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Connections: Christmas Week, 2023
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Greetings, Church!
This bit of time between Christmas and New Year’s is always interesting. Some people are busy wrapping up the year end at work, others are traveling, and some are bouncing from celebration to celebration. Whatever this week holds for you, I hope you’ll find time to slow down and just be. Stay in your sweats, cozy up with a book you’ve been meaning to read, watch that favorite Christmas movie, take a nap- or two! Enjoy the gift of Sabbath. Celebrate the year that has been and dream about how you will make room for the things that matter in the new year, because the work of Christmas is just beginning. So, rest, rejoice, and hold onto hope. Our weary world needs you.
With gratitude 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,
“We Sing Stories of Hope"
Also, watch our 5pm Christmas Eve service here
and our 11pm service here
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WE WANT YOU!
CCSM is looking for volunteers to serve on the Board-appointed committees and ministry teams that help our congregation function! This includes the various committees that deal with church administration (like finances, stewardship and personnel), spiritual life, hospitality, and engagement. Click Here and scroll down for a full list of committees and ministry teams.
If you are interested in nominating yourself or another member of CCSM to serve on one of these committees, please reach out to the Frank Garritano, Chair of the Governance Committee, at fgarritano@gmail.com.
Click on tinyurl.com/CCSM-COM-Teams for a brief overview of the Council of Ministry Teams, and on tinyurl.com/CCSM-Committees for the Board Appointed Committees.
Click on tinyurl.com/CCSM-Governance-Manual for an updated version of the Governance Manual.
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You’re welcome to attend a Board meeting on ZOOM on Thursday, January 4 at noon. Here is the Zoom link: tinyurl.com/CCSM-Boardmtg | |
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QUILTING BEE PARTY AVAILABLE JANUARY 13!
The date of the Quilting Bee Pick-A-Party has been changed to January 13. If you had a scheduling conflict for the prior date, here's your second chance to sign up. And if you didn't consider this party before, please think about joining a fun and creative group of people for an afternoon of quilting (or just learning about quilting), and socializing. No prior experience necessary. Questions? Contact Susan Bell, sbell2003@gmail.com.
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Left: Jessica wrote: One of my mentors, Rev Kim Ryan, delivered a poinsettia to Michele Merfeld Hale in Colombia, Missouri.
Talk about the joy in connection!
Right: more poinsettia joy! Jackie Payne and her son Robbie
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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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THE SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILY MINISTRY, thanks to the generosity of Sue Bullis, is pleased to grant a scholarship to Emelin Perez for the ongoing academic year. Emelin is a student at Cal State University, Fresno finishing her first semester and doing well. Emelin is a member of our Latino Community within CCSM. Her application and references are quite impressive. Emelin will receive the scholarship and be acknowledged during the Sunday January 7 service and during the Wednesday January 3 service with our Latino Community within CCSM. Congratulations Emelin!
EL COMITÉ DE BECAS DEL MINISTERIO DE NIÑEZ, JUVENTUD Y FAMILIA, gracias a la generosidad de Sue Bullis, se complace en otorgar una beca a Emelin Pérez para el año académico en curso. Emelin es estudiante de Cal State University, Fresno, terminando su primer semestre y le va bien. Emelin es miembro de nuestra comunidad latina dentro de CCSM. Su solicitud y referencias son bastante impresionantes. Emelin recibirá la beca y será reconocida durante el servicio del domingo 7 de enero y durante el servicio del miércoles 3 de enero con nuestra comunidad latina dentro de CCSM. ¡Felicidades Emelín!
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Youth and Family News
Sunday, January 7 - CCSM Family Playdate! Please join us for pizza after church and then head over to skate at Central Park! The cost to skate is $21/person. onicerinks.com If you can't stay to skate, please just join us for lunch. Please RSVP to Sheryl for pizza by Fri Jan 5.
Monday, January 15 - Peninsula Multi-faith Coalition Day of Service. Many projects are available! Please look through the options and e-mail Sheryl your top choices. If you'd like, you can sign up right away, or wait to see what projects others from CCSM will be doing. pmcmlk2024.eventbrite.com
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Bring your own mug!
Jumpin’ java! If you bring your own mug or thermos cup for your takeout coffee, tea, or hot chocolate while you are out and about, you save a disposable cup and you don’t get thousands of microplastics in your hot drink from the cup. The cups are coated inside with plastics that leach out readily into hot liquids. (article supplied by Science Direct)
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Kay Harris - Council of Ministries Lead
Jim Schwandt - Buildings and Grounds
Kim Rey and Troy Grabow - Children, Youth and Families
Diane Kalliam - Congregational Care
Alison Schwandt - Engagement
Gary H. White - Environmental Justice
Sandy McNabb - Connect and Celebrate
Julien Phillips - Latino/a Ministry
Linda Stoick - Liturgical Arts
Sue Bell - Music
Genel Morgan - Service and Justice
Chris Wuthmann - Spiritual Life/Adult Ed.
Martha Bronitsky - Stewardship
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You don't need to wait for the Ministry Fair to learn more, or join a ministry. Contact the Ministry Lead anytime! | |
Click HERE for CCSM's Governance Manual, and HERE for CCSM's Bylaws
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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 food (canned, dried and boxed, no fresh food please! donations must be full UNOPENED containers, no fruits, vegetables, or bread) on any Sunday of the month. Thank you for your continuing generosity!
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JOIN THE CLICK!
If we get at least 1,000 subscribers, the YouTube algorithm bumps our CCSM site higher on people’s search engine. CCSM Media now has 432 subscribers. Let’s keep pumping it up! So, please go to youtube.com/@ccsmMediaChannel/featured and click the “Subscribe” button.
Cost: Nothing. Benefit: HUGE!
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Regular CCSM office hours:
9:00am - 4:00pm
Monday - Thursday
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ccsm-ucc.org
225 Tilton Ave. • San Mateo, CA • 94401
650-343-3694
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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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