Grace Cathedral Blog

We are deeply concerned about the sharp increase in anti-Semitic rhetoric and violence, locally and nationally. Joining Mayor London Breed and the San Francisco Interfaith Council, we unequivocally condemn all acts of bigotry, hatred and violence, including those against Jews.  We value our Jewish neighbors, local synagogues, schools and community centers, as well as Jewish-owned businesses, and decry the harassment and violence that have been perpetrated against them.  

We recognize the sacred ties of the Jewish people to the land of Israel. We also recognize the sacredness of the land to Muslims, Christians, and Palestinians, and mourn the violence of occupation. However, the relationship of diaspora Jews to the land of Israel must never be conflated with the actions of the State of Israel. Acts of bigotry and violence against Jews in the U.S. are hate crimes and undermine legitimate efforts to build justice and peace among Israelis and Palestinians. We lament historical and contemporary Christian anti-Semitism, perpetuated in our interpretation of scripture, liturgical practices, and activism.  

We pray for renewed relationship and trust.  

A prayer for healing anti-Semitism 

God of every nation: 

You gave the world into our care to be stewards of justice and messengers of goodwill. 

Spread a shelter of peace around our Jewish neighbors and all they hold dear. 

Cleanse the bias that infects our hearts and the bigotry that grips our hands,  
that we may restore the trust between us and together repair the world, to your mercy and glory, we pray. 

Amen. 

Early one Saturday morning I arrived at the Cathedral to find one of our incredible media colleagues heading inside with his large camera bag in tow. “What are you going to shoot on such an early Saturday morning?” I asked.

“Oh, I am just going to follow the LIGHT to get some new shots of the windows. I’ll move with the LIGHT to find the most beautiful colors.”

Now, each time I attend the 5:15 Evensong or watch the Sunday livestream, I see the jewel tones of Grace’s windows in a new light. As they overlay the scenes of celebration at the Altar or rise above the voices of the choristers singing Magnificat, or accompany the fadeout of my own short Evensong homily, the brilliant windows invite me to pray.

The light of the windows bathes me in that original LIGHT the photographer was seeking and following that morning.

Healing is a sensory experience—touch, sight, gentle pressure, and sometimes the Creator’s LIGHT coming through the deep blues and ruby reds of Grace Cathedral’s windows heals my soul as it washes over me.

Even in the virtual reality of livestreamed services, the colors dancing from the windows, the angelic sounds of choristers’ voices, and the prayerful silence bring healing to a soul weary of virtual gatherings… and eager to see what happens when the real LIGHT of the Creator comes through the windows of Grace and touches us with God’s presence and healing Grace.

Dear God, 

Help us to breathe, to breathe again, because we have been holding our breath for so long looking for signs of hope, wondering if we would see justice in our time. 

Let all people know that George Floyd’s life matters. 

We pray for his family. We pray for all those who have lost loved ones in encounters with the law. We pray for all those who are humiliated, demeaned, ignored and not valued because of their race. 

We give thanks for police officers who give courageous testimony because they respect justice. We praise you for activists and prophets who inspire us with courage and their dreams of equality. 

Teach us all to name what is evil and to resist it, even when it seems like the way things have always been done, even when we feel alone. 

Let this be the end of the nation’s dark night of racism. Let there finally be true equality before the law. Let there be the love of Jesus, the love that comes without conditions. 

And may the living One who breathes the spirit of truth into all people draw us into the heart of God’s mercy where we will see each other face to face. Amen. 

Written by the Congregation Council

Updated Friday, May 21, 2021

In the month that has passed since this statement was written by the members of our Congregation Council, racist violence toward the AAPI community has tragically continued and, in some cases, escalated. We have seen vicious hate crimes on the streets of our own cities and are painfully aware that there are members of our community who fear for their safety when walking after dark.  

At the same time, we find ourselves amid AAPI heritage month, when we celebrate the uniqueness and the many achievements of our Asian Pacific Islander siblings. Grief and joy can and do coexist together and, as the Body of Christ in the world, we are called to witness both.  

At this pivotal moment in our common life, we, the members of the Congregation Council, reaffirm our unequivocal denunciation of all acts of hate and violence and our commitment to working together to build a society where all human beings feel safe, valued, and loved.

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Across the country, there has been a dramatic increase in violence directed against people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent. While hate crimes and bigotry against Asian Americans are not a new phenomenon, the more recent mass shooting in the Atlanta area has brought national attention to the subject. Eight people were killed, and six of the seven women were of Asian descent. The victims, Xiaojie Tan, Daoyou Feng, Julie Park, Hyun Jung Grant, Yong A. Yue, Suncha Kim, Delaina Yaun and Paul Andre Michels remain in our prayers. Our hearts break with each additional news report of harassment, violence, and loss of loved ones in our communities.

We, the Congregation Council of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, are committed to social justice. We stand strongly in solidarity with the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities to fight against increased hate and violence which spark fear in our communities and in our nation. More importantly, we strongly condemn microaggressions, white supremacy, xenophobia, misogyny as well as bullying and discrimination against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. And we mourn and pray for an end to hate crime and gun violence.

We understand that these acts of hatred have caused significant pain and fear in Asian American communities. We celebrate and stand behind the tremendous contributions of Asian Americans to this country, as well as their longstanding history as Americans, and commit ourselves to supporting one another. We will continue to use our platform to fight against injustice and discrimination. We encourage you to reach out to us whenever you need support and healing, to share your stories with us and others, and to continue to care for and love each other with the spirit of our faith.

Stop Asian Hate
Resources & Links to Support:

The Asian Pacific Fund is raising money for Bay Area community organizations working to combat anti-Asian racism.

PBS Documentary Series: The impact of Asian Americans on the country’s past, present, and Future.

Grace Cathedral: Dean Malcolm Clemens Young’s message.

Racial Justice at Grace Cathedral: Resources, contacts, statements.

Episcopal News Service: Episcopal Deputies of Color on increased violence against Asians and Pacific Islanders

Episcopal CEEP Network: “Anti-Asian Violence in Context.”

The Spring 2021 edition of Grace Notes is now online! This issue is filled with music, arts and worship events that will lift your mind and your spirit. Visit the link below to learn what’s coming up at Grace Cathedral!

Welcome to the Spring 2021 edition of Grace Notes, our seasonal calendar of events. 

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