Thursday, December 29, 2011

The Big Event: Christmas

For unto us a childe is borne

Christmas is an amazing concept. We spend four weeks, sometimes more before Christmas preparing for one day. In the secular world this preparation is frantic, even intense: there are cards to write and post, gifts to buy and post, parties to attend, parties to prepare – what does Aunt Agnes want? Will the cookies make it to Nana and Pappa?

In the Christian world, the four weeks of Advent is a time of preparation but the opposite, the time is to reflect, anticipate, to be kind in the midst of rushing and rudeness. To make time to be ready for the arrival of the baby, Jesus born of Mary.

It is a big event, the big kahuna, feasts of feasts. The reading for Christmas day, the prologue of John’s Gospel (John 1:1-14) I have heard it described as the most succinct cosmological description of God written. The Gospel writer describes God as the creator, the thought, the Word, the light in the darkness. God Is. God, I Am. God, the light in us, the breath in our lungs, the thoughts in our head.

God who became incarnate, took human form, in a squawking baby born in a stable, surrounded by farm animals. This is the great event we celebrate, we prepared for these four weeks; celebrating God the small child with straw in his hair who knows the roughness of Joseph’s beard and the scent of his mother Mary.

On Christmas Eve, the church was dark, one candle placed on the crèche. The flame of that one candle lit the torches, so the prologue of John read. From those torches the candles of the congregation were lit. Seeing the lights from all those candles in the darkened church I saw God’s light, in each person.

Immanuel, God with us, born Jesus son of Mary.

The big event worth all the preparation, worth all the waiting.

How cool is that!

Happy New Year!

-eric


PS: Cyprian's will host a screening of Amahl and the Night Visitors, the Menotti operetta about a young boy who meets three special men. Join us January 6 (Friday), 6pm at St Cyprian's!

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Interfaith Celebration of Light

...for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. (Ex 22:21)


Monday night CLUE (Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice), along with the Progressive Jewish Alliance and labor leaders met at Powell and Geary, on Union Square, for the Interfaith Celebration of Light. I joined the faith and labor leaders gathered to hear speakers from across the our communities, a performance artist, and representatives from several unions. We heard speakers demanding respect and dignity for those who work in our city, supporting public education, and our need to be the light of hope to the nameless and forgotten living mere blocks from Union Square. We sang freedom songs of Woody Guthrie. At the end of gathering we marched to the Hyatt in support of the hotel workers seeking a contract.

This is the charge I gave to our gathering of fifty plus before we marched to the hotel.


My sisters and brothers, we stand in the midst of the lights of Union Square, the bright and colorful lights of the shops, of the official Christmas tree and the soon to be lit official menorah. All these colorful blinking lights calling us to buy, to spend, to shop and forget the meaning of the lights of the season. These lights around us, remember they are artificial lights, generated by electric power plants. The candles in our hands, that in our hearts, are natural lights. What we have here, sisters and brothers, here in our hands, are the lights of righteousness, the lights of justice. Let us remember what God told Moses: ‘You shall not wrong the stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt’. Let us remind the powers and principalities who dictate to us that we all were strangers in the strange land; we hold our lights of righteousness in our hands.

This is prayer from the Native American prayerbook:

Creator God, maker of all things and all peoples, we walk now in a circle of love and power. Let us be like rays of light, like flowers bright with light, like a great tree mighty in the roots, mighty in the top, that reaches the sky where the leaves catch the light, and sing with that wind song of the circle. Let our life be like the rainbows whose colours teach us unity, Let us, Creator God, follow the great circle, the roundness of power, and be at one with the moon and the sun and the circling ripples of water., shining the lights of righteousness in our world. Amen


On this Feast of the Nativity of Jesus Christ, we remember Emmanuel, God with Us, the savior born in the humble manger, whom in the flight to Egypt was a stranger in a strange land. May we all remember God’s light is in all of us and may we share that light of life to strangers amongst us, now and always, amen.


Merry Christmas! See you at Turk and Lyon!

-eric


as adapted from the Native American Prayerbook.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

awaiting the light


Our Advent series ‘Soon and Very Soon, Practicing Advent’ asked questions about the season before Christmas. This past Wednesday we discussed the different birth narratives of Jesus: the Gospel of Matthew and the story of the wise men, the Gospel of Luke and the story of being born in a manger in a barn. The Gospel of Mark, which begins with prophecy of Isaiah and the announcement by John the Baptist of Jesus’ coming, and the Gospel of John announcing the Word, the Light, and the Word made Flesh.

They are different stories, written for audiences of Jews and non-Jews drawn to the Gospel of Jesus. The listeners seek the interpretation that makes the most sense to them, that makes plausible of this impossibility: God takes human form, as a weak, vulnerable squawking babe in his mother’s arms.

Thus we await one more week

To see the light shineth in the darkness, which the darkness comprehended not (John 1:5).

Come on December 23rd for the Pageant, December 24th for the Candlelight Service, or December 25th as St Cyprian’s community gathers and remembers the birth of Jesus.




Wednesday, December 14, 2011

never looked back

Why I give - by Jennifer Wolfe


After a life of mostly not going to church, I began attending about five years ago on the first Sunday in Lent. I didn’t know much about the practices of the Episcopal church, but I had a friend who attended and tagged along one day (I also thought highly of it after the appointment of Gene Robinson). My husband and I had often discussed how we should go about getting that weekly spiritual structure that we both thought would help us better maintain our equanimity in the face of life’s annoyances. Every year, around New Year’s Day, we would have a similar conversation—“We should go to the Zen Center.” “Maybe we should check out the Baha’I temple.” But the months would go by and we just wouldn’t make it happen. And, one day, I just decided to try church.

I’ve never looked back.

In the context of a community, I had my spiritual center reset, contemplated things larger than myself, and resolved to be a better person. Whatever else is going on in my life, it never occurs to me to not be there on a Sunday morning because I have “something else to do.” What could be more important than coming together with a community of like- and not-like-minded people to reset my spiritual center, contemplate the larger questions of life, and resolve to be a better person? I really value the conversations that happen here every week.

That ultimately is why I give—because what I get out of coming to St. Cyprian’s is a gift I could never live up to, a debt I could never repay. I want those doors to be open and this place to be available for every person who needs that gift.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

An Ordination

‘As deacon in the church, you are to study the Holy Scriptures, to seek nourishment from them, and to model your life upon them. You are to make Christ and his redemptive love known, by your word and example, to those among whom you live, and work, and worship. You are to interpret to the Church the needs, concerns, and hopes of the world… At all times, your life and teaching are to show Christ’s people that in serving the helpless they are serving Christ himself.’ Ordination of a Deacon, Book of Common Prayer page 543.

This past Saturday, sometime soon after two p.m., I stood with five other soon to be deacons and listened to our ordinal, the examination of the candidates. I have read through the ordinal many, many times before then and told myself ‘yes I agree, yes, maybe, hmm, let me get back to you on that.’ And yet… when Bishop Marc Andrus read those words, in micro seconds I heard them, thought about them, prayed over them and answered ‘Yes!’ As I knelt before him, he placed his hands on my head I felt the warmth and the breath of the generations of saints who preceded me answering the call to serve God’s people. Like John Wesley at his conversion, my heart was ‘strangely warmed’ at that moment, and I knew all was right.

As Deacon I’ll continue doing the work of the Church, talking to people at Half-Time, at Lucky and on Divisidero Street, making connections, listening to stories and building community inside and outside the walls of St Cyprian’s. There is much work to continue, with the kitchen, community center, greening the corner. My thanks, thanks, thanks to the Cyprian’s community for supporting me and making me so welcome, I am blessed to serve here

Speaking about building community: our NOPA neighborhood holiday party is Friday, come on by and share some holiday cheer AND listen to music galore! On December 17 Nutcracker for Two Guitars is another concert for the Advent season. Of course Christmas is coming, be a participant also for our Christmas Pageant 5pm December 23 (no rehearsal, just show up!) and our Christmas services December 24, 8pm and December 25, 10.10am.

Come on down to Turk and Lyon, we’re happening this month. Come feel the warmth.

Peace to all,

- eric

Friday, December 2, 2011

a cheerful giver

Why I Give
by Robyn Amos




As I prepared to speak about stewardship this passage from 2 Corinthians resonated when I heard it read at the recent Deanery Meeting. “ He who sows sparingly will reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. You will be enriched in every way for great generosity which through us will produce thanksgiving to God...Each one must do as he has made up his mind… for God loves a cheerful giver.”

I chuckled to myself as I reflected on the words oft heard “God loves a cheerful giver.” I knew I was not always this person. I considered how weak economy, the soaring inflation and the feelings of despair have made parsimony the new generosity. How many times have I chanted the current mantra “the cost of food is so high;” “there are no jobs for mature workers;” “just trying to hold my head above water;” “Give? Are you serious? ”

Yet, I instantly thought about my community at St. Cyprian’s and the truth of the scripture was clear. I thought of the dozens of members, neighbors, friends old and new that have been stewards of the community these last few years. I remembered the feel of the dirt in my hands and the stretching muscles in my back as Lyon and Turk were beautified with plants. The pungent smell of fresh paint assailed my nose when I entered church after the Gays for Good painted. My taste buds tingled for days the epic meal grown, prepared and consumed by our friends and family at the Community Meal just three weeks ago. Those were real-time experiences of cheerful giving.

St. Cyprian’s embodies those words. St. Cyprian’s has become a place of hope and possibilities as we have opened our door to our community and responded. We have become not only cheerful givers but gracious receivers. Our doors open wide as the community flows in with paint, mushrooms, bluegrass music, plants and joy. Giving includes sharing all of your wealth including your time, talents, songs, and strengths.

I give because I love my church and love our flourishing community. The scripture is clear, the evidence is apparent; Generosity is not just in dollars but in heart and mind. I give so that my church is served whether I am present or not. I give because others have and still do. I share whatever I resources I have: time, ideas, dollars, or elbow grease. Consider your own talents and means. Become as I have a cheerful giver.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

advent and thanks-giving

Advent: anticipating the big event
During Advent I have the sense of something big about to happen. I remember Christmas as a child had that special sense, the building anticipation. There were the presents i awaited, of course; i cared deeply about diving into the box grapefruit sent to our snow covered home in Vermont. for me there was a specialness to Christmas beyond the need for bright shiny objects, the knowledge that Christmas was a big deal, the important event that wrapped up the year.
Reading the portion of Isaiah for this week (Is 40:1-11) we hear the prophet the promise the weary people of God in exile, that the ‘valley lifted up, the mountain made low, the uneven made level and the rough places a plain’, is the promise that the trials of today will fade and become the promise of tomorrow. That promise is the arrival of Immanuel, God with us. God who will breathe the same air we breath and whose baby feet feel the same cold earth under our feet. God who’s teaching will guide us, God who whose God who will ‘gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in her bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.’
When God lives amongst us that is the big event. Waiting and watching for the big event is Advent, that’s why the hymns mention the promise of God’s coming. It’s like waiting for the ruby grapefruit to arrive in the midst of the dark Vermont winter; it’s coming, I know it’s coming, it will be good. That’s the anticipation the arrival of Immanuel, the promise that God is coming at the big event.
Come to Turk and Lyon and join us, we’ll sing Advent hymns and wait for the big event together.

Thanks – Giving: post thanksgiving thoughts
It’s a week after the feast of turkey, vegetables, and pies; of the taste of cranberries and bearing witness to the 49er’s slipping past Baltimore. Some of us hit the malls before the clock struck midnite that same day, or on Friday just prior to dawn, or at 00:01am on CyberMonday for the online deals. We are thankful we survived the hordes and shoves and quick clicks online for deals on more bright and shiny purchased for Christmas presents. Thanksgiving feasts and Christmas shopping weekend feel are synonymous with Thanksgiving. I’m tired from the weekend, and I was not particularly thankful after shoving my way around.
“We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. –Thornton Wilder
I like what Wilder says. Facing down the crowd on Union Square Macy’s, or the full parking lot and shoulder-to-shoulder scrum at Serramonte Mall did not make me feel particularly alive; instead I was exhausted. Changing attitude I thought of those moment that made me alive of the smiles of my family at dinner, sharing a power bar with a fellow at stop light, the coffee - conversation - fellowship after services on Sunday at Cyprian’s. These are my treasures, and I want to share my time, talent and treasure in thanks - giving.
Giving thanks by sharing what I have to that which I’m blessed to receive. That is my thanks-giving; that is why I made my pledge today, that is why I support the work of St Cyprian’s. Please join me in thanks - giving for the mission of Cyprian’s.
Happy Advent. See you about the corner of Turk and Lyon.
-eric