St. Cyprian's
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Thursday, March 14, 2013
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what kind of God?
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a child-centric & play-based spiritual circle  

 

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at Turk & Lyon...

Simply Sandwiches
Fridays  

10 a.m. - Noon 

Volunteers make over 200 sandwiches for San Francisco's hungry.

 

Alcoholics Anonymous
Saturdays  

11 a.m. - Noon

 

Al-Anon
Mondays  

6:30-7:30 p.m.

 

__________________ 

 

Our Partnerships
St. Cyprian's Church
is also home to
First United Lutheran, San Francisco Live Arts, and The Village Project, an after-school and summer program for Western Addition youth.
____________________

 


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

Reconciliation By Margaret Adams Parker

This past Sunday we read the story of the Prodigal Son. Click here to read the gospel lesson. Here's an excerpt (adapted) from my reflection:

 

A more important question to me than "Do you believe in God?" Is the question "what kind of God do you believe in?"


For far too many people, God is not excessively loving, embracing, affirming but harsh, or perhaps even indifferent. For some, the church is too often a place of resentment, frustration and disappointment.  The church can feel like the older brother in the Prodigal Son story: bitter and angry, concerned solely with themselves and what they feel entitled to rather than thrilled to see and celebrate the one who was lost and now is found. God and the church are not the same thing, not by a long shot, but for many, I think what they perceive the church to be about is a reflection of the God they assume we believe in.

 

Not long ago we had a visitor to St. Cyprian's, and while they perceived that we shared their values, they felt our worship service did not really convey those values very well. We may have the love of that forgiving and reconciling father in our hearts, but something about our liturgy, music and style didn't work for the visitor, and were, in fact, reminiscent of an abusive upbringing. In the eyes of our guest, we hadn't fully allowed God's love to transform us into a worshiping community that really mirrors that love. I think this is not just our challenge, but the challenge of many churches throughout the world.


We have work to do: in our hearts, in our lives, and in our worship to communicate not just that we believe in God, but that the God we believe in is one that loves each and everyone with the kind of passion and enthusiasm that we see in the story of the Prodigal Son (I think a better title for the story would be "The Generous Father"). Some might say the problem is that we don't really believe this yet.  They would argue we haven't fully allowed ourselves to be embraced by God's infinite love, or that we are too insecure to return home or too unsure of ourselves to trust God's capacity to love us. We have catch up to do.  Not only does the world need us as individuals and as a community to let God fully embrace us without question, but we need to let that love shape us into the likeness of Godself.  We need to become more and more like this Generous Father, ready and able to throw our arms wide open.  We need to throw special robes around shoulders, eagerly put rings on fingers, open up pantries and store houses...

 

"what kind of God do you believe in?"  


Paul's letter to the Corinthians is an invitation to embrace this experience of Divine love.  "In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." Paul is inviting his readers to move beyond past resentments and misunderstandings.  The people of Corinth have a responsibility to be ambassadors for Christ, but they can't be very good ambassadors if they are estranged from their homeland.  How can we represent the values of Jesus, if we are at war with one another or unforgiving of ourselves and others?

 

As St. Cyprian's prepares to celebrate our 90th Anniversary on April 7th, we are given a chance to reflect not just on the immediate concerns of our life together at Turk & Lyon but also the longer narrative of God's work among the people of this congregation and community. What has God been saying to us from the very beginning?  What have the people of St. Cyprian's come to believe about God?  What have the people of St. Cyprian's experienced from the church at large and in particular?  How has this congregation changed, and how have we remained the same? What are practices, beliefs, and understandings that we might best let go of, and what practices, beliefs, and understandings might we best hold close to our hearts?  Has St. Cyprian's understanding of God's love grown?  In what times and places have we been most like the Generous Father in today's gospel?  How have the people of St. Cyprian's been ambassadors for Christ in the past? in the present?  How might we continue to be ambassadors for Christ in the future?

 

I look forward to hearing and witnessing your answers to these questions.

 
See you soon at Turk & Lyon!

 

Peace,

Will

 

St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church

415-987-3029

[email protected]       

 

P.S. The sculpture above I was blessed to view in the backyard of the artist while being made in Virginia. The artist is Margaret Adams Parker and the work is exhibited at Duke Divinity School.  


Help connect us.
 
Would you help connect us with St. Cyprian's friends, members, family, and supporters?
Are you a long lost St. Cyprian's friend or member? Are you in touch with former members who have moved away or are no longer able to attend services? We want to send them a special invitation to our 90th celebration, please send your contact list to [email protected] or call the church. 415-567-1855
 
Save the Date - Sunday, April 7thStCyprian
St. Cyprian's
 90th Anniversary Celebration

The Right Rev. Marc Handley Andrus

Bishop of California  

The Very Rev. Dr. Jane Shaw

Dean of Grace Cathedral

and the people of St. Cyprian's 

 

Request the pleasure of your company at  

Festal Evensong

with The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori

Presiding Bishop and Primate of  

The Episcopal Church

Sunday, April 7th at 4:15 p.m. at 

Grace Cathedral, San Francisco

The celebration will begin with an optional tour of  various locations where St. Cyprian's members have gathered through the years for worship, prayer, service and fellowship.  

 

Dinner will follow at St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church hosted by the ECW and honoring longtime congregation members,  

especially Lee Dora Rigmaiden.  

    
Space is limited,
RSVP by April 2nd  
by emailing [email protected]  
or calling 415.567.1855  

cyprian's arc presents
TONIGHT Free Public Speaking & Networking Workshop 
Thursday, March 14 at 7pm


This workshop led by Brian Rashid provides practical principles, exercises and real-life case studies to help you get clear on the personal and professional life you want, and how to network that message. This workshop focuses on the following series of exercises:

  • Identifying your personal and professional gifts, strengths, and talents
  • Creating your customized 30 second message tying those skills together
  • Structuring a roadmap to pursue your desired project/job
  • Public speaking & networking tips for events and interviews
  • Mock interview and networking exercise role play and practice

Brian Rashid is a Coach, Motivational Speaker, and Urban Projects Innovator. Since moving to San Francisco, he has worked with Facebook engineers, Executive Directors of nonprofits, Silicon Valley CEO's, documentary filmmakers, holistic doctors, and App Developers. In New York City, Brian did speech writing, editing, and public liaison work for Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Administration. Additionally, he co-produced a networking event focused on getting to the life you want through personal message development. Internationally, he has created, implemented, and advised human rights projects in South America and the Caribbean. Brian has a J.D. from the City University of New York, and speaks Spanish fluently. He currently lives in San Francisco, but his client base, workshops, and speaking presentations keep him global. Info: [email protected] 

 
cyprian's arc and Just One Tree presents
with San Francisco Foundation support*
 
Lemon Lessons 
Thursday March 21
7 pm
  

Please join Booka Alon of JustOneTree and delight in pithy and delicious exploration of one of California's most important crops - lemons! There will be sweet and savory dishes to taste, a demo on featuring homegrown lemons, plus some lemon libations to drink! Info: [email protected] 

 

 

 

*With the San Francisco Foundation's support we present free concerts with skill-sharing activities for our neighbors, including those who might not be able to participate otherwise.

Lent at Turk & Lyon 
   
Throughout the season of Lent on Wednesday nights
St. Cyprian's Episcopal & First United Lutheran will share a simple meal and discuss Marcus Borg's Speaking Christian: Why Christian Words Have Lost Their Meaning and Power -- And How They Can Be Restored. Our next gathering will be Wednesday, March 20th at 7 p.m.
We will discuss "God & God's Character" chapters 5 & 6.
 
 
 
 

  

   

March at Turk & Lyon... 

  _________    

  

Art classes, concerts, free dinners, public speaking workshops,  

Holy Week & Easter.  

 

Please click on the flier to get a closer look. Thank you to neighborhood volunteer Kevin Barnard for creating these monthly posters.

 

More info: cyprianscenter.org

     
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