Unity Lutheran Church ELCA

We know . . . our church sign refresh is a little delayed with the weather . . . but the community lunch via take out remains a go today . . . and we left the most important word so people know we are still here and a word for all of us to share . . . Unity to you all this season and peace for the new year.

As we start the holiday season under a purple tier of limitations, may the Advent message of waiting be one that does not become synonymous with disconnecting. From where you are during this season, let us continue to connect each Sunday by www.unityssf.org or 650.762.9995 at 10:30 am Pacific Time. May our contemplation of the Advent wreath accompanied by Christmas hymns at the beginning of each Sunday gathering give you a glimpse of joy and hope during this time of much anticipation.

Like the entire bay area experience, our Midweek communion gathering by phone that started at noon . . . felt more like midnight. Regardless of the hour, may the mystery of the meal sustain during these mysterious times.

Come grab a free bag lunch tomorrow for your Saturday afternoon! Pick up will be 12pm outside our north campus location while we socially distance with masks. We'll move quickly with the warmer temps and get everyone on their way to enjoy the rest of the weekend!

As the word essential is being discussed, let us also remember sharing God’s love may be leading us in new ways rather than returning to familiarity we long for. Our church gatherings will continue in the same manner at www.unityssf.org and via 650.762.9995 each Sunday morning 10:30 am Pacific Time. New ways have been part of the church's past, we’re definitely feeling it right now and the Spirit will continue to creatively guide us and the whole world in our future togethe...r. It may be different and daunting at times, but what's essential is we don't do it alone. God is . . . because we are there . . . for one another . . . and that remains familiar.

Special thanks to San Mateo Resource Conservation District for creatively putting together a virtual open house self guided tour of community gardens in our county, where two Lutheran churches were featured: Coastside in Half Moon Bay and Unity in South City. Shelter in place put the open house on hold but SMRCD have created a google earth tour for people to explore from their homes! Way to go! Take the tour at:... http://www.sanmateorcd.org/open-edible-gardens-virtual-tour/ See more

We gather for Easter Worship tomorrow thanks to Pastors Erica, Joshua and Jeremy and Music Directors Tom and Michael. It is a joy to continue worshiping with Good Shepherd and Holy Trinity as church together. In addition to watching the webcast, people may listen tomorrow by phone at 650.762.9995 at 10:30 am Pacific time.... Peace in the resurrection be with you all!

This on-line Sunday, we welcome Good Shepherd of Concord and Holy Trinity of San Carlos as they join us for remote worship! We are church together! Pastor Joshua Serrano will preach and Pastor John will offer a Thanksgiving for the Word. We hope it's a special moment to connect with God and one another, wherever we currently find ourselves. We have designed the liturgical flow around those attending remotely, including hymns and spoken word as part of the stream. A bulletin ...download is available on main webpage if preferred. Join us at http://www.unityssf.org Or simply dial in and listen by phone at 650.762.9995 Sunday morning 10:30am pacific time. Replay available after service. Peace, Unity

Dear Unity Family and Friends After much thought and consideration, our council agreed we should also take part in proactive steps with respect to COVID-19. It is important that Unity do our part to minimize any potential spread of the virus. As we all have seen, many public and civic gatherings/meetings are being cancelled. ... It is true that information is changing daily, but we propose through the end of March we discontinue: 1)In-person worship for Sunday services, But we will still hold worship where people at home can participate remotely through http://www.unityssf.org or simply dial in and listen by phone at 650.762.9995 for Sunday worship 10:30am pacific time. Pastor John and Music Director Michael will lead a simplified worship that you can watch on-line or listen by phone. 2) Our March Community Lunch and Mobile Meals, as well as Unity Quilters and Choir Practices for the remainder of March will be postponed. May God's presence and creative gatherings continue. Peace be with each of you.

A friendly reminder and invitation that you may join us for live worship each Sunday 10:30am PDT at www.unityssf.org or simply by phone at 650.762.9995. May God's presence and our ability to connect bring peace to everyone at this time.

Yesterday we received and welcomed four new wise ones to the Unity family through their affirmation of baptism - a special day to "rejoice" on "Gaudete" Sunday this advent season!

Stop by this Saturday for some holiday cheer from 10am to 2pm. Help decorate our tree and explore "Chrismons"!

A celebratory worship with Blessing of the Animals last Sunday. We introduced blessing cam 1.0 this year so everyone could see the little blessings that joined us close up from overhead screens!

We will hold this year's Blessing of the Animals Sunday worship a little later in the month with some special baptism gatherings already scheduled. So hope to see you on October 13 and it may give others a unique chance to visit Unity to have their furry and feathery, fish and frog friends receive an extra blessing for good measure!

Jesus' parable today called us to prepare for the reign of God. We often focus on the "when", while God offers glimpses to us in the "now" of everyday life. God's presence in the now? During our worship together it was in the waters of baptism for Mila, in the affirmation of faith for Terry and his formal joining at Unity, in the lifting up of Saint Gene who yesterday morning peacefully transitioned to the eternal gathering. God promises to be with us in the now of our very... lives, whenever that may be. Thank you to all who were with us at Unity today, including our little impromptu usher who was ready to hand out the offering plates in the very "now" of pastor's sermon. It was lovely! Sunday was truly a now day so much that Violet needed to take a snooze ...

Palm Sunday's celebration marked the beginning of Holy Week with all the challenges leading to the cross. Something that we all may be feeling this week in our own ways. But let us not forget that celebration will return Easter morn and a reminder that our lives are a series of celebrations and challenges God shares with us and we can share with each another - a new creation. We celebrated a "new creation" as we worked with and shared pieces of stained glass from the challeng...ing closure of one predecessor church. We picked select pieces together to create a new rendition of the creation narrative. Let us remember shared challenges and celebrations can lead us through Holy Week and beyond. With God and one another, new creation is before us.