‘Cultivating spiritual sustainability: California, Paris, Marrakech, and you’ — Epiphany reflection day with Bishop Marc at The Bishop’s Ranch

In this day-long retreat Bishop Marc Andrus will lead participants in exploring the concept of spiritual sustainability — the intrapersonal dimensions of climate change. The shape and quality of actions is based entirely on spiritual values. In this retreat they will look at the spiritual values explored at the last two years of the UN Climate Change Conference (Paris and Marrakech) and create their own prayer cards after considering the question: How does this value support the sustainability of my life, my relationships, my commitments, and my content of life? The hope upon returning home is participants will be better able to make conscious choices and continue to reflect on how these spiritual values influence their lives.  Download event flyer here.

When: Saturday, January 7,  9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Where: The Bishop’s Ranch, 5297 Westside Road, Healdsburg
Registration: http://www.bishopsranch.org/programs-retreats/upcoming-events/
Link: DioCalendar event
Cost: $90, includes lunch
Deadline: Register by Tuesday, December 27

The little things

Latin Chant Mass for the Eve of Advent III (Gaudete Sunday) at Advent of Christ the King, San Francisco

The Rev. Alex Martin will be celebrant, and the music will be led by Schola Civilis, the Gregorian Chant Ensemble from San Francisco State University, directed by Dr. Paul Ellison. A reception will follow in Lathrop Hall. Experience the timeless transcendence of Gregorian chant and the beauty of the Latin Mass in the holy quietude of Advent's beautiful Spanish mission style sanctuary.

When: Saturday, December 10, 5 p.m.
Where: Advent of Christ the King, 261 Fell Street, San Francisco
Contact: music@advent-sf.org
 

Youth and the Holidays

Join the younger boys and girls of the San Francisco Boys Chorus and the San Francisco Girls Chorus in songs for the holidays to lift your spirits and warm your hearts for the winter. Taking part will be the intermediate chorus of the San Francisco Boys Chorus under their Director, Ildikó Thész Salgado, and Level III of the San Francisco Girls Chorus under their Director Luçik Aprahämian.

When: Sunday, December 11, 7 p.m.
Where: Incarnation, 1750 29th Avenue, San Francisco
Donations: $20 general, $15 seniors/students
Ticket: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/youth-and-the-holidays-with-younger-members-of-the-san-francisco-boys-and-girls-choruses-tickets-29335382920
Contact: Mathew Chacko, comebefed@aol.com, 415.564.2324
Link: https://sunsetarts.wordpress.com/youth-and-the-holidays-with-young-member-of-the-san-francisco-boys-and-girls-choruses/
 

Kitka at St. Bede’s, Menlo Park

Few things evoke the magic of the winter holidays as the transcendent splendor of the human voice raised in song. Kitka Women’s Vocal Ensemble has researched and discovered a treasure-trove of exquisite and unusual seasonal music from a wide variety of Eastern European ethnic and spiritual traditions. This year’s program will showcase material ranging from rousing Slavic folk carols to lush, meditative Eastern Orthodox sacred choral works, from mesmerizing pre-Christian incantations for the longest nights of the year to Yiddish chants for Chanukah to original new pieces inspired by the beauty and mystery of wintertime.

When: Sunday, December 11, 4 p.m.
Where: St. Bede’s, 2650 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park
Cost: $15-$40 at the door, discount for advance purchases at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2705291
Contact: Katherine McKee, kmckee@stbedesmenlopark.org, 650.854.6555
Link: www.stbedesmenlopark.org/upcoming-arts-events/

Make a pocket shrine! Sacred Table at Cafe Flore: San Francisco

Join the Companions of Dorothy the Worker and the Sacred Table community for an Our Lady of Guadalupe observance with a pocket shrine party! Bring your hinged mint box and precious images and fashion a holy relic! Extra points for you if you bring a pair of scissors and a tube of super glue! Extra images will be available. Participants will talk about Marian shrines and make plans for 2017. 

When: Monday, December 12, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Where: Cafe Flore, 2298 Market Street, San Francisco
Cost: Free; no host bar and cafe
Contact: the Rev. Diana Wheeler, CDW, dianarwheeler@gmail.com
 

Send Cards of Hope to Foster Youth for Christmas

Braid Mission’s Cards of Hope program sends cards to children in local group homes who will spend the holidays separated from loved ones. Each and every card is treasured by the children who receive them. All the directions are on the Braid website. You are also invited to a holiday party, where you can join Braid mentors, some of the youth Braid serves, and other friends of Braid to help create, address, and stamp Cards of Hope. Last year they collected over 1,000 cards, and they are committed to hand addressing each one. The more the merrier!

When: Saturday, December 17, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Braid offices, 191 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco
RSVP: Click here
 

Annual Service of Nine Lessons and Carols at St. Luke’s, San Francisco

Featuring St. Luke’s youth and adult choirs, Zephyrus Woodwind Quintet, percussion, and organ. Music by Holst, Vaughan Williams, Wills, Stanford, Sargent, Anderson, and Willcock.

When: Sunday, December 18, 5 p.m.
Where: St. Luke’s, 1755 Clay Street, San Francisco

Christmas at Grace Cathedral, San Francisco

Since 1948, Christmas concerts at Grace Cathedral have been a beloved San Francisco tradition. The magnificent music, majestic setting and astonishing acoustics make the concerts a magical way to ring in the season. Experience the deep connection between spirit and art at Grace Cathedral with A Cathedral Christmas, Sing You a Merry Christmas, Handel’s Messiah and A Brass and Organ Christmas.

Where: Grace Cathedral, 1100 California Street, San Francisco
Link: http://www.gracecathedral.org/christmas/

Other upcoming events at Grace Cathedral

2016 Artists in Residence opening events — special Evensong for Jacob’s Dream
Thursday, December 8; 5:15 p.m.; free

2016 Artists in Residence opening events — “Light up: the creative process” at The Forum
Sunday, December 11; 9:30 a.m.; free

2016 Artists in Residence opening events — Official opening and reception
Sunday, December 11; 5 p.m.; free
 

Re-Leaf 2017 with St. Dorothy’s Rest

On Friday, January 6 and Saturday, January 7, St. Dorothy’s Rest will be hosting a tree planting event with Forest Unlimited. They will be planting roughly 1,500 sapling redwood trees throughout some of the undeveloped land they affectionately refer to as “St. Dorothy’s West". You are invited to join them as a volunteer to spend time planting trees and working on other projects to increase the health of the forest. You may come for one day, or stay for the weekend. Continental breakfasts and lunches will be provided to all volunteers at no cost.

Where: St. Dorothy’s Rest, 160 St. Dorothy Ave. Camp Meeker
When: Friday, January 6 and Saturday, January 7
Registration: Click here
Donate: Click here

Summer camp leadership positions at The Bishop’s Ranch

The Bishop’s Ranch hires seasonal staff to prepare for, facilitate, and close out six 1-week summer camp programs. These programs include a day camp for Healdsburg elementary students, two weeks of Intergenerational Camps with all ages, and three weeks of youth camps: one with high school campers, one with campers entering grades 4-6, and one with middle school campers. The Bishop’s Ranch will hire the Camp Program Coordinator and Ranch Hands first, paid positions to work the whole summer. Volunteer and short-term positions may then be available, especially counselors to lead the week of high school campers. Follow this link to learn more about the staff opportunities and apply online today: http://www.bishopsranch.org/summer-camp-staffing/.