Give

Ways to Give

There are a variety of ways to make a gift to CCSM. Any method that you use to contribute to this church is tremendously appreciated. If you’d like to make a pledge to the church for the coming year(s), scroll down to the Pledging section. Please contact us if you need assistance.

Here are some options for making a donation:

  • Leave your gift (cash or check) in a labeled envelope in the offering plate at Sunday worship
  • Donate using your bank’s bill pay system (just as you would pay any bill)
  • Donate online via a text message* (see instructions below)
  • Donate online by clicking the GIVE NOW button on [this page]
  • Log in to myCCSMand give a one-time gift or set up a recurring donation
  • Mail your donation to the church at CCSM, 225 Tilton Ave., San Mateo, CA 94401
  • Drop it off at the church office
Give Now

* To TEXT a gift to the church, text to 73256 and type in either CCSM Plate $__ (with the amount) or CCSM General $__ (with the amount). You will quickly receive a response text that asks you to click on an included link. The first time you do your offering this way (for either the plate or the general fund), you’ll be asked for your payment information—but you only do this one time and it takes about two minutes. You’ll quickly get a confirmation text.

Your financial support is always appreciated.

Keeping Faith Stewardship Campgain 2021

Stewardship 2021: Keeping Faith

On behalf of the entire CCSM congregation, thank you for your pledge. Thank you for Keeping Faith with us, especially during these times. Your pledge is a statement that you plan to donate a certain amount to CCSM during the year 2021. This is vital in helping us plan a budget so that our beloved community can continue to thrive. We do realize that situations may change during the year, so if you need to change your pledge at any time, please let us know.

With gratitude,
Penny Nixon, Senior Pastor

Ways To Give – Choose One!

Become a Sustaining Pledger:

  • Sign in to your account at myCCSM
  • If not already on the Home page, select Home / My Overview
  • Click on the “Pledge Now“ button near the bottom
  • Fill in the amount, select General Budget
  • Select the frequency
  • Make the pledge for three years – From 1/1/20 until 12/31/22
  • Before clicking “Save“ or “Save and Setup Online Gift“,confirm the total pledge amount that appears. Examples:
    • If you insert $200 to Operating Fund to be given twice a month, that total will be $14,400 (2 x 36 x $200).
    • If you insert $5,000 to Operating Fund to be given once a year, that total will be $15,000 (3 x $5,000).
  • Now click “Save“ or “Save and Setup Online Gift“.  That’s it.  Your three-year pledge has been recorded. Thank you!

Renew Your Pledge:

  • Sign in to your account at myCCSM
  • If not already on the Home page, select Home / My Overview
  • Click on the “Pledge Now“button near the bottom
  • Fill in the amount, select General Budget
  • Select the frequency
  • Make the pledge for one year – From 1/1/21 until 12/31/21
  • Now click “Save“or “Save and Setup Online Gift“.  That’s it.  Your pledge has been recorded. Thank you!

*Note: The church is charged a fee of approximately 3% of the total by credit card companies when you use a credit card to pledge; there are no fees to the church when you use an auto-pay setup from your bank or a check written to the church.

Send an email or call

If you’d prefer not to do this online, feel free to send an email to Cheryle Matteo at cmatteo@ccsm-ucc.org, or call her at 650-343-3694 and she can complete it for you.

Print and Complete a Pledge Card

A Deeper Reflection on Stewardship

A financial pledge is an annual monetary commitment from each one of us that enables CCSM’s leadership to set a budget for the upcoming fiscal year.  Sustained giving provides our church with the means by which we assess priorities in a planned and thoughtful way.  Additionally, it allows us individually and as a faith community to align our giving with our values.  Having a stable, well managed financial foundation permits CCSM to make plans and build programs around our guiding principles as well as to respond to the needs of our members, our neighborhood, our world.

Determining the amount of one’s financial pledge is a matter of discernment and prayer. Considering answers to these questions may assist you in formulating your response to the call for stewardship of resources:

How much am I being called to give?

What amount or percentage of my income seems significant and responsible as a pledge?

How can my pledge be a tangible representation of the benefits I receive by being part of the CCSM family?

Do I have other financial resources which might help secure CCSM’s economic stability now and in the future?

Let’s continue with Stewardship of the Heart . . .

As the hands, feet, and face of God, we are called to share not only our material resources, but also our giftedness and talents.  Stewardship of the heart provides some of the means by which we can ensure that our physical building is a safe, adequately maintained, and a welcoming sanctuary.  Those who volunteer their abilities and skills help us control costs and take pride of ownership.  Those who donate supplies, goods, and services help us live into generosity.  From a smiling voice on the other end of a phone call, to climbing a ladder with a can of paint; from cleaning and organizing a closet, to gracing fellowship hour with a homemade treat:  all of these are ways to add a priceless dimension to your pledge!

Let Stewardship of the Spirit be an ever-present Benediction . . .

CCSM is a voice for progressive Christianity, social justice, and community outreach.  Without prayer support and unmistakable commitment to our guiding principles, no matter the depth of our budget or sturdiness of our building, our public influence lacks conviction and we cannot effectively speak truth to power.  It is the stewardship of your spirit that inspires leadership to stand in the face of adversity, to hold community gently in the face of tragedy, and to rejoice in the wonders and mysteries of our lives.

CCSM Ministry Highlights

Through the generous giving of Sustaining Pledgers, by which people commit a pledge over a three-year period, as well as annual pledgers the following was made possible:

  • All Church Assemblies, where the CCSM family came together to plan themes and activities that address the needs of our community.
  • The hiring of Sheryl Johnson, our dynamic associate minister of Children, Youth, and Families, and the programs she has initiated for parents as well as our young people
  • Sixty Minutes, which continues to address topics relevant to our teens
  • A growing “on-line” presence and outreach through social media
  • A vibrant 20’s and 30’s group, active in social justice events and committed to building personal relationships
  • Continued work with immigration and the sanctuary movement, including the approval of father and son sanctuary guests
  • Plate offerings totaling $41,623 supporting more than 20 outside agencies
  • The celebration of Lynnelle Bilsey’s 25 years with CCSM, a quarter century of work to bring quality and inspiring music to worship from vocal and bell choirs, instrumentalists, and soloists
  • Special events such as concerts by Solstice and our organ scholars, talks by Brian McLaren, Richard Rothstein, and Pantsuit Politics
  • Space for support groups such as AA and ACA, our Girl Scout Troops, Faith in Action, the San Francisco Foundation, One San Mateo and other community groups seeking affordable venues to meet and address the greater community’s issues
  • Second hours focusing on Homelessness, Anti-Gun Violence, Climate Change
  • Banners which influence passersby and welcome the stranger, the immigrant, the displaced
  • An Energy Ministry, tasked with furthering CCSM’s efforts to be environmentally responsible
  • Housing the Home and Hope rotating shelter for families who are homeless
  • Various improvements around the building such as new blinds in the Fireplace Room and Library, motion sensor security lights for the playgrounds and parking lot, a basketball hoop for our youth, as well as projects our custodian extraordinaire has done behind the scenes to ensure a “clean well-lighted place” for worship

A Spiritual Hub...

During the week, the Fireplace Room, Buckham Room, Library, and Choir Room all require constant changes to accommodate meetings of CCSM groups such as the Blanketeers, Knitters, Music and Art, Time Out for Lunch Bunch, First Tuesday Book Club, Spiritual Conversations Gathering, Solidarity Cohort, Sisters in Spirit, and those who practice Meditation.

Interspersed among the above are groups from our surrounding community. We host four 12-Step support groups on a regular weekly basis as well as provide meeting space from time to time for the Upper-Peninsula San Francisco Symphony League, Atkinson Foundation, Cadet Girl Scouts, Special Needs Kids, One San Mateo, Mid-Peninsula Village, Homework Central, Intercommunal Pre-School, Faith in Action, and the San Francisco Boys’ Chorus. At times, we even have had to use the Production Room and Infant Room to carve out meeting space!

Then there are unique events which require advance planning and special Kloss Hall room arrangements. These include Home and Hope’s rotating family shelter (which CCSM hosts three times each year), candidate forums prior to elections, Lifeline Screening, Unaccompanied Minors Holiday Party, Homework Central Family Nights, and Feelosophers Camp.

Our sanctuary is a coveted venue for concerts such as Angela’s annual Halloween Concert as well as her Spring Concert and Ice Cream Social. Masterworks, Viva La Musica, and Solstice have performed in our hallowed hall. The sanctuary has been the sacred space for weddings and memorials over the past year.

Celebrations such as retirement parties, quinceañeras, the Will’s Dream Foundation annual fundraiser, birthday parties, baptisms, first communions, and Pick-a-Parties have graced CCSM’s rooms with laughter and music. The Día de los Muertos and Las Posadas events have built relationships between the Sunday congregation, the Wednesday Gatherings and our neighbors.

Serve at CCSM

God has no hands but your hands, no feet but your feet, no face but your face.

Together, we are the hands, feet and face of God. Together, we can make a difference. Explore CCSM’s opportunities to volunteer your time and gifts and donate your items for our local community.

Volunteer Your Time and Gifts

Through our collaboration with partner organizations, we provide opportunities to meet the real needs of our community as we serve together. Explore our upcoming Social Justice Events and search our Small Group options to see how you can get involved.

Learn about our partner organizations for additional opportunities to serve in our community.

Donate Your Items

First Sundays:  Every first Sunday of the month, bring your non-perishable food donations to church and deposit them in the collection bin located in the Narthex. They will be delivered to Call Primose.

CCSM Wheels Program: Your old bike is life changing. Our CCSM Wheels Team will fix it up and distribute to those who need basic transportation. Simply bring your bike to the church office.

Samaritan House: Discover Samaritan House’s wish list on Amazon.com. Ship directly to their address.

LifeMoves: Explore LifeMove’s wish list on their website. Bring your items to the church office.

San Francisco Night Ministry: View San Francisco Night Ministry’s website. Bring any donations to the church office.

Other Partners’ Wish Lists: Explore what items our other partner organizations currently need. Simply bring these items to the church office.