Grace Cathedral Blog

Last week, domestic terrorists forced their way into the US Capitol buildings, bearing not only arms, but Confederate flags, a noose and other symbols of white supremacy. Many of you have asked: What can we do? As Christians, our work for social and racial justice begins with clear-sightedness about what it is that we are dealing with and what God calls us to do.

The Black Lives Matter protests that spanned the globe last summer brought renewed visibility to a pervasive evil that thrives in silence and secrecy. We must acknowledge the explicit and implicit racism in these violent terrorist attacks. From our own Dean Malcolm Clemens Young or the Rev. Dr. Gennifer B. Brooks, from Joseph R. Biden, Jr. or Rep. Maxine Waters, leaders have broadly noted that if these terrorists had been black, Indigenous or other People of Color, law enforcement would have been swifter, bolder and more severe. We cannot suppress that truth and we cannot be silent.

However, the roots of the terrorist event at the US Capitol are not only in the endemic racism and white supremacy of our society. They also include the greed, deception and opportunism of the chief executive, as well as other elected officials who championed outright lies for their own gain; the social media and tech giants who were content to profit from these lies; and this nation’s glorification of violence and unholy comfort with unregulated access to weapons.

These engines of the violence last Wednesday in the nation’s capital have been justified, and in some cases promoted by a white, toxic and hateful perversion of Christianity.

The way of Jesus is none other than the way of life and peace. And so, as Christians, we condemn in the strongest possible terms the attacks and their motives. We condemn the false equivalency between domestic terrorists, and protestors demanding civil rights in addition to and police accountability. We condemn the use of Christian language and institutions to promote violence.

There is no religious justification for insurrection against the institutions of democracy or for threatening the lives of elected leaders. There is no religious sanction for violence against black and brown bodies, Jews and other religious minorities, immigrants, women, LGBTQIA people or any other human community.

In response, we express lament. We lament our own arrogance and intolerance. We lament our personal failures to confront the violence and racism of our own hearts, and the violence and racism that rears its ugliness daily. We lament our own church’s historic and current participation in structural violence and racism. And we acknowledge that this lament is not enough.

Furthermore, we join Presiding Bishop Michael Curry in praying these words from Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address: “With malice toward none with charity for all with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right let us strive on to finish the work we are in to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan – to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”

May it be so.

The Rev. Heather Erickson, Director of Senior Ministry and Outreach

The Rev. Mary Carter Greene, Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministry

The Rev. Canon Jude Harmon, Canon for Innovative Ministries

The Very Rev. Peggy Patterson, Interim Executive Pastor

The Rev. Anna E. Rossi, Succentor

The Rev. Kristin Saylor, Director of Formation

The Very Rev. Dr. Malcolm Clemens Young, Dean

Tune into this year’s virtual gala from your home on Tuesday, February 16 and enjoy Carnivale in a Box, brought to you by McCalls, San Francisco’s preeminent caterer!

For guests who select the Enthusiast ticket package and up, McCalls will deliver a three-course dinner and cocktail kit made with love. We know how magical the experience of dining inside the cathedral is, so we made sure your at-home dining experience will be just as special. We’ve included a thoughtfully paired premium bottle of wine from Lynmar Estate Winery, a blooming floral bouquet from Charlotte & Daughters and fun design surprises to ensure an enchanting tablescape.

Imbibe on a Bourbon smash, and nibble on an elegant selection of cheese and charcuterie as you get settled into the gala livestream. Say hi to friends who are also attending! Then, work your way into an heirloom apple and chèvre salad, leading you to the entrée, a tender filet mignon. Comforting sides are included, of course!

A delicious dessert duo of deconstructed cheesecake and chocolate trifle with Italian meringue offers the perfect indulgence to end the evening. We’ll close the night bidding on coveted auction items and let The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence lead us into the Late Night Revelry after-party. 

Instructions on how to heat, serve and enjoy Carnivale in a Box will be included. We hope you’ll join us!

* If you are interested in Carnivale in a Box but live outside the Bay Area, please let us know by Tuesday, February 2 so we can arrange for a comparable meal shipped directly to you! 

Carnivale is just around the corner! Our annual gala happens on Tuesday, February 16 at 6:30 p.m. PST, and *all* are invited. We’ve transformed a spectacular in-person experience into a virtual celebration, and we are thrilled to bring Mardi Gras into the homes of everyone around the world.

Art for All with Root Division

This year’s theme, Grace for All, reflects the cathedral’s leadership in inclusivity and social justice. Our goal is always to be a space that uplifts and amplifies the talents of artists of color. We are proud to announce our collaboration with San Francisco’s Root Division to create the Grace for All art installation. Root Division is a socially-active arts organization based in San Francisco, and a collective of their artists will help us express meaningful connection and community through their inspired art. De’Ana Brownfield and Megan Leppla are the lead artists on this project.

Be a Part of the Experience

Inspired by our 2013 Artist in Residence Anne Patterson’s work Graced with Light, allCarnivale guests are invited to contribute prayers and intentions that will be printed on colorful ribbons, and strung along on the banisters leading to the Ghiberti doors.

As we gather virtually for Carnivale, the tethering of strings along the cathedral’s Great Stairs is our way of connecting the global community we’ve created together.

With tickets starting at $25, Carnivale is more accessible (and fun!) for all. We hope you’ll  join the party!