PINE TREE #5 is here! and

Connections: Week of September 18, 2023

The latest issue of the Pine Tree is here! It's chock full of news, photos, reflections, and upcoming events. Click HERE for a copy!

In This Issue

Home is on the Horizon — Rev. Sheryl

Homecoming 2023

Children, Youth & Families

Homecoming Photo Collage

Same Direction, Many Paths - Austin

History: Stories of Early CCSM Members

Latino / a Ministry Update

Upcoming BOD and COM meetings

Sandwich Invitation! Open Cathedral

CC Riders Ride for LifeMoves

Notes from your Director of Operations

Seeking Volunteers for Literacy Centers

Pick-A-Party Season Begins!

CCSM: Inclusive and Progressive

Going Solar!

CCSM's Budget <> CCSM's Vision

Not New Faces... But New Members

2023 Financial Summary

Music Notes

Music & Art

Empowering Inclusive Interpretations

SJ Giants Game a Huge Success!

Scheduling Events at CCSM (a refresher)

Chocolate Fest

What Does This Image Mean to You?

Volunteers to the Rescue!

How Will She Know Our Names?

Joys and Concerns

Jo Buckham Celebrates her 100th!

Spiritual Conversations Resumes

Dear Beloved Community at CCSM, 

Belonging...what an important theme to reflect on. The politics of hospitality and inclusion are topics that a lot of people are looking at today and I so appreciated Rev. Valerie McEntee's thoughtful sermon exploring this on Sunday.

If you missed it, please do go back and watch! Rev. Valerie encouraged us to go beyond mere tolerance and acceptance to embrace true belonging. She shared a powerful story about her organization, At The Crossroads, hosting a block party rather than a gala. She encouraged us all to think about the ways that welcome still involves an "us" and a "them," a welcomer and a welcomed. But belonging means that the whole community will be changed- we will be in deep solidarity and feel one another's pain as our own. 

As we look ahead to next week, I am excited to be preaching again. I will be sharing a story of a mentor of mine whose tireless work for justice has inspired me. I'll be exploring the theme of abundance — how do we decide how much is enough? 

I think that is one of the trickiest questions in life — there are some times when we are clearly told what is expected of us, but there are so many others where we need to figure that out for ourselves. At work, in social relationships, donations, advocacy, family, and more. It is so easy to err on the side of too much or too little. Overfunctioning or underfunctioning. Being a bystander or having a savior complex. 

As we go into this week, I invite you to reflect on your own tendencies, and what the Spirit's nudge might be for you and for all of us right now. 

Peace be with you,

Sheryl 

IF YOU MISSED THE WORSHIP SERVICE,

CLICK HERE  FOR LAST SUNDAY'S ENTIRE SERVICE

CLICK HERE for Valerie McEntee's sermon, MORE THAN WELCOME.

Rev. Jessica Vacketta, CCSM's new Senior Minister, will have her first official day here on October 9, and will preach on October 15. A few of us who happened to be in the office recently got to meet Jessica's parents, Ted and Betsy, who were here visiting Jessica's sister (who lives in the Bay Area). Ted took a selfie at Jessica's soon-to-be official desk!

Raise your hand to host a Pick-A-Party! 

Pick-A-Parties are a way to invite people into community, a step you can take to help everyone feel that sense of belonging Rev. McEntee preached.  Invite people into your home for coffee, pastries and a show and tell about recent trips, use Kloss Hall to teach people how to line dance, host a wine or beer tasting at a local winery/brewery, share your love of golf or cycling or pickleball… the sky's the limit. Maybe it's time to bring back a party that the "old-timers" hosted years ago; maybe there are new experiences and adventures CCSMers haven't tried. We want to show Rev. Jessica and each other that we're excited about moving forward together; that there can be fun and finance. And yes, the silent auction is back this year, so break out those vacation home stays, the sports or cultural event tickets, the fine wine.  

Information packets and submission forms are available in the narthex and in Kloss Hall, and online at tinyurl.com/PAP-23-24-packet and tinyurl.com/PAP-23-24-form.   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

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



SPIRITUAL CONVERSATIONS

Starting October 9, the Spiritual Conversations group will read and discuss The Holy Longing: the Search for a Christian Spirituality by Ronald Rolheiser. Fr. Ronald says, “This is a book on the essentials of Christian discipleship and the foundations of spiritual life.” Rolheiser gives seekers direction on their spiritual path and shows how spirituality is part of many aspects of our lives, including our sexuality. In his writing Rolheiser uses real life stories to flesh out his ideas, making them relevant to our lives.

All Spiritual Conversations are held on zoom from 7:15 to 8:45 p.m. every two weeks. For further information and the zoom link, please contact Chris Wuthmann at cewuthmann@gmail.com.

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 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)

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 have resumed:

9am - 4pm

Monday - Thursday