News for May 15, 2024
Dear Beloved Community,
This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday, and I will be reflecting on Ezekiel 37:1-14. We will also hear the scripture reading from Acts 2:1-21.
What connects for me these two scriptures is the idea of the Spirit as a breath - Holy inspiration that gives and proves life. It circulates from all four corners. Its absence is a stagnation that none can survive. As Spirit breathes, we breathe in turn, releasing a respiratory resistance against forces that try to keep our chests bound and our necks in choke holds. We are the cleansing breath, the blowing out of birthday candles, CPR for one another. Peoples are freed by a mighty whisper. This is how the entire earth was created. I Am. We are. We breathe together.
As always, I look forward to seeing many of you this Sunday, and remember to wear red to honor Pentecost this Sunday.
and hope all of you are having a great week so far.
Peace and blessings!
-Jorge
The Giving Sunday offering for May is for California Clubhouse. California Clubhouse, in San Carlos, is a social and vocational rehabilitation program in San Mateo County for individuals living with a mental illness.
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
Book Group: Stan Tune
Borg Discussion Group: Thurs, May 23 (7 pm) on Zoom. It’s not too late to join the conversation. We’re still on Ch. 2 of Marcus Borg’s “Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time.” Jorge will lead the discussion during Polly’s sabbatical.
Annual Meeting: Sunday June 2nd. Please join after church for our annual meeting. Members will be voting on the proposed slate of new church officers.
San Mateo County Pride 2024!: Saturday, June 8th 11:00am-5:00pom. College Heights, along with the rest of the Peninsula UCC churches, have been confirmed to participate in the 2024 San Mateo County Pride Parade.
UCC Family Camp: July 19-21, Monte Toyon Retreat Center, Aptos. Save the date to join the Belmont UCC like last year. More info coming.
Links and resources
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the UCC Mental Health Network has sent worship resources as well as two videos to use during this time. May 19 is Mental Health Sunday this year, but any Sunday is a great day to focus on mental health!
The you tube link below is a song called “Count on Me” by Whitney Houston and CeCe Winans which has been inspiring for me this past week. I hope it is for all of you as well. Let us continue to be there for one another.
Quote of the week
Though your destination is not yet clear
You can trust the promise of this opening;
Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning
That is at one with your life’s desire.
Awaken your spirit to adventure;
Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk;
Soon you will be home in a new rhythm,
For your soul senses the world that awaits you.
-John O’Donohue
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.
Image: Rev. Jorge Bautista
Comments