Grace Cathedral

Dear Friends,

Immodica īra creat īnsāniam. According to Wheelock’s Grammar of Latin, Seneca said these words more than 2,000 years ago. Excessive anger creates insanity. A memory from my college days of taking a long time to translate that phrase came to mind recently when car horns and shouting outside my window seemed at an all-time high. Immodica īra creat īnsāniam. It certainly seemed a risk that day.

Are people angrier and less kind, or am I imagining it? This is the basic question many people have raised lately. Fortunately, research finds that this feeling is not only not new, but also not true. The results of a study of decades of research into the question, published in Nature Magazine, also suggest the perception can be resolved. The research finds that our sense that people are meaner today than in the past may be more about our focus on negative news and partial memories than about reality itself.

It’s easy to be swept up in stories that paint a gloomy picture of our world. But not only does solid research show that the perception that people are meaner is a function of negative input and confirmation bias, the narrative is incompatible with the Christian story. As Christians, we are invited weekly to the very antidote to meanness, anger, and insanity. In our faith stories and in our commitment as a Christian community, we share a different perspective— a story of enduring hope, love, and the power of genuine connection.

Whether you join us for our Sunday services, morning prayer, evensong, arts events, one of our ministries, or quiet moments of reflection, the cathedral offers ways to reconnect with a sense of warmth, belonging, and inspiration. Together, we can overcome the illusion of moral decline with real acts of compassion, understanding, and support.

This Sunday at 1 pm in the Chapter Rooms, we have a tremendous opportunity to learn specific interpersonal skills to offset the easy tendency to fall into negativity and react with anger ourselves. Psychotherapist and former Roman Catholic priest David Richo and former Protestant minister Barry Brown will lead a workshop called From Payback to Love: Relating without Retaliating. Space is limited in the Chapter Room, so we recommend finding a seat quickly after the 11 am coffee hour for this rare chance to work with two such faithful and gifted experts in relationship-building. I hope we’ll see you there.

Finally, this week our new Congregation Council met to kick off the new year. Get to know our wonderful community building group and its leadership team: Brian Day, Joe Garrity, and Mikin Macwan.

Standing: Kenn Sparks, Anita Ho, Claire Griffin, Vincent Spohn, Joe Garrity, and Moira Dowell. On-screen: Mikin Macwan, Erin McCune, Megan Bourne, Dee Jomo, Jennifer Droke. Kneeling: Evan Deocariza, John Evans, Brian Day, Roger Doughty, MC Greene.

With hope we can make 2025 a blessing for all,

Mary Carter

The Rev. Cn. Mary Carter Greene

Canon Pastor