Image: Jim Garrison Dear Beloved Community, Within the span of only six days, two migrants have been fatally shot during immigration enforcement operations. On Tuesday, July 7, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was killed by an ICE officer in Houston, Texas. And on Monday, July 13, Joan Sebastian Guerrero was killed during an ICE operation in Biddeford, Maine. Two lives taken by ICE in less than one week. They were not merely names in news stories. They were beloved members of families

Image: Jorge Bautista Dear Beloved Community, This past Sunday, I shared the first part of my spiritual journey with you: the story of how I came to convert to Christianity. This upcoming Sunday, I look forward to sharing the second part of that journey: my life as a Christian, beginning as an Evangelical Christian in 1998 and continuing to where I find myself today as a progressive Christian. Over these past 28 years, I have experienced many transformations in my faith. Whil

Image: Jorge Bautista Dear Beloved Community, In recent days, our hearts have been heavy as we have learned of the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela. We grieve with all who have lost loved ones, homes, neighborhoods, schools, churches, and any sense of safety. We hold in prayer those who are still searching for family members, those waiting for rescue and medical care, and all who are now facing the long and painful work of rebuilding. When tragedy strikes anywhere in the

Image: Rev. Polly Moore Dear Beloved Community, This Sunday, Rev. Polly will be kicking off our summer series, “Our Spiritual Journeys.” I am really looking forward to this series because it gives us an opportunity to listen deeply to one another’s stories, to remember where we have come from, to reflect on where we are now, and to learn more about the many paths that have shaped our faith and lives. There is something sacred about sharing our stories. It requires trust, vuln

Image: Roy Gesley Dear Beloved Community, This past Saturday, Sabrina, Reina, and I had the joy of attending San Mateo’s Pride event alongside our friends from the Congregational Church of the Peninsula, Congregational Church of San Mateo, and Island United Church. Events like this are so important for us as churches to participate in because they allow us to show up publicly with love, welcome, and support for the LGBTQ+ community. It is one more way we can live out our comm

Image: Rev. Melissa Tumaneng Dear Beloved Community, We had such a wonderful church picnic service this past Sunday. We gathered for a sweet and meaningful outdoor service on the lawn, celebrated communion together, and then shared in a beautiful time of community, conversation, and plenty of good food. This Sunday, we are blessed to welcome Rev. Melissa Tumaneng, our Associate Conference Minister, as our guest preacher. She will be sharing a timely message on “how Artificial

Image: Jorge Bautista Dear Beloved Community, This Sunday, we will gather and honor migrants, our neighbors, our siblings, and beloved children of God. We will hold in prayer those who have crossed borders seeking safety, dignity, work, family, and hope. We will remember that migration is not just a political issue; it is a deeply human story, filled with courage, heartbreak, faith, and the longing for a life where people can flourish. We will also take time to honor those wh

Image: Rev. Terri Echelbarger Dear Beloved Community, This week, we hold our beloved church member Teri Jackson and her family in our prayers as they grieve the death of her nephew, Jason Collins. Jason was known to many as a trailblazer in the NBA, a gifted athlete, a courageous advocate, and the first openly gay active player in the league. His life and legacy reached far beyond basketball. He helped open doors, create space for others to live more fully as themselves, and

Image: Jorge Bautista Dear Beloved Community, What does a “happy family” really look like? For many of us, that phrase brings up a familiar image, one shaped by culture, expectation, and tradition. But what happens when our lives don’t quite fit that picture? Where do we find belonging then? This Sunday, we’ll explore Jesus’ powerful promise in John 14:18 -- “I will not leave you orphaned.” Spoken to anxious disciples facing uncertainty, these words offer more than comfort.

Image: Rev. Polly Moore Dear Beloved Community, My heart is full of gratitude this week. Thank you to everyone who came out this past Saturday to help clean the church. There is something deeply sacred about caring for a space together. Not because the building itself is the church, but because it holds so much of our shared life, prayer, grief, joy, welcome, and hope. When we clean, organize, repair, and tend to this place together, we are also tending to one another. I am