Last night, St. Cyprian's church building on the corner of Turk & Lyon Street was packed with people for our first concert, part of a new partnership with SF Live Arts (formerly Noe Valley Music). Now, to many people this may seem like not a very big deal ( many churches host concerts all the time) but for a little church like ours, taking on a new big project like this is a huge challenge.
As I made my way through the building last night, I was so grateful to see an incredible array of volunteers from the neighborhood and the congregation, who somehow knew deep down that music builds community and that little places with commitment, hard work and care can do big things.
One thing, we at St. Cyprian's are learning is that as we seek to be a space and a people of faith, action, and community --- we can't do any of those things alone. Below is a list of volunteers who helped us pull things off last night without a hitch, everyone who enters our doors gets a copy of this list (and a bit of information about our little church). Thank you to everyone who helped out, thank you to all who showed up, and will show up, thank you to the Spirit of life that was alive last night and animates all our best efforts.
Come for a concert at Cyprian's tonight and in the weeks ahead, and help this "little church that could," do even more big things. Those things include a new kitchen, already used by numerous groups, we want to feed more people with greater confidence and safety. Supporting a neighborhood after-school and summer program serving youth of the Western Addition. Creating a space both inside and out of connectivity for the eclectic and vibrant neighborhood outside our doors.
Some have wondered "how the heck did St. Cyprian's get chosen to host the SF Live Arts Concerts?" Well, I'm still trying to figure out how we got to be this lucky. Last night, Jennifer Wolfe, one of St. Cyprian's highly committed and engaged lay leaders, reminded me that she had encouraged me and our Bishops Committee over a year ago to go check out what Noe Valley Ministry was up to. Thank God we did!
While visiting Noe Valley we met Marshall Cousins, who had been managing the building for many years and he showed us how that little church became such a well connected member of the local neighborhood. And, I think that when Larry Kassin of SF Live Arts was looking for a temporary venue while Noe Valley Ministry went through an extensive renovation, Marshall mentioned St. Cyprian's to him. Because as Marshall noted when he visited us at St. Cyprian's "that place has great acoustics."
The other big question was whether St. Cyprian's wanted to take something like this on, but the Bishops Committee (our lay leadership team) almost unanimously from the very beginning was enthusiastic about the idea. And, with support from the neighborhood, and the hard work of new St. Cyprian's member and special events coordinator Michael Helquist, Cyprian's at Night was born.
Come for a concert at Cyprian's tonight and in the weeks ahead, and help this "little church that could," do even more big things. Those things include a new kitchen, already used by numerous groups, we want to feed more people with greater confidence and safety. Supporting a neighborhood after-school and summer program serving youth of the Western Addition. Creating a space both inside and out of connectivity for the eclectic and vibrant neighborhood outside our doors.
Some have wondered "how the heck did St. Cyprian's get chosen to host the SF Live Arts Concerts?" Well, I'm still trying to figure out how we got to be this lucky. Last night, Jennifer Wolfe, one of St. Cyprian's highly committed and engaged lay leaders, reminded me that she had encouraged me and our Bishops Committee over a year ago to go check out what Noe Valley Ministry was up to. Thank God we did!
While visiting Noe Valley we met Marshall Cousins, who had been managing the building for many years and he showed us how that little church became such a well connected member of the local neighborhood. And, I think that when Larry Kassin of SF Live Arts was looking for a temporary venue while Noe Valley Ministry went through an extensive renovation, Marshall mentioned St. Cyprian's to him. Because as Marshall noted when he visited us at St. Cyprian's "that place has great acoustics."
The other big question was whether St. Cyprian's wanted to take something like this on, but the Bishops Committee (our lay leadership team) almost unanimously from the very beginning was enthusiastic about the idea. And, with support from the neighborhood, and the hard work of new St. Cyprian's member and special events coordinator Michael Helquist, Cyprian's at Night was born.
We wish to thank the following for their important contributions as Saint Cyprian’s prepared for the launch of this partnership with SF Live Arts...
Michael Helquist – Special Events Coordinator
Gigi Smith – Concessions
Bruno Peguese & Kevin Johnson for advice and guidance on development and financial management
Craig Anderson, Facilities Manager, and the Blood Centers of the Pacific, for generous permission to use their parking lot
Lenore McDonald, director of alumni giving for Golden Gate University for strategy development
Rick Helf of Rightside Imaging, design of Cyprian's new poster and cards promoting our performance space and music series
Alex Senchak -- coordinating selection, purchase, and installation of new sanctuary lighting
Rob Crum -- drafting up-to-date floor plan for Sanctuary and Community Room, required to determine church maximum occupancy permitted
Dale Danley, Jennifer Wolfe -- Cyprian's website design
Jennifer Wolfe, Michael Helquist -- concert series promotion with features in Chronicle and neighborhood newsletters and websites
District 5 Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, for assistance with city permits
Captain Denis O'Leary, SFPD Park Station for guidance on permits
Will Valentine -- ongoing assistance with building repairs
Alex Klestoff -- electrician, installation of fire safety upgrades
Ushers -- Cynthia Sasaki, Suzanne Cowan, Paul Bennett, Susan Bernard
Site Help -- Tom de Cook, Will Valentine, Kelly Johnson
Bike Valets -- Nancy Botkin, Maggie Robbins, Ellen Campbell
Community Room Lighting -- Deacon Davidson Bidwell-Waite
Community Room Lighting -- Deacon Davidson Bidwell-Waite
The Bishops Committee at St. Cyprian’s: Robyn Amos, Willie Collie, Bruno Peguese, Norma Planiczka, Jennifer Wolfe, Jarie Bolander, Michael Helquist, Gigi Smith, and past committee members Yaromil Ralph, Christopher Ralph & Jim Cromwell
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