Our two-story building, commonly known as Mahany Hall, was erected in 1957 to provide additional classrooms and a large fellowship hall for meetings and other activities of the Church groups as well as many civic organizations of San Carlos. Since then and to this day, the fellowship hall (aka Mahany Hall) and kitchen support the needs of many civic groups including San Mateo County Dept. of Elections, San Mateo County Mental Health, Cub Scouts Pack 65, Boy Scouts Troop 321, San Carlos Lions Club, San Carlos Eaton Hills 4H, Junior Matrons, AA/Alanon 12-Step groups, Home and Hope Interfaith & Community Support for Homeless Families.

In April 2011 Cub Scouts Pack 65 and Boy Scouts Troop 321 jointly held a Paper Shredding and Baked Goods Sales fundraiser for the benefit of UCCSC. They heard that our coffers could use some replenishment. At that time UCCSC was also in conversation with American Red Cross about the possible use of Mahany Hall as a place for some of their activities. They were kind enough to support us by stationing a staffed American Red Cross table at that fundraiser. Unfortunately, conditions were not right at the time to pursue their possible use of Mahany Hall.

Now with the church Redevelopment Project and the inclusion of some upgrades to Mahany Hall, our spacious hall could be very suitable for American Red Cross in time of a local disaster. At the August 21, 2016 regular monthly meeting, Council approved the creation of a Disaster Shelter using Mahany Hall and kitchen during hours not needed for ourselves. Council also approved pursuing a partnership agreement with American Red Cross. Such an agreement was signed by UCCSC Trustees and ARC Disaster Program Manager August 23, 2016 following an ARC Shelter Survey. It is a non-binding agreement in that we have entered into it in good faith. When a disaster occurs, ARC will contact us to determine if they may open a center here. We can refuse for any reason. Once the center is opened, we may not discriminate as to who may enter. ARC will be the Operator and Manager of the shelter when it is activated. We provide the specified space and they provide everything else. ARC will coordinate with the City to provide security and safety. We can provide additional equipment use, supplies, food and staffing as may be feasible.

While ARC can provide everything that will be needed based on the disaster situation, there may be a delay of several days before their supplies arrive. Therefore, it would be appropriate for UCCSC to have some basic shelter items on-site. We have just submitted a grant application to the City of San Carlos for some seed money to purchase these items. We will know the outcome of this application in late September. The use of our Mahany Hall as a disaster shelter would be an asset to the City of San Carlos.

Once this endeavor is more finalized, we would like to engage others in the larger community to join with us as volunteers for outreach, maintaining and servicing the center. Please be on the lookout for future announcements.

We often hear of disasters that strike here in our own country and around the world. We hear of families struggling to meet everyday needs. We hear of people who spend their whole day walking just to get clean water. We hear of millions of people living on the edge of subsistence, struggling to escape the crushing grip of poverty and powerlessness. People are hungry, thirsty, and they need more than a handout. They need a way out. Do you sometimes wonder how you might be more personally involved with helping people find the help they need?

Here is a great way to help. This year is the fourth year that Church World Service will sponsor a CROP Hunger Walk here on the Peninsula. First a review: What is Church World Service? In a nutshell, it is an international relief, development, and refugee resettlement agency. There are 36 member denominations in Church World Service, and both UCC and Disciples are members. CROP stands for Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty. CROP Hunger Walks are community fund-raising events and are held every year in 1000 communities across our nation. In the last 20 years, CROP Hunger Walks have raised more than $294 million to provide food, medical care, disaster relief, and self-help development for needy people around the world, and around the corner. 25% of what we raise will stay right here in our own community.

Our Walk, the San Francisco and Peninsula CROP Hunger Walk, will be held on Sunday, October 2, at 2:00 pm, in Menlo Park. The idea is that we signup to be walkers in our CROP Hunger Walk, and we solicit donations from our friends, relatives, acquaintances. And if you can’t walk, you can be a Spirit Walker and just solicit donations. We walk together with others from our communities and churches in a spirit of cooperation to raise money and awareness, as we work to End Hunger One Step at a Time.

Sign up online to be a Walker, Donor, or both for the CROP Hunger Walk. Here’s how. Click here. Click on Register. Click on Yes, I want to join a team. You will see Chalice/CUCC, San Carlos. Click on Donate Now or Join. Follow directions for setting up an account. Or sign up with Ann Willard and secure a donation envelope, not online.

Everyone is invited! Chalice Annual Fundraiser, the Taco Party, Saturday, September 10, 5:30 p.m. at the home of Ann and Bruce Willard. The money raised will go to support the new construction project with new signage for our new sanctuary and facility. No need to bring anything to the party except your checkbook! Come enjoy sangria and tacos! Please RSVP to Ann by September 6. Get her address, phone number, and email from the church directory in the back section under Chalice Christian Church. Directions to Ann’s home available upon request.

It looks like we will have everything finalized with the City of San Carlos and PGE Permits in the next few weeks. I don’t want to bore you with all of the details and unreasonable requests the city has put on us but we are moving forward.

The water to Mahany Hall will be shut off on Saturday, July 9 in preparation to separate the buildings. We have figured out a way so the power will not be interrupted during this process. Starting the Week of July 11, 2016, the new construction phase will commence. There will be some final prep work starting that week because we need the permits to perform those. We are also planning to start grading that week. The new construction side of our property and the demo of the existing church will be underway simultaneously so you will see a lot work going on.

If we want to get together, maybe after church, and do some type of prayer/ceremony we would need to do that in the next few weeks. I think June 26 would be perfect.

Thanks,
Matt Schulze

A short note from UCCSC Redevelopment Project Co-Manager to UCCSC Congregation

Greetings!

The designated trees, a number of which were dying, have been removed.  The mandated abatement of the West Wing has been done.  New power poles have been set up.  What pedestrians have been seeing of late is a tree-less Arroyo Street along our property with green mesh fencing and apparent stand-still.  I want to assure you that hard work to move things along is continuing, although not high profile nor visible unless you happen to be in the area when technicians, other Co-Manager Bob Stafford or I are around.

The church property dates back to 1928 and multiple construction-reconstruction projects have taken place since then.  Unexpected old utility lines have been uncovered which then needed to go through the process with the City and utility agencies.

Currently there are 6 multi-family, 8 commercial, and 13 multi-use projects on-line in San Carlos.  All 6 of the multi-family, 2 of the commercial and all 13 multi-use projects are on the west side of El Camino where we are.  This load requires that the City adjust their staffing needs.  Growth has growing pains and there is a domino effect on the progress of all projects, including ours.

To continue to meet the child-care needs of the community, The Children’s Place remains open for business.  Certain work cannot be done during the week days which leave only Saturdays to perform the next essential step, shutting down the utility lines to separate them.    We do expect to accomplish that in mid-June.

We thank you for your patience and understanding. Meanwhile, do think of the new Church To-Be.  If you have any specific questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at 415-235-3343.

Project Co-Manager
Matt Schulze

Our journey towards our future home is under way!

Meanwhile, our worship service is held in Mahany Hall on Sundays at noon.

The project is being constructed by 1336 Arroyo Way, LLC. under the direction of Bob Stafford (Stafford Realty) and Matt Schulze (UCC Project Manager), with oversight by Siv Nickerson (Moderator). There is regular reporting to Trustees and Council. Construction is expected to take about 16-18 months.

If you have any questions about construction aspects, please contact Matt Schulze at 415-235-3343. If you have any questions about the past, present and future of our church, please contact Siv Nickerson, Moderator or Pastor Rolf Hansen. We hope you will be as excited about our vision as we are and join us in our journey forward.

The sale of the West Wing of our property has closed escrow! And not a day too soon as one of the Birch trees on the front lawn got blown down by the big storm and fell on top of the roof above the Parlor.

A big THANK YOU to all who worked so hard to make it happen, particularly Siv Nickerson, Rolf Hansen, and Matt Schulze who carried the ball for almost two years before this day. There were many others who played vital roles, including church Clerk Katrina Rodriguez Hansen who often had to appear at very short notice to sign critical papers. Thanks to everyone who tackled the heavy task of moving out of the West Wing.
Pastor Rolf Hansen, TCP Director Lisa Rinaldi, and Church Administrator Gwen Jeong now share an office that use to be the Youth Room on the second floor. Room 211, a room on the second floor between Faith In Action and Fully Alive Community Church offices, is our interim Parlor. During the day it is an extension of UCC/TCP office. In the evening 12-Step Program groups meet there. All other groups who use to meet in the West Wing now do so in Mahany Hall.

Our Sunday worship is now held in Mahany Hall on Sundays at noon.
The work of building the Future Community United Church of Christ in San Carlos can begin now. On the structural side this is our future:

The project will be constructed by 1336 Arroyo Way, LLC. under the direction of Bob Stafford (Stafford Realty) and Matt Schulze (UCC Project Manager), and oversight by Siv Nickerson (Moderator). There will of course be regular reporting to Council. Construction is expected to take about 16-18 months.

If you have any questions about construction aspects, please contact Matt Schulze at 415-235-3343. If you have any questions about the past, present and future of our church, please contact Siv Nickerson, Moderator or Pastor Rolf Hansen. We hope you will be as excited about our vision and join us in our journey forward.

We will be commemorate Maundy Thursday, March 24th, 6:30 p.m. at the Island United Church in Foster City. The address is 1130 Balcultha, Foster City.

Each year the Peninsula Council of Lions Police and Fire Awards honors Police and Firefighters throughout San Mateo County and Palo Alto who have shown Outstanding Service to the Community, Acts of Valor or Heroism. In order to qualify for the Valor or Heroism Awards, the Nominee must save another person life; in the case of the Heroism Awards, the Police Officer or Firefighter would have had to put their own life in jeopardy. This year we are honoring 31 individuals on March 18th at the Crowne Plaza in Foster City. The event is attended by well over 300 people including most of the Police and Fire Chiefs in the area, and many Lions, Public Officials and guests. It requires a full year of planning to put on this event.

The Peninsula Council of Lions would like to thank UCCSC for the use of one of their meeting rooms once a month during my year as president which allowed us to plan this event. We have placed a Thank You in our program to acknowledge your help and support.
The San Carlos Lions is one of 25 Lions clubs in the Peninsula Council of Lions, covering all of San Mateo County and Palo Alto.

Thanks!
Lions
Scot Marsters
President Peninsula Council of Lions 2015-2016

Download or open our November 2015 Communicator

Download or open our May 2015 Communicator