The Bishop’s Committee met on Monday evening (July 12) with Bishop Marc Andrus and Canon Michael Barlowe to discuss the transition at Holy Innocents, and we’re excited to announce some long-awaited next steps.

When Rosa Lee, Davey, and I met with the Bishop before Lent to discuss Rosa Lee’s departure and transition, we were informed that there were two alternative paths in front of us:

1) An interim priest could be appointed, during which time we would do a self-study and then engage in a search process: a process that could take 12-24 months to complete.

2) A priest-in-charge could be appointed by the Bishop for a one-year term, during which time we would do a self-study and then engage in a discernment process to determine if this ministry arrangement was mutually beneficial. If after that year, it was decided that things were good, we would move forward, calling that priest-in-charge to be our vicar; if it was decided that things were not working out, we could move forward with an interim/search process model as described above.

After much careful thought, the Bishop has suggested, and the Bishop’s Committee has accepted, the priest-in-charge model.

The benefits to this are substantial. A priest-in-charge is exactly as described, fully functioning as priest in our parish. Without having to have an interim or series of interims, Holy Innocents can begin a relationship and a discernment with a clergy team immediately. Also, this model significantly minimizes the pressure of an extended transition, allowing us all to welcome and focus on a fixed point.

That’s part one.

Part two is equally exciting. There are three congregations nearby in transition simultaneously: Holy Innocents, St John the Evangelist, and El Buen Samaritano. We have been asked to join in an area ministry collaboration with these sister parishes. For us, this means a single priest in charge for Holy Innocents who is in a close team with the lay and ordained leadership of El Buen Samaritano and St. John’s; all the other volunteer priests across the three congregations, and at least two deacons. This exciting ministry team will work together in collaborative ministry. This gives us a chance to get to know and work more closely with our brothers and sisters down the street as well, possibly opening up new ministries and opportunities yet to be discovered. We already have our shared Julian Pantry with St. John’s – this collaboration will build on that strong ministry foundation.

For our part, we have a half-time salary in our budget which will pay for our half-time priest-in-charge. A deacon will be assigned to Holy Innocents which will not represent a cost to our budget. We have also been asked to form an “Area Ministry” team comprised of lay leadership which meets independently of the clergy and Bishop’s Committee (but which will work in alignment with them). This group will meet regularly to discuss challenges in collaborative ministry, identify and propose collaborative ministries, and keep our congregation true to area ministries. The other two congregations involved have been asked to form a similar structure. We will be asking all of you to think about who from our community might serve on this VERY important committee. We are very excited that this group will help to chart our future together.

That’s part two.

Finally, the best news of all: the Bishop has appointed Bertie Pearson as Priest-in-Charge and Joshua Griffin (Griff to the rest of us!) as our Deacon. They will exercise their positions with us in an arrangement that ensures that all the energy, ministries, and needs of our community are supported.

Bertie and Griff will be with us occasionally during the summer (Griff more so) to give us a chance to ask questions, and will be working with Davey and I closely to ensure that we all hit the ground running. At the top of our tasks together will be to roll out the structure and begin a self-study process, so that we can maximize our one-year mutual ministry discernment. This self study part of our coming year will be very important and formative for all of us.

Bertie and Griff will join us officially on September 12, as we begin our new year of Godly Play and church programs.

A note on the area ministry part of this picture — our Diocese is a pioneer in the area ministry concept, which reaches out to neighborhoods, communities, and all of God’s people (those who attend church and those who do not). The central idea about area ministry is that we are all of one body, and that we are all called to love and serve one another in Christ’s name. Bishop Marc and Canon Michael believe that Holy Innocents, St. John’s and El Buen Samaritano can become a model for area ministry in the Mission/Noe Valley area. This is a tall order, and we feel honored and moved about the confidence that the leadership of the church has placed in our little community. It’s safe to say that we also feel a little daunted about the responsibility that has been vested in us.

But one thing that we know, from our experience last summer during Rosa Lee’s sabbatical, and from our past year of transition together, is that we are a community of strength and love and faith. I believe that we know how to care for one another, and that our care for our community can only multiply and grow as we think about ourselves in an area ministry context. We look forward to hearing all of your ideas about this new vision for Holy Innocents, and about our work together in the year to come.

Davey and I, and any member of the Bishop’s Committee, are available for questions that you might have, and we look forward to this new chapter for Holy Innocents. As soon as a critical mass of us are back in town after well deserved summer breaks, we’ll get together for a parish meeting about our future together.

In peace and love to all of you, Margaret

So – we are prepared for a wonderful summer, with the help of our strong and experienced clergy team of Tom Dipko, Genie Kinney, Tim Greene, and Gary Ost. We know well how to plan for the summer, having just done so last summer while Rosa Lee was on sabbatical. We’ll be working with the clergy team on this, and will have more information for you soon.

Thank you for your prayers and thoughts for our meeting – we felt them! More soon, with peace from your wardens, Davey and Margaret

Fabienne

Rosa Lee:
His Dark Materials (trilogy)- by Philip Pullman
Something Rising (Light and Swift)- by Haven Kimmel
A Circle of Quiet- by Madeleine L’Engle

Added after the fact: Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

Erling:
Lark Rise to Candleford- by Flora Thompson

Judith:
Parables and Portraits- by Stephen Mitchell
Middlesex- by Jeffrey Eugenides

Cameron:
The Lord of the Rings- by J.R.R. Tolkien

Davey:
The book of Hosea (OT)
A Wrinkle in Time- by Madeleine L’Engle
East of Eden- by John Steinbeck

Rhea:
The Little Prince- by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Tim:
The Grapes of Wrath- by John Steinbeck

Allison:
A Tale of Two Cities- by Charles Dickens
The Power and The Glory- by Graham Greene

Cindy:
Suite Francaise- by Irene Nemirovsky
The Proud Tower- by Barbara Tuckman

Bill:
Cry to Heaven- by Anne Rice
Cane River- by Lalita Tademy

Sergio:
Tuesdays With Morrie- by Mitch Albom

Joel:
The Diving Bell and The Butterfly- by Jean-Dominique Bauby
The Last Temptation of Christ- by Nikos Kazantzakis

Marcus:
Three- by Flannery O’Connor
The Grass Harp and The Tree of Night- by Truman Capote
Berlin Stories- by Christopher Isherwood

Stephen:
Master and Commander- by Patrick O’Brian
Jane Austen
Willa Cather

Cynthia:
The Jungle- by Upton Sinclair
Stones from the River- by Ursula Hegi

(also mentioned:)
The Guns of August- by Barbara Tuchman
Cry the Beloved Country- by Alan Paton
Motherless Brooklyn- by Jonathan Lethem
Too Late the Phalarope- by Alan Paton
The Prince of Tides- by Pat Conroy
The Brothers Karamazov- by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

I was not there on that Wednesday, so I will add my favorite books:
Un roi sans divertissement by Jean Giono (I’m sorry, I don’t think it’s been translated)
Chess Story, by Stefan Zweig
and like Rhea, I love The Little Prince

That same sentence could be said of EACH of these three nights, and I genuinely hope that you can be at all three. MANY of us will be, and if that is what you are able to choose, I know you won’t regret it.

• Tonight – Maundy Thursday

Our Maundy Thursday meal together is a very intimate time for Holy Innocents parishioner and a night that lots of us identify as THE night when we felt we really became a member.

We start with a pot luck (and not to worry, as always at Holy Innocents, no need to bring anything – there’s always more than enough!) followed by a time of talking together for about an hour about the past year in our lives. Personal stories of what has happened, how God is moving, where people are headed … and we conclude our meal together by making Eucharist together … A Great Thanksgiving for all God has done in our lives and in our community. All children are welcome and welcome to participate. We especially invite our Rite 13 kids to be a part of this meal and of the sharing of the stories of their lives!

As I mentioned above, this is a great night for newcomers to come and be a part of this special evening.

We begin our meal at 6:30 and the sharing begins around 7:15.

• Friday night – Good Friday

Each year Bill Keck and Sr. Jean organize an evening of reflection and contemplation on the cross involving readings, music and various stations for meditation in the darkened nave. This year it seems it will be even more moving as our readings are personal stories of members of our own congregation about times of darkness and shadow in their lives.

As always each of these times of sharing will be framed by a musical selection by a member of the choir.

This service begins at 7:30 and concludes around 9:00

• Saturday night – The Great Vigil of Easter

In Christian tradition the Great Vigil is the “feast of feasts,” the major festival of the Christian year in which we celebrate the light of Christ illuminating the darkness of our hearts and of our world. It includes the celebration of Holy Baptism and the first Eucharist of Easter. Thank you for joining us in thanksgiving for the gift of new life in Christ.

This year, our celebration is particularly special, as it brings together four congregations from the South of Market Area: St. Aidan’s, Holy Innocents’, El Buen Samaritano, and St. John the Evangelist. This joint celebration recognizes our unity in life and work, and expresses the rich gifts of our diverse communities. Tonight is a sign that we can do so much more together than we could ever do alone.

A particularly exciting piece for Holy Innocents is that Constance Williams (Lois’ daughter) is being baptized at the Great Vigil.

This service will be at St. John’s at 15th and Julian and begins at 7:30 and concludes with a FEAST. People from Holy Innocents are asked to bring a salad or a side dish! If you want to carpool to the service to avoid any issues with parking, or to have someone park your car for you when you arrive, please email jdavey3@gmail.com. There is public attended parking on Hoff Street about a block from St. Johns.

Each of these services is very meaningful and adds in its own way to the joy of Easter. I hope you can join us and I am looking forward to seeing you at as many of these services as you are able to attend!

Blessed Holy Week!

Rosa Lee+

This week the Rev. Dr. Tom Dipko preached a wonderful sermon that highlighted for us the dual processions that were coming into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. On the one hand, Jesus was processing in on a poor donkey, with the streets lined with the poor, but faithful, who were witnesses and believers to his glory. On the other hand there was a large parade for Pontius Pilate, with the streets lined with the rich who, as Tom reminded us, were throwing their expensive robes on the ground in front of Pilate’s chariot. Tom pointed out that these were the residents with deep financial pockets, complicit in the occupation by the Roman Empire. We were asked to reflect on these two parades and to remember the one that was for Jesus.

I cannot help but see the parallels to our current times and wonder how Jesus would feel about how absent we are from his procession. With tax season upon is I am more acutely aware than ever that we, as US taxpayers, are lining the streets of the occupation of Palestine with our $3 billion in foreign aid to Israel, used to buy weapons and build walls, every year. More than any other nation in the world, we support the continued violent occupation of the land where Jesus processed to his death.

As we processed on Palm Sunday throughout the Mission, so too did 150 Palestinians, Israelis, and internationals attempt to walk from Bethlehem to Jerusalem, a distance of only a few miles, but one that has become nearly impassable. On a road reserved only for Israelis and certain internationals, this group of nonviolent resistors waved their palms and escorted their donkeys past the Israeli military on their way into Jerusalem. The procession was stopped well before ever entering Jerusalem, and 4 Israelis, 1 American, and 11 Palestinians were arrested, with the Palestinians still being held today. The donkeys were also taken into custody. Jesus at least was able to get his donkey all the way into Jerusalem.

And so, as Tom stood up there speaking to us of these processions that took place 2000 years ago, we could all sit and nod our heads at which parade we’d choose to be a part of. But, today, when this testament of human will and goodness and grace continues, which procession do we choose to throw our cloaks before? I not only mourn the death of Jesus this week, but also the deaths all those who work nonviolently everyday against this illegal occupation that we are all complicit in, and that brings us further from the grace of God every time we look away. I hope to one day feel that I can fully be on the path that would line Jesus’ procession.

Abbie Coburn

For more information you may visit:

http://www.imemc.org/article/58309

qumsiyeh.org

http://www.endtheoccupation.org/

This week the Rev. Dr. Tom Dipko preached a wonderful sermon that highlighted for us the dual processions that were coming into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. On the one hand, Jesus was processing in on a poor donkey, with the streets lined with the poor, but faithful, who were witnesses and believers to his glory. On the other hand there was a large parade for Pontius Pilate, with the streets lined with the rich who, as Tom reminded us, were throwing their expensive robes on the ground in front of Pilate’s chariot. Tom pointed out that these were the residents with deep financial pockets, complicit in the occupation by the Roman Empire. We were asked to reflect on these two parades and to remember the one that was for Jesus.

I cannot help but see the parallels to our current times and wonder how Jesus would feel about how absent we are from his procession. With tax season upon is I am more acutely aware than ever that we, as US taxpayers, are lining the streets of the occupation of Palestine with our $3 billion in foreign aid to Israel, used to buy weapons and build walls, every year. More than any other nation in the world, we support the continued violent occupation of the land where Jesus processed to his death.

As we processed on Palm Sunday throughout the Mission, so too did 150 Palestinians, Israelis, and internationals attempt to walk from Bethlehem to Jerusalem, a distance of only a few miles, but one that has become nearly impassable. On a road reserved only for Israelis and certain internationals, this group of nonviolent resistors waved their palms and escorted their donkeys past the Israeli military on their way into Jerusalem. The procession was stopped well before ever entering Jerusalem, and 4 Israelis, 1 American, and 11 Palestinians were arrested, with the Palestinians still being held today. The donkeys were also taken into custody. Jesus at least was able to get his donkey all the way into Jerusalem.

And so, as Tom stood up there speaking to us of these processions that took place 2000 years ago, we could all sit and nod our heads at which parade we’d choose to be a part of. But, today, when this testament of human will and goodness and grace continues, which procession do we choose to throw our cloaks before? I not only mourn the death of Jesus this week, but also the deaths all those who work nonviolently everyday against this illegal occupation that we are all complicit in, and that brings us further from the grace of God every time we look away. I hope to one day feel that I can fully be on the path that would line Jesus’ procession.

- Abbie Coburn

For more information you may visit:

http://www.imemc.org/article/58309

qumsiyeh.org

http://www.endtheoccupation.org/

The Blessing of the Palms will be at 9:30 and we are anticipating our entrance into the church will be at 10:00 …

If you do not feel able to make the walk to the church, feel free to bring your car to drive, or to simply meet us at the church at 10. Acolytes please be at the church to vest at 9 and we will go to Valencia together. A couple of cars will be taking us and our materials there, and those cars can also bring a few people back who cannot make the procession.

Additionally, this is the last Sunday of the month so there is just ONE SERVICE … Hospitality is Potluck, and people are encouraged to bring whatever they would like for a brunch-type meal.

THERE ARE HOLY WEEK SERVICES EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK THIS WEEK. PLEASE MAKE YOUR PLANS TO ATTEND ALL YOU POSSIBLY CAN … I will be sending out a more informational email message about the remainder of the services tomorrow, and you can expect me to send several email reminders and updates throughout the week.

As many of you know, Buddy Stallings (my bff from college who served with me here at Holy Innocents for a year) is the Vicar of St. Bart’s in New York City. St. Bart’s is one of the leading parishes in the country. Every week I receive an email from St. Bart’s, half of them Buddy writes and half, their Rector, Bill Tully writes. If you want to start receiving these reflections visit their website at: http://www.stbarts.org

This week’s reflection on Holy Week was by Bill, and I found what he had to say about Holy Week so well said that I wanted to share it with you. He gives us a lovely perspective on ‘The Great Week’ and our participation in it. Please read and enjoy!

May you have a blessed Holy Week,
Rosa Lee+

From St. Bart’s, NYC – The Great Week
In 1987, this item appeared in the famed Diary feature of The Times of London:

“Overheard in a Chiswick jeweler’s shop, assistant to customer examining a collection of crucifix pendants: ‘Are you looking for a plain one, or one with a little man on it?’”

We can’t afford to be judgmental about such breathtaking religious illiteracy, but we can’t be complacent either.

This coming week we commemorate the death of the “little man” on the cross. The death of Jesus has meaning, because his life and teaching had the power to change the world and change lives. Whatever your religion, or none, he is a Big Man of history.

You might want to think of Holy Week as a progression or pilgrimage. The intensity of it, the sheer honesty of it, can be experienced at any point along the way. Of course, the more you take in, the more you’re likely to gain.

And what might that gain be?

You might gain understanding of the human condition. You will certainly hear voices representing the best and worst our kind has to offer. You won’t hear easy answers, but you’ll gain the sense that life can be lived out of a center of faith — a gift, for sure — that means our freedom, our mistakes and our hardest questions are part of the life-giving order of things.

Many years ago, I attended a church where this week was titled simply The Great Week. In it, they lived out the story of the cross in which the little man became a big deal. He has been ever since for me.

May it be so for you. See you along the way.

Bill Tully