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Thursday, February 23, 2012
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Dear Friends, Neighbors, and Members of St. Cyprian's,

  

I began my Ash Wednesday sermon by saying to the gathered congregation basically, "we're grounded." In a way this ancient season of Lent that the church enacts year in and year out is a collective invitation to go sit in our rooms or corner and not come out until we have thought about what we have done, apologize and calm down. Often we hear the call to Lent as a child hears a parent saying in an authoritative voice "time for a time out!" We don't wanna, and we might even fuss about it, kicking our feet up and down.   But really, who among us doesn't need some intentional time to pause, breathe, rest and reflect on our choices? Even if we haven't done anything particularly bad, though I'm certain we could all come up with a few ways that we have failed to show respect and care for another person, or not lived up to our ideals.  

 

Lent is a time to be grounded in another way, to connect with what 20th century theologian Paul Tillich called "the ground of being" and to remember that we are tiny parts of a much bigger whole. We begin the season with ashes placed on our foreheads, "remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." When I thought of the ashes this year, I was reminded of my Mennonite Nana asking me as a child to help her by adding charcoal ash to a pile of dirt in a wheel barrow in the backyard of her house. I thought this was crazy, but I loved helping Nana and she seemed to magically be able to turn any object into a successful planter. Much later in life I learned this was actually a very good use of charcoal ash and researchers say the ancient practice, called "Black Gold Agriculture," adds tremendous nutrients to the soil and actually combats global warming! Perhaps ashes on our foreheads has more of a positive effect than we might at first imagine. Could remembering our roots in the earth, the dirt --- engaging in the ancient season of Lent, be a way of turning over the soil of our lives (with a bit of ash) helping us and our communities become more generative?

 

 

 

Here are two poems that I return to again and again when I need to be grounded, both by Mary Oliver. 

 

Making the House Ready for the Lord 

Dear Lord, I have swept and I have washed but
Still nothing is as shining as it should be
for you.  Under the sink, for example, is an
uproar of mice-it is the season of their
many children.  What shall I do?  And under the eaves
and through the walls the squirrels
have gnawed their ragged entrances-but it is the season
when they need shelter, so what shall I do?  And
the raccoon limps into the kitchen and opens the cupboard
while the dog snores, the cat hugs the pillow;
what shall I do?  Beautiful is the new snow falling
in the yard and the fox who is staring boldly
up the path, to the door.  And still I believe you will
come, Lord: you will, when I speak to the fox
the sparrow, the lost dog, the shivering sea-goose, know
that really I am speaking to you whenever I say,
as I do all morning and afternoon:  Come in, Come in.    

Praying

It doesn't have to be 
the blue iris, it could be   
weeds in a vacant lot, or a few   
small stones; just   
pay attention, then patch

a few words together and don't try 
to make them elaborate, this isn't  a
contest but the doorway

into thanks, and a silence in which 
another voice may speak.
~ Mary Oliver ~

See you soon at Turk & Lyon!

 

Peace,

Will Scott 

St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church

415-987-3029

turkandlyon@gmail.com 

Deacon Eric posts...
Check out Deacon Eric Metoyer's reflects on Ash Wednesday on the  
St. Cyprian's blog.
 
Stations of the Cross
in St. Cyprian's Sanctuary
during Lent 2012

Image above is of Station #4 "Jesus meets his Mother"

Bay Area artist, teacher, banjo player, and Dad, Nat Lewis has graciously shared his handmade stations of the cross with St. Cyprian's this Lent. Nat former member of All Souls, Berkeley is currently exploring the Episcopal communities of the Peninsula. The Stations have most recently hung in a sanctuary in Davis, California. 
St. Cyprian's Lenten Series -
being made new
Wednesdays, February 29th - April 4th 
6:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
 

Each week during Lent,share a meal, book, practices & prayers. Join us as we read together, Radical Welcome: Embracing God, The Other, and the Spirit of Transformation by The Reverend Stephanie Spellers.  This book is a theological, inspirational, and practical guide for congregations that want to move beyond diversity and inclusion to present a vision for the church of the future: one where the transforming gifts, voices and power of marginalized cultures and groups bring new life to the mainline church.

  

Read more about the author the Reverend Stephanie Spellers and the faith community she leads "The Crossing" in Boston, by clicking here.

 

Our theme for the season, "being made new" comes from a prayer said during the Good Friday & Easter Vigil liturgies,

 

O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquillity the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

(BCP, p. 285) 

Singing with Nikola 
NikolaNikola Printz, St. Cyprian's Sunday Music Coordinator is interested in gathering with those who long to sing together on Wednesday evenings beginning Wednesday, February 29th at 7 p.m. 
Any age and experience level are welcome. Together you will develop music for special services at St. Cyprian's on Palm Sunday, Holy Week & Easter. 
 
For more information contact Nikola: nikola.printz@notes.sfcm.edu
 
Before singing, join others at St. Cyprian's for a simple meal during the season of Lent at 6:30 p.m. 

LEMON LESSONS @ Cyprian's

 

WHERE:  

St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church Community Kitchen

(corner of Turk and Lyon)

 

WHEN:  

7PM, Tuesday, February 28, 2012

 

WHAT:   

A celebration of lemons through canning, baking and squeezing them with folks in your community.

 

Bring lemons you have 'em, but not to worry, we will

have plenty on hand. We will also provide all the other

supplies necessary.

 

Brought to you by Cyprian's Arc, USF Garden Project and

Environmental Studies Capstone

 

Search lemon lessons on Facebook for more information  

and to RSVP

 
Bazaar 
SAVE THE DATE
Bazaar BBQ -
a fundraiser for
Cyprian's Community Kitchen
Saturday, May 5th  

 

Cyprian's arc is a community-based,  

volunteer-driven hub of collaboration  

that connects artists, advocates

for a more resilient and sustainable future, and anyone seeking  a deeper sense of community.   

 

Cyprian's is an initiative of  

St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church 

 

Space Use Inquiries: spaceatcyprians@gmail.com

 

-----------------------------------------

Cyprian's arc presents

Shakespeare on Tour's

MACBETH

Shakespeare's Gripping Tale of Misguided  

Ambition and its Terrible Consequences

2 pm to 3 pm, Q & A to follow, all ages

FREE ADMISSION

------------------------------------------

Wednesday March 7

Cyprian's arc presents

Kids Drawing Classes with Kyle Brunel

2nd to 7th graders, 2 teachers for 8 students

6 pm to 7:30 pm Wednesdays in March

$10 - $15 sliding scale

Inquiries & Registration:

Kyle.brunel@sbcglobal.net

--------------------------------------------

Thursday, March 8

Cyprian's arc presents

San Francisco Bicycle Coalition's

Urban Bicycling Workshop:  

Introduction to Safe Biking

Perfect for starting biking: choose right  

bike &helmet, tips on safe riding in SF

5:30 pm to 9:30 pm (all in classroom)

FREE ADMISSION to anyone over 14

Pre-registration required at sfbike.org/edu

---------------------------------------------  

Friday, March 9

SF Live Arts presents

Election Year Satire & Music:

Will Durst & Roy Zimmerman

Top political pundit and musical satirist present  

"Live from the Starving Ear," a re-creation of  

San Francisco's seminal nightclub The Hungry I.

8 pm, $16 adv/$18 door/$14 seniors, kids, students

www.brownpapertickets.com

-------------------------------------------------

Tuesday, March 27

Cyprian's arc and University of San Francisco  

Garden Project & Environmental Studies Capstone  

present TAMALE-MAKING NIGHT

Make them, taste them, take some home

Learn how to make the best or share your  

favorite tips

7pm to 10 pm

FREE ADMISSION, all ages

-------------------------------------------------

New Art at Turk & Lyon

Community Hall:

Sky David's Mysteries of Water and Light,

#25 and #34, original watercolors present  

the magic of a medium with a life of its own

Sanctuary & Performance Hall:

Nat Lewis's Stations of the Cross,  

artistic representations of the  

cross during St. Cyprian's observance of Lent

 

Weekly E-Mail Archives

St. Cyprian's

In January, 2011 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.  
St. Cyprian's is a congregation emboldened by the opportunity to engage with our energized urban neighborhood to create a community
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