cow hollow church news - fall 2014

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 4

At Home in This Place The Rev. Scott E. Richardson, Rector

Two friends took their grandson to a deserted town in Montana, now a state park. They entered an old church

to take a peek. Five‐year old Sean immediately stepped toward the front and stood at the lectern. He then

asked those present to sit down. When those present did not immediately comply, he

came out from behind the lectern to repeat his request, moving his hands out and

down. Sean went back behind the lectern and said, “Welcome to our church.” He

spoke a few words and then stated that it was time for some music. He softly sang a

few bars of a tune he made up on the spot and finally said, “Thank you for coming to

our church. You can go now.”

On September 7 we will celebrate “Homecoming Sunday” – that moment when we

shift back into the program year schedule, reboot the 5:30 service, kick off the Sunday

School, and welcome back all those who have been away. We also remind ourselves of what it means to be a

member of this parish, to be “at home” in this place. Sean might serve as our role model in that regard. He

knows he belongs, he has a message to share, and he has a tune in his heart. In like manner, you belong. That

holds true whether you have been here for fifty years or for fifteen minutes. You have been invited by God to

express your message and sing your song. This church is here to help you do that; in fact, that is our primary

purpose.

So what might your message and your song sound like? Good news, a joyful noise, life overcoming death,

light overwhelming darkness, health emerging from malady, grace trumping tragedy. That (to get fancy for

just a second) is your teleological destiny, your promised end. But why wait to the end to discover and

express that word? Why not live out your good news even now?

Because, one might respond, life isn’t always that rosy. We stand in the midst of a storm, on the edge of great

change in our culture and in the Episcopal Church. These changes also touch our homes and our bodies from

time to time. In the face of that undeniable truth, Holy Scripture calls us to surrender to the One who brought

nature into being, who redeems the whole creation, and who blows through the cosmos and our own souls

every day. We are brave enough to accept life on life’s terms because we hold to the resurrection vision of life

restored and, ultimately, perfected.

And we return to our true home every time we repeat that affirmation. That is the message we will celebrate

together on Homecoming Sunday and every Sunday this fall. We are delighted to share that word and sing

that song with you.

Fall 2014 The Episcopal Church of St. Mary the Virgin

News of Note from the Sr. Warden

Betty Hood‐Gibson

A Hero – Someone You Want To Be Like

“A celebrity is someone you want to meet. A hero

is someone you want to be like.” Former Secretary

of Defense and current chancellor of William and

Mary, Robert M. Gates, shared this quote as he

introduced Sgt. First Class Leroy A. Petry as the

commencement speaker at this year’s William and

Mary Commencement, which my husband and I

attended for the graduation of our grandniece. Sgt.

Petry was the recipient in 2011 of the nation’s

highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for

actions in 2008 in Afghanistan. Petry is only the

second recipient for Afghanistan and Iraq to be

living when the award was granted.

Petry is truly a hero. He saved two fellow soldiers

in combat in Afghanistan. Petry was serving as the

senior noncommissioned officer on an unusual

daytime mission and things quickly got dangerous.

He and one of his fellow Rangers were hit by

enemy fire, Petry in both thighs, but they found

cover. After Petry reported their situation, another

Ranger joined them, with Petry throwing a grenade

toward the enemy to divert attention from his

comrade. Then an enemy grenade exploded about

10 meters from the three of them, injuring the other

two soldiers. Suddenly, another enemy grenade

landed just a few feet from the three Rangers.

Acting on instinct, Petry saved his two fellow

soldiers, as well as himself, by picking up the

grenade and hurling it away. The grenade

exploded as he threw, destroying his throwing

hand. But he and his fellow soldiers survived.

After 10 months of surgeries and physical and

occupational therapy, he returned home to his wife

and four children. With the use of an amazing

prosthetic hand, he is still able to do most things on

his own and he is still in the Army.

In his Commencement address, Petry recalled his

Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House. In

honoring Petry, the President said, “Our heroes are

all around us.” Petry explained, “What he meant by

that statement is that you do not need to be

nationally recognized, rewarded or even

acknowledged to be a hero to somebody. Nor do

you need to wear a uniform. It could be something

as simple as listening to someone’s problem or

acknowledging them, working to make your

community and country a better place. The fact is

you have the ability to significantly impact others

around you every day.”

How true that is. Here at St. Mary’s we have the

ability to significantly impact others around us

every day. In fact, we have many heroes at St.

Mary’s. I was talking with some St. Mary’s friends

about heroes within our own community and here

are a few of the St. Mary’s heroes we identified:

1. Those who tirelessly teach our children on

Sunday mornings in ways that inspire and

encourage.

2. Those who greet everyone coming in to

worship with a smile, a program, and a

helping hand.

3. Those who quietly prepare the altar for the

Feast of the Holy Eucharist.

4. Those who inspire us in the worship

services with thoughtful words and with

music prepared through hours of practice

and preparation.

5. Those who quickly volunteer to set up

chairs and tables for worship and special

meetings.

6. Those who volunteer to serve on various

committees so that the work of St. Mary’s

can continue.

7. Those who come faithfully to participate in

the worship services and to join in offering

prayers for those in need and prayers of

thanksgiving and praise.

8. Those who give their time and energy, often

in ways none of us can know, to help St.

Mary’s be a place of love, peace, welcoming

and thanksgiving in our world.

Just look at the community here at St. Mary’s!

“Our heroes are all around us.”

Cow Hollow Church News Fall 2014

Sunday School News Nancy Clark, Sunday School Co‐Director

By way of announcing the beginning of another

Sunday School year we present this photo of St.

Mary’s 2014 Confirmation Class whose

Confirmation at Grace Cathedral was in June.

Now it’s September, summer activities are winding

down, and another Sunday School year is about to

begin. As always we welcome pre‐school through

Confirmation aged children to our Sunday School

program which this year will begin with

registration and classes on September 7. No

worries if your family can’t be there on opening

day; registration is on‐going; newcomers are

always welcome; and activities will be light‐touch.

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 Sunday

School 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, and figuring out what we do in church and

why we do it, are all components of our Sunday

School “curriculum.”

In the weeks to come we will post 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 los Muertos and All Saints Day, and of course

Advent and Christmas.

Phil Woodworth guided another large group to Confirmation at Grace Cathedral in June. Outside the cathedral,

standing, left to right: Phil Woodworth, Melanie Pitzer, Sam Parkinson, Gage Tuller, Johnny Dahlem, Isabel Glen, Emma

Hauswirth, Haley Hockin, and Annabel Mack; seated, left to right: Sadie Ray Smith, Zachary Ynzunza, Peter Coholan,

George Sutton, Camilla Sigmund, and Sophie Mack; not shown: Elle Boyden, Grant Curry, Robbie Ferguson, Charlie

Perkins, Kate Tunnell, Sam Reynolds, and Katherine Urdan.

Youth Group Mission Trip to Puerto Rico Izzy Paxton and Jessi Hagelshaw, Youth Group

Missioners

The Youth Group mission trip this year was a lot of

fun and definitely a great success! After an all night

flight, we landed in San Juan, Puerto Rico and were

met by our loving guide for the week, Hector.

Exhausted, we drove to our home for the week: a

beautiful home in the city of Luquillo, in the

northeast corner of PR. We spent our down time

here bonding over card games and playing pool.

After we had a short time to settle in, we left for a

tour of the area. Hector and our driver Nick

showed us around Luquillo and showed us some

highlights. We ended up on a beach nearby and

indulged in water that was delightfully warm, naps

on the beach, and some ice cream from a passing

vendor. After our time on the beach we came back

to our house to a wonderful meal prepared by

Hector’s son and wife who lovingly cooked

delicious dinners for us all week.

The next day we went to Las Cabezas de San Juan,

a nature preserve on the island. Las Cabezas

protects several different ecological areas, and we

were given a tour of the amazingly diverse beauty,

which included a mangrove forest, cliffs

overlooking the ocean, beaches, and the oldest

lighthouse in Puerto Rico. After our tour, we

started our service with the group doing

archeological work in Las Cabezas. We were given

As Mike Stafford wrote in this thank you note to donors, “The people we encountered through our service were loving

and generous, and it was a joy to see God so abundantly present everywhere we went. This trip would not have been

possible if not for your generosity, and for that we are deeply appreciative. Please enjoy the included picture of the

group, taken in the Plaza Colón in Old San Juan. Your picture was signed by each of the participants, who are so

grateful for your love and support.” Signers as pictured, left to right; back row: James Sutton, Liam McSpadden,

Skylar Morgan, Diana Silvestri, Ginny Woodworth, Joey Moore, Catherine Silvestri, Christina Gallagher, Ben

Dierkhising; front row: Jackie Schroeder, Mike Stafford, Izzy Paxton, Maddie Vestal, Colleen Smith, Jessi Hagelshaw.



huge bags full of rocks, shells, and fragments of

bone and pottery from an excavation site on the

beach we had visited. We sifted through, cleaned

and sorted the material while getting to know one

another better. After our work for the day was

done, we got to go to the beach next to the nature

preserve and take a much‐needed swim to cool off.

We were lucky to be able to go back to Las Cabezas

and this time we got to work directly in the

excavation site. We split into two groups and

tackled two different projects. One group stayed in

the archaeological site and dug up various shells

and pieces of pottery dating all the way back to 300

AD. The other group took buckets full of dirt from

the site and sifted it out in the ocean to find the

shells, pottery and pieces of bone. Halfway through

the day we switched, so everyone was able to

experience both jobs. After our work for the day

was done, we took a more extensive tour of the

area around Luquillo. We learned more about the

various communities and were told about some of

the hardships that they face.

After our time at Las Cabezas, we reflected on how

we viewed service, and how this experience

challenged that. Many of us said that we felt that

service was doing things that directly benefitted

someone who was less fortunate than ourselves,

such as helping with kids, or building things.

Honestly, many of us felt that we hadn’t been

engaged in service, especially after the first day at

Las Cabezas. But during one of our nighttime

debriefing sessions, we really explored what

service really is, and how many forms it can take.

We realized that during our time at the nature

preserve we had been of service in many ways. We

had served the people working with the

archeological team because they rely entirely on

volunteers, and since we were helping preserve

history that could be washed away by rising

oceans, we were serving those whom this historical

information would benefit. This was a turning

point for many of us as we realized just how many

different forms service can take.

On the fourth day of the trip, we went to the Boys

and Girls Club of Loíza. Loíza is a city in Puerto

Rico with some of the greatest poverty and largest

gang membership. When we arrived, we were led

into the Club’s rec room where we introduced

ourselves to a group of at least 100 kids, and then

they all swept us away to play. For the rest of the

day we got to wander around with the kids,

playing dominoes and Just Dance 2 inside, or

braving the heat to join them outside in basketball

and jump rope. When it was finally time for us to

leave, it was a sad occasion. The older kids parted

with us gracefully, with simple goodbyes and a few

hugs, while a group of younger girls followed us to

the vans, jumping on us and refusing to let us go.

The next day, we got to meet Rebekah and Brendan

Yoder at the Evangelical School for the Deaf in

Luquillo. They are an American couple who had

moved to Puerto Rico from Virginia because

Brendan was a pilot who needed to be on call in the

event of oil spills. They had heard about the School

for the Deaf before moving, and when they got to

Puerto Rico, Rebekah decided that she wanted to

work there. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to spend

any time with the kids that the school serves

because school was out for the summer, but that

just meant that we could focus all of our energy

into fixing up the school itself. We were given a

tour, and then quickly broken up into three groups:

digging a drainage ditch, and scraping and

painting two different parts of the school facility. It

was hot, dirty work but we all really got to feel the

effects of the work we had done that day; especially

while trying to scrub paint off of our hands using

paint thinner and rags. The projects we did were

difficult and extensive enough that Brendan and

Rebekah could not have done all of it alone and it

felt good to be able to be of service to them and the

school.

We left the School for the Deaf shortly after lunch,

and headed to El Yunque National Forest. El

Yunque is protected by the National Forest Service,

and is actually the first forest ever to be nationally

protected. Nick, one of our guides for the week, has


spent countless hours in El Yunque, and shared his

passion for the forest as our tour guide. As he led

us up the mountain toward the top of a set of

waterfalls, he showed us how to make natural bug

repellent from tree sap and told us how to catch

giant crawfish from the streams at night. When we

finally reached the top, we got a chance to really

feel the difference in temperature between the rain

forest and the beaches, by swimming in the

waterfall. Where the beaches were so hot that the

water felt like a bath, the rivers in the rain forest

were so well protected from the sun that the

waterfall was freezing cold. We splashed around in

it for a bit and then quickly dried off and headed

back down the mountain.

On the Saturday before we left to come home, we

got to spend an entire day in the beautiful city of

Old San Juan. Colorful and full of life, Old San Juan

was definitely a highlight of the trip. The first thing

we did was hop on one of the

city’s free public buses, and ride to

our first stop, El Castillo San Felipe

del Morro. Originally built by the

Spanish to protect Puerto Rico

from invasions, the fortress was

now a huge tourist draw, with

beautiful views and interesting

architecture. After that, we split

into three groups to wander the

city. We stopped by the Catedral

de San Juan Bautista, a cathedral dating back to the

16th century where (more recently) American pop

singer Jennifer Lopez was married to celebrity

singer‐producer Marc Anthony. We ate delicious

Puerto Rican food for lunch, accompanied by our

staple Piña Coladas (virgin, of course), and stopped

into a ridiculous number of souvenir shops to find

that perfect thing to bring home for our friends and

families. The small groups rendezvoused for a

quick group picture in the Plaza Colón, and with

that the day ended and we were shuttled back into

the vans to go home.

We finished out our time in Puerto Rico with an

amazing day on a catamaran. We visited two

different reefs where we got to snorkel and absorb

the absolute beauty of the biodiversity of the ocean.

We saw more species of fish than we could count—

including two barracudas. It was a truly unique

experience for everyone. Unfortunately, a day

spent on a boat and floating in the water came with

a few bad sunburns, but even with those it was a

successful last day. Our flight home left San Juan at

2:45 a.m., and you can bet we slept soundly.

Trips like these are transformative for those who

participate in them. On Sunday, September 28, the

Mission Trippers will be preaching at all services

about the impact of their work, so we look forward

to sharing more with you then. We had such a

great time during this week of service and bonding,

and would like to extend our sincerest thanks to

those who made it possible.

Mission Fundraising A Complete Success Mike Stafford, Director of Youth

Programs

A parishioner approached me in

the courtyard one Sunday after

appeal for Mission Trip donations,

and asked if I thought we would

actually achieve our fundraising

goal. At that point we still had to

raise $8,000 of the $15,000 we needed, and we were

running out of time with only about three weeks

left to go. I responded that St. Mary’s was always

incredibly generous when it came to funding the

trip, and that we had always reached our goal, and

there was no reason to believe that this year would

be any different. Sure enough, donors came out of

the woodwork, from folks who bought goods at the

bake sales to some individuals and families who

donated over $1,000 each. Thank you to the whole

parish who helped get us to (and back from) Puerto

Rico. Trips like this can be expensive, but they are

always transformational, and we are overwhelmed

by your generosity!

an

Digging up pottery at Las Cabezas.


Stewardship 2015 Roulhac Austin, 2015 Stewardship Chair

Creating Connection and Community

We are so blessed as parishioners of St. Mary’s: we

cherish our robust and thriving

adult congregation; we enjoy the

largest group of kids and teens of

any Episcopal parish in San

Francisco and we’re growing to

boot. What binds us is our

connection to each other in this

community we’ve chosen to

support. So this autumn our

stewardship theme will be

“Creating Connection and

Community” and you’ll be

asked to pledge your support

not only financially but also with

your souls and bodies.

We are reinforcing our

connection and community in

two ways before the fall

campaign for money begins.

Over the summer, we’ve

checked in with current pledging

families to touch bases, to see if

there are cheers or ills that we

should be praying about with

you.

We’re also trying something new: beginning in

September, we’ll enjoy First Sunday Feast Days,

hosted luncheons following the 11:00 a.m. service.

The September 7th luncheon is hosted by Anne and

Loren Kieve. Quips Anne: “The feast will be

fellowship. The lunch will be light.” On October

5th, my husband, Tom, and I will be joined by our

Foyer Group to host. November 2nd is looking for

a host. Please email [email protected] if you are

able to help with arrangements on any of these

dates.

Our pledge goal for 2015 is $900,000, a stretch from

this year’s goal of $825,000. You will receive snail

mail and a pledge card from the Rector in early

October, but we will also reintroduce electronic

mailings, giving you the ability to respond and

pledge on‐line. We’ll collect pledges throughout

October, then have a blessing of

pledges on Sunday, October 26.

Adding one more new thing, we’re

going to have a hootenanny in mid‐

November, hosted by Jim and Margaret

Moore at their ranch near Nicasio. It

promises to be a fun celebration of

God’s outrageous generosity and

unceasing care for all our community.

Stay tuned for further details.

Special thanks to Jory Sandusky, a

parishioner and staff member at

Episcopal Charities, who is lending his

considerable web and design expertise

to St. Mary the Virgin with special

emphasis on our visual impact and on

electronic messages for stewardship.

Jory, thank you a million for your great

talent and fresh perspective.

The Ministry of Verger Natalie A. Hala

Bridging the People and Worship

Do you know that over 200 names appear on the

rosters of our worship ministries at St. Mary’s? If

you are serving as a chalice bearer, choir member,

usher, Altar Guild member, lector, or in other

related ministries, you are an important part of

what makes our worship a truly distinct expression

of the gathered community. Whether or not you

serve in any of these ministries, have you ever

wondered how all these people come together with

the clergy to create coherent worship services that

lift the hearts and souls? This is where the ministry

of verger comes in.

Tim Smith and Betty Hood‐

Gibson enjoy connection and

community at Volunteer

Appreciation Day this summer.

mailto:[email protected]


The ministry of verger dates back over 700 years

and continues to thrive in the twenty‐first century

as forward‐looking non‐cathedral Episcopal

churches, large and small, incorporate the verger in

their worship planning and implementation.

Although many Episcopalians associate the verger

solely as the leader of processions (if they are

familiar with the role at all), the duties extend far

beyond this single ceremonial function.

Responsibilities of a verger are specific

to each parish and conform to the needs

of each congregation and church. The

common goal among vergers is to offer

logistical and “behind the scenes”

support that allows clergy to focus their

time and energies on pastoral and

sacramental responsibilities.

As part of a discernment process to

become a verger myself, I embarked on

a one‐year course of study offered

through the Verger Guild of the

Episcopal Church, and studied at St.

Mary’s under Associate Rector Christine

McSpadden. In July I completed the

Verger Guild course. Divided into

specific assignments, it is designed to

inform the vergerʹs awareness of how

best to support the worship of his/her

parish as prescribed by the rector. My

study began with an in‐depth analysis

of St. Mary’s itself ‐‐ its demographics,

styles of worship, history, architecture,

and safe church considerations. Other

areas of study included the history and

contents of the Book of Common Prayer,

the constitution and canons of the

Episcopal Church, processions, feasts

and festivals, vestments, liturgical seasons and

writing a special service.

Ultimately, I compiled a 98‐page written

submission that currently is being reviewed by the

national Board of Assessors of the Verger’s Guild.

If favorably reviewed, I will be received as a Fellow

of the Verger’s Guild of the Episcopal Church

during the Guild’s annual convention hosted by the

Diocese of Niagara, Ontario, Canada in September.

Although the Guild’s designation of “fellow” is not

required to serve as a verger, this comprehensive

course of study has increased my knowledge of the

St. Mary’s family and provided me a more

expansive and deeper knowledge of worship and

liturgy.

During this past year of intensive study

and prayerful discernment, the Rev.

Christine McSpadden served as my

mentor and advisor. I worked closely

with Christine and with Chip Grant in

many aspects of the “behind the scenes”

work that are part of planning,

implementing and evaluating a service,

especially during Advent, Christmas,

Holy Week, Easter and other special

services, like the Feast of All Souls’ Day.

During this past year the Associate

Rector and I developed customaries and

directionals that sequence the actions

and movement for each member of the

altar party, including the formation and

order of processions, in and out of the

church. I compiled checklists that

identify specific items that are needed in

a service. The verger confirms that all

the items are in their designated places

before the start of a service.

In preparation for last year’s special

feasts and complex services like

Maundy Thursday and Easter Vigil, the

Associate Rector and I prepared the pre‐

service altar party’s talk/walk through

meetings. I checked in the members of the altar

party and was prepared to serve in any lay altar

party role if someone was unexpectedly not able to

fulfill their responsibility at that service.

Although I have been working my way into the

role, I am not yet officially commissioned. That is

scheduled for fall. As verger, I will add another

Verger in training

Natalie Hala


perspective and voice in the development, content

and flow of services as they are being prepared.

Occasionally I will attend weekly Liturgy Team

meetings of the Rector, Associate Rector and

Director of Music, especially when special services

or principal feast days are being planned. In this

way, I hope to support clergy and worship

ministries behind the scenes to make worship and

liturgy as seamless and meaningful as possible.

The call to the ministry of verger has risen during

my continuing spiritual discernment. To me, part

of fulfilling the Baptismal Covenant means actively

participating in my faith community through

Christian service and leadership. As Diana

Sullivan so capably serves as the “people’s

warden” on the vestry, I view myself as the

“people’s representative” in the planning and

implementation of worship. My hope is that I

serve all of you capably and prayerfully as we

strengthen the spiritual dimension of our worship

at St. Mary’s, and broaden the life of the church

through Christ beyond our courtyard walls.

Stephen Ministry Starting David Crosson, Stephen Leader

On Sunday, September 21st, the Church of St. Mary

the Virgin will

commission nine

Stephen Ministers

to provide

supervised pastoral

care to people in

crisis within and

outside our parish

family. What does

this mean?

What is a Stephen

Minister? Stephen Ministers

are trained lay people who

share God’s love and embrace

during times of loss, grief,

recovery, crisis, and other

personal challenge.

Isn’t that the clergy’s role? All Christians are

called to care for others. Clergy fill many roles and

often do not have the time to meet individual

pastoral needs for the full duration they are

needed. That is where Stephen Ministers come in.

Who could use a Stephen Minister? Do you know

someone who recently received a pink slip,

suddenly has become a full‐time caregiver to

parent or spouse, is reeling from an unexpected

divorce or the death of a loved one, has lost

someone to violence or self‐destruction, or simply

is facing a momentous life decision? Do you know

someone who is dying, being treated for life‐

threatening illness, or convalescing from serious

illness or injury? Are even your family members

tired of hearing your story, but you need to keep

telling it . . . to someone? These are just a few of the

people who might benefit from a trained Stephen

Minister.

How will Stephen Ministry work at St. Mary’s?

Stephen Ministry is mutually voluntary. People

may self‐identify, or a clergy member, caring

friend, or a fellow parishioner may identify the

need. However identified, the referral eventually

will find its way to the Rector, who may personally

talk with the individual or ask one of the Stephen

Leaders to talk

with her or him.

Every part of

this and all

future

conversations

are confidential.

Together, the

Rector and the

Stephen Leader

will pair a

Stephen

Minister with the

care receiver.

Why would I

meet with a lay

volunteer instead

Stephen Ministers, left to right, front row: Em Kianka,

Sheila Santangelo, Lee Walsh, Linda Sharp, and Nan

Slavin; back row: Logan Rimel, Arthur Perkins, Grant

Schettler, and Josie McGann; not shown: Megan Topping,

David Crosson, and Julia McCray Goldsmith.


of a priest or deacon? You always are invited to

meet with clergy. If your situation would benefit

from a longer‐term caring relationship, they may

offer you a Stephen Minister. Commissioned

Stephen Ministers have completed a demanding

curriculum of 50 hours of training over 20 weeks in

the specific skills of providing Christ‐based

pastoral care. Each Stephen Minister also has been

through a security check and has taken a Safe

Church course. In addition, each Stephen Minister

receives continuous supervision and support.

Why would I trust my most private pain with

another member of the parish? We are most

vulnerable when our hurt is greatest. Thus, we

often trust the least when we need trust the most.

Confidentiality is at the center of every step of

every Stephen Ministry relationship. No one

other than clergy and the Stephen Leader will

ever know that you were referred, consulted, or

teamed with a Stephen Minister. No one other

than the Rector and the Stephen Leader will

know who has a Stephen Minister or what

Stephen Minister is paired with an individual

care receiver. No names are ever mentioned in the

supervisory groups. Even if you share your

Stephen Minister’s name with others, your Stephen

Minister will never acknowledge your caring

relationship to anyone else. Period.

So, who are the Stephen Ministers at St. Mary’s?

The following Stephen Ministers will be

commissioned on September 21: Lee Walsh, Megan

Topping, Nan Slavin, Linda Sharp, Grant Schettler,

Sheila Santagelo, Arthur Perkins, Josie McGann,

and David Crosson. The Rev. Julia McCray

Goldsmith joined Nan Slavin and David Crosson as

Stephen Leaders for the 20‐week training series.

Nan and David will continue as Stephen Leaders of

the program within St. Mary’s.

For more information or referral, contact Nan

Slavin at [email protected] or David

Crosson at [email protected], or 408‐316‐

0478, or any member of the clergy.

Grand Festivities for 50 Years of San Francisco Night Ministry Rod Dugliss, 50th Anniversary Committee Co‐Chair

Sunday, November 16 at 3:00 p.m.

at Grace Cathedral

The San Francisco Night Ministry receives funds from

St. Mary’s Outreach Grant Team. It’s the organization

that started and sustains Open Cathedral, the outdoor

worship and food distribution program that our Sunday

School children prepare meals for four times a year.

At 3:00 p.m. at

Grace Cathedral

on Sunday,

November 16th,

a festive service

of prayer and

song, praise and

thanksgiving

will celebrate

the Night

Ministry’s 50 years of compassionate presence on

the streets of San Francisco.

You are invited to

ttend.

ed the

ng to

Francisco from the hours of 10:00

.m. to 4:00 a.m.

he

a

For half a century, through recession or prosperity,

calm or upheaval, Night Ministers have walked the

streets, Crisis Line Counselors have answer

telephones, and leaders have developed a

community that is Open Cathedral, all worki

be present as beacons of hope, comfort, and

acceptance. Since its beginning in 1964, the Night

Ministry has not missed a single night of service to

the people of San

p

At Grace, celebrated author Anne Lamott will share

her wisdom as the principal speaker. Our Director

of Music Chip Grant is helping to create the liturgy

for this service and his choral ensemble Volti will

sing. The dance group Wing It will perform. T

experience of the Night Ministers of this half‐

century will be recognized and the cadres of




volunteers who have served on the streets and on

the phone will be thanked. The churches, including

St. Mary’s, and other organizations that suppor

Night Ministry will be applauded. Current St.

Mary’s parishioners who are involved include

Governing Board members Mary Van Zomeren

and Marian Brischle, past board president Tom

Robertson, and deacon‐in‐training Tim

t the

Smith. This

ill be a unique and special occasion.

d

t

ding

ight Minister, the Rev. Donald Stuart.

treet restaurant

n the San Francisco waterfront.

ral are

e

d history, go to

ww.sfnightministry.org

w

Following the service a reception will take place in

Gresham Hall of Grace Cathedral where friends ol

and new can connect. Anne Lamott’s most recen

books will be available along with copies of I’m

Listening As Fast As I Can, the vivid memoir of

ministering on the streets written by foun

N

The day’s grand festivities will conclude with a

banquet at 7:00 p.m. at Delancey S

o

The service and reception at Grace Cathed

open to all. To buy tickets to the banquet

(beginning at $150) or to learn more about th

Night Ministry’s mission an

w .

The Rev. Nancy Bryan helps Sunday School childr

prepare mea

en

ls to share with congregants of Open

athedral.

C

Flower Committee News Steven R. Currier, Chair Flower Committee

On behalf of the members of

the Flower Committee, as

always, I want to thank all who

have donated money for

flowers during this past year.

Our flowers and decorations

for special feast days are

beautiful ‐‐ all due to your

generous donations. We also

benefit from wonderful

flowers for weddings, funerals,

and memorial services.

As we start back with our regular services

beginning Sunday September 7th, there are a few

high Sundays to mention. When we celebrate All

Saints Sunday on November 2nd, a necrology list

will be read, noting the names of all who have died

during the preceding 12 months. If you would like

to donate flowers in memory of a loved one, this

would be an ideal Sunday to do so. We will

decorate with annual fall flowers beginning

Sunday November 23rd when Bishop Marc Andrus

will make his visitation to St. Mary’s; this is a

special occasion to donate flowers. We will

celebrate Thanksgiving on Thursday November

27th, so if you have a thanksgiving you would like

to commemorate, you can donate flowers at that

time.

The four‐week season of Advent begins on Sunday

November 30th when we do not decorate with

flowers, but welcome your donations of greens

instead. You can even look ahead to Christmas Eve

and Christmas Day; we invite you to do so. If you

have questions, contact Steven Currier at

[email protected].

Again, thank you for your generosity.



Welcome to the Rev. Claire Dietrich Ranna Our new Associate Rector started on July 1, following her ordination by Bp. Marc Andrus as a deacon at Grace

Cathedral. She gracefully became a part of a clergy transition from Christine McSpadden to herself; she and

her husband Haamid were warmly welcomed at gatherings hosted by Senior Warden Betty Hood‐Gibson and

vestry member Jim Griffith; and she is quickly becoming part of many facets of our active parish.

On a Saturday in August, several Young Adults from St. Maryʹs (above) gathered at Crissy Field for a casual midday

picnic and to welcome some fellow Episcopalians to San Francisco. A few days earlier, St. Maryʹs was asked by St.

Matthewʹs Episcopal Church in Grand Junction, Colorado, to help congratulate and welcome 14 of their Young Adults

participating in a cross‐country bike ride for cancer research and awareness with 4KforCancer (www.4kforcancer.org).

They started their ride in Baltimore, Maryland, 70 days earlier and arrived in San Francisco around noon. After

enjoying some fellowship, bagels, and warm coffee, barring ourselves against the cold summer morning, we headed

toward the excited mass of people gathering near the finish line. There were a lot of tears, hugs, smiles, and

champagne bottles uncorked as the riders came in, and we were able to personally deliver some small gifts prepared

by the people of St. Matthewʹs to their Young Adults as we welcomed them to our beautiful city. It was a fun and

inspirational day for everyone involved! ‐‐ Claire Dietrich Ranna

Left: Scott Richardson,

Christine McSpadden

and Claire Ranna.

Below: David and Diana

Sullivan, Haamid and

Claire, Betty Hood‐

Gibson and David

Gibson.

Bp. Marc ordains Claire.

http://www.4kforcancer.org/


From the Associate Rector The Rev. Claire Dietr

acutely aware of how grounding stories can

even as they root me in the

o

y lives touched and transformed by God’s

n

hile I

de such a warm

elcome for a newcomer like me.

me, and to crafting a few new ones

gether, too.

Sunday Ev gined and

Ready for September

anna and Associate Director of Music

teve Repasky.

e

uth

ses

ess to the presence of the holy in our

idst.

e.

nday

traditional sermon at all. Finally, the music for this

ich Ranna

Storytelling

Summer is a season of growth and new life; a time

of blooming flowers, adjusted schedules, and long

days blurring into night. It was certainly a season

of new life for me as I returned to San Francisco,

celebrated ordination, and began my ministry here

as your Associate Rector. Newness implies a

certain level of adventure, but it also involves the

thoughtful work of transitioning from one place to

another. It is in the midst of such change that I am

ostm

be.

I’ve spent much of my off‐hours in recent weeks

elbow deep in boxes. My husband and I rushed to

unpack clothes, books, and dishes, but I took my

time with the box filled with my old journals. I’ve

kept a journal for as long as I can remember and,

though I rarely re‐read them, it’s extremely

centering when I do. There is something about the

old, familiar words that remind me who I am and

here I’ve come fromw

present moment.

The stories of our faith function in a similar way.

The Bible is a collection of stories written over

generations that remind us who we are and where

we’ve come from even as they call us forward and

weave us into community. “In the beginning was

the word.” The word was made flesh in Jesus, wh

came telling stories (parables) about love, justice,

and reconciliation. The Church today lives and

breathes these stories ‐ around the altar, through

the seasons ‐ and grows with each new story of

rdinaro

grace.

Since I came to St. Mary’s on July 1st, I have bee

blessed to hear many stories: stories about the

history of the parish and life‐giving ministries,

stories of loss and love, and stories of hope for the

future. In each of these particular narratives, I hear

echoes of the great stories of our faith. And w

am just beginning to learn the stories of this

community, I rejoice that they inclu

w

I look forward to hearing more stories in the days

and years to co

to

ening Worship: Re‐ima

The Sunday Evening Service has been on hold this

summer undergoing redevelopment by Associate Rector

Claire Dietrich R

S

Steve and I have been meeting regularly since July

and we are thrilled to see this new offering taking

shape week after week. The re‐imagined Sunday

Evening Service will launch on September 7th, as

we return to our normal worship schedule for th

2014‐2015 year. While it is our sincere hope that

this service will evolve in response to the needs of

the community that gathers, we are committed to

crafting an inviting liturgy accessible to those new

to the Episcopal Church, fully incorporating yo

and families, and crafting theologically sound

embodied experiences which appeal to the sen

and witn

m

A few important changes are worthy of not

Throughout the fall, evening worship will

generally be a service of the word, incorporating

scripture, song, movement, and prayer. We may

begin offering Eucharist more regularly after a few

months but are excited to explore this new format

with its many rich possibilities, including greater

opportunities for lay leadership. As such, we will

no longer offer a Taizé Eucharist on the last Su

of each month. We will also explore different

sermon forms, including more conversational

reflection, and some services won’t include a


service brings together the familiar and the new,

exploring the wide breadth of Christian

expressions around the world as well as hymns

and songs beloved in the Anglican tradition.

Worship is always first and foremost about

reorienting ourselves and our lives toward the God

made known to us in the life and ministry of Jesus.

We are excited to see how this new offering draws

the community in and around St. Mary’s ever more

deeply into the mysterious union with God to

which we have all been called. If you are interested

in liturgical development and would like to help

with any aspect of the service, or are willing to

offer your own gifts to enrich our experience of

worship by reading, playing an instrument, leading

prayers, helping with set‐up and clean‐up, or doing

something else, please contact me at

[email protected].

We hope to see you on Sunday evenings this

September!

Saving Otter 501 Kathleen Bean

In honor of Earth Day, we welcomed marine

biologist Karl Mayer to St. Mary’s and fell in love

with Otter 501. Karl is the animal care coordinator

for the Sea Otter Research and Conservation

Program (SORAC), headquartered at the Monterey

Bay Aquarium, and is the son of parishioner

Valerie Mayer. Karl joined us for a screening of the

PBS Nature film “Saving Otter 501,” the story of the

501st otter to be rescued by SORAC. The film tells

the story of an orphaned otter pup that was given a

second chance at life in the wild.

Driven nearly to extinction by the fur trade, sea

otters were thought to have been wiped out in

California until a small remnant population of 50

was discovered in 1938. Since then they have

staged a comeback, but today’s population of some

2,800 remains extremely vulnerable: one

catastrophic event, such as an oil spill, could wipe

them out. The team at SORAC

scours the central coast for otters in

distress and, whenever possible,

brings them back to the Aquarium

to attempt to rehabilitate them.

Some become exhibit otters, and

some are released back into the

ocean. Success, for SORAC, is to

release otters that will go on to

reproduce in the wild, as Otter 501

has done.

I find nature films to be both

challenging and awe‐inspiring. It’s

Creation Care Inspires Action

As part of our ongoing commitment to creation, we

focused our Earth Day celebration on the stewardship

of otters – and in the process inspired several

parishioners to take action. Two examples:

Hike leader John Walsham adopted an otter from the

Marine Mammal Center in Marin and led a hike to

the Center.

Parishioner Diana Koll invited Karl Mayer to speak

to a group of 100 people, and organized several

screenings of ”Saving Otter 501.”



hard to hear stories about endangered

species, and to realize that their fate often

rests in the hands of humans. At the same

time, these stories often include dedicated

scientists and others who are devoting their

time and energy to helping restore healthy,

sustainable populations of creatures like the

California sea otter. Many who watched the

film and heard Karl speak expressed their

gratitude to him for doing this important,

even sacred, work. To learn more, go to

http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/con

servation/research/saving‐sea‐otters

To view “Saving Otter 501” at home, feel

free to borrow the DVD from our library, in

the Study on the second floor.

Bay Area Hike to the Marine Mammal Center John Walsham

What’s a baby seal or otter to do if mom, out

foraging for food is waylaid by a hungry shark or

gets entangled in a drifting fishing net or plastic

bag? Well, the Marine Mammal Center in the

Marine Headlands is often a refuge for such

orphans.

On a lovely morning a group of St. Mary’s hikers

gathered outside the Center and set off on a loop

walk around Rodeo Lagoon and along Rodeo

Beach, returning through the hills of Fort

Cronkhite. Along the way we became acquainted

with the World War II vintage 16‐inch, 72‐foot long

gun barrel awaiting installation at the historic

Battery Townsend site. Barbara Addeo’s

pedometer registered 11,000 steps, or four and a

half miles of walking.

We took a photograph next to the life‐size male

elephant seal sculpture on the patio outside the

Marine Mammal Center:

Rear left to right: John Walsham, Marta Johnson, Tony

Imhof, Barbara Addeo, John Addeo, Kim Regan,

Georgene Keeler, Ellen McLean, and Mike Lusse. Front

left to right: Nellie the dog, Nancy Clothier, Monique

Lusse, and Pat Lusse. Photographer: Sandra Gary.

After our walk we visited the recovery pens at the

Marine Mammal Center where each pen has its

own pool. The Center was at full capacity with

seals of all ages. Pups in their own pens squabbled

loudly over territory while the elders dozed

comfortably on concrete or took an occasional

graceful dip. Later most of the group went on to

the Sea Horse Restaurant in Sausalito for lunch.

Watch for announcements of future hikes in the

bulletins or on our website ‐‐ join us as we continue

to explore our remarkable local environment.

Regular Sunday Worship Schedule

Returns September 7

Services at

8:00 a.m. * 9:00 a.m. * 11:00 a.m.

and

5:30 p.m. Evening Service

http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/conservation/research/saving-sea-otters

http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/conservation/research/saving-sea-otters


Summer in the City Adult Forum Series Review

Kathleen Bean, Director of Adult Formation

The combining of our 9:00 and 11:00 services

during the summer opens up time and space for

adult education, and we seized that opportunity

once again this year with our Summer in the City

forums, held in the Great Room at 9:00 am. The 11‐

week series was varied, but the common theme

was “faith in action.”

We heard stories about ordinary people whose acts

of faith led to extraordinary outcomes – about acts

of courage and compassion during World War II,

about medieval Christians whose spiritual practices

included submerging themselves in cold water

while reciting the entire Psalter, about a colorful,

irascible San Franciscan who provided the land for

our beloved church, and about our own youth

group and their leaders offering gifts of service in

Puerto Rico this summer.

Woven into the series were opportunities to

consider our own spiritual practices of prayer and

study of scripture, reaching out to others in

compassion, and sharing the Good News of Christ.

We were invited to be mindful of the importance of

day‐to‐day faithfulness that helps bring about

spiritual growth and maturity, which makes

putting faith into action a natural reaction.

Where and when will we be called to put our faith

into action? Hopefully, we do so every day in many

ways, ordinary and occasionally extraordinary. We

may not sit in an icy sea reciting psalms (although

our Dolphin Club members might give this a try),

but we can listen with compassion, put aside

prejudices, act with generosity. The variety of

forum topics reflects the many ways we manifest

the Good News.

Thanks to all who attended the forums, and to all

who taught: Father Scott, Mother Christine, and

Deacon Claire; Jane Cook, Sandy Stadtfeld, and the

Planned and Major Gifts Committee; Josie

McGann, Sandy Briggs, and David Crosson; Mike

Stafford and the Youth Group Missioners; and our

special guests, Marty Bronstein, Hal Childs, and

the Very Reverend Dr. William Stafford.

In August, an enthusiastic group of young people sang, played games, dined together, and improved their musical skills

as part of St. Mary’s summer choir camp. They were led by Associate Director of Music Steve Repasky, Children’s Choir

Director Laura Jeanne Ruppert, pictured in the back row, left, and Director of Music Chip Grant who is shown

conducting campers in preparation for an Evensong celebrating the Feast of St. Mary the Virgin.


Coordinator Extraordinaire Nancy Svendsen, Wedding and Funeral Coordinator

Weddings, funerals, and memorial services mark major

life events. They are times when emotions can run

strong and event planning can run amok. Enter Nancy

Svendsen to handle the details and to help make these

special events run smoothly at St. Mary’s.

I am delighted to be working as the Wedding and

Funeral Coordinator at St. Mary

the Virgin. I truly appreciate

being a part of our lovely

community, so it feels good to be

helping out as well.

In this role, I am the point

person for weddings, funerals

and memorial services. This

allows the clergy to focus on the

content of the services instead of

logistical elements of the events.

I organize all the details, making

sure everyone from the

organist to caterer is on the

same page. Having over 20

years experience as an event planner and caterer in

the Bay Area, I am more than happy to share my

expertise with our parishioners, thus helping to

simplify what could otherwise be stressful

occasions.

I started coming to St. Mary’s in 2001 when my

youngest daughter, then six, started singing in the

Youth Choir. The first event I coordinated was the

fabulous wedding of Chip Grant and John Moore

in December, 2013.

Most wedding partners hold their receptions

offsite. In those instances I speak to the family

about how many guests are expected to attend the

ceremony and how many pews to save. I connect

them with the appropriate people like Steve

Repasky or Chip Grant to select music or Steven

Currier to arrange flowers (that the church then can

retain for Sunday service). I act as liaison with the

Altar Guild if their assistance is required to arrange

for Communion. I also attend the wedding

rehearsal to learn about any last minute changes to

plans for the “big day” and to assist with

rehearsing the processional, which I help organize.

More often than not, families organizing funerals

and memorials hold the reception in Fowler Hall

following the service; or following the interment in

our Columbarium. I gather the

same logistical information about

the service as with weddings. In

addition, I coordinate with Manny

Gabiana, our sexton, regarding

space in Fowler Hall and rental

schedules, if applicable. Oftentimes

I will meet with the family to go

over all details so that they can feel

confident that St. Maryʹs is looking

after things for them on the day of

the service. I also speak with the

caterers to make sure that they

know our rules and that they have

everything covered.

There are many features to my job.

I have picked up flower arrangements and met

rental deliveries a day early. At weddings, I find

myself entertaining antsy flower girls while the

bride and her attendants get ready in the study. I

receive photos and guests books to display at

memorials. I also make certain that information is

given to the office in time for wedding programs or

memorial bulletins to be printed up. I might cue a

musician in the courtyard, pack up belongings to

be collected at the end, pin on boutonnieres, or

notify a caterer of something overlooked. Basically

I am there from the initial phone inquiry to the day

of the wedding or funeral as a helping hand to the

families.

I do anything to make life easier. Whatever I do, I

want the occasion to reflect everything St. Maryʹs

does so well ‐‐ caring for the community.

Our event coordinator Nancy Svendsen


Refurbishing Our Buildings Sandra Gary

You may have noticed the handsome new charcoal

carpet downstairs in the Great Hall or the green‐

base pattern on the floors upstairs. Or perhaps you

have already been dazzled by the new wood‐

looking floor in the Great Room. Maintaining and

refurbishing space used by our very active

community is an ongoing

task.

For many years,

responsibility for

maintaining our buildings

and grounds was the

province of a single

member of the vestry.

Beginning in January, Scott

Richardson formed a team

to keep our many

maintenance projects on

track. Former vestry

members for B&G John

Balestreri, Russell Fudge,

Tony Imhof, Mike Lusse,

and David Sullivan join with architect Peter

Hopkinson, our sexton Manny Gabiana, Pat Lusse,

Tom Austin, and Scott to shepherd the effort to

keep up our properties: the church, Pixley House,

Fowler Hall, and Columbarium on Union Street, as

well as the rectory on 7th Avenue.

In June, the group decided to move forward in

response to a reserve study completed last year by

John Addeo on three projects: replacing the

carpeting throughout the church, Pixley House and

Fowler Hall; repairing leaks to the south wall of the

church; and replacing the floor and cabinets in the

Great Room. The vestry authorized a budget of

$60,000 for those three projects.

Former Senior Warden Anne Kieve, who is trained

as an architect, joined with office superstar Pat

Lusse to find the carpets, flooring and installers to

perform the interior work. Pat says it was a treat to

accompany Anne to select carpeting, paying

attention both to what would look good and to

what would wear well. “I learned that carpet

squares can be replaced easily and so are better

choices for areas with high traffic like the hallway

connecting the offices in Pixley House with Fowler

Hall,” she says. The flooring in the Great Room is a

high‐wear vinyl that looks like wood.

Scott asked Anne and Pat to refurbish the office he

moved into when Christine McSpadden departed.

Together they oversaw

refinishing the beautiful wood

floor and painting the room. A

new desk, four new chairs, and

window coverings were also

acquired. “Scott likes a

minimalist approach to

furnishings,” says Pat. Our new

Associate Rector Claire Dietrich

Ranna has moved into the

office recently vacated by Scott.

Funds for office furnishings

come from a legacy given by Po

Gek Loh, whose generosity ha

already allowed us to

redecor

s

ate the Study.

Pat and Anne have worked as a relay team,

overseeing the three‐month‐long installations of

carpeting and furniture. “Anne has a very good

eye,ʺ says Pat. ʺShe has high standards, she’s easy

to work with, and she’s dedicated to St. Mary’s.”

The teammates’ admiration is mutual. As Anne put

it, “I don’t think any parishioner knows St. Mary’s

as well as Pat, knowing literally what is in every

closet. She willingly took over the job of

orchestrating the boxing and moving of whatever

was necessary to install the new carpet.”

Also in the works is an upgrade to the sound

system in the church. That project is being led by

Associate Director of Music Steve Repasky and

underwritten by a $10,000 donation from an

anonymous parishioner. Still to come is the

installation of solar panels, under the leadership of

vestry member Stephen Koch.

Pat Lusse overseeing carpet installation


Forum on Pastoral Care Josie McGann

“Pastoral Care, Not Just for Clergy” was the theme

of a Summer in the City Adult Forum in July.

Associate for Adult Formation, Kathleen Bean,

facilitated a panel of three speakers: David

Crosson, Sandy Briggs, and me, Josie McGann.

The goal of the forum was to:

1. Help participants recognize that pastoral care is

part of our Baptismal Covenant to “seek and serve

Christ in all persons.”

2. Educate participants about the various ways the

laity are involved in

delivering pastoral care in

our community.

3. Help participants

understand the faith

component of graciously

receiving care.

4. Engage participants in

conversation about their own

experiences.

David Crosson, leader of our

fledgling Stephen Ministry

program, began the forum by

reviewing our own Baptismal Covenant. He made

the connection between pastoral care and our

incarnate faith: that the incarnation of God in the

person of Jesus Christ demonstrates the dignity of

the human person. We are called to serve that

human dignity with gladness and joy. David

expressed how important it is for clergy to have

assistance from lay ministers in walking with

people who are in crisis because the clergy, in their

multiple roles, experience many time constraints.

Josie McGann introduced us to Episcopal Senior

Community’s friendly visitor program, ElderWISE

(Working In Service to Elders). The ElderWISE

program trains volunteers to partner in a caring

relationship with an isolated senior. The job of the

volunteer is to support the senior in his or her

situation, knowing that an individual facing

chronic illness or old age can cope with these

challenges more successfully when supported by a

trained volunteer. The caring is always based on

empathy and the needs of the other person.

Sometimes the volunteer may be the only person

the seniors talk to, other than their doctors. Josie

also mentioned other programs offered by ESC,

particularly Senior Center Without Walls, a

telephone‐based Senior Center open to anyone in

California. More information about it can be found

at www.seniorcenterwithoutwalls.org. For more

information about Episcopal Senior Communities,

go to www.jtm‐esc.org or call 415‐563‐8143.

Sandy Briggs introduced the Lay

Eucharistic Visitor ministry at St.

Mary’s by reminding us of the

commission set forth for us at the

closing prayer in Rite II: “ Father,

send us out to do the work that

you have given us to do, to love

and serve you as faithful

witnesses of Christ our Lord.”

EVs are lay people uniquely

charged to take bread and wine

from our Eucharist in church to

people who cannot physically

come to church. Sandy said it is a great honor to be

a Eucharistic Visitor. She shared a story about a

couple living at the Heritage whom she served for

many years until one spouse died. They had been

parishioners at St. Mary’s for many years, and now

the surviving spouse is back attending services

with the help of the Pastoral Care team.

Serving as an EV is part of Sandy’s personal

spiritual journey and she feels she receives much in

return for her service of spiritual giving. If you

want to know more, contact a member of the

clergy, Sandy at [email protected] or Russell

Fudge, Chair of the Eucharistic Visitors committee

at [email protected].

David Crosson ended the forum by introducing the

new Stephen Ministry; read about it on page 9.

Sandy Briggs (left), David Crosson and

Josie McGann spoke on pastoral care.

http://www.seniorcenterwithoutwalls.org/

http://www.jtm-esc.org/




Our Own Creation Story Sandy Stadtfeld

More than 120 years ago, Frank Morrison Pixley –

pioneer, prospector, businessman, barrister, politician,

publisher, and philanthropist – enabled a mission church

to be constructed on his family’s property at Union and

Steiner streets. Thanks to Frank Pixley’s generosity,

vision, and faith, that church would become a spiritual

center of Cow Hollow, and home to the vibrant parish

community of St. Mary’s that

we cherish today.

That is certainly one way to

look at it, but Frank Pixley

rarely gave such forethought

to his words or actions. He

would probably be

embarrassed, even enraged

by such a testament to

anyone’s generosity, vision,

or faith ― particularly their

faith. In his time he

cultivated his persona as a

pillar of the community, a

leader among leaders, and a

maker of cultural and

political fashion. By today’s

standards though, we would

likely find Pixley a bigot and

a reactionary, an arriviste

and an elitist, a hypocrite

and a dissembler, as well as

an eccentric curmudgeon.

The story of St. Mary’s

inception is therefore not so

different from that of the

Anglican Church itself.

Neither is as flattering,

idyllic, or unambiguous as we would like.

Frank Morrison Pixley was born in 1825 and raised

in upstate New York. After studying law in

Rochester and serving briefly as a Michigan

Supreme Court Justice, he traveled overland to

California in 1849 in pursuit of gold. Pixley soon

learned that there are easier and more prestigious

occupations than placer mining, and in 1851 he

entered legal practice and civic life in San

Francisco. In 1853 he married Amelia van

Reynegom, daughter of a merchant sea captain

with extensive property in what would become

Corte Madera. After gaining stature as an attorney,

politician, and journalist, Pixley was elected

California’s Attorney General and Commissioner of

Parks for the City of San Francisco, and served as a

regent of the University

of California. He was a

loyal friend to the likes of

Stanfords, Ralstons,

Slosses, and Crockers,

personally and in print.

As founding publisher of

the Argonaut, a weekly of

literature and criticism,

he helped make the

names of such writers

and poets as Joaquin

Miller, Ambrose Bierce,

Yda Hillis Addis, Robert

Louis Stevenson, George

Sterling, Bret Harte,

Charles Warren

Stoddard, and Ina

Coolbrith.

It was said of Pixley’s

own writing that he was

“frequently wrong, but

never dull.” He wielded

the Argonaut as a

personal weapon,

thrusting at people who

slighted, discounted or

disagreed with him, and

slashing at the Democratic Party, organized labor,

parochial schools, vigilance committees,

immigration, the Irish, the Chinese, Socialists, the

Roman Catholic Church, churches in general, and

churchmen of any denomination. His candid

hostility toward religion and his self‐depiction as

Frank Morrison Pixley: Unlikely church builder


“an agnostic with a touch of atheism” are at odds

with the extraordinary bequest for which we

remember Frank Pixley.

The Pixleys were instrumental in gentrifying Cow

Hollow, by 1890 still a bucolic neighborhood of

Irish, French, and Chinese laundries, vegetable

gardens, breweries, tanneries, and dairy farms.

They owned the property bounded by Union,

Steiner, Green, and Fillmore streets, as well as

adjacent lots. Contemporary photographs show

that the entire block was a forested estate, the

gracious Pixley mansion screened from the outside

world in a

central grove.

In 1890, at 65

years of age,

and

contemplating

the end of his

life, Pixley

wrote in the

Argonaut:

“The Editor

of The

Argonaut

has never,

we believe,

had

occasion to

make a personal

explanation

concerning himself or

his personal affairs . .

. but the information

is abroad that the

writer had turned

Roman Catholic and had conveyed a church lot

on Fillmore Street for the erection of a Roman

Catholic church; that he was making

preparations to die and had paid a sum of money

to the Roman Catholic church for masses for the

repose of his soul when dead.”

It was known in San Francisco that Roman Catholic

Archbishop Patrick W. Riordan was trying to

acquire property for a new church in Cow Hollow,

and rumored that he was in discussion with Pixley.

To set the record straight, Pixley wrote:

“That we are making preparations to die is true,

but it is to settle up our affairs in this world and

not to prepare ourselves for escaping in the next

world such disciplinary atonement as an all wise

and merciful and loving Father may think we

have deserved.”

Pixley’s

denial only

explained

part of the

story. He

was in fact

negotiating

with

Ingraham

Kip, the

Episcopal

Bishop of

California,

for the lease

of a property

at Union and

Steiner

streets to be

the site of a

new church. Bishop

Kip’s agent for the

transaction was the

Reverend William

W. Bolton, educated

at Cambridge

University and

recently arrived in San Francisco. Bolton was an

overt Anglo‐Catholic, a strain regarded by

American Episcopalians as liturgically ostentatious,

suspiciously popish, and condescendingly British.

Bishop Kip had reluctantly admitted Bolton to

practice in his diocese, and was happy to dispatch

the Anglican alien to the secular frontiers of Cow

The view circa 1893 from Vallejo and Scott Streets toward Fort

Mason. The Italianate Victorian in the lower left foreground is the

Casebolt House, still standing on Pierce Street. The Church of St.

Mary the Virgin is visible in the middle, at the corner of Union

and Steiner Streets. The Pixley estate occupies the entire wooded

block bounded by Green, Steiner, Union and Fillmore Streets. The

roof of the Pixley mansion is just visible, surrounded by trees.

Hollow on this errand. Pixley, avowed nativist and

apostate, was the perfect lion to whom Bolton

could be thrown. Bolton’s memoirs recount the

warmth of Pixley’s reception:

“Who the ‐‐‐‐ are you? Don’t you know I hate your

whole ‐‐‐‐‐‐ tribe? You’re after something, like your

‐‐‐‐‐‐ tribe always are! If I had my way I’d round up

every ‐‐‐‐‐‐ son of a gun of you, ship you to sea in a

leaky boat and send you to ‐‐‐‐ where you belong! . .

I don’t know who you are, never seen your face

before, but by your ‐‐‐‐‐‐ cheek coming in here and

your ‐‐‐‐‐‐ cool nerve, you must surely be an

Englishman.”


Bolton goes on to recount Pixley’s response to his

pitch for land on which to site the new church:

“Well,” he said at last, “That caps the climax. I hate

your ‐‐‐‐‐‐ religion and all religions and you ask me

for land to spread it. I’d tell you to get ‐‐‐‐‐‐ quick

out of here but anyone can see that you wouldn’t ‘til

you get an answer.

“So you’re the fellow I’ve heard of in my

neighborhood. I’ve wanted to have a look at you for

some time. My wife has heard you in that ‐‐‐‐‐‐

snob’s church she goes to. I’ll give nobody my land;

you’re too ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ poor to pay for it, but I like your

pluck in tackling that Hell’s job in Cow Hollow; and

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ I can’t refuse you flat. I’ll speak to my wife.

Come back here today week and I’ll let you know.

Good day.”

It is probable that, during the week following

Reverend Bolton’s proposal, Amelia exercised

considerable influence on her husband. Pixley,

who never tired of antagonizing the Roman

Catholic Church, probably outdid himself by

planting Bishop Kip’s new Episcopal church just

downhill from where in 1901 Archbishop Riordan

would finally establish his new parish. The Rev.

William Bolton would become St. Mary’s vicar,

then its first rector.

Frank Pixley died in 1895 at the age of 70. Three

years later Amelia joined him in death, and

together their cremated remains were interred in

the crypt beneath the floor of St. Mary’s church,

where they remain to this day. While the rest may

be history, Frank and Amelia certainly helped

launch St. Mary’s in color and style.

Sandy Stadtfeld wrote this article and also spoke about

Frank Pixley during a “Summer in the City” Forum

under the auspices of St. Mary’s Legacy Society. Those

individuals who remember St. Maryʹs by making

arrangements for a gift from their estates to our parish

become cherished members of our Legacy Society. For

more information, please contact our Rector Scott

Richardson at [email protected].

12:00 p.m. Worship and Installation Service

1:30 p.m. Gala al fresco luncheon and block party

Celebration of New Ministry for the Rev.

Jennifer Hornbeck Friday, September 5, at 7:30 p.m.

St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, Kenwood, invites

the people of St. Mary the Virgin to a Celebration of

New Ministry for the Rev. Jennifer Hornbeck, who

is to become Priest‐in‐Charge, on Friday, September

5, at 7:30 p.m. You are also warmly invited to an old

fashion hoe‐down celebrating this event on

Saturday, September 6 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Please RSVP for either event with an email to:

[email protected]. ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

Installation of the Rev. Susan Parsons

As Rector of St. Peter’s Saturday, Sept. 13 at 12:00 p.m.

The church of St. Peter’s in Redwood City, warmly

invites the people of St. Mary the Virgin to the

installation of the Rev. Susan Parsons as their rector

during a celebration commemorating the churchʹs

150th anniversary. Music by: Ragazzi Continuo

with combined church choirs and the New

Millennium Chamber Orchestra.

11:00 a.m. A “walk through history” plus light

refreshments




Halloween Monster Fest

For youngsters and the young at heart

Saturday, October 25th

Meet in the church

at 6:00 p.m. PROMPTLY

Come wearing your favorite Halloween costume

Last year there were more than 100 frightening attendees

This year will be bigger and better

Please invite your scary friends

LOTS OF FUN FOR EVERYONE

Very scary Haunted

House

Lots of Monsters

Pumpkin Carols

Frightening Food

Scary Readings

Costume Parade

Unusual Guests

Spooky Organ Music

Bubbly Drinks

Bobbing for Apples

For those willing and able to set up the

Halloween Haunted House that afternoon,

please contact Steve Repasky at [email protected]

Master of Ceremonies

Steve Rep sky a


. 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 & Youth .................... 3

Youth Group Mission Trip ................ 4

Stewardship ....................................... 7

Ministry of Verger .............................. 7

Stephen Ministry ................................ 9

50 Years of Night Ministry.............. 10

Creation Care ................................... 14

Coordinator Extraordinaire ............. 17

Refurbishing Our Buildings ............ 18

Forum on Pastoral Care .................. 19

Our Own Creation Story .................. 20

Halloween ........................................ 23

HIGHLIGHTS—FALL - 2014 Also visit www.smvsf.org

SPECIAL REMINDER Regular Schedule for Worship begins September 7 –

Service times are 8 am, 9 am, 11am and 5:30pm Evening Service

SPIRITUALITY & PASTORAL CARE Holy Eucharist, Rite II – Wednesdays , in the chapel, at 7 am

Nursing Home Ministry – every 4th Sunday, Golden Gate Healthcare Center, 2707 Pine Street, at 1:30 pm

Presidio Gate Ministry –2nd & 4th Mondays, 2770 Lombard Street, at 10 am

OUTREACH Raphael House Ministry – First Monday of each month.

Contact Alisa Quint Fisher at [email protected]

MEETINGS & MISCELLANY Deadline for the Winter 2014 Cow Hollow Church News –

November 1. Please email articles to [email protected]

SAVE THESE DATES First Sunday Feast Day – Sunday, September 7, following the

11 am service, in the Great Room

Ministries Fair – Sunday, September 14, following the 8 am, 9 am & 11 am services, in the courtyard

Registration for Sunday School – Sunday, September 14, after the 9 am service, in the courtyard

Open Cathedral – Sunday, September 21. For details on attending, contact Nancy Bryan at [email protected].

First Sunday Feast Day – Sunday, October 5, following the 11 am service, in the Great Room

Halloween Monster Fest – Saturday, October 25, 6 pm, in the church. For more information or to help, contact Steve Repasky [email protected]

First Sunday Feast Day – Sunday, November 2, following the 11 am service, in the Great Room

Requiem by John Rutter – Saturday, November 1, 7 pm at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, and Sunday, November 2, during the 11 am service at St. Mary the Virgin

Night Ministry 50th Anniversary – Sunday, November 16, 3 pm, at Grace Cathedral and 7 pm at Delancey Street restaurant

Visitation of Bp. Marc Andrus – Sunday, November 23




cow hollow church news - fall 2014

Documents

c h u r c h o f s

r y t h e v i r g i

episcopal church of

virgin news of note