Connections: March 6, 2023 |
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Dear CCSM friends,
If you are like me, you are processing many thoughts and emotions after yesterday’s service and the announcements of yet more change.
Transitions are difficult and require time and space. We are in the 40 days of wilderness, but we know from our biblical literacy that it will end. Clarity and growth happen from the days spent in the desert, without distraction and time for contemplation. I believe that CCSM will gather clarity and growth from time spent discerning its metaphorical wilderness.
Keep faith as your guide, not the fears of darkness; I will be doing the same on my journey.
Prayers for comfort, patience, and clarity.
Peace and grace,
Rev. Melissa
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We are using the SALT PROJECT for Lent this year. We have two Lenten Devotionals; one for adults (click HERE) and another for families (click HERE). We will be using the Matisse art throughout Lent as part of this. You can view more of that HERE for adults, and HERE for families.
Enjoy, and let me know your thoughts about these materials.
Peace,
Rev. Melissa
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Click on the video above for Sunday's worship service,
or click HERE for Rev. Melissa's sermon.
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Youth and Family Events
Sunday, March 12: 10:30am - 60 Minutes conversation for youth led by Mike and Sheryl. This month our topic (chosen by our highschoolers) is current issues in the news.
Sunday, March 12: 12pm- CCSM Youth are invited to go to Foothills UCC to learn about Confirmation and meet other youth participating in the retreat. Lunch provided! After the conversation (around 1:15) youth are invited to go to a local arcade to play some games. Pick up is at 2pm. All high school-aged youth are welcome - if you've already done Confirmation, you can share your experience and help lead the conversation.
Saturday, March 18-Sunday, March 19 - Youth Retreat in Orinda! Our local UCC partners are again collaborating to offer Confirmation classes. However, this retreat is open to all youth in grades 8-12, even those who have already been confirmed (or who are not interested in confirmation). This retreat is a chance for highschoolers to learn more about progressive Christian faith, play games, and connect with other youth. Please let Sheryl know asap if you might be interested in Confirmation this year (or just the retreat).
Sunday, April 2: 10:30am - Special Palm Sunday service featuring the donkey. All are welcome - kids will also participate in a palm parade!
Sunday, April 2: 11:45am - Monthly family play date with lunch! Please let me know if you have any suggestions for an activity.
Sunday, April 9: 10:30am - Special Easter service with special activities for kids during the service and an egg hunt afterward!
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Evening Gathering for Prayer
Sunday nights starting March 12th
7:00-8:00 PM in the Fireplace Room
(hosted by Kibbie Ruth)
This hour will not be focused on the church, but the reality that many of us yearn for contemplative time together. Prayer is one way to be in touch with our inner selves and be present with and to one another.
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GET OUT THE VOTE
If you are interested to “Get Out the Vote”, please join Krista Hanson on Tuesday March 7th from 10:00-12:00 pm for a post card writing session in the Fireplace Room.
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NEXT BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ MEETING will be March 12, 2023 following the Plenary Meeting. Both the Board of Directors’ and Finance Committee meetings are open to anyone who wishes to attend.
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SEARCH COMMITTEE UPDATE
As was announced at the Jan. 8 service, the Senior Minister position has been posted on the UCC website, and we have begun to receive applications. To read an update from the Search Committee and to see a summary of the posting, click HERE or type in tinyurl.com/CCSM-SearchComm
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Scholarships for high school seniors and graduate students
The Youth Ministry at CCSM is pleased to support high school seniors and graduate students with scholarships for the 2023-24 school year thanks to the generosity of CCSM members.
High school seniors and graduate students who are active members of CCSM are encouraged to apply for scholarship support. Information about the scholarships and application packets are available at the following links: for the graduate packet, go to tinyurl.com/CCSM-grad-schol-2023, or for the undergraduate packet, go to tinyurl.com/CCSM-undergrad-schol-2023. Applications with supporting documents and letters of recommendations are due by April 15, 2023.
The Congregational Church has been supportive of education through our denominational history. In fact, many of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious educational institutions such as Harvard and Yale Universities and Bowdoin College were founded by the Congregational Church. CCSM follows in that important tradition of helping to educate our younger generation with scholarship aid.
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PICK-A-PARTIES STILL AVAILABLE
Feeling a little unsettled with changes at CCSM? Pick-A-Parties are a great way to reconnect with CCSM members, whether it’s enjoying the outdoors, learning something new, or just relaxing with old and new friends. There are still openings for the following parties: Huddart Park Hike (4/8 8:30-1 pm); High Tea (4/22 11 am); Book Lovers’ Luncheon (5/20 11am-2pm); Cooks and Bakers Zoom party (date/time tbd). And stay tuned for the Carolands tour, which looks like it's shaping up for this summer!
To sign up for any of these parties, contact Diane Kalliam, dkalliam@gmail.com 415.279.1359.
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NOW WHAT? Spiritual Conversations book for discussion
How can we connect with people with whom we have significant differences? How can we be peacemakers and contribute to a kinder society? The book Now What? How to Move Forward When We’re Divided (About Basically Everything) by Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silver can help us become careful listeners, show mutual respect, and develop a deeper understanding of the Other.
Spiritual Conversations meets every other week on Monday evenings, from 6:30-8:00pm (NOTE NEW TIME) via Zoom. Our next discussion will be March 13. If you’re interested in knowing more, please contact Chris Wuthmann at cewuthmann@gmail.com or Chase Montara at cmontara@ccsm-ucc.org.
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MUSIC & ART: March 17
with Angela Kraft Cross
We’ll gather at noon on March 17 in the Buckham Room for our fellowship lunch. Remember—it’s BYOL: Bring Your Own Lunch—beverages are provided and co-hostesses provide dessert.
We are thrilled to have our own Angela Kraft Cross as our performer, introducing original music from her new CD, Passages on the Journey, which was recorded at the Methuen Memorial Hall in Methuen, Mass. featuring the 1863 Walcker organ which was intended to be the organ for the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
On 2/27 Angela flew to Boston to play at Busch Hall on the Harvard campus on Thursday on E. Power Biggs’ organ!!! We all enjoyed her 13 year old student, Andrew, play the prelude on 2/26. That’s the really up-to-date info on our wonderful organist. I hope all members and guests will please RSVP to Susan Duty, susanjd52@gmail.com or 650-533-6830, so we can reserve a space at the table for you. We will, of course, move in to the sanctuary for the organ performance.
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COFFEE HOUR ASSISTANCE NEEDED
We hope that you have been enjoying the goodies during coffee hour. A few generous families have stepped up to help Linda Fenn with coffee hour during the past few months, and we’d like to continue hosting coffee hour; however, she needs families or individuals who can help with this on-going project.
Coffee hour is a lot to ask for one person (Lin) to do alone on a weekly basis (she already does the planning, organizing, and provides some recurring back up supplies). The greater the number of people who can help, the smaller the task is for each person.
It involves set-up, ensuring the trays stay filled, and then clean up—about an hour each Sunday both to organize prior to service and clean up afterward. While more hands make less work, any amount of help will be great, and everyone will appreciate having coffee hour continue.
If you can help out once a quarter (or more frequently if you would like), please email or call Lin Fenn (lindajfenn@yahoo.com) or Melodie Lew (boygie.m2000@yahoo.com; 650.573.9765). Thank you in advance!
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Click HERE for the latest PINE TREE Newsletter!
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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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Solar Project-related information:
From 3/20 - 3/24, the side walk from the parking lot into Little Wonders preschool will be blocked. There will be access into the ramp door to Kloss.
From 3/27 - 4/7, the entire middle row and the entire row of parking spaces closest to Ellsworth Ave. will be fenced off. There will be an opening through which you can drive for school drop off, but the only parking spaces will be in the row nearest to S. San Mateo Drive. This will impact Sunday parking-remember we have an overflow lot on the corner of S. San Mateo and Tilton.
From 4/10 - 4/14, the entire middle row will be fenced off and entirely inaccessible.
From 4/14 - 4/21, there will be a fenced off area that includes the space where Chase usually parks, the spaces to the right and left of that space, and capturing also the first six spaces in the middle row. This will impact Sunday parking- remember we have an overflow lot on the corner of S. San Mateo and Tilton.
From 4/17 - 4/19, all of the power to the church will be shut off. The church office will be closed. The Fire Alarm system will not be operational during this time.
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Pray for Ukraine Every Tuesday at 7:30pm
CCSM held a powerful live Prayer Ritual for Ukraine on March 6th. We have decided to premier this ritual ONLINE every Tuesday until the war ends. We hope you will join us online weekly to continue our prayers and heal our hearts. These are challenging times and this offering is a way to bring our community together and magnify our prayers.
Please share this link with your friends and family so we can extend this offering to as many people as possible.
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225 Tilton Ave. • San Mateo, CA • 94401
650-343-3694
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Scan the QR code above or go to
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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