Connections: Week of October 30, 2023

Don't forget to set your clocks back for this Sunday, November 5 for an extra hour of sleep!

Hello Church!

Several of you have asked for a list of the intentions/practices/ideas I shared in worship on Sunday from the Heaven coffee shop cup sleeve. Keep reading, because here it is:

things to remember on earth as it is in heaven …

you are born in love by love and for love • you are beautiful • your enemy is also beautiful • the stranger is actually a member of your family—in fact everyone is family – all 7 billion of us • all violence is family violence • forgive • the real heroes are those who wrestle with addiction in truth and grace • widows orphans foreigners are the holy trinity • breathe and smile • hunger is a weapon of mass destruction (disarmed by generosity) • you can’t have love without truth • seek silence • love casts out fear • God is not a possession of the church • start over often • food comes from the earth and not from the shops • the holy land is not a place to visit – it is every place to value • forgive again • plant some seeds • breathe and smile • JC rode a donkey not a car • the gentle inherit the earth • repeat out loud: “I am beautiful” • now tell someone else that they are beautiful • homeless people are people first • humankind: be both • we own nothing—everything is a gift • when you throw rubbish away, ask yourself where away is • forgive yourself • to listen is to love • explore the mystery of prayer • to say that some people are saved and others are not is hate speech • walk back to your office the long way round • make time for music • difference is divine • it is difficult for the rich to enter the Kin-dom of God—affording to pay for this coffee means you are rich—uncomfortable? now you know why JC was crucified • don’t worship your religion • grace makes the world go round • touch the earth lightly • you—yes you—are the light of the world • there are no ordinary people • cry • God enjoys you • you are forgiven—like completely forgiven • go in peace

coffee conversation checklist

is it true? • is it kind? • is it necessary? • does it improve on the silence?

At the very bottom of that list, you’ll notice it says “Coffee Conversation Checklist: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? Does it improve on the silence?”

What if we had that check list for all of our conversations?

A few years back I took on a Lenten discipline of listening. I even bought a bracelet that had listen stamped onto a gold washer that was tied with leather so I could wear it every day and easily be reminded of my commitment. I took on this practice with the hope that I would be more present in conversations, paying attention to what was being said and not how I would respond. I continued to wear that bracelet every day for the next two years.

To listen is to love. The coffee conversation checklist invites us to be fully present to one another while also practicing healthy conversations and relationship building.

This week I challenge us to use this checklist as we communicate with family, friends, co-workers, teachers, strangers—all of God’s beloved children. Read it in the morning as a centering moment for your day, reference it in the afternoon or before a difficult conversation, print it out and put it somewhere you will see it often, or make a note in your phone.

Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? Does it improve on the silence? 

This is another way we can be the hands and feet and face of God in this world.

With gratitude and love,

Jessica

ALL SAINTS at CCSM

Join us as we celebrate, give thanks for, and remember the lives of our faithful departed.

Wednesday, November 1

7:00pm in the Sanctuary

Let us celebrate together as a community on the feast of All Saints! At the bilingual service on Wednesday, 1st November, we will have special music by Peruvian guitarist Rosa Los Santos, our traditional dinner and the experience of sharing Latin American spirituality. All are welcome without exception; see you in the Sanctuary at 7:00 p.m.!

Bring your photo or an object that reminds you of your loved ones to make our altar bigger and more beautiful. If you want us to print your loved one's photo, please send it before noon on Wednesday to alvarofduran@gmail.com

Connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/MinisterioLatinoICSM

Sunday, November 5

10:30 am in the Sanctuary

Our Sunday service will observe All Saints through special music, prayer, communion and a time of candle lighting and remembrance. 

You can also send in names of your loved ones to be remembered 

in worship on November 5. Please send those names to Zoe by Wednesday, November 1. 

photo is from this year's Día de los Muertos altar

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.

IF YOU MISSED THE WORSHIP SERVICE,

CLICK HERE FOR LAST SUNDAY'S ENTIRE SERVICE

CLICK HERE for Rev. Jessica Vacketta's sermon,

LOVE GOD, LOVE NEIGHBOR

Pick-A-Party Corrections and Information

Please note two changes -- Carol Henton's Hike at Huddart Park will be on April 27, and Melodie Lew's San Francisco Ballet tickets are offered for the February 9 performance. Also please note that Sue Bullis' name was left off the list of Pick-A-Party organizers. Sue is a valued member of the Connect & Celebrate team!  

Sign up Sunday is November 12.

The List of Pick-A-Parties is Available NOW! 

Click this link: tinyurl.com/CCSM-PAP-23-24, or pick one up in Kloss Hall on Sunday. There are lots of great parties available for every interest, date, and price range. Sign-ups will be on November 12, starting at 9:45 a.m. Mark your calendars, pick your parties, and bring your cash or check book. 

(Note that you can pay by text, but there is a 3% service charge, so please consider rounding up your payment to cover that charge.) Let the parties begin!!

Youth and Family News

Tuesday, October 31 - Come by CCSM when you're out Trick or Treating! Sheryl, Jessica, Álvaro, and others from CCSM will be there to hand out candy and connect with our community. Youth are welcome to help out - please come in costume if you can!

Friday, November 3 - Support one of our youth football players at the Aragon/Hillsdale Football Game! (Varsity game will be at 7pm at Hillsdale) 

Sunday, November 5 - CCSM Family Playdate! Join the Tsoi/Raikov family for a fun time at Washington Park in Burlingame. It is near the Caltrain station. We will gather around 1pm. Please feel free to bring any toys, or just enjoy the equipment that is there. 

Saturday, November 11 - Come out to Hillsdale High School to support one of our youth as they perform in Shrek! 

Sunday, November 19 - 60 Minutes! Come join other youth to work on writing a script for our Christmas pageant. We will gather around 10:30am in the Fireplace Room. Doughnuts provided! 

Sunday, December 3 - Youth-led Christmas program! During the 10:30 service, our youth will help teach the kids Christmas carols and help them to make Christmas cards for seniors. 

Sunday, December 3 - CCSM Family Christmas Caroling! We will go after church to sing carols at the homes of church members who can't get out to church right now. Let Sheryl know if you can make it and she'll give you the addresses! 

Sunday, December 3 - After the caroling, Sheryl is hosting an afternoon Pick-A-Party for all ages - a bowling party! Please sign up during the regular Pick-A-Party time in November.

Saturday, Dec 9-Sunday Dec 10 - Advent youth sleepover with youth from other UCCs at the Orinda UCC Church! Come learn about the season of Advent and have a fun weekend with other youth. We will begin around 3pm on the Saturday and finish on Sunday morning. Activities will include learning about Advent, cookie baking, mandala coloring (a relaxing meditation practice), Christmas movies, candlelight youth-led worship, and much more. 

Sunday, December 24 - Join us for the Family Service! Youth are invited to sit as a group or with their family. Youth (including former youth home from college!) might try to gather early for festive snacks - let Sheryl know if you are interested! 

Here is a great quote from slow foods movement guru, Dr. Marion Nestle:

There’s only one diet, and it works to prevent chronic disease as well as to protect the planet. [Journalist] Michael Pollan sums it up in seven words:

"Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."

Upcoming

Board of Directors

Meetings

all meetings are Sunday at Noon

in the Buckham Room

(unless noted)

November 12

December 10

To access the Google folder containing CCSM Board Meeting minutes, go to

tinyurl.com/CCSM-Minutes-BOD

Upcoming

Council of Ministries

Meetings

all meetings are Sunday at Noon

in the Buckham Room

(dates in yellow are combined BoD + CoM)

November 12

December OFF

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

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!

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!

Pray for Ukraine Every Tuesday at 7:30pm

CCSM held a powerful live Prayer Ritual for Ukraine on March 6th, 2022, and will share this ritual ONLINE every Tuesday until the war ends. 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.

Link for Prayer Ritual on YouTube: tinyurl.com/CCSM-Ukraine-Prayer

Regular CCSM office hours:

9:00am - 4:00pm

Monday - Thursday

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.