!

Hola Comunidad!!!

As some of you know, I made an express trip to El Salvador. It was a strange trip but with many moments of blessing (among them, ALL the delicious pupusas I ate!) I want to share with you that I also made a memorable trip; I travelled 400 km from the city of San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador, to Delicias de Concepción, a small town in the rural area of El Salvador, to meet someone whom I had only heard many stories, yes, yes, yes, you know who I'm talking about, Trine!!!

Trinidad Romero was the first Salvadoran to work at CCSM; for more than 20 years, he was the Sexton (Custodian) of the church. Trine retired in 2017 and returned to El Salvador to start a quieter life and enjoy this rest time. Unfortunately, a little over a year ago, Trine suffered a stroke, from which he is recovering; with a lot of help, he can stand up from the wheelchair, he has regained his speech, and his cognition is perfect. He shared many beautiful stories of his time at CCSM and San Mateo and the lasting relationships he forged in those years.

Trine has discontinued physical therapy and some of the medical services he needs due to the high cost and the difficulty of transportation where he lives; he receives 24/7 care from his current wife, Daisy, who lovingly cares for him despite her own health issues.

It was an extraordinary blessing for me to connect with them, meet them, listen to their stories of adventure, resilience, love, and work, to pray with them, and to bring them some medication and medical supplies.

I am convinced that this is a unique opportunity for the entire CCSM family to stand in solidarity with someone who has contributed so much to our shared life. Even though Trine lives more than five thousand kilometers away, God's work in his life is evident. His spirit remains strong, and he continues to inspire those around him with his unwavering faith and resilience.

In the upcoming weeks we will have an opportunity for you to share in a love offering for Trine and Daisy. Your generous support can help Trine regain his independence and receive the care and treatment he needs. Your contribution is not just a donation, it's a lifeline that can significantly improve the lives of this remarkable man and his family. Together, we can make a real difference.

In Community,

Rev. Álvaro

DID YOU MISS WORSHIP?

CLICK HERE for last Sunday's entire service.

CLICK HERE for Rev. Jessica's sermon,

"We Are Open-Minded"

THANK YOU, POSEY POSSE!

We give God thanks for this incredible group of volunteers who gather each week, from May-September, to create and gift bouquets of flowers to share with members and friends. From births to deaths, anniversaries and difficulty seasons of life, our Posey Posse delivers a tangible token of love from the CCSM family. Thank you, Posey Posse, for being God’s hands, feet, and face!

PARENTS' NIGHT OUT

Parents of all ages gathered this weekend for a kid-free night of fun! Thank you to our CYF chairs Troy Grabow and Kim Rey, and their families, for planning and hosting!

THIS WEEK AT CCSM

Wednesday, October 9

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 10

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

2:00 - 3:00 PM — Connect and Celebrate Ministry Meeting, Fireplace Room

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

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

Friday, October 11

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

Saturday, October 12

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)

11:00 AM - 2:00 PM — Ann Lambertson Memorial Service and Reception, Sanctuary/Kloss Hall

5:00 - 7:30 PM — Musical Tapas with Z Quartet, Kloss Hall

Sunday, October 13

8:30 AM — Middle/High School Day of Service in SF

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

11:45 AM - 1 PM — Second Hour: Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month, Buckham Room

4:00 - 6:00 PM — Nuesto Hogar Campana de San Mateo, Kloss Hall

5:00 - 6:30 PM — Life Moves Annual Benefit Concert, BurlPres Church

Monday, October 14

9:00 AM — Church Office Closed for Indigenous People's Day

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

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

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

7:15 - 8:30 PM — Spiritual Conversations,, ZOOM (click HERE for link)

Tuesday, October 15

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

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

6:30 - 8:00 PM — Board of Directors Meeting, Buckham Room or Zoom (click HERE for link)

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

View our full calendar on our website

Celebration of Life for Ann Lambertson

Saturday, October 12 at 11 AM

Please join us to celebrate the life of our beloved Ann Lambertson, in the Sanctuary, followed by a reception in Kloss Hall.

Volunteers Needed on Saturday

To ensure a smooth and welcoming experience for all, we're seeking a few volunteers to help with the reception and greeting.

Greeters (10:30 AM Arrival):

Distribute bulletins and programs
Show guests to the sanctuary, bathroom, and reception hall
Offer a warm welcome
Email Rev. Jessica to help.

Reception Setup & Cleanup:

Assist with setting up and cleaning up the reception in Kloss Hall
Contact Diane Kalliam to help.: dkalliam@gmail.com

If you're able to contribute your time, please reach out to the appropriate contact person.

Thank you in advance for helping us create a beautiful and memorable service for Ann and her family.

Z QUARTET

Saturday, October 12, 5:00 PM • Kloss Hall

Musical Tapas with the Z Quartet

Don’t you love when the Z Quartet plays for worship? What about an evening with them? Come sample the Z Quartet’s delightful mix of diverse sounds by composers including Giddens, Gershwin, and Bacewicz.

Invite your friends to Kloss Hall, Saturday, October 12, for wine and cheese at 5:00PM. RSVP by clicking HERE. Childcare provided.

This Sunday in Worship

"We experience faith as a quest, not a set of absolute truths. We welcome change, seek transformation, and explore new ways of being faithful because we know that God is still speaking."

Join us this Sunday as we conclude our worship series exploring our Guiding Principles and how they shape our community. This week we'll reflect on "We are Evolving," with special music from Stephen & Susan Bell, and their son Douglas who is visiting this week and will also be the guest speaker at our Music & Art program next Friday. We will also celebrate the baptism of Suzanne Monte. We hope to see you Sunday in person, or online, at 10:30am.

PLATE OFFERING for SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13:

Friends of Little Eagle, South Dakota

The small indigenous Lakota/Nakota community of Little Eagle is based on the Standing Rock reservation. More than 400 people rely on Friends of Little Eagle for a monthly pantry, cold weather items, backpacks and school supplies, holiday gift cards, and stockings.

Make a Gift

DAY OF SERVICE FOR MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH

Sunday, October 13, 8:30 AM

We're excited to invite you to a meaningful day of service and connection in San Francisco! We'll serve lunch at Glide, attend their 11 am service, and then eat our own lunches before walking over to attend Open Cathedral's worship service, and finally we will hand out blessing bags to those in attendance after the service.

Two easy meet-up options:

Millbrae BART station (fare collection area) at 8:30am

Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco at 9:30 am.

RSVP by Friday, Oct 11 to Sheryl and to bring a signed permission form, loaded Clipper card, bagged lunch, water bottle, and weather-appropriate clothes.

SECOND HOUR: HISPANIC/LATINO HERITAGE MONTH

Sunday, October 13, 12:00 PM • Buckham Room

As Hispanic Latino Heritage Month draws to an end, we invite you to join us for a special Second Hour unpacking the history of the month and why it's important for us to celebrate and observe as a congregation. Led by Rev. Álvaro Durán, this is sure to be educational and fun! Mark it on your calendar, and encourage other people from the church, your family, or friends to join us. Don't miss it! Álvaro pro

Over the past few months, we have been working with the Housing Leadership Council and One San Mateo on a campaign called Our Home San Mateo to promote community organizing for tenant protection and access to decent and affordable housing in our city.

We will hold a campaign kickoff next Sunday, October 13, at 4:00 PM in Kloss Hall! This event will be informative and engaging, focusing on building a community where everyone can have a safe, secure, and affordable place to call home. As a Church committed to justice, let's unite our efforts to seize this opportunity and create a brighter and more just future for all in our city. Your participation is essential for this inspiring adventure.

Please help us spread the word and invite others! Click the link below to register.

Our Home San Mateo

LIFEMOVES 15TH ANNUAL BENEFIT CONCERT

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2024

Church Office CLOSED

for

Indigenous People's Day

Monday, October 14th

SPIRITUAL CONVERSATIONS

Monday, Oct. 14, 7:15 - 8:45 PM on Zoom.

Not too late to join us!

If you care deeply about wise ways to negotiate tough group, community, and societal challenges, please consider coming to our October Spiritual Conversations. We will begin our fall series with the book Power and Love: A Theory and Practice of Social Change by Adam Kahane.

We meet every other Monday on Zoom. If you are interested, please contact Chris Wuthmann for the reading and Zoom link at cewuthmann@gmail.com. All are welcome.

Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic.

—Martin Luther King

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

BOARD MEETING, OCTOBER 15 • 6:30 pm

All are welcome to attend the next Board of Directors meeting, which will be held in the Buckham Room and on Zoom, on Tuesday, October 15, from 6:30 - 8:00 pm. Email Don Ruthroff, our Board Moderator, for more information.

ZOOM LINK

AGENDA

MEAL TRAIN for Isabel Hernandez & Family

Isabel is the primary caregiver for her mother, who recently had a horrible fall and is in need of 24-hour care as she recovers. Help us support Isabel by providing meals for her and her mother during this challenging time. Click the button below for more information and to sign up to provide a meal.

MEAL TRAIN SIGN-UP

COMING UP

PICK A PARTY SEASON IS HERE!

As Jessica announced, this is a fund raiser and a fun raiser. We rely on these parties, and donated silent auction items, to help support CCSM's ministries. They're also a great way to make new friends and socialize with long-time CCSMers.

If you need ideas, we have an idea sheet here tinyurl.com/CCSM-2024-PaP-Ideas. If you've never heard of Pick A Party, please check out the information handout tinyurl.com/CCSM-2024-PaP-Info.

Please submit your party (or silent auction item) BY OCTOBER 13, using the form here tinyurl.com/CCSM-2024-PaP-Sub. Party sign-up Sunday will be November 17. If you have questions, please contact Sandy McNabb.

All Saints Day & Día de los Muertos

As many of you are aware, All Saints Day is just a few weeks away. 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, and objects that remind you of loved ones, candles, prayers, and names written on cards. This this sacred time of remembering will be celebrated in a special All Saints Day Sunday morning service on November 3.

We also 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.

MUSIC & ART: Friday, October 18

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.

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!

GREEN TIPS