June 11, 2025
- College Heights
- Jun 16
- 5 min read
Dear Beloved Community,
I continue to be troubled by this weekend, and today’s immigration enforcement raids in Los Angeles, and I am praying for the migrant community in Los Angeles and all over the country. There is no need for the government to carry out enforcement actions in a way that provokes fear and anxiety among ordinary, hard working migrant families.
I’ve been paying attention to the places across our city, state, and country where our migrant neighbors are being detained. I’ve seen reports of ICE going into neighborhoods, court buildings, stores, and schools, and separating families. I have heard the children’s cries for “mama”, or the mother’s cries for her children as she is forced into a van. These are my people, for I too come from a migrant family. And I am brokenhearted by what I see.
The migrants targeted are not criminals, but people who showed up for court because they have been following the laws, people who went to work, children who went to school. Migrants are people who work hard at being citizens of the heart and they make the USA and our state a better place.
As we have been working together to protect, to show up, and to get our voices heard, there is both a sense of hopelessness and courage. And in the struggle, I thought of this scripture from Psalm 34:17-18:
The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.
He rescues them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
He rescues those who are crushed in spirit.
So, I am hoping and praying that all tenderhearted people, faith leaders, either continue or start to stand with those who are being ripped apart from their families. That we continue or start to speak to our politicians. March in peaceful protest. Be witnesses on the streets so that the horror does not happen under cover. Pray for those whose cries you hear. Pray for the ICE agents to lay down their weapons. Pray for the leaders of our world, asking that they would seek peace above all. Pray for justice to prevail, because we all know that without justice, there is no peace. Attend prayer vigils. Maybe it's us holding one at College Heights. Let us act, pray, and rise up where we see injustice and harm. I am praying that those in power remove their weapons of warfare from our loving neighborhoods, our peaceful cities, and our welcoming states.
The Psalm above reminds us that God hears us when we are crying out for help. God draws close to those whose hearts have been broken. God works with us to protect those who need help from those who do harm. We are not alone. God is with us. I am praying for all of us as we respond to hate with love, to violence with loud cries, and to harmful deeds with acts of justice. Together, and with God’s help, we can have courage in even moments like these.
This Sunday, we will hear from our very own Kevin Doyle, so I look forward to hearing from him, and seeing many of you! As always, I hope all of you are having a great week so far, and experiencing joy. See you Sunday!
Peace and blessings!
-Jorge
P. S. June's Giving Sunday offering is for the UCC's Strengthen the Church fund. This offering helps build up the churches in our denomination.
The Church Council recently clarified what monies in the collection plate go to our Giving Sunday recipient each month. On the first Sunday of the month (the "Giving Sunday"), the whole plate goes to the designated nonprofit. Any other time during the month you can contribute by way of a check with the name of the nonprofit in the memo line.
Recent sermons
Check out our YouTube page to see recent sermons. Go to our archive of slides to see bulletins and slides used during recent services.
Recordings of our Taize services are also on the YouTube page.
Upcoming services and events
Thursday Discussion Group: Thursday, June 12, 7pm on Zoom. Everyone is welcome to join a discussion of Laura Lynne Jackson's "The Light Between Us." She's a psychic medium and the book is a collection of her experiences. (You're welcome to join the discussion even if you haven't read the book. Communication with spirits of people who have died is always a fascinating subject.)
Taize Service: Friday, June 13, 7:30pm. Our monthly service of chant and prayer by candlelight. Readings by Rumi and Mary Oliver. Also available on Zoom.
San Mateo County Pride Celebration: Saturday, June 14 Parade 10:30am-11:30am, Downtown San Mateo. Celebration 11:00am-5:00pm, San Mateo Central Park.
No Kings Nationwide Day of Defiance Protest: Saturday, June 14, 1-3pm
Annual Gathering of the Northern California Nevada Conference: Saturday, June 14, 8am-5pm, City of Refuge UCC in Oakland. In-person or Zoom. See Polly or Jorge for more info.
Council Meeting: Sunday, June 15, after worship.
Spring Meeting of the Golden Gate Association of the NCNC: Saturday, June 21, 9am-1pm, First Filipino American UCC, San Bruno. See Polly or Jorge for more info.
Instant Choir: Sunday, June 22, 9:00 am rehearsal.
Book Group: Sunday, June 29, 7pm on Zoom. Reading "Open Socrates: The Case for a Philosophical Life" by Agnes Callard. Read chapters 5-7, on paradoxes. We are spending several months on this book.
Worship & Arts: Sunday, July 13 after worship. Everyone is welcome.
Women's Retreat: Aug 22-24 (weekend before Labor Day) at Pacific Grove. Talk to Polly for more information.
Links and resources
Storytelling on The Moth is a wonderful tradition.... real people with real stories. Here is Ryan Roe with a heart-warming story about his dad and their trombones, just in time for Father's Day (this Sunday).
Mozart's "Queen of the Night" aria on recorder, played by Sarah Jeffery.
Quote of the week
“For I believe the crisis in the U.S. church has almost nothing to do with being liberal or conservative; it has everything to do with giving up on the faith and discipline of our Christian baptism and settling for a common, generic U.S. identity that is part patriotism, part consumerism, part violence, and part affluence.” ― Walter Brueggemann, A Way other than Our Own: Devotions for Lent
Weekly events
• Meditation group: Wednesdays at 7:30 am.
In person at the church building
• Sunday worship: 10 am
In person at the church building
• Church Office Hours: Thursdays 2:30pm-5:30pm, in person at the church building.
To schedule an appointment please call or text 510-754-6796 or email xicanominister@gmail.com.
Comments