I have quite a few anecdotes that make it easy to explain why I love being a priest at St. Clare’s so much. Probably the most succinct one, though, is that a year or so ago I asked a few folks “what if one Sunday morning we sent all the adults downstairs for bible study and the kids stayed upstairs and we called it Upside Down Sunday?” and literally everyone said, “Sounds great!” And it was, in fact, great! So we’re going to do it again! Upside Down Sunday Part 2, coming this Sunday at 10:30! [If this does not, in fact, sound great to you, that’s also fine: there will be a nice, normal service entirely in the Sanctuary at 8:30, as usual!]
Here’s how it works: We’ll all start out together in the sanctuary at 10:30 and sing an opening hymn and have an opening prayer. During the song of praise, youth group age and older will process out of the sanctuary and pick their favorite option from those below. (Folks worshipping on Zoom will also have a bible study together!) Church School and Children’s Chapel kids will stay in the sanctuary for some songs and a story with me and Knut Hill [Parents are welcome to stay in the sanctuary with their kids if they wish, and babies/toddlers can go with their parents wherever seems best to them.]. After 20-25 minutes, the adults will process in and share the peace, like the kids usually do, and then we’ll continue with communion as usual.
Here’s to further adventures together, and turning things upside down in this season of unexpected new life!
— Rev. Anne
Classrooms 9&10 (all the way downstairs in the lower level) with The Rev. Toby Darrah
The Bible is full of descriptions of miraculous healing of illnesses and injuries, but so often in the modern world people who claim to have God-given healing powers are scammers in disguise. Yet Jesus and the prophets set the example of healing prayer for us. What might it mean to us today, and how might it affect our lives?
Core (all the way downstairs in the lower level) with Eliza Nuxoll
When you’re invited to “remember your Baptism or Baptism-to-be”, what do you see, hear, feel, or imagine? A candle, a cupped hand with cold water, the lingering scent of chrism oil? In Godly Play’s “Holy Baptism”, we will explore the symbols of this holy covenant, learn what they represent, and wonder what they mean—for us, for our church, and for our life together. Then, as in Children’s Chapel, we will respond to the story through art, Godly Play materials, books, songs, and more.
Adult Lounge (right next to the sanctuary) with Mark Davis-Craig
Join an interactive bible study on the Gospel reading for today.
St. Francis Chapel (outside the front doors to the left) with John Goodell
Chant and sing a selection of psalms together.
Classrooms 4&5 (down the first flight of stairs) with David Laurance
Come with me to explore, to notice, to consider where the risen Christ is showing himself in the world around us. We’ll start with today’s Gospel story. We’ll sit with the disciples as they encounter Jesus by the Sea of Tiberias, reflect on what they might have seen and felt in that early morning, and reflect on where we might find Christ in the world around us.
For those worshipping on Zoom: What’s in a Name? with Paul Holman
Acts 9:1-6 (7, 20) — Saul has a unique conversation with Jesus, who chose him “to bring my name before Gentiles” and then shows him “how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” After regaining his sight, Saul “began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, ‘He is the Son of God.’
John 21:1-9 — In this reading, a key player is not named at all, but is merely identified as “That disciple whom Jesus loved…” Why is this person anonymous? Who do you think it was? What made their relationship with Jesus and with the Virgin Mary so special? What are the insights from these readings for us today, especially with StC’s three importantly different congregations?