Grace Cathedral
Welcome to Grace Cathedral, Greg! We are so grateful that you have joined us. We are looking forward to helping you and your family discover and learn more about Grace Cathedral congregation and community. Thanks so much for taking time to answer some questions from us..
Aside from the announcement we made back on March 20, how are you enjoying making a move to the SF Bay Area from Ojai, CA?
“Joy and I had always loved San Francisco and the Bay area – when we lived in Alaska, we even came here for an anniversary! Our oldest is now at Cal, and we have many friends and family in the area, so it’s exciting and a delight to move here!”
How would they describe you if we were to go down to Ojai and ask folks from your former congregation?
“I suppose you’d have to ask them. They might mention my story-telling style of sermons, involvement in social justice, or just approachability at coffee hour.”
Ok, so how would you describe yourself?
“I’m a husband, father, priest, and Yonsei (fourth-generation Japanese American). I grew up in Alaska but have lived in the Lower 48 and the UK and California for the last decade. I enjoy the outdoors, and I’ve embedded myself in the community everywhere I’ve gone. I started a Spanish-language service in Ojai, Laundry Love, and joined Search and Rescue.”
What do you like to do in your free time?
“I enjoy reading literary fiction – and spy fiction — for fun. I dabble in short stories and have a novel in progress. I also must spend time outdoors to stay centered. This includes hiking and climbing and trail running.”
As you may already know, San Francisco is quite a Foodie town. Are there any favorite foods you think haven’t been introduced to us San Franciscans?
“My family would describe me as an “eatie,” not a “foodie,” as I’ll eat anything! That being said. Lily and I have a rating system for ramen, and we’re looking forward to discovering more. Last week after finals, I picked up Julian, and we found a food truck in Berkeley that serves quesabirria tacos. They are wonderful! Quesabirrias has exploded in LA recently, and we’ve started another ranking system.”
What other organizations are you currently involved with?
“In LA, I was co-chair of the Diocesan Sanctuary Task Force, the committee advocating for social justice, especially around immigration and race issues. We hosted know-your-rights training, organized rapid response teams, and so forth. I organized training with the Office of Governmental Relations on civil discourse right before lockdown. I was also on the Episcopal Public Policy Network of CA, representing LA, like the EPPN nationally, but organized around the six dioceses here. At the Japanese American National Museum, I was involved in practically every national-level response to racial justice issues. I have a picture in my office with President Obama from an APPI leader event at the White House.”
Wow, that’s quite a list of organizations! In your new role as our Vice Dean, are there any particular organizations/initiatives that you would like to be more involved with?
I’ve already joined a few civic and ethnic organizations in the past couple of weeks, which is great because it is AAPI month. Many activities are happening here at Grace Cathedral, including a special AAPI The Vine Service.
What are your hopes and dreams of things you would like to accomplish as our new Vice Dean?
“My biggest hope as vice dean is to help organize and be part of the team and vision for Grace Cathedral as the leading voice for spirituality, inclusiveness, and justice in San Francisco and around the country. Coming from outside San Francisco, I have always thought of Grace as the Cathedral of the West. It has such a storied history of prophetic witness and action. I’m looking forward to being part of that tradition.”
It’s only been 30 days since you arrived here. What has surprised you so far?
“I’m still awe-struck by the sense of mystery and awe in Grace Cathedral. It is inspiring to sit and look up at the gorgeous windows as the vibrations of organ notes pass through your body. Grace Cathedral has extraordinary acoustics compared to other places in the US and England. It is a full-body experience of worship. It is uplifting!”
Ok, enough questions for you. Do you have any for us?
“I have tons of questions that I’ll constantly be asking. Mostly, I have gratitude and appreciation for everyone’s warmth and patience as I learn the Grace Cathedral way!”
We look forward to seeing you this Sunday as you preach at all three services. – we’ll make sure there is plenty of church coffee!
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage (AAPI) month where we recognize the contributions and influence of Asian Americans and Pacifica Islander Americans to the history, culture and achievements of the United States.
I do appreciate efforts to recognize the contributions and influence of people from all heritages. I’m pleased to see more education in recognizing AAPI contributions to the Arts, Science and Politics. Growing up as a Chinese immigrant in San Francisco in the 70’s the only AAPIs I can recall in media was Bruce Lee and some of the cast on Hawaii Five-O.
Steps in the right direction no doubt.
Along with raising awareness of the contributions of AAPIs this month, I want to raise awareness about the increase in anti-Asian harassment. This is not an easy topic for me to write on because it affects me personally. My mom is 85 years old as a survivor of wars and poverty. She is stubborn as an ox and deserves her freedom to ride Muni to shop in the Outer Sunset and Chinatown safely.
The statistics on anti-Asian hate incidents are astounding!
- Verbal harassment up 63%
- Reported hate incidents affect the AAPI community with 42.8% Chinese American, 16.1% Korean, 8.9% P/Flippin, 8.2% Japanese and 8.0% Vietnamese Americans.
What’s even more astounding is that almost half occur in a public place.
We’ve all witnessed acts of harassment in public places. That uncomfortable feeling of being a witness, the uncertainty of what to do and the fear of being the next target.
The problem is that a vast majority of the harassment may not be considered a criminal act therefore added policing is not an effective solution. Investing in our community to recognize harassment and implementing ways to de-escalate the situation is a better option. There are programs offered in our communities that will help us called “Bystander Training.” These programs are offered online and in person. They teach us the “Five D’s” as part of the training:
- Direct = directly intervening in the situation
- Delegate= assessing your surroundings to find others to support you
- Distract = distracting the harasser or person being harassed away from harm
- Delay = checking in with the person being harassed to let them know you are present to offer support
- Document = safely capturing information about the incident to support the victim
Along with raising awareness of the accomplishments of AAPI in society this month, I really hope people will pay attention to the increase in anti-Asian harassment. My hope is that awareness will inspire us all to learn more about this problem.
I am grateful that Grace Cathedral will be offering Bystander Training on May 18 from 2-4:30 pm delivered in person by Andre Selvage and Associates, experienced trainers in this area. All Grace Cathedral staff and clergy are required to attend this program. We are also offering this program to our congregation community. Space is limited. Reserve now.
It is through awareness and education that we find ways to put an end to this.
In case you are wondering about the #pridesteps, we have removed it due to wear and tear and our plan is to bring it back in time for Pride Month 2022.
It was originally installed as a decoration to support the 2021 Pride Mass which is a part of our The Vine services. Our plan was to have the installation up for one month. It lasted for six months.
We intentionally chose to use the Progress Pride Flag colors. Eleven colors represent LGBTQIA+ people and with brown and black diagonal stripes, emphasizing the importance of trans people of color. Eleven colors graced thirty-one steps that lead everyone to our front doors of Grace Cathedral also known as the Ghiberti Doors. All are welcome at Grace Cathedral and that is our message to all with #pridesteps.
We are so pleased with the success of #pridesteps and we wanted to share with you some of the quotes and stories from this installation that touched our hearts.
Here are a few great quotes:
“Spirituality should not be at odds with sexuality.” Mikhael812
“When faith spoke inclusivity…” rainbowhubbies
“This made my #queer heart so happy” _ashleycross
“Let’s create a safe world where our children can be exactly who they are.” Luvmargar3t
We also loved every picture shared with us on the #pridesteps. Special shout out to all those dog pictures and we even got a cameo from a famous feline!
So.. we hope you enjoyed #pridesteps as much as we did. We will be back!
Grace Cathedral will be delivering the Requiem service on November 14 during the Sunday 11 am Choral Eucharist. This is a time where we gather to remember beloved friends and family member who have died. In addition, Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem, sung by the Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys and full orchestra, in the context of the Eucharist will be performed and The Very Rev. Malcolm Clemens Young, ThD, will preach.
Gabriel Fauré composed his Requiem in D minor, Op.48 between 1887 and 1890. I had a chance to catch up with Benjamin Bachmann, The Diana Dollar Knowles Canon Director of Music, to tell me more about what the Requiem service and particularly what to expect from the performance by Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys.
Tell us, what will people expect from this year’s requiem service musically?
“ I hope that people will be open to the experience of real communal grief. The pandemic experience was the cause of so much aloneness and silence, what better way than to be together and share our sadness which is exquisite joy.”
I understand there are different choices of music that can be performed during a Requiem service. Why was Fauré’s chosen this year?
“Faure’s Requiem is the most serene and lyrical of the three major liturgical Requiem. It takes us to a place of peace and calm which we do not have enough of today. “
Do you have any advice for anyone who may have never attended a Requiem musical performance, particularly anything to look out for?
“The Requiem is a time to keep still, absorb the music, and contemplate and communicate with our loved ones departed. Do not look out, look within, they will be with you.”
The Boys Choir has been working hard rehearsing for this day. Here is a sneak peek as they rehearse the Pie Jesu.
We look forward to seeing you here on Sunday, Nov 14 at 11 am.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of our Christmas Concerts, we are thrilled to open our doors to this beloved San Francisco tradition in person again. Enjoy world-class performances in this Gothic revival Episcopal cathedral on Nob Hill with its soaring architecture, amazing acoustics, stunning stained-glass windows and beautiful, serene atmosphere that make Christmas concerts here really something magical.
In honor of the 75th anniversary, we went through our archives to learn more about the history of the Christmas Concerts particularly the Boys Choir. How did it start? What was it like to be a part of this world-renowned organization? We hope you like this short video and invite you all to come back to Grace Cathedral with your family and friends to enjoy the variety of shows we have planned this season. Then make your Christmas extra special by attending one of our Christmas Services.
A Cathedral Christmas features the Cathedral’s Choir of Men and Boys performing classic Christmas carols and other sacred masterpieces with orchestra and organ. A true holiday tradition! | December 11, 12, 18, 19, 3 pm and December 21, 7:30 pm
Families with younger children will love Sing You a Merry Christmas, where you can sing along to your favorite carols with the toys of St. Nicholas’s workshop. Truly a delight for children of all ages and families. | December 11, 18, 11 am and December 21, 22, 23, 3 pm
What is Christmas without a Brass and Organ Christmas concert brought to you by The Bay Brass? The finest musicians return to Grace Cathedral to perform accompanied by our famous 7,466 pipe organ. | December 13, 7:30 pm
Soulful Joy is a new sound for the holidays at Grace Cathedral that was introduced in 2020, but you know what happened. We are thrilled to bring this to you in person, led by Destiny Muhammad and her cool, eclectic Sonic Ensemble of Bay Area Masters. Destiny brings the feeling of jazz and a hint of storytelling, reflecting and reimagining the holiday spirit with the music of Stevie Wonder, Vince Guaraldi, Donny Hathaway and more. Soulful Joy! | December 20, 7:30 pm
Messiah, a Baroque Christmas in Grace Cathedral. In this special abridged evening performance, you’ll hear the Christmas portion (Part I) of Handel’s Messiah along with the music of the season by Arcangelo Corelli and Marc-Antoine Charpentier, closing with a rousing finale including Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus.
Saturday, October 2nd we gather on the Great Steps of Grace Cathedral at 10 AM for a prayer before walking together to the march of solidarity with the SF Women’s March.
We stand together and we march together. Showing our presence in numbers too great to ignore. I marched in Washington DC in 2017 along with my friends from California. Showing our presence in numbers, being “there” was very important to us. There was no agenda, just an overwhelming desire to be present. We marched in peace and simply wanted to be heard.
This Saturday, October 2, we march for our rights for reproductive justice. This march is about reproductive freedom. It’s more than just the “A” word. This is about quality reproductive healthcare services for all. I don’t want a state mandating what I can or can’t have access to.
“We believe in Reproductive Freedom. We do not accept any federal, state or local rollbacks, cuts or restrictions on our ability to access quality reproductive healthcare services, birth control, HIV/AIDS care and prevention, or medically accurate sexuality education. This means open access to safe, legal, affordable abortion and birth control for all people, regardless of income, location or education.” Unity Principle, The Women’s March.”
Women’s March Organization
If you are in the SF Bay Area, I hope you will meet us at the Great Steps of Grace Cathedral where we will say a prayer and march down from Nob Hill to join others at Grove and Hyde Street. If you are not local, here is a current map of all the cities hosting a women’s march on October 2:
Grace Cathedral is a house of prayer for people and spiritual crossroads in one of the world’s most dynamic and beautiful cities. Our congregation is representative of the community that makes up the SF Bay Area. This month for Projecting Grace, we offer our space to a group of artists who speak up to racial violence. Dear America‘s guerilla projections respond to anti-Asian violence and we are honored that they chose to use the façade of Grace Cathedral as one of their stops.
“In a time when the right to belong of Asian Americans is being questioned, taking up space matters. Asian Americans have been in the U.S. since the 1800’s. In sharp contrast to the false notion that Asian Americans are a people whose belonging in America must be granted by non-Asian Americans, this project is about Asian Americans unapologetically taking up space, celebrating each other’s presence, and not asking permission to do so.” Christy Chan, lead artist.
We plan to start projecting at 8:30 pm, July 18. Because of the number of images, our plans will be to stay until 10:30 pm.
Dear America features artworks by the following artists:
Here is a sample of some of the images you will see on July 18
About Projecting Grace
Projecting Grace is a monthly digital projection of art on the façade of Grace Cathedral. It’s an informal, casual event where people gather to watch as the artists project a series of digital images from Huntington Park to the façade of Grace Cathedral. It does take some time to adjust the lenses to get the image to project clearly on the façade. Once done, the image will be shown for approximately 5-10 mins for all to enjoy.
Projecting Grace is typically run on the last Sunday of every month, starting at sundown. We do our best to run the show during the time frame posted but may end earlier due to fog or rain.
What an amazing month of Pride at Grace Cathedral with the installation of the Pride steps leading to the Ghiberti doors, The Vine SF Sing-a-long Pride Mass with Bishop Flunder, Lenny Duncan and Kim Jackson on the Forum and Kim Jackson preaching this Sunday, Jun 27!
As we approach the end of Pride, I think of it as a sunset on a month of celebrations, raising awareness and solidarity with our LGBTQ friends and families. What better way to celebrate this sunset than with Projecting Grace, honoring art and artists from our LGBTQ community. Projecting Grace is a monthly projection of digital artwork on the façade of Grace Cathedral around a theme. Some of the work and all of the inspiration is courtesy of Amplifier, an organization which gathers artists to create art that amplifies social justice issues.
The sun sets at 8:35 pm this Sunday. We will start projecting images from Huntington Park onto the façade of Grace Cathedral at 9:00 pm and end by 10:00 pm. Wear a sweater… You’ll thank me later!
Here is a list of digital images you will see:
We Go High – by Rachel Allen
Vote to Protect Trans Kids – by Erin McAdams
We Are One – by Dawline-Jane Oni-Eseleh
Gay Space Flag – by Laurie Raye
Progress Pride Flag – by Valentino Vecchietti
