Dear Friends,

If you attended our Epiphany Sunday service earlier this month, you would have had the opportunity to pick up a “star word.” A star word is intended to serve in a similar way as that star which led the 3 astrologists long ago; a fixed point which invites us to look up from time to time and see where God might be leading us. I had to chuckle when I looked at mine: Imagine. As we continue through this season of transition at City Church, there will be plenty of opportunity to look up, look out, and look beyond the present moment to imagine where God is leading us as a community.

I shared in my previous update the ways in which I’ve heard from many of you about a deep desire to connect with one another, grow in faith, and serve our city. In this respect, we’re off to a great start! This past week, with the Russian Center unavailable to us, over 100 City Churchers took church to the streets with trash pick up and caring opportunities throughout the city for a Sunday of Service and Fellowship. And, the week before, we engaged in our first steps of marrying our longstanding commitment to serving our city, with seeking justice for our neighbors through marching alongside other San Franciscans as part of the annual MLK Day march.

This weekend, even as we look forward to hosting folks from the Bay Area and all over the country at the Faith + Justice Network Conference, we will also be holding our “New to City Church” luncheon. Beginning February, we’ll hold our first Elements of Faith class, which will give City Churchers both new and seasoned an opportunity to connect, reflect, and (re)visit some key concepts within the Christian tradition. These, along with other growth opportunities (Queer Theology class, Take & Read Book Club) and fellowship gatherings (BIPOC Kickback, East Bay regional gathering), there are plenty of signs that we are finding our way back to one another in community.

Yet, with all of these signs of new growth, there are also more goodbyes to anticipate. As Karl Digerness looks toward his final months of liturgical and musical leadership, there are surely questions about what is next. Our newly formed Personnel Team, comprised of Ryan Aipperspach (elder), Ryan Zoradi, and Robin Huey – will be a thought partner in not only developing a hiring process, but also opportunities for feedback loops to help design a process that garners a staff which will help us to live into God’s vision for City Church.

Speaking of vision, the Elder Board and I will spend some time in prayer, discernment, and discussion during a Visioning Retreat, Feb 3-5, to reflect on our journey as a church, how we have changed post-COVID, and where God might be leading us next. It is my hope to be able to share some of this, along with the final results of our stewardship campaign with you at our Congregational Meeting on February 19th (RSVP TODAY).

There is much more that could be discussed, but these are the highlights! As always, if you have any questions or just would like to connect, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’d be so glad to share a beverage or a walk in this beautiful city with you; to discuss and imagine where and how God is at work among us. It is this kind of connecting and relationship-building which God uses to bind us together with courage, grace, and love. And, in the wake of two mass shootings uncomfortably close to home, this is certainly no small thing. Even as we respond practically to these realities (exit maps will be made available beginning the Sunday and an evacuation drill is scheduled for later in February), we also trust faithfully that, in spite of all that would divide us in fear, we will continue to move together into the future which God is leading us toward. Please continue to pray for our church, our church leadership, and God’s vision for how we can make our love for San Francisco more real, together.

Faithfully,
Pastor Emily McGinley