Dear Friends, Neighbors, and Members of St. Cyprian's,    

This Sunday, as if to welcome us to the warmth of summer we read about a strange experience of wind, flames, and words ---- it's Pentecost. A seminary professor of mine,the Reverend Dr. Katharine Grieb wrote an article for Sojourners a few years ago on the significance of this story, check that out here. One of the people, some what in the background and from a distance, who has been praying and supporting our work at St. Cyprian's is Tom Brackett who works for the Episcopal Church and he posted an inspiring video on Pentecost this morning on Facebook, that you can check out by clicking here. I love the image of people being called out of locked buildings and into the world to love, care, and share. I also love watching our "little church on the hill" filling more and more every day of the week with a diverse array of people doing important things together. Yesterday, I enjoyed showing our summer Beatitudes Society Fellow, Kelsey, around the building. First, she met long time congregant Lee Dora following our Wednesday Eucharist, then she met Adrian and her huge group of kids as the Village Project finished their breakfast. Last night Kelsey joined us in welcoming nearly 30 people for our first Cyprian's Talks event, many who had never been inside our church before, some who hadn't been inside any church for a really long time. Now some might simply dismiss this as good space use. I think a lot more is going on. What we are discovering, is that sharing from our abundance is renewing of our lives. We are recognizing that there are people who have needs, that we as part of St. Cyprian's, can fill in some simple ways ---  space, time, relationship and encouragement. This sharing and opening up, this trust and accompaniment with our neighbors is helping us as individuals and a community grow and deepen in faith. As one of our Bishops Committee leaders said at our planning retreat last week with contagious enthusiasm, "I've got a life" --- our "little church on the hill" is saying together more and more "We've got a life." 

Peace,

Will

St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church

415-987-3029

turkandlyon@gmail.com

Spring Forward Work Day

this Saturday, June 11th  

10 a.m. - 4 p.m.  

It's intriguing -- or scary -- what you can find in desk drawers and file cabinets in an office that hasn't had a thorough cleaning in a very long time. Treasures and trinkets see the light as St. Cyprian's undertakes its Spring Forward workday this Saturday, June 11 from 10am to 4pm. Everyone is very much welcome to lend a hand. We're painting the office, installing new donated furniture and equipment - a copier that works! - and  painting the gallery, re-purposing the library, and dealing with clutter. Snacks, drinks and lunch provided. Stop by for an hour or more or the full day. To find out more contact michael.helquist@gmail.com

Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary student Kelsey Schleusener has been awarded a paid Summer Fellowship by The Beatitudes Society.   Kelsey will serve at St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church in San Francsico, CA from June 6 - July 29, 2011. Kelsey's work will focus on helping develop our interfaith network within the North Panhandle neighborhood of the Western Addition, assisting with the creation of a community & congregation directory, and finding ways to share what St. Cyprian's is doing throughout the city. 

Kelsey is part of the 2011 class of 20 Summer Fellows who will work with organizations at the intersection of faith and public life such as Bread for the World, Interfaith Worker Justice, Faith in Public Life, and Interfaith Power and Light.  They will participate in weekly theological reflection sessions facilitated by a local mentor.  Using a small group study specifically designed to help them learn to articulate a public faith, the Summer Fellows will explore links between social change advocacy and Christianity.  The Summer Fellows will also receive media training from Auburn Media to hone their public speaking skills. The students will be awarded a cash stipend by The Beatitudes Society to help cover summer living expenses.

 The Beatitudes Society develops and sustains emerging progressive Christian leaders at seminaries and divinity schools who will: Advocate for justice, compassion and peace; Reclaim a Christianity that welcomes all people, especially those at the margins; and Articulate a Christianity that dares to speak and act for our fragile planet and our most vulnerable citizens.

In addition to the Summer Fellowships, The Beatitudes Society provides students and emerging progressive faith leaders with resources that complement their graduate theological studies, and sustain these leaders in their first years of ministry.  Prophetic Preaching Workshops provide emerging leaders with a unique interactive process to develop their skills as articulate advocates for social change.  The Beatitudes Society recently created the Brave Preacher Award which honors the courage it takes for pastors to preach a compelling, prophetic sermon in response to tragic events such as the January 8, 2011 Tucson shootings. 

For more information about The Beatitudes Society as well as a complete listing of campus Summer Fellowship sites, please visit www.BeatitudesSociety.org.  

Gentle Flow Yoga with Peter Wong

Thursdays  5-6:15  p.m.

This class will incorporate slow sun salutations, soft movements and openings while concentrating on awareness of mind, body and breath.  This calm and gentle yoga practice will culminate in restorative poses to bring students into a meditative state. The sessions are perfect for seniors and beginners of yoga. Peter Wong is a certified yoga teacher who fell in love with the practice of yoga as his spiritual awakening began. For more information: http://peterwongyoga.com/ The classes are donation-based; the rate is $10-$15 per class. Students can pay more or less depending on what they can afford.  No one will be turned away due to lack of funds.

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