|
|
| Dear Friends, Neighbors, and Members of St. Cyprian's,
Last night after returning from our first Eat. Share. Pray. evening at St. Cyprian's, I started observing innumerable friends posting on Facebook in response to the execution of Troy Davis. Here's a sampling of those that appeared on my screen:
Just a question: How come the majority Catholic Supreme Court seems so eager to overturn Roe v Wade, but doesn't seem particularly eager to slow or stop the death penalty? Prayer for Tonight: "We repent of the evil that enslaves us, the evil we have done and the evil done on our behalf." "An evil deed is not redeemed by an evil deed of retaliation. Justice is never advanced in the taking of a human life. Morality is never upheld by a legalized murder." -- Coretta Scott King
Prayers #TroyDavis and his family, and for those who will kill him. Killing is not justice. And all the debate means there is a shadow of a doubt, so the system isn't working, either. Sad day for Justice.
Why do we kill people who kill people to show that killing people is wrong?
Our conversation over the meal last night centered on the question, "why the church, and what's going on with the church, and how did we get here, and does it really matter?" Each of us had different answers. My answer is that the sadness and anger I felt about the injustice that happened in Georgia makes me care more about the work we're doing here together at St. Cyprian's.
The church (and by this I mean everything from the Orthodox and Catholic to the extreme Protestants, Anabaptists, megachurches, Quakers) is complicated, messy, fragmented and confusing. The Episcopal Church, at its best, seeks to live in the middle somewhere. We're both Catholic and Protestant. Some of us live on one side of that spectrum more than the other. We together try to live in the middle. We stay connected to each side of the spectrum: we talk regularly with Catholics and with evangelicals.
I'm not an Episcopalian because it is my cultural heritage (though it is on one side, the other side has some extreme Protestants and colorful poor rebellious heathens). Nor am I an Episcopalian because I'm an Anglophile--I'm not an Anglophile, though I like some Brits like Doctor Who, the Beatles, the Smiths, Virginia Woolf, Agatha Christie and Edward Carpenter. Nor am I an Episcopalian because I like organs & choral evensong (though I did learn to appreciate these more and more while working at the cathedral).
The Episcopal Church that I love--the one that I think the life of St. Cyprian's represents--is engaged dynamically with contemporary culture, and seeks to celebrate the gifts of God's diverse world. The Episcopal Church I love is liturgical (meaning engages in ancient rituals and practices like communion and communal singing) without being stuffy or snobby. The Episcopal Church that I love seeks to be a transformer of culture -- not by force but by creative engagement and participation in the world and politics. One Episcopalian who exemplified this engagement was Frances Perkins, the first woman on a Presidential Cabinet who by her efforts (and other Episcopalians like the Roosevelts themselves) created Social Security and many other aspects of the New Deal. Another is the Right Reverend Katharine Jefferts Schori, the first woman Bishop and Primate in the Anglican Communion.
The Episcopal Church that I love believes strongly that we have something important to offer the world, but not arrogantly. We try to take the gospel seriously. We seek to listen to the heart of Jesus and create spaces where all people are invited to ask, explore, and engage the Christian story without judgment.
I like Maya Angelou's statement that rather than claiming to be a Christian, she says "I'm becoming a Christian." I interpret this to mean that this is an ongoing adventure on which Maya, like all of us, has still got lots of learning and changing to do. I believe it's possible to claim that identity--meaning to seek to follow the teachings and Spirit of Jesus--without condemning or setting it over and above other faiths. I am married to a non-practicing Jew (and I don't and have never prayed that he becomes an Episcopalian or a Christian, though I do sometimes nag him about practicing Judaism, because there are some very cool synagogues in this city).
Hopefully we want people to be part of this church (or even just hang around it) because we are truly curious about the gifts, traditions, stories, challenges, changes and questions they may bring, not because we want to make them like us.
So my prayer on this day, along with my friends who are also so frustrated and angry about the killing of Troy Davis is that we together reaffirm our faith and our efforts for a more just society. May we seek with greater purpose to be followers of the nonviolence of Jesus and together creatively engage with the world, witnessing to God's transforming love, mercy and grace. We've got work to do inside and out --- and we are still becoming...
See you soon at Turk & Lyon!
Peace,
Will
St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church
415-987-3029
turkandlyon@gmail.com
|
Eric Metoyer reflects on our Patron Saint Cyprian of Cathage
One of the many reasons I love our Church is that we celebrate the saints before us. The amateur historian in me enjoys learning about their lives and the times they lived, the churchperson seeks inspiration in their Christian example.
Our stained glass windows feature St. Cyprian of Carthage on the door near the altar of the church. Gazing upon him we see his crozier and mitre. the staff and hat symbolize the office of bishop of thechurch. He wears the cope of the bishop and one hand is raised in blessing. His bearded face has a hint of a smile. Surrounded by the oblong shades of blue glass, he seems to float in the background of sky behind him. When I sit in prayer my vision is drawn to the bearded bishop of Carthage with hand raised in pronouncing a blessing. He is a fine patron saint. Cyprian cared for his city in times of persecution and plague, using his own wealth to support the persecuted and aid the sick. During a time when Carthaginian church was divided, his counsel was to forgive the faults of others and for everyone to come together. His desire for the common good and his care for the people was deeply held. Looking at Cyprian in the window, I think how well he would fit in our community. During our Wednesday night discussion we talked about basics of faith and what brings us to Church; one answer was the sense of community. I feel that at St. Cyprian's, a community which greened the sidewalks, helped paint our interior rooms and contributed to the hands for peace banner in the sanctuary. I think he'd enjoy our discussions on faith and bless the work we do reaching out to our neighborhood. When I walk out of the church tonight, I'll pass by St. Cyprian, his hand held up, looking into the sanctuary. Help guide us, St. Cyprian, as you did your people in Carthage. Help grow our common life, keep us safe and secure in our faith, and may we be witnesses of justice in our community.
See you around the church. -peace -eric
P.S. Read more from and about Eric on our blog.
|
St. Cyprian's in last Sunday's
San Francisco Chronicle
Read all about how to go from Grey2Green like St. Cyprian's did this summer, here. A great photo of St. Cyprian's
own Michael Helquist, who led our sidewalk greening effort,
was on the cover of the Home & Garden section.
Many thanks to Michael for all his work & again to everyone who helped out. By the way, we were also mentioned today on a blog at the San Francisco Guardian in an interview with our neighbor and green pal Morgan Fitzgibbons. 
|
|
SAVE THE DATE -
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY DINNER
Saturday, November 12
5-7 p.m. @ Cyprian's
Come together with local foodies, grandmas, students, chefs, gardeners, and culinary entrepeaners for a conversation about creating a community kitchen for the neighborhood.
This event is being organized by the St. Cyprian's Kitchen Team & our neighborhood allies, including neighbors and friends at USF, NOPA Restaurant & Slideranch.
For more information on Cyprian's Community Kitchen please visit:
http://cyprianscommunitykitchen.org/
|
Thank You! Gay4Good, Cole Hardware & many others for Saturday's Successful Workday
St. Cyprian's Community Hall & other rooms got dramatically spruced up this past Saturday with new paint thanks to a huge crew of volunteers from Gay4Good and a generous discount from Cole Hardware. Special thanks to Michael Helquist, Dale Danley, Will Valentine, Eric Metoyer & Jack Stephens for lots of prep support. Below is a list of the many others who helped this huge project happen.
Rick Karp, Mike Okiishi, and all the great staff at Cole Hardware for their assistance with paint selection and the significant discount
on paint and equipment.
Peter Voorhees of Everest Waterproofing & Restoration for providing paint brushes, rollers, tape, buckets and more
Danny DeLeon and San Francisco Day School for loaning more painting supplies
Timothy Parker and Felipe Rodriguez for expert assistance with color selections
Will Valentine for scraping and sanding the back stairway and loaning ladders and supplies
Our neighbors across the street, Nick and Dick, for loaning equipment.
Tommy Collie and Willie Collie for covering lots of the basics during the workday -- preparing snacks, cleaning equipment, and more painting.
There's still more touching up to do, so if you weren't able to be part of this and have a craving to paint email turkandlyon@gmail.com
|
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)
|
|
EAT, SHARE, PRAY
Every Wednesdays
@ 6:30 p.m. Each week, friends, neighbors and members of St. Cyprian's gather over a simple meal, share a conversation about topics that matter and close the evening with meditation & Night Prayer. All are welcome. If you are interested in helping with this series, email turkandlyon@gmail.com
|
This Saturday's Concert
with SF LIVE ARTS...
Multi Grammy winner JIM LAUDERDALE
Maurice Tani & Jenn Courtney
Saturday, Sep. 24, 8PM
$18 advance / $20 door
$16 for kids, seniors & students with I.D.
With success in both bluegrass and country music, international recording artist Jim Lauderdale won Artist of the Year and Song of the Year at the Honors and Awards Show held by the Americana Music Association. A Grand Ole Opry star and one of Nashville's premier songwriters, his songs have been recorded by The Dixie Chicks, Solomon Burke, Mark Chesnutt, Vince Gill, George Strait, John Mayall, Kathy Mattea, Lee Ann Womack and many others.
One of our favorite singer/songwriters, Maurice Tani performs his smart, neo-noir, honky-tonk songs with Jenn Courtney and her luxurious, full-sized, strong, vulnerable, sexy, June Carter-like voice.
|
Have you taken our survey?
In an effort to gather valuable information for our developing faith programs at St. Cyprian's, Junior Warden Jarie Bolander created a survey. Please take a few minutes and fill this out for us. Begin by clicking here.
|
Volunteers Wanted Music-loving, stay-up-late types who will help strike the set and lock up the building after performances at Cyprian's. Get two free tickets to any concert you cover. Hours: 10:30 to midnight, sometimes earlier. Contact: michael.helquist@gmail.com.
|
|
Weekly E-Mail Archives
In January St. Cyprian's began sending weekly e-newsletters. You can find an archive of all these messages here. Forward messages and invite friends, neighbors, and distant congregants to join our list. |
| Saint Cyprian's Episcopal Church has been a member of the San Francisco community for over 88 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. |
|
