The ofrenda at St Cuthbert's, Oakland

The tradition continues! Thanks to Tom Bickley for this photo (via Facebook). The white in the foreground is the fair linen on the Altar which is in the middle of the nave. The ofrenda is up where the Altar used to be. Looks like lots of loving remembrance.

--the BB

Here's a better photo

Bishop Marc Andrus of California

You've seen portions of the Festal Green chasuble I made for St Cuthbert's, Oakland. The whole set was made in honor of Doris Hagen, for many years director of the Altar Guild, the den mother emerita of this particular cub scout - for keeping an eye on me all the years I was there. (Nice web site, designed by Vibol Peou, a terrific young man, so I encourage you to click the link above.)

Here is a picture from St Cuddy's of our bishop, the Rt. Rev. Marc Handley Andrus, wearing it. When I first glanced at this picture I thought someone had sneaked a shot of me that I had not seen. When I looked more closely I realized it was my bishop. Bishop Swing blessed the vestments at one of his visitations and it made me feel good to see my new bishop in them.

Speaking of St Cuddy's, their blog has a wonderful post celebrating the life of my friend (and one of my staunchest supporters, along with her husband Fred), Phyllis Brislawn. I wanted to post a photo and tribute to her when she died and it just hurt too much to do it. I am am glad to point you to it, along with pictures of her memorial service.


She is truly one of God's saints. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.

One good thing I have done in my life

... was to begin the tradition of celebrating el Día de los Muertos at St Cuthbert's, Oakland. The first year Hallowe'en fell on a Sunday and it was the day of Bishop Swing's visitation. We dedicated new vestments and altar hangings that day (the wild "festal green" set) and remembered our loved ones. Prayer and tears and healing and deeper community. Thanks to Laurie Garnier I can share a photo from this year's celebration. The ofrenda at St Cuddy's, 2008.


Last Sunday in Albuquerque I lit a candle for Phyllis Brislawn, one of the great saints of St Cuthbert's.

We who are many are one body for we all share in one bread and one cup.
-the BB

Because it warms my heart

Saint Cuthbert's feast is March 20--invariably falling in Lent. This poses a challenge to churches named in his honor; you cannot, by our current rubrics, have St Cuddy take precedence of a Sunday in Lent and you thus cannot have the sort of party one might desire for such a special saint. (He may be nearly unknown in the USA but he was rather a big deal in the UK and his name is ubiquitous there.)

A solution lies in his other feast, September 4, recalling his translation. On that day in 1104 his relics were moved into their shrine in the new Norman cathedral (Durham Cathedral). Being a medieval history nut and a creative liturgist, I decided our patronal feast would fall on the Sunday after Labor Day (close to September 4 and the day life begins anew in California churches after the summer doldrums).

This September 9 the feast was kept. Jack Pantaleo from St Aidan's in San Francisco, came and played his Celtic harp. The festal green superfrontal from the Doris Hagen altar vestments and the floral arrangements provided color.

My love for St Cuddy himself and for St Cuddy's, Oakland, prompts me to post. Oh yes, a touch of ego too; the superfrontal and the banners in the background are my design and stitchery. Since we have a sewing theme going this evening....

Sancte Cuthberte, ora pro nobis.

--the BB

I don't drink beer but...

... this is my kind of theology.

Photo borrowed from St Cuthbert's (Oakland, CA) blog, with lots of photos from the peace march in San Francisco on October 27. St Cuddy's represented!
--the BB

A prayer for a November Monday morning

Here is an invocation drawing on indigenous spirituality. I do not have a footnote for a source but looking at the text I see multiple indications that I wrote it, using the imagery I learned from Peter Brokenleg (Sicangu Lakota). It begins in the west, following the pattern of Black Elk. We used it in our Turtle Island Mass at St Cuddy's several years ago.

Grandfather, Grandmother, Sacred One,
Creator of heaven and earth, Giver of life,
We are here before you, Hear us!
Thunder Beings, Medicine Bear,
Waters where the Sun goes down,
We are here before you, Teach us!
Buffalo upon whom the People depend,
Land of Snows and Winter Gales,
We are here before you, Strengthen us!
Rising Sun and fresh Breezes,
Elk Nation, Seeds of all Beginnings,
We are here before you, Fill us with life!
Ripening Time, Plant Nations,
Winged Cousins, Sheltering Trees,
We are here before you, Nurture us!
Round circle of the Sky,
Father Sun, Sister Moon, Star Nations,
We are here before you, Shine upon us!
Mother and Grandmother Earth,
Crawling and Burrowing Clans, all Grasses,
We are here before you, Sustain us!
Great Circle of all Beings
And all Powers who serve the Sacred One,
We are here before you, Behold us!
Gathered with All Our Relations,
Holy Creator of All Things,
We are here before you To praise you!



National American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month is celebrated during the month of November.

Help yourselves to the prayer if you have a use for it.

--the BB