Adventword

As you may know, there is a tradition now from SSJE of "Adventword" where a word is given each day as a prompt for social media to react.  The Cathedral photographer Susan responds to this prompt from her own library of photographs, on the SPC page.  These were our photographs this year, with a brief description of why Susan chose them.
You can follow Susan on instagram or facebook as @slfphotographer or view her website SLFphotographer.com or Thin Place Photography

2 Dec: Journey: walking on a trail in  Grand Teton National Park. The hiker is moving away from the viewer.  What are you leaving behind as you set out on the journey this Advent? What are you seeking on the trail?

3 Dec Watch:   a service at Advent.  Dad is watching the chancel but his son is watching another thing altogether.  What you may want to watch may not be in front of you.

4 Dec: Focus:  a close up of an old Brownie Camera.  What does it mean to focus in our hyper digital age?

5 Dec:  Night.  Our Cathedral lit in Advent colors, with the moon just rising.  

The darkness of night can be a time of beauty and peace, lit by hope.

6 Dec:  Light.  The morning sun peeking through the eucalyptus trees in the Berkeley Hills.  Something wakes and inspires us in early morning.

7 Dec:  Sprout.  The water lilies in Balboa Park are bursting forth with new life! 

8 Dec: Alert.  Stay back from the danger....or not?  We need to pay attention where we are, not just look into the sun ahead.

9 Dec:  wild.  Grand Teton National Park at dawn.  Wildness inspires!

10 Dec:  Cry.  The monument at Manzanar, site of one of the Japanese internment camps 

from WWII, where the sound of the wind still carries weeping.

11 Dec:  Go.  A great blue heron in San Elijo lagoon takes off awkwardly.  

Aren't takeoffs often awkward?  But we should go anyway.

12 Dec:  Rough.  The waves break over the seawall in La Jolla Children's cove. 

Their power awes. 

13 Dec Smooth. A snowy egret on the rocks at the shore. 

The relentless waves and rough seas have smoothed the stones--feel their soft texture.

14 Dec:  Prune.  The most beautiful flowers (camellias, here) only come when the bush is pruned. What do you need to prune to bring forth beauty?

15 Dec:  Prepare.  Canon Sacristan Konnie ties back the curtains in the sacristy with ribbons that match the colors of the liturgical season.   Deliberate, thoughtful, intentional preparations make the season more meaningful.

16 Dec: Rejoice!  Ringing the bells at the Easter Vigil, and celebrating together.   Community is much to rejoice in.

17 Dec:  Sing.  The gentlemen of the Choir lift their voices.  All of us can sing in some way.

18 Dec:  Ancestors.  Our Dia de los Muertos offrenda celebrates our friends and forefathers. If we keep them in our hearts, they are always with us.

19 Dec:  Wash.  Maundy Thursday at the Diocesan center.  Washing the feet of another is an humble act of service and caring.  Washing is also a symbol of letting go.  How can we wash ourselves and others free?

20 Dec:  Ablaze. Our former bishop The Right Rev James Mathes at the Easter Vigil. This makes me think of Shakespeare's Henry V:  "Oh for a muse of fire!"  

Fire warms, purifies, enlightens and inspires.  What are you ablaze for?

21 Dec:  Sign.  Banker's Hill, San Diego, a 1-way behind a stop sign.  

What signs are around us, directing us, and telling us?

22 Dec:  Expect.  A cormorant sitting eggs in La Jolla.  

Instinctively, the bird expects new life.  We see hope and promise in her eggs. 

23:  Persist.  Ta Prohm temple, Angkor Wat Complex, Cambodia.  This ancient temple has persisted for centuries through cultural changes and violence, and trees  now grow through its structure.  Yet it remains a place of beauty and spiritual connectedness.

24 Dec:  Peace.  Our labyrinth at St Paul's is a contemplative and peaceful space.   Don't forget to find peace during this season.

25 Dec:  Celebrate!  a child greets our SPC tree to celebrate the coming of the light.

At the March to Keep Families Together

Cathedral folk attended the March to Keep Families Together on June 23.  Here are some photos from the march.

You can see more photographs of our Cathedral Contingent
at https://www.flickr.com/photos/stpaulscathedral/albums/72157698337421745

Our church photographer Susan Forsburg also has an album here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/slfphotographer/albums/72157697836121704

Photoessay: Vergers at the Vigil

If you visit Episcopal Cathedrals around the country, you will find that although we are a relatively small Cathedral, we have a mighty Verger Corps (see here for more about the vergers' roles).  Your vergers are responsible for the smooth running of the service, spending lots of time before, during and after the service, to ensure that what we may call the "choreography" of liturgy occurs seamlessly, with everyone knowing where to go, so that congregants and clergy can be fully immersed in the moment of worship.  Altar Guild is a key part of the "before" and "after", and Acolytes and Thurifer(s) a key part of "during" along with the Ushers.  Easter Vigil is probably our biggest service of the year, so what were your vergers doing? 

Verger meeting at 5pm with the Rev Brooks and Dean Penny, with Canon Verger Lisa
going over the detailed plan (called a "customary")

In the church working with Bishop Katharine and those to be baptised/ confirmed/ recieved
so they know the order of events.  The acolytes are here now.

Reviewing the Customary as the details are worked out (this is what theatre
folk call "blocking")

Verger Don and the Rev Brooks review the customary with Bishop Katharine

The Acolytes have a review with Canon Verger Lisa and the other Vergers

At the Back of the Church reviewing the order for Baptisms

Canon Lisa makes a point

Almost ready for the New Fire!  Verger Stephanie helps Verger Jeff with his celebratory white tie

As the Vigil begins, Canon Lisa monitors the customary

Vergers Stephanie, Jeff, and Cherie share the light, lighting candles along the main aisle

Sub-Verger Daniel holds the aspersorium for Bishop Katharine as she sprinkles Holy Water

There's always something!  Everyone is looking forward but Canon Verger Lisa and
Head Usher Lucinda confer in the back

Vergers read, chalice and do other roles as needed.  Here, Sub-Verger Daniel shares the Cup

And, Verger Stephanie leads the recessional.  Note her virge is upright.

Verger Cherie 

Verger Jeff

Verger Don, who was Bishop Katharine's Chaplain

Singing hymns: photoessay

The humorist Garrison Keillor is credited with the following:

 Many Episcopalians are bred from childhood to sing in four-part harmony, a talent that comes from sitting on the lap of someone singing alto or tenor or bass and hearing the harmonic intervals by putting your little head against that person’s rib cage. It’s natural for Episcopalians to sing in harmony. We are too modest to be soloists, too worldly to sing in unison. When you’re singing in the key of C and you slide into the A7th and D7th chords, all two hundred of you, it’s an emotionally fulfilling moment. By our joining in harmony, we somehow promise that we will not forsake each other. I do believe this, people: Episcopalians, who love to sing in four-part harmony are the sort of people you could call up when you’re in deep distress. If you are dying, they will comfort you. If you are lonely, they’ll talk to you. And if you are hungry, they’ll give you tuna salad!

Here are some photos of hymn-singing at the Cathedral. Sing out! Sing strong!