Last Sunday I preached about the parable of the two sons. The short form is this: Father tells one son 'Work in the vineyard,' and the first son says 'Yes, I will.' Father tells the second son 'Work in the vineyard,' and his reply is 'I will not!' The first son never works in the vineyard; the second son regrets his response and works in the vineyard. Who is right? Who did the right thing? Let's break this down more:
a) The first son replied with respect, he didn't backtalk, he respected the authority of his father. I think of times when my son said 'Yes' and didn't do his chore, or when I said 'Yes' and didn't do my chores, or some of them. Saying 'Yes' is a reply that shows respect to the requester. Not living up to my obligation does not show respect, but that shows sometimes talk is cheap.
b) The second son 'I will not' does not show his father respect, I'd say it was rude. As a father, I'd notice that tone of voice quite quickly and might not have a gentle, Christian response to it. However, the son who says 'NO' is the son who went out and did the work anyway, he changed his mind and did the right thing.
The hard part about parables is the answer is not as easy as it looks. If there was option 'c', the son who says 'YES' and does the work; we'd all have our answer and go home happy. But the parables don't work that way; there is the twist to the story.
The twist is metanoia, a Greek term meaning 'change the way' or 'change the course.' In my younger years I spent time on boats and with boaters. On a boat when you move the tiller or turn the helm the boat makes the turn, gradually. The course changes but not immediately, it may take a bit for the turn to happen. It may not seem like it, but it does.
That changing the course, metanoia, is what Jesus teaches in the parable. The people who say 'yes, yes', make the proper motions and gestures, they look like they're doing the right thing. At the end of the day they didn't do the work, they didn't change. The people who said 'NO', but later changed their ways; metanoia, changed their course in life - those are the people who heard and reacted to Jesus' message. The Gospel passage speaks of prostitutes and tax collectors, the society outcasts, as the ones who followed Jesus because of metanoia. As the person in the fancy long black robe on Sunday (like a temple elder), telling the story and preaching, I have to think hard: which son am I? Am I changing my course?
This week let us consider the invitation Jesus makes to change course as we live in our world today.
Peace and blessings this week. See you about church.
From Eric Metoyer, St. Cyprian's Intern
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Sharing our stories
St. Cyprian's Oral History Project:
The story of a community and a neighborhood
We all have stories to tell. Your stories and the stories of the people around you are unique and valuable treasures for your family, and for your community. These stories, these oral histories, open up new views of the past, by turning history inside out: history is not only to be found in dates and key events, but also in the memories of people who witnessed or lived through them.
The history of St. Cyprian's is a fascinating collection of stories of community and neighborhood: from its origins in the early 1870s, when a group of Black Episcopalians gathered together to form a new church; to the completion of the Panama Canal, when West Indian laborers from that project, born and raised in the Church of England, began migrating to California; to the completion of the building on the corner of Turk and Lyon Streets, marked by its first service in 1960; though the enormous changes of the 60's and 70s, and the decades that followed.
We'd like to know who you are, how you came to join St. Cyprian's, and what changes you have experienced and seen in the church, the neighborhood, and in San Francisco. How long have you been part of St. Cyprian? How many family generations are connected with St. Cyprian's? How many family members have attended St. Cyprian's (former and current)?
Through St. Cyprian's Oral History Project, our goal is to discover and preserve unwritten histories, large and small; to engage with the past through specific and personal experience, and by doing so, understand in a deeper and more resonant way, who we are.
On scheduled Sundays throughout the coming year, we invite you to share your stories with us, directly following the service. We will also reach out to elders in the community, through visits to their homes. We welcome your ideas, advice, support, and help.
Rebecca Nestle (rebeccanestle@gmail.com)
& Doe Yates (doedeartoo@sbcglobal.net)
About Rebecca Nestle:
Rebecca is a Bay Area native and has lived in the Western Addition since 1991. She was trained as a theatre stage manager, and has worked as a production manager and producer for many years, most recently at American Conservatory Theater and at Grace Cathedral, where she produced The Forum with Alan Jones for two seasons.
About Doe Yates:
Doe was born in Edwards, MS & in 1959, she moved to San Francisco to attend the Louise Salinger Academy of Fashion and graduated with a credential in Dress Design, Pattern Making, Fashion and Modeling. Doe remained in San Francisco and ultimately was confirmed to the Episcopal Church in 1962 at Grace Cathedral by The Rt. Rev. James A. Pike, Bishop of California. She was employed in various departments of the U.S. Federal Government until retirement in 2009. Doe’s hobby is gardening. She grows a sustainable garden on her patio. Vegetables include are Mustard, Turnip, Collard, Cabbage, Broccoli, Green Beans, Artichokes, Carrots and Tomatoes. Fruit trees include Lemon, Orange and Tangerine. She grows enough to eat, some to freeze and some to share.
The story of a community and a neighborhood
We all have stories to tell. Your stories and the stories of the people around you are unique and valuable treasures for your family, and for your community. These stories, these oral histories, open up new views of the past, by turning history inside out: history is not only to be found in dates and key events, but also in the memories of people who witnessed or lived through them.
The history of St. Cyprian's is a fascinating collection of stories of community and neighborhood: from its origins in the early 1870s, when a group of Black Episcopalians gathered together to form a new church; to the completion of the Panama Canal, when West Indian laborers from that project, born and raised in the Church of England, began migrating to California; to the completion of the building on the corner of Turk and Lyon Streets, marked by its first service in 1960; though the enormous changes of the 60's and 70s, and the decades that followed.
We'd like to know who you are, how you came to join St. Cyprian's, and what changes you have experienced and seen in the church, the neighborhood, and in San Francisco. How long have you been part of St. Cyprian? How many family generations are connected with St. Cyprian's? How many family members have attended St. Cyprian's (former and current)?
Through St. Cyprian's Oral History Project, our goal is to discover and preserve unwritten histories, large and small; to engage with the past through specific and personal experience, and by doing so, understand in a deeper and more resonant way, who we are.
On scheduled Sundays throughout the coming year, we invite you to share your stories with us, directly following the service. We will also reach out to elders in the community, through visits to their homes. We welcome your ideas, advice, support, and help.
Rebecca Nestle (rebeccanestle@gmail.com)
& Doe Yates (doedeartoo@sbcglobal.net)
About Rebecca Nestle:
Rebecca is a Bay Area native and has lived in the Western Addition since 1991. She was trained as a theatre stage manager, and has worked as a production manager and producer for many years, most recently at American Conservatory Theater and at Grace Cathedral, where she produced The Forum with Alan Jones for two seasons.
About Doe Yates:
Doe was born in Edwards, MS & in 1959, she moved to San Francisco to attend the Louise Salinger Academy of Fashion and graduated with a credential in Dress Design, Pattern Making, Fashion and Modeling. Doe remained in San Francisco and ultimately was confirmed to the Episcopal Church in 1962 at Grace Cathedral by The Rt. Rev. James A. Pike, Bishop of California. She was employed in various departments of the U.S. Federal Government until retirement in 2009. Doe’s hobby is gardening. She grows a sustainable garden on her patio. Vegetables include are Mustard, Turnip, Collard, Cabbage, Broccoli, Green Beans, Artichokes, Carrots and Tomatoes. Fruit trees include Lemon, Orange and Tangerine. She grows enough to eat, some to freeze and some to share.
Meet Eric Metoyer
Eric Metoyer is serving at St. Cyprian's this fall, he is a candidate for Holy Orders in the Episcopal Diocese of California.
Eric recently received the Masters of Divinity Degree from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, focussing his studies on Liturgy and Parish Administration. He was a Clinical Pastoral Education intern at San Francisco General Hospital this past spring and served two years as Field Education seminarian at Holy Cross Episcopal Church, Castro Valley.
Eric feels a strong call to parish ministry. He says: 'The parish is the cornerstone of Christian Life in our community. We are called to worship together, and, are called to be active members of the community around us. I look forward to participating in the life
and work of the St Cyprian's community.'
Eric serves the diocese as chairman of the Afro-Anglican Commission, co-chair of the Racial Reconciliation Task Force (investigating African American Slavery in the Diocese) and member of the Multi Cultural Commissions Roundtable. He is a candidate for Holy Orders, sponsored by St Mary the Virgin parish, San Francisco. He is also active as a corporator of Lyndon Institute, Lyndon, Vermont, and Synergy School, San Francisco.
Eric was raised in New England. He attended high school in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom and graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts. He lived in Boston prior to moving to San Francisco. Before he entered ministry Eric worked in construction management for small and large engineering firms.
Eric lives in South San Francisco with his wife and son. In his spare time he is a model railroader, reads histories,and follows the fortunes of Cal Football.
Below Eric shares a bit about his first week with us at St. Cyprian's:
It has been a wonderful first week at St Cyprian’s on the corner of Turk and Lyon. I’ve toured our church from basement kitchen to choir loft above and met members over the telephone and at worship. When I sat and prayed I saw the streaming the blue, purple and red of the stained glass come into the sanctuary, I felt right in the presence of God. ‘Shout with joy to the Lord, all you lands, lift up your voice, rejoice, and sing,’ wrote the psalmist. I sense the saints who preceded us inside these walls joining us in song and worship
Come to Turk and Lyon: come for the singing, come in for community, come for the worship. Visit St Cyprian’s! You know where we are, we’d love to have you here.
See you on Sunday! Peace, Eric
Monday, September 12, 2011
September-October 2011 Newsletter
Thanks to Editor/Designer Jennifer Wolfe & Contributing Writer Michael Helquist, we share with you the St. Cyprian's Newsletter, Living Times.
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