Grace Cathedral

Dear Cathedral Family,

What do you imagine infinity to be? If you’ve ever been out in nature, so far out that city lights can’t touch your view, you may know what I am about to describe.

Many years ago, on a trip in Morocco, my family and I rode camels into the desert with a Ma’qil guide, set up camp, sang songs, and shared stories until bedtime. Once lying down, with the campfire extinguished, I saw infinity as my eyes adjusted and the number of stars in the sky unfolded more and more. They were beyond countless.

At choir camp, beginning Sunday, where I’ll join the music staff and boys’ choir as Choir Chaplain, the boys will have an opportunity to engage the infinity of the night sky too. Each night at choir camp, we will all share in the nighttime service of Compline, outside, lying on blankets under the stars.

Looking up, the boys will hear God’s promises to us to be a comforter, a companion, and our guide. We’ll all be reminded that the scope of God’s promise to us is as infinite as the stars in the sky.

During their eight days at choir camp, under the leadership of Dr. Jared Johnson, Chris Keady, Peter Meredith, and Sue Crawford, the boys will exercise their musical talents and grow in connection with each other and with our tradition. They will practice and prepare the music for Thursday Evensongs and Sunday Eucharists that they will share with us in the coming year—this is the very music that aids us all in hearing what God is calling us to notice and how we are called to live.

Our invitation to live together fully will also be celebrated at this Sunday’s installation of Bishop Rios at 3 pm at the cathedral, where the boys will sing before boarding their bus to camp. I hope you will be able to join us in person or online to participate in this beautiful, historic, and holy installation of the Ninth Bishop of California in his seat at the cathedral.

Bishop Rios’s installation marks the beginning of a new era in the diocese. This transition too, is an opening to an infinity of possibilities. What a privilege our cathedral community, diocese, city, and wider church have been given to be a part of this.

In this new time, let’s imagine together what infinity looks like and what it means for our faithful life together.

Bishop Rios has written an inspiring and hopeful pastoral letter to us all to help us begin. You can read it or listen to it here.

With great gratitude and enthusiasm,

Mary Carter
The Rev. Canon. Mary Carter Greene
Canon Pastor