Connections: Week of September 11, 2023

Dear Beloved Community at CCSM, 

What a Homecoming Sunday! I am so grateful to each person who planned, participated, assisted, attended, or supported in any way. It was truly a team effort! 

As you might imagine, I was a bit nervous not to be able to be as present with the kids as I would usually be on Homecoming (since I was needed in worship!) but everything went so smoothly thanks to the efforts of many, including several youth who said "Don't worry, Sheryl, we've got this!" What a true community effort — a hallmark of home, I'd say. If you missed the service, please do go back and watch! 

I think one of the tensions about hosting is so interesting — often, as hosts, we don't want our guests to have to lift a finger, but it is actually in helping that sometimes guests come to feel at home — that they are truly included and are a part of the team. Maybe that's not true for everyone, but I can say that being asked to help, especially when I am relatively new somewhere, feels like a special moment. 

One time, I was helping to set up for an event and I will say I felt very seen when the main host asked her family — and me — to just hold back on food at the beginning until we made sure everyone had enough to eat. When you're part of "family hold back," you're part of the family! 

I am so grateful to the Nugents who really embodied that spirit of guests becoming hosts — they are brand new members (who joined on Sunday!) who were instrumental in pulling Homecoming together. Let's all get to know ALL of our new members and offer welcome — and also opportunities to serve! Thanks so much to all of our guests, hosts, and to all of us as we dance in between those roles, giving as we can and receiving as we need. 

This coming Sunday, we will continue to explore the theme of Homecoming (which we began on Labor Day weekend with Pablo Quintanilla's wonderful exploration of justice here at home in San Mateo) with Rev. Valerie McEntee offering a sermon examining the themes of welcome and belonging. I very much look forward to it! 

In the meantime, blessings on your comings and goings, whether you are at home or away, guest or host, know you are valued and loved. 

Peace be with you,

Sheryl 

IF YOU MISSED THE WORSHIP SERVICE,

CLICK HERE  FOR LAST SUNDAY'S ENTIRE SERVICE

CLICK HERE for Sheryl Johnson's Homecoming sermon:

"Home on the Horizon"

Pick-A-Party Season Begins! 

It's time to brainstorm parties you want to host for our next Pick-A-Party season. 

Information packets and submission forms will be available in the narthex and in Kloss Hall (or by clicking HERE for the packet, and HERE for the submission form). Keep in mind that parties don't need to be elaborate dinner parties (although we all love those) — they can be line dancing or yoga lessons in Kloss Hall, coffee and donut discussion groups at a local coffee shop or park, scavenger hunts, sing-alongs, or trips to a local place of interest. Need ideas or want to connect with a co-host? Contact Sandy McNabb (sandra.j.mcnabb@gmail.com 650-678-5650), Mike Harris (mypirocks@me.com 650-572-8378), or Nancy Nugent (jnugent@mac.com 520-288-6539).  

Submission forms are due October 1.

Youth and Family News

Saturday, September 16 - City of San Mateo Annual Bayfront Cleanup. More info/register HERE. 

Sunday, September 17 - Joyful Noise Kids' Choir/Music Program resumes with Julie Berk. Please join her at 9:30am in the music room. All ages are welcome (preschool kids - please bring a parent or other adult who can participate with you!). Kids will work on learning some music that they will share in upcoming worship services. 

Sunday, September 24 - 60 Minutes led by Mike and Michele at 10:30am. Join with other youth to discuss current events and our lives!

Sunday, September 24 - Sandwich-making for Open Cathedral! Please go to the kitchen after church to help make sandwiches for those in need. If you need volunteer hours, this is a great way to earn some! 

Saturday, September 30 - City of San Mateo Chamber of Commerce Fall Fest on B Street. We are hoping to have a CCSM booth to showcase CCSM to the wider community and possibly attract some new members/families. Please let me know if you can help out at the booth for an hour (or more!) and also please just come by the event - there will be lots for kids and all ages to do including two stages featuring lots of great music! 

Sunday, October 1 - CCSM Family Playgroup! Can your family be our first host this fall? It can be very low-key - a park meet-up, local hike, bowling, beach time, etc. Please let me (Sheryl) know if you are available to host! 

Sunday, October 14 - Celebrate Dia de los Muertos at MLK Jr. Park with our neighbors starting at 2pm! This event is hosted by the City of San Mateo. This is a great opportunity to celebrate and learn about this holiday. 



Saturday, October 21 - Chocolate Fest with our neighbors at Congregational Church of the Peninsula! Join Sheryl for the Saturday evening event - or go another time if that is better for your schedule. Tickets are available at: chocolatefestofbelmont.org



MUSIC AND ART IS BACK!

This Friday, September 15th, 12:00 pm

The opening meeting of Music and Art will be on Friday, September 15, at noon in the Buckham Room. We will have a special program called QUILTS AS ART, presented by our own member, Susan Bell. She will introduce us to designing and making quilts and bring some of her own quilts from her collection of 150!!  Members may also bring their own “show and tell” quilts or quilted items (e.g. pillows) or pictures of them. 

The meeting will begin as usual with our BYOL (bring your own lunch) — beverages are provided as well as dessert by hostesses who have signed up. A brief business meeting will be included, and it will help our treasury if members could bring a check or cash for the $20.00 dues. Checks should be made out to CCSM, with Music & Art on the line. We’ll be off to a great start of the 2023–2024 season. Bring a friend to introduce to our wonderful group! RSVP to Don Harper at donaldgharper@yahoo.com or phone 650-553-1800.



Thank you to all Homecoming volunteers!  

Homecoming was a huge success, thanks to all the people who volunteered to help out. First, a big round of applause for new members Nancy and Jerry Nugent, who stepped in when Sandy got Covid and Mike Harris was in Europe. They shopped, cooked, served, and coordinated all their sous chefs and helpers with clear instructions and good humor. Second, thanks to the supporting staff -- Doug and Carol Henton, Jim and Donna Lindsay, Phil Lind and Betsy Woodward, Tony Gallo, Jim and Alison Schwandt, Bill Dunbar (cornbread baker extraordinaire), Sandee Schlickman (veggie chili maker supreme), Tony and June Brown, Rebecca Ruedy-Whelan, Peter Held, Melodie Lew, Chase, Oscar and Chuck. Without these helping hands, we wouldn't have had such a successful Homecoming. THANK YOU!!!

COVID ON THE RISE

We have been notified that a number of our members have recently been diagnosed with Covid. While San Mateo County has not changed their official guidelines about masking and social distancing since April 2023, we want to offer this reminder that the Covid virus is still present and active within our community. Keeping this in mind, remember to wash your hands, be mindful of close contact, and consider wearing a mask to protect yourself and those most vulnerable among us.

MUSICAL CURIOSITIES 

Concert at CCSM

"Musical Curiosities" invites you for a walk through historical milestones; from Bach to Piazzolla, the duet will play Sunday, September 24th, at 3pm, in the beautiful wooden acoustics of CCSM's sanctuary. Suggested donation is $20 (however, all are welcomed!). Claire Tremblay, oboe player, and Lyle Sheffler, classical guitarist, will share with you their "Musical Curiosities." If you need more information, please write to Claire at clairetre@gmail.com.

LATINO MINISTRY INVITATION

Everyone is warmly welcome at our weekly Spanish-language service on Wednesdays at 7:15 pm in the Fireplace Room. Please join us for an inspiring bilingual sermon, music, communion, and a potluck meal. Childcare provided. Come prepared to experience the Holy Spirit in loving community!

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 https://www.youtube.com/@ccsmMediaChannel/featured

 and click the “Subscribe” button.  Cost: Nothing.  Benefit: HUGE!

Upcoming

Board of Directors

Meetings

all meetings are Sunday at Noon

in the Buckham Room

(unless noted)

September 17

October 8

November 12

December 10

To view June 14 Board Meeting Minutes,

click here or go to https://tinyurl.com/CCSMBoard-061423

Upcoming

Council of Ministries

Meetings

all meetings are Sunday at Noon

in the Buckham Room

(dates in yellow are combined BoD + CoM)

September 24

October 22

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 White - Energy and 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!

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 RESUME

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11

9am - 4pm

Monday - Thursday