Congregational Church of San Mateo

* 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.

2022: Reimagine

The pandemic has changed so many things. We all are in a time of reimagining, still trying to chart an unknown future. CCSM did our best to meet the challenges of the pandemic head on, striving to keep the community connected and delivering inspiration services every Sunday online. As of fall 2021, we are back in person AND online—in other words, our services are hybrid. To me, hybrid means we are addressing two congregations simultaneously: an in-person congregation and a remote congregation.

And here is what’s true:

In-person worship is the easiest (the fewest steps and staff)

Remote is the harder work (requiring more steps and staff)

Hybrid is the hardest (requiring multiples of more steps and staff and equipment) 

We are committed to both congregations. The congregation who gathers at 225 is easy to imagine, and we’re getting new visitors almost every week now.

But now imagine the online congregation: 

• People who have never been to 225 Tilton but consider CCSM their spiritual home
• Our elders who are too frail to come out but can still feel like they are not alone by participating online
• Our families whose younger children are not yet vaccinated
• People who come in person one week and participate online the next
• People who are in the hospital and feeling isolated and find comfort from the music and message
• Friends and family of CCSM members who live far away but can enjoy “going to church together”
• People who are disillusioned with Christianity but have found a sense of belonging at CCSM
• People who held onto Sunday services as a “life-line” during the pandemic
• People who are able to see their screen as sacred portal to connect them to real spiritual community
• CCSM members who are traveling or have conflicting commitments who can watch the service later
• People from around the country (and overseas) who have no access to a progressive Christian community

If you come to church in person, you will see some “empty pews”—something that we are not accustomed to at CCSM. But the pews are NOT empty—they are simply filled in a different way. They are filled with people participating online. We have learned in a new way that “spiritual community” is not bound by walls, or space or time.  

What we are doing this year may be harder than ever, and yes, more expensive than ever, and it requires deeper commitment for ALL of us who believe this spiritual community is vital. 

So please be part of the giving community at CCSM—monthly supporters, pledgers, one time donations, special gifts, stock donations, bequests—there are so many ways to give financially. All of you who volunteer in so many ways also allow us to keep this church thriving.

Reimagine with us.  Your giving is the ONLY way we can continue to be a progressive voice, a beloved community and an advocate for social justice. We have a greater opportunity now to be MORE open, MORE progressive, MORE inclusive.