Ministry of Service & Justice (MSJ)
Matthew 25:35 says, "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in".
In order to put action to this scripture, the Ministry of Service and Justice (MSJ) seeks to cultivate a more just and compassionate world, working together to understand and meet the real needs of our local community and beyond. MSJ is an active and vibrant ministry integral to the life of this church, and it is involved in a wide variety of projects: long term and short term, local and global, small and large, CCSM-only and partnered with the community.
CCSM responds quickly and generously to urgent needs in our community:
In the aftermath of the 2016 election and heightened anti-immigrant sentiment in our nation, CCSMers voted overwhelmingly to join the National Sanctuary Movement at the February 26th, 2017 congregational meeting. Since then, CCSM has offered safe harbor to, in succession, two members of the TransGay Caravan and a Honduran father and son in our church sanctuary apartment. We are not currently hosting anyone but are still open to providing emergency housing for those experiencing an immigration crisis.
During the Covid crisis CCSM has collected an emergency assistance fund to disperse to those in need in the neighborhood. Over $142,000 has been given out in the past three years.
To help address ongoing need in our neighborhood, we recently have erected a free food pantry (the “Blessing Box”) outside the main sanctuary where people can directly take items they need.
CCSM works closely with LIFE MOVES. We are now in the process of adopting two of these facilities: Vendome and First for Familes.
Second Hour Discussions
Second hour follows the Sunday service with important topics for learning and discussion.
Recent discussions have included:
- Spiritually Rooted Leadership for a Time of Change with Pacific School of Religion president Rev. Dr. David Vasquez-Levy
- Conversation with Pastor Álvaro Duran, Anglican theologian, pastor, and LGBTIQ+ Human Rights defender, the first and only openly LGBTIQ+ religious leader in El Salvador
- Discussion group on the book Caste by Isabelle Wilkerson
- Asian American History in the Bay Area with Grace Yoo
- Rev. Jim Antal on God’s Call – Our Vocation – In A Time of Climate Chaos
Environmental Justice
The impacts of climate change, including flooding, wildfires, extreme storms, etc. and ultimately climate migration are very real. Environmental justice underlies social justice because the underserved and disinherited are more impacted by environmental disasters and pollution than the affluent and privileged.
Solar Project
Our priority actions are Going Solar, with the solar panels installed in our parking lot in the Spring of 2023, and converting our landscape from using clean drinking water for watering our campus, to drought tolerant plantings with California-native plants.
We encourage lifestyle behaviors of reduce, reuse and recycle and discernment of our individual carbon and environmental footprints as part of our legacy for living on earth. We welcome CCSM members to support our efforts and join the team with your ideas and energy.
Our Partners
Every week, we give away our plate offering to one of our non-profit partners.
Some of the organizations we've recently supported include:
Denomination & Faith Networks
Faith in Action
ING Islamic Network
Pacific School of Religion
Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center
Peninsula Multifaith Coalition
UCC: Neighbors in Need
UCC: One Great Hour of Sharing
UCC: Strengthen the Church
Shelter, Food, and Health
Home and Hope
LifeMoves / InnVision
Mental Health Association, SMC
Puenta de la Costa Sur
Second Harvest Food Bank of Silicon Valley
Samaritan House
San Francisco Night Ministry
Swords to Plowshares
Disaster Response