CCSM CONNECTIONS: September 18, 2024

Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month

¡Hola Comunidad!

On Sunday, we started with prayer and gratitude for Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 to October 15. This is a national effort, a vital opportunity for American society to honor the cultural richness, stories, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino individuals and communities and to affirm the dignity and worth of each individual.

As a church, we hold a pivotal role in shaping social dynamics. We are not just a place of worship, but a beacon of hope and understanding, a channel for building bridges to inclusion and equity, and a promoter of a culture of peace, appreciation, and respect for multiculturalism. Our actions can inspire others to follow suit, promoting a more inclusive and understanding society.

I want to invite you to visit us this month at our Wednesday night bilingual service. This will allow you to get to know the Hispanic/Latino people in our congregation by name, participate in our community service initiatives, and become aware of the contributions that all people of the global majority, especially Hispanics/Latinos, make to our congregation.

I invite you to reflect on the immense value of the cross-cultural relationships we have in our small habitat. These relationships connect us, they make us a part of a larger, more diverse community. Let us join together in celebration, sharing cultural expressions, meaningful conversations and worship that honors all backgrounds. Together, we can create a more inclusive and loving community for all.

In peace and hope,

Álvaro

DID YOU MISS WORSHIP?

CLICK HERE for last Sunday's entire service.

CLICK HERE for Rev. Jessica's sermon,

"We Are a Spiritual Community"

THIS WEEK AT CCSM

Wednesday, September 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 (Spanish/English) Worship and Potluck, Kloss Hall

Thursday, September 19

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

Friday, September 20

12:00 PM - 2:30 PM — Music and Art: special guest Sony Holland, Buckham Room

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

Saturday, September 21

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

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM — San Mateo Bayfront Cleanup at Coyote Point (contact Rev. Sheryl)

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

Sunday, September 22

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

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

10:45 - 11:15 AM — Youth and Children's Programs, CE Building

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

11:45 AM — Open Cathedral Sandwich Making, Kitchen

12:00 PM — Second Hour: Cultivating a Culture of Generosity, Kloss Hall

Monday, September 23

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

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

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

Tuesday, September 24

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, September 25

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

12:00 AM Midnight — Pine Tree Submissions Deadline, to Zoe

MUSIC & ART: Friday, September 20

Sony and Jerry Holland

Following a brief business meeting at noon in the Buckham Room, we will enjoy a program by Sony and Jerry Holland (friends of Tina’s). Sony has made 3 tours in Asia, sang the National Anthem for Giants & Dodgers baseball games and most recently for a festival on Burlingame Ave. Jerry is a guitarist and songwriter: one song, “Friends,” topped the Billboard Country Charts.

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.

BAYFRONT CLEANUP DAY AT COYOTE POINT

Saturday, September 21 • 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Join us for a stroll along the Bay Trail, starting at the Yacht Club in the Point Recreation Area.

We'll gather at 9 am, go through a brief introduction, and then folks are welcome to work at their own pace.

The area is mostly level with rocky and muddy areas closer to the shore, and can be quite windy. We will provide gloves, grabbers, and buckets. We recommend that you wear closed-toed shoes and clothing you don't mind getting dirty. Layers of clothing, sunscreen, and hats are also great to have on hand as the weather changes through the morning. Heavy weather will cancel the event.

Volunteers under the age of 18 must be registered by a parent or guardian. Youth under 15 must be accompanied by an adult.

We look forward to seeing you in the park!

This Sunday in Worship

"We work together to feed the hungry, care for the sick, house the homeless, advocate for a more just society, and actively pursue climate justice. We do this knowing that God has no hands but our hands, no feet but our feet and no face but our face."

Join us this Sunday as we continue exploring our Guiding Principles and how they shape our community. This week we'll take a closer look at the Guiding Principle that was a later addition to the original five, and one that has become a mantra at CCSM: "We are God's hands, feet, and face." This saying is actually an adaption of a prayer from the Spanish mystic, Teresa of Avila, the central figure of a movement of spiritual and monastic renewal in the 16th Century, and the first woman to be elevated to "doctor" of the Roman Catholic Church in 1970. Needless to say, she was a trailblazer and change maker whose writings continue to challenge us to think about how we might be God's love to others.

PLATE OFFERING for SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22:

StarVista

StarVista is a nonprofit organization helping San Mateo residents for 55+ years. They offer counseling, case management, and crisis prevention services, reaching thousands annually. Their focus is on substance abuse, suicide, domestic trauma, and homelessness. With 200+ highly trained employees, internship opportunities, and more than 40 ongoing projects with the county, their work is making a real difference.

Make a Gift

SECOND HOUR: Cultivating a Culture of Giving

Sunday, September 22, noon - 1pm in Kloss Hall

You are cordially invited to gather for conversation around our upcoming Stewardship Campaign. This gathering will include a message on the spiritual principles of generosity, and a conversation to explore how our generosity can impact our community and further the mission of CCSM. The presentation will include a sneak peek of the Narrative Budget being developed by the Finance Committee. Your voice and participation are very welcome and encouraged as we embark on this journey of stewardship.

AGENDA

1. Opening prayer

2. Message on the spiritual principles of generosity

3. The four pillars of narrative budget

4. Discussion on the role and impact of generosity in our community

5. Conclusion and timeline of Stewardship Campaign

We look forward to your presence and contribution to this vital discussion.

With gratitude,

CCSM Stewardship Committee: Ivan Raikov (chair), Kay Harris, Carol Henton, Jim Lindsay, Genel Morgan, Natalia Tsoi

RECLAIM OUR VOTE

Reclaim Our Vote is a national nonpartisan, non-profit organization which works to encourage primarily Black voters in voter suppression states to vote. Since January our amazing church members have sent out over 4000 hand-written postcards with voter information to registered but inconsistent voters, and such postcards have been shown to increase turnout by almost 3%!

Through Sunday, October 13th we will have a table where you can get a packet of postcards, addresses, and voter information stickers to send off until mid-October.

For more information, contact Krista Hanson (650-773-7276; kristakhanson@gmail.com) or Susan Lake (650-576-4092; susan.a.lake15@gmail.com). Join us in supporting our democracy!

Photo: Mabbiel Boigues preparing to mail a pile of postcards!

ÁLVARO AWAY SEPTEMBER 19-24

Please note that Rev. Álvaro will be away from September 19-24. He will be back in time for Wednesday worship on the 25th.

COMING UP

CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES

Saturday, September 21 - 9am - 12pm San Mateo Coastal Clean Up at Coyote Point. Join us for a day of service as a family. See the article at the top for information and a registration link!

Sunday, September 29 (note date change) - 11:45am - Gran'its (5th-8th grade) are invited to meet Sheryl and Alvaro to have lunch and talk about plans for the fall. Bring your ideas for service projects, discussion topics, and social events. If possible, please bring $10-15 in cash to cover lunch (no problem if you can't, we will cover you!).

Sunday, October 6 - 11:45am - First Sunday of the month family playdate! What would you like to do? We can go to the beach in Pacifica (we had great weather last year on this date!), play games at church and eat pizza, take a hike together, or any other suggestion you might have! Please let Sheryl know what sounds good.

SOUND JOURNEY, SEPTEMBER 26

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 Thursday, September 26 at 7:00 PM. Register at thelogosmethod.com

SPIRITUAL CONVERSATIONS STARTS UP SEPT. 30

First meeting: Monday, Sept. 30, 7:15 - 8:45 PM on Zoom.

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

As a negotiator, Kahane shows how the drives of power and love can be integrated by telling stories from his work in South Africa, India, and Israel. He also shares his personal learning process with honest self-reflection.

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

PARENTS NIGHT OUT!

Saturday, October 5, 6-8pm • Kim and Javi Rey's home

Need a night off? Looking to connect with other parents, grandparents, and guardians at CCSM? We've got you covered! Join us for a much-needed kids-free dinner. Let's take a break from the hustle and bustle and enjoy some quality time together.

Childcare WILL be available at the church from 5:30pm-8:30pm, but reservations need to be made in advance. RSVP for dinner and/or childcare to sjohnson@ccsm-ucc.org by October 1.

SAVE THE DATE!

Z QUARTET - Mark your calendar!

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.