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sarahelawton.bsky.social
Sarah Lawton
@sarahelawton.bsky.social
1.9K followers 3.4K following 1.7K posts
New Englander San Franciscan, Episcopalian, union member.
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sarahelawton.bsky.social
In San Francisco they mail us our pretty stickers along with the ballot. I love that we get the sticker even if we mail our ballot. And I love the sticker! I did see a stream of voters going to the polls today to drop off their ballots when I was out on ICE corner watch.
San Francisco’s “I Voted!” sticker sports a colorful design with drawings of the Golden Gate Bridge and Sutro Tower in the background, with the parrots of Telegraph Hill, an SF Bay seal sitting next to the Bay, and California poppies in the foreground. The words “I voted!” are emblazoned in English across the middle, while translations in Spanish, Chinese, and Tagalog are written around the circular edge. This sticker was chosen in a citywide contest to replace the old red stickers.
November 4, 2025 at 10:34 PM
sarahelawton.bsky.social
Here is our bishop, Austin Rios, leading us in songs of protest and faith, in front of Grace Cathedral, San Francisco for #NoKings day. ⚓️
A bishop + priests + deacons + laypeople sing songs of protest and faith outside Grace Cathedral in San Francisco
October 18, 2025 at 8:25 PM
sarahelawton.bsky.social
Episcopal Diocese of California gathering at Grace Cathedral #NoKings ⚓️
Episcopal Diocese of California #NoKings contingent with our bishop, gathering in front of Grace Cathedral
October 18, 2025 at 7:33 PM
sarahelawton.bsky.social
Here is some of the story of that time. Yes, a great cloud of witnesses.
Old newsletter with a photo of the Episcopal Theological Seminary contingent on their way to Selma in 1965: James Hagen, Jonathan Daniels, Jack and Nancy Lawton, Everett and Anne Wenrick, and James Capen Old newsletter: “ETS Community Responds to National Crisis,” describing the response of the Episcopal Theological Seminary response to Bloody Sunday, 1965.
October 8, 2025 at 6:24 AM
sarahelawton.bsky.social
Bishop Austin Rios dropped by my church to learn more about the healing work of St. John’s community partner, The Gubbio Project, which takes over the church each weekday from 7am-7pm to offer sleep, coffee, community, health care, pathways to treatment & housing. ⚓️
@thegubbioproject.bsky.social
Bishop Austin Rios (a dark-haired man, bearded, dresses in a purple shirt, black jacket, clerical collar, and baseball cap) of the Episcopal Diocese of California, listens intently to Gubbio health care worker Terry (a small woman with reddish-blond hair, dressed in black t-shirt and kerchief with a red bag slung on her shoulder) as she talks about the work she and her colleagues do. They are standing in the wellness medical tent that was formerly a parking area. In the background, hand-painted art is hung on the outside of the church. Bishop Austin Rios listens to health care worker Izzy (a young woman with long, curly hair and a wide smile, wearing glasses, a black jacket, and a red bag) as she describes the treatment-related packets the wellness team distributes. Bishop Austin chatting with two volunteers (a bearded young man in a red checkered jacket and baseball cap; a woman with a dark-colored parka, dark pants, and sneakers, blond-streaked hair swept up in a bun) as they unpack Narcan packets for distribution. Bishop Austin has just asked them for their perspective about what people need most in terms of support for a journey to health. Portrait photo of Gubbio Director Lydia Bransten (wearing a blue Gubbio sweatshirt and bright blue glasses, with blond hair swept back); Bishop Austin (wearing purple shirt and clerical collar with pectoral cross, and baseball cap with St. John’s eagle logo); and the Rev. Kevin Deal (bearded, wearing a pink striped collared shirt and glasses), vicar of the Episcopal Church of Saint John the Evangelist in San Francisco’s Mission District.
July 8, 2025 at 8:41 PM
sarahelawton.bsky.social
Continuing Juneteenth & Pride: today is Pauli Murray’s feast day in the Episcopal Church! ⚓️

“When my brothers try to draw a circle to exclude me, I shall draw a larger circle to include them. Where they speak out for the privileges of a puny group, I shall shout for the rights of all humankind.”
The Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray, scholar, activist, priest, sits smiling at their desk surrounded by a library of books, holding a pencil and absorbed in writing. They wear a clerical collar and a bright blue jacket. Pauli was a longtime and tireless civil rights scholar who kept up yearslong correspondence with Eleanor Roosevelt; whose legal theories on sex discrimination deeply influenced Ruth Bader Ginsburg; who was a founder of NOW; and who later in life became the first Black person understood to be a woman to be ordained to the priesthood in the Episcopal Church. Pauli had a woman partner and was also very likely transgender, although they lived ahead of times when the reality of being gay and transgender could be lived out publicly. July 1 is the feast day of Pauli Murray in the Episcopal Church’s calendar of saints, Lesser Feasts and Fasts — continuing a celebration of what some folks call Liberation Month in June as we have been celebrating Juneteenth and Pride.
July 1, 2025 at 3:00 PM
sarahelawton.bsky.social
Seems like we might be out of sync with the rest of the country lol 💨🌁
Weather forecast for San Francisco, California on June 24, 2025 shows fog and a temperature range of 51 to 60 degrees.
June 24, 2025 at 6:08 PM
sarahelawton.bsky.social
From the bishops of all 6 Episcopal dioceses in CA: "'Will you strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being?' ... This question needs to be foremost in our thoughts as we consider our response to the situation in LA."⚓
mailchi.mp/diocal/a-let...
Official shields of the six Episcopal dioceses in the State of California: California, El Camino Real, Los Angeles, Northern California, San Diego, San Joaquin.
June 10, 2025 at 7:33 PM
sarahelawton.bsky.social
The Pride service at the Episcopal Church Center in NYC will be tomorrow also, with Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe presiding and the Rev. Cameron Partridge preaching — it will be live-streamed. Sunday, June 1, 3pm PT / 6pm ET.
Episcopal shield rendered in Progress Pride flag colors, with words: Pride Eucharist with Blessing and Commissioning Chapel of Christ the Lord 815 2nd Ave., New York and Streaming Online Sunday, June 1, 2025
May 31, 2025 at 5:49 PM
sarahelawton.bsky.social
Re the Episcopal Church’s withdrawal from the federal refugee resettlement program as most refugees have been turned away while white Afrikaners have been fast-tracked, the Anglican Archbishop of Capetown, Thabo Makgoba, has just sent a thank you note to Episcopal Presiding Bishop Rowe ⚓️
Letter from Archbishop Makgoba to Presiding Bishop Rowe, May 15, 2025. Full text here: https://mailchi.mp/episcopalchurch.org/letter-from-archbishop-thabo-makgoba-of-cape-town-to-presiding-bishop-sean-rowe?e=884d633bfa
May 15, 2025 at 3:33 PM
sarahelawton.bsky.social
Pauli Murray was at Sandye’s ordination in NYC in 1982. We are seeing the passing of the first generation.
Ten women clergy (including Gayle Harris, later bishop; the Rev. Pauli Murray, first Black woman* ordained in the Episcopal Church, in 1977; and Sandye Wilson) stand before the altar of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in 1982). Photo from the website of St. John the Divine, from the collection of the late Sandye Wilson). *Pauli’s gender identity was likely trans/male but given the times this was not a public declaration; and they fought very hard and effectively for women’s rights and for gender equality.
April 16, 2025 at 2:14 PM
sarahelawton.bsky.social
The sermon for #TDOV at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in NYC was preached by Aaron Scott, gender justice officer of the Episcopal Church, is 🔥
⚓️

www.transepiscopal.org/blog/celebra...
Aaron Scott, gender justice officer of the Episcopal Church, stands at a lectern at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. He is wearing a suit and tie and a determined look on his face.
April 1, 2025 at 1:58 AM
sarahelawton.bsky.social
It’s so dangerous! lol
Calm scene of an airport-bound BART train waiting at the 19th St. / Oakland station for the Richmond train to arrive across the platform so that passengers can transfer between the trains.
March 19, 2025 at 4:59 PM
sarahelawton.bsky.social
Iconic photo - Louie Crew Clay, founder of Integrity and future saint of our church, with the Rev. Dr. Cameron Partridge, one of the founders of @transepiscopal.bsky.social, and me, lay deputy. Celebrating the passage of our trans civil rights resolution out of legislative committee. ⚓️
A trio of smiling people: Sarah Lawton (blond hair, red sweater); the Rev. Cameron Partridge (glasses, priest collar, clerical shirt); and the fabulous Louie Crew Clay (glasses, grey shirt, bright tie) celebrate the passage of a transgender civil rights resolution in legislative committee at the 76th General Convention of the Episcopal Church, Anaheim, CA, July 2009
February 26, 2025 at 3:51 AM
sarahelawton.bsky.social
Thank you to Carly from our community partner @thegubbioproject.bsky.social for leading a Know Your Rights training at St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church today in San Francisco’s Mission District. We love our immigrant neighborhood and city. ⚓️
A woman with dark hair and a focused expression is sitting in a church space answering a question; next to her is a man in a clerical collar, cross, and glasses. A group of parishioners is sitting in a circle listening intently to a speaker; they are in a beautiful, old San Francisco Mission District church painted in bright colors with stained glass windows.
February 23, 2025 at 10:15 PM
sarahelawton.bsky.social
Happy Twelfth Night! ✨🕯️
A nativity scene, with figures made from red clay of different ethnicities, all sitting on a wood shelf with a mirror behind and green leaves from a plant visible as well. The scene includes Mary, seated, holding an Epiphany Baby Jesus, sitting up in Mary’s lap as an older baby, with his arms open to the world; Joseph, gazing down protectively over Mary and baby; and three Wise Ones standing, sitting or kneeling near the Christ Child, each bearing a gift.
January 6, 2025 at 4:13 AM
sarahelawton.bsky.social
Bringing in my saints this morning - my Jonathan golden halo mug also in honor of my his friends, my late mother and father #withus #9LC
Candle and coffee mug with the words: Golden Halo Winner / Jonathan Myrick Daniels
December 24, 2024 at 3:30 PM
sarahelawton.bsky.social
Good morning! #9LC 🕯️🌅
Woman lit by candlelight smiling in the darkness just before the dawn Candle + black sweatshirt with musical notation
December 24, 2024 at 3:08 PM
sarahelawton.bsky.social
I don’t remember my baptism in September 1966 but I have the photos and the certificate with the date (pictured here with three of my four godparents, plus a beloved cousin). I generally send greetings to my godchildren on their anniversaries. 🕯️⚓️
Baby in baptismal robe is held by a woman, with three other adults gathered closely around.
December 9, 2024 at 3:39 PM
sarahelawton.bsky.social
For my #SanFrancisco Bay Area peeps: I’m in a combined choir of #Episcopal & #Lutheran churches singing Advent Lessons&Carols. It’s a lovely, meditative hour in a busy season. This year it’s at St. Francis Lutheran on Church near Market (aka Our Lady of Safeway), 3pm tomorrow, 12/8. All welcome! 🕯️🕯️
Flyer (in gold, red, green) says: Lessons & Carols Sunday, December 8th at 3:00pm at St. Francis Lutheran Church 152 Church Street at Market Presented by the combined choirs of St. Francis Lutheran Church and St. John’s Episcopal Church A Service of seasonal readings with carols and choral music following the advent and birth of Christ
December 7, 2024 at 11:01 PM
sarahelawton.bsky.social
beautiful intense sunrise early this morning in SF 🌅
(no filter)
A deep red and orange sunrise suffuses the eastern sky, with the backs of city houses and a tree in the foreground A pink and orange sunrise in the background, with an autumnal orange-leafed tree mostly filling the frame
December 6, 2024 at 7:17 AM
sarahelawton.bsky.social
Photos from our event honoring Paul Neuhauser - founding committee member who gave over 50 (!!!) years of faithful, volunteer labor to the church as a member of CCSR — bringing passion and expertise in SEC laws/regs. Also one of the founders of the interfaith network, ICCR. ⚓️
Former Presiding Bishop Michael Curry (in glasses, purple shirt, clerical collar) in animated conversation with Paul Neuhauser (older white man, in suit jacket and tie). Timeline banner of 50 years of the Episcopal Church’s corporate advocacy, dating back to the 1970s - from South Africa to gun violence, climate, health care, and human rights. At a luncheon dais: Presentation of a “Christ the Liberator” icon from PB Michael Curry, Bishop Doug Fisher, and Canon Brian Grieves to Paul Neuhauser (not in the photo). Also pictured: CCSR chair Sarah Lawton, seated.
December 4, 2024 at 10:29 PM
sarahelawton.bsky.social
Reskeet with a favorite book from your childhood
Cover illustration of the children’s picture book “A Letter to Amy,” by Ezra Jack Keats. It shows a boy in a yellow raincoat and rain hat looking distressed as a letter flies off in the wind. The background is stormy weather.
November 14, 2024 at 2:25 AM
sarahelawton.bsky.social
Oh, lovely! I would start with the Magnificat. That’s what changed his heart to go to Selma the first time. (My mother was one of the people who organized the group from ETS in response to Bloody Sunday.)
ETS COMMUNITY RESPONDS TO NATIONAL CRISIS STUDENTS At 3:00 in the afternoon of March 8 Jack Lawton talked with St. John's Society President Rayford High and Social Action Committee Chairman Richard Ullman. Jack and his wife were going to Selma that evening in response to Dr. Martin Luther King's call for help after the shocking violence of the previous Sunday afternoon. Jack wondered if the ETS community might wish to take part in the nation-wide response that seemed to be developing. By 9:00 that evening the Executive Committee of the S.J.S. had met and approved the idea of an "activist." Social Action program. Dr. Shires, Acting Dean, had been consulted about the plans. A meeting of the community had been held - - $631 had been gathered from the pockets and piggy-banks of ETS ... $5 from the cookie jar of a spaghetti-eating Kirkland Street family, $50 from the field work check of a bachelor student, $13.50 from the grocery money of a faculty wife, and so on. And eleven members of the ETS body bowed their heads as Bishop Arthur Lichtenberger blessed them upon leaving for their plane. These eleven were: James Capen, Jonathan Daniels, James Hagen, Jack and Nancy Lawton, John Morrison, Reed Nelson, Everett and Anne Wenrick, Stephen Weissman and Judith Upham. The eleven took part in the historic events of Tuesday, March 9, and they began returning as they could. And as our "apostles" came back we had meetings in which they shared their experiences with the community. During this period our civil rights emergency fund grew to about $900. An additional response of the ETS community came at Holy Communion on Ember Day, Friday, March 12. Then we offered more than $280 to God to be spent by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, thus making ETS one of the first institutions in the Greater Boston area to respond to this region's plan to raise $100,000 to aid Dr. Martin Luther King's work for social justice. Meanwhile, we found ourselves cooperating with the Boston Uni… Photo in Episcopal Theological School newsletter showing the group going to Selma in 1965: James Hagen, Jonathan Daniels, Jack and Nancy Lawton, Emmett and Anne Wenrick, and James Capen.
November 11, 2024 at 4:52 PM
sarahelawton.bsky.social
Cup of coffee on a kitchen table. On the coffee mug is written: 2023 Golden Halo Winner Jonathan Myrick Daniels
December 24, 2023 at 3:23 PM