News for May 30, 2023
This Sunday, June 4: Annual picnic
Join us in person this Sunday from 11 am–2 pm for our annual church picnic in Butch’s backyard redwood grove. We’ll have an outdoor, camp-style service at 11, followed by lunch. Bring:
something to BBQ
something to share
whatever you want to drink
an extra sweater or jacket (it can get windy in the Belmont hills)
Parking is limited on Butch’s street, so you may want to consider carpooling. (Email office@collegeheights.us for directions or if you have any questions.)
The Giving Sunday offering for June is for the UCC's Strengthen the Church.
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.
Congregational meeting on Sunday, June 11
After worship on Sunday, June 11 we will have one of our two yearly congregational meetings (the other one is in December to approve the budget for the upcoming year). Your presence and your vote are necessary in order to elect our new slate of officers. If you can't be there in person, be sure to return the absentee ballot that you will receive this week in email. At the meeting you will also hear from Moderator Roy Gesley about the important midyear changes to our 2023 plan.
Annual Gathering June 15-17 (links fixed)
The Annual Gathering of the Northern California Nevada Conference of the UCC will happen close to us this year, at First Congregational Church in Palo Alto, from Thursday, June 15 to Saturday, June 17. This is the meeting that used to be at Asilomar, then moved to the campus of Sonoma State University, and finally landed on the Peninsula. Check out the updated schedule, price list and registration. This is a good opportunity to catch up with friends from other churches and meet the new conference staff.
Upcoming services and events
• Taize service: Fri, June 9 (7:30 pm) at church. Also available on Zoom.
• Congregational Meeting: Sun, June 11, after worship. Vote on the incoming officers and hear important updates to our 2023 plan.
• Weds discussion group: June 14 (7 pm), Zoom
We're continuing with the list of "clobber passages", those Bible verses used against the LGBTQ+ community. On the 14th, we'll look at Genesis 19, the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. What is it actually about? How else has it been interpreted? All are welcome to the conversation.
• Worship & Arts: Sun, July 9 after church. Come help us plan the summer.
• Book Group: Sun, July 9 (7 pm), Zoom. Reading the novel “Our Missing Hearts” by Celeste Ng
• Church Camp. July 14-16 at Monte Toyon along with Belmont UCC and others.
• Women’s retreat: Sep 1-3, Pacific Grove
Contact Polly Moore for details.
• Men’s retreat: Sep 22–24, Pacific Grove
Contact Roy Gesley for details.
Links and resources
• Birding at the beach, courtesy of the Monterey Bay Aquarium
• The Peninsula Multifaith Coalition's MLK Jr. Day of Service last January had several projects get rained out. They've been rescheduled in late May and June. Check them out!
Quote of the week
"This is not our world with trees in it. It’s a world of trees, where humans have just arrived.."
-- Richard Powers
Weekly events
• Meditation group: Wednesdays at 7:30 am
In person at the church building
• Sunday worship: 10 am
In person or on Zoom — see the newsletter or this site for updates
Image: Butch's redwoods aren't quite this large, but you get the idea!
