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Connections: February 14, 2024

ASH WEDNESDAY,

February 14, 7:15pm, Sanctuary

Join us for this special service that marks the beginning of the Lenten season; a time of reflection and turning back to God, and who God is calling us to be.

Rev. Álvaro Durán will offer a reflection and we’ll share in communion and the imposition of ashes as we embark on this sacred journey.

Following worship, we hope you’ll stay for our weekly Wednesday potluck dinner. 

Greetings, Church--

Happy Valentine’s Day, and Lenten Blessings! I’ve seen several memes marking this sacred day including “You can’t have VaLENTine’s without Lent.” It’s an interesting day, reflecting on our own mortality while celebrating love; however, that is what we do on Ash Wednesday, even when it’s not Valentine’s Day. While death will one day find us all, death does not have the last word. Lent is a time for us to return to our Creator who formed us from the dust of the earth. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, “Be not afraid. I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” 

I love how Heidi Carrington Heath describes today: “The beauty of Ash Wednesday is that it cuts through the crap.  It gets to the very heart of everything.  It reminds of God’s infinite promises to us.  It reminds us there is beauty in our brokenness, and freedom that we don’t have to live up to some earthly falsehood about perfection.” 

Freedom from the falsehood of perfection…

This Lent we will be journeying alongside Peter, a person who was far from perfect, and yet, he was one of the first disciples called and a constant presence in Jesus’ ministry. Despite the ups and downs and curves in the road, Peter kept going, alongside Jesus. That’s all any of us can do. 

Today we are beginning a pilgrimage. A season of transformation and holy preparation before our Easter celebrations. Before us we have an unknown wilderness- an opportunity to be challenged, to learn, grow, and change as we look deep within ourselves and explore what it means to follow Jesus and be God’s hands and feet and face at work in the world. How will we make space for this transformation in our lives? What will we take on? What will we give up? Who will we walk beside along the way?

Tonight, we will mark the start of this season worshiping together, hosting other UCC churches in our area for a night of reflection, prayer, singing, and breaking bread. Our lives are finite, so we want to spend every precious moment in tune with God, living whole, abundant lives—the kind of lives we were created to lead. And so, in recognition of our origins in the earth, in acknowledgment of our finite days, we will come to receive ashes and remember: dust we are, and to dust we shall return.

I hope you can join us tonight at 7:15pm in the Sanctuary, or online. 

As we begin this Lenten journey, know-- You are called. You are blessed. In both your ups and your downs, you always belong to God. 

With peace, love and hope, 

Jessica

Weekly Devotionals

Beginning with Ash Wednesday, this weekly devotional, created by Sanctified Art, follows the scriptures of the Wandering Heart series through the Second Sunday of Easter. Each week offers: a commentary on that week’s scripture, poetry, visual art, written reflections, hymns, and reflection prompts. Devotionals are available in the Narthex.

Our friends at A Sanctified Art have also provided a special e-reader version of this year’s Lenten devotional, which you can access on your computer and mobile devices: 

tinyurl.com/CCSM-WH-Devotional

In order to protect their work, please refrain from sharing this link or posting it on social media.

Daily Devotional Cards

This collection of 62 daily devotional cards helps you mark each day from Ash Wednesday through the second week of Easter. The deck includes a weekly centering practice, along with a daily question for reflection, and a short prayer. You might place the stack of devotional cards by your bed to read and reflect on first thing in the morning or right before you sleep at night.

Cards are available in the Narthex.

Prayers by Rev. Sarah A. Speed | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org

Lenten Reflection Groups

Join Rev. Jessica for a weekly discussion on the upcoming Sunday’s scriptures and theme, Wednesdays from noon to 1:00pm and 6:00-7:00pm. The group at noon will meet over lunch, and the 6pm group will meet prior to our Wednesday worship service. You can switch between groups, join one week, or bounce in and out—whatever works for your schedule!

The weekly devotional and prayer cards will be your guide, so please bring a copy or one will be provided.

Wednesdays, 12 noon-1:00 pm and 6:00-7:00 pm

February 21 - March 27    

IF YOU MISSED THE WORSHIP SERVICE,

CLICK HERE FOR LAST SUNDAY'S ENTIRE SERVICE

CLICK HERE for Rev. Jessica's sermon, “LISTEN"

Music and Art will meet on Friday, February 16

12pm in the Buckham Room

As usual, bring your own lunch; beverages and dessert are provided. 

We are privileged to have a program on calligraphy presented by Ms. Billy Hutchinson (friend of Tina Lowrie Schulkamp). She has a BFA degree from the San Francisco Art Institute. She is primarily a calligrapher for special occasions and a lettering instructor at San Francisco Center for the Book. 

Please RSVP to Don Harper at donaldgharper@yahoo.com or phone 650-553-1800. Our presenter will need to know how many supplies to provide for our practice to assist in our creative experiences.

New Coffee Hour Coordinator Needed

CCSM’s Coffee Hour is an important component of CCSM's community, ensuring that people have a place to connect and talk.

Tasks include:

• Monitoring the sign-up list, then confirming with that Sunday's volunteer;
• Being available as helper on Sunday mornings (when necessary with a new volunteer) or asking someone else to be (Robert Leung and Melodie Lew are often available and enjoy doing this);
• Occasionally sending out an email with the signup link to ask folks to fill empty slots.

Please contact either Lin Fenn or Melodie Lew. Thank you!

IMPORTANT PARKING LOT ANNOUNCEMENT

For many years, the owners of the property at 53 S. San Mateo Drive (diagonal from the Sanctuary) generously allowed CCSM members to park in their lot Sunday mornings. That lot is under new ownership and we are working with the new owners to hopefully make a similar arrangement.

However, the building / lot are currently under construction and they are asking that we do NOT park there until they give us the OK. Please help us build a good relationship with the new owners by honoring their request (even if there are empty parking spaces) and find street parking if our own lot is full. We will let you know when this changes.  

UNDERGRAD SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY

Thanks to Julien Phillips of CCSM, we’ve recently learned that there are opportunities for aid from our national UCC denomination: scholarships of $1000 to 10,000 for rising sophomore, junior or senior undergraduate students. Applications are due March 1, and they require references (minister and academic adviser). Undergraduate students are encouraged to apply soon!

Requirements are membership in a UCC church, active participation and contribution to the church and answering questions in the application and a commitment to be active in a UCC church for at least five subsequent years. For info, see the link on the ucc.org site: app.smarterselect.com/programs/93776-United-Church-Of-Christ. Contact Sheryl Johnson, sjohnson@ccsm-ucc.org or Warren Long, longlake15@sbcglobal.net for help.  

Youth and Family News

Wednesday, February 14

Join us at 7:15 for a special bilingual Ash Wednesday service.

Special activities for kids to explore this season of reflection, prayer, simplicity, and spiritual growth. 

Wednesday, Feb 21- Escape Room!

Join us for a fun youth gathering for both our Sunday and Wednesday attending middle and high school youth!

We are planning a special youth group time about once a month on a Wednesday evening. This month we'll be doing an Escape Room! Please meet at the church at 5:45pm. After the escape room, we'll grab dinner and build community. After the Wednesday service finishes (about 8:45pm) we will have a time for both parents and youth to talk about attending the Western Regional Youth Event.

RSVP to Sheryl Wednesday, Feb 14 so we reserve space at the Escape Room. 

Sunday, February 25 - CCSM Family "Playdate" - Sandwich Making

CCSM Kids (and parents/caregivers!) are invited to help make sandwiches for our unhoused neighbors in San Francisco after church at 11:45am in the CCSM Kitchen. Please bring a snack (or have a good snack at coffee hour!) first. We can order pizza afterward for anyone free to stay (we should be done with the project by about 12:45pm).

Sunday, March 3 - Day-long service/learning youth retreat in San Francisco!

We will spend the day learning, worshipping, and serving in San Francisco with our friends from Danville UCC. We will join the dynamic and multicultural Glide Memorial Church in worship at 9am to help to serve lunch with their meal program and then have time learning with the San Francisco Night Ministry. We will be done by 3pm and will catch the BART back to Millbrae for an approximate 4pm pickup. Please let Sheryl know if you are interested ASAP! Michele Cinq Mars will also help to chaperone. Plan to meet at Millbrae BART at 7:50am with a loaded Clipper card or at Glide at 9am.

INFORMATION MEETING

Sunday, Feb 18, 12pm

Wednesday, Feb 21

after Wednesday Service

Middle and High Schoolers and Families: Interested in going with others from CCSM to the Western Regional UCC Youth Event this summer? We have two gatherings coming up to connect and start to make plans for our CCSM contingent! Please plan to attend one or both sessions as you are able! 

Electricity is better!

Join the electric revolution in your home. When your gas-driven appliances such as your stove, washer or dryer need replacing buy electric models such as an induction stove. You will lower your carbon footprint and find e-appliances to be more efficient.

CCSM Council of Ministries

Contact COM: COM@CCSM-UCC.org

Kay Harris, Council of Ministries Lead

Jim Schwandt, Building and Grounds

Kim Rey, Troy Grabow, Children, Youth and Families

Melodie Lew, Congregational Care

Sandy McNabb, Connect and Celebrate                       

Gary H. White, Environmental Justice

Alison Schwandt, Engagement/Communications 

Julien Phillips, Latino/a Ministry       

Pam Ridlehuber, Liturgical Arts

Sue Bell, Katie Bylander, Music        

Genel Morgan, Service and Justice

Dave Olsen, Spiritual Life/Adult Ed.

Ivan Raikov, Stewardship

Email Kay Harris to get connected to a Ministry Lead anytime!

CCSM Committee Chairs

Chris Yeh, Endowment

Martha Bronitsky, Finance

Frank Garritano, Governance

Chris Wuthmann, Pastoral Relations

Dave Goulden, Personnel

Phil Lind, Historian

Click HERE for CCSM's Governance Manual, and HERE for CCSM's Bylaws

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.

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. 

Anyone who orders out for food and gets individually wrapped plasticware, please donate to the Blessing Box. We put plasticware in the BB for those who may need it.

Thank you for your continuing generosity!

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

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 451 subscribers. Let’s keep bumping it up! 

Visit youtube.com/@ccsmMediaChannel/featured 

and click the “Subscribe” button.  

Cost: Nothing.  Benefit: HUGE!

Regular CCSM office hours:

9:00am - 4:00pm

Monday - Thursday

ccsm-ucc.org

225 Tilton Ave. • San Mateo, CA • 94401

650-343-3694

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.