Community and Advent: Stories of patience and waiting

Advent Evensong at Epiphany, San Carlos

Mark your calendars now for the Epiphany, San Carlos, annual Advent Evensong. You and your guests are invited to this beautiful service that consists of a mixture of traditional, Taizé, and contemplative worship styles. If you love a variety of sacred music for the holiday season, you will love Evensong.           

When: Thursday, December 1, 8 p.m.
Where: Epiphany, 1839 Arroyo Avenue, San Carlos
Link: epiphanysancarlos.org
 

Advent lessons and carols at St. Paul’s, Burlingame  

This candlelit choral service of the Advent season carries from the darkness of the story of the Garden of Eden into the light of angel Gabriel’s message to Mary. Carols for congregation and choir alternating with readings from the prophets include all in a dramatic procession to this good news of the Gospel of Luke. This service will feature: The Choir of St. Paul’s, including boy and girl choristers; Susan Jane Matthews, director; Rodney Gehrke, guest organist; Palestrina Matin and Vesper Responsories; Rorate caeli; Vaughan Williams This is the truth; Gabriel Lim, soloist; Ticheli There will be rest; Howells A Spotless Rose; Chris McCrum, soloist; Tavener Mother of God, here I stand; Rachmaninoff Bogoroditse Devo (Vespers); and Howells Magnificat (Gloucester). Childcare will be offered. Festive reception follows.

When: Saturday, December 3, 5 p.m.
Where: St. Paul’s, 415 El Camino Real, Burlingame  
Cost: Free-will donation
Contact: Susan Jane Matthews, director of music, smatthews@stpaulsburlingame.org 
Links: www.stpaulsburlingame.org; www.facebook.com/MusicatStPaulsBurlingame
 

Vespers service for the Feast of Saint Nicholas of Myra at All Saints, San Leandro

On Monday, December 5, for the vigil of the Feast of Saint Nicholas of Myra (a.k.a “Jolly Old Saint Nicholas”), the Society for Eastern Rite Anglicanism (SERA) and All Saints, San Leandro, will host an Anglo-Orthodox Vespers Service. The Society for Eastern Rite Anglicanism is a faith-based organization committed to promoting and sustaining a movement towards an established Eastern Rite in the Anglican Communion. This special service will be replete with icons and candles, chanting and incense, and space for contemplative prayer. The liturgy will begin at 7:30 p.m. and will be held in the sanctuary at All Saints. All are welcome to attend!

When: Monday, December 5, 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Where: All Saints, 911 Dowling Boulevard, San Leandro
Contact: the Rev. Justin R. Cannon, revjustin.allsaints@gmail.com
Links: www.saintsalive.net, www.easternanglicanism.org
 

A banquet to benefit the Big Heart Wellness Center at St. Bartholomew’s, Livermore

Come join for an evening of Hungarian food, local wine, and great Celtic music! Proceeds will benefit the Big Heart Wellness Center which provides essential referrals and social services for some of Livermore’s neediest residents. Big Heart is on the cusp of becoming its own 501(c)(3) corporation in the new year and being able to expand its services. Be a part of growing this wonderful program!

When: Friday, December 9, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Where: St. Bartholomew’s, 678 Enos Way, Livermore
Cost: $60 (individual), $200 (group of four); checks payable to St. Bartholomew’s; cash and credit accepted at door, but please RSVP to reserve your space
Contact: the Rev. Andrew D. Lobban, 925.447.3289 or rector@saintbartslivermore.com
 

Grace Cathedral’s 2016 Artists in Residence: Benjamin Bergery and Jim Campbell, San Francisco

Come see Jacob's dream: a luminous path, a new work by the 2016 Artists in Residence opening in the cathedral Sunday, December 11. The piece is an installation of light and moving images evoking a pathway between the earthly home and the unseen world. There are two opportunities to hear from the artists: The Forum on Sunday, December 11 at 9:30 a.m., or later that night at 5 p.m. at the opening night reception.  The installation will be on view during the cathedral's regular opening hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

When: Sunday, December 11, 9:30 a.m. (The Forum), 5 p.m. (opening reception)
Where: Grace Cathedral, 1100 California Street, San Francisco
Cost: Free
Link: http://www.gracecathedral.org/artist-in-residence/

Other upcoming events at Grace Cathedral:

Winter Interfaith Shelter
Daily from Tuesday, November 29 through Thursday, December 1; 
Food prep at Grace Cathedral, San Francisco: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Serve at St. Boniface Church, San Francisco: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. 
 

Registration open for Winter online classes with CDSP and CALL

CDSP and the Center for Anglican Lifelong Learning (CALL) invite you to join in the Winter term of seven-week online courses — for fun or continuing education credits — on topics including English Spirituality and Mysticism, New Testament, Church History, Anglican Ethics, Creative Homiletics, and Diakonia. Registration is now open and courses begin on Monday, January 16.

Registration: http://cdsp.edu/center-for-anglican-learning-and-leadership/call-online-winter-2017/
Contact: call@cdsp.edu
 

One Breath: yoga + prayer + meditation weekend retreat at New Camaldoli Hermitage, Big Sur

Join a group of centering prayer and other meditators on a weekend retreat to the New Camaldoli Hermitage in Big Sur.  Retreat activities include praying and chanting The Hours services with the monks, gentle yoga, journaling, and silent, contemplative time. Retreat leaders are: Dawn Jacobson, MD and Sean Potts. Jacobson integrates approaches from the western medical perspective and the eastern Science of Aryuveda. She is a certified yoga therapist and a member of Resurrection, Pleasant Hill. Sean Potts is a music and meditation leader and lead youth minister at St. Paul’s, Walnut Creek.

When: Friday, May 5 to Sunday, May 7
Where: New Camaldoli Hermitage, 62475 Highway 1 (Lucia), Big Sur
Cost: $410 (single room); $730 (single person in double room private hermitage)
Registration: http://www.dawnjacobsonmd.com/one-breath-retreats.html 
Deadline: Rooms are filling quickly, only 5 spots left
Contact: Sean Potts, sean.potts@gmail.com or Dr. Dawn Jacobson, hello@dawnjacobsonmd.com
 

Spiritual reflections on the 2016 Presidential election, San Francisco

Since penning his first book over 30 years ago, Phillip Yancey has become the best-selling author of over 14 million books worldwide, including Christian and politics: Uneasy partners, The Question that never goes away, and Vanishing grace. A journalist and editor for Christianity Today and Books & Culture, he’ll be joining Dr. Scot Sherman in conversation about the historic and surreal presidential election of 2016. Copies of Vanishing grace: What ever happened to the Good News? will be available for purchase.

When: Thursday, December 8, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Where: Century Club of California, 1355 Franklin Street, San Francisco
Cost: $20
Registration: Click Here
Link: http://newbiginhouse.org/events/
Contact: Claudia Wallen, claudia@newbiginhouse.org, 415.346.6994 ext. 128