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Cow
Hollow Church News
T h e E p i s c o p a l C h u r c h o f S a i n t M a r y t h e V i r g i n F a l l 2 0 1 3
Michaelmas The Rev. Scott E. Richardson, Rector
When a person enrolls in seminary they open themselves to a variety of new experiences. The first time I saw the
smoke of incense in the chapel at General Seminary, I thought the building was on fire. I was immediately
introduced to a different way of reading Scripture that momentarily rattled my simple faith. And I discovered a
whole new lexicon filled with words like “Michaelmas” ‐– the name associated with the fall semester.
The Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels is observed on 29 September, hence its association with the fall term.
Saint Michael the Archangel is depicted as the fierce protector of Christians assaulted by the devil, especially at the
hour of death as he escorts souls into God’s precincts. He is usually represented with a
sword, standing over or fighting with a dragon.
So how do we receive images like that today? Do we need a protector? Is there a devil
that threatens us or dragons that need to be conquered? Is that combative posture
helpful anymore or is that the very spirit that needs to be overcome in order for the
global community to prosper?
Let us note here that the warrior archetype does not pertain exclusively to the Judeo‐
Christian tradition. We think of Mahatma Gandhi and of his great affection for ‐‐ and struggles with ‐‐ the Bhagavad
Gita. In the opening chapters of that sacred text, the hero is encouraged by the god figure to go to war with
members of his own family. Nothing could have been more troubling for Gandhi, the apostle of Satyagraha or soul‐
force, the leader of the most effective non‐violent struggle for justice in the 20th century.
Instead of rejecting that image, Gandhi internalized it. He came to see that his struggle was an interior matter and
not a conflict played out in the world. Gandhi battled with all the elements that he discovered within himself that
impeded him in his pursuit of the truth. That shift set Gandhi on the path that millions now honor.
So what are the dragons that we might be tempted to take on this fall? Pride? Hypocrisy? Impatience? Self‐
indulgence? Exploitation of others? Envy? An intemperate love of worldly goods? Dishonesty? Negligence in
prayer and worship? False judgments? Uncharitable thoughts? Contempt toward those who differ from us? The
waste and pollution of God’s creation? Our lack of concern for those who come after us?
Prayer Book fans will know that the above list was taken directly from the litany prayed on Ash Wednesday. Rather
than just return again next year to lament our sins, could we take one or two of them on right now and in the feisty
spirit of Saint Michael? If we do, let us be assured that we have the Archangel and his entire cohort with us in the
contest.
Page 2 Fall 2013 The Episcopal Church of St. Mary the Virgin
News of Note from the Sr. Warden
Betty Hood‐Gibson, Senior Warden
Happiness – Part II
What if you won the lottery? What would you do
with the money?
According to Harvard Business School Professor
Michael Norton, the more of these winnings you
give away, the happier you will be.
In a TEDxCambridge Talk in November 2011
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwGEQcFo9RE),
Norton said that he and his research colleagues did
an experiment to see if there would be a difference
in how happy people felt if they spent money on
other people versus spending it on themselves. In
Vancouver, the team asked participants to rate their
happiness and gave them each an envelope. In the
envelope was either $5 or $20 to be spent by 5:00
p.m. that day. In the envelope was a note that told
half the people to spend the money on themselves
and the other half to spend the money on other
people or make a charitable donation. That night
the researchers called the participants and again
asked them to rate their happiness. The people who
had spent money on themselves weren’t any
happier than they were before they got the
money—they weren’t less happy, but they weren’t
any more happy either. The people who had spent
money on other people reported that they were
happier. It didn’t seem to matter how much the
amount of the money was, just how they had spent
it. To make sure this result wasn’t unique to North
America; they did the same experiment in Uganda
and found the same results. Many other studies
corroborate this effect.
In the last issue of CHCN, I wrote about an article
in the AARP magazine titled, “Give Yourself a
Happiness Makeover,” by Dan Buettner. In it he
gives us another step to improve our happiness—
“Ignite Your Passion for Compassion.” He, too,
cited research that concluded that spending money
on others made people happier than spending it on
themselves. But Buettner says you don’t have to
actually spend money to be happier—you can be
happier by giving of your time and volunteering
for worthwhile endeavors.
A friend of mine, a fellow Episcopalian, told me
about a gratifying experience he had this summer
through volunteering. Actually, his wife
volunteered him ‐‐ to help drive ten children aged
six to ten who lived in a low‐income area in Marin
(and a counselor) to their church for summer camp.
As the van filled with children on the first morning,
he checked everyone for seatbelts and off they
started. While the counselor and the children
played alphabet games and “I Spy,” he carefully
followed the speed limits and route instructions to
deliver them safely to camp. The next morning,
there he was again with the van. The children and
counselor piled in for another drive to camp. As he
got ready to pull away from the curb, he heard a
voice from the second row of seats. “Aren’t you the
man who drove us yesterday?” He turned around
and looked, and there was a little girl with two of
her friends. He smiled and replied, “Yes, I am.” She
smiled back and said, “Thank you for driving us.”
And then all the kids chorused, “Thank you!” He
said that as he turned back to start driving, he
realized his heart had melted, his soul had been
lifted, and he felt as if God’s grace had found him.
In explaining his feelings about volunteering, my
friend said he felt the children really wanted to go
to camp and he felt good about helping them do
that, especially because they were children he
didn’t know. My friend thinks that, as
Episcopalians, we are asked to help others by
helping strangers and by volunteering. He
paraphrased Matthew 25:40, in which Jesus said,
“Anything you did for any of my people here, you
also did for me.”
We have many opportunities for giving—giving of
our time, talent, and treasure. Let’s take advantage
of them. We may find we feel even happier.
Cow Hollow Church News Fall 2013 Page 3
Sunday School News Nancy Clark, Sunday School Co‐Director
The first day of Sunday School, with classes for pre‐
school through Confirmation‐aged children, will be
September 8. Lessons for the first several Sundays
are light‐touch—no pedagogy, theology or
dogma—but for that matter, those are rarely‐to‐
never Sunday School themes. Our aim from
Sunday to Sunday, all through the year, and in
varying ways as children move through the grade
levels, is to bring our children to full participation
in the community life of St. Mary’s. Feeling at ease
in the Sunday School classrooms, meeting children
from other schools, learning a new prayer or two,
hearing Bible stories, learning about saints and
heroes, figuring out what we do in church and why
we do those things, those are components of our
Sunday School “curriculum.” In the weeks to come
we will post on smvsf.org the Sunday School
schedule for the first semester as well as updates
about fall activities and themes such as Old
Testament stories, St. Francis celebrations, Dia de las
Muertos and All Saints’ Day, and of course, Advent.
Parents, as this new school year begins and you are
considering the academic challenges of the year,
lining up after‐school activities, scheduling sports,
ballet, and music classes, we hope you will put
participation at St. Mary’s and Sunday School high
on the list of family commitments. Intellectual,
physical, and social activities are all essential parts
of a child’s development. Often neglected,
unfortunately, is spiritual development. At St.
Mary’s, in our worship services, our Sunday School
activities and our community life, we strive to
nurture spirituality and put in practice the words
of a baptism prayer: “O Lord, give them an
inquiring and discerning heart, the courage to will
and to persevere, a spirit to know and to love you,
and the gift of joy and wonder in all your works.”
We also invite you to join the team of Sunday
School teachers. All materials are provided, as well
as on‐going support and encouragement. No
experience necessary. A member of the clergy,
Colleen Skewes‐Cox, or Nancy Clark, reachable at
nclark@sfds.net, can provide all details. Benefits of
this ministry to children abound. Please consider
this lively and rewarding work.
Confirmation at Grace Cathedral on June 8, 2013
A joyful day for the entire St. Mary’s community and especially for confirmation class instructor Phil Woodward
began when 23 excited young people climbed the steps of Grace Cathedral to be confirmed into the Episcopal Church
by Bishop Marc Andrus. As is customary, Bp. Marc signed prayer books after the service. A celebratory lunch ensued
featuring cupcakes emblazoned with “congrats.” Our Confirmands: Isabella Albert, Charles Bachmann, Josephine
Baenen, Mackenzie Berwick, Blake Case, Landon Cobbs, Frances Coen, Eva Davis, Corley Doyle, Olivia Edmondson,
Cornelia Ellwein, Leo Hainline, Nicholas Hom, Alexis Levit, Olivia Matthes, John McBride, James Joseph Moore,
Caroline Ritter, Chloe Saraceni, Catherine Silvestri, Duncan Walsh, Emily Wells, and Caroline Zanze.
Page 4 Fall 2013 The Episcopal Church of St. Mary the Virgin
Youth Group Mission Trip Mike Stafford, Director of Youth Ministry
The Youth Group Mission Trip to San Diego and
Tijuana was a complete success. It was the church’s
sixth consecutive trip, and it was our biggest: 20
youth and four adults participated. The goals we
set for the trip were for the kids to have a
transformative experience through interaction with
and service to a population of God’s children who
are often invisible to our daily lives. The daily
service and the evening conversations allowed the
kids to examine the issues around poverty and
immigration, and to see, know, and love some of
the youngest people affected by it.
Crossing the Border into Mexico
By all accounts, the trip was successful in all its
goals, including the goal of group bonding. We
adults were deeply inspired by their experience;
the Rev. Christine McSpadden and I are already
planning the next Youth Mission Trip, with details
to emerge at a meeting on Thursday, September 19
for parents and kids in grades eight through
twelve, in the Great Room, at 6:30 p.m.
Huge thanks go to the four adult leaders on the
trip: the Rev. Scott Richardson, the Rev. Mary
Moreno Richardson, Fran Hegeler, and Jackie
Schroeder. Their sacrifice of time and energy was
eclipsed only by their great love for the youth, of
which the youth were well aware. Huge thanks
also go to the families of the kids and the generous
parish of St. Mary the Virgin, who funded much of
the trip, who commissioned the youth, and who
prayed for them while they were away. The youth
were truly representatives of the parish, and we are
all transformed by their transformation.
For a full account of the trip, please visit our blog
at: http://stmaryonamission.blogspot.com. For the
Rev. Mary Moreno Richardson’s account of the
work of Dorcas House, Southwest Key, and the
Guadalupe Art Program, listen to an audio of her
“Summer in the City” Adult Formation talk on our
website, smvsf.org. For a personal account of the
trip by a Youth Group member, read on:
Mission Possible: Tijuana and San Diego 2013 Allie Silvestri, Youth Group
Missioner
This summer, 20 teens and three adults embarked
on a long bus journey down highway I‐5 to San
Diego and Tijuana. Our group included long‐time
St. Mary’s members as well as those who had never
been on a Mission Trip. The diversity of our group
added to the richness of the experience, deepened
old friendships, and created new ones.
Youth Group Kickoff
All kids in 6th through 12th grades and parents:
Sunday, September 15, in the Great Room, at
6:30 p.m. Dinner provided.
Mission Trip Dates Unveiling
Parents and kids (8th through 12th grades)
interested in next summerʹs Mission Trip:
Thursday September 19, in the Great Room, at
6:30 p.m.
Youth Mission Sunday
The Mission Trippers are preaching at all
services on Sunday, September 22! Hear them
reflect on their experiences and tell what they
got out of the Mission Trip!
Cow Hollow Church News Fall 2013 Page 5
Visiting Dorcas House
We had the opportunity to walk across the border
into Tijuana on our first day, along with members
of St. Paul’s Cathedral in San Diego. The cross into
Mexico seemed almost too easy. (Going back into
the US was a different story!) Our passports were
never checked, and security was limited to two
armed guards. While the Rev. Scott and the Rev.
Mary had prepared us for what we might
see or experience, there were few apparent
differences from the U.S. side, only yards
away.
We took a bus to Dorcas House which is a
privately‐owned and run foster home caring
for 32 kids aged two years to about 12 years
old. They each had their own reason for being
there, from having incarcerated parents, to
being orphans, to having parents who were
incapable of taking care of them. However, when
we arrived, their difficult pasts seemed almost
invisible to us. The image of the children waving
and banging on the windows from excitement
upon our arrival was one that resonated with many
of us. We ate, played, talked, and loved the
children of Dorcas House. I was moved and
astounded by the resiliency of the children; they
seemed like any other little kids who just wanted to
be cared for, and I feel so fortunate that they so
readily welcomed us in.
Our remaining service days were spent at
Southwest Key. Southwest Key is a detention
center for undocumented youth, one of two such
centers in the San Diego area alone. The one
we went to was for about 15 boys ages 14 to 17.
All of them were from Central America,
although in the past, people from Asia, Africa,
and Europe have been there too. I think most
of us were more unsure of going to Southwest
Key than to Dorcas House because we feared it
might be harder to communicate with our
peers than with little kids. However, I think we
all found it to be a very rewarding experience.
They wanted to share their stories because, as
the Rev. Mary explained it, we are their voices.
We are the ones who have the ability to make
changes, as we will become educators, protestors,
law makers, community builders, and voters. We
can share their struggles with our friends and
family and make immigration a personal issue.
We were able to connect with them over simple
things like talking about pop culture or guessing
who in the group would win in a soccer match. We
were also able to do an art
project with them where we
traced our handprints into a
peace sign inscribed with the
words, “We Are the Body of
Christ” and “Somos el Cuerpo
de Cristo.” We sang karaoke
and listened to a few of the boys’
stories. I think Christina Gallagher
described it well on our blog, writing,
“Four of the residents shared with us their stories on
how and why they tried to cross the border but were
caught. Enrique, a very friendly and energetic 14‐year‐
old…discussed the violence and sadness he faced every
day, and how he was beaten by his father. I was taken
aback because just two minutes ago he was happy… the
boys were the same age as we were, but the hardships
they have been through were so different than our
experiences.”
Even though we had such different backgrounds,
we learned a lot from each other and bridged a gap
by discrediting many of our stereotypes and
assumptions.
Tracing Hands at
Southwest Key
Page 6 Fall 2013 The Episcopal Church of St. Mary the Virgin
We were able to go back to Southwest Key and
help the children with their garden as well as to do
other chores that needed to be done. While it was
hot out (especially after the girls were asked to
dress a little more modestly by changing from
shorts into longer pants), we felt accomplished; and
it was nice knowing that we were able to help
Southwest Key, however we could.
Even after our service was over, the learning never
stopped. We debriefed each day when we returned
to the retreat center where the Rev. Scott and the
Rev. Mary shared their past experiences and the
stories of people they knew, while informing us
about immigration issues. We were even able to
discover more about other religions by going to the
Islamic Center of San Diego where we had the
privilege of meeting the very social‐justice‐oriented
Imam. Later that day we visited the Self‐
Realization Fellowship where we learned about
this westernized sect of Hinduism based on the
teachings of the guru Yogananda. We also had
another great learning experience by visiting the
famous San Diego Zoo on our last day!
Having been on every mission trip since I started in
Youth Group, I found this trip to be very different.
Each trip has been unique and wonderful in its
own way, but what made this year different was
the way we examined the issue of immigration in
the broadest sense. Our knowledge on the issue
was not limited to our several
service experiences. I don’t
think I will ever be able to
think about or vote on
immigration issues without
attaching the stories of the
people we met. However,
tackling all immigration
problems is not something
we can do the day we get
home. We came to
understand that feeling guilt
for our privileges is not a
productive response; rather,
we need to do the next right thing and d
we can, as insignificant as it m
Learning about Hinduism at the Self‐Realization Fellowshipo whatever
ay seem.
All in all, it was a truly fulfilling, perspective‐
shifting experience that I was able to share with a
great group of teens and adults. I am very grateful
to the whole St. Maryʹs community for all the love
and support that allowed us to take this
unforgettable trip.
Special Screening
Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago Wednesday, September 18
7:00 p.m.
In the church
Since the 9th century, pilgrims have walked a
500‐mile route across Spain to the ancient and
revered Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.
Lydia Smith, daughter of parishioner Joan
Smith, follows six present‐day pilgrims from
around the world as they journey along this
physically, emotionally, and spiritually
challenging path.
For more information and a sneak preview of
the award‐winning and inspiring documentary
film, go to: http://caminodocumentary.org/.
Suggested donation: $12.00. A portion of the
proceeds will go to Outreach at St. Mary’s.
Cow Hollow Church News Fall 2013 Page 7
By Faith, With Thanksgiving Tom Robertson, Stewardship Chair
The word “stewardship” has its origins in Anglo‐
Saxon and comes to us through our Anglo‐Catholic
tradition. We use it to describe how we maintain
our church as an active, living, Christian
community. It can be fulfilled through both service
and financial contributions. When we speak of our
“Stewardship Campaign,” we refer to our financial
contributions that St. Maryʹs uses to continue its
full program and to grow and thrive.
This yearʹs stewardship theme is, “By faith, with
thanksgiving.” By giving, we live out our faith that
St. Maryʹs will be able to continue to play a central
role in our lives and in the lives of our children. We
can give thanks not only for our spiritual lives at St.
Maryʹs but also for the prosperous lives, filled with
blessings, that we live in this remarkable city. The
campaign begins on October 6 and culminates with
a pledge ingathering at each service on Sunday,
October 27th. On the 13th and the 20th, you will
hear why a generous pledge is so important.
Early in October you will
receive a letter asking for
your pledge, along with a
simplified pledge form
and envelope. The same
form will be available on
St. Maryʹs website. Those
of you who use a credit
card will no longer be
charged a fee ‐‐ and you
can still collect the
mileage. (I am very
thankful for all those
airline miles!) It will be
easier to pledge
generously. We ask,
therefore, that you
consider increasing
your pledge by 10%.
Three St. Mary’s
families have
generously agreed to host stewardship parties this
year. Please attend one or more of these events.
They are informative, fun, and also among the few
times when the entire St. Maryʹs community
gathers during the course of the year. Find details
on our website, in e‐blasts, and in Sunday bulletins.
Because of all of you who pledged last year, our
campaign was a solid success, and we thank you.
In 2012 we increased the total amount pledged
from $667,000 to over $775,000, and the number of
pledges grew from 265 to 302. This year the Vestry
has set goals of $825,000 in pledge income and 325
in pledges. For St. Mary’s to remain healthy
financially and to expand in ministry, it is essential
that everyone participates. Each pledge, at
whatever level is comfortable, no matter the size,
signifies both interest in and support of our parish.
During this yearʹs stewardship campaign, we ask
you to consider what faith means to you, to ponder
all that you are thankful for at St. Maryʹs, our
wonderful faith community, and to think about
how best to express your sentiment of
thanksgiving. Please give generously.
Outreach$10,410
1.5%17%
.5%
25%
17%
14%
7%
11%
7%Music
$177,489Stewardship and
Membership Growth $5,208
Worship$260,471
Diocesan Assessment
$176,022
Buildings and
Grounds $143,934
Financial$75, 204
Office and Admin
$110,152
Education$70,729
How Your Pledges Were Budgeted for 2013
Total $1,029,618
The amount budgeted for Outreach is added to proceeds from our December Comfort and Joy
fundraiser and disbursed by the Outreach Grant Team; in 2012, the team disbursed $46,000 to 14
organizations. To learn how the Diocese of California planned to spend St. Maryʹs Diocesan
Assessment, go to the diocal.org website and search for Narrative Budget 2013, or link to:
http://www.diocal.org/sites/default/files/media/PDF%20Docs/163_narrative_budget_2013_v7.pdf.
Page 8 Fall 2013 The Episcopal Church of St. Mary the Virgin
Praying Shapes Believing: Part Two The Rev. Christine McSpadden
In the last issue of the Cow Hollow Church News, I
wrote about how the liturgical team at St. Mary’s
would be experimenting over the summer with the
ways we worship together in community. Because
the way we pray together represents a living,
evolving, authentic expression of our intentions
and beliefs, we have sought to enrich our
expression to authentically reflect our values, ethos,
character, and aspirations.
Worshipping in community expanded to such new
expressions as a Yappy Mass in the courtyard for people
and their pets where Mother McSpadden ministered to
canine congregants and…
Each time you have worshipped at St. Mary’s on a
Sunday this summer, you have been part of a living
“lab.” In June, July, and August, we have
experimented with alternative service rites, sacred
space, layout of service bulletins, music, and more.
Our goal in these experiments has been four‐fold—
to explore ways to make our worship more:
Inclusive in language and imagery
Participatory
Intentional, and
Streamlined
As in any good experiment, we now want to collect
feedback on what you have experienced. Surveys
eliciting your responses in hard copy form were
stuffed in the Sunday bulletins for three weeks. The
same survey is
also available on
the website for
you to download
and return to the
office if you
prefer that
format. Please
take the time to
give us your
impressions and
add your voice
to the
conversation.
Our liturgy—our
“leitourgia,”
which in Greek
means public service
works of the people—
represents a living,
evolving, authentic
expression of our
intention and belief.
Thank you for being
part of this living work.
Pastoral Care at St. Mary's The Rev. Nancy Bryan
St. Mary’s Pastoral Care Committee and volunteers
offer specific help to parishioners who have asked
for assistance such as a visit, prayers, temporary
transportation to appointments, or occasional
meals during a time of healing or family need. Our
…a Spaghetti Mass
following the 5:30
service on first Sundays
of the month where
partakers like Maddie
Vestal savored long
noodles and robust
tomato sauce.
Cow Hollow Church News Fall 2013 Page 9
committee meets once every two months to address
practical and spiritual needs of parishioners and to
check in with each other. We provide notes and
phone calls to parishioners who have requested our
assistance and to others who are on our weekly
prayer list. We have two volunteer groups that
work closely with our committee. They are:
requests for meals and requests for transportation.
These requests come through either our committee
members or the church office. Confidentiality is
always of prime importance to the clergy, church
staff, and our committee volunteers.
Our committee always welcomes new members
and anyone who is interested in helping as an
occasional volunteer. Contact the Rev. Nancy
Bryan, Deacon, if you would like to join us, by
calling the church office at 415‐921‐3665 and
leaving a message for Nancy. We only ask that you
have a heart to serve where others are hurting or in
need of a friendly hand. Mother Theresa once said,
“God does not want us to do great things. God
wants us to do small things with Great Love.”
Columbarium News Tim Smith, Chair of the Columbarium Board
When our columbarium opened upon completion
of construction six years ago, the
Columbarium Board continued to
oversee administration of its operations,
as it had overseen its development and
construction. At a recent meeting
attended by Fr. Scott, the Columbarium
Board decided that it should reduce its
role and transfer administrative
responsibility for the columbarium to
the church office because the
columbarium could be more efficiently
administered through the church office.
Everything else about the columbarium
remains largely the same, including
eligibility, cost of a niche subscription,
and interment protocols.
The columbarium continues to be a beautiful,
tranquil, and sacred resting place in the inner
courtyard of the church for deceased parishioners
and their loved ones.
Parish Administrator Carla Ocfemia and Sexton
Manny Gabiana will be administering the
columbarium operations with back‐up support
from the clergy as necessary. Any parishioner
interested in subscribing for a niche in the
columbarium or otherwise needing questions
answered about the columbarium should contact
Carla in the church office at Carla@smvsf.org or
any member of the clergy.
As chair of the Columbarium Board since its
inception, I would like to convey my heartfelt
thanks and deep gratitude for the vision,
dedication, and compassion shown by the current
board members, who have unselfishly, capably,
and enthusiastically served on the Columbarium
Board for a number of years: Susan and Kent
Barber, Cynthia MacKay, Sandy Stadtfeld, Deborah
Franklin, David Sullivan, and Joanne Squire. All of
us are also very grateful to Bruce Prescott for his
counsel to the board as the architect for the
columbarium, and then as adviser to the board on
architectural and operational matters.
Our Columbarium, a beautiful, tranquil, and sacred resting place in our
inner courtyard.
Page 10 Fall 2013 The Episcopal Church of St. Mary the Virgin
Eclectic, Ebullient Open Cathedral
Amy Nachman
I worked on Market Street in San Francisco for 15
years. I looked at the plethora of homeless people
on the sidewalks and always felt sad about their
pitiful circumstances. After all, once they were
someone’s son or brother. Many others had a far
less compassionate response filled with disdain. I
always looked at them and smiled, gave a few
dollars to musicians, and brought them beautiful
Christmas cookies when
my office was
overflowing with goodies
sent to us from vendors.
So, the Rev. Nancy
Bryan’s announcement of
our church’s involvement
with Open Cathedral
resonated with me. She
said it was an outdoor
church service in the
Tenderloin every Sunday
at 2:00 p. m. rain or shine.
I was anxious to attend a
service. I went with my
Dalmatian and my sister.
My Dalmatian is a
thoroughbred ex‐show
dog, who gets a lot of
attention, and my sister is
in private corrections and
works with addicted,
homeless ex‐felons
helping them reenter the community by offering
computer and literacy classes.
The Open Cathedral service is run by ministers of
the Night Ministry, an organization with whom St.
Mary’s is affiliated. Our Outreach Granting Team
donates money to the Night Ministry and our
parishioners donate home‐made sandwiches for
Open Cathedral. Night Ministry phone‐line
counselors do such important work for troubled
people in the middle of the night with an all‐night
crisis phone line and with ministers who make
actual visits on the streets. It was interesting
attending our eight o’clock service and their two
o’clock service in the same day. Though the
parishioners are quite different and the Open
Cathedral’s Minister had a far sassier delivery, the
message and its effect were the same. The story of
the Prodigal Son moved the gathering of homeless
people just as deeply as it had touched our
congregation earlier in the day at St. Mary’s.
The gathering grew
slowly with a few people
milling about. As it got
closer to 2:00 p.m., the
crowd increased; and
once the service began
there were probably 45
people standing around
the temporary altar set
with flowers, a Bible, and
a cross. Emotions reached
a high point with shouts
of hallelujah during the
sermon. Communion
consisted of a baguette –
broken off and handed to
each person ‐ and grape
juice in individual paper
cups. The free bag lunch
with sandwiches
prepared by St. Mary’s
volunteers and beverage
distributed after the
service was eagerly
anticipated by the regular attendees.
It was an eclectic gathering, for certain. One fellow
said he’d been about to make his drug connection
that morning, but he dropped his phone in the
water, and it stopped working, so he attended
church instead. After the service, he repeatedly
shouted, “Jimmie Rae! Used to go to church every
Sunday with his mama! This is where I belong!” He
Making sandwiches for Open Cathedral in the Great
Room: left to right, Phoebe Brown, Tim Smith, Barbara
Addeo, Rhea McSpadden, the Rev. Christine McSpadden,
Pam Sauer, the Rev. Nancy Bryan, and David
McSpadden.
Cow Hollow Church News Fall 2013 Page 11
identified with the liturgical elements of the
service, and began to smile as it sent him back to a
happier time in Nashville. He relished being back
in church. He
would be
returning soon to
Nashville to live ‐
since he had AIDS
& melanoma.
Another man kept
staring at my
striking
Dalmatian. I
started talking to
him, and when I
asked him how he
was, he replied, “I
am okay. I am
going to Walden
House next week
to deal with a few
addictions. But whenever I think of this church
service, I’ll remember your dog.” Who knows?
Maybe these nice memories might help him stay
clean and sober.
Another fellow had a pet mouse (I hope it was a
mouse and not a rat) running up and down his
dingy sweatshirt. He kept patting my dog for
minutes at a time ‐ and I couldn’t help thinking
about how patting a dog can reduce your blood
pressure.
Sometimes, at the end of Open Cathedral services,
people come up to the altar and sing Amazing
Grace. The service can bring ebullience to a crowd
of people who probably don’t smile too much,
dealing with such intense difficulties and travails in
their lives. Attending Open Cathedral is simply a
beautiful and inspirational experience.
According to the Rev. Lyle Beckman, head of the
Night Ministry, parishioners from Grace Cathedral
came to a service, fell in love with Open Cathedral,
and will now participate on a regular on‐going
basis. Nancy Bryan and I have called other
Episcopal churches to invite their participation.
We at St. Mary’s
are involved as
sandwich
providers every
three months on
the third Sunday
of the month. Our
next lunches are
on September
15th and
December 15th. I
hope many of you
can help put the
bag lunches
together,
contribute food or
money, and
attend. Contact
Nancy Bryan at
nhbsf@me.com to sign up. It will alter your life.
Night Ministry Gala:
Gold Rush ‘49
Gold Rush ʹ49 is the theme of the Night Ministry’s
2013 gala fundraising dinner and auction because it
heralds the beginning of
the Night Ministry’s 50th
anniversary year. For
more information about
the gala on October 19 ‐‐
to buy tickers, be a
sponsor, or donate items
for auction ‐‐ contact St.
Mary’s parishioners
Mary Van Zomeren (who
is chairing the event) at
vanzomeren@sbcglobal.net or Marian Brischle
(who serves on the board) at
mbrischle@sbcglobal.net. Look for more
information in our Sunday bulletins before the
event on October 19.
The Night Ministry’s Rev. Monique Ortiz distributes food after an Open
Cathedral service.
Page 12 Fall 2013 The Episcopal Church of St. Mary the Virgin
Outreach at Raphael House
Lending a hand at Raphael House to shave a carrot, and
boil it up are (l to r) the Rev. Scott Richardson, the Rev.
Mary Moreno Richardson, Alisa Quint Fisher, David
Crosson, and Pam Sauer.
Raphael House is the first shelter for children and
families experiencing homelessness in Northern
California, helping at‐risk children and their
parents achieve stable housing and financial
independence, while strengthening family bonds
and personal dignity. Your opportunity to join the
food‐centered fun comes every first Monday of the
month, when we prep and serve evening meals at
Raphael House in San Francisco. You can choose
from two shifts, preparing food from 3:15 to 5:15
p.m. or serving meals and cleaning up from 5:00 to
7:15 p.m. Please contact Alisa Quint Fisher for
details and to sign up. Reach her by email at
alisaquint@me.com or by phone at 415‐730‐8332.
A Call To Stephen Ministry David Crosson
In those days when the number of disciples was
increasing . . . widows were being overlooked in the daily
distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the
disciples together and said,” . . . Brothers and sisters
choose seven . . . from among you who are known to be
full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this
responsibility over to them and will give our attention to
prayer and the ministry of the word.” This proposal
pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full
of faith and the Holy Spirit. . . . So the word of God
spread. (Acts 6)
Could our parish benefit from a Stephen Ministry
program? Do you know someone who recently
received a pink slip? Do you have a friend or
associate who suddenly has become a full‐time
caregiver to parent or spouse? Is someone reeling
from an unexpected divorce or the death of a loved
one? Is a member of the parish having trouble
adjusting to an empty nest? Has someone lost a
spouse or child to violence or self‐destruction? Do
you know anyone who is having trouble facing or
addressing a momentous life decision? Is there
anyone in our parish who is dying, being treated
for life‐threatening illness, or convalescing from
serious illness or injury? These people could use a
Stephen Minister.
What is a Stephen Minister? Most simply, a
Stephen Minister is a loving person who is
equipped through 50 hours of training and
supportive supervision to provide uniquely
Christian spiritual care to people in need. Stephen
Ministers are provided the spiritual, counseling,
and referral tools, and continuing support to share
God’s love and embrace during times of loss, grief,
recovery, and personal challenge. Stephen
Ministers do not provide individual pastoral calls
but are assigned single care receivers with whom
they meet at least bi‐weekly over an extended
period of time. Care receivers self‐identify, and all
care relationships are totally confidential within the
congregation and within the care support group.
Aren’t others at St. Mary’s already meeting these
needs? Stephen Ministers extend, but do not
replace, the pastoral service of ordained clergy and
other lay ministries. Stephen Ministers do not take
Eucharist, provide physical or medical care, offer
pastoral counseling, or “fix” problems. They
certainly do not substitute for the remarkable work
of our deacons. Stephen Ministers simply bring
God’s loving embrace (and ear) to those who need
Cow Hollow Church News Fall 2013 Page 13
it most for as long as they need it. Often Stephen
Ministers are needed most by people who are not
themselves directly suffering, but are caring for
those who are. Stephen Ministers are present before
or after a life‐changing or life‐threatening event,
and they can remain with their care receivers for as
long as two years. Stephen Ministers simply
multiply the opportunities for God to be present.
What is the Stephen Ministries© Organization?
Founded in 1975 by the Rev. Kenneth C. Haugk, a
Missouri Synod Lutheran pastor, Stephen
Ministries© is a nondenominational nonprofit that
organizes, trains, and supports a national network
of parish‐based Christian care giving. Over 11,000
congregations from 160 denominations have
trained 65,000 Stephen Ministers throughout the
country. There are over 840 Stephen Minister
congregations in California, including Episcopal
churches. Each congregation must pay a one‐time
enrollment fee, have leaders prepared to train
others, recruit parish members for an intensive
training regimen to become Stephen Ministers, and
set up the necessary internal administrative and
support structure. We have begun the process to
establish a Stephen Ministry Program at St. Mary
the Virgin over the next nine to twelve
months, and we will announce
exploratory and organizational meetings
as we proceed.
Information Session, September 22nd
Does living your baptismal covenant call
you to care for the wounded, offer solace
to the suffering, and uplift those in time of
trial, loss, confusion, and upheaval? Do
you feel called to witness to God’s love in
the most intimate, personal, and
supportive way? Then you may be called
to become a Stephen Minister. Without
making any commitment, if you are interested in
exploring this ministry further, please join us for an
informational meeting in the copy area upstairs in Pixley House at 10:15 a.m., Sunday, September
22nd. Or, contact David Crosson at 415‐668‐6486 or
hala90crosson@sbcglobal.net.
Bay Area Hikes John Walsham
A Cool Summertime Walk in the City
On August 3, an overcast San Francisco summer
morning shrouded twenty St. Mary’s hikers and
one small dog as we set off from the lych gate for a
five‐mile tour of the Presidio.
Heading towards the bridge, we shared the Golden
Gate Promenade with many joggers and spectators,
some of whom were viewing Mark di Suvero’s
huge steel sculptures perched on Crissy Field while
others waited to see America’s Cup action on the
bay. Pausing only for a photo op near the Warming
Hut, we climbed the stairs leading to the bridge.
There we were joined by Mike and Pat Lusse who
had craftily arrived by bus. Thence we sortied on
along the wooded trails of the Presidio to complete
our loop. Rounding out an exhilarating morning,
most of us enjoyed a convivial lunch at Liverpool
Lil’s restaurant.
Join us next time to renew body and spirit with
good companions as we continue to explore our
remarkable local environment.
Hikers pause near the Warming Hut on the Golden Gate
Promenade. Back row: Phil Albert, Bill Hall, Carolyn Hall, Nancy
Clothier holding dog Milo, Christine McSpadden, Jane Cook, Kim
Regan, Anne Kieve, Marta Johnson, Sue Steele, Stone Coxhead,
Natasha Hopkinson, Joe Morganti, Peter Hopkinson; front row:
John Addeo, John Walsham, Loren Kieve, Dan Hoth, Mike Painter;
not shown: Mike Lusse, Pat Lusse; photographer: Juliet Rikess.
Page 14 Fall 2013 The Episcopal Church of St. Mary the Virgin
Forum on Marriage Equality
Sunday, September 15
After the 11:00 a.m. Service
With the recent Supreme Court decisions
regarding Prop 8 and DOMA, several people
have asked about the plan at St. Mary’s
regarding the marriage of gay and lesbian
couples. The clergy of the parish are heartened
by the decision of the bishop to make this
sacrament available to all couples who wish to
live within the framework of Christian
marriage. We hope you will join us for this
forum on the topic of marriage equality.
On Formation and Confirmation Kathleen Bean, Director of Adult Formation
This summer, during our Adult Formation talks on
the Gospel of Luke, we heard about the teachings
of Jesus as he and his followers made a long and
somewhat meandering journey toward Jerusalem.
By using the motif of a journey in presenting Jesus’
words, Luke reminds us that our lives are spiritual
journeys, and that as we engage in worship,
learning, and service, we draw ever closer to God.
Our national Episcopal Church describes Christian
formation as, “The lifelong process of growing in
our relationship with God, self, others, and all
creation.” Christian formation involves learning of
many kinds, including studying scripture and
exploring its application and relevance to our
modern experience. But formation also occurs as
we worship, engage in service to others, and
explore different spiritual practices such as
meditation, praying the Rosary, or walking a
labyrinth. Some of us, like St. Francis, may find that
spending time in nature draws us closer to God
and reveals God in a unique way. Christian
formation, then, is not confined merely to “adult
education,” but encompasses all that we do on a
lifelong journey of faith.
For adults who were not raised in the Episcopal
Church, formation may include a decision to be
received or confirmed. Parishioners who were
confirmed in another Christian denomination may
be formally “received” into the Episcopal Church
through the laying on of hands by the bishop.
Those who have not been confirmed are invited to
participate in a class that explores our Christian
faith and the Anglican tradition in which they will
explore their own faith and ultimately determine
whether they wish to make a public affirmation of
faith through confirmation. This can be a deeply
meaningful experience at any age or time, as I
know from my own experience.
My husband Brian and I were both raised in other
Protestant denominations and, after ten years of
worshiping at St. Mary’s, decided that we wanted
to make a formal commitment to our community
and to the Episcopal Church. After participating in
a multi‐week class conducted by Fr. Jason Parkin,
we were confirmed by Bishop William E. Swing at
Grace Cathedral in 2001, along with a few hundred
other confirmands, the vast majority of whom were
seventh graders. Like the seventh graders, we
dressed in our Sunday best, and after the service
stood in line to have our new prayer books signed
by the Bishop. But the moment that stands out for
me happened when our fellow parishioners
stretched out their hands in support of our prayers
of commitment. We truly felt blessed, and knew we
had experienced a significant milestone in our own
faith journeys.
If you have not yet been received or confirmed into
the Episcopal Church and are interested in
exploring these possibilities, please contact our
Rector Scott Richardson or Associate Rector
Christine McSpadden. You can also watch for
announcements about “Inquirer’s classes” leading
to confirmation and reception in the Cow Hollow
Church News, on smvsf.org, and in the Sunday
bulletins. As we say at St. Mary’s, “Wherever you
find yourself on your journey of faith, we hope you
find here, by the grace of God, that which feeds
your soul.” We hope your spiritual journey is
Cow Hollow Church News Fall 2013 Page 15
enriched by our common life together in worship,
in learning, in service, and in fellowship.
The Rev. Christine McSpadden speaking about the
Anglican spirit and our Episcopal ethos.
Listen to
Audio versions of
Summer in the City Adult Formation Talks on smvsf.org
Christian Attitudes Toward War and Peace,
with the Rev. Scott Richardson
On the Good Use of Leisure, with the Rev.
Scott Richardson
The Guadalupe Art Program, with the Rev.
Mary Moreno Richardson
The Anglican Spirit, with the Rev. Christine
McSpadden
Discipleship and the Role of the Deacon,
with Rod Dugliss
Planning for Your Life Stages, seminar
sponsored by St. Mary’s Legacy Society,
with Martha Daetwyler and David Gibson
Food and Faith, with Kathleen Bean
End of Life Planning, with our clergy
Rod Dugliss discussing the discipleship of deacons.
Planning for Your Life Stages David Sullivan, Legacy Society Member
An informative seminar on “Planning for Your Life
Stages” took place as part of the “Summer in the
City” series. The speakers were tax and estate
planning attorneys Martha Daetwyler ‐‐ on powers
of attorney for financial management, health care
directives including living wills, and retirement
accounts; and David Gibson ‐‐ on revocable living
trusts, pour over wills, statutory wills, holographic
wills, and ethical wills. David Sullivan acted as
moderator. Contact our clergy for a referral to a
professional for assistance in any area of planning
your life stages. More information is available at
http://www.episcopalfoundation.org/resource‐
library from the Episcopal Church Foundation.
Food and Faith Kathleen Bean, Director of Adult Formation
Food is a topic of endless fascination for many,
especially here in the food‐centric Bay Area where
we are blessed with an abundance of local food,
gourmet grocery stores, and fantastic restaurants.
Because I come from a long line of Iowa farmers
and have been helping manage our family’s Idaho
sheep ranch for the past 12 years, I became
interested in the spirituality of food and farming. I
could see obvious connections between farming
and care for the Earth as a spiritual practice, but I
wondered about how food itself figures into our
faith. This became the topic of my Master’s thesis,
and of a “Summer in the City” program.
I discovered that food is a consistent theme in the
scriptures, from the Garden of Eden in Genesis to
the heavenly banquet of Revelation. Abundant
food from a land flowing with milk and honey is
the most evocative part of the promise of God to
the Israelites oppressed in slavery in Egypt. Food
was a sign of God’s loving care in the gift of manna
from heaven that sustained the Israelites as they
journeyed through the desert for forty years. The
gospels are steeped in food imagery, from Jesus’
first miracle turning water into wine, to parables
Page 16 Fall 2013 The Episcopal Church of St. Mary the Virgin
featuring fig trees and mustard seeds, and finally to
the symbolism of the Last Supper. Food, of course,
is also part of our most sacred worship ritual in the
bread and wine of the Eucharist.
I believe that in scripture and in every day life food
reminds us of the connections among God,
Creation, and humankind. Our eating involves
many choices, including what foods we eat, how it
was raised, and the people with whom we eat.
These choices express the way we feel about the
connections among people, the Earth, and God and
can make eating a powerful every‐day spiritual
practice.
Eating is an invitation to enter into communion
with each other. When we eat together at a table we
are not merely taking in necessary nutrients, but
also sharing an experience that hopefully includes
conversation, listening, reflection, and gratitude.
We are often reminded of the importance of family
meals in raising well‐adjusted, confident children.
Jesus used the practice of sharing meals to
demonstrate mercy and inclusiveness by eating
frequently with “sinners” and the marginalized,
including women and the poor. When he gave his
disciples bread and wine at the Last Supper and
said, “do this for the remembrance of me,” he was
referring to the practice of sharing food. The
worship ritual of the Last Supper is a reminder to
us that every time we share food we should be
mindful of Christ’s ministry of love and
compassion, remembering that we are connected to
all of the human family. When Jesus taught his
disciples to pray, he told them to ask, “Give us this
day our daily bread.” Notice the plural form, “us”
– this was not to be the prayer of an individual, but
rather the prayer of people in community with one
another. The greater meaning of this prayer
includes awareness that everyone should be fed.
Eating is also an opportunity to be in communion
with the Earth. When we remember that our food
comes from the Earth as a gift of God, we may
experience deeper connections to the plants and
animals that become our food and to the natural
processes that sustain life on our planet. Eating
should remind us that we are part of an
interdependent web of life, responsible for doing
our part to care for Creation.
And, just as the wandering Israelites remembered
their daily dependence on God every morning as
they gathered manna, the very constancy of our
need for food should draw us into closer
communion with the divine. The practice of saying
a prayer before meals is a wonderful reminder of
this essential connection.
Thoughtful eating can lead us beyond ourselves
into the world of plants and animals, oceans and
farms, farmers and farm workers, and cooks. When
we approach eating as a spiritual practice, we
honor God, appreciate Creation, and accept
responsibility for our own membership and
participation in this world. The next time you sit
down to a meal, consider pausing for a moment in
gratitude for the gifts of the Earth, for the many
human hands that helped bring that food to your
table, and for God’s faithfulness. Say grace.
Our Parish Nursery Jackie Schroeder, Nursery Care Director
“Pat‐a‐cake, pat‐a‐cake, bakerʹs man…” “The itsy bitsy
spider crawled up the water spout…”It’s raining, it’s
pouring, the old man is snoring….”
These are just some of the traditional nursery
rhymes one might hear when walking into St.
Mary’s Nursery on Sunday mornings. Little faces,
both shy and animated, can be seen romping,
reading, and relishing the joy in this fantastical
world of wonder. During the 9:00 a.m. and 11:00
a.m. regular morning services (and during the 10:00
a.m. summer service), children ages three and
under are warmly welcomed into the toy‐filled
room, encouraged to explore their imaginations
through reading, song, and play by director Jackie
Schroeder and her assistants.
Each year the nursery welcomes new babes and
veteran toddlers who walk through the door.
Cow Hollow Church News Fall 2013 Page 17
Whether some parents drop
their children off every
Sunday for the full hour‐long
service, or they drop them
off for 20 minutes every few
months, the responsible and
friendly nursery caregivers
make it a point to get to
know the children and to
form relationships with their
parents.
If some children cry,
painfully not wanting to let
their parents leave for the hour, the kind and
resourceful caregivers immediately tend to them,
comfort them, and help them to understand
separation with such reassuring words as,
“Mommy (or Daddy) always comes back.” It is
exciting for the staff to witness the children’s
growth in this way. With each passing year, tiny
faces grow and become more and more
comfortable with the nursery environment,
especially with the many toys, music, and friendly
faces who greet them.
For up to one hour a week, these precious nursery‐
goers enter a creative world where caregivers
entertain their imaginations, allowing them to be
themselves and to grow in confidence. It is not
unusual and always heart‐warming to see a child
give a hug of gratitude to a caregiver upon leaving.
Musical Skills for our Children Laura Jeanne Ruppert, Children’s Choir Director
September marks the
beginning of a new
choral season for the
Childrenʹs Choir and
we welcome singers
from Kindergarten
through third grade
to join us.
The Childrenʹs Choir
curriculum is based
on the philosophies of both
Zoltan Kodály and Carl Orff.
In order to reach students of
different learning styles, we
use a variety of tools and
techniques to foster
musicianship in each student.
“Curwen hand signs” are
used to indicate a visual and
kinesthetic relationship
between notes and help to
develop in‐tune singing.
“Rhythmic syllabification” is
used as a means to express duration of rhythms,
and movement allows students to involve their
bodies in stepping beat, performing rhythmic
games, and dancing to music to foster a greater
sense of rhythm and expression. These techniques
are used to introduce students to concepts within
the musical repertoire.
Jackie Schroeder entertaining the imagination of
a visitor to the Nursery.
Each Wednesday, the choir rehearses from 4:00 to
5:15 p.m., and we memorize a song that is
performed on Sunday morning at the 9:00 a.m.
service (choristers arrive at 8:30 a.m. to warm up
their voices). In addition to participating in the
liturgy each Sunday, we develop a variety of
musical skills such as singing, playing instruments,
improvising, composing, reading, writing,
deriving, listening, analyzing, describing, moving,
dancing, memorizing, and part work.
We hope that the music education provided by St.
Mary the Virgin can help to supplement the limited
or non‐existent music classes in the public schools.
Our first choir
practice is scheduled
for Wednesday,
September 4th. Please
contact Laura Jeanne
Ruppert
(laurajeanneruppert@
yahoo.com) to enroll
at any time.
Choristers of the Children’s and Youth Choirs line up in the inner
courtyard on their way into church to lift their voices in song.
Page 18 Fall 2013 The Episcopal Church of St. Mary the Virgin
The Youth Choir Invites
All youngsters and the young at heart to a
Halloween Celebration
Saturday, October 26th PROMPTLY at 6:00 p.m.
Come wearing your favorite Halloween costume!
Gather inside the church
For
LOTS OF FUN FOR EVERYONE
Haunted House
A Visit from Members of the Addams Family
Pumpkin Carols
Frightening Food
Scary Readings
Costume Parade
Spooky Organ Music
Bubbly Drinks
Bobbing for Apples
The Parish Choir of The Episcopal Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Lacuna Arts Ensemble, and Urban Opera
Present
Requiem
by Gabriel Fauré with chamber orchestra
An Order for Evening in Commemoration of the Feast of All Faithful Departed
Friday, November 1, 2013 7:00 p.m. St. John’s Presbyterian Church
25 Lake Street (at Arguello), San Francisco
and
A Service of Holy Eucharist in Commemoration of the Feast of All Faithful Departed
Sunday, November 3, 2013 11:00 a.m.
The Episcopal Church of St. Mary the Virgin
2325 Union Street (at Steiner), San Francisco
Both services are free and open to the public
Cow Hollow Church News Fall 2013 Page 19
. First Class Mail
2325 Union Street
San Francisco, CA 94123‐3905
(415) 921‐3665 • www.smvsf.org
INSIDE… From the Rector ................ Cover Story Sr. Warden’s Letter ............................ 2 Sunday School News ........................ 3 Youth Group Mission Trip................. 4 By Faith, With Thanksgiving............. 7 Praying Shapes Believing: Part Two 8 Pastoral Care at St. Mary’s ............... 8 Columbarium News ........................... 9 Eclectic, Ebullient Open Cathedral .10
Outreach at Raphael House ............ 12 A Call to Stephen Ministry .............. 12 Bay Area Hikes................................. 13 On Formation and Confirmation .... 14 Summer in the City .......................... 15 Planning for Your Life Stages ........ 15 Food and Faith ................................. 15
Our Parish Nursery .......................... 16 Musical Skills for Our Children ...... 17 The Youth Choir Invites .................. 18 Requiem for All Souls’ Day ............. 19
HIGHLIGHTS—FALL 2013 Also visit www.smvsf.org
SPIRITUALITY & PASTORAL CARE Baptisms – Sunday, September 29, 2013 at the 9 and 11 am
services; Sunday, November 10, 2013 at the 9 am service Spiritual Support Group – 2nd & 4th Sundays, 4 pm, in the
Vestry Room Chapel Prayer Group – 2nd Tuesday of the month, 9 am, in the
chapel Wednesday Prayer – Every Wednesday, 7 am, in the chapel Praying the Rosary – Wednesdays, 12:00 noon in the Study in
Pixley House Thursday Evening Prayer – Every Thursday, 5:15 pm, in the
chapel Nursing Home Ministry –
Golden Gate Healthcare Center – Every 4th Sunday, 1:30 pm at 2707 Pine Street Presidio Gate – 2nd & 4th Mondays, 10 am at 2770 Lombard Street
OUTREACH Raphael House Ministry – First Monday of each month.
Contact Alisa Quint Fisher at 415-755-4156 or alisaquint@mac.com
Open Cathedral – Once a quarter we prepare lunches for this weekly 2 pm Sunday service. Contact the Rev. Nancy Bryan at nhbsf@me.com to help prepare food in advance and/or attend.
MEETINGS & MISCELLANY Deadline for the Winter Cow Hollow Church News –
November 1. Please email submissions to Inkyword@aol.com
SAVE THESE DATES Summer in the City Adult Formation Series – End of Life
Planning, with our clergy, Sunday, Sept. 1, 9 am in the Great Room of Fowler Hall
Forum on Marriage and Equality – Sunday, Sept. 15, after the 11 am service, in the church
Screening of Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago – Wednesday, Sept. 18, 7 pm, in the church
Stephen Ministry – Sunday, Sept. 22, 10:15 am, in the copy areaupstairs in Pixley House
Youth Choir Halloween Party – Saturday, Oct. 26, 6 pm, in the church
Requiem for All Souls’ Day – Friday, Nov. 1, 7 pm at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 25 Lake Street (at Arguello) and Sunday, Nov. 3, 11:00 am at St. Mary’s
Recommended