News
St. Mark’s, Van Nuys Youth Group Visit SPC
Gladys King to head Cathedral Docents
National Episcopal Links
Even though the General Convention of the Episcopal Church ended June 21, we have kept several important links on the cathedral website so readers can easily check news sources for national and international stories as they hit the wires. In particular you can get the Episcopal News Service and the Anglican Communion links by going to the General Convention page at www.stpaulcathedral.org. These links help us all stay current on breaking news and developments in this important time of our history.
Dorcas House Ministry
Our newest cathedral outreach program was approved by Chapter at its April 25 meeting. Since that time a special committee appointed by Dean Scott Richardson has met several times, created a website (dorcashousefriends.org) organized several trips to Tijuana and the Dorcas House site and begun fund raising to a special mailing list of the previous board. Please take a look at the Dorcas House website and read Terri Mathes’, one of the committee members, Christian Formation page. If you want to learn more about this wonderful ministry to up to 50 children whose parents are in prison contact Steven Velez-Confer or The Rev. Canon Joan Butler Ford, Canon for Outreach.
BiNational Committee Formed
Thanks to the efforts of Steven Velez-Confer, chairman of our cathedral Dorcas House committee, several non profit USA charities in San Diego who do ministry in Mexico met at St. Paul’s Cathedral in June to talk about common concerns and interests. Representatives of the Americas Foundation, Colegio la Esparanza, Escuela La Esperanza (schools) Mariona Lopez, Consultora de ONG's, Los Ninos, El Trompo, Esperanza de Mexico, (affordable housing), Responsibility (David’s Schools), Casa Hogar Vida Joven and Dorcas House director, Sylvia Laborin, and from St. Paul’s Cathedral: Cathedral, the Very Rev. Scott Richardson, Canons Barnabas Hunt, Andrew Rank, Joan Ford, Mary Moreno Richardson, and the Rev. Dorothy Curry, Stephen H. Velez-Confer and Steve Bluhm, met for several hours of important conversation and the commitment to meet as a group on a regular basis. The next meeting of the BiNational Group was at the Esperanza School in Tijuana July 11.
St. Mark’s, Van Nuys Youth Group Visit SPC
In late June, several youth members of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Van Nuys, California camped out at St. Paul’s Cathedral with their sponsors until July 1. The young folks used the Fireside Room for sleeping and took some of their meals in the Great Hall. Most were at the Sung Eucharist, Sunday, June 28. Several also visited Dorcas House on Tuesday and gave an in person report to the Chapter at its monthly meeting, June 30. The teen agers also enjoyed the sites and sounds of San Diego.
Gladys King to head Cathedral Docents
Gladys King is the new person in charge of the important Cathedral Docents. The Docents volunteer to be a presence in the Nave of the Cathedral so that church doors can be open all day as much as possible. Anyone is welcome to volunteer. It is an opportunity to answer questions of visitors, spend quality quiet time reading or in prayer. “I’d rather be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord” says the Psalmist. Contact the cathedral at (619) 298-7261 to become a Docent.
Pentacost Baptisms
Three new Christians give a photo opportunity after their baptisms on Pentecost Sunday. Welcome to the Body of Christ!
Gay Pride
Our Cathedral motto is “whoever you are and wherever you may be on your journey of faith, we welcome you.” Every year on the last weekend of July, cathedral members and their friends can march in the Pride Parade, July 29, give cold water, free homemade goodies and a smile to Pride participants as they pass the church on Sixth Avenue or volunteer at the Interfaith Booth in the Pride Festival Grounds. Last year we gave away 700 bottles of water with our own Cathedral 4the City label. Your help is needed to bake cookies, march, volunteer and pray for one of the city’s biggest annual events. Look for posters on the bulletin boards and in our publications on how you can help and have fun, too.
