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

On Sunday at St. Cyprian's Annual Meeting, I shared with the congregation a favorite quote that is attributed to Margaret Mead: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." In high school in Virginia, I remember participating in a Key Club public speaking competition and this quote was part of it. At the time I focused a lot on the "thoughtful, committed" part of the passage. Mead was definitely a "thoughtful committed" person. In 2002, when visiting San Francisco for the first time, I learned that Margaret Mead, famous feminist anthropologist, had also been an active Episcopalian. I made this discovery when gazing up at the incredible Mark Dukes iconography at St. Gregory's of Nyssa Episcopal Church. In fact, Mead was part of the national committee that developed the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. Years later, while serving at Grace Cathedral, I found out she had preached there in the 1970s. 

 "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

Now when I look at the quote, my attention is on "small group" and "change the world." Obviously,, working for a small church is very different than working for a big organization as part of a large staff, so whenever I think about our "thoughtful, committed" and difficult work together at Turk & Lyon Streets, I'm comforted by Mead's words. If she saw small groups changing the world, then small groups like us can certainly make a positive difference in our immediate neighborhoods. We can overcome obstacles, setbacks and work toward common goals.

In the coming weeks we will share with you our Annual Report which will include details about our three major goals:
1) Return to Parish Status
2) Develop a Neighborhood Community Kitchen
3) Launch a Center for Arts, Resilience & Community.
If you have questions about or want to help out in a specific way towards helping us reach one of those goals, do not hesitate to be in touch. As we say often around here, "everyone matters."

One of St. Cyprian's community's leaders recently forwarded an article to me about the important ministries of small Episcopal parishes. I invite you to take a look by clicking here. The article reaffirms Mead's proclamation and the value of being few in number, thoughtful and committed. 

Peace,

St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church

415-987-3029

turkandlyon@gmail.com