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CONNECTIONS: May 15, 2024

Greetings, Church!

This Sunday is one of my favorite days of the church year – PENTECOST! Pentecost marks the birth of the Church when the Holy Spirit descended and empowered the disciples to spread the message of love and justice with courage and compassion. It's a day when we celebrate the life-giving breath of the Spirit, a breath that brings renewal, connection, and restoration—sometimes in sudden, disruptive ways, as we'll read about in this Sunday's scripture from Acts 2. This "disruption" can challenge and unsettle us, as it pushes us to be God's hands, feet, and face in this world. It's a day to say "Happy Birthday, Church" and "YES" to God's call, challenge, and adventure!

I hope you'll be able to join us for this special Sunday when we will celebrate with communion, special music from our Wednesday night worship leader, Rosa Los Santos, and continue the party at our Pie Social during Coffee Happy Hour (thank you, Connect and Celebrate Ministry for hosting!). This is a party you don't need to RSVP for – just bring yourself, your friends and family, and if you're up for it, wear red/orange/yellow to help ignite our Pentecost flame. See you on Sunday!

With joy and anticipation,

Jessica

Don't forget to wear RED this Sunday for Pentecost!

DID YOU MISS WORSHIP?

CLICK HERE FOR LAST SUNDAY'S ENTIRE SERVICE

CLICK HERE for Rev. Jessica Vacketta's sermon, "Which Way?"

THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE: CCSM Calendar

Wednesday, May 15

• 7:15 - 8:45 PM — Bilingual Worship & Potluck, Kloss Hall
• 7:00 - 8:30 PM — Chancel Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary

Thursday, May 16

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

Friday, May 17

• 12:00 PM — Music and Art, with guest Emily Beach, Buckham Room

Saturday, May 18

• 8:30 - 10:30 AM — CC Riders Weekly Bike Ride (contact Peter Held for more info)
• 10:00 AM — Memorial service for Clare Naegle, Sanctuary
• 10:30 AM — Coffee with CC Riders, Village Hub in Woodside (3154 Woodside Road)

Sunday, May 19

• 9:30 AM — Joyful Noise Kids' Choir, Community Room
• 10:30 AM — 60 Minutes Youth Discussion Group, Fireplace Room
• 10:30 - 11:30 AM — Worship Service in person and online
• 10:30 - 11:30 AM — Youth and Children's Programs
• 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM — 3rd Annual Pie Social and Coffee Hour, Kloss Hall
• 12:00 PM — POSTPONED - Family Fun Day. Join us at the Pie Social!

Tuesday, May 21

• 10:05 - 11:30 AM — Men’s Coffee Group, Food Court, Hillsdale Mall (contact Peter Held, paheld1417@gmail.com)
• 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM — Board of Directors Meeting, in person in the Buckham Room and on Zoom -- all are welcome to attend

PLATE OFFERING for SUNDAY, MAY 19:

Strengthen the Church

The Strengthen the Church (STC) Offering reflects the shared commitment of people across the United Church of Christ to cooperatively build up the UCC. Conferences and the national setting equally share the gifts given by members and friends through their local congregations. The funds raised support leadership development, new churches, youth ministry, and innovation in existing congregations.  Your generosity builds up the Body of Christ.  As God calls our congregations to be the church in new ways, your generosity will plant new churches, awaken new ideas in existing churches and develop the spiritual life in our youth and young adults.  

Our program will feature Emily Beach, guitarist / vocalist.

As usual, it’s BYOL (lunch) with beverages and dessert provided. Guests, friends, and new members welcome!

Be sure to RSVP to Don Harper, donaldgharper@yahoo.com or 650-553-1800.

Please join us to celebrate the life of our beloved Clare Naegle, who passed away on April 5, just short of her 106th birthday. Join us in the Sanctuary at 10am, followed by a reception in Kloss Hall.

Join us after worship on May 19 for our Third Annual Pie Social. It's easy: 

1. Make or buy a pie and bring it to Kloss Hall before service on May 19
2. Buy raffle tickets in Kloss Hall after service (3 for $5, 15 for $20) to win one of those delicious pies
3. Enjoy coffee/tea and pie while you socialize with guests and members
4. Take the pie you won home, or deliver it to someone who couldn't attend this event! 

Don't do pie? Come anyway; there will be other coffee hour food and great company!

Questions? 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

(And please consider volunteering that day to help organize and distribute winning pies.) 

See the flyer HERE in both English and Spanish!

CCSM SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

THE CCSM SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE of the Children, Youth and Family Ministry is pleased to award scholarships for the upcoming 2024-25 academic year to several youth, to be presented during the May 26 (Sunday) and May 22 (Wednesday) services. Graduating high school recipients are Camille Grant, Lily Mathews, Aleksa Bamaca Diaz and Kimberly Lopez. Current college students are Ashley Lopez, Emelin Perez and Ana Bamaca. Be sure to be there to congratulate our youth!

CCSM PLEDGE ON CREATION CARE

AND THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY

As mentioned during the recent Earth Sunday worship service, the Environmental Justice (EJ) Ministry has created a CCSM Pledge on Creation Care & the Climate Emergency. The Pledge is a statement of CCSM's ongoing commitment to environmental justice. It outlines both our environmental values and the actions CCSM members are taking to help CCSM play its part in addressing climate change. The Pledge has already been vetted by the church board and ministry leads.

The next step is for church members themselves to read and review the document. Once you have done so, please feel free to email Gary H. White (gwhite2711@gmail.com) with any questions and/or comments you might have about the pledge. At the completion of this process, the EJ Ministry will apply to UCC on behalf of CCSM for us to become officially recognized as an Environmental Justice Church.

To read the pledge, click on this link:

tinyurl.com/CCSM-Climate-Pledge

CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES

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

Most Sundays! 9:45am - Joyful Noise Kids’ Music Program led by Julie Berk. Come learn special songs, play instruments, and share periodically during the Sunday church service. Youth assistance is welcome!

Sunday, May 19 - 10:30am - 60 Minutes conversation for youth on the topic of Mental Health Awareness.

Sunday, May 19 - Family playdate POSTPONED. We'll enjoy an intergenerational kickball game at the church picnic on June 9 -- don't miss it!  



Sunday, June 2 - CCSM Summer Kids' Program Begins! Starting this Sunday (and continuing all summer long), 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!).

June 23-27 Western Regional Youth Event: Join other UCC youth from across the Western US for service, learning, community, and time at Disneyland! We hope to have a great contingent from both Sunday and Wednesday services. Middle and high school youth are both welcome! 

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. 

Register for the next Logos Method Sound Journey in Kloss Hall

Tuesday, May 28th, 7 - 8:30pm

This is a wonderful opportunity to experience deep peace, open channels to your intuition and tune up your nervous system. Participants report: Better night sleep, clarity of mind, profoundly peaceful and so much more.

Tickets are for sale at: tinyurl.com/Logos-Events

Eat less meat. Eat a more local, organic, plant-based diet. Try Meatless Mondays.

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 CCSM Office Hours:

9:00am - 4:00pm

Monday - Thursday

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.

225 Tilton Ave. • San Mateo, CA • 94401

650-343-3694