Connections: October 10, 2022
South Paw by Henry Frank • redtailart.com
Artist bio: I am a descendant of the great nations of the Yurok and Pomo Tribes. I use my art to amplify the voices of people of color (specifically Native Americans), people who are currently experiencing incarceration, and returning residents (aka formerly incarcerated) to expose the mistreatment, dehumanization, and desolation. These people have voices, my contribution is to make sure it is heard beyond the reservations and prison walls. My connection and coexistence within the natural world, my heritage, my culture, and incarceration experience inspire and shapes my artistic expression. I draw from my childhood, my spiritual practice, my memories/treatment from my incarceration and living as a Native American in a colonized based society. Art has freed and expanded my scope of humanity and myself, it has been a tool for introspection, connection, and expression. 
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE’S DAY

A special thank you to Greg Graves for speaking to us about the history of the Muwekma Ohlone. Greg identified three phases of organized exploitation and attempted extinction of the Indigenous People; the Missionaries, the Gold Rush, and the 1850 Act for the Government and Protection of Indians. If you were not able to see the service yesterday, do yourself a favor and view it. Hear the history of the victims, not the victors. It is not what you learned in school.

Below are two articles to continue the education that we did not receive about the Native American genocide.

 “Indigenous people have often been erased from the country’s historical record – a survey from the National Congress of American Indians found that 87% of state history standards don’t mention Native American history after 1900, while 27 states don’t mention Native Americans in their K-12 curriculum.”  (click HERE to read "What Indigenous Peoples' Day Means to Native Americans")

Historians say the 1863 Bear River Massacre left at least 350 Northwestern Shoshone Indians dead. But it was overshadowed by the Civil War and remains mostly forgotten. (click HERE to read "This was the worst slaughter of Native Americans in U.S. history. Few remember it.")

As Christians called to love all our neighbors, we need to be intentional in our edification and deconstruct the white-washed history to begin conversations around apologies and healing.

Special thanks to Henry Frank for sharing his beautiful art and Chuck Rosenthal for bathing us in the sounds of the Native American flute. 

Next week Rev. Jorge Bautista will be preaching while I reconnect in Colorado. 

Peace and grace,

Rev. Melissa
Pine Tree #6 is out!
to see the latest issue.
Click on the video above for the most recent entire worship service, or click HERE to listen to Rev. Melissa Douaire and Greg Graves share a sermon, "IF ONLY"
To Give is To Receive: 
Share Your Love Auction and Pick a Party
CCSM’s 2022-2023 Fundraising Events 

The Share Your Love Auction has launched!  
— October 16 is the LAST DAY to donate an item —

The Auction itself runs from 
October 30 through November 6
Pick a Party hosting submissions and party sign ups will follow. 
CLICK HERE to get all the details, and HERE to see the calendar.
To use the SYL auction form, click HERE.

Or contact Sandy McNabb, sandra.j.mcnabb@gmail.com 650.678.5650;
Michele Merfeld Hale, kaymerf@yahoo.com 206.612.6182;
or Diane Kalliam, dkalliam@gmail.com 415.279.1359
Youth and Family Events

Saturday, October 15 at 9am: Family volunteer activity - help to restore native plants on San Bruno Mountain. Please sign up here and let Sheryl know if you plan to attend! 
Sunday, October 16: 10:30am - 60 Minutes conversation for high school youth led by Mike (he/him) and Sheryl (she/her). Each month, high schoolers choose a discussion topic - this month the focus will be abortion laws (as chosen by the youth last month!). Stay after for lunch and social time with Sheryl. 
Sunday, October 23: 11:30am - Youth can help make sandwiches for Open Cathedral and earn volunteer hours.
Saturday, October 29 at 7pm: Free family movie night at Memorial Park! Come out to watch Jurassic World Dominion under the stars. Let me know if you plan to go so I can connect you to other CCSM families.
Sunday, October 30 at 10:30am: Wear your Halloween Costume to church day! Lots of special fun and treats as well. 
Saturday, November 5 - tentative youth sleepover with other UCC youth in Danville! Plans are just starting for this fun event with our partner UCC churches in the Bay Area. More info to follow! 
Sunday, November 6: 11:45am - CCSM Pizza Play Date! Families with kids of any age are invited to join us in the small playground outside Kloss Hall for pizza and games! Older kids especially are invited to bring a board or card game to play as well. Pizza and drinks will be provided, please bring a dessert to share if you'd like.
FIRST SUNDAYS OF THE MONTH ARE COMMUNION SUNDAYS
If there’s a way you can be in person on the first Sundays of the month, communion is a meaningful time to be together.
If you’re not able to be with us in person, you’re invited to share in communion while online with us from wherever you are; just have some bread and juice ready and you can participate with us that way.
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.

Link for Prayer Ritual on YouTube: tinyurl.com/CCSM-Ukraine-Prayer
225 Tilton Avenue • San Mateo, CA 94401
(650) 343-3694