South of Market Area Ministry

Area Ministry is a mission strategy for organizing ministries of the Diocese of California into more vital and creative agents of transformation. Through careful discernment and outreach, Area Ministry teams identify neighborhood challenges and seek innovative contemporary solutions. Building on the ancient catholic understanding of “parish” as a geographic designation, Area Ministry leverages resources by bringing churches, institutions, and people together. Area Ministry leads spiritual growth and fresh expressions of mission and ministry, both inside and outside the church. Area Ministry is mission directed outward.

The heart of Area Ministry is a life-giving movement from maintenance to mission. The fresh expressions of church that emerge help shape a new, renewed, and re-imagined Diocese of California. Area Ministry is outwardly directed, especially toward young adults and others underrepresented in the church. By including all people as active participants in the community, embodying justice for all, rooting spirituality in worship and education, developing leadership, and revitalizing churches, Area Ministry leads us toward the Beloved Community.

The South of Market Area Ministry is a collaboration of Church of the Advent, St. John’s, St. Gergory’s, St. Aidan’s, and Holy Innocents working in collaboration with the sisters of the Community of St. Francis the brothers of the Society of St. Francis and Episcopal Community Services.

Stations of the Cross in Lent.

This year we will be joining our partners in the South of Market Area Ministry Team to witness to our story on the the Streets of our area by taking the devotional exercise of Stations of the Cross out of our buildings and into the neighborhood. We will begin at St. John's Church on 15th Street in the Mission and make or way to a variety of locations meditating on the incidents of our Lord's Passion and their application to the troubles of the world on the way. The first of these will be on Friday, March 11, starting at St. John's at 5:30 p.m. and ending up at Church of the Advent with Benediction and a light supper with an opportunity to reflect on the experience. Come and be a part of this important act of witness to our troubled world.

Contact person: Fr. Bertie Pearson (bertiep@diocal.org)

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