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Connections: March 6, 2024
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Greetings, Church!
As many of you know, last July our Board of Directors approved a letter of intent to contract with Rev. Álvaro Durán as Transitional Minister to Latino Ministry (effective when he received his work permit in December). During this period of transition, the Board asked Rev. Álvaro and our Latino Ministry to develop a congregational discernment process focused on this question: What is our vision for the Latino Ministry as part of CCSM and what relationships would we like to develop between our Latino/a/x and other members of our community?
We will embark on this journey on April 7, the Sunday following Easter.
What is discernment?
Discernment is a spiritual journey in which we prayerfully make a decision as a community or individual. The practice of discernment is a helpful tool for churches in asking questions like “Who are we now?”, “Who is God calling us to be?”, and “Who is our neighbor?”
In his book Quietly Courageous, Rev. Gil Rendle writes that “many participants will be tempted to come to the process with ready answers,” but he urges congregations to remember that this is a time for listening and dialogue. Listening to one another, and listening to how God is still speaking.
Discernment involves awareness, understanding, action, and YOU.
This is a process that we hope many of you will participate in: Whether you are well aquatinted with our Latino Ministry, or not. Whether you are enthusiastic about its development at CCSM or have reservations. We hope you will join us in the weeks following Easter as we engage in these important conversations. We will all learn and grow through this process, and your participation will ensure that we all consider a broad range of views and ideas, and that we all understand the vision that emerges.
Next Steps
Save the Dates: April 7, 14, 28 and May 5
Where: Kloss Hall
When: 12pm-1:30pm, Lunch Provided
We’ll gather over lunch for four, 90-minute sessions. We know this is a substantial commitment of time, but believe it is necessary for us to honor this process and do it well. We have condensed this into a four week time frame so that people are able to participate prior to summer travels, and leadership has time to plan for the 2024-2025 programming calendar and 2025 budgeting cycle.
More information will be available in upcoming Connections emails, including a short survey that will help provide a picture of where we are as a congregation as we begin the process of discernment.
If you have any questions about the process, please do not hesitate to contact me, Rev. Álvaro, or Julien Phillips, our Latino Ministry team lead.
As we prepare to begin this season of discernment, I pray we participate fully, listen intently, and be open to who God is calling us to be, where God is calling us to serve, and how God is calling us into Beloved community.
With gratitude, hope, and love,
Jessica
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IF YOU MISSED THE WORSHIP SERVICE,
CLICK HERE FOR LAST SUNDAY'S ENTIRE SERVICE
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CLICK HERE for Rev. Jessica's sermon,
“PRAISE THE MOUNT"
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PLATE OFFERING SUNDAY, MARCH 10:
One Great Hour of Sharing
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CELEBRATION OF LIFE: Saturday, March 9 | |
Melanie Snow welcomes all to attend her mother Margot Struble's Celebration of Life at Margot's home on Saturday, March 9 from 1:00-4:00 pm at 425 Ranelagh Rd. in Hillsborough. CCSM was Margot's beloved church home and Melanie hopes that many will come and honor Margot and share memories. | |
MUSIC AND ART • FRIDAY, MARCH 15, NOON | |
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As usual BYOL (lunch); beverages and dessert are provided. The program will be presented by Music & Art’s (and CCSM’s) own Steve & Sue Bell. Steve will play flute and Sue will play her Celtic harp featuring tunes with an Irish twist.
Please RSVP to Don Harper at: donaldgharper@yahoo.com or 650-553-1800.
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Wander with us this Lent
Spiritual Practices for the Season
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Daily Devotional Cards
This collection of 62 daily devotional cards helps you mark each day from Ash Wednesday through the second week of Easter. The deck includes a weekly centering practice, along with a daily question for reflection, and a short prayer. You might place the stack of devotional cards by your bed to read and reflect on first thing in the morning or right before you sleep at night.
Cards are available in the Narthex.
Prayers by Rev. Sarah A. Speed | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org
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Lenten Reflection Groups
Join Rev. Jessica for a weekly discussion on the upcoming Sunday’s scriptures and theme, Wednesdays from noon to 1:00pm and 6:00-7:00pm. You can switch between groups, join one week, or bounce in and out—whatever works for your schedule!
Wednesdays, 12 noon-1:00 pm and 6:00-7:00 pm
February 21 - March 27
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WORSHIP WITH US, WEDNESDAYS AT 7:15pm | |
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Everyone is welcome at CCSM's weekly bilingual worship service on Wednesdays at 7:15 pm in Kloss Hall. Please join us for an inspiring Lenten sermon, music, communion, and a potluck meal.
We also have a children's program that coincides with worship. Come prepared to experience the Holy Spirit in loving community!
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NEW CCSM WOMEN’S COFFEE GROUP | |
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Join us whenever you can for a time of connecting in meaningful and fun ways, Thursday mornings at 10:15 am at Hillsdale Mall, upstairs at the north end of the food court. We hope to get to know each other better and to share experiences and resources that can uplift us all. Questions? Contact Carole Melis, clmcomm1@gmail.com, or Linda Skromme, linda.skromme@gmail.com.
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The Men’s Coffee Group meets on Tuesdays from 10:00 to 11:30 am at the Hillsdale Mall food court.
Contact Peter Held for more info, paheld1417@gmail.com
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This past Sunday our high school youth participated in a day-long service/learning youth retreat in San Francisco with other area UCC Churches!
They had the chance to worship with Glide Memorial Church, helped serve lunch with their meal program and then learned more about the work of our partners at the San Francisco Night Ministry.
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Maliha and a new friend from Danville UCC offering hot sauce (very popular!) for the chicken lunch at Glide.
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Rev. Todd (Danville UCC), Rev. Sheryl (CCSM), and Rev Jim (Peninsula UCC) ready to bus tables at Glide. | |
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What is CYF focusing on during Lent?
A note from Rev. Sheryl, Minister to Children, Youth and Families
During the season of Lent, our children's ministry program on both Sundays and Wednesdays tends to focus on spiritual practices and drawing closer to God. This year, we are using the same theme and scriptures as the whole congregation (Wandering Hearts) but taking a particular focus on prayer practices (as a way that we can connect our hearts to God and share the concerns on our hearts).
We are exploring prayer in an expansive and progressive way and introducing the kids to a variety of prayer practices including:
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creating finger labyrinths
- walking our church's labyrinth
- using prayer beads
- praying in color
- creating meditation jars
- writing prayers in a variety of styles
- praying the Lord's Prayer
- service and justice as prayer, and much more.
So far it has been going very well and the kids have really taken to it in ways beyond what I'd imagined. Elaine has augmented our program with some truly wonderful children's books exploring spirituality and we have been having wonderful conversations about what is on our hearts and minds and what we imagine might be on God's heart these days.
Kids are welcome to join us every week or come as they are able - please feel free to invite your nieces/nephews, neighbors, grandkids, and other school-aged friends!
Looking Ahead
Most Sundays! 9:45am Joyful Noise Kids’ Music Program led by Julie Berk. Come learn special songs, play instruments, and share periodically during the Sunday church service.
Sunday, March 10 - 60 Minutes discussion at 10:30 am. Topic: regional cultural differences continued!
Sunday, March 24 - Palm Sunday! Special 10:30am service featuring a palm parade, Joyful Noise singing, and our beloved donkey.
5pm - Interactive prayer stations for all ages at church.
7pm - Hillsdale High School Performance of Clue! Come out to watch the show and support one of our youth who has a leading role. Tickets are available here.
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THE BURLINGAME MUSIC CLUB | |
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BMC is having its monthly meeting on Monday, March 11, 1:00 - 3:00PM in Kloss Hall, featuring some talented students—two violists, a guitarist and two pianists—performing in preparation for the BMC Young Musicians’ Competition in April. We’ll also hear MINIATURES by The Circadian String Quartet, featuring Monika Gruber and David Ryther, violinists; Omid Assadi, violist, and David Wishnia, cellist. Afterward, please stay for refreshments. All are welcome!
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PUENTE is seeking volunteers for an upcoming Farmworker Convention Day on March 17!
A variety of kinds of help are needed: beautification, setup, help with registration, childcare, and more. If you’re interested, click HERE for further information.
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NEW FILTERS ARE WORTH IT | |
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Be sure to regularly replace filters on all heaters, dryers, and other appliances in your home.
This will improve the efficiency of your appliances and result in cleaner air in your home.
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THERAPEUTIC SOUND JOURNEY | |
CLICK HERE FOR AN INTRODUCTION TO THIS EVENT! | |
25 YEARS OF HOMEWORK CENTRAL! | |
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Friday, March 22 at CuriOdyssey, Coyote Point!
Please join us at a festive, informative evening to raise crucial funds and to celebrate 25 years of serving North Central students and families. There will be a dinner and auction. Keynote speakers: Diego R Ochoa, Superintendent SMFCSD & Noelia Corzo, SM Board of Supervisors
For more information about auction donations and tickets, please visit our website: smhwc.org/nht
We hope to see you there!
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CCSM Council of Ministries
Email COM@CCSM-UCC.org to connect to any ministry!
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Kay Harris, Council of Ministries Lead
Jim Schwandt, Building and Grounds
Kim Rey, Troy Grabow, Children, Youth and Families
Melodie Lew, Congregational Care
Sandy McNabb, Connect and Celebrate
Gary H. White, Environmental Justice
Alison Schwandt, Engagement/Communications
Julien Phillips, Latino/a Ministry
Pam Ridlehuber, Liturgical Arts
Sue Bell, Katie Bylander, Music
Genel Morgan. Sharon Tobin, Service and Justice
Dave Olsen, Spiritual Life/Adult Ed.
Ivan Raikov, Stewardship
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Email Kay Harris to get connected to a Ministry Lead anytime! | |
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CCSM Committee Chairs
Chris Yeh, Endowment
Martha Bronitsky, Finance
Frank Garritano, Governance
Chris Wuthmann, Pastoral Relations
Dave Goulden, Personnel
Phil Lind, Historian
Click HERE for CCSM's Governance Manual, and HERE for CCSM's Bylaws
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PRAY FOR PEACE
Weekly on Wednesdays • 9:30-10:00am on Zoom
In light of the recent events in Gaza, Israel, and the occupied Palestinian territories, we are invited to join Churches for Middle East Peace, an ecumenical partner of the United Church of Christ's Global Ministries, to join others across the world in praying weekly for peace. Registration is free, but required to receive the Zoom Link.
REGISTER HERE
Make a Gift
You can also make a financial gift to help with humanitarian aid for people in Gaza, Palestine, and Israel through the United Church of Christ’s Wider Church Ministries HERE.
Call for a Ceasefire
Send a pre-written message to your elected officials through UCC’s “Just Peace Church” program HERE calling for a ceasefire and encouraging Congress to take immediate action for de-escalation in Israel and Gaza, and support steps towards a lasting peace.
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BRING YOUR BLESSING BOX CONTRIBUTIONS
ANY SUNDAY OF THE MONTH!
The "Blessing Box" outside of the entrance of CCSM is a project of the Ministry of Service and Justice, responding to the need for families in our neighborhood to access food and an expression of our call to be the "hands, feet, and face of God" in our community.
- The container will be in the narthex to collect the following food items:
- canned, dried and boxed
- no fresh food please
- donations must be full UNOPENED containers
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no fruits, vegetables, or bread
- We also collect individually wrapped plasticware!
Thank you for your continuing generosity!
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Regular CCSM office hours:
9:00am - 4:00pm
Monday - Thursday
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Scan this QR code or go to ccsm-ucc.org/give
to make a donation or pledge to CCSM.
Don't forget to ask your employer if they have a charitable donation matching program to make your pledge go farther.
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225 Tilton Ave. • San Mateo, CA • 94401
650-343-3694
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