Past Events
CCC Men’s Retreat
Oct. 18-20 at River’s Bend Retreat Center
The theme of the retreat was No history; no you! Know your history; know yourself. It was led by Rev. Dan Hatch, who declared the retreat to be "incredibly successful, as [he] facilitated by letting the Spirit be the facilitator." The focus was on self reflection, as the participants focused how Spirit was working within them. Dan observed that "the spiritual energy generated by the process was increasingly palatable after each session." The group had beautiful fall weather for their annual gathering.
Oct. 18-20 at River’s Bend Retreat Center
The theme of the retreat was No history; no you! Know your history; know yourself. It was led by Rev. Dan Hatch, who declared the retreat to be "incredibly successful, as [he] facilitated by letting the Spirit be the facilitator." The focus was on self reflection, as the participants focused how Spirit was working within them. Dan observed that "the spiritual energy generated by the process was increasingly palatable after each session." The group had beautiful fall weather for their annual gathering.
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Community Cafe Luncheon
Tuesday, October 15th There was an excellenet turnout for today's luncheon (spinach and strawberry salad, turkey meat loaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, broccoli, and apple crisp), which was followed by a presentation from Marin therapist Jacob Brown. Jacob spoke on "Navigating the 3 M's of Aging: Meaning, Mourning, and Memory Loss," and he covered a lot of ground with his talk. No doubt there we'll be having more conversations about the challenges and blessings of aging. |
Enjoying each other's company and a delicious meal.
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Blessing of the Animals
Sunday, October 6, 2019 In the spirit of St. Francis and his love for all creation, Rev. David blessed our furry friends, on one of the most beautiful autumn afternoon we could have wished for. A good time was had by all, as the doggies munched on dog biscuits and the humans savored cake and other treats. Said Rev. David: "We celebrate unconditional love from our pets by returning our blessings to them." |
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Autumnal Equinox Celebration on the Labyrinth
Sunday, September 22nd A group of about 25 folks gathered on the labyrinth at 4:30 to celebrate the Autumnal Equinox. Beautiful fall light blessed us as we shared gratitudes, sang chants, and called in the sacred directions. After the celebration we walked up to the lawn for a picnic while a drumming circle formed in the Seminar Room. It was a lovely evening and a wonderful way to welcome autumn. |
Calling in the sacred directions.
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Processing onto the labyrinth.
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Labyrinth walk.
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The drummers kept a steady beat.
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CCC Family Retreat
August 31st - September 2nd River's Bend Retreat Center in Philo, CA A wonderful retreat attended by about 50 people, including members, family and friends. The food as always was fresh and delicious, the communion among us deep and sweet, and we were blessed by the presence of lots of kids. Oh, and the s'mores were the best ever. |
River walkers pose for the annual photo by "the big tree."
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Meals in the dining hall -- a great time to greet while we eat. Here Jan tells us about the silent auction (which raised money for retreat scholarships).
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Fun and games after dinner on Saturday. Remants of the balloon toss can be seen on the ground.
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The children come together at the swings. They really know how to have a good time.
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Singing along .... The s'mores came a little later. And when it got dark, we could see ALL the stars.
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Family connections around the fire.
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Perhaps the youngest retreatant ever, she had a smile for everyone.
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Worship on the deck on Monday morning. We shared our favorite moments as we prepared to say good-bye to River's Bend for another year.
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Marin Century Bike Ride
Saturday, August 3rd Volunteers from CCC prepare watermelon to serve to returning riders. Sixteen folks from the church helped out with the race this year! |
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Annual CCC Russian River Canoe Trip
Saturday, July 27th This year we did the 4-mile half-day trip which is on the upper part of the river near the Healdsburg dam where the water flows best. There was plenty of time for socializing and swimming, and we stopped twice for casual back floats in our life jackets. Heavenly! The weather was very warm, and being on the river was the perfect way to cool off. Of course our happy hour at the Bear Republic Brewery afterwards was well worth paddling for. |
Our first haul-out.
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Following our fearless leader. Thanks as always to Frank for organizing!
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Bob knows how to relax while keeping his feet cool.
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Good times at the brewery.
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June 23rd, 2019
Yvette Lawrence in “Fools Who Dream” Over 120 people attended an evening celebrating the music of Broadway, featuring Tripp Hanson, students of Academy DeTurk and Marin School of the Arts, with musical stylings of Scott DeTurk, Paul Eastburn, and Tommy Kesecker. Testimonial from one audience member: She was magnificent ~ a unique, powerful sensitive, humorous, classic voice. The students, the musicians and Tripp were a total delight. |
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Village Workday
May 25th, 2019
"Thank you everyone. Great work day, excellent company, spectacular food!"
"Incredible dedicated effort by everyone to keep CCC being the outstanding place to be.
A huge thank you for your work. 🙏🏾🥰"
~ Barb Killey & Sylvia Victor ~ Sacred Space team leaders
May 25th, 2019
"Thank you everyone. Great work day, excellent company, spectacular food!"
"Incredible dedicated effort by everyone to keep CCC being the outstanding place to be.
A huge thank you for your work. 🙏🏾🥰"
~ Barb Killey & Sylvia Victor ~ Sacred Space team leaders
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Community Cafe Tuesday, May 21st, 2019 As always, great food, great fellowship. And great chefs! Please join us next time. All are welcome. |
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Sacred Space Beautification Party
Saturday, April 27th, 2019 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Wow, what a great, productive, gourmet workday we had! There were 22 of us there. Two truckloads of junk went to the dump, one load of redeemables to Goodwill, invasive flowers and weeds were cleared from the labyrinth perimeter, all the clutter of the kitchen was cleared out (to the dump or Goodwill), we did weeding around the chancel window area, the stove and oven got cleaned, the redwood sprouts were beaten back from the path down to the labyrinth, the lawn was mowed, the windows cleaned (everyone please check out the kitchen windows ~ you will see things never visible before!), the storage shed cleaned out and much stuff sent to the dump; the evergreens along the back path to the deck were trimmed off, the weeds down the hill removed, the hanging succulent baskets re-filled and rejuvenated, the refrigerator drip possibly stopped. And after all that, a mouth-watering gourmet brunch! Thank you everyone!! Let's do it again soon (keep a lookout for the next date), and guys, how about recruiting other guys and trying to outnumber us gals! With much appreciation, Sylvia & Barb |
Ta-da! A clean and tidy kitchen drawer.
Ah, time to feast after the hard work.
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Easter Sunday, 2019
A packed church, 17 kids, inspiring words and music, and then a great feast. The day couldn't have been more joy-filled as we joined together for our Easter celebration.
A packed church, 17 kids, inspiring words and music, and then a great feast. The day couldn't have been more joy-filled as we joined together for our Easter celebration.
"Ave Maria" brought tears of the best kind.
A full house.
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Rev. David shares an Easter message with the children.
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The tables are set for the Easter feast!
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Wildflower Hike to Chimney Rock
April 20th, 2019
Hikers went out to the coast in search of wildflowers and were not disappointed. Glorious!
April 20th, 2019
Hikers went out to the coast in search of wildflowers and were not disappointed. Glorious!
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Full Moon Hike
April 17th, 2019 The sky was clear and there was very little wind as 10 hikers trekked above Marin City to watch for the almost full moon to rise. As always, we shared food and fellowship and gave a good howl as we saw the moon rising over the East Bay Hills. |
Waiting for moonrise while enjoying a feast of finger food.
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Maundy Thursday Service
Thursday, April 18th, 2019 Supper at 6:30 pm followed by Communion and Tenebrae Over 25 people attended our beautiful service, comprised of a silent simple supper and readings that told the story of the Last Supper. After each reading a candle was extinguished leaving us in holy darkness until Sunday morning. |
The aftermath of the supper.
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The setup for the Tenebrae service.
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Waterfall Hike
to Carson Falls March 23rd, 2019 The falls were full and the fellowship was fine for the last of three wonderful waterfall hikes led by the intrepid Frank Valone. |
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Community Cafe March 19th, 2019 ... good food and lively conversation, as always. |
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March 3rd, 2019
Installation of Rev. David Starbuck Gregory as CCC's minister David Gregory was formally installed as CCC's settled pastor, and joy filled the room as many witnessed the blessed event. |
Yes!!
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Laying on of hands.
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David's favorite: chocolate cake to celebrate the occasion.
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The official signing of the papers by the rep from the Golden Gate Association (UCC), our co-moderator and Rev. David.
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Women's Retreat
March 1st - 3rd, 2019
She Carries Me
Encircled by the Sacred Feminine
March 1st - 3rd, 2019
She Carries Me
Encircled by the Sacred Feminine
Over 30 women gathered for the weekend at Santa Sabina Center in San Rafael for CCC's annual women's retreat. We were blessed to have as our retreat leader Kimberly Elliot, a minister, drummer, singer, dancer, and devotee of the Sacred Feminine, who brought us images, songs and prayers to move us deeply into an experience of "the Mother of us all." Along with savoring the fabulous food from the Santa Sabina kitchen, we danced, did art, and nurtured each other's spirits with our deep sharing. Blessed be!
Dancing' up a storm.
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Kimberly and her drum.
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Hugs and smiles during our "Angel Walk" in the Prayer Room.
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February 23rd, 2019
Waterfall Hike on Mt. Tam
The group took the Matt Davis Trail to Bootjack Camp, then down to Van Wyck Meadow and back up to the Mountain Home for a brew and continuing good fellowship. We crossed many little babbling creeks, and every time we came to a bridge we stopped to regroup and pose for pictures. Thanks as always to Frank for organizing and leading us.
Waterfall Hike on Mt. Tam
The group took the Matt Davis Trail to Bootjack Camp, then down to Van Wyck Meadow and back up to the Mountain Home for a brew and continuing good fellowship. We crossed many little babbling creeks, and every time we came to a bridge we stopped to regroup and pose for pictures. Thanks as always to Frank for organizing and leading us.
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Saturday, February 16th, 2019
10:00 am to 1:00 pm Award-winning singers/songwriters Jan Garrett & JD Martin presented Embodying Your Authentic Voice Jan and JD welcomed adventurous souls ~ singers and non-singers alike ~ to the workshop, and offered them fun, empowering, and practical ways to find and express their Creative Voices, how they show up in the world. Participants were encouraged to become a "finely-tuned instrument through which Inspired Universal Intelligence can flow freely." The sharing was deep and real, and the good times flowed. Visit Jan and JD's website HERE. |
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Jan led the group around the room, clapping and singing, while JD accompanied on the piano.
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Annual Bird Walk
February 9th, 2019, 2019 Twenty people came out to the wetlands at Hamilton Field for a day of birdwatching amid intermittent rain and sun. Our resident expert birders brought their high-powered 'scopes and everyone got to view the birds up close and personal. One participant reported: Besides viewing numerous duck species and feeding avocets, it was thrilling to see a red-tailed hawk take flight from a nearby tree and circle several times before disappearing. |
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Not in Our Town visits CCC
Thursday, February 7th, 2019
Members of the local community gathered for a film screening and conversation presented by Not In Our Town, which aims to stop hate, address bullying, and build safe, inclusive communities for all. To learn more about Not in our Town, go to NIOT.org.
Thursday, February 7th, 2019
Members of the local community gathered for a film screening and conversation presented by Not In Our Town, which aims to stop hate, address bullying, and build safe, inclusive communities for all. To learn more about Not in our Town, go to NIOT.org.
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The audience listens attentively as folks share their experiences with hate crimes and their thoughts about what can be done to stop them.
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January 12th, 2019
First Winter Waterfall Hike
to Cataract Falls
The weather gods were with us as we hiked the Cataract Trail to Laurel Dell, walked down the trail to see the spectacular waterfalls, then back up to the picnic area to eat our lunches. About half the group returned to the parking lot the way we had come, and the others took a longer return hike along the Benstein Trail.
After four hours of hiking, we rewarded ourselves with drinks at a local watering hole.
We knew we'd been blessed by this one day of sunshine amid a week of rain.
Thanks to Frank for organizing and leading us.
There are still two more hikes coming up (see the Events page of this website for dates).
All are welcome on these wonderful adventures.
First Winter Waterfall Hike
to Cataract Falls
The weather gods were with us as we hiked the Cataract Trail to Laurel Dell, walked down the trail to see the spectacular waterfalls, then back up to the picnic area to eat our lunches. About half the group returned to the parking lot the way we had come, and the others took a longer return hike along the Benstein Trail.
After four hours of hiking, we rewarded ourselves with drinks at a local watering hole.
We knew we'd been blessed by this one day of sunshine amid a week of rain.
Thanks to Frank for organizing and leading us.
There are still two more hikes coming up (see the Events page of this website for dates).
All are welcome on these wonderful adventures.
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“Winter Wakening"
One-Day Women's Retreat in Inverness
Saturday, January 5th, 2019
On a stormy day in West Marin, nearly 40 women gathered at beautiful St. Columba's Church and Retreat House for a day-long retreat. Fires glowed in the fireplaces as we snuggled in for a delightful day of sisterhood and sharing. After convening at 9:30 in the dining hall, where we enjoyed goodies from the local Bovine Bakery, we moved into the Sanctuary upstairs and learned how to do "winter pruning for future flowering," focusing on the branches of our inner trees. We sang chants, heard poems, partook of a delicious catered lunch, then chose among four activities: a dream workshop, a drive and short hike to nearby Shell Beach, an opportunity to get creative using a variety of art materials, a walk in the neighborhood, or a time to rest in one of the cozy common rooms upstairs from the Sanctuary. We left with hearts aglow, grateful for the sweet time we had spent together.
One-Day Women's Retreat in Inverness
Saturday, January 5th, 2019
On a stormy day in West Marin, nearly 40 women gathered at beautiful St. Columba's Church and Retreat House for a day-long retreat. Fires glowed in the fireplaces as we snuggled in for a delightful day of sisterhood and sharing. After convening at 9:30 in the dining hall, where we enjoyed goodies from the local Bovine Bakery, we moved into the Sanctuary upstairs and learned how to do "winter pruning for future flowering," focusing on the branches of our inner trees. We sang chants, heard poems, partook of a delicious catered lunch, then chose among four activities: a dream workshop, a drive and short hike to nearby Shell Beach, an opportunity to get creative using a variety of art materials, a walk in the neighborhood, or a time to rest in one of the cozy common rooms upstairs from the Sanctuary. We left with hearts aglow, grateful for the sweet time we had spent together.
Getting creative in the dining hall.
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We built a beautiful altar in the Sanctuary, complete with a St. Brigid's cross to honor the Celtic Christianity practiced in this church.
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Some of us ventured out in the rain to visit Shell Beach, a short drive from the Retreat House.
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Christmas Eve Service
"Silent Night" to candlelight, the lighting of the Christ candle, lessons and carols.
We left the service warmed and spiritually nourished.
"Silent Night" to candlelight, the lighting of the Christ candle, lessons and carols.
We left the service warmed and spiritually nourished.
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Winter Solstice Labyrinth Walk
Friday, December 21st
We welcomed the solstice with harp music, hot cider, lights and candles,
prayers and songs, as we walked the path of the labyrinth to the center and back.
New friends and old met along the path as we greeted each other with silent bows
and felt the blessings of the solstice ~ the return of the light.
Friday, December 21st
We welcomed the solstice with harp music, hot cider, lights and candles,
prayers and songs, as we walked the path of the labyrinth to the center and back.
New friends and old met along the path as we greeted each other with silent bows
and felt the blessings of the solstice ~ the return of the light.
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Christmas Concert
Sunday, December 9th The guests just kept coming as we brought out folding chairs and packed the Sanctuary for our annual Christmas concert. The program featured CCC's choir, a children's choir, several small groups, Wings of Song, the talented students of Academy DeTurk, and our own Rev. David and Tripp Hanson. After the concert, the guests were treated to holiday goodies, hot cider, and carols around the piano. A joyful time was had by all. |
Guests eagerly await the start of the concert.
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Jan Pedersen Schiff directs Wings of Song.
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The kids delighted us with their rendition of "The Friendly Beasts."
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The students of Academy DeTurk sang like professionals.
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Thanksgiving Service and Feast
Sunday, November 18
At our one service at 10:00 a.m., Rev. David invited us to tune in to the "conversation in our hearts" between our love for God and our love for the earth, and to seek to connect with a sense of gratitude that goes deeper than a celebration of our "successful excesses." (To read or listen to Rev. David's message, see the "Minister's Inspirational Message" page on this website.) The choir sang "Come Ye Thankful People Come" accompanied by not one, but two trumpets. We made a joyful noise! After the service we shared in a bountiful potluck meal that included all of our favorite Thanksgiving foods. In these challenging days, we felt the blessings of being together in our church community.
Sunday, November 18
At our one service at 10:00 a.m., Rev. David invited us to tune in to the "conversation in our hearts" between our love for God and our love for the earth, and to seek to connect with a sense of gratitude that goes deeper than a celebration of our "successful excesses." (To read or listen to Rev. David's message, see the "Minister's Inspirational Message" page on this website.) The choir sang "Come Ye Thankful People Come" accompanied by not one, but two trumpets. We made a joyful noise! After the service we shared in a bountiful potluck meal that included all of our favorite Thanksgiving foods. In these challenging days, we felt the blessings of being together in our church community.
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Blessing of the Animals
Sunday, October 14th Twenty-five to thirty people, lots of dogs, and one brave cat turned out for CCC's Blessing of the Animals. One snow leopard and one tiger (stuffed animals) represented their wild, endangered brethren. Dogs frolicked on the lawn, while the humans talked, laughed and munched on human treats. Dogs munched on doggie biscuits with a couple of assaults on the human crackers. Pastor David blessed each one when human and companion(s) came forward. It was a joyful, gorgeous autumn evening filled with love and appreciation for the animals who companion us through life. 
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Photos courtesy of Bill Wells
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Community Congregational Church
145 Rock Hill Drive, Tiburon, CA. 94920 Phone: 415-435-9108 E-mail: Tib-CCC@pacbell.net Office hours: Tuesday - Friday, 10-6 Rev. Gregory's email: revdgregory@gmail.com Rev. Gregory's cell phone: 845-741-5118 Parking is available in CCC’s parking lot at the top of Rock Hill Drive. There is also street parking (be sure to curb your wheels). Even though there is ample space in the parking lot, carpooling is encouraged—a good way to spare the air and get to know your fellow congregants!
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United Church of Christ
CCC is a member of the United Church of Christ, a progressive Christian denomination known for taking important positions on issues of social justice and inclusion for all God’s people. We are an Open and Affirming congregation committed to creating a welcoming environment where people feel the loving embrace of an all-inclusive community.
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