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

MUSIC AND ART Friday, February 21 • Noon • Buckham Room Jeremy Ryan, Bass-Baritone, and Karen Hutchinson, Piano Accompanist We’re in for a special treat with the soloist for our program.  Jeremy was the soloist with the Chancel Choir in December when they presented Handel’s “Messiah,” and earlier in the fall he sang a solo in Haydn’s “Creation” for the … Read More

Saturday, February 8th • 10AM – 2PM at CCSM Come to a special multi-faith climate event featuring the Rev. Jim Antal, Special Advisor on Climate Justice to the President of the United Church of Christ. Rev. Antal is the author of Climate Church, Climate World, a ground-breaking book that outlines the steps churches and their individual members can take to … Read More

Every year on the Sunday after Christmas, it’s CCSM’s tradition to have a special service dedicated to our college-aged youth. It’s a wonderful way to support the younger generation as they make this huge transition, and it’s good for people of any age to take time to listen to what our youth have to say. This year, Melia Zimmerman and … Read More