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
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Thursday, October 6, 2011
The Catechism & Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth
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
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
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Doing the right thing
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
a) The first son replied with respect, he didn't backtalk, he respected the authority of his father. I think of times when my son said 'Yes' and didn't do his chore, or when I said 'Yes' and didn't do my chores, or some of them. Saying 'Yes' is a reply that shows respect to the requester. Not living up to my obligation does not show respect, but that shows sometimes talk is cheap.
b) The second son 'I will not' does not show his father respect, I'd say it was rude. As a father, I'd notice that tone of voice quite quickly and might not have a gentle, Christian response to it. However, the son who says 'NO' is the son who went out and did the work anyway, he changed his mind and did the right thing.
The hard part about parables is the answer is not as easy as it looks. If there was option 'c', the son who says 'YES' and does the work; we'd all have our answer and go home happy. But the parables don't work that way; there is the twist to the story.
The twist is metanoia, a Greek term meaning 'change the way' or 'change the course.' In my younger years I spent time on boats and with boaters. On a boat when you move the tiller or turn the helm the boat makes the turn, gradually. The course changes but not immediately, it may take a bit for the turn to happen. It may not seem like it, but it does.
That changing the course, metanoia, is what Jesus teaches in the parable. The people who say 'yes, yes', make the proper motions and gestures, they look like they're doing the right thing. At the end of the day they didn't do the work, they didn't change. The people who said 'NO', but later changed their ways; metanoia, changed their course in life - those are the people who heard and reacted to Jesus' message. The Gospel passage speaks of prostitutes and tax collectors, the society outcasts, as the ones who followed Jesus because of metanoia. As the person in the fancy long black robe on Sunday (like a temple elder), telling the story and preaching, I have to think hard: which son am I? Am I changing my course?
This week let us consider the invitation Jesus makes to change course as we live in our world today.
Peace and blessings this week. See you about church.
From Eric Metoyer, St. Cyprian's Intern
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Sharing our stories
St. Cyprian's Oral History Project:
The story of a community and a neighborhood
We all have stories to tell. Your stories and the stories of the people around you are unique and valuable treasures for your family, and for your community. These stories, these oral histories, open up new views of the past, by turning history inside out: history is not only to be found in dates and key events, but also in the memories of people who witnessed or lived through them.
The history of St. Cyprian's is a fascinating collection of stories of community and neighborhood: from its origins in the early 1870s, when a group of Black Episcopalians gathered together to form a new church; to the completion of the Panama Canal, when West Indian laborers from that project, born and raised in the Church of England, began migrating to California; to the completion of the building on the corner of Turk and Lyon Streets, marked by its first service in 1960; though the enormous changes of the 60's and 70s, and the decades that followed.
We'd like to know who you are, how you came to join St. Cyprian's, and what changes you have experienced and seen in the church, the neighborhood, and in San Francisco. How long have you been part of St. Cyprian? How many family generations are connected with St. Cyprian's? How many family members have attended St. Cyprian's (former and current)?
Through St. Cyprian's Oral History Project, our goal is to discover and preserve unwritten histories, large and small; to engage with the past through specific and personal experience, and by doing so, understand in a deeper and more resonant way, who we are.
On scheduled Sundays throughout the coming year, we invite you to share your stories with us, directly following the service. We will also reach out to elders in the community, through visits to their homes. We welcome your ideas, advice, support, and help.
Rebecca Nestle (rebeccanestle@gmail.com)
& Doe Yates (doedeartoo@sbcglobal.net)
About Rebecca Nestle:
Rebecca is a Bay Area native and has lived in the Western Addition since 1991. She was trained as a theatre stage manager, and has worked as a production manager and producer for many years, most recently at American Conservatory Theater and at Grace Cathedral, where she produced The Forum with Alan Jones for two seasons.
About Doe Yates:
Doe was born in Edwards, MS & in 1959, she moved to San Francisco to attend the Louise Salinger Academy of Fashion and graduated with a credential in Dress Design, Pattern Making, Fashion and Modeling. Doe remained in San Francisco and ultimately was confirmed to the Episcopal Church in 1962 at Grace Cathedral by The Rt. Rev. James A. Pike, Bishop of California. She was employed in various departments of the U.S. Federal Government until retirement in 2009. Doe’s hobby is gardening. She grows a sustainable garden on her patio. Vegetables include are Mustard, Turnip, Collard, Cabbage, Broccoli, Green Beans, Artichokes, Carrots and Tomatoes. Fruit trees include Lemon, Orange and Tangerine. She grows enough to eat, some to freeze and some to share.
The story of a community and a neighborhood
We all have stories to tell. Your stories and the stories of the people around you are unique and valuable treasures for your family, and for your community. These stories, these oral histories, open up new views of the past, by turning history inside out: history is not only to be found in dates and key events, but also in the memories of people who witnessed or lived through them.
The history of St. Cyprian's is a fascinating collection of stories of community and neighborhood: from its origins in the early 1870s, when a group of Black Episcopalians gathered together to form a new church; to the completion of the Panama Canal, when West Indian laborers from that project, born and raised in the Church of England, began migrating to California; to the completion of the building on the corner of Turk and Lyon Streets, marked by its first service in 1960; though the enormous changes of the 60's and 70s, and the decades that followed.
We'd like to know who you are, how you came to join St. Cyprian's, and what changes you have experienced and seen in the church, the neighborhood, and in San Francisco. How long have you been part of St. Cyprian? How many family generations are connected with St. Cyprian's? How many family members have attended St. Cyprian's (former and current)?
Through St. Cyprian's Oral History Project, our goal is to discover and preserve unwritten histories, large and small; to engage with the past through specific and personal experience, and by doing so, understand in a deeper and more resonant way, who we are.
On scheduled Sundays throughout the coming year, we invite you to share your stories with us, directly following the service. We will also reach out to elders in the community, through visits to their homes. We welcome your ideas, advice, support, and help.
Rebecca Nestle (rebeccanestle@gmail.com)
& Doe Yates (doedeartoo@sbcglobal.net)
About Rebecca Nestle:
Rebecca is a Bay Area native and has lived in the Western Addition since 1991. She was trained as a theatre stage manager, and has worked as a production manager and producer for many years, most recently at American Conservatory Theater and at Grace Cathedral, where she produced The Forum with Alan Jones for two seasons.
About Doe Yates:
Doe was born in Edwards, MS & in 1959, she moved to San Francisco to attend the Louise Salinger Academy of Fashion and graduated with a credential in Dress Design, Pattern Making, Fashion and Modeling. Doe remained in San Francisco and ultimately was confirmed to the Episcopal Church in 1962 at Grace Cathedral by The Rt. Rev. James A. Pike, Bishop of California. She was employed in various departments of the U.S. Federal Government until retirement in 2009. Doe’s hobby is gardening. She grows a sustainable garden on her patio. Vegetables include are Mustard, Turnip, Collard, Cabbage, Broccoli, Green Beans, Artichokes, Carrots and Tomatoes. Fruit trees include Lemon, Orange and Tangerine. She grows enough to eat, some to freeze and some to share.
Meet Eric Metoyer
Eric Metoyer is serving at St. Cyprian's this fall, he is a candidate for Holy Orders in the Episcopal Diocese of California.
Eric recently received the Masters of Divinity Degree from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, focussing his studies on Liturgy and Parish Administration. He was a Clinical Pastoral Education intern at San Francisco General Hospital this past spring and served two years as Field Education seminarian at Holy Cross Episcopal Church, Castro Valley.
Eric feels a strong call to parish ministry. He says: 'The parish is the cornerstone of Christian Life in our community. We are called to worship together, and, are called to be active members of the community around us. I look forward to participating in the life
and work of the St Cyprian's community.'
Eric serves the diocese as chairman of the Afro-Anglican Commission, co-chair of the Racial Reconciliation Task Force (investigating African American Slavery in the Diocese) and member of the Multi Cultural Commissions Roundtable. He is a candidate for Holy Orders, sponsored by St Mary the Virgin parish, San Francisco. He is also active as a corporator of Lyndon Institute, Lyndon, Vermont, and Synergy School, San Francisco.
Eric was raised in New England. He attended high school in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom and graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts. He lived in Boston prior to moving to San Francisco. Before he entered ministry Eric worked in construction management for small and large engineering firms.
Eric lives in South San Francisco with his wife and son. In his spare time he is a model railroader, reads histories,and follows the fortunes of Cal Football.
Below Eric shares a bit about his first week with us at St. Cyprian's:
It has been a wonderful first week at St Cyprian’s on the corner of Turk and Lyon. I’ve toured our church from basement kitchen to choir loft above and met members over the telephone and at worship. When I sat and prayed I saw the streaming the blue, purple and red of the stained glass come into the sanctuary, I felt right in the presence of God. ‘Shout with joy to the Lord, all you lands, lift up your voice, rejoice, and sing,’ wrote the psalmist. I sense the saints who preceded us inside these walls joining us in song and worship
Come to Turk and Lyon: come for the singing, come in for community, come for the worship. Visit St Cyprian’s! You know where we are, we’d love to have you here.
See you on Sunday! Peace, Eric
Monday, September 12, 2011
September-October 2011 Newsletter
Thanks to Editor/Designer Jennifer Wolfe & Contributing Writer Michael Helquist, we share with you the St. Cyprian's Newsletter, Living Times.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Dreamland
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!
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