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Dear friends, neighbors, and members of St. Cyprian's,
This week our Palm Sunday service began outside. As we gathered on the corner, we were handed branches gathered by St. Cyprian's member Dale Danley on one of his many days caring for our neighborhood park. Fortunately for us northern Californians, we don't need to order branches shipped in a box from elsewhere. Our local branches came from an eclectic array of plants, which made for lots of interaction and curiosity as we waited to shout Hosanna. The homily given by Adrian Williams, Executive Director of The Village Project, an after school program for youth of the Western Addition, continued to deepen our community's connection with our context and challenged us to contemplate what it might mean to become "little Christs" in this time and place.
Throughout scripture, we are often given specific geographic details about locations, towns, wells, homes, mountains, caves, and bodies of water. Place matters in scripture, does location matter in the same way today? If modernity sought to make all places the same place (i.e. shopping malls, chain restaurants, suburbia), is humanity now moving towards a greater appreciation for the local and indigenous? During our Lenten series one person observed that if our beloved Golden Gate Park were returned to its natural state we'd have hardly anything left but sand dunes. A compromise offered for the Panhandle Park is to have displays of indigenous, local plants demonstrating their value and significance. Perhaps this is evidence of postmodern yearning for authenticity, balancing both a desire to preserve an historic (and modern) park with a contemporary green appreciation for the local? Lots of uncomfortable questions that remind me of a saying I read not long ago by the famous rabbi, Abraham Joshua Heschel:
"The true motivation for prayer is not, as it has been said, the sense of being at home in the universe, but rather the sense of not being at home in the universe. Is there a sensitive heart that could stand indifferent and feel at home in the sight of so much evil and suffering, in the face of countless failures to live up to the will of God? On the contrary, the experience of not being at home in the world is a motivation for prayer."
As we together make our way "to the place called the skull" we are made uncomfortable in the universe. We are asked to pay attention to the cruelty and injustice of the world and within ourselves--we can't get much more local than our own hearts. We, in solidarity with all who suffer and struggle, cry out, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom."
 See you soon at Turk & Lyon.
Peace,
Will
St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church
415-987-3029
turkandlyon@gmail.com
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Holy Week & Easter at St. Cyprian's
Join us as we engage this sacred story of struggle, grief, hope, and joy.
April 21
Maundy Thursday 7 p.m.
contemplate the words and actions of Jesus with his followers before being executed
April 22
Good Friday 7 p.m.
meditate on Jesus' suffering and death
April 24
Easter Sunday 10:10 a.m.
celebrate the joy of God's death-defying love
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Dinner & Conversation, Thank you!
Thank you to all guests, hosts, and participants in our Dinner & Conversation series at St. Cyprian's. Each week during Lent neighbors, congregation members, and friends gathered for a simple meal, conversations about livability in the neighborhood, and Night Prayer. Topics ranged from supporting local businesses, caring for the panhandle park, making our streets safe, and biking for community. Stay tuned for more Wednesday evening programs in the coming weeks.
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Cyprian's Community Kitchen Update
New Website Launched, donate online today
Thanks to the work and skill of Andy Sakhrani, St. Cyprian's USF School of Business and Professional Studies intern the Cyprian's Community Kitchen Project now has a website and online video. Check it out and pass it on.
http://cyprianscommunitykitchen.org/
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Happy Birthday Ruby McDowell !
The congregation of St. Cyprian's wishes a very Happy Birthday to one of our elders Ruby McDowell. Mrs. McDowell celebrated her 96th year yesterday at home with her family and friends. She was presented with a card and plant from the congregation by St. Cyprian's pastor.
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An Evening of Song: Call for Singers
Do you have a favorite song you've always wanted to sing in public? Perhaps the one you wrote, an old standard, or one inspired by the themes Spring Break or Busting Out or something completely different of your own choosing? Cyprian's has the performing space with full production services ready for you on June 4th. All levels of experience welcomed.
Sing a cappella, accompany yourself, or perform with Joshua Raoul Brody at the piano or accordion or go for the full band treatment (guitar, bass and drums). Sound, lighting and promotion provided at no cost. All will take place at San Francisco's new venue, Cyprian's at Turk and Lyon on Saturday, June 4th, 8pm. Merle "Ian Shoales" Kessler will host the evening. The event is part of the SF Live Arts music series at Cyprian's.
More info at http://liveatcyprians.blogspot.com/
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SF Live Arts at Cyprian's Sat. May 14, 8PM Gospel Night with MEN OF ENDURANCE FRET NOT Rural mountain gospel meets urban "soul music" gospel in an evening guaranteed to "raise the roof!" With four powerful voices (lead by Pastor Kenny Mason) and backed by a dynamic rhythm section, Men of Endurance captures the blues and soul sound that influenced artists such as Little Milton, Wilson Pickett, James Brown, Jackie Wilson and many others. Performing at blues festivals, as well as gospel festivals, all over the west, they received the 2004 Gospel Singing Award from the Bay Area Blues Society. Lead by Lori Arthur's intense and fiery singing, Fret Not plays old-time, boot-stomping roots gospel with songs from the traditions of America's white and black rural churches; backed by fiddle, bass, guitar and banjo. $13adv/$15door
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Help St. Cyprian's Sing!Recently the Bishops Committee of St. Cyprian's Church approved a job description for a new position we're calling the "Worship Music Coordinator." Please share the link below with those you know who may be interested in helping us build community through song. This is an ideal job for someone looking for a part-time job, a student or a retired person. http://www.saintcyprianssf.org/jobs/
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 Bi-Monthly Newsletter Available Online
Stay connected to all that is happening at St. Cyprian's by reading our bi-monthly print newsletters online. |
| Saint Cyprian's Episcopal Church has been a member of the San Francisco community for over 87 years. We are a passionate group of seekers, thinkers, dreamers, doubters and believers from many walks of life. We hope you can come join us on Sundays and throughout the week as we together seek to be a people of faith, action & community. |
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