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Beckoned To Life: the Flame for Friday, May 6, 2022
 
What a week it has been. As I wrote about last week, the vestry went on retreat at Bishop’s Ranch. As I shared in the sermon I recorded there (https://www.staidansf.org/post/easter-3-resurrection-rhythm), we steeped our reflections in last Sunday’s the gospel passage, one of my favorite resurrection stories of the disciples’ dawn fishing encounter with the risen Christ. After telling them to cast their net to the other side of the boat, he waited for them on the beach with breakfast on a charcoal fire. The dawn stillness of that generous encounter has stayed with me this week through spirit-filled communal activities and challenging news.
 
One piece of challenging news came on Monday when I was rocked by the report (https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/02/supreme-court-abortion-draft-opinion-00029473) about the draft supreme court decision that would overturn the Roe vs. Wade decision. Roe v. Wade was decided the year I was born and, especially as someone who was assigned female at birth, I have always appreciated the importance of that decision, its safeguarding of women’s agency and inalienable right to make decisions about their own bodies. No one should be forced to be pregnant or give birth against their will, period. I am grateful that since 1967 the Episcopal Church has stood clearly in support of this right to bodily autonomy, as a statement from our Office of Governmental Affairs (OGR) emphasized this week (https://www.episcopalchurch.org/ogr/episcopal-church-statement-on-reports-concerning-supreme-court-case-pertaining-to-abortion/), and that it “has regularly updated and refined (https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/pressreleases/information-from-office-of-government-relations-general-convention-policy-on-abortion-womens-reproductive-health/) its understanding of abortion and reproductive health care in the years since; most recently, in 2018 D032 (https://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=2018-D032),” as President of the House of Deputies Gay Jennings put it. I also appreciated her further comment, “Today we understand that transgender and nonbinary people who do not identify as women can also become pregnant, and so we call for reproductive health care for all people.” 
 
The other challenging news for me this week is more personal: earlier today one of our children tested positive for COVID. His symptoms are mild—he is not obviously sick at this point. Our family is quarantining, and we’ll log in to church via Zoom on Sunday. I’m grateful for Deacons Margaret and Amy’s willingness to officiate in my absence, and for David Mealy and Susan Spencer’s service last Sunday. I look forward to returning as soon as I and my family safely can.
 
In the midst of all these twists and turns, that image of the risen Christ offering breakfast at dawn has stayed with me. Christ stands before us offering sustenance, meeting us where we are, inviting us into life-giving rest, welcoming us with calm, knowing wisdom.
 
I felt that spirit in all the events of this week: at Tuesday’s (Zoom) Wrestling with the Scriptures Bible Study, led by Betty on the resurrection passages in 1 Corinthians 15; at Wednesday’s Diamond Diners take-out meal which a small group enjoyed outside in the driveway; at the year-end supervisor’s gathering hosted by Church Divinity School of the Pacific on Zoom to give thanks for seminarians and congregations as the academic year draws to a close; at the Faith in Action Citywide meeting last evening at St. John’s in the Mission; at Food Pantry earlier today at church. I know that spirit will be present tomorrow at the Good News Gardening event led by Deacon Margaret (with many thanks for the beautiful greens harvested from our raised bed for Diamond Diners); at the Vital + Thriving Congregations event several of us will attend (me via Zoom) (https://www.vitalthriving.org); and at 8 and 10 AM worship on Sunday.
 
In the activity of our community, amid the challenges of our lives and our world, the risen Christ stands on the dawn shore beckoning us to sustenance, to refreshment, to life. Wherever we may be, whatever we are making our way through, may we receive it together.
 
Peace,
Cameron
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Hybrid In-Person/Zoom Worship Continues This Week
This week our worship will continue to be hybrid, with both in person and Zoom platforms available. We encourage you to connect to with worship in whatever way is comfortable and feels safest for you.

As mask mandates increasingly lift in the Bay Area, and as COVID-19 moves in an endemic direction, we look forward to making masks optional for gatherings here at St. Aidan’s. While we are not yet ready to take this step for everyone, we are moving in that direction by inviting worship leaders who are fully vaccinated and boosted, and who feel comfortable doing so, to remove their masks when exercising that leadership in order to be more clearly heard. One exception to this shift is that worship leaders will remain masked while consecrating the elements at the altar. This modest step beyond our practice of the last several months is in accordance with diocesan guidance, the latest version of which can be found at: 

https://mcusercontent.com/55a4c86d3e04b0a68eba23b20/files/66ccd2e4-65ab-4b6f-c949-a7101f319652/COVID_Response_Team_Guidance_9Mar21.pdf 

Catechism Class – a Collaboration with St. Francis, Starting May 1 at 2 PM
Are you interested in joining a class to prepare for Confirmation, Reception into the Episcopal Church, or renewing your Baptismal vows? During the month of May, Cameron and Fr. Eric Metoyer of St. Francis in SF are coming together in a spirit of friendship to lead a series of conversations on key faith topics, using the The Discovery Series, a collection of brief faith formation videos from the wider Episcopal Church.
 
When: May 1, 2-3:30 PM - Our Spiritual Journeys (led by Fr. Eric)
May 8, 2-3:30 PM – The Great Commandment and the Great Commission (led by Cameron via Zoom)
May 15, 2-3:30 PM – Faith, Questions, and Creeds (led by Cameron & Eric)
May 22, 2-3:30 PM – The Baptismal Covenant (led by Cameron & Eric)
[May 29, 2-3:30 PM –  Eucharist Unpacked (an ‘instructed Eucharist’)] (led by Cameron & Eric)
 
Where: Zoom -- please reach out to Cameron for the link 

This series prepares for a Confirmation service led by Bishop Marc Andrus at Grace Catehdral on Saturday, June 4 at 10:00 a.m. Please feel free to reach out to Cameron at rector@staidansf.org or Fr. Eric at rector@stfrancisepiscopal.orgwith any questions, and we look forward to seeing you!

Good News Gardens – next date: Tomorrow, May 7
Many thanks to all who joined our Good News gardening day on April 2.  We enjoyed the daffodils and tulips in front of the church and also did a lot of weeding on the Diamond Heights side of the garden – have a look if you’re walking or driving by. Our next garden spruce-up Saturdays at the church will be on May 7 and June 4.  Out of an abundance of caution, we’ll mask and we’ll begin after lunch (12:30) so that we aren’t eating together.  (Although there will be snacks and drinks available!)  We’ll finish by 2 pm. Question?  Contact Deacon Margaret (Mdyerc@stanford.edu)

The Fourth Sunday in Easter - Morning Prayer
Both 8 and 10 AM worship services will be in the Morning Prayer format again this week. Margaret will be preaching.

Music on the Hill Concert - Sunday, May 8 at 7:30pm
Music on the Hill Presents: Circadian String Quartet in a Special Mother's Day Concert 
Reminder: Please join us for our final 2021-22 concert! We look forward to seeing you!

Circadian String Quartet
Monika Gruber & David Ryther, violins
Omid Assadi, viola
David Wishnia, cello

Bay Area based Circadian String Quartet was founded in 2013 to perform classical and contemporary repertoire of folkloric or cultural significance. Since then, CSQ has become known for bold original programming ideas that break boundaries or reach across cultures. CSQ has been quartet-in-residence at the Music by the Mountain Festival in Mt. Shasta, has been featured in the April in Santa Cruz New Music Festival, and the members also serve as resident teaching artists for the Villa Sinfonia Foundation's Zephyr Point chamber music workshop in South Lake Tahoe. Some of CSQ’s recent projects include their collaboration with world class santor player Hamid Taghavi, and the upcoming premiere of “Eurydice’s Defiance,” David Ryther’s new Opera written especially for Kitka Soprano Lily Storm and CSQ. 

 Performing:
String Quartet in Eb Op. 51 by Dvorak
One Day Tehran, by Sahba Aminikia
El Caribe from “Scenes from Costa Rica”  by David Ryther
An Andean Walkabout Toyos Chasqui Coqueteos by Gabriela Lena Frank 

In-Person Tickets:  $20 per person.
In-Person Tickets for St. Aidan's, 101 Gold Mine Drive: Buy tickets online via Eventbrite:  In Person Tix 
Check out our website at https://sites.google.com/site/mothsf/concerts
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/418948792932373

Casey Fernandez Funeral – Saturday, May 14, 10am
Casey Fernandez, a decades-long resident of Diamond Heights who volunteered at the Friday Food Pantry, died in April. Casey had been unhoused for several years and had been living in this neighborhood in his van. His death has happened in a context in which homelessness and the housing crisis in our city has accelerated to an anguishing degree. And so we are coming together next Saturday to remember Casey, to give thanks for his life, and to strengthen our own sense of solidarity and determination to make a greater difference in our city and our neighborhood.

Welcome Café for Easter Season?
St. Aidan's had a festive Welcome Café (aka Coffee Hour) following the 10:00 AM service on Easter Sunday—the first time we have done this since the start of the pandemic. This special event was held outdoors to ensure adequate air circulation and reasonable social distancing. 
 
The Regathering Committee is interested in determining if this Easter season is the right time for us to return to having Welcome Café on a regular basis. Please let one of us know if you are comfortable with the idea or if you have concerns or suggestions for appropriate safety precautions.  The members of the committee are Barbara Stevenson, Elena Wong, Dave Frangquist, Jim Oerther and Cameron Partridge.

Call for Little Free Library Donations
Our Little Free Library has been up and running for about a month now, and it has really taken off-- so much so that we are in need of donations! If you have books to donate, please bring them in to church and we will put them into the Little Free Library as the supply runs low. Thank you!

Men's Group
Saturday, May 14, 9-10:30 am, via Zoom.  We will connect for prayer, study and fellowship.  All men are cordially invited.  If you haven’t received connection information by May 12, contact Dave Frangquist (frangquist@acm.org).  Please note that the Men’s Group has switched to the second Saturday of the month this year.

Women's Spirituality Group - next date: May 14
Our St. Aidan's Women's Spirituality Group will meet via zoom Saturday, May 14th, starting at 10:30. As before, we will have time for both checking in and personal sharing as well as time for spiritual growth.  We are certainly open to  formats and approaches such as reflections on a poem, scripture,  narrative passage or another focus for our growth. We want our group to meet the needs and desires of those who participate.   If you want to join us, and we hope you will, please contact Elaine Mannon at elaine@mannon. com to get the information for signing into our meeting.

New Jim Crow Anti-Racist Book Group - next date: May 15
New Jim Crow Anti-Racist Book group – our next meeting is Sunday, May 15, 4-5:30
We’re reading Barracoon by Zora Neal Hurston. All are welcome – please contact Deacon Margaret for the link…..Mdyerc@stanford.edu.

St. Aidan’s Gourmet Book Group - Next Date:  May 23rd
We will continue to meet via zoom with LeeAnn DeSalles serving as our zoom master. She has set up a zoom link, listed below, that will serve for all our meetings. If you would like help with zoom, please contact LeeAnn at leeanndesalles@comcast.net. If you would like to join the Book Group, please contact elaine@mannon.com.
  • Monday, May 23, 2022 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. via zoom
    • Say Nothing by Patrick Keefe – A true story of murder and memory during the Northern Ireland Conflict
  • Monday June 27, 2022 7:00  - 9:00 p.m. via zoom
    • The Transit of Venus by Shirley Hazzard – with a sharp ear for conversation and an eye for the defining political moment in a social interaction, Hazzard tells a story not merely about love but more deeply and subtly about power
  • Monday, July 25, 2022 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
    • Thinking in Pictures:  My Life with Autism by Temple Grandin.  Grandin, writing from the dual perspectives of a scientist and an autistic person to give a report  from “the country of autism,” introduces a groundbreaking model which analyzes people and their patterns of thought.    She charts the differences between her life and those who think in words.
       
On-Going  Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86841144004?pwd=MkZpNUMyWHppMXYyT3FZZHN2ZVVIdz09
 
Meeting ID: 868 4114 4004
Passcode: 532947

Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity Housing in Our Neighborhood, Sat., June 4th!
On Saturday, June 4th St. Aidan’s will be contributing a second volunteer team to Habitat for Humanity’s affordable housing effort on Amber Drive. We are signed up to bring ten people that day, the minimum age is 16, all volunteers must be fully vaccinated and masked, and no construction experience is necessary. We need to arrive at 8:30 AM, bring our own bag lunches, and the work day will end by 4:30 PM. Please let Deacon Margaret know if you’d like to be part of this team:  mdyerc@stanford.edu.

In addition to June 4th are also contributing three people to an additional workday on Saturday, May 21st.  We will have further opportunities as well, and you can also always sign up on your own to volunteer on other days, especially Thursdays and Fridays. To reach out to Habitat for Humanity directly, please contact volunteer@habitatgsf.org. The Volunteer Calendar, updated weekly, is also online: https://habitatgsf.org/volunteer-calendar/ 
 
Financial Summary:  For the first quarter of 2022, total operating income was $103,346 and total expenses were $69,633, for a budget surplus of $33,713.  Pledge payments totaled $73,334 compared to a budget of $71,479, for an overpayment of $1,855.  The “Raise & Shine” fundraiser cleared $12,527 against a target of $10,000.  There was a net operating surplus for the period of $2,154 after including declines in market value of investments.  Dave Frangquist treasurer@staidansf.org.

Resources for Engaging in Anti-Racism, from Elena Wong
Thank you to Elena Wong for sharing this list of resources that were in turn shared with her through her membership in the Western Association for College Counseling:

Please send in your recipes for the COVID Connect Cookbook!
As shared in previous weeks, Peter Fairfield and Linnea Sweet are putting together the COVID Connect Cookbook. He's received several recipes thus far but would very much like more. He writes:

We are living through a time that will change our world in ways that we cannot yet begin to understand. We can hope that our shared vulnerability to this virus worldwide will help us see that all humanity is connected and that we must all work together. As we shelter in place, many of us are concerned with food. If we are not working, how will we afford it? If we cannot go out, how will we get it?

In our community of Saint Aidan’s, many are able to feed themselves and to help others get fed. More than that, we appreciate the food that we get and are finding new ways of making the sharing of food as enjoyable as possible.

The soup recipes that Cameron has been sharing have made our diet much more enjoyable and have given Linnea and I the inspiration to collect recipes from all the congregation and share them. We ask that everyone with a favorite recipe email it to us at peterlinnea@earthlink.net. We will collect and edit them into a cookbook which will be a lasting reminder of this strange and special time in all our lives.

We hope to be able to publish this cookbook in printed form and sell it to raise funds in support of Saint Aidan’s food ministries. We know you have been sharing food. Now please share your recipes!
 
Contemplative Prayer continues: Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday from 9-10 AM via Zoom
Contemplative prayer continues during this time of sheltering in place, via Zoom. Contemplative Prayer is silent with the beginning and ending marked by a bell. You can practice meditation, silent prayer, journal, or otherwise enjoy the collective quiet. Thank you to Susan Spencer for offering to anchor this practice once again, especially the Saturday, during this time. Please feel free to reach out to the office for the Zoom access information: office@staidansf.org.

Morning Prayer continues: Mon, Wed, Fri at 7:30 AM via Zoom
We also continue to have Morning Prayer to help sustain and ground us, online/over the phone!  Please feel free to reach out to the office for the Zoom access information: office@staidansf.org.

Evening Prayer continues: Wednesdays at 6:30 PM via Zoom
Every Wednesday evening we hold Evening Prayer via Zoom. Evening Prayer usually lasts a half hour. Readings for the day often feature commemorations from the Episcopal Church’s calendar of saints, and the service includes a brief reflection time on the readings. Please feel free to reach out to the office for the Zoom access information: office@staidansf.org

To add an announcement to the weekly bulletin of the Flame, please send your edited text no later than 11:00 am Wednesday to office@staidansf.org
St. Aidan's Vestry
Elena Wong, Senior Warden
Nicole Miller, Junior Warden
Dave Frangquist, Clerk & Treasurer 
Christine Powell, Anne Edwards,
Michael Jennings, Jim Oerther  
           Anne Benninger, Kate Fritz, Elaina LeGault          
 
The Third Sunday of Easter
May 8, 2022

8 AM Morning Prayer (Hybrid)
Rev. Cameron Partridge, Officiant
Jackie Buckley, Altar Guild

10 AM Morning Prayer (Hybrid)
Rev. Cameron Partridge, Officiant
Rev. Margaret Dyer-Chamberlain, Preacher & Deacon
The Rev. Amy Newell-Large, Deacon
David Austin, Guest Music Minister
Anne Benninger, Lee Hammack, Michael Jennings, Janet Lohr, Jim Oerther, Kateri Paul, George Slaiman, Barbara Stevenson, Jill Tollefson, & Rolf Tollefson, and perhaps you!, Choir
Betty Carmack & Shelley Johnson, Lectors
Betty Carmack, In-Person Greeter
Peter Fairfield, Zoom Greeter
Nicole Miller, Sound/Liturgical DJ
CoCo Lin, Child Care
Barbara Stevenson, Altar Guild
 
Calendar for the week starting Friday, May 6, 2022
Friday,
May 6
 
Saturday,
May 7

Sunday,
May 8


 
Monday,
 May 9

Tuesday,
May 10

Wednesday,
May 11
 
Thursday,
May 12
 
Morning Prayer (via Zoom), 7:30 AM

Food Pantry (at church), 12-2 PM
Contemplative Prayer (via Zoom), 9 AM
 
Morning Prayer (Hybrid), 8 & 10 AM
Catechism Class (at St. Francis) 2 PM
Music on the Hill, Circadian String Quartet: A Special Mother's Day Concert
Morning Prayer (Via Zoom), 7:30 AM 
 
Contemplative Prayer (Via Zoom), 9 AM
 
Morning Prayer (Via Zoom), 7:30 AM

Wednesday Evening Prayer (Via Zoom), 7:00 PM
Contemplative Prayer (Via Zoom), 9 AM

Kaffeeklatsch (Via Zoom), 3 PM
Our Prayers 
In Your Prayers, Please Remember:
 
In the Episcopal Church: Pray for Michael our Presiding Bishop; Marc our Bishop; the clergy of the Diocese; our Rector Cameron; our assisting priests Don and Gary; our Deacons Margaret, Mark, and Amy; our Music Minister Barry; our Childcare Provider CoCo.

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer: Pray for Eglise Anglicane du Rwanda.
 
In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: Pray for Good Shepherd, Berkeley.

In our Parish Cycle of Prayer: Pray for the Morning Prayer ministry.
 
For those with birthdays this week:  Debbie, Damian, Betty.
 
For all striving for mental and emotional balance and wholeness, and for their families and friends.
 
For those who have asked for our prayers: Amy K., Anne Z., Arlene S., Ashley V., Barbara P., Barbara R., Barry, Bonita B., Carol O., Carol P., Dawn, Earl P., Glen R., Grace A.M., Jean O., Jeffrey E., Jim F., Jim H., Jim O., Karin G., Kathy R., Klaus P., Lisa D., Marci F., Marilyn B., Mary, Melanie, Nancy F., Natalie, Pamela F., Pat K., Roger, Shirley S., Stella L., Tina R., Vicky P., Wanda, Will E., Zakaria E., for the Men in Blue of San Quentin.
 
For the ongoing work against intersecting forms of oppression, particularly racism; and in affirmation of human dignity;
 
For Oscar Grant, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Rayshard Brooks, Elijah McClain, Walter Wallace, Adam Toledo, Daunte Wright, and all whose lives have borne deep witness that Black Lives Matter, and that systemic racism, white supremacy, and police brutality must be eradicated.
                                                   
For our congregation as we embrace our call to be a sanctuary people, may we commit ourselves to prayer, education, and practices of sanctuary to support immigrants to this country and all people who are estranged, excluded, or threatened in 21st century America.
 
For all who are struggling in this time of pandemic, vulnerability, intensified injustice and division; for strength, support, and community across physical distances and for deepened engagement and commitment to our common life;
 
For those who have recently died: Ellie McCarthy, Christine Ortiz, Ervin Oerther, Casey Fernandez, Mary Carew, Atallah Toma Al-BaqainBruce Burdett, Mary Carew, Craig, Carey King, and all who have died in wars, natural disasters, or other violence around the world and for their families.

Names of the living are printed by first name only unless otherwise requested. 
Living prayer request names will be kept on the prayer list for four weeks;
to keep someone on the list for longer, please notify the office.
To place a name on our prayer list, please contact the church office
 415-285-9540, ext. 3 or office@staidansf.org 

Website and Staff Email Addresses
Our website address is staidansf.org
The email address to reach Cameron, the Rector, is rector@staidansf.org
The email to reach Cary, the Parish Administrator, is office@staidansf.org
The  email to reach Barry, the Music Minister, is music@staidansf.org
The email to reach Dave, the Treasurer, is treasurer@staidansf.org
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101 Gold Mine Drive 
San Francisco, CA 94131

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St. Aidan's Episcopal Church · 101 Gold Mine Dr · San Francisco, CA 94131-2538 · USA

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