First Presbyterian Church of San Mateo

Want to tell your friends, family, and strangers about Jesus without all the baggage of religion? Learn the art of NON-evangelism! For more information about joining a growth group around this subject, email us at [email protected].

The Art of Not-Evangelism: How to Talk about Jesus with Non-Christians Wanting to know how to share your faith and the gospel more comfortably and confidently, with joy and ease? Join us and hopefully also author Carl Medearis for conversations about this and some great tools and ideas for such! Monday or Tuesday evenings via Zoom, or possibly at noon on a weekday. (TBD)... Three (3) weeks. Interested? Send us an email at [email protected]. See more

Men’s Bible Study Men, you're invited to join with some other men on Friday mornings at 8:00am to study the scriptures together; share our lives; and build one another up in Christ. Friday mornings at 8:00am. If interested or you’d just like to know more, email us at [email protected].

Explaining the Christian Faith in the Manner of Jesus: Thinking More Deeply about God, Humanity, Life, and the World Would you like to be able to more capably and kindly defend and explain your faith? Are you ready to think more deeply? Are you eager to take on some of the most difficult questions of faith and about Jesus? And would you like to be equipped to do these things with love and humility rather than dogmatism? If so, Dallas Willard’s book The Allure of Gentleness and a group reading it together may be for you. Required reading each week. Possible meeting times (via Zoom or in person): Weekday morning early. Weekday at noon for an hour. Monday or Tuesday evenings for an hour. (The actual meeting time will be determined by the availability of those interested.) Send us an email at [email protected].

Discipleship Are you looking to solidify your foundation as a follower of Jesus? Ready to grow in knowledge, understanding, practice, and obedience in following Jesus? If so, you are invited to participate in a 24-week small group discipleship curriculum called Discipleship Essentials: A Guide to Building Your Life in Christ. Involves one to two hours of weekly reading, study, and prayer, in addition to a weekly small group. Possible meeting times (via Zoom or in person): A weekday morning early; a weekday at noon for an hour; Sundays at 11:00am; or Monday or Tuesday evenings for an hour. (The actual meeting time will be determined by the availability of those interested.) To sign up or for more info, email us at [email protected].

What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. ... [T]he gravest question before the Church is always God Himself, and the most portentous fact about any [person] is not what he [or she] at a given time may say or do, but what he [or she] in his [or her]deep heart conceives God to be like. We tend by a secret law of the soul to move toward our mental image of God. This is true not only of the individual Christian, but of the company of Christians that composes the Church. Always the most revealing thing about the Church is her idea of God, just as her most significant message is what she says about Him or leaves unsaid, for her silence is often more eloquent than her speech. ... A.W. Tozer (The Knowledge of the Holy)

All slots are now filled to give blood this Sunday! If you are able to come volunteer for a few hours to greet people, please contact Michelle at [email protected].

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ, In light of the various challenges that the United States has faced during the past year, and aware of the situation in and around the U.S. Capitol right now as I write, it is wholly appropriate that we pray. As citizens by God’s grace of a higher kingdom, let us bow our heads and kneel before God, asking the God who has saved us in Christ to help us in our current matters. To that end, and after consulting with several of our elders, I wa...nt to encourage you all to spend some time right now and throughout today and in the days to come to pray in some specific ways for our country, for the church, and for ourselves. Let's pray ... for calm, peace, and safety in and around the U.S. Capitol for arms to be laid down and for the safety and security of all people in Washington DC for healing and reconciliation around the United States and for the United States for the church to be a beacon of peace, hope, and love for all people that God will give us the strength, courage, and will to love one another, including our adversaries for godly leaders who will lead us humbly and faithfully for righteousness and truth to prevail that God will have mercy on all of us that God’s will be done and God’s kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven I am reminded of the apostle Paul’s words to the Christians living in the capital city of the empire of the day: "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18) May this also be our prayer and our vision, for the glory of God and the well-being of His world. With you in Christ, Shannon

Diapers and more diapers! Thank you for blessing families with your generosity. All collected items were delivered to Samaritan House last week!

Following the Lord Jesus, we strive to Love all people unconditionally Serve our neighbors generously Advance God’s purposes globally Pour into the next generation intentionally... Cultivate spiritual growth continuously See more

We loaded up one car and one van full of your non perishable food items and dropped them off at Street Life Ministries last week. Thank you all for your generosity!

Because of your generosity and the wonderful work of Help One Child, many children in the foster care will get to enjoy these gifts tomorrow. Special shout out to Reach and Teach who has partnered with us to offer discounts and donated many boxes of toys as well. Merry Christmas!

One more Blood Drive for the year! Sunday, November 15th, 9am-2pm. Register today! Donating blood is essential today and every day. Help give somebody a new beginning. Give blood. All donors are tested for COVID-19 antibodies in order to help identify potential convalescent plasma donors who can help those currently battling COVID-19. https://www.bloodheroes.com/mobile/index.cfm

Ladies, let’s get together via Zoom to encourage, learn, grow, share, and pray together! All are welcome and those that are not currently in any group are especially encouraged to join. We will meet for six weeks using a short video curriculum from RightNow Media and we can decide on a day that will work for everyone as a group. Contact Michelle Joo at [email protected] for more information or if you are interested!

O Thou Eternal God, out of whose absolute power and infinite intelligence the whole universe has come into being, we humbly confess that we have not loved Thee with our hearts, souls and minds and we have not loved our neighbors as Christ loved us. We have all too often lived by our own selfish impulses rather than by the life of sacrificial love as revealed by Christ. We often give in order to receive. We love our friends and hate our enemies. We go the first mile but dare n...ot travel the second. We forgive but dare not forget. And so as we look within ourselves we are confronted with the appalling fact that the history of our lives is the history of an eternal revolt against Thee. But Thou, O God, have mercy upon us. Forgive us for what we could have been but failed to be. Give us the intelligence to know Thy will. Give us the courage to do Thy will. Give us the devotion to love Thy will. In the name and spirit of Jesus we pray. Amen. - Martin Luther King, Jr.

It was a lot of fun worshiping outdoors on a beautiful Sunday. God is good!

We are looking for Trunk Hosts, foot traffic guides, people to help with setup and take down of tables and barriers, as well as candy and treat donations! Trunk-or-Treat is a fun event for children (pre-K 5th grade) and their families that provides a safe, socially distanced trick or treating experience. Halloween is traditionally a time for kids to roam neighborhoods and gather treats. Trunk-or-Treat gives First Pres the opportunity to get to know and bless neighborhood families with a fun, positive and safe experience as well as share the Good News of Jesus. If you can be part of this blessing to our community or would like further information, contact [email protected] or call (650) 345-1633 x228.

God of love, source of mercy and compassion, weave your dream for the world into the fabric of our lives. Remove the scales from our eyes and lift the indifference from our hearts, so that we may see your vision ... a new reign of justice and compassion that will renew the earth. Transform our lives, so that we may accomplish your purpose. Anoint us with your Spirit of love that we might bring good news to the oppressed, bind up the brokenhearted, and proclaim release to the captive. Give us a new urgency and a new commitment to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, and visit those who live in isolation. Help us to reach out to those whom no one else will touch, to accept the unacceptable, and to embrace the enemy. Surround us with your love, fill us with your grace, and strengthen us for your service. Empower us to respond to the call of Jesus to deny ourselves, to take up our crosses, and to follow. Make us your disciples. Amen. - Kurt Struckmeyer See more

A little taste of heaven. Does anyone else love this video as much as we do?

We are getting ready for you! Join us this Sunday at 5pm in our parking lot for an outdoor worship, with singing! This is in addition to our regular 9:30am service in the sanctuary and livestream. Register today! https://fpcsm.breezechms.com/form/fafb8a

We are excited to welcome you back this Sunday for an in-person service! Be sure to let us know if you are planning to attend. (https://fpcsm.breezechms.com/form/7685e653157880) YouTube Live service will continue for those that choose to worship at home. See you on Sunday!

Parents of Teens! If your parenting could use some practical encouragement and spiritual support, we’d love to have you join us via Zoom, Sundays from 11:00am-12:00pm.

Happy Sunday! In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. -Matthew 5:16

Join us for worship this morning! https://youtu.be/I8Mc9YoYfyg

See you all tomorrow at 9:30am! Invite your friends! https://youtu.be/tNjSRoDau04

First Pres would like to offer you an opportunity to tune up your marriage! Would you be interested in joining us on 9/12 for a live stream of the event from 4-7:30pm, and a short discussion in small groups from 7:30-8pm? Virtual streaming from home is available, too! For more information please see www.marriagenight.org. Please feel free to invite your friends!... The event is $15 per person, $30 per couple. We would be happy to subsidize anyone who wants to attend. Just send an email to [email protected]. For registration, please go to https://events.rightnowmedia.org/attendee/site/3980 For those of you who cannot join us on that day, the recording is available for 30 days after 9/12. You may watch it from home anytime during these 30 days. We look forward to seeing you!