Welcome back! CCSM is OPEN!
We had such a wonderful service this past Sunday with those who gathered at 225 and those who gathered at home online. It was nearly overwhelming to hear people sing and pray after worshipping in an empty sanctuary for so long. It was wonderful to feel the presence of everyone online -- having people in the sanctuary enhanced the feeling of being connected online. We hope others will join this week as we continue to return incrementally.
First of all, I want you all to know that Rev. Jorge is feeling better! I know we were all worried about him. And second, you will want to "be on time" to the church service this week. Chris Yeh and his quartet will be offering some beautiful music, and Roma Olvera will be our soloist. I will continue with our series Rising Strong in Spirit. Come in person or tune in from home-- either way, come with open hearts!
On my mind this morning are the teachers and student returning to school. Please pray for a joyous and safe return.
My heart is also heavy with all that is going on in our world. The delta variant continues to spread across our country. Please pray for the healthcare workers-- they are exhausted and traumatized-- and so much is demanded of them every day.
And, our earth is traumatized. The U.N. report on climate change made it crystal clear that we have brought this on and that the assessment of the latest science is a severe warning regarding the well-being of human society and all life on Earth. It is testimony to the fact that efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the past decades have been wholly insufficient.
We are called to do all we can and to increase our efforts to get corporations and government to do all they can. I offer this Ojibway Prayer -- I invite you to pray it aloud today:
Grandfather,
Look at our brokenness.
We know that in all creation
Only the human family
Has strayed from the Sacred Way.
We know that we are the ones
Who are divided
And we are the ones
Who must come back together
To walk in the Sacred Way
Grandfather,
Sacred One,
Teach us love, compassion, and honor
That we may heal the earth
And heal each other.
I am very proud that our own denomination, the UCC, has become the first mainline Protestant Denomination to publicly affirm and proclaim that nature has rights. Through the deliberative body of the UCC’s General Synod which gathered virtually for the first time in the denomination’s 64-year history, delegates voted 518 to 18 in passing a resolution on the rights of nature.
A NOTE ABOUT SUNDAY
REMINDER: We are excited to see our CCSM kids at 10:30 on Sundays! Kids should be masked and be dropped off and picked up outdoors in the Memorial Garden (NOT beginning in the service, for the time being). Our leaders will be masked and are all fully vaccinated.
The Sanctuary opens at 10:10 am
The Balcony is closed at this time.
Please wear your masks at ALL times.
Our desire is to keep everyone safe by being in alignment
with San Mateo County covid guidelines.
We appreciate your help!
Love,
Penny
P.S. Please consider joining me at the March for Racial Justice in Central Park (info below) this Sunday at 1 PM. I will be speaking at the rally.
