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CONNECTIONS: June 6, 2024

Pride, Picnic, Masterworks and More!

Photo from San Mateo Pride 2023, courtesy of SMC Pride Website

Greetings, Church-

Hello, from Fresno! This week I'm representing CCSM at the Northern California Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ's Annual Gathering. Yesterday was a retreat for clergy and it was a gift to meet so many people and make connections across the conference. Several of us began new calls in the past year, so I wasn't the only "new kid" on the block. There is great energy amongst this group and I'm excited to dream alongside each other, share ideas, and collaborate.

I'll be leaving the gathering a little early so I can drive back to San Mateo Friday evening to celebrate San Mateo PRIDE on Saturday, June 8. I hope you'll join us in the short parade walk (3 blocks) or swing by our booth if you're in town this weekend (details listed below). I'm also looking forward to connecting outside of worship at our Annual Church Picnic this Sunday. This is a great opportunity to invite friends or family to experience our CCSM community!

And speaking of family, I would just like to express a quick note of appreciation for the warm welcome you extended to my parents during their visit to San Mateo. They join us most Sundays online, and they loved worshipping with us in person and meeting so many of you!

Before I sign off, have you done your homework assignment from worship this week? Practicing Sabbath and/or fostering Sabbath for those around you? It's not too late....

My hope and prayer is that each of you set aside a day (or a few hours) this week for rest and renewal. May you let go of the anxieties and burdens of work, and allow your mind to be still and be present to the healing gift of the Divine within and around you. AND may you help create space and encourage others, especially those who aren't in positions of power, to do the same.

With hope and gratitude,

Jessica

Did you miss worship?

CLICK HERE FOR LAST SUNDAY'S ENTIRE SERVICE

CLICK HERE for Rev. Jessica's sermon, "Sabbath as Resistance"

 Kick off your summer by joining the CCSM picnic in San Mateo’s Central Park. CCSM will supply the hamburgers, veggie burgers, hot dogs, chips and drinks; you supply the side dishes as noted below:

A-I: Dessert

J-R: Salad/fruit/veggies

S-Z: Side dishes (e.g. beans, rice, pasta)

Please RSVP to Sandy McNabb so we have enough burgers and hot dogs for all.

CCSM is proud to participate in San Mateo County's 12th Annual Pride Celebration at San Mateo Central Park from 11am-5pm.There will be live entertainment, live DJ, resource and vendor booths, family friendly activities and more!

March with us in the parade alongside our friends from Congregational Church of the Peninsula, College Heights UCC, and Island United UCC!

We are also still looking for a few volunteers to staff the table we are sharing with our fellow UCC churches.

Click the green button to learn more and sign up to serve!

THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE: CCSM Calendar

Thursday, June 6

• 10:15 - 11:30 AM — Women’s Coffee Group, Food Court, Hillsdale Mall (contact linda.skromme@gmail.com)
• 2:00 - 3:00 PM — Connect and Celebrate Ministry, Fireplace Room
• 7:00 - 8:30 PM — Carillon Bells Rehearsal, Choir Room

Saturday, June 8

• 8:30 - 10:30 AM — CC Riders Weekly Bike Ride (contact Peter Held for more info)
• 10:30 AM — Coffee with CC Riders, Village Hub in Woodside (3154 Woodside Road)
• 10:30 AM — Pride Parade, starting at 2nd and B Streets
• 11:00 AM — Pride Celebration, San Mateo Central Park
• 7:00 PM — Masterworks Chorale Concert: JOURNEYS, Sanctuary

Sunday, June 9

• 9:30 AM — Joyful Noise Kids' Choir, Community Room
• 10:30 - 11:30 AM — Worship Service in person and online
• 10:30 - 11:30 AM — Youth and Children's Programs
• 11:45 AM — Annual Church Picnic, Central Park (site #1)

Monday, June 10

• 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM — Monday Women's Group, Fireplace Room
• 12:00 PM — Burlingame Music Club, Kloss Hall
• 7:15 - 8:45 PM — Spiritual Conversations, on Zoom (contact Chris at cewuthmann@gmail.com for link)

Tuesday, June 11

• 10:00 - 11:30 AM — Men’s Coffee Group, Food Court, Hillsdale Mall (contact Peter Held, paheld1417@gmail.com)
• 6:30 - 8:30 PM — Board Meeting, Buckham Room and on Zoom
• 7:15 PM — MSJ monthly meeting on Zoom (Contact Genel Morgan, glmrn12@gmail.com, or Sharon Tobin, sharonrn30@hotmail.com)

PLATE OFFERING for SUNDAY, JUNE 9:

CCSM's General Fund

Forty-six weeks a year we give our plate offering to a cause that furthers ministry outside our physical campus here on Tilton Avenue. Six times this year the plate offering will go to our general operating fund.

If you are a guest, a regular visitor to CCSM or if you are a pledging member, today is an opportunity to give directly to CCSM and help further ministry here in the North Central neighborhood of San Mateo.

CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES

CYF now has its own Google calendar... click HERE!

All summer: CCSM Summer Kids' Program! Kids of all ages will gather with Elaine and Lily in the Memorial Garden for activities and stories related to spirituality, care for the Earth, and community service. Youth "camp counselor" volunteers are welcome - this is a fun way to earn volunteer hours for school (no need to commit to being there every week!).

Last Joyful Noise of Summer!- this Sunday at 9:45am led by Julie Berk.



June 23- 60 Minutes. Join us for a special 60 minutes where our youth will create a new ministry video for our partners at Peninsula Precious Plastics!

July 2024 - UCC Camp Tamarack Sessions. Please mark your calendar! Senior High: July 14-20, Junior High: July 21-27, Junior (4th-6th grade): July 28-August 3

July 26-28, 2024 - Possible youth cabin weekend at Mike and Lee Mullery's place in the mountains. Spend the weekend connecting with Spirit in nature and deepening friendships. 

Saturday, June 8th at 7pm

Sunday, June 9th at 3pm

Journeys inward, journeys onward. Songs of way-finding, leave-taking, home-going. Masterworks Chorale’s remarkable 60th anniversary season culminates with a program that reflects our journey of six decades, and celebrates how the music we sing connects our individual and collective life experiences.

With pieces by Eric Whitacre, Chen Yi, Rosephanye Powell, Jake Runestad, André Thomas, Morten Lauridsen, Marques Garret, Stephen Paulus and more. Also featuring a new commission by local composer Monica Chew. Click HERE for tickets!

The next Board of Directors meeting will be Tuesday, June 11 at 6:30pm in the Buckham Room (or on Zoom at tinyurl.com/CCSM-Boardmtg). Click the button below for the Agenda.

Music and Art will meet informally on June 19 and July 21.  There will be no hostesses or programs, just getting together for fellowship.  Be watching for notices of the summer social gatherings.  Upon notification please RSVP to Pat Pepper at pjpepper31@gmail.com or by phone:  650-343-4286. Our custodian will need to know how many tables and chairs to set up.

Use bamboo wood, which sequesters lots of carbon, when renovating your home.

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.

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 the following food items:
• canned, dried and boxed
• no fresh food please
• donations must be full UNOPENED containers
• no fruits, vegetables, or bread



• We also collect individually wrapped plasticware!

Thank you for your continuing generosity!

CCSM Council of Ministries

Email COM@CCSM-UCC.org to connect to any ministry!

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, Sharon Tobin, 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, Leadership and Governance

Chris Wuthmann, Pastoral Relations

Dave Goulden, Personnel

Phil Lind, Historian

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

Regular Office Hours:

9:00am - 4:00pm

Monday - Thursday