New Beginnings

Gabriel from the outside

This photo is the exterior wall of the stained glass window of Cyprian's. It's the same window of the angel on our Cyprian’s Live website, an incredibly chilled out angel blowing a very long horn, it's our own St Dizzy on the trumpet blowing out Lyon Street Blues.

I noticed this promptly when I parked across the street today – the grey facade has a patch of yellow, lovely, pale sunflower yellow. That touch of bright amidst the drab means the painters began work on the Turk Street facade of the church this week.

New Beginnings

It's a little late in the season to talk about New Year resolutions and such – by the fourth week of the new year some of those resolutions lose a little steam – daily to the gym, walking past the cupcake shop and not stopping in, watching less TiVo. Even if we slip and grab a cupcake whilst missing our spin class, the intent remains to make a change for the better. And we can, because tomorrow is another day with promise of New Beginnings.

At St Cyprian's our annual meeting is Sunday; it is our time for the year in review. Last year was a great year, one of concerts, repair the leaks in the tower and west wall, of painting the parish hall, tower and stairwells. The Bishop visited, Fr Will made Vicar, a dozen people baptized, confirmed and received into the church. The NoPNA / Cyprian's Holiday Party was a blast, the community kitchen planning dinner incredible and the Xmas Pageant of great fun. I know there were more events I forgot, I beg forgiveness; we were busy. Sunday's meeting we will learn of this and more as we asses where we are and where we are going.

'Old things pass away, and all things become new,' and this New Year has promise; at the fundraiser 'Beyond the Blaze' the community came out to support the victims of the Pierce St fire. Generous donations of cash, food, art aided the rockin' music in our packed church, it demonstrated the impact of community building here, showed clearly how well we are connecting with each other.

It was crowded that night, there were as many people socializing downstairs as listening to the bands upstairs. Connexion was made that night, I ask 'can we out live our baptismal promise to see the face of Christ this year?' I think so, I feel the new resolutions happening around me; the music playing whilst relocated residents and friends listened to their neighbors on stage at the benefit, the bright splash of yellow of our new painting project shows the New Beginnings are happening this year. Angel, blow that horn!

Come by and see us in February – worship , music and film await at www.saintcypriansf.org

See you at Turk and Lyon

-eric

Saint Dizzy, blow that horn!

Lord, you knew me when

This is one of my favourite psalms. It is in the readings of Sunday , 15 January.

Lord, you have searched me out and known me; *

you know my sitting down and my rising up;

you discern my thoughts from afar.

You trace my journeys and my resting-places *

and are acquainted with all my ways.

For you created my inmost parts;

You knit me together in my mother's womb.

I will thank you because I am marvelously made; *

your works are wonderful, and I know it well.

(psalm 139 1-2, 12-13)

This speaks so deeply to our identity of who we are and where we find our joy. Once in the midst of a difficult job search I was told to 'follow my bliss' and the right job would come. I thought I was following my bliss, and nothing turned up.

I hadn't realized what I needed was to let go first, then follow my bliss. I needed to let go. Let go of what I held tightly and let God come in. Make room for grace / bliss in my life.

Release, reflect, renew our lives and open up to God's love.

God knew us from before we were born and knows us now. I offer my New Year's resolution: consider making time this year to let go of what we hold on tight, and open our heart to let God's ever present grace guide us to joy.

Taking a walk for justice

Monday is the Martin Luther King, Jr, holiday. It's a ski weekend, a sale weekend, a three day weekend holiday and lots of other things like all Federal holidays. It's a serious holiday for me: I used to live in New Hampshire which did not recognize the holiday until 1991 as 'Civil Rights Day' and 1999 as 'Martin Luther King, Jr' day; I once worked for a company that never recognized it as a Federal holiday well into the 2000's when I left. My parents, who lived in New Hampshire, worked hard to get their State Assembly to recognize MLK, Jr Day. When I moved to San Francisco in the early 90's I walked in the NorCal MLK march, right on Market Street, pushing our son in his carriage, then carrying him on my shoulders, then coaxing him on foot when he was too big to carry. It was important to remember the holiday but also Why we have this day. This day to remember the service of an ordinary man called to extraordinary acts, a man who accepted his call as a leader of the Civil Rights Movement.

“Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” (Isaiah 1:16-17)

“Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?

I will, with God's help.” (Baptismal Covnenant, Book of Common Prayer, p 305)

“There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right.” MLK Jr

Join St Cyprian's and the Union of Black Episcopalians on 11 am Monday, at CalTrain San Francisco. We'll march with our sisters and brothers from across the Bay Area celebrating the life and work of the Rev Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. Our route travels up 3^rd Street past AT&T Park to Yerba Buena Center Gardens. It's a couple of hours out of our holiday, but two hours worth remembering and celebrating the people who did the right thing, the unpopular thing and continue the cause of peace and justice in our world.

For more information about Monday's MLK Jr day events check out the web: norcalmlk.com or contact eric_metoyer AT mac.com.

see you on the corner of turk and lyon - eric

Wise Men Come

Now when Jesus wasborn in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. (Matt 2:1-2)

I met these fellows in the neighborhood; they kindly shared their photos with us.

Following the path of the Star. They travelled day and night.

A long way from home:

A neighbor kindly points the way.

'We come seeking the Child.'

'Right this way, through the doors, up the stairs and to the left.'

They seek Emmanuel, God with Us.

Come to St Cyprian's on Friday 6 January 6pm and join our screening of 'Amahl and the Night Visitors', the classic operetta about three wise men, a boy, and a journey of a lifetime. Snacks will be served.

Come join us for the video on Friday and worship with us on Sunday. You'll enjoy meeting my three friends.

peace and joy

-eric