Grace Cathedral
Calling all children and teens to a special Christmas chorus that will perform at Sing You a Merry Christmas, the wildly popular Christmas production at Grace Cathedral!
Open to children from age 5 to 16, the chorus will take the stage with the cast of Presto! Interactive Opera at the December performances of Sing You a Merry Christmas.
Rehearsals begin in October and take place on Wednesday evenings from 6 to 7 p.m. in Gresham Hall (lower level of the cathedral).
Rehearsal Dates:
October 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
November 6, 13, 20
December 2, 6 to 8 p.m. (Mandatory dress rehearsal)
Performance Dates:
Saturday, December 7, 11 a.m.
Saturday, December 14, 11 a.m.
Saturday, December 21, 11 a.m.
Monday, December 23, 3 p.m.
No audition or prior experience necessary, and there is no cost to participate (participants will need to purchase a costume for around $30 that they can keep).
If you’ve ever marveled at the majesty of processions, the precision of liturgical “hand-offs” between readers, the celebrant and the homilist, or the sheer beauty of the altar adornment, you’ve admired the work of the cathedral’s vergers. Michael Hendron, the cathedral’s Principal Verger, explains “vergers prepare every ‘thing’ needed for the service.” From choosing candles to vestments, the verger’s role is to create an experience defined by its “beauty, elegance and, always, dignity.”
Making a meaningful impact for many through his actions is a big component of what makes Michael’s job so rewarding, “It’s affirming. For instance, when I grind up last year’s burnt palms, those ashes are used on Ash Wednesday, becoming part of the church’s corporate worship.”
When we give to the Sunday offering, or plate, our personal act of giving makes a big impact for many. Our offerings help keep cathedral operations running efficiently: your gift supports every “thing” that makes Grace thrive.
We are announcing Every Dove Counts, our year-long campaign to support our plate giving goal of $140,000. The campaign runs our entire fiscal year, July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025. Each gift to plate, whether from a visiting worshipper or a long-time congregant, makes a difference. We’ll share and celebrate progress throughout the year – look for posters and visuals with the Dean’s Virge reflecting our advance toward goal.
Michael notes that when vergers are doing their job correctly, those worshipping in the pews barely notice them. Our gifts, however, shine a bright, hopeful light on the cathedral’s mission and community.
Thanks for considering the many ways to make your gift: text “GIVE” to 76278 or Give to Grace online today.
More from the Episcopal Church Glossary
Virge
The virge is the staff which a verger carries in procession. The name comes from the Latin virga, “rod” or “staff.” It goes back to the ceremonial mace carried before civic and ecclesiastical dignitaries. It was originally a weapon used to clear the way for processions, and to control unruly choristers. The top has a cross or other Christian symbol on it. A longer variation of the virge is called the beadle’s staff, originally used to lead academic processions.
Verger
A lay minister who assists the clergy in the conduct of public worship, especially in the marshaling of processions. Vergers may be full-time or part-time, paid or volunteer. The history of the verger dates back to the middle ages when the verger was the “Protector of the Procession.” He would lead the way, making room for the procession to enter the church from the town square, and with his virge (mace) in hand would literally clear the way if necessary. For a service, vergers wear a cassock and a long vest called a verger’s gown. The ministry of vergers is supported and encouraged by the Vergers’ Guild of the Episcopal Church.
Plate (Offering)
Undesignated or “loose” offering of money that is among the gifts presented at the offertory (BCP, pp. 333, 361). The term may be used to distinguish the loose offering of money from pledge payments or gifts of money designated for specific purposes. The term is associated with the practice of putting the money in an offering plate or basin for presentation.
We are delighted to be sharing the outcome of our 2024 backpack drive. We exceeded our goal, with 160 backpacks, water bottles, and handwritten notes distributed to young people preparing to return to school.
It was moving beyond words to be present with the children and youth at Bayview Mission as they received backpacks bursting with supplies, gorgeous water bottles, and beautiful cards addressed just to them.
As one volunteer shared, “Looking at all the children’s smiling and joy when picking out their favorite backpacks was a precious experience.”
We heard from a partner organization of Bayview Mission that distributed some of the backpacks to families how impactful these items were:
“(T)he impact is HUGE. These kids will now walk into school with excitement and enthusiasm for the new year. And these packs also send a message that their community welcomes them and is invested in their success too.”
There are so many people to thank for the success of our drive, more than we could hope to name in this blog!
Thank you to the staff, Congregation Council, and congregations of Grace Cathedral, including our yoga community, who gifted their treasures, time, and talents to this initiative. Thank you to all who contributed to our drive for items, who wrote cards and who lent their hands and humor to the final packing effort!
Special thanks to the Grace Cathedral Stitching Ministry, who crafted caps for each child.
Thank you to the Diocese of California who supplied wonderful water bottles that will ensure our young people remain hydrated and healthy through the day. These bottles absolutely made the backpacks come to life.
Thank you to the many volunteers who took part in giving the backpacks to children at Bayview Mission.
Bayview Mission shows all of us how miracles can happen through constancy, faith, and love. The day of the backpack distribution was thrumming with laughter and noise, with many people coming to the mission. They were greeted by name with smiles, care, and love.
Such a ministry led for so many years with such grace, vision, and faith by the Ven. Canon Nina Pickerrell is transformative.
One volunteer shared, “I was once one of the children standing in line for a backpack, it is a good feeling to be part of today’s event.”
We are all blessed to be part of this great community of love!
Steph McNally
Formation Program Manager for Children, Youth, Families and Adults
The Ven. Canon Nina Pickerrell
Owner and Operator of Bayview Mission
On July 29, 1974, eleven women were ordained at the Church of the Advocate in Philadelphia, PA, slowly unleashing a new and more inclusive era in the ordained leadership of The Episcopal Church. In honor of the 50th anniversary of women’s ordination, Grace Cathedral hosted a weeklong celebration with topical sermons, prayers, and music by women composers. Here are the highlights.
The Very Rev. Dr. Malcolm Clemens Young, Dean: Why We Need Women Priests
The Rev. Canon Mary Carter Greene, Canon Pastor: It’s too bad women can’t be priests because I would love to be one.
The Rev. Canon Anna E. Rossi, Canon Precentor and Director of Interfaith Engagement: Women’s Ordination at 50: Joy, Perspective and the Onward March
The Rev. Dr. Ruth A. Meyers, Hodges-Haynes Professor of Liturgics, Church Divinity School of the Pacific: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Ordination of Women
We are thrilled to announce our first Kirtan concert, performed by two incredibly famous musicians, Madhava Naidoo and Jahnavi Harrison, on June 22 from 7 to 9:30 pm at Grace Cathedral!
This is the first time that we are hosting a Kirtan concert. We could not do it without the devoted support of Shrawan Surender, who is producing this event. Here are some questions we had posed to Shrawan when he and his colleagues first approached us:
Why did you select Grace Cathedral as a place to host this concert?
Grace Cathedral was chosen as the venue for this concert for several reasons. Firstly, as a magnificent architectural masterpiece and a spiritual sanctuary in the heart of San Francisco, Grace Cathedral provides a serene and reverent atmosphere conducive to the devotional nature of Kirtan music. Its soaring Gothic arches, intricate stained glass, and rich acoustics create a transcendent ambiance that enhances the experience of this sacred chanting tradition.
Moreover, San Francisco holds a significant place in the history of Kirtan. In 1966, Swami Prabhupada, the founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), introduced and popularized this ancient practice in the Western world. By hosting this concert at Grace Cathedral, we pay homage to the city’s role in the global spread of Kirtan and its message of spiritual unity and love.
Furthermore, Grace Cathedral serves as a spiritual hub, welcoming people of all faiths and backgrounds to gather, reflect, and connect with the divine. Its inclusive and interfaith ethos aligns perfectly with the universal appeal of Kirtan, which transcends religious boundaries and speaks to the shared human yearning for inner peace and connection.
How many musicians will we have for this concert?
For this concert, we have assembled a talented ensemble of musicians to create a rich and immersive Kirtan experience. The lineup includes:
Lead Vocalists and Instrumentalists:
- Madhava Naidoo, a renowned Kirtan leader, will captivate the audience with his soulful vocals and harmonium playing.
- Jahnavi Harrison, a gifted vocalist and violinist, will bring her melodic artistry to the forefront, weaving intricate violin lines into the devotional chants.
Supporting Musicians:
- A skilled bass guitarist will provide a grounding foundation with their resonant basslines.
- Two Kartal players will add rhythmic depth and energy with their hand cymbals, creating a mesmerizing percussive tapestry.
- A Mrdanga player will bring the traditional Indian drum to life, infusing the Kirtan with intricate rhythmic patterns and driving beats.
- A keyboard player will contribute harmonic textures and atmospheric layers, enhancing the overall sonic landscape.
Together, this ensemble of seven accomplished musicians will create a rich, multidimensional soundscape that will transport the audience into a state of spiritual bliss and contemplation. Their collective talents and devotion will undoubtedly make this Kirtan concert a truly transcendent experience.
This concert will be 2.5 hours long. We hear it’s interactive, and it sounds amazing. Can you walk us through what the experience will be like?
This 2.5 hour concert promises to be an immersive and transformative experience, as Kirtan is a truly interactive and participatory form of mantra meditation. I am glad to walk you through what you can expect:
As you enter the sacred space, you’ll be enveloped by the rich tapestry of sound created by the talented ensemble of musicians. The lead vocalists, Madhava Naidoo and Jahnavi Harrison will guide you through a journey of call-and-response chanting, their voices soaring and intertwining with the harmonium, violin, and other instruments.
The mantras, sung in the ancient Sanskrit language, will resonate within you, their vibrations gently massaging your body and mind. You’ll find yourself effortlessly joining in, chanting along with the lead singers, as the mantras become a shared expression of devotion and unity.
As the Kirtan progresses, you may feel a sense of liberation, as if the mantras are untying the knots within your heart, freeing you from the burdens and stresses of daily life. The synergy created by the call-and-response dynamic will fill the space with a palpable energy, a collective rejoicing in the bliss of the present moment.
You can choose to participate in whatever way feels most natural to you – sitting in stillness, swaying to the rhythms, or even dancing with abandon, allowing the music to move through you. Some may find themselves lost in deep meditation, while others may experience a sense of joyful celebration.
We hope you see you at Kirtan with Madhava Naidoo & Jahnavi Harrison on June 22 at 7 pm. Get your tickets before they are gone!
The weekend leading up to Juneteenth, Grace Cathedral invites the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Company to present a special limited run of their beloved show I, Too, Sing America, from June 13 to June 15.
I, Too, Sing America is a theatrical concert celebrating works by poets of color, including Langston Hughes, Frances Chung, Vince Gotera, and more, set to original music and choreography First produced by SFBATCO in 2018, I, Too, Sing America was named Theatre Bay Area’s Outstanding Musical of 2019 and was also awarded Outstanding Direction and Outstanding Choreography. The production was remounted in 2022, and in 2023, SFBATCO released a cast recording on Spotify. And now, we are lucky to present it at Grace Cathedral for four performances.
We spoke with Rodney Earl Jackson Jr., Director and Performer, and Christine Chung, Director of Choreography and Performer, about the inspiration behind the remounting of this show.
What excites you about bringing I, Too, Sing America to Grace Cathedral this June?
We feel honored to perform this show at such an iconic and beautiful San Francisco venue. The messages in I, Too, Sing America resonate deeply with people because they are both timely and timeless, and we’re thrilled to bring this powerful music and movement to new audiences.
While the show is rooted in our country’s history of marginalization and oppression, it ultimately is a celebration of our collective pride, ambition, strife, perseverance, joy, diversity, and optimism. People tend to walk out of our shows singing, dancing, and clapping along and we can’t wait to fill this space with the soulful sound of our immensely talented cast.
Rodney adds, “It’s an honor as a gay black church boy growing up in an incredibly diverse city to play such an incredible venue with our now 10-year-old company’s crowd favorite: I, Too Sing America.”
What styles of music and dance should we expect to hear and see onstage?
The music composition ranges from gospel to R&B to jazz to musical theater to the soul. The dance styles range from contemporary to hip-hop to salsa to jazz. The text ranges from Langston Hughes to Frances Chung to Junot Diaz to Alok Vaid-Menon to Victoria Chang to Nina Simone to Gwendolyn Brooks to James Baldwin to San Francisco’s own Vince Gotera and more. All this to say, audiences get a vast range of styles jam-packed into an exhilarating 75-minute performance.
What are you hoping our audiences leave with after experiencing this show?
We hope people feel connected and uplifted. We hope our show is a cathartic experience and people can see their stories and identities reflected on stage. And we hope people feel energized to continue doing their part to ensure our society continues to change for the better, however that might be!
As we prepare to grace the stage of this iconic venue, we’re thrilled to bring to life some of the show’s most compelling pieces, including the soul-stirring melodies of ‘In Daddy’s Arms’, the poignant narratives of ‘Accents’ and ‘Too A Dark Girl’, and the vibrant rhythms of ‘First Mango’. These are moments not to be missed in SFBATCO’s decade-long legacy.
Folks will leave with an invigorated love of San Francisco and its awesome arts scene!
Book your tickets today and join the Zoom panel with creatives and rehearsal sneak peek on May 28 at 6:30 pm!
Nestled on the top of Nob Hill San Francisco, Grace Cathedral is a beacon of architectural magnificence and spiritual solace. Its Gothic revival architecture, stained glass windows, labyrinths, and art installations draw visitors globally. Yet, beyond its grandeur lies a mission of community engagement and cultural enrichment. To realize this mission, we are making an appeal for more docents to illuminate the cathedral’s wonders and deepen visitors’ experiences.
Docents are the guardians of Grace Cathedral’s narrative and play a pivotal role in fostering connections between the past and present, the sacred and secular. Their expertise transforms mere sightseeing into encounters with history, art, and spirituality. They enrich the visitor experience and foster a deeper appreciation for the cathedral’s significance.
The invitation to become a docent is extended to those who feel called to share in Grace Cathedral’s mission. Grace Congregants and church members from the Diocese are highly encouraged to apply, but this appeal is also for the residents of San Francisco and beyond. We simply ask that you commit to at least two tours each month after you receive training. No prior experience is required; only a passion for learning, a desire to connect with others, and comfort speaking to groups are needed. Our docent training program covers the three types of one-hour tours currently offered.
Join us in enhancing the visitor experience at Grace Cathedral.
Our next docent training is Thursday, July 18, 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm.
Please contact us below if you are interested in joining!
Please contact: info@gracecathedral.org
Just in time to close this month’s Game Developers Week, the video game industry conference being held at Moscone Center, Grace Cathedral welcomes the return of Sixth Station Trio to perform the iconic music from Nintendo video games on Friday, March 22 and Saturday, March 23. The San Francisco-based trio features Katelyn Tan on piano, Anju Goto on violin, and Federico Strand Ramirez on cello. The Trio’s members, who met at the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School for the Arts, are not only classical musicians but avid gamers who grew up playing Nintendo games. Their goal is to further uplift video game music to the classical music repertoire and bring gamers to the classical music world.
We spoke with pianist Katelyn Tan to learn more about the group’s approach to this “unorthodox” music and what audiences can expect when they perform it at Grace Cathedral.
What do you think about performing this music inside Grace Cathedral?
Performing this music at Grace Cathedral is such a wonderful privilege for us. Grace Cathedral is a historical landmark and so many musicians have performed in the space, so it’s definitely a rite of passage for us. We are so appreciative of how open and accepting Grace Cathedral has been in allowing us to program non-traditional classical music.
How does Grace Cathedral’s 6-second reverb affect the music and its performance?
I think the reverb, although challenging to maneuver, can often add a unique sound to our playing that we don’t get playing at other venues. We’ve learned to use the reverb to our advantage, using it to create different textures and timbres in our playing and sometimes even for musicality and phrasing.
What are your thoughts on major orchestras playing video game music and its popularity over the last few years?
We love that major orchestras are starting to program more video game music and non-traditional repertoire. It’s a wonderful way to get new listeners into the classical music scene, who otherwise may have never decided to attend a classical performance. Many of our audience members have told us that they’ve never been to a classical concert before and that we were their first experience of classical music.
What is the trio’s artistic process in arranging this music? Does some game music work better than others?
We have so much fun arranging this music. It’s been a wonderful learning process for us, since we are self-taught in arranging. We usually do a combination of transcribing and score studying, if we have access to the original scores. We always make sure to reference the original recordings, and we compose new parts to pieces; for example, if we need a more resolved ending, we’ll create our own. Oddly enough, there have been pieces that I thought wouldn’t work well for our ensemble that ended up fitting our trio really well. People are often surprised at how well a piano trio can recreate the fullness of an 80-100-person orchestra. We may only be 3 people, but that puts no limitation on the diversity of sounds we can create.
Don’t miss this opportunity to witness the magic of Nintendo classics reimagined in a stunning cathedral setting. Whether you’re a seasoned classical music lover or a devoted gamer, Sixth Station Trio welcomes you to be part of this extraordinary musical journey. Join us at Grace Cathedral on Friday, March 22, and Saturday, March 23, at 7:30 pm for an unforgettable concert experience. Let’s celebrate the power of music to unite and inspire us all.
It’s been a year since we launched GraceArts cultural membership. Thank you for your support! GraceArts Membership helps us underwrite the good work of Grace Cathedral in the Arts & Culture, Music, and Mind, Body, and Spirit programs.
Did you know that GraceArts members have free passes? They’re waiting for you through the eMembership Card App that you can access from your smartphone. Find and install it through the App Store or Google Play store.
Once installed, you can easily find your card by searching for “Grace Cathedral” with the magnifying glass. Click on Grace Cathedral and then select “Find My Membership Cards” and enter your last name and membership ID # (which you’ll find in your welcome email). Let us know at info@gracecathedral.org if you don’t know your membership ID.
Once you complete this task, your membership card will be available. You are now ready to go! You can now freely explore the Member Benefits and access your coupons.
Make the Most of Your Membership
Generation Active Passes
All members receive six free passes to Generation Active. This is a wellness class offered on Thursdays from 8:30 – 9:30 am. This group class of mindfulness practices combined with physical activities will help you with balance, maintaining strength and posture, reducing stress, and staying active. This class is also great for folks who are easing back into activity, whether it’s from a less active lifestyle or an injury.
Yoga on the Labyrinth Passes
Arch and Spire members receive two free coupons for Yoga on the Labyrinth. Practice yoga amidst our soaring Gothic columns to live music and expert instruction for all levels every Tuesday night at 6:15 pm or Saturday mornings at 9 am. Doors open 30 minutes before the starting time.
Redeem your coupons today! Just show up for class and show the greeter at the door your coupon. You do not need to reserve a spot ahead of time. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact: info@gracecathedral.org. We hope you enjoy these great GraceArts benefits!
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Conference will be held in San Francisco from November 11 – 18, 2023. Elected leaders and nearly 30,000 delegates will participate.
Getting to and from the cathedral will be impacted.
If you plan on attending any services, activities, or events at Grace Cathedral during this period, please allow additional time to get to the cathedral and home, as street closures and rerouted public transportation will be in place.
To help you get a sense of what these traffic delays may look like for your area, view the map and read more about the potential heavy traffic zones.
The page will be updated periodically, so please continue to visit it.
Join the volunteer children’s chorus and sing along with the professionals on stage during this wildly popular Christmas production at Grace Cathedral! We welcome all young people of the community ages 5 – 16 to participate. You do not need to have any experience – just be willing to sing, dance, have fun, and wear a costume! Rehearsals will be held at Grace Cathedral in Gresham Hall from 6-7 p.m. on Wednesdays in October and November (no rehearsal on November 22) with a mandatory dress rehearsal on Tuesday, December 12 from 5:30-7 p.m.
Sign up here! Children’s Chorus Form | Presto! Interactive Opera
On September 3, the cathedral is presenting a staged reading of a short play, PIKE, which tells the story of James A. Pike (1913-1969), who served as Bishop of the Diocese of California from 1958 to 1966. While not without controversy, among his many accomplishments were the completion and consecration of Grace Cathedral, ordaining the first woman deacon, and inviting Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to preach shortly after the Selma-Montgomery march. Pike was considered as “one of the greatest prophets of all time — perhaps one of the greatest Episcopal ministers of the 20th century.” Learn more about the inspiration behind the event from the playwright Kathleen Kinsolving.
What is a staged reading?
A staged reading is where actors perform a play in front of a seated audience with scripts in hand (very similar to a radio play). There are no props, sets, or costumes; it’s not a fully staged production with a 10-minute intermission. As an audience member, you are invited to savor the playwright’s words through the actors’ performances. PIKE will include a slide show as a visual guideline.
What inspired you to write PIKE?
Several years ago, I was teaching high school seniors Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes, which included the line, “I think my father is like the Holy Trinity” – I immediately remembered how Bishop Pike questioned this concept, which was one of the reasons he was a controversial figure. A lightbulb went off over my head: “You need to write a play about him.” Not long after this divine inspiration, I began my research.
Why is Bishop Pike so important?
He was a theologian visionary, very ahead of his time. Bishop Pike wanted to do away with outdated ideals in order to keep the Episcopal church alive. He rejected an honorary doctorate degree from Sewanee University because they didn’t accept African American students. In 1965, he called on his clergy to participate in the Selma-Montgomery march and later invited Dr. King to preach at Grace Cathedral. Bishop Pike also instigated the push for womens’ ordination, giving permission for deaconess Phyllis Edwards to be the first woman to perform the Holy Eucharist. Finally, he honored gay clergy by reinstating these fired priests to their original posts.
Register today for PIKE: A Staged Reading on September 3 at 7 pm.
Kathleen Kinsolving grew up in the Bay Area during the 1960s, which influenced her to write about Bishop Pike. She also penned her father’s biography, Lester Kinsolving, a worker-priest (and Pike’s legislative assistant) who investigated Jim Jones and the People’s Temple in 1972 for the San Francisco Chronicle. She is an English teacher, poet, film essayist, and screenwriter and is currently writing a play about Irish hunger striker Bobby Sands.