Congregational Church of San Mateo

by Phil Porter I have been traveling to Australia for many years to teach during the month of January, which is their summer. This year it was powerful and disturbing to be there in the midst of the fires that ravaged great swaths of the country. Although I never saw fires directly, they were around us in the three cities … Read More

by Gary White—Climate Reality Leader & Leader, Extinction Rebellion San Mateo CCSM started on its climate change journey at 10am on Saturday, February 8, when Rev. Jim Antal, UCC minister and author of the book Climate Church, Climate World, came to remind us that we as a spiritual community must take action to become more sustainable in our church and … Read More

The CCSM Youth and Community Riders kicked off their first event on the Leap Year! Camille Grant, working on her Girl Scout Silver Award, hosted a bike ride (the first of five events) at Sawyer Camp Trail in San Mateo. It was a windy but beautiful day to ride the trail. The long-established CC Riders group was there in full … Read More

by Jorge Perry Bautista In 2016 when my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, I was stunned. The entire year for my mother was consumed by treatment, chemotherapy, and emotion. I became her caretaker. I took my mom to most of her appointments (my aunt helped me out a lot and would take her as well). I took careful notes … Read More

Samaritan House honored The Congregational Church of San Mateo at its annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner on March 4 with a Volunteer Excellence Award for Outstanding Community Group Partner Support in 2019. Samaritan House also awarded Angela Kraft Cross a Volunteer Excellence Award for Outstanding Redwood City Medical Clinic Support in 2019 – Physician. Angela volunteers as an ophthalmologist at both … Read More

Sunday, March 29 • 3:00pm Reception • 4:00pm program Crowne Plaza Hotel, Foster City The NAACP San Mateo Branch has selected Rev. Dr. Penny Nixon to receive the Humanitarian Award. This award is given to an individual who has reached the highest levels of making a positive impact in the community in a number of areas. We have noted her … Read More

Reckoning with Climate Change: The science is clear and so is our call to action— Lent 1 • March 1:  Reorienting What We Prize. Penny Nixon. Communion. Lent 2 • March 8:  Right-sizing Ourselves: Finding Our Place in Creation. Kelly Colwell/Phil Porter. A Dance on Behalf of the Earth. Lent 3 • March 15: SERVICE BROADCAST ON FACEBOOK ONLY (no in-person … Read More

This Lent, we’re taking on a congregational reading project! We’re all invited to read Climate Church, Climate World, by Rev. Jim Antal, who works with the UCC developing resources to equip churches taking on climate change and environmental justice. Here’s a taster from the book’s website: “Climate Church, Climate World argues that climate change is the greatest moral challenge humanity … Read More

First Tuesday Book Group March 3 and April 7 • 7:30pm Fireplace Room On March 3 we’ll discuss Little Fires Everywhere, a novel by Celeste Ng. Please join us. All are welcome! A review from the Boston Globe: “Delectable and engrossing… A complex and compulsively readable suburban saga that is deeply invested in mothers and daughters…What Ng has written, in … Read More

Spring, Lenten Season, 2020: Six consecutive Mondays March 2 – April 6, 7:00-8:30pm • Library The Sacred Journey and Telling Secrets, two short memoirs by Frederick Buechner, will be discussed in the Spiritual Conversations Lenten season. A minister and teacher, Buechner also wrote respected, popular novels; one was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and another for the National Book Award. … Read More

Sunday, March 1, 5:00pm • Sanctuary Join us for a most unique concert in our sanctuary sponsored by our Music Ministry. Our Organist/Artist-in-residence Angela Kraft Cross will team up with Jerome Lenk to present Robert Schumann’s iconic and astonishingly beautiful Piano Concerto in A minor as a piano-organ duo. Normally the piano soloist plays the concerto in three movements with … Read More

Sunday, March 1 • 9:30 – 10:15am • Buckham Room If you are new to CCSM and are interested in finding out more about our guiding principles and activities, please plan to attend our next Newcomers’ Breakfast where you will meet with Penny and other clergy for conversation and a light meal. RSVP to Chase Montara, cmontara@ccsm-ucc.org, as we want … Read More

February 23: Bless This Mess with Rev. Molly Baskette Rev. Molly Baskette is Senior Minister at First Congregational Church in Berkeley. After preaching for us on the 23rd, she’ll offer a learning session for Second Hour about her book Bless This Mess, described as “a witty, compelling guide to raising open-minded and morally grounded kids in these crazy times, with … Read More

February 26, 7:00pm Kloss Hall Our Wednesday Gathering, CCSM’s Spanish service, hosts this special bilingual Ash Wednesday service which will include communion and the imposition of ashes.  Please come and join together in worship and reflection. A meal will follow.

Tuesday, February 25 • 6-8pm A traditional way to prepare for the season of Lent is to have a huge party! To use up our butter and sweets, to dance and to celebrate to prepare for a season that is more inward and introspective. Come out to the church for lots and lots of pancakes, side dishes, fruit and more—plus … Read More