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

Blessed Absalom pray for us!

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

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

Gabriel from the outside

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

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

New Beginnings

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

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

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

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

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

See you at Turk and Lyon

-eric

Saint Dizzy, blow that horn!

Lord, you knew me when

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

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

you know my sitting down and my rising up;

you discern my thoughts from afar.

You trace my journeys and my resting-places *

and are acquainted with all my ways.

For you created my inmost parts;

You knit me together in my mother's womb.

I will thank you because I am marvelously made; *

your works are wonderful, and I know it well.

(psalm 139 1-2, 12-13)

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

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

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

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

Taking a walk for justice

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

see you on the corner of turk and lyon - eric

Wise Men Come

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

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

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

A long way from home:

A neighbor kindly points the way.

'We come seeking the Child.'

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

They seek Emmanuel, God with Us.

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

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

peace and joy

-eric