Preach It, Sister!

5:30 on a Thursday afternoon.  Rush hour in San Francisco.   But above the din of buses and cars, seemingly oblivious to the crush of people entering and exiting the BART station, the Revs. Monique Ortiz and Vicki Gray call whoever hears their voices to worship.  In both English and Spanish, people on the streets are welcomed to Open Cathedral in the heart of the Mission district.

Some accept worship bulletins from street ushers.  Others study their own shoes.  Still others, many others, gather on the fringes and listen.  The lesson is from Matthew 23.  First Jesus describes the scribes and Pharisees as ones who tell others to observe the law, but do not practice it themselves, ones who lay heavy burdens on others, but save the places of honor and power for themselves.  Then Jesus pronounces, “He who is greatest among you shall be your servant”, continuing with a long list of woes upon the scribes and Pharisee, the hypocrites, anyone who uses their own power to oppress others.

This was one day after a young man, a veteran, in Oakland, just across the bay from San Francisco, was seriously injured when the police tried to stop people from camping as part of the Occupy movement.  Emotions were running high for the 99% and Jesus’ lesson spoke directly to the frustration and anger of those left behind and living on the margins who had gathered for worship.  Monique, a UCC minister, preached from the depths of her being.  “You are the greatest.  You have the power.  I have seen how you serve one another, care for one another”, she boldly declared into her microphone as she gave various examples of how that congregation of homeless men and women had supported one another.   She communicated the power of her convictions and the power of Christ’s love unashamedly in that public setting.  She could really preach!

Then she moved more placidly into the consecration of a large loaf of bread and a chalice of grape juice.  The attention of the crowd became a bit more focused and when it was time for the Lord’s Prayer about 40 people joined hands and prayed together, ready for that holy meal.  Monique and Vicki moved outside the circle, extending the offer of Christ’s Body and Blood throughout the plaza. 

Open Cathedral San Francisco, holds two worship services each week, one in the Mission district that I visited, and on in the Tenderloin.  The worship is part of San Francisco Night Ministry, a ministry that goes out on the streets from 10 pm until 4 am every night, searching out and serving the needs of people living on the streets.  I am in awe of the courage in must take to do that work, but I saw the connections that Monique and Vicki had with the people in their congregation and beyond.  Christ is very present on the streets of San Francisco.  The power belongs to those who serve. Thanks be to God.