Cyprian's Weekly News

signs

photo by Michael Helquist

St. Cyprian's Leadership

New Bishops Committee members were elected a few weeks ago at our Annual Meeting, read about them and some of our other committed and hardworking leaders below (still waiting for a few bios to be submitted).

Recently elected...

Jarie Bolander

Jarie has lived in Nopa with his wife Margaret and their dog Harold since 2004. He has been on the NOPNA board since 2007 and now serves as president. An engineer by training and an entrepreneur by nature, he is presently working on breakthrough technology that will help reduce medical errors and improve the quality of life for humanity. When not volunteering or at his day job, he can be found running or biking through the park or swimming in the bay.

Jarie is honored to be on the St. Cyprian's bishops committee and is excited about what the future holds. Community is important to Jarie and being able to use the resources we have to better the spiritual and physical life's of our extended family is going to be fun.

Jennifer Wolfe

Jennifer serves as the communications coordinator for St. Cyprian's, designing and editing the newsletter, writing grant proposals, blogging, and doing media outreach. She is eager to see St. Cyprian's become a vibrant center of community life, with food ministry being a particular area of interest. In her professional life, she serves as the Director of Communications for Saint Mark's School in San Rafael. Jennifer and her son, future acolyte and avid baker Jonas, have been members of St. Cyprian's since December 2009. Jonas currently prepares snacks for church from Play-Doh but will grow into volunteering as a cook with the food ministry program upon completion of the church's commercial kitchen.

Michael Helquist

My roots are in the Pacific Northwest in so many ways. I was born in Portland, Oregon, and part of me is always yearning for the outdoors, the forests, desert and ocean. But also for the buzz and edginess of the city: New York, San Francisco, Paris. I have worked as a freelance journalist, community health administrator, neighborhood advocate, and historian. In the late-1980s I directed an international AIDS prevention and communication program funded by the State Department. San Francisco has been my home base for 30 years. The last ten years I have shared a home in the North Panhandle neighborhood with my partner, Dale Danley. He and I keep taking each other in new directions: bicycling, gardening, volunteering (too much), habitat restoration, a deeper spirituality, and most recently community-building at St. Cyprian's.

My first contact with St. Cyprian's was 13 years ago as part of a neighborhood tree-planting project. I was impressed with how the congregation engaged the community then. In 2009 I organized a neighborhood block party, and St. Cyprian's pastor bestowed a bike blessing there. As a former Catholic seminarian - a very long time ago -- I decided to learn more about the congregation's commitment to faith, action, and community. St. Cyprian's has become an essential part of my search for a diverse, inclusive, and challenging community.

Continuing to serve...

Bruno Peguese, Senior Warden

Born in Jackson Ms. in 1950. Moved to SF in 1959. Educated in San Francisco. Received a BA degree from University of San Francisco and a Law Degree ( JD.) from Kendrick Hall University of San Francisco. Worked as a Public Defender for a number of years before entering the private sector practice of law. Worked for a number of firms in SF , the largest being the Law Offices of Arnelle and Haste who specialized in Real property; Land use and various civil matters. Entered into transportation in the early 1990s where I was a member of the team who acquired the property to extend BART to the Airport. In the early 2000s I joined BARTs' property development team whose focus is on development of communities around transit (Transit Villages). Sheila , my wife and I met in college.; We were married in 1979 by Fr. Allan Ford, then Vicar of St. Cyprian's Church. We have been devout members of the church since 1978. I have served on the vestry for more than 24 years and active in church events and activities for even longer I have served on several committees at the Diocese and have served as a board of Governor for the Orlohoff house for many years. I am a close friend to Bishop Swing. Today I continue to play and active role in church affairs and plan to continue.

Robyn Amos

Mother, educator, third generation San Franciscan and forever member of St. Cyprian's. I am an Episcopalian by choice who seeks to serve God and find His light in everyone. My eclectic interests bounce from classic movies to aphids to salsa dancing on the beach and singing in the rain. Being a part of the St. Cyprian's Family provided a lens and a path for deepening my spiritual growth and beliefs. Our journey continues to nurture and challenge me each step of the way.

Gigi Smith

Gigi is originally from Alabama but grew up in Ohio. She came to the Bay Area of California in 1983 and worked at the Airport Safety Office for 18 years, where she met her husband, Jim. Gigi and her family began attending St. Cyprian's after her daughter Kira was born in 1999. Gigi is an instrumental part of the Kitchen Team and is coordinating concessions for our regular concerts.Gigi has been cooking her whole life, and has 13 years of professional experience in the culinary arts.

Next week...

we'll have bios for two additional long serving leaders,

Norma Planiczka & Willie Collie