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Dear Friends, Neighbors and Members of St. Cyprian's,
Today is Ascension Day. All day as I have considered this somewhat odd and mysterious feast/event/belief of the church, I have found myself drawn to the variety artistic interpretations of Jesus' bodily exit. There are a few below for your contemplation and amusement. Marcus Borg, the prominent scholar writes about the Ascension in this way,
"For Christians in the past and now, it meant and means that Jesus is now with God, indeed "at God's right hand" and "one with God." These affirmations h ave two primary dimensions of meaning. Like the traditions of ancient Israel and Judaism, they are religious and political, spiritual and social.
First, Ascension Day proclaims the lordship of Christ. To say that the risen and ascended Jesus is "at God's right hand," a position of honor and authority, means "Jesus is Lord." In the first century, when kings and emperors claimed to be lords, this claim had not only religious but also political meaning. To say "Jesus is Lord" meant, and means, that the Herods and Caesars of this world were not, and are not.
Second, because the risen and ascended Jesus is "one with God," he (like God) can be experienced anywhere. Jesus is no longer restricted or confined to time and space, as he was during his historical lifetime. Rather, like the God whom he knew in his own experience, he continues to be known in the experience of his followers.
To use language from Matthew's Gospel, for Christians the risen and ascended Christ is Immanuel--"God with us." You can read the whole article here
For me the day is important because we are reminded that within the Trinity, within the Divine life there's a body (Jesus') that lived a real human life. The joy and delights of physical existence, and the fragility and pain as well. Jesus' resurrected body with the wounds of torture and death by imperial violence still there (Thomas stuck his finger in them), that body which experienced suffering, shame, humiliation, sadness, rejection is somehow according to Christian tradition now eternally present within God-self. Jesus' body gets there by way of the Ascension. The words of Frederick William Faber's from the beautiful hymn, There's a Wideness in God's Mercy, "There is no place where earth's sorrows are more felt than up in heaven, there is no place where earth's failings have such kindly judgements given." ring true because of those feet of Jesus rising and/or disappearing into another realm/dimension.
Now some folks may say, how can you believe this miraculous stuff, the resurrection and now the ascension? My response is that the more real science (and science fiction) I get exposed to (albeit mainly via television documentaries like Morgan Freeman's "Through the Wormhole" & Doctor Who) the more my mind and heart give space for these ancient ideas to dance and breath. Ascension Day is an opportunity to open ourselves to mystery, transcendence and the comfort that within the Divine life there's a physical human presence rooting for all of us. The last image below is from Trinity Cathedral in Haiti which was destroyed in an earthquake in 2010. You can read about the global effort to rebuild that sacred space and what I like to think of as an "engine for compassionate service" by clicking here.
See you soon at Turk & Lyon!
Peace,
Will
St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church
415-987-3029
turkandlyon@gmail.com
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From Deacon (soon to be Priest) Eric
Read Deacon Eric Metoyer's latest posting at the St. Cyprian's Blog. |
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This Sunday @ St. Cyprian's
Bay2Breakers & Morning Prayer 
This Sunday, May 20th many streets around St. Cyprian's will be closed due to Bay2Breakers, the 101-year old 12k run one of the world's largest and oldest footraces. For more information click here.
CHURCH WILL GO ON...Deacon Eric Metoyer will lead Sunday Morning Prayer with music at 10:10 a.m.
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Celebrating
the Ministry & Ordination of
the Reverend Eric Metoyer
 | The Reverend Eric Metoyer and his wife Jessica at last week's
Bazaar BBQ at St. Cyprian's, photo by Sean Culligan |
Saturday, JUNE 2 at 3 p.m. ORDINATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD
On June 2nd at Grace Cathedral Eric Metoyer will be ordained to the priesthood at 3 pm. Everyone's invited! Information about carpooling to the cathedral from St. Cyprian's will be available in next weeks newsletter.
Sunday, June 3 10:10 a.m.
FIRST EUCHARIST
On Sunday, June 3 at St. Cyprian's, Eric will celebrate his first Eucharist with us as a priest, after which there will be a reception to honor him & his time with us. During the summer, Eric will take a break from ministry at St. Cyprian's, celebrating with his home church St. Mary the Virgin and providing clergy support for other churches in the Episcopal Diocese. In the months ahead Eric may choose to return to St. Cyprian's as a clergy associate.
Both as a Candidate for Ordination and as a Transitional Deacon Eric has provided exemplary support to the life of St. Cyprian's. Below read more about Eric's time with us at St. Cyprian's.
In the fall of 2011 St. Cyprian's was blessed to welcome among us Eric Metoyer, who generously chose to offer his time, gifts, and wisdom to our congregation prior to being ordained to the transitional deaconate in December. After ordination Eric stayed onboard to continue to deepen and grow in his formation. Throughout these many months, Eric has compassionately and attentively served all people, particularly the poor, the weak, the sick, and the lonely among the congregation and the wider neighborhood. Eric has spent much time visiting hospitalized and homebound members, speaking up on behalf of the underprivileged, and looking out for those who may be alone. He has enhanced our worship and educational life by his preaching and teaching, drawing attention to the ways our faith calls us to act in the world for justice, truth-telling and reconciliation. Eric has helped connect St. Cyprian's with local schools, neighboring churches, and skilled volunteers. In a small church there's always plenty of work to do, Eric has not hung back but stepped up to help with everything from painting the parish hall, to organizing the sacristy and putting together a rota for our growing group of lectors. Eric's a natural team player and leader, who is good at seeing gifts in others and inviting people into collaborative ministry. Balancing the many demands of ordained ministry with the responsibilities of being a parent and spouse takes patience, intentionality and commitment --- Eric has all those blessings and is learning how to both say an enthusiastic yes, and a clear no. Having come into the ordination process from a prior career provides Eric with a great deal of administrative wisdom, which St. Cyprian's has appreciated tremendously. Eric exudes hospitality, warmth, and care. Whether welcoming neighborhood people to a concert or special event, or chatting with elderly congregants at coffee hour, Eric is present and accessible, comfortable offering a spontaneous prayer or simply listening attentively. St. Cyprian's is a warm congregation but we are also a tough, gritty and sometimes a rough community --- Eric "takes things as they come" and isn't put off when things don't turn out as planned, or someone makes an unfriendly remark. I am sure a number of our members would say proudly, "we toughened him up" but Eric's tender heart remains, wherever he serves he is sure to lead with gentle courage and compassion. The church is blessed that the Reverend Eric Metoyer has discerned a call to serve as a priest and pastor. St. Cyprian's has been honored to have had the opportunity serve with him, to learn and grow by his faithfulness, and we look forward to seeing how the Spirit continues to call him to share his many gifts for the building up of the Body of Christ in the Diocese of California and beyond.
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UPCOMING CONCERTS at
Resound Ensemble' Spring Concert:
The Deep Heart's Core, May 18 & 19
An exploration of the Songs of a Generation -- folk songs, current pop tunes, Gregorian chant, lullabies, and war protest songs - with the sound of the rousing and inspiring
Resound Ensemble. Singing as a massed ensemble and in small groups, the performance features composers Eric gogle, Timothy Takach, Eleanor Daley, Daniel Kallman and Paul J. Christensen.
Help us welcome a new choir to Cyprian's.
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SUMMER Youth Programs at Cyprian's The Village Project Returns St. Cyprian's is honored to have The Village Project return this year with its exceptional Summer Program. Starting June 18 and continuing through August 9th, up to 30 kids start their day at St. Cyprian's before heading out to swimming lessons, field trips and outdoor play in the city. Under the leadership and guidance of St. Cyprian's member Adrian Williams, the Village Project steps up to provide kids a healthy, active summer.
 Shakespeare Camps Come to Cyprian's Kids get into the act at Bay Area Shakespeare Camp! This summer the SF Shakespeare Festival will present three sessions of two-week courses at St. Cyprian's. Kids get have to have fun with their friends while learning all about the world of performances from trained theater professionals. Campers stage a show for family and friends on the final day of the session, followed by a celebratory cast party. Shakespeare camp provides training in - Shakespeare's rich language
- Acting and improvisation
- Voice and movement technique
- Stage combat (sword fights!)
- Set and costume design and more
(need-based scholarships available -- call SF Shakes for info).
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What's happening in May @ Cyprian's arc - a center for the
arts, resilience & community
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Weekly E-Mail Archives
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
where everyone matters.
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