Ash Wednesday, San Francisco

Ash Wednesday liturgy at Grace Cathedral (Anglican), San Francisco.

A quick look at the website - 7:30 service. Allowing plenty of time to get there from Susan's sister's house in Sacramento, we arrived at 6:00 - plenty of time. So we thought. It was already starting! (A closer look on the website later revealed it: the "7:30" service was in the am). Good grief - if only I'd look at things a bit more thoroughly. Scrolling further down, the last Ash Wednesday service listed (of several) was indeed 6:00 pm. Lucky we got there when we did, we didn't miss anything. Lesson learned: websites are important!

A beautiful, and meaningful service was offered. Plenty of people of a great diversity in many ways, and very welcoming and warm. A men's choir sang (again, as in England, sounding a bit muffled way up in the choir away from us) anthems by Byrd, Victoria, and a composer I hadn't heard of: Adrian Batten. Psalmody was chanted using the plainsong materials I've known - simple, complicated, beautiful - all at the same time.

What was especially interesting was the array of materials in the narthex. Very thought provoking, and very beautifully written. Words of invitation that also introduced who they are, what they do and why, and suggestions for understanding. No dumbing down here, no down-playing of controversial issues, yet very loving and respectful: they do believe people (even the venerated visitor) can be beings of intelligence. What struck us, was that many of these items could have been written about Mount Olive, noting the similarity between what they believe and how they practice that as a community.

An "events" brochure especially caught my eye: events that brought faith, spirit and beauty together. That's Mount Olive. Concerts, extra liturgies (like the procession services - which I'll be attending Sunday), lectures, art, labyrinth walks - all connected to the same purpose. Love that. Mount Olive has a growing list of efforts: Music and Fine Arts, Conference on Liturgy, Bach Tage, Hymn Festivals - mostly operating independently. Can we bring all these efforts under one umbrella and invite the hungry as Grace Cathedral does? (rhetorical . . . .)

Much to bring home to emulate from Grace Cathedral.