Grace Cathedral

Dear Grace Cathedral Family,

It’s beginning to look a lot like summer! The weather is warming, school is letting out, and the cathedral’s pride steps brightly welcome all. 

Grace Cathedral’s congregation kicked off the summer season by relaxing together over Memorial Day Weekend at our annual Congregation Retreat at Bishop’s Ranch in Healdsburg. Congregants of all ages learned and socialized together in the beautiful setting of rolling hills, oak trees, and vineyards. While the adults learned together, the children enjoyed nature explorations which inspired their creation of clay adornments for the altar at Sunday’s worship in the ranch chapel. 

Brother Desmond Alban from the Society of Saint Francis led our programming with a conversation strategy called 3Practice Circles. This practice teaches effective steps to communicate with more grace in day-to-day interactions with others, including people who hold different views. As we look ahead to another election cycle, many agreed this practice could help reduce the steam in dialogs around issues that matter.

“I’d be curious to know,” is the opening gambit to questions in a 3Practice Circle conversation. Opening with this phrase invites conversation partners to remain curious rather than critical and to stay in the discussion. The method allows people airtime to express their views and to feel fully heard. Grounded in deep respect for the other, the practice draws from compassion, hospitality, and love.

The 3Practice Circles book is a quick primer on the principles that guide the practice. Be on the lookout for more information about 3Practice Circles at Grace Cathedral in the summer and fall, including a 3Practice Circles Grace Group.

I hope you are enjoying the early days of summer and can look forward to some rest and relaxation. This Sunday’s annual Pride Mass is a fun and faithful way to jump into the season and celebrate God’s beautifully diverse expression of humanity together. Climb the Pride Steps on Sunday, June 2, at 6 pm, and join in jubilant worship with your cathedral community.

With gratitude for our life together,

Mary Carter