News & Events
Adult Spiritual Education: 2012 Winter / Spring Programs at the Congregational Church of San Mateo
Join with us over the coming months to enjoy the full experience of Christian community as a bountiful offering of programs here at CCSM provides opportunities to be educated, inspired and connected.
Click here for the full schedule.
Saturday Morning Educational Programs (childcare provided)
Saturday, February 11 • 9:30-11:00 a.m. with Rev. Jerri Handy
Forgiveness: What It Means, And Why It Is Important
Forgiveness is something each of us deals with in our lives. Some things are easy to forgive and some things are very difficult to forgive. This workshop will offer an opportunity to explore what forgiveness means for ourselves and for the one we forgive. We will also practice crafting words of forgiveness.
YOUTH AND FAMILY
Mid-High youth (6-8th grade)
Sundays: First Sunday of the month, Mid Highs attend worship. There will be opportunities for worship leadership. All other Sundays, there is a special Mid-High program in the Youth Room during Church School. This is a time of fun, togetherness, learning, playing and relevant spirituality.
Mid-High Youth Group meets on the first and third Wednesdays of the month, 6:30-8:00 p.m., in the Youth Room. Building on Sunday’s programs, Wednesday night Mid-High Youth Group is all about personal discovery, serving others and bonding as a community.
Each grade level has specific rites of passage to complete as they work toward confirmation in 8th grade. Eighth graders will have an overnight retreat designed especially for them in preparation to be confirmed. There will be outings, outreach projects, retreats, but mostly tons of fun.
Confirmation Class
Confirmation Class is at 11:45 in the Youth Room on Sundays, February 5th and 19th, March 4th and 18th, April 1st and 15th, and May 20th.
Please contact Bonnie Rambob for further information, brambob@ccsm-ucc.org
ALL ABOARD FOR TRAIN DAY!
Saturday, February 4, 3-5 p.m.
Kloss Hall and Buckham Room
Our very popular train event is coming back soon! Bring your children, friends and neighbors plus any train buffs to enjoy this wonderful afternoon. You can listen to and watch the electric trains in the Buckham Room or play with Brio Trains and create train crafts in Kloss Hall. There will be goodie bags for the young train buffs and train cake for all! Please bring your favorite finger food to share. Invite a friend and RSVP to 343-3694!
SUPERBOWL PIZZA
Sunday, February 5
Let us fill your growling stomach during the big game with delicious take-n-bake pizza. Choose from two sizes of cheese, pepperoni, veggie, combination or a donation to give without taking home a pizza. Order during coffee hour after church, or call Bonnie, 343-3694. Pizzas will be available for pick-up right after church on Superbowl Sunday, Feb. 5.
KALEIDOSCOPE WOMEN'S GROUP
Monday, Feb. 6, from 7:00-9:30 p.m. in the Buckham Room
Betsy will lead the group in a new way of praying, called Praying in Color. Come prepared for a relaxing and meditative evening. All the women of the church are invited. Don’t forget your quick and easy potluck dish to create our delicious supper. In March we will NOT meet so others can attend Penny Nixon’s program on Public Speaking. If you have questions about Kaleidoscope, please talk to Shirley McKinnie, our affinity group contact. 650 486-1449.
WISE AND WONDERFUL SENIORS
Wednesday, February 8. Seniors Gathering: 10:30 -11:30 a.m.
We have a special honored guest. Rev. Penny Nixon, our Senior Minister, will come and chat with us! Plan on attending and bring a few questions you would like to ask Penny. If you can bring refreshments, please let Betsy know.
Thursday, Feb. 28 from 11:30-1:00 a.m. We’ll meet for lunch at Tannorine, on 25 Ave. San Mateo. It is a great Lebanese restaurant serving excellent lamb and vegetarian offerings. It’s a short drive from church with plenty of parking in the back. Come join your friends for a lunch date! RSVP the church office by Monday, Feb. 20.
Upcoming Dates:
Wednesday, March 14. Seniors Trip to Bouquet De Arts, SF.
WOMEN'S SPIRITUALITY GROUP FORMING
We will meet on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month.
12 noon for social interaction and lunch (brown bag)
12:30 p.m. group session
2:00 p.m. session ends
The new women’s group which meets to explore women’s spirituality through reading and discussion will meet on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month in the choir room. On February 12, members will focus on their first book, Dance of the Spirit—The Seven Steps of Women’s Spirituality, which is available in book form or on Kindle (Amazon). Please read the Prologue and Chapter One, and choose one of the practices to employ. After an overview of the chapter highlights, members’ experiences with their practice will form the basis for discussion. For information contact karenholderbein@ comcast.net.
NEXT 20/30s LUNCH, February 12 at noon
Contact Bonnie Rambob for more information, brambob@ccsm-ucc.org
MUSIC AND ARTS CIRCLE
Friday, February 17, noon
De-mystifying the Art of Conducting. Who better than our own Minister of Music, Dr. Kathleen McGuire to explain the challenges of conducting, whether it be choral, orchestral or operatic! Bring a sandwich to the Buckham Room; beverages and dessert will be provided. Guests are welcome, and are asked to call Caroline Reinke at 341-0221 to reserve.
SHROVE TUESDAY PANCAKE SUPPER, aka Mardi Gras!
Tuesday, February 21, 6:00-6:45 pm
From 6:00-6:45 p.m. CYF will serve pancakes for supper! It is a fun occasion for the whole family and we added gluten-free pancakes and sugar-free syrup so everyone can eat! Look for Mardi Gras necklaces and fun children’s activities including a pancake race and Lenten Bingo games. For the best pancakes, come before we stop serving at 6:45 p.m.
PARENTS' NIGHT OUT
Friday, February 24, 6-9 p.m.
Go on a romantic date, see a grown-up movie, have a leisurely dinner, or just take a nap in your quiet house. The Senior High will feed and have a blast playing with your kids in Kloss Hall. Suggested donation: $40 for the first child and $20 per additional child from the same family. (We want your kids there; the suggested donation is a guide, not a requirement.) Contact Bonnie, brambob@ ccsm-ucc.org, or 343-3694 to sign up.
CIRCLES OF TRUST
A Circle of Trust is a group that gathers at regularly scheduled meetings (monthly or quarterly). These meetings are an opportunity to reflect, write, listen, learn and share your inner truths. In a Circle of Trust, we move beyond shallow listening to deep listening with open and
honest questions. It becomes a safe sanctuary to share, listen and trust with this intentional inner group.
Circle #2 will meet the 4th Thursday of each month from 2-4 p.m. at the church. This group is for those who prefer an afternoon group.
Circle #3 will meet 10 a.m. -12 noon once a quarter: February 18, April 21, July 21, and October 20th in the CCSM Library/ Conference room upstairs. This group is for those with a busy schedule who still want to make time for soul work.
MONDAY EVENING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
Mondays March 5 & 19 at 7 p.m. with Rev. Dr. Penny Nixon
Finding Your Voice: The Art of Public Speaking
Want to hone your skills in public speaking? Have something to say but want to be able to say it with more power? Want to learn how to use your nervousness to your advantage? This 2-session class is for you. It will be a hands-on participatory class where you will get up in front of the class and work on your presentation skills in a supportive environment. As I teach in preaching class, it is all about delivery! RSVP required, and must be able to make both sessions and do homework. Sign up by emailing pnixon@ccsm-ucc.org
GREG AND FRIENDS:
Wednesday Evenings During March!
6:30 p.m. in Buckham Room
Join Greg Davis and stay connected during the days of Lent by coming together for a light supper, special music, teaching, prayer and discussion. This is a different way to connect, coming around a table with others on the journey towards Easter. We are looking for folks to provide or help with food preparation. Maybe your ministry would like to help. Contact Pearly in the church office if you would like to help. May this “season of the heart” be meaningful, as we stay connected to one another other and to love’s divine source.
SPIRITUAL PRACTICES with MARGE BOYD
Sunday Mornings During March 9:30 a.m. in Fireplace Room
Based on Joe Driskill’s Protestant Spiritual Exercises, Jane Vennard’s Embracing the World— Praying for Justice and Peace and Parker Palmer’s Let Your Life Speak
• Lectio Divina
• Contemplative Listening
• Guided Meditation
• Journaling
• Observing Sabbath
• Prayer
• Rule of Life
• Four-Stranded Garland
• Covenant Group
• Labyrinth walk
UPCOMING DATES
March 18 Lenten Children’s Festival: Prayer Around the World.
March 25 Christian Education Open House
PEACE VILLAGE – Save the Date!
August 6-10
Once again, CCSM will partner with Peninsula Temple Beth El and the Muslim Children’s Garden School to bring an interfaith, peace education village to San Mateo. The summer day camp is for children, grades 1-8 and will happen the week of August 6-10, 2012. Registration forms will be available very soon. For answers to questions or to be placed on the email registration list, email or call Bonnie, bonrambob@gmail.com, 343-3694.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE
As we are reminded each week at the end of the service, “God has
no hands but your hands, no feet but your feet and no face but your
face.” Part of the goal of the Mission, Service and Justice Ministry
(MSJ Ministry) is to help members of the congregation put those
words into practice. Once each month we will have a table in Kloss Hall with information on volunteer opportunities available for the upcoming month.
Please stop by and find out about all the wonderful ways you can serve.
