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Dear Friends, Neighbors and Members of St. Cyprian's,
On Sunday I preached on the following lesson from the Gospel According to Mark (6:1-13),
Jesus left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, "Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. Then Jesus said to them, "Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house." And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief.
Then he went about among the villages teaching. He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. He said to them, "Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them." So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
Here's a bit of what I said about the gospel and then a reflection on some of the recent actions taken in the past weeks at the Episcopal Church's General Convention.
The famous scholar of the Hebrew Bible Walter Brueggemann describes the task of prophetic ministry in this way:
"The task of prophetic ministry is to nurture, nourish, and evoke a consciousness and perception alternative to the consciousness and perception of the dominant culture."
No wonder prophets are without honor in their hometowns! Their purpose is to "nurture, nourish, and evoke an alternative consciousness to that of the dominant culture." The dominant culture isn't going to give up without a fight. The dominant culture isn't just going to roll over and play dead. In most cases the dominant culture is going to do all it can to spit that medicine out. Jesus's message about an alternative kingdom--a different way to live--threatened the existing kingdom, the Roman Empire and the religious status quo. If we are serious about following Jesus, we are likely to experience the same kind of rejection.
So are you prepared to be rejected? 
That's the question of the day. Perhaps it is the question at the heart of following Jesus. Being faithful is not about fitting in, but going against the grain. Not in some pompous, holier-than-thou kind of way, but by living with such profound vulnerability, openness, and sincere yearning for the kingdom of God that Transformation is given room and board, space to stretch her legs, make some art and sing a few songs. Jesus draws together untrained, unwitting thespians for a performance art piece unlike anything the world has ever seen. He gives them the script and the actions: teach, heal, live simply, and be vulnerable. Essential to this performance is a willingness to risk rejection. The audience will not always laugh at your jokes or cry at your poetry. They may throw food at you or even boo you off the stage. But the show must go on. The adventure that is following Jesus requires vulnerability and risk. At some point, we the actors in Jesus's drama, have to go beyond rehearsing to an empty house, or an audience of supportive peers and locals. There will be an opening night. This "transformation, alternative consciousness" show is going on the road.
In America's heartland, the Episcopal Church meeting in Indianapolis has just voted on a wide range of matters. But the most important things are probably not going to make it to cable news. The most important votes have to do with changes in the structure of the institution and our shared mission. Here's just a brief set of links to articles describing the structural changes and one that describes the Episcopal Church's collective lament for our tradition's role in manifest destiny, the Doctrine of Discovery. These are not insignificant votes of a large legislative ecclesiastical body. Rather, they may be called prophetic actions that seek to "nurture, nourish, and evoke a consciousness and perception alternative to the consciousness and perception of the dominant culture."
Selling Headquarters
http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/general_convention_2012_live/gc_committee_says_time_to_sell.html
Taskforce for Restructuring
http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2012/07/11/bishops-unanimously-approve-structure-plan/
Lamenting Doctrine of Discovery
http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2012/07/11/gathering-laments-the-doctrine-of-discovery/
St. Cyprian's has a message to share with the broader Episcopal Church about the value of deep engagement with one's immediate surroundings--with our neighborhood. But that's only half the story. The other half is about recognizing and honoring the prophetic witness inherent in an existing congregation's membership. One place to consider this aspect of our life is by viewing the trailer for the St. Cyprian's Oral History Project by clicking here. St. Cyprian's motto is "where everyone matters." St. Cyprian's prophetic ministry right now seems to be about nurturing, nourishing and evoking shared spaces where diverse people come together regularly to learn, grow, and be inspired. Turk and Lyon may be one of the most diverse intersections in San Francisco this summer, both on Sundays and throughout the week, with The Village Project, San Francisco Shakespeare, Simply Sandwiches, SF Live Arts Gospel Night, Free Community Dinners, Parents Night Out, Kid's Printmaking, LGBT Mormons & lots of prayers and praise.
See you soon at Turk and Lyon!
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In Memoriam:
The Very Rev. Judith Drake
Goldsborough Dunlop
The Very Reverend Doctor Judith Dunlop, a former Vicar of St. Cyprian's Church, died peacefully at home on Sunday, July 8th, after a long illness.
The former Dean of the Episcopal School for Deacons dedicated her life as nurse, teacher and priest to serving people in need of spiritual and medical care. Her contributions to pediatric palliative care and the Episcopal Church were recognized by Church Divinity School of the Pacific in 2010, when she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Divinity. From the time of her ordination in 1990 until this year, she served several parishes in the Diocese of California, was a member of the Commission on Ministry, and was friend and spiritual guide to many clergy and lay leaders.
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A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 19, 2012 in the Grace Cathedral Nave, Bishop Marc Andrus presiding.
Reception to follow. You are invited to bring finger food to share;
please leave food items in the Chapter House dining room.
Questions about the service and reception? Contact Nina Pickerell
at ninap@gracecathedral.org
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Cards and condolences may be sent to the family care of Judith's daughter Kate Tomatis, at 162 Nueva Avenue, Redwood City, Calif., 94061.
Contributions in her memory may be made to Bayview Mission in San Francisco, the Episcopal School for Deacons in Berkeley, or to George Mark Children's House in San Leandro.
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Early July blessings at Turk & Lyon
A few photos from this week at St. Cyprian's   Ethel Ross & her daughters, Vernis & Althea, visited from Glendale, California on Sunday. Gigi (Glenda) Smith teaches cooking lessons with Village Project youth on Tuesday.   St. Cyprian's member & neighbor Dustin Cole, installed new wood floors in the Markunas Chapel/Library on Tuesday.  The Village Project began and ended each day in the Cyprian's Community Hall, pictured above with members of a church mission group from Yakima, Washington.   San Francisco Shakespeare Festival filled the space inside & out with summer theater campers.  |
THIS SATURDAY
SF Live Arts presents:
Men of Endurance and Fret Not Saturday, July 14, 8pm
The seven-member gospel singing group Men of Endurance has a primary goal:
"To keep traditional quartet music alive, spreading the good news as far as they possibly can, captivating the audience of young and old. Captivating? They've got that down. Think you can sit still during one of their performances? Last year the audience at Cyprian's was on its feet once this amazing troupe took the stage.
Opening for Men of Endurance will be Fret Not Gospel, a band that plays Americana gospel with "old-time roots from the traditions of the black and white rural American churches." Most all the performers lead or play in church worship bands, front their own gospel bands of two-timing pickers, or teach true and right music to kids. It's not only in their blood, they believe it's their calling too. They bring the old-time gospel to the dispirited and disheartened with frequent appearances in prisons, recovery missions, funerals and benefits.
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July & August @ cyprian's arts. resilience. community
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St. Cyprian's & Cyprian's arc have active Facebook pages where you can read more about what's happening at Turk & Lyon. Please "Like" our pages and share with your network.
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FLOWER DONATIONS
For more information email Dustin Cole dustindc@gmail.com
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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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