Grace Cathedral

“Lord, teach us to pray…”Lk 11:1 

Dear friends,

This Sunday’s Gospel begins with Luke’s version of the Lord’s Prayer (a pared-down version of the more familiar one in Matthew). A disciple, unnamed, asks Jesus to teach them to pray in the manner that John the Baptist did with his followers. So Jesus does… and we’ve been praying it ever since, including every Sunday as part of the Eucharist! 

How are we to pray to God? How do you pray?  

This scripture reminds us that even with the prayer form he gives us, sometimes we search for the right way. Or the right words. Occasionally, we don’t know. Sometimes, the words don’t come. At times like this, I’m drawn to Paul’s observation in Romans 8:26. When we cannot find the words, when we do not know what to say, the “Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.”  

I love this phrase. In the gap between our feeling and knowing, the Holy Spirit fills the space, bridging the distance between God and ourselves. 

A few announcements:

Backpacks for Bayview Mission: The Congregation Council and Youth Group will be purchasing, filling up, and distributing backpacks to students in need at Bayview Mission. Backpacks will be blessed at the 11 am, August 13 service and packed by members of the congregation and the youth group afterward. Please visit the wishlist for supplies. 

Immigration reform and humane treatment of migrants: I’ll lead a couple of day trips across the border to see the situation on the ground and connect with a couple of nonprofits serving migrants and asylum-seekers. If you are interested in learning more or attending, please contact me. Learn more in a recent KQED story on one of the groups.  

Sunday, July 24, Coffee Hour after 11 am service: The Congregation Council hosts the fourth Sunday coffee hour, an informal social hour for and about our Grace congregation and community. This month, we will co-host with Women in Community and other collaborators. Please join us as we welcome Malcolm and Heidi back home from their tour of European cathedrals, along with all Grace congregants, community members, and visitors. The pleasure of your company is requested — the coffee hour is about you and Grace.

Special announcement from Bishop Marc: Marc gathered the diocese for noonday prayer. He then shared his plans for retirement in July 2024, and the timeline for the election of a new Bishop of California. Bishop Marc was joined by the President of the Standing Committee, the Rev. Dr. Deborah White; the role of the Standing Committee includes the election of a new bishop.

In Christ,
Greg+

The Rev. Dr. Greg Kimura
Vice Dean of Grace Cathedral

P.S. SF Marathon occurs this Sunday and many streets will be closed. To plan ahead, please view the map here.