On Easter
afternoon the San Francisco Night Ministry
inaugurated its Open Cathedral with an open air Eucharist in the heart of the
Tenderloin. The service, a truly joyous event befitting the day, was held
in the pocket park at McAllister and
The Rev. Lyle Beckman, our ELCA Night Minister, celebrated the Eucharist
and was assisted by The Rev. Vicki Gray, an assistant night minister and deacon
at St. James’ Episcopal Church. Night Ministry board member Tom Robertson
(St. Mary the Virgin Episcopal Church) assisted as lay reader, while board
members Jeanne Robertson (St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church) and John Macdonald (St.
Dunstan’s Roman Catholic Church,
About
twenty-five parishioners of this new inter-denominational congregation, some
sitting on the grass, others standing under trees, joined together in song and
prayer. After Lyle’s moving homily on feet – yes, feet, washed, nailed to
a tree, and now calloused from the street – they responded equally movingly to
his invitation to share their concerns from life on that street. During
the Lord’s Prayer and the closing hymn, “Amazing Grace,” more than one tear was
in evidence.
After the
service, coffee hour consisted of juice, soda, fruit, and two trays of hot
cross buns from St. James. Not a crumb or drop was left, as we went our
separate ways with promises to meet again next Sunday.
And meet
we will – every Sunday at 2:00 p.m. – in our little
Open Cathedral at McAllister and Leavenworth.