November 05, 2025

Image: Jorge Bautista

Dear Beloved Community,

I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to each of you for the outpouring

of love, care, and solidarity you’ve shown since I was assaulted by a Customs and Border Patrol agent nearly two weeks ago. Your prayers, messages, and steadfast presence have meant more to me than words can express.

I am profoundly proud to serve as your pastor and to represent College Heights Church -- a community that truly believes every human being deserves to live in peace and dignity. It is this shared conviction that gives me courage to stand on the front lines, knowing that I never stand there alone. Your faith, your compassion, and your collective witness surround me like a great cloud of love and strength.

As the seasons turn, may we continue to remember that faith and resistance grow together, that our hope is sustained by the love we share, and that every act of justice we take is rooted in the sacred call to love our neighbors as ourselves.

And speaking of love and joy, next week our preacher will be our very own John Latham, so you know it’s going to be a good time!

With deep gratitude and abiding love,

Peace and blessings!

-Jorge

P. S. November's Giving Sunday collection is for Samaritan House. It is one of the primary social services providers in San Mateo County, offering everything from meals and shelter to medical and dental services, help with finding employment and managing finances.

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, October 9, 7pm on Zoom. The new book choice is "Zero Limits" by Dr. Joe Vitale. It's about the Hawaiian system of affirmations called Ho-oponopono. Join us on the 9th and find out about it.

• Taize Service: Friday, Nov 7, 7:30pm. Our monthly service of chant and prayer, a week earlier than usual. Ariel Wang will be here with her viola, and we'll hear a poem by David Hazard. Also available on Zoom.

  
  

• Thursday Discussion Group: Thursday, November 13, 7pm on Zoom. The new book choice is "Zero Limits" by Dr. Joe Vitale. It's about the Hawaiian system of affirmations called Ho-oponopono. Come find out about it.

  
  

• Church Council: Sunday, November 16, after worship

  
  

• Church Pot Luck: Sunday, November 23 , after worship

  
  

• Book Group: Sunday, Nov 23, 7pm on Zoom. Reading "Buddha, Socrates and Us" by Stephen Batchelor. Read Parts I and II for the 23rd.

  
  

Worship & Arts: Sunday, December 7, after worship. Come help us plan the upcoming Christmas season and activities.

Links and resources

Sanctuary People Resource List

We were all saddened to hear that Mercy Center in Burlingame will be closing at the end of October, after 44 years of serving as a spiritual resource center on the Peninsula. There are a few more retreats and workshops happening in October, as well as a Day of Remembrance on Nov 2. The list is here.

Quote of the week

"I don't need their permission to exist; I exist in spite of them," and "It has to include everybody, or nobody is going to get saved" -Miss Major Griffin-Gracy

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.