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Connections: Week of December 18, 2023
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Hello, Church,
I hope you and your family will be able to join us for one of our Christmas Eve services this Sunday. As you make your holiday plans, I thought it might be helpful to provide a glimpse of what each service will hold:
Sunday at 10:30am, Advent 4
Sunday morning will be a celebration of Advent 4: We Sing Stories of Hope. We’ll light the “love” candle on the Advent Wreath, share in communion, and collect an offering for LifeMoves. Special Music will be shared by Susan and Stephen Bell, and James Koeppen.
Sunday at 5pm, Bilingual Family Christmas Eve Service
Our family service will have elements in English and Spanish and will be a time for children to experience the Christmas story in a special way. Our youth have written an interactive Christmas Pageant, and we’ll need lots of participants to help tell the story! We know it’s a busy evening, but if you can arrive a little early, it will help us distribute candles and costumes before worship begins.
Sunday at 11pm, Traditional Candlelight Service
This service will feature a “Christmas Garland” of special music that will begin about 25 minutes prior to worship. It will be a time for us to slow down and welcome the Christ child through scripture, song, prayer, and reflection. I’ll offer a short Christmas message before we spread the light of Christ and sing Silent Night.
All our services will be live streamed and will also be available for later viewing.
Family of faith, whether you join us in person, online, or in spirit this Christmas Eve, I invite you to choose connection, do the good that is yours to do, hold onto hope, allow yourself to be amazed, treat yourself and others gently, and remember that you are God’s beloved.
Together, let us REJOICE in this Good News of God’s love, our world needs it.
With gratitude and love,
Jessica
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Advent Devotional Booklet
You can view an e-reader version at tinyurl.com/Advent-Devo-23
Reflection Groups
Using our Advent Devotional as a guide, we share in song, prayer and conversation as we practice joy together in this weary world. All groups meet in the Fireplace Room.
Last gatherings:
Tuesday, December 19: Zoom Group from 12:00-12:45pm: tinyurl.com/Advent-Reflection-2023
Wednesday, December 20 & 27, Jan 3, 12:00-1:00pm Bring your own lunch; dessert & coffee provided.
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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 Allow Ourselves to Be Amazed"
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Las Posadas has become a beloved annual tradition at CCSM. This will be Álvaro's first Las Posadas; he will incorporate some new elements, which will help us appreciate the diversity of Latin American customs and traditions of the season.
Join us Wednesday, 12/20 at 7pm!
The Latino Ministry invites everyone in the church, children and adults, to participate in this special Advent experience. It is also a great event to invite friends to! Thank you, friends!
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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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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: Dorothy Skanderup with her poinsettia received with a visit from Warren Long.
Right: Long-time and beloved CCSM member Clare Naegle, age 105, receiving her poinsettia and a visit from Julien Phillips.
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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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Youth and Family News
Wednesday, December 20 - Las Posadas! Please join us at 7pm to get into costume. Youth assistance is welcome! We'll remember Mary and Joseph looking for a room at the inn as we sing, pray, and celebrate together.
Sunday, December 24 - Join us for the 5pm Family Service - there will be a fun low-key skit for all to participate in, familiar carols, reflective prayers, and a candlelight while we sing Silent Night. Youth (and college students/young adults who are around for the holidays!) are invited to come around 3pm to rehearse the narration, have some snacks, and help set up the costumes for the kids!
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Batteries are Toxic Waste
Sing to your heart’s content with those singing cards! Then before you get rid of them, take out the battery, since batteries are considered toxic waste. You can drop off your batteries at some Ace Hardware stores. (Single family residents in San Mateo County may put household batteries & cell phones--e.g. rechargeable, alkaline, button--inside a clear, tightly sealed plastic bag, and place on top of your closed black garbage bin the evening before your pickup day.)
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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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