Sips: stories from

letter from atlanta, 2

2012-03-08T17:15:00.011-08:00

Bishop Barbara Harris and Marcus Halley, of the Absalom Jones Center, Atlanta University singing at the opening plenary of the Episcopal Urban Caucus

Nell Braxton Gibson, coordinator of the Episcopal Urban Caucus, receives the President of the House of Deputies Medallion for Exemplary Service from Bonnie Anderson, president of the Episcopal Church’s House of Deputies.

Emmaus House, a social service agency of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, in Peopletown, Atlanta.

Pulpit of Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta.
Here Rev Dr Martin Luther King preached.

The Episcopal Urban Caucus (http://episcopalurbancaucus.org/purpose.html) connect workers in social justice ministries from around the church, meeting annually for shared fellowship, education, service and ministry working on behalf of the unseen and voiceless of our church.

The incredible thing of the Urban Caucus meeting is the sharing of stories amongst church workers involved in social justice work, especially whilst they work on their own in parishes, dioceses, local community networks. The social justice work is a broad term for the many ways we build the kin-dom of God on earth: human rights, civil rights, economic rights, immigration, workers, education, and on and on. The work takes place in parish buildings, schools, storefronts, and is part of our call to serve God and her Church. I'm particularly remembering viewing a social services office, Emmaus House: they don’t provide social services directly but provide services they need – computer lessons, job training, prayer, birth certificates and state ID's. They were open for drop in services without bars or steel doors or thermopane glass windows keeping people out. 'You're always open' a client remarked: 'yes, we are' was the reply. That's ministry at it's best, that we are available to help one another.

Union of Black Episcopalians Western Region Conference, March 23 - 25, 2012 in Berkeley, CA.
This year's theme is Preparing Leaders for the 21st Century Church, and will take place at Easton Hall, Church Divinity School of the Pacific.
The Union of Black Episcopalians are laypeople and clergy working hard to uplift all peoples to justice in the Church and the World http://www.ube.org/. Contact UBE Chapter President Brenda Paulin (ashpau AT aol.com) for registration information and details, registration forms are in the narthex of St Cyprians)

2012-03-01T10:08:00.003-08:00

ashes part 2

our witness to the world

Let me be very very clear, I am not risking our 501c3 status on this election cycle supporting a party. Let me be also clear that the example of Jesus remains the same over two thousand years: the Son of Man who dined with tax collectors, social outcasts, healed the sick, and preached that the love of God was available to everyone, every - one of us, has a message valid then and equally valid now.

With a son's great pride I link this blog piece:

http://www.barackobama.com/news/entry/liking-what-she-never-thought-shed-see

The writer tells the story of my mother' Marie's work for their campaign as a continuation of her work in human rights. It doesn't mention her service to the state of New Hampshire nor her receipt of the Martin Luther King Jr Civil Rights award (note my mother is a truly humble woman and you'd not hear her mention these accolades).

What strikes me most about this photo is the cross on her forehead – faint, but visible. A good churchwoman, I know she attended Mass early that morning for the imposition of ashes and she wore those ashes throughout the day. Those ashes formed in the cross that is the symbol of belief in Jesus born, crucified and risen; those ashes that are the reminder of our own life and death is in the service of God, the cross of ashes the external sign of our inner grace received from God.

I write this epistle from day one of the annual meeting of the Episcopal Urban Caucus, the gathering of the reconciliation, social justice and peace ministry workers of the Church. We are in Atlanta, where 1960's Episcopalians picketed the Episcopal Cathedral and School because of their segregationist practices, a city where the Episcopal Diocese today supports incredibly active social justice ministries in undeserved and poor neighborhoods and fights for the voiceless to have a seat at the table of redevelopment. We visited Emmaus House in Peopletown, where anyone can walk off the street, without appointment, and get help connecting with social services, and Holy Comforter which for decades has been a haven for the mentally ill.

This morning a panel of civil rights workers from the 1960's and reconciliation justice workers of this decade discussed their experiences of what it meant to fight for civil rights / human rights then and now. I heard brothers and sisters describe being arrested trying to register voters in the early 60's and others the challenges of working in prisons and continuing human rights work in the inner cities Two quotes I heard:

I am demonstrating for justice now so my country's ways won't change me later.

and

Ignorance is the best indicator of original sin.

The prophet Isiah warns Israel to 'cease to do evil; learn to do well, seek justice, relieve the oppressed'. In Mark's Gospel Jesus tells his disciples: If you want to be my followers let them deny themselves, , take up the Cross and follow me'

I think of these faithful Christians in Atlanta sharing their stories fighting for justice in the name of God. I think of the ashes on mother's forehead in this photograph, symbol of her faithful witness whilst working to change the world. God's love is for all of us, and oppression is not tolerated. I think of the ashes on our foreheads last week, long faded now, which remind us to take up the Cross and work for justice, building the Kingdom of God in our world.

If you have ideas about outreach to change the world, talk to me, I want to hear them: and then, let's get to work. Here, at Turk and Lyon - and beyond.

See you at the corner --- from Atlanta --- peace, eric

ashes, ashes

2012-02-24T00:57:00.003-08:00

Blessed Absalom pray for us!

2012-02-16T09:52:00.000-08:00

Absalom Jones Founder of the African Episcopal Church

Set us Free, Heavenly Father, from every bond of prejudice and fear: Collect for Absalom Jones, priest

Reverend Absalom Jones (1746-1818) is remembered in the Episcopal Church Kalendar as first African American Priest of the Church. Jones was born a slave in Delaware and sold to Mr Wynkoop, a Phildelphia merchant. Jones married Mary King, a slave to Wynkoop's neighbor Mr King, and very quickly raised funds to purchase his wife's freedom. He correctly reasoned their children, born of a freedwoman, would not be considered slaves. Jones eventually bought a house for his family, and subsequently purchased his freedom from Wynkoop.

Absalom Jones and Richard Allen were organizers of the Free African Society and became licesend preachers of St George's Church. Jones and Allen's efforts grew the membership of St George's and they, along with white members built a larger church. When Jones, Allen and other members of the Free African Society came to worship in the sanctuary of St George's, the ushers removed them from the sanctuary floor and showed them to the slave gallery upstairs. Jones and Allen led the members of the society to walk out St George's.

Absalom Jones organized the Free African Church with Allen and members of the Free African Society. Allen left the Free African Church to found the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Jones led the African Church to join the Episcopal Church, and was ordained the first African American priest in 1804. Jones spent his life working for abolition, the protection of freedmen and freedwomen from slave catchers, and education for the betterment of the people.

In 'Causes and Motives for Establishing St. Thomas's African Church of Philadelphia, Jones wrote: “to arise out of the dust and shake ourselves, and throw off that servile fear, that the habit of oppression and bondage trained us up in."

We remember the pioneering work of Reverend Absalom Jones on February 13, and this feast day is celebrated in many Episcopal churches nationwide. Join the Union of Black Episcopalians and the Afro Anglican Commission of the Episcopal Diocese of California at our annual celebration of the life and work of the blessed Reverend Absalom Jones, priest. We begin at 18 February, 11am, at St Augustine's Episcopal Church, 29^th and Telegraph in Oakland.

Ain't nobody gonna turn me around

2012-02-02T18:10:00.000-08:00

It's me, It's me oh Lord, Standing in the need of prayer

On Wednesday night we viewed 'Soundtrack for a Revolution', a documentary about the songs sung during the Civil Rights Movement. It is part of our 'Screening the Revolution' Film series. 'Soundtrack' followed the history of the Rev Dr King and the Civil rights movement from the Montgomery bus boycott to his murder in Memphis, with movement participants sharing their stories and singing songs they sung; in addition were modern performers singing the same music. In some ways it was part documentary, part music video, but the strength of the film was the honest portrayl of a particulary brutal period of our common history. A period where non-violent protestors faced the full armed force of Jim Crow Law. As one survivor descbied it: 'they could do what they want with you, and if you turned to the law for protection, well, you found out it was the law that beat you up!'

I've seen several documentaries about this period, one of the best is 'Eyes on the Prize' – one of the great documentary films ever (watch it, it is worth the eight hours running time). The strength of 'Soundtrack' is the focus on how the music of the movement kept the protestors going. It begins with a quote of Harry Belafonte 'You can cage the singer but not the song' followed by images of men and women singing, in rallies, whilst marching, in jail. Remarkable, inspiring. In seminary we learn the importance of music in worship, the faithful gathered in song; 'Give thanks to the Lord, Sing to Him a new song...' (Ps 33). Our worship of God includes song and our theology is learned in the songs we sing: Martin Luther's 'A mighty fortress is my God (Ein feste burg ist meine Gott)' is the battle hymn of the Protestant Reformation, or 'Amazing Grace' for William Wilberforce and the English Abolitionists.

Watching 'Soundtrack' I understood how the gospel songs became the battle hymns of this revolution, the hymns that kept the faithful going. 'Ain't nobody (gonna turn me around)', 'Wade in the water', 'We shall overcome' and other songs were taught to movement workers in their training sessions; they sang in full voice which gave power to the seemingly powerless, the everyday person.

They took away everything but songs, which meant we kept our souls,' said one Freedom Rider; 'Ordinary people did extraordinary things' said the Hon. Julian Bond. Singing 'Wade in the water, God's gonna trouble the water' or 'Precious Lord, lead me on (lead me on)' feels so different now, so filled with that righteous Holy Spirit guiding us toward doing the Right Thing.

As I reflect on what we saw Wednesday in 'Soundtrack for a Revolution' I understand that when we sing our hymns in church we need to sing loudly, proudly; remembering we can do extraordinary things, and when it seems everything is lost, we still have our souls and we can still sing.

Join me now, sisters and brothers:

'Ain't nobody gonna turn me around, gonna keep on a walkin'

Keep on a talkin', marchin' on to freedom land.'

see you about Turk and Lyon for our next film: 'Black Power Mixtape', Weds 8 Feb 7pm, the church hall.

-eric

New Beginnings

2012-01-26T17:00:00.001-08:00

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

2012-01-12T23:24:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-05T13:06:00.000-08:00

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

The Big Event: Christmas

2011-12-29T16:45:00.000-08:00

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!

Interfaith Celebration of Light

2011-12-22T15:57:00.000-08:00

...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.

awaiting the light

2011-12-15T20:17:00.000-08:00

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

never looked back

2011-12-14T15:38:00.000-08:00

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.

An Ordination

2011-12-08T16:05:00.000-08:00

‘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

a cheerful giver

2011-12-02T14:18:00.000-08:00

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.

advent and thanks-giving

2011-12-01T23:16:00.000-08:00

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

A Grace Filled Parking Ticket

2011-11-17T15:46:00.000-08:00

As one addicted to my gasoline motor I routinely face the challenges of bringing my automobile into San Francisco. Driving through the traffic of the streets, my hybrid suffers the ignominy of dents, scratches, and the occasional flat tire, as well as dodging the Dept of Parking and Traffic’s Traffic Control Officers: TCO’s, meter persons, and their ticket writing capabilities. In a residential zone, every two hours I make the dance of moving my auto around the block for a new parking spot and avoiding the sixty-five dollar ticket.

One morning Doe and I worked in the sacristy. An advantage of that spot is the view of Turk Street, helpful when keeping track of the TCO’s. This particular day I lost track of time and suggested we move our cars, because it’s probably been over two hours.

Once outside we saw one car was ticketed and the other car was next in line; TCO parked in front. We approached the officer and talked with her, explained that we were working at the church and we came out as fast as we could to move our cars. The officer asked, ‘What Church?’ and our reply St Cyprian, on the corner here, surprised her. She didn’t know there was a church on Turk and Lyon. When Cyps was pointed out the officer smiled and said ‘I attend Love Chapel, and have a great pastor, and isn’t it great to know there are other believers here.’ I suggested we join in prayer and Doe led us then and there, the TCO and parking scofflaws, offering thanksgiving for blue skies, good health, and fellowship on the street corner. Community made on the streets of the Western Addition.

Such a moment of grace and shared witness happened on Turk and Lyon, I am thankful to witness and participate in that moment. I look toward the day I share witness as openly as the TCO: ‘I attend St Cyprian’s and have a great community. Come visit us.’ We’re not a secret, we have a great comunity, let the word out!

See you about Turk and Lyon

-Eric

St. Cyprian's Seminarian on Occupy

2011-11-10T13:33:00.000-08:00

These past few months I have been involved in the current Occupy protests in San Francisco and in Oakland. What started out as a small protest at Wall Street has turned into a global phenomenon with tens of thousands of people protesting in Canada, Chile, England, Indonesia, and countless of other solidarity protests from people in China, Spain, Greece, Taiwan, Korea, etc. What's been happening in the Bay Area, and in New York, is that people have begun to look at the situation around them and they have come to realized that they no longer live in a country that is putting value into cultivating healthy and happy human beings. The society around them is no longer seeing Christ within the other.

One of the main reasons for my participating in Occupy San Francisco is because I fully believe that when Christ told us to love our neighbor as ourselves that he truly meant it. He meant for us to put personal welfare and justice above all else. Above profit, greed, and malice. When Christ spoke of the Kingdom of God, and that the Kingdom of God has come near, he was speaking of a world where we no longer allowed injustice to permeate our lives. Christ spoke of a world in which God demanded justice for the oppressed, the poor, and the marginalized. Christ gave us the example to live by: that God demanded that we seek out justice, but that we need to make God's command for a just world and turn that commandment and transfix it into the flesh by actively participating in our society and try to make it better through our actions.

The Occupy protests in San Francisco and Oakland are a reminder that we need to be vested in our communities and that we need to work together as a community of people in order to make God's Kingdom of justice and mercy a reality. A reality that is greater than corporate greed and a profit driven economy.

by Jack Stephens
jack.m.stephens@gmail.com

Saints and Sermon for All Saints Day

2011-11-10T12:00:00.000-08:00

Saints before us, old St Cyprian’s on Sutter and Lyon

Thinking about the Saints, St John, and the Love Commandment

You may recall my expressing how much I relish in the realm of the saints. I had a Roman Catholic school background that included the saints of the church everywhere: pictures in the classrooms, feast day masses during school as well as the coveted days off. My throat was blessed in the name of St Blaise, St Francis’ statue in my room in high school, and a St Christopher medallion in the glove-box of my Volvo 142s. When I became an Episcopalian I was pleased to learn the Saints of the Church followed me across the Thames and their numbers grew; my understanding of who were the saints expanded beyond requirements of miracles performed to include the faithful people who lived into the challenge of what it means to be a follower of Jesus, to be like Jesus.

While praying over the readings for All Saints Day the image which returned to my mind was the saints gathered in glory – the martyrs, workers, evangelists; children, women, men – strengthened in faith to do the hard work of following the way of Jesus. He asks us to live into an upside down word of ending the divisive existence and instead live as part of a community strengthened by mutual love for each other as well as love of God. In our world today we can easily be alone, isolated, in our home, on crowded #5 bus, in hospital or at work; alone in the crowd. To be followers of Jesus is to come together in common worship and mutual support. ‘I am the vine and you are the branches…’ (Jn 15:5) is our model, ‘Love one another as I have loved you (Jn 15:12) our commandment. We are connected to each other. To follow in the way of Jesus, to do live like Christ is the calling of the saints.

Eat Share Pray 16 November

Come join us on Weds Night for a light supper, conversation and prayer. On November 16 we’ll continue our conversation about ‘Radical Jesus’.

We will take Nov 23 off for the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Join us again on Nov 30 for Eat Share Pray – the Advent Edition.

see you around and about,

eric

Sermon for 6 November 2011

Feast of All Saints (Transferred)

Revelation 7:9-17

Psalm 34

1 John 3:1:7

Matthew 5:1-12

Happy All Saints Day! On the feast of All Saints, which we celebrate today, we might ask the question What is a saint? Per the Dictionary of the Episcopal Church:

Saint: a holy person, a faithful Christian, one who shares life in Christ.

Shares the life of Christ. What is that? Are we speaking changing water into wine? Cleansing lepers? Healing the blind with a touch? Suffering, on the cross?

Yes, some of that – healing the sick, though not so much the wine. Suffering - yes, and we need help knowing how. We do have a guide on how to share in the life of Jesus Christ.

Here is a hint: a new commandment we received – from the Gospel of John

‘That you love one another, as I have loved you.’ Jn 13:34.

Simple words, seems like a simple commandment. But the followers of Jesus it is more than that, it is a rule of life. To be one with God is to hold each other as close as we hold onto God,

Share in the life of Christ. Love one another as I have loved you.

In the early church the faithful gathered in homes to read scripture, sing hymns, pray together, shared their lives and their work. The deacons went out to share their lives with the homebound, the widows and orphans and ensure the poor given succor. These house churches were centers of following in the way of Jesus. Because the early followers shared their faith in Christ Jesus, worshiping God not the Emperor / God of Rome they became enemies of Rome, it meant many of the faithful suffered terribly, even death, during waves of persecutions in the first four centuries of the Imperial rule.

Staying true to the faith was important to John of our epistle. As the early followers struggled with dissent he encouraged them to hold on as Christ followers. He wrote to in this letter it the community remain faithful:

See what love the father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. (1 Jn 3:1)

Children of God. Faithful to God. Living the New Commandment, following the way of Jesus and we will be pure with him.

Love for one another brings us together, the gift from God which sets us apart. Love for one another brings us the strength to live out the love commandment in the world, who share the life of Christ, live the way of Jesus.

Two stories of the saints called together to live the way of Jesus.

In the 1790’s St George’s Church was build in Philadelphia by black and white hands, hands united in worship of God. But one Sunday during worship, the ushers insisted the black Christians leave the church floor and move to the slave gallery upstairs, segregating the worship space. Abasalom Jones and Richard Allen lead the black worshipers out of St George’s. They formed the Free African Society, lead worship there, and Jones founded African Episcopal Church of St Thomas. It’s the mother church of Black Episcopalians.

In the late 1850’s emancipated Blacks in Washington DC came together to build a parish where they could worship freely. During the Civil War they wanted to raise funds for their church and Sunday school. The saints of St Augustine’s RC parish sent two of their members, Gabriel and Marie Coakley, to approach Marie’s employers Mr and Mrs Lincoln for permission to hold a bake sale on their lawn. The Lincoln’s happily gave permission and the bake sale was held July 4 on the White House Lawn. St Augustine’s is the mother church of Black Roman Catholic’s in Washington DC

Two churches, St Thomas. St Augustine. Two congregations founded where the faithful could worship God and follow the way of Jesus outside of the persecutions of the world, and in their Church. They are not alone: Buen Samaritano, Our Savior, True Sunshine, Christ Church; these, and other churches established by the saints before us to make that community of love, following the Way of Jesus.

My sisters and brothers, when hear the Beatitudes, do not hear them as ‘blessed are poor, blessed are the meek….’ These aren’t words mumbled for the shy, throwaway verbs and sounds without meaning, they are words Jesus gave us for courage to live as followers in his way. Listen to them spoken boldly, like this,

BEHOLD! Blessed are the poor…

BEHOLD! Blessed are they who hunger for justice…

BEHOLD! Blessed are the persecuted for righteousness sake…

BEHOLD!

Let me tell another story. A church is founded in San Francisco where Episcopalians, told to find someplace ‘you’d be more comfortable,’ a place they could worship freely. A church whose founders and their children had a vision, left their original home on Sutter Street and moved up the hill to Turk and Lyon, raising money with bake sales and bbq’s and green stamps and hard work, whose Christian love inspired them to build Saint Cyprian’s. This house of God that turns to the world outside and invites them in – see what we are doing. See the concerts, the Village Project, the 12 step programs, the kitchen that feeds us and the simply sandwiches. These saints before us, their names on the walls around us, who built the community in this church and the saints among us that make St Cyprian’s the church that with us still.

The love God gives us, that makes us one with God which the world does not know. That’s the community of saints we belong to, where love is revealed and continues to build this community of love, on Eddy and Divis, on Turk and Lyon, on the corners of the Western Addition and Panhandle, goes forth in love to Occupy at the Fed, to feed the homeless on Division St and be the sick at General Hospital and across San Francisco…

To the Saints before us, the Saints among us, and the Saints yet to come:

BEHOLD! Today is the feast of ALL SAINTS! Blessed are The Holy People of God, faithful Christians, living their lives, sharing the life of Christ!

When God’s presence is revealed among us, we will know we are followers of Christ Jesus and will sing:

‘The saints of God, are folks like us, that we want to be them too’!

-sermon by Eric Metoyer

We are who shows up

2011-11-06T15:10:00.000-08:00

Today, at St. Cyprian's before we handed out our 2012 Pledge Cards, our Junior Warden, Jarie Bolander spoke about why he generously supports the work of St. Cyprian's. In the weeks that follow different members of the congregation and wider community will share their passion about why they pledge. If you would like a pledge card digitally, send an email to: turkandlyon@gmail.com

Community is important to me. It’s through community that society strengthens, grows and thrives. Without strong communities, our society will spiral into chaos.

All of us belong to many communities. These communities form a tapestry of who we are and who we want to be. One of my communities is St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church.

I must admit that faith makes me a little uncomfortable. My rational, engineering mind wants equations, proofs and some sort of logic to the world. It’s a daily struggle to rationalize these thoughts and feelings. That’s why it’s important for me to seek out people who share in my struggle.

Showing Up Counts
My first interaction with St. Cyprian’s came about via a block party where Pastor Will and Pastor Susanna presided over a “blessing of the bikes.” In San Francisco, it’s rare for clergy to show up to a community event even though there is a church on every corner (well, at least it feels like that).

Will and Susanna showing up made a big impression on me and the community. So much of community work is showing up. By showing up, you show you care.

Showing up is what builds bonds between people that are so vital when conflicts or opportunities arise. Now, St. Cyprian’s members show up to almost all of NOPNA’s events. By showing up, they maintain and strengthen the ties to the neighborhood they have called home for over 50 years.

Faith, Action and Community
A groups manta should represent what it stands for, what it wants to achieve and how it operates. St. Cyprian’s mantra of Faith, Action and Community does just that.

By having a grounding in faith, St. Cyprian’s shows that it stands for Peace, Love and Justice.
By taking action, St. Cyprian’s demonstrates that being involved is how great things are achieved.

By building community, St. Cyprian’s becomes part of the community. All of these ideas resonate with me because doing is far better than talking, engagement trumps isolation and faith builds hope.

A Simple Yet Powerful Offer
The bike blessing was my first impression of St. Cyprian’s but my journey to the St. Cyprian’s started with a simple offer – if you ever need a priest, just give me a call. This simple offer of help, support, fellowship and friendship made a profound impact on my life.
Life is complex. You never know when events in your life will build up to a point where all seems lost, despair sets in and greater meaning is hard to find. Just such an event happened to me and my family.

Being There
Lung cancer is a horrible disease that has the stigma of being a smokers only cancer. That’s not the case at all. Over 15% of lung cancer patients are non-smokers and that number rises every year.

Lung cancer is hard to catch and even harder to treat. By the time you know you have it, it’s almost too late. That’s what happened to my mother-in-law, Margit.

Margit’s sudden diagnosis of stage 4 lung cancer shocked our family. How can someone in good health all of a sudden get cancer? Worst than that, how come it went undetected? Why is this happening to us?

In times of great stress and uncertainty, seeking out comfort becomes a priority. We struggle to make sense of events that seem like someone else’s problem. That’s why it’s important to show up and be there for people before, during and after life changing events. Building those relationships enhances our lives and makes it much easier to connect and stay connected.
Margit surcummed to cancer 9 months after her diagnosis. The months that followed were a time of great sorrow, reflection and anger. St. Cyprian’s was there to ease our grief, offer comfort and help us remember the joy of Margit’s life.

Who Do You Show Up For?
We all live busy lives. From kids, work, social commitments to digital distractions, it seems that life just keeps on accelerating. Even though we are becoming more “connected”, we seem to lose connection.

Real connections with our friends, our community and our families seems less and less even as the digital divide shortens. That’s why it’s more important than ever to show up and be there for people. That’s why I show up for St. Cyprian’s and our community.

So, give it a try. Show up. Be present in your community. Share in the joys, struggles, sadness and debate that our lives throw at us. Rejoice in the fact that people care, want to get to know you and will be there when needed. It does not matter if you are an Atheist, Christian, Muslim, Buddist, Jewish or Hindu, all are welcome at the table of fellowship to build a community that thrives.

We Can’t Do it Without You
We would appreciate your support in our objectives to strive for Peace, Love and Justice, be there for those in need and strengthen our community bonds. We have already done a tremendous amount (a short list is presented below) and have plans to do more :

• Attracted the Noe Valley Music Series
• Supported the Village Project two years in a row
• Green-scaped the corner of Turk and Lyon
• Provided support for those that mourned loss in our community
• Hosted several community meetings and events
• Fixed our Tower, which will strengthen our foundation at Turk and Lyon.

St. Cyprian’s is rooted in faith but built on community. We don’t want to provide for the community – we want to partner with it. If you share our vision of a better world, one community at a time, then help us by sharing your talents, your time or your treasure. Every little bit helps and every little bit makes us all stronger. Or better yet, show up. We would love to see you.

About the Author:
Jarie has lived in NOPNA with his Wife Margaret and dog Harold for over 6 years. He is the President of NOPNA and the Jr. Warden at St. Cyprian's. When not volunteering, he works on DNA sequencing machines in the Biotech Industry.

All Saints Day at St. Cyprian’s

2011-10-27T14:34:00.000-07:00

On Nov 6 St Cyprian’s will celebrate All Saints Day. In the calendar of the church this is the day we remember the saints who precede us. In the history of the church this day was established to remember the martyrs of the church during the persecutions, then expanded to include the remembrance of the saints of the church who don’t have feast days. Who are the saints? Faith filled people; some performed miracles, some became martyrs, some were missionaries, others translated the Bible, became lay preachers, or led the struggle for civil rights for all peoples. They all led lives which were encouraged and strengthened by their faith; so much so that their work inspire us to this day. In the epistle to the Hebrews we read:
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
Come join us on Nov 6 as we remember the saints in our lives, the ‘cloud of witnesses’ who built our church, made it grow, and guide us then and now onto the right path and run the race. Email the name of the saints who inspired you to eric_metoyerATmac.com and we will read their name in the prayers of the people.
Blessed Saint Cyprian, pray for us!

See you about the church.
-eric

Our Seminarian Jack shares his story...

2011-10-20T18:23:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone. For my first blog post on the St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church blog I figured I would announce my presence on the blog, why I will be blogging, and tell you all a little bit about myself.

I’m a third generation, born and raised, San Franciscan who comes from a family of Irish and Guatemalan immigrants. Growing up, mostly, in the fog shrouded southwestern corner of the city called the Sunset District I was raised by my mother, a nurse, and father, a laborer for the San Francisco Parks & Recs Department.

Both of my parents, and both grandfathers, were members of unions and were involved in working class politics and organizing within their respective unions. I myself became a janitor in San Rafael for four years and then began working as a truck loader for UPS where I also became the union representative of my shift back in the Summer of 2007.

I have also been actively organizing in the Filipino American community (of which I grew up on the boarders of in southern San Francisco) for many years now with the US chapter of an alliance called Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) and have been going back and forth between the US and the Philippines for the past three years; organizing with unions, youth and students, and peasant organizations.

For my blog posts, which I will write a couple of times a month, I want to focus on the intersection of community and national politics with theology while also keeping an eye on class analysis and the way theological reflection can help shape, and better, the struggle for the betterment of the working class in the US and abroad.

I look forward to my time at St. Cyprian’s and to future blog posts and would love to get some feedback from any of my readers. See you soon (on the Web).

Who is God?

2011-10-13T16:05:00.001-07:00

Hello All,
‘Eat Share Pray’ is our Wednesday night series discussing our faith and where faith intersects with our lives today. This week I’ll share comments from our group about who is God, to us, today:

God is as close as the breath we take
God is strength
God is
God is love
God the liberator
God is beyond definition or description
God offers us the second chance, always
God the almighty, creator of heaven and earth
God is a noun and a verb

Who is God in your life?

Come join us next week, 19 October, when we will discuss the Sacraments followed by a screening of the film ‘Traces of the Trade’ 26 October. Wednesday, 6.30 pm. Come share a simple meal and share your faith with us.

Sunday, 30 October, the Bishop of California, the Right Reverend Marc H Andrus, will visit St Cyprian’s at 10.10am. Do come and celebrate the institution of our vicar, the Reverend Will Scott, baptisms, confirmations, and celebrate the ministry and life of our parish St Cyprian’s!

See you around at Turk and Lyon!
Peace
-eric

The Catechism & Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth

2011-10-06T16:58:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends,
Eat, Share, Pray is our weekly dinner and conversations about our faith. This past Wednesday we talked about the Outline of Faith, or Catechism.

What is the Catechism? It is the written instruction of our faith and what we believe, organized in a question and answer format. It provides the teachings of the church regarding of humanity, nature of the God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, what is scripture, etc. In the early church requiring up to two years of preparation prior to baptism. In our Anglican tradition, the catechism ‘is a point of departure for discussion’ of our belief and practice. The Catechism is found on pp 843 – 862 in the Book of Common Prayer and online at http://anglicansonline.org/basics/catechism.html .

Our dinnertime discussion circled around themes of trust, good and evil, hope, God and faith. We talked directly about how these words of instruction are relevant in our life today. In a world where violence is on our corners, where disparity of wealth grows and poverty abounds, where common decency seems in short supply, where is God? What can the Catechism teach us that is relevant anything today?

These are good questions; bad behaviour and evil existed in the world since Cain slew Abel. What are the answers? I suggest we ponder, and pray over what God means to each of us, over our call to action as Christian people and our response as the Christian community in our world. Our answers will vary, and will bring more questions. For myself I believe our Christian hope that harmony and peace will be in the world, I believe my faith in God feeds me like manna in the desert and I pray that we find our answers and strength by following in the ways of Jesus.

Eat, Share, Pray, our dinnertime conversations about faith continue this month:
Oct 12 Who is God is in my life?
Oct 19 Sacraments, let’s talk about them
Oct 26 ‘Traces of the Trade’ will be screened with discussion following.

I want to mention Rev Fred Shuttlesworth, pastor, civil rights leader, citizen, went home to Jesus this Wednesday past. Rev Shuttlesworth fought racial discrimination his whole life; he survived his house dynamited, was beaten senseless trying to integrate high schools, and in the facing the dogs and fire hoses of Birmingham he was in the front lines. Rev Shuttlesworth worked with Dr King and the Southern Christian Leadership conference challenging racism not only in Alabama but also in Cincinnati where he moved in . In remembering Rev Shuttlesworth I also recall his comments against the passage of LGBT equality laws in Cincinnati; that he didn’t equate gay rights with civil rights is personally troubling for me. How complex the human character, he had those views yet he worked with Bayard Rustin , a gay man, and others in founding the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and in the struggling for civil rights. As a seminarian I read about Shuttlesworth and Rustin, their Christian work for civil rights inspired me to preach about God and Social Justice in the same breath. I am a beneficiary of their work fifty plus years ago for which I say ‘Thank you.’ A complex, brave, and faith filled man; God rest your soul, Rev Shuttlesworth, may light perpetual shine upon you.

See you out and about,
-eric

Doing the right thing

2011-09-29T21:04:00.000-07:00

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

Sharing our stories

2011-09-15T16:39:00.000-07:00

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.

Meet Eric Metoyer

2011-09-15T11:09:00.000-07:00

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

September-October 2011 Newsletter

2011-09-12T13:40:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Editor/Designer Jennifer Wolfe & Contributing Writer Michael Helquist, we share with you the St. Cyprian's Newsletter, Living Times.

Open publication - Free publishing - More action

Dreamland

2011-08-26T14:01:00.000-07:00

A few vignettes...

A seeming lifetime ago (i.e. before the kid), when I had an art practice, I met a sculptor who rented a corner in the same sprawling studio complex I was in. In talking about what we did outside of the studio (the place some people call “real life”), he said he worked in a hospital. Oh, doing what? “Oh, uh, I’m a doctor.”

More recently, I met someone who in the so-what-do-you-do conversation said she worked for a biotech company—her job title had a rather important ring to it. “But really,” she added, “I’m a massage therapist.” Soon after, she quit that important-sounding job to start her bodywork business, and next thing I know she’s living the happy life doing vipassana meditation, teaching fitness classes, and going on roller-blading odysseys. And she recently slept in a tree. On purpose.

This past spring, I went to a fundraiser at the AWESOME Chile Pies and Ice Cream (please go to this place and eat their food!) put on by St. Cyprian's member Michael Helquist, who had been selected as District 5’s Person of the Month by supervisor Ross Mirkarimi. Michael, a freelance writer and prolific blogger, is a force of nature with big dreams—grounded in good planning—for making his Western Addition (OK, NOPA, North of the Panhandle...) community a more beautiful and more livable place. He generously used the occasion of his award to gather his considerable network and raise funds to install planters that now beautify the sidewalk edging St. Cyprian's.

Speaking of Cyp's, our priest, Reverend Will Scott, left his comfortable position as an associate pastor at Grace Cathedral to work harder for less money because he saw the life-giving possibilities of a revitalized spiritual home at the corner of Turk and Lyon.

The Bay Area can be insufferably smug sometimes, but these stories and many more like them remind me that I am happy to live and raise my son in a place where so many people want to live in a way that is true to their higher selves and have the courage to define themselves accordingly. I like to bask in their glow!

Our family in other parts of the country think we're suckers for living in a place where it seems we'll never afford a house, but to my mind, that's a poor measure for quality of life. Give me a town of dreamers any day. —Jennifer Wolfe

Remembering, Celebrating, & sharing the story of Ruth Maloof

2011-08-14T18:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, the congregation of St. Cyprian's & numerous friends and family gathered to celebrate the life of Ruth Maloof. Each of her six children shared inspiring stories of Ma Ruth's unique journey. If a screenwriter out there is looking for inspiration, you should talk to this family! Below are the words I shared, after the gospel text.

John 14:1-6

14‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe* in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?* 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4And you know the way to the place where I am going.’* 5Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ 6Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

In the portion of John’s gospel chosen by the family for today’s service, Jesus is speaking with the community of his disciples whose hearts are troubled having realized that their teacher is about to get in some serious trouble, with the religious and political authorities and ultimately they are going to kill him. Jesus, in what I imagine wasn’t unlike our beloved Ruth Maloof’s confident, persistent, determined style, gives those disciples a serious talking to --- “don’t get me wrong,” Jesus says, you’re coming too & we’ve got some work to do. We can get to Detroit by way of Arkansas --- you know the way.

All the stories I’ve been privileged to hear about Ruth Maloof from her children, friends, and fellow congregation members at St. Cyprian’s speak of her as a woman of tremendous energy, enthusiasm, deep wisdom & courage. She was not someone who took no for an answer --- she must have found early in life that source of peace that passes all understanding --- that wonder working power of the Spirit deep within her, that makes ways out of no way, lunch cooked on the engine of a car, bon appetite, no room in the algebra classroom for her son, no worries she’s brought a chair for him. Trying to help a young person get a decent education, she’s on it. Wedding in Tanzania, her bags are packed.

That kind of confidence, that kind of clarity, that graceful persistence is a gift of the Spirit. I regret that I didn’t know her as the person who starts dancing at a party when music hasn’t even started playing yet, or the person that would entertain a friend or sister for hours on the phone with stories from her travels around the world or recognized on the street as someone who helped ensure a child got the best education possible. But even from her bed at Marin Hospital or Laguna Honda, that powerful energy came through --- this was a person to be reckoned with. Her quiet dignity --- and the swirls of energy from her family nearby and far away --- the way people’s eyes in this congregation would open up a bit bigger at the mentioning of her name --- the joy I felt pointing out her image on the wall of Ella Hill Hutch Community Center on a walk around the Western Addition with our summer intern a few months ago.

Jesus’ says to the disciples --- “in my father’s house there are many dwelling places” --- some scholars suggest that the greek for dwelling places, Monai is best translated as temporary resting place for a traveler, as in the caravans of old traveling across great distances, one group would often travel ahead to make sure there is adequate water and shelter for the whole contingency. Jesus goes ahead of the disciples through suffering and death to make room for them and us --- to ensure that we have what we need to find rest on our life’s journey. Ma’ Ruth in her life worked hard to make sure there was adequate provision for everyone, especially the opportunity to get a good education --- and now she’s dancing with the great provider --- creating space for all of us to find refreshment, and peace – and even if it’s a bit crowded up there --- “don’t get me wrong” we know she’ll make sure there’s a spot for all God’s children.

Thank you Ruth Maloof for helping all of us find the way --- for your persistence, courage and faith, for sharing your life and light. May we each be inspired to live our lives so fully, and audaciously. AMEN

2011-07-27T22:07:00.000-07:00

Well folks, this is it: the last post of my summer fellowship here at St. Cyprian's. Those eight weeks went by quickly, didn't they?

I wrote a short reflection on my time here for the Beatitudes Society, and it seemed like a fitting way to close out my posts on this blog. Here it is...

"My experience as a summer fellow at St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church has been incredibly formative. The last eight weeks, I have learned about myself, my call, nonprofit work, the greater Church, the city of San Francisco, public transportation, social justice, community organizing, data entry, networking, public speaking, how to cook for 50 people and how to give a sermon to only a few. It has been more valuable than I could ever have imagined.

Before I began my fellowship, I felt called to some sort of academic professorship in a secular university. I still envision that as my career, but my fellowship in this church has changed me – and my call – and now I know I need to have a working relationship with my church. I plan to seek candidacy through the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to work as a commissioned associate in ministry, a formal role in the Lutheran church. I would not be taking this route were it not for this fellowship!

I also have a clearer understanding of the work that needs to be done in progressive Christianity, and better yet, an understanding that the work is hard. There are a million small things that can be done, and few of them are as easy as sending an email or making a statement. Sometimes the work is uncomfortable, and frequently the groundwork falls apart. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t important, because it is.

I have gained so much from the conversations I have had with the other Bay Area fellows. Their thoughtful introspection has helped me better understand my own work, and hearing about their roles at their sites – and within the Church in general – has inspired me to work harder and have a wider frame of reference. Because of them, I can see that in my own leadership development, I will greatly benefit from regular interaction with a committee of my peers, be it formal or informal.

Thank you so much for this experience. It has been one of the best summers ever."

Kelsey's Sunday Sermon

2011-07-25T13:25:00.000-07:00

My grandfather was born in Oxford, Nebraska in 1926. He was the youngest of four children born to August and Kate Schleusener. They were a farm family in the Nebraska tradition: they grew crops. (And that’s all they did, which is a strange thing to comprehend for me, a child of the Twitter generation.) They got up early, tended the crops all day long, ate dinner as a family and went to bed. There’s an old joke that the only time farm families stopped working was for church on Sunday and Nebraska football games. Now, Grandpa grew up to be the most amazing man I have ever known – he was the president of a university, he developed technology that changed the face of atmospheric science, he’s in the Hall of Fame in two states. He’s still my greatest mentor, but for the purpose of this sermon, I want to think about him as a kid, before I knew him.

Grandpa’s father, my great-grandfather August, developed some kind of senility when Grandpa was still young. Today we’d probably know exactly what was happening to August and we’d know how to treat him, but when Grandpa was young and medicine wasn’t so advanced, there was no treatment. At the same time that August was declining, Grandpa’s older brother Dennis went to war. That meant that Grandpa, at a very young age, was left to run the family farm.

I can’t imagine what that must have been like – to absorb all of the duties of both his father and his older brother, practically overnight, as a teenager, when your ability to cope with change of that magnitude isn’t even close to developed. But he did it.

There are so many stories I could tell from that period in Grandpa’s life, but one is my favorite. I heard a lot of stories about Grandpa growing up – in fact, I always knew I had really screwed up when Dad would tell me a story about how Grandpa did it better when he was my age. Like all farm kids, the Schleuseners lived for the county fair. The year that Grandpa absorbed the farm, there was a race at the fair: you had to run the length of a football field, drink a whole Coke, and run back, and the first person back won…some kind of prize. Somehow Grandpa knew this race was going to happen and he wanted to win it. So he set up a racecourse. He measured the length of the field. He set up a glass of water at the end of the field, since they were too poor to afford Coke for him to practice with. Every day, after he was done with all of the farm chores, he ran the length of the course and drank the glass of water and ran back. This went on every day for a whole summer leading up to the fair, and of course, as you’re probably expecting, when the fair rolled around, Grandpa ran the race and he won it.

The parables in the Gospel of Matthew today are really challenging and even a little offensive at first light. Frankly I just don’t get it. The Jesus who says, “The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” – this is not the Jesus that I know and love. There’s something more there, and I can’t put my finger on it. When I read this text to Andrew, my fiancé, he said, “When Jesus says stuff like that, I just say, What Jesus?”

Here’s what I do know: Jesus describes the kingdom of heaven like a treasure, like a pearl of great value for which people will sacrifice so much. Ultimately, it’s not about the treasure, the pearl, or those who search. This parable is about the joy of the kingdom of heaven. These parables stress the great value of the kingdom and the necessity of taking the opportunity to gain it. And I don’t think they’re instructions about what people should do to gain it. I think they’re a story about what one person would do. I was on the track team in high school – I ran a few races when I was a teenager. I wanted to do well, and I practiced every day, but I cannot imagine wanting to win a race as badly as Grandpa wanted to win the race at the fair. But when I think about this story, I can taste it. I can feel how important it was, how amazing that must have been for him. That’s what Jesus is trying to describe for us. If a person is willing – is excited – to give up everything they have for something…can’t you just taste how amazing that thing must be? It makes me excited to think about it. The Kingdom of Heaven must be so much greater than we could possibly imagine. It’s so great that we will all be excited to move on from this, what we know, to what will be. And to be honest, I’m really glad that we don’t have to win a race to gain it. J

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

2011-07-23T19:42:00.000-07:00

Huge thanks to everyone who turned up to help with today's Green Turk & Lyon L(a)unch. Over 30 people showed up throughout the day to dig, plow, plant, and party. We're all exhausted, including this blogger. But the day would not be complete without especially thanking three people. First, Michael Helquist, who walked us (St. Cyprian's & our neighborhood friends) through this whole project from start to finish, managing permit issues, measuring and remeasuring the sidewalk & coordinating all the volunteers. Second, James Munden of Marta Fry Landscape Architects for his designs, vision, and hard work. And last but certainly not least, Kelsey Schleusener, our summer Beatitudes Society intern, who helped make the day happen with tons of great food, door prizes, & promotion through her friend Duncan Ramsay's beautiful poster. Here are a few photos from the day. There will be many, many more soon. Thank you everyone from St. Cyprian's & our neighborhood who have worked hard and given so much to make this day happen.

Michael (center) & James (left) with crew members

Kelsey (center) with Tommie(left) & Andrew (right)

Update: full report on Saturday and photos too are posted over BIKE NOPA

The Hungry Theologian

2011-07-21T09:17:00.000-07:00

I saw a blog once called The Hungry Ballerina. I thought it was a curious concept - the writer is a ballerina, obviously, and since she dances all over the world, she eats all over the world, and then she writes about it (and includes photos of her food). For a foodie like me, these things are interesting. Eventually my attention began to wane, but the title of her blog stuck with me. I'm not a ballerina, I'm a theologian. And I'm hungry. For this week's edition of "stories from the St. Cyprian's summer intern," I give you:

The Hungry Theologian

It's been a busy busy busy busy week! To my good fortune, I've spent most of it in the kitchen preparing for Saturday's Green Turk & Lyon L(a)unch. We're having a bake sale in addition to the other festivities, so - in taking a page from Malcom X, who said "the future belongs to those who prepare for it today" - I have been baking up a storm: banana bread, basil bread (like the photo), sweet rolls, carrot cake cupcakes, bran muffins, cookies and the like. I have a close relationship with my oven, and we've spent a lot of time together the last few days.

Part of why I love to cook is because of the uninterrupted thinking time it allows me. The recipes I follow are typically not complicated, so while I count out cups of flour or beat together eggs and sugar, my mind wanders wherever it pleases. I realized yesterday, in making these goodies, that my recipes have come from some amazing, really important women. My sweet roll recipe, for instance, is my grandmother's. The bran muffins came from my future mother-in-law, and the banana bread is Annie's - she's the mom of the girls I nannied last summer. It has been such a joy to bake and think about Grandma, Clare and Annie - silently giving thanks for their presence in my life, and feeling grateful that I get to pass on a little bit of each of them to the (hopefully vast) crowds at St. Cyprian's on Saturday.

Yesterday the Bay Area Beatitudes Fellows were treated to the Auburn Media Training, a workshop designed to help us "cultivate our preaching, teaching and writing to meet the needs of TV, radio, print and the web" (from their website). We learned the basics of media work and spent the whole day practicing what we would say in a television interview. It was so interesting! Each of us took something different from the training, and it was obvious by the end of the day that we were better on-camera than we were at the start. I wish every day were so productive.

That's about all I have for now. See y'all on Saturday for the L(a)unch, right? :)

2011-07-14T09:49:00.000-07:00

Happy Thursday from the summer intern!

It's been a good week 'round these parts.

Like I said at the end of my last post, I had the good fortune of mixing work with pleasure last week: three other Beatitudes fellows, my fiance and I took in a Giants game at AT&T Park. It was a blast! I'm so lucky that I was granted this fellowship, in part because of the other rad fellows here in the Bay Area. And while it's definitely as cold as they say it is, I think AT&T Park might actually have a better view than my hometown team's Coors Field in Denver...

Sunday morning was AWESOME. I skipped church (under the direction of Father Will) to hit up the NOPA Little Ones meeting at Alamo Square Park. There I met Jocelyn Herndon, a parent and member of the group's planning committee. We talked for almost an hour about NOPA Little Ones, St. Cyprian's, the neighborhood, and how we can all work together to make this a better place. (It sounds so cliche, but it's true!) A couple of interesting things about their group:

- they have a grant through the California First 5 initiative

- they typically have 15-20 families show up for each play group (and about a million kiddos)

- they want to be more involved with other organizations in the neighborhood, too!

I asked about a way that St. Cyprian's could provide immediate assistance for NOPA Little Ones, and Jocelyn had a quick response: loan them one or two of our extra coffee carafes on the mornings they have their meetings (just one Sunday a month). They want to be more environmentally sustainable, and using a borrowed carafe instead of the cardboard carriers they buy from Peet's is one way to make that happen. So, St. Cyprian's: what do we think? Can we do this?

Not to beat a dead horse, but...

The Green Turk & Lyon L(a)unch is approaching!!

I'm so excited for this. We have TONS of door prizes to give away, we have HEAPS of delicious food and beverages to share, and we have a LOT of neighbors collaborating or volunteering to help out! The Wigg Party is getting a jam band together and sourcing a truckload of vegetables from the Hayes Valley Farm for the meal. Yerba Buena Community Acupuncture donated some free treatments as door prizes. I'm going to be cooking up a storm next week, and Will has offered to make dessert. Save the date, because this is something you won't want to miss!

This Sunday we're celebrating Mary Magdalene in church, and my friend and fellow Beatitudes Society intern Sarah Thompson is preaching! She's working with Pace e Bene this summer in Oakland, and she's a really interesting person. I'm sure she'll have a great message for us.

One last quick note: every week at the beginning of our Beatitudes Society fellows meeting, one person leads the group in a centering prayer, and this week, I'm up. Does anyone have a beloved prayer, poem, or story that I could share with my fellow fellows?

A photo blitz!

2011-07-06T13:54:00.001-07:00

Hey St. Cyprian's!

I've been trying to craft this blog post for almost 24 hours, and it's not coming together so easily. I have a bunch of random thoughts & pictures, so instead of quilting them together, Ima just throw them at you. Here goes.

My desk at St. Cyprian's looks out over the tops of blocks' worth of buildings, trees, windows and a few flags. It's a really cool view, and I used my phone to text a picture of it to my mom on my first day of work.

I especially like those trees across the way in Buena Vista park. They're huge! Trees like that don't grow in Colorado. And for that matter, I can't think of a place this hilly (or this urban!) in Fort Collins, where I grew up; maybe that's why I wanted to share it with Mom. It's unlike anything I've ever seen. San Francisco is rad.

A word about the Brahma Kumaris Global Change event last Thursday:

I took two of my Beatitudes Society friends: Sara, who works for Interfaith Power & Light, and Dan, who's at the Ignatian Solidarity Network. It was reeeeeally interesting, and I think my friends' comments sum it up:

Sara: "Unsure of what to make of the disengaged-white-light-self-peacehood-within-LA-yoganaught-joy, they all went out to dinner to enjoy the honest lovely messiness that is Life at its finest...though they did greatly appreciate the free homemade cookies, almonds, and apricots.

Dan: "I had the church giggles the whole time."

My friend Duncan sent me the first draft of the poster for the Green Turk & Lyon L(a)unch!

I think it looks SO COOL! Planning for the event is coming along swimmingly, which brings me to another bullet and more pictures...

Have you heard of Pinterest? It's my favorite gift from the internets. It's a website where you can build - or look at other people's - online bulletin boards, which are organized by purpose or color or event. (For example: I have boards full of recipes, pictures of places and people, even "Good things to hang on to".) Anyway, I used it as a research tool last week to find some green foods and kids activities for the event. Here's a little sample of what I found...

Bite-sized caprese salads

Double-tomato crostini

Inside out carrot cake cupcakes

Homemade bubbles

Sidewalk chalk paint

What did people DO before the internet existed?? How did any questions ever get answered?

(Oh, and if you like Pinterest, leave your email address as a comment below & I'll happily send you an invite.)

Tonight, all of the Beatitudes Society fellows are going to the Giants game after our weekly meeting; hopefully we'll get a group photo and I can show you the people I'm lucky to work with this summer. I'll be honest, though: I'm wearing purple in support of my Colorado Rockies (even though they're playing the Braves today). I could NEVER cheer for the Giants! :)

Thirty days has September, April, June, and November

2011-06-30T10:26:00.000-07:00

I commute to church three mornings a week via BMW (BART, Muni, Walk), which is the subtle payback I get for not having to move myself and my worldly possessions to the beautiful Bay Area like the other Beatitudes Society Fellows did. It's a modern marvel that I can get to St. Cyprian's in 68 minutes using only my feet and a little electricity, and for a host of reasons, I love me some public transit. That said, weird stuff goes down on the 8:10 train to Millbrae and the #31 bus from Powell Street. Yesterday, for instance, the man behind me on the bus howled like a coyote for the duration of his travel. Last night, I got bonked in the face by some guy's armpit - he was taller than me, and trying to reach over my head to hold the railing, and yes, that was just as gross as it sounds like it would be. You can't make this stuff up!

Let me take a tangent here and say this: I am SO AMAZED with you people, you beloved committed life-long members of this church, and those of you who started coming a year ago and keep coming back, and those of you who have come only once or twice. SO amazed. Because most of you come from a long way away! There are so many people in San Francisco (and its surrounding lands) who don't attend church at all, let alone pick one and stick with it, LET ALONE trek all the way from San Mateo before a service on Sunday morning. You are the reason why this church is such a special place, and I stand here today applauding you for showing up, especially if it took a BMW to get you here.

Back to my point: as you might imagine, when I finally arrive at 2097 Turk Street at 9:01 each day, I take a breath and instantly feel deeply settled. Getting to work in this old, quiet church is such a blessing, especially for someone whose brain acts like a pinball (what? distractions? what? where? over there? what?). But that calm didn't last for long yesterday. As I sat down for my weekly meeting with Will and Michael, I looked at the calendar on my laptop and realized that HOLY COW, my fellowship is halfway over! The events and outings I have planned are about to happen! Most of the contacts I need to make for the online directories are, well, contacted! It's almost JULY! It made me remember the immortal words of the great Ferris Bueller:

I think it's time for this pinball-brain to stop and look around for a while.

It's been a good week here at St. Cyprian's! I've been part of a number of productive conversations and I am continually feeling more comfortable in the neighborhood. (The baristas at the Starbucks on Fulton & Masonic know my name! Two weeks ago I was just "the girl who works in that one church.") Last Friday I put all of the neighborhood schools, "green" organizations, non-profits, music shops and artists in the community directory, and Will, Michael & I finished the day with chocolate cupcakes that I baked to celebrate that my wedding is exactly a year away. Sunday morning I was late to church due to the unbelievably bad traffic through the city - I totally forgot it was Pride Parade morning! - but I saw the most amazing costumes en route, so it was worth it. The rest of this week has been devoted to preparing for our Green Turk & Lyon L(a)unch. An old friend of mine (we were on the same swim team in Colorado at 9 years old!) works for Pixar, and he volunteered to create our promotional materials, so when I have those images I'll post them here. Tonight, I get to attend the "Global Change: A Spiritual View" seminar at the Palace of Fine Arts Theater. Three of the other Fellows are joining me; I think we'll go out for a pint afterwards and talk about what we heard. It is such a privilege to be a young person in the church these days! The world is changing, and the church is changing, and we have the opportunity to craft it into the body we need it to be. There's a tension between honoring the history of the church and the people who came before us - - - and transforming this institution into something that welcomes and feeds all people. I feel so blessed that I get to live within that.

Happy Thursday! Until next time... - Kelsey

Week 3: More than just wet feet

2011-06-23T10:20:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! Already a week has passed since I wrote my last post. I totally can't believe it - time is flying! I think this summer (and my fellowship) will be over before I know it, so I'm going to try and squeeze the guts out of this experience while I have the chance.

So far that mission has been pretty successful. Today I'll give you a little rundown of what I've tackled in the last seven days, and then I have a small favor to ask of you.

Thursday & Friday of last week, I gave the new online directories a little more life. Our community directory is starting to look like a legitimately useful tool! We have more than 60 neighborhood organizations, faith communities, companies and people cataloged after just a week. Who knows how many we'll have in our database by the end of the summer?

The most interesting thing I've encountered in this endeavor is that almost all of the churches in this neighborhood lack even basic internet existence. Take a look at this map: of the 30ish churches and faith centers in our area, only seven have websites! For the others, I walked around and read the church doors to get their information (which is good exercise for me, but bad marketing for them!). I think our neighborhood could stand to take a page from our book. At last count, we have a website, a Facebook page, and at least three blogs - not to mention our developing online directories. That's unique.

The highlight of my week has been meeting with members of St. Cyprian's. I had a piece of Chile Pies' amazing lemon buttercream pie with Michael on Friday; I learned so much about who he is, the incredible life he's lived and his invaluable impact on this church. Every time we talk, I grow more convinced that we're kindred spirits. And after church on Sunday morning, I visited with Norma, who is one of the sassiest ladies I've ever met! She tells the best stories and I laughed with her for half an hour. I have short meetings set with a few other people in the next couple of weeks, and I think Will was right: this is the best possible way to get to know this church.

We've set a date for the Green Turk & Lyon L(a)unch! Mark your calendars: we're planning a party for Saturday, July 23, 2011. Check back here for more details in the next few weeks. (We'll have food, drinks, and door prizes!)

I have other events planned this summer (a table at a couple of different farmers' markets; a conversation with neighborhood parents) but I'll save that information for another post. For now, would you please do me a favor? If you're reading this, we want to know who you are! Post your information in our online church directory or community directory. We really appreciate it, and I promise we won't sell/rent/advertise your information (because goodness knows we get enough junk mail in our own email inboxes - we wouldn't want to make you suffer, too!). Many thanks. Until next time...

- Kelsey

A couple of words from the new summer intern

2011-06-15T13:49:00.000-07:00

Hello, devoted members & friends of St. Cyprian's! Hello, casual followers of the Sips blog! Hello, wide world of internet strangers!

My name is Kelsey, and I'm the new summer intern here at St. Cyprian's. The Beatitudes Society awarded me a fellowship to work with you all for the next couple of months; our plan is to build a comprehensive church directory (so you're better connected with each other) and a similar neighborhood directory (so you're better connected with the fantastic community around you!). Hopefully I'll have the chance to host a few events - conversations with young parents, for instance, and the unveiling of the Green Turk & Lyon plans - during my time here as well.

A little about me: I just finished my first year of graduate school at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary across the bay in Berkeley; next May I'll graduate with a master's degree in Systematic & Philosophical Theology. I really enjoy studying systematics - the different doctrines of theology that make up Christianity - and my ultimate goal is to teach an undergraduate comparative religions course. I'm originally from Colorado, I love to be outside, and I'm a die-hard college football fan. Lately I've been trying my hand at vegan baking and planning my wedding! I get to marry my best friend back in Colorado next June. He's pretty great, and hopefully he'll come to church with me a few times this summer so you can meet him, too.

Will & I have accomplished a lot this week (especially considering we only met last Wednesday!). We tackled a walking tour of the whoooooole neighborhood, checked out the Divisadero farmer's market (where I'll have a table with information some day this summer), got the online directories up and running, and sat through a whole day's worth of Beatitudes Society orientation. (Whew!) And even though I've been working at the church for only a week, I am already overwhelmed with how warmly you've welcomed me! I'm so excited to see how this summer unfolds, and I'm anxious to learn more about each of you and the role St. Cyprian's plays in this neighborhood.

PS: Today I got a great taste of local color! A neighborhood twenty-something wandered through the church doors and promptly sat down to play the piano (uninvited, but we didn't mind!). He entertained us for almost an hour. It was the kind of weird-and-great experience that makes San Francisco the best city on the best coast. :)

Living Times - May & June issue in the mail and online

2011-05-10T15:21:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Designer & Editor Jennifer Wolfe and contributing writer Michael Helquist we have the latest edition of St. Cyprian's Living Times below.

Open publication - Free publishing - More church

Remembering Mom

2011-05-10T08:52:00.000-07:00

On Sunday during our 10:10 a.m. service different members of the congregation shared memories of our mother's, here's one such memory from member Sandra Manning

Remembering my Mom, Annie Mae Manning (March 20, 1921 - September 24, 2000)
by Sandra Manning

"Many people don't know this about my mom, she had a DRUG problem, she DRUG us to Church, DRUG us to Sunday School, DRUG us to Bible Study, DRUG us to Vacation Bible School." (Laughter).

"But anyway, she, as a single parent of 4, (I'm the baby.) I can't figure out HOW she did it. Feeding 4 hungry kids, then our friends would come over, she would feed THEM. Talk about feeding the multitudes!" (it worked for Jesus, right?)

"Another thing about her, she was fearless. She had to go to visit my oldest sister who at the time, lived in Hunter's Point, which was tough back in the 1970's. She would ride the #42 Evans bus to West Point, packing a baseball bat (a Louisville Slugger) to my sister's house.
When people see my mom (and me with her) with that bat, they cleared a path for her (it worked for Moses & the Red Sea, right?) That was RESPECT! One person that she used to babysit said to me, 'Your Mom was NO JOKE!'"

Loving the Questions…Which Just Leads to More Questions, and Occasionally an Answer

2011-04-14T13:03:00.001-07:00

Now that my son can read, I find myself having to explain even more of the world to him, things that are not easily boiled down and for which I usually have unsatisfying (to his mind) answers.

J: Why does that poster say ‘No Strings Attached’?
Me: Oh, uh… It’s just a silly movie.
J: Have you seen it? What’s it about?
Me: No, but I read about it and it’s silly.
J: Well, why is it called that?
Me: OK, here we are! Time for school!

Last week, he pulled his children’s Bible from the shelf and read the first few paragraphs of Genesis, I think because he liked the space-explosion theme of the illustration. Why, he wondered, was there a description of the creation of the world that differed from what he’d learned about the Big Bang, the soup, and all that? I think these conversations are quite fun and present so many opportunities to discuss how and why people tell certain stories, how and why we seek to explain our world. St. Cyprian’s not being the kind of place where reality is handed to you, he’s missed certain “religious” messages, like God made everything in six days and that was that.

The boy is also fascinated by space and dinosaurs, no surprise, and we treat evolution as a given around our house. But rather than seeing all these other possibilities and variables and alternatives to God as arguments against the divine, I see them as ways to highlight Jesus’s messages about how we humans are supposed to be manifesting God’s love here on Earth. I may get struck down by lightning (or get a reproving look from the good reverend), but it seems to me that Jesus didn’t actually come here to “save” us by his own hand. He came here to tell us that we had the power to save ourselves. When we acknowledge the incredible gift of divine, unconditional love, seeing our own and others’ worth, we experience grace. Manifesting that grace is how we ourselves can help make everyone’s time here on Earth so much less trying.

That is a message I should still try to follow if tomorrow I met a dinosaur in Golden Gate Park or aliens from outer space landed in my backyard. —Jennifer Wolfe

Dinner & Conversation at Cyprian's

2011-03-30T21:15:00.000-07:00

This March & April St. Cyprian's is intentionally sharing our Lenten journey with our neighbors. We're inviting representatives from various groups working to make the city a more livable place to share their story over a simple meal, followed by a time of prayer and meditation. Tonight, we heard from one of congregation's newest members, Dale Danley of the Panhandle Park Stewards who was interviewed by long-time Cyprian member and Panhandle native Robyn Amos. Our meal and conversation takes place in the sanctuary, by candlelight. At the end of the evening guests are invited to participate in an adapted form of Night Prayer from the New Zealand Prayer Book, and a few poems. Tonight's poems were from Langston Hughes, which you'll find below:

Litany

Gather up
In the arms of your pity
The sick, the depraved,
The desperate, the tired,
All the scum
Of our weary city
Gather up
In the arms of your pity.
Gather up
In the arms of your love ---
Those who expect
No love from above.

Spirituals

Rocks and the firm roots of trees.
The rising shafts of mountains.
Something strong to put my hands on.

Sing, O Lord Jesus!
Song is a strong thing.
I heard my mother singing
When life hurt her:

Gonna ride in my chariot some day!

The branches rise
From the firm roots of trees.
The mountains rise
From the solid lap of earth.
The waves rise
From the dead weight of sea.

Sing, O black mother!
Song is a strong thing.

Heaven

Heaven is
The place where
Happiness is
Everywhere.

Animals
And birds sing ---
As does
Everything.

To each stone,
"How-do-you-do?"
Stone answers back,
"Well! And you?"

From "Selected Poems of Langston Hughes"
Vintage Classic Edition, September 1990

Equal in God's Eyes

2011-03-08T19:58:00.000-08:00

Gee, have you ever noticed that the great religious thinkers and doers throughout history have been men? I know, not a super original observation. Yes, in honor of International Women’s Day, March 8, I have some rather curmudgeonly thoughts that, nevertheless, lead me to celebrate God’s grace.

Historically significant religious women have tended to be nuns or otherwise unmarried, childless women. Jesus and the apostles may sometimes have been above certain human needs, but when they were shown hospitality, well, I’m pretty sure it wasn’t the man of the house doing the cooking and serving.

The historical Buddha? Ran away from home to escape the family life imposed upon him. I tell you, if a woman had done the same thing and eventually discovered the path to enlightenment, she might have her own worldwide religious following, but there would always be a dark side to the tale, a whispered “you know she abandoned her family...” Somehow, the dark edge gets lost in the retelling of the Buddha story.

Don’t get me wrong—I don’t begrudge what these and male other religious thinkers came up with, but the life of quiet contemplation is a luxury that was simply unavailable to any average woman living in those times. They were busy doing everything else.

A different age offers us different challenges, and a life of quiet contemplation is a luxury that seems unavailable to most parents, male or female, these days (at least where I live). This is why I am doubly grateful for the open doors of St. Cyprian’s on a Sunday: First because I am there to listen, to think, to be quiet—and it may be the only time during the week I get that gift; second, because I love being part of an institution that honors women’s talents. The Episcopal Church has brought forward many female priests and bishops. Our primate, Katherine Jefferts Schori, is a woman of great learning, sensitive intelligence, and bravery. St. Cyprian’s was honored years ago by a visit from the first female bishop in the Anglican Communion, Barbara Harris, and the church’s House of Deputies is also led by a woman, Bonnie Anderson. (It must be noted that my husband, raised a Methodist, likes to remind me that Episcopalians have not cornered the market on female leadership!)

If Jesus had started a “church,” I doubt very much he would have sidelined women in the way the early church did. Jesus certainly honored the women he encountered. In this, as in many other things, let’s keep his example in mind. —Jennifer Wolfe

Our Bi-Monthly News - The Living Times - March/April Edition

2011-03-03T16:04:00.000-08:00

Open publication - Free publishing - More san francisco

Cyprian's at Night - inspiring evening, many more to come

2011-02-12T15:54:00.000-08:00

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.

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

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

Be This Now

2011-02-09T16:13:00.000-08:00

This is the line that stuck with me from Rev. Will’s sermon last Sunday. The whole “be the change” line has become so commonplace that we barely take notice of what it really means, the responsibility that it confers on us. And, frankly, how can we think about that all the time, when volunteering even for small things outside of our weekly routine feels like trying to stop global warming. Who has the time? But, as we were reminded on Sunday, “It’s all about me” gets a whole new meaning when we read it through the lens Jesus gave his disciples and all those who heard him: You be the salt, you be the light. Sheesh, Jesus is always making it all about you.

Right now, a group of us is working to get St. Cyprian’s a commercial-grade kitchen. To start, we have decided on two uses for it: a food ministry that will prepare hot meals and deliver them to the hungry (possibly in SROs or other supportive-housing situations) and healthy cooking classes targeting specifically low-income African Americans. Most in our group have been or are now involved in such work and we know that once this kitchen is built, we can hit the ground running with some really great programs. But first we have to find the money (oh, about $150,000, give or take), get a design, get an architectural plan, get permits, have it built, install appliances, have it inspected…

Sometimes, being the salt and the light looks incredibly pedestrian. We’re sitting in meetings, we’re talking about money, we’re tired. But when I envision what we’re working toward and remember how awesome it’s going to be, I am inspired again. The work of writing grant proposals, while sometimes stressful, is a great exercise in articulating your goals and why you want to achieve them. When my spirits are flagging, I can go back to what I’ve written and remember, Oh, yeah, we’re going to build something really cool! To wit: “In the St. Cyprian’s Community Kitchen, we envision a place not only where meals are made, but where lives are changed for the better.”

Onward, then! Be this now.

—Jennifer Wolfe

Pastoral Address – St. Cyprian’s Annual Meeting

2011-02-04T13:23:00.000-08:00

Presented on January 30, 2011 at St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church

This year, St. Cyprian’s enters our 51st year in this building on Turk & Lyon Streets. On April 8th, we’ll celebrate 88 years of ministry in the city of San Francisco here in the Episcopal Diocese of California.

One of the gifts that longevity can give us is an appreciation for change in light of the big picture. Imagine for a moment what life must have been like for the founders of St. Cyprian’s in 1923. What was happening in the culture, the world, San Francisco? What hadn’t happened yet, and what lay ahead? Who was president then?

What about in 1960? What was going on around this country, in San Francisco? What was this congregation like then? What hadn’t happened yet—and what was about to happen?

Of course, this is not a history lesson. But reflecting on the past and honoring those who came before us can help us be present to our current context and more open to the future God is calling us into. What’s happening around us—in the world and in San Francisco? What hasn’t happened yet, but is about to happen?

I want to take a moment to talk a bit about this past year, 2010, and some of the things that have taken place among us. Then I’ll share a bit of my sense of where we are going together. Let me first begin by saying I feel very blessed, humbled and honored to be serving as your priest.

Last February, your Bishop’s Committee gathered at CDSP with the Reverend Ida Louise Johnson for a retreat. In Berkeley, we reflected together on our gifts and became appreciative of the abundance that God has poured out upon this community. An effort to get to know our neighborhood began, initially called Common Era. In Common Era, people from USF, NOPNA, and local businesses came together to share ideas, hopes and dreams.

In March, a number of us participated in a neighborhood walk, in which our members and other Episcopalians from throughout San Francisco walked around the neighborhood and interviewed strangers about their needs, desires and hopes.

In the spring, we welcomed over 40 college students from across the West Coast who were on pilgrimage to San Francisco. They stayed at our church, learned about St. Ignatius and Oscar Romero, and walked from here to Grace Cathedral. We also began hosting Simply Sandwiches on Friday, a diverse group that makes over 200 sandwiches a week and shares them with the hungry of San Francisco.

We also began exploring a partnership with a nearby church that no longer has a building of their own, and were inspired by their outreach and commitment to the gospel . All the while, we deepened our appreciation for this community’s unique story.

Our Living Times newsletter improved in the spring as well, when Jennifer Wolfe stepped up to serve as designer and editor.

We honored Ruby McDowell on her 95th birthday, and also baptized a neighborhood child, Lukas Kragan. We checked in with our elders, among them Ruth Maloof, Eva Webster, and Jaqueline Smith. We visited a number of members who were sick in the hospital, and grieved the passing of Icyline Thomas. And with heavy hearts, we helped our neighborhood mourn the tragic death of a visiting cyclist, run down just a few blocks up the street at Turk & Masonic.

This summer and fall we attended two street parties, continuing our efforts to get to know our neighbors. Kira did an amazing job with face painting, and Jennifer created a new colorful banner for us.

We welcomed new people into our life, some who have stepped up mightily to help us many new projects and initiatives. Among these new people are Jarie Bolander, Michael Helquist, and Tiffany Davis. We also received our first grant for a renovated kitchen.

In December we celebrated 50 years on Turk & Lyon. We were literally overwhelmed by the crowd coming from all over the Bay Area, including the retired dean of St. George’s Cathedral in Capetown. Getting ready for the party, we held a work day in which 20 people came together and dramatically spruced up both bathrooms, the hallway, and helped get things much better organized.

All of these activities were done in a spirit of collaboration, respect, and openness to the future. Together we are learning that faith is not just an abstract assent to a set of beliefs, but a willingness to trust God and each other—even the stranger. We are together seeking more fully to be a community of love incarnate, embodied, active and engaged.

What does 2011 hold in store for us at St. Cyprian’s? I think that the year ahead is going to be quite a fun and exciting adventure. In two weeks we will begin hosting multiple concerts a month in our incredible space. We will be welcoming more people than we have in years and this represents an opportunity for us to practice hospitality, which is so much a part of the St. Cyprian’s story from the beginning. More people will learn about the story of Cyprian’s forebears, and if we are open, we will learn more about our neighbors: their stories, struggles, hopes and dreams.

In 2011, we will, with God’s help, renew our kitchen. Why is the kitchen so important? Because a kitchen represents the heart of any home, what matters is not just that we feed people, but how we feed them. We will more confidently and safely be able to cook together, inviting others into the process; we’ll have the opportunity in a new kitchen to share recipes, tell stories, and build an even more vibrant community for all.

If the past year and a half have taught us anything, it is that how we move forward is as important as whether we move forward. In the year ahead, your Bishop’s Committee will be working very hard to plan ahead, to look not only at the coming six months, but create a one-, three- and five-year plan. But whether you are on the Bishop’s Committee or not, everyone can and should be part of this process. We’re also, as you saw when you came in today, creating committees to handle the work of the church. By creating committees, we ensure that the burdens, joys and responsibilities are shared more broadly among the congregation and wider community.

Before this report is complete, I want to say a special thank you every member of the Bishop’s Committee, ably guided by Bruno Peguese, who have worked so hard this past year. We have learned so much from each other, and I’m excited to continue to learn and grow with you.

In closing I want to share a section of The Color Purple that I have shared before with the Bishop’s Committee. A copy of the book was left here for the congregation by Father Markunas and this quote I think encapsulates an important message for us at St. Cyprian’s—a gift that we can give to each other.

“Tell the truth, have you ever found God in a church? I never did. I just found a bunch of folks hoping for him to show. Any God I ever felt in church I brought in with me. And I think all the other folks did too. They come to church to share God, not find God.”

The Reverend Will Scott, Priest-in-Charge

Our Community Newsletter for January-February 2011

2011-01-14T16:05:00.000-08:00

Open publication - Free publishing - More san francisco

50 years celebration

2010-12-19T20:30:00.000-08:00

Last night, nearly 100 people (from the congregation, surrounding neighborhoods & the wider church) gathered together at St. Cyprian's to celebrate our 50th Anniversary in the building at Turk & Lyon Street. We'll upload photos of the party soon, but you can easily check out a slide show featuring images from the past 50 years.

Open publication - Free publishing - More san francisco

Thank you to everyone for coming out to party and inspire the next 50 years of this unique & dynamic community's life.

Community Workday - spiffing up St. Cyprian's

2010-12-15T11:25:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday over 20 people from the congregation & the neighborhood gathered together to paint, clean, and prepare our space for our 50th Anniversary Party and Christmas celebration. Many thanks to everyone who participated, to long-time congregant & warden Bruno Peguese for making a number of trips to carry donations, recyclables and garbage away, new member Michael Helquist who organized the entire day & Will Valentine our skilled neighbor who put in hours of time prepping the bathrooms for painting.

Below is a list of the jobs that were completed. Our building, like many churches and other non-profits has much deferred maintenance but as we begin our 51st year we are working hard together to ensure our space is prepared to welcome our neighbors & partnering organizations. As we share this work we are deepening and broadening our community - making new friends, bridging a variety of differences and discovering common dreams for the future.

There's much more for us to do together, the plan is to hold seasonal workdays to keep things in good shape.

Jobs completed:

Bathrooms
Both bathrooms (three rooms): sanded, holes filled, primer coat applied to all walls, ceiling and door.
Each wall has two coats of paint with welcome, distinctive colors
A new badly needed tile floor in the women's rooms.
new much-need fixtures in both bathrooms: faucets, tissue dispensers, soap dispensers, coat racks, light coverings etc.
Holes in walls under sinks repaired
New mirror installed in men's room and women's room

Hallway Wall
two new coats of paint in accent color

Toy donation
dozens of large toys (previously donated to Cyps) were given to SFPD Holiday Toy collection

Main storage closet off community room
cleaned and sorted

Choir Loft
old paint cans removed
toys removed
100 old choir robes removed

Exterior
front doors washed
Turk Street windows washed

Community Room Stage
excess tables removed
rearranged for greater use

December Newsletter - Pass it on

2010-12-02T15:41:00.000-08:00

Check out our latest community news and events. With huge thanks to St. Cyprian's member Jennifer Wolfe for her beautiful work.

Open publication - Free publishing - More party

By next Thanksgiving a new kitchen at St. Cyprians?

2010-11-25T08:23:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the hard work of St. Cyprian's Kitchen Team there's hope that by next Thanksgiving we will have a new commercial-grade kitchen for community and congregation use. Last week, St. Cyprian's learned that we are to receive our first grant from St. Stephen's Church, Orinda. Many thanks to St. Stephen's and to our entire Kitchen Team (Jennifer Wolfe, Tiffany Davis, Gigi Smith, and USF student Madelene Parks) Read our press release. If you know of other grants for which we should apply, please be in touch.

Christ the King/Reign of Christ

2010-11-21T07:53:00.000-08:00

Check out today's lessons, what do you think of this paradoxical feast day?

faith in the midst of storms

2010-11-14T16:30:00.000-08:00

Like a lot of Sunday's I didn't write out my entire sermon word for word, but I was inspired by a visit to the Museum of the African Diaspora yesterday where I heard a recording of Howard Thurman. Thurman told a story about a young man who was sent out to collect sticks in order to build a fire, and how on a clear, sunny, and calm weather day he discovered there were few to be found, but after a storm, when the wind blew and rain had fallen hard there always seemed to be plenty of kindling for the fire. This metaphor seemed to sync well with today's gospel in which Jesus warns the disciples that following him doesn't mean an escape from struggle, suffering, and the storms of life --- but that endurance, perseverance, faithfulness in the face of all kinds of challenges is how we discover what life is really all about. The storms we face reveal what's dead in our life, and what is truly life giving. The wind and rain, the struggle helps us discover those things that endure. Thank you Howard Thurman, thank you Saint Cyprian's, thank you life for your many lessons.

Sunday's Sermon

2010-11-01T14:45:00.000-07:00

Check out Sunday's sermon about a short rich guy who climbs out of his tree and into our hearts.

St. Cyprian's October/November Newsletter

2010-10-19T10:50:00.000-07:00

Check out Saint Cyprian's latest newsletter, thanks to members Jennifer Wolfe, editor and Michael Helquist, writer.

Open publication - Free publishing - More spirituality

a night of grief, hope and community

2010-08-26T12:01:00.000-07:00

Last night, two events occurred within a few blocks from each other in NOPA. A joint gathering of Saint Cyprian's Episcopal and Saint Paulus Lutheran contemplating the future of San Francisco faith communities and a neighborhood vigil grieving the tragic death of a young German bicyclist, a large diverse group coming together to offer a collective call for safer streets. The meeting at St. Cyprian's was full of warmth and hospitality as members of these two communities young and old shared hopes, dreams and creative possibilities. One of St. Cyprian's elders made a strong point about wanting to see the church connected to our local neighborhood much more in the future. Following the joint mission night, a number of members of St. Cyprian's joined me at the vigil and candle light walk.

Many thanks to all those who put together last night's moving vigil, particularly Michael Helquist of Bike NOPA and Marc Caswell of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition. Please read more about the vigil, Yannick Linke and consider giving something in his honor to Doctors without Borders. All this information is available at Bike NOPA and on the SF Streets Blog.

Saint Cyprian's is blessed to be part of an eclectic, dynamic neighborhood community who are helping our little church find all sorts of ways to be an active and meaningful participant in their lives.

Below you'll find the remarks I prepared for the event though I ended up speaking with out notes.

We gather this night in mourning and sorrow for the tragic loss of two people, Yannick Linke, a traveler from far away and Melissa Dennison, a neighbor. We gather to honor them, and also to gain strength for the difficult work of making our streets safer for all, bicyclist, skater, pedestrian, transit rider and driver. We come to this intersection not just because something horrific happened here, but also because we understand that Yannick’s recent death invites us to recognize ourselves as part of a common fabric, that we are intricately connected with one another. This tragic loss of these young lives have called all of us no matter where we are from, or what our mode of transportation to take greater responsibility for the well being of others.

As the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr, said,
“We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality; tied in a single garment of destiny.”

Tonight, we together acknowledge the vulnerability of human life, we come made aware that our local decisions to look out for one another have global implications. The choice to reach out to our neighbors, to mourn the loss of a bright eyed young traveler at this intersection, to work together for safer streets is a step toward not simply a better neighborhood in San Francisco, but literally sends ripples of love, solidarity and compassion all over the world.

May the Holy One, of many names, and traditions to whom all the desires of our hearts are known before we ask, hear our prayers for Yannick and for all who mourn, and grant us newness of life and peace. AMEN

working together for safer streets

2010-08-23T11:17:00.000-07:00

St. Cyprian's will join our neighbors on Wednesday evening for a Candlelight Walk and Community Vigil mourning the death of a visiting cyclist and nurturing support for safer streets.

The following information was forwarded to us from a church neighbor today,

A candlelight walk will proceed from a local school a block away from the collision site and gather at the intersection of Masonic and Turk in remembrance of Yannik Linke. The tragic death of the young visitor to San Francisco and the circumstances of the hit-and-run collision have shocked and saddened neighbors, bicyclists, city officials, and everyone concerned about safety on city streets. Representatives from community organizations will speak at the memorial and comments from others will be welcome.

We will also remember our neighbor, Melissa Dennison, who was tragically struck while crossing the street at Fell and Broderick less than a year ago.

The tragic deaths of these two young people underscore the importance of creating safe streets for everyone to use. Please join your neighbors in solidarity for safer streets.

Wednesday, August 25th, 8pm
Meet at San Francisco Day School courtyard, 350 Masonic @ Golden Gate Avenue

The walk will proceed on the sidewalk up Golden Gate Avenue to Turk Street, cross Turk
and gather at the site of the collision.

For more information please visit Bike NOPA and SF Streets Blog

The Reverend Will Scott, Cathedral Missioner to St. Cyprian's spoke with Brian Goebel of SF Streets Blog last week.

what's happening?

2010-08-19T10:38:00.000-07:00

Last night 25 people from St. Cyprian's Episcopal and St. Paulus Lutheran gathered together to share food and stories about the history of these two unique San Francisco congregations. We also spent time getting to know one another sharing what we sense God doing in our lives both individually and collectively. This Sunday, we will hold our third joint worship service and next Wednesday we'll engage in another evening of exploration. A number of participants commented on how these two congregations similarly were founded many years ago with a mission to serve very particular groups of people and are now intentionally striving to be welcoming communities for all. There's much to learn, many more conversations and stories to share. The striving of these two communities to be present to one another, to listen, share and trust across great differences are themselves inspiring practices. Many thanks to all who participated, to the planning team from St. Cyprian's and St. Paulus who put together these events.

Welcome!

2010-08-17T13:46:00.000-07:00

Saint Cyprian’s Episcopal Church has been a member of the San Francisco community for over 80 years. We are a small but passionate group of seekers and worshipers from many walks of life. We hope you can come join us on Sundays and throughout the week.

This new blog is yet another way we hope to connect with our neighbors, friends and members. Thanks for checking us out. More soon!

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