St. Michael’s Cathedral, Boise, ID

St. Michael’s Cathedral was dedicated May 25, 1902. An early Gothic style Cathedral, St. Michaels was built with sandstone from nearby Table Rock. It is the largest Episcopal congregation in the primarily rural Diocese of Idaho, and among the largest congregations in the Episcopal Church. Membership numbers close to 1500, with an average weekly attendance of about 400. Worship consists of weekday Morning and Evening Prayer, a Contemporary Eucharist on Saturday afternoons, and a Family and Choral Eucharist on Sunday mornings. Three choral ensembles, a Cherub Choir (grades K-4), Chamber Choir (grade 5-adult) and Cathedral Choir (ages 18 and up), enrich the worship at St. Michael’s. Outreach ministries of the Cathedral include a BabySteps Ministry for low-income pregnant mothers, a thrift shop, sack lunch program, and, most recently, Come to the Banquet, a festive monthly meal for the homeless and underemployed.

Project

Jesus tells us that when giving a banquet, we should invite the “poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.” Drawing inspiration from this, along with their passionate pleasure in fine food, shared liberally around a well‐set table, with time for conversation, relaxation and the development of bonds formed around a common meal, St. Michael’s Cathedral has, since the spring of 2009, converted the St. Michael’s Cathedral parish hall into a banquet hall on the last Saturday of every month.

Tables with fine linen, full glass and porcelain place settings, and centerpieces of freshly cut flowers greet the hungry and homeless of their community. Three courses of homemade gourmet food (organized by volunteer professional chef, and Congregations Project team member Lida Rerecich), are served by a volunteer wait staff.

From the beginning, the vision for “Come to the Banquet” has included not just the art of hospitality in culinary matters, but also the offering from musicians from the local Boise community and cathedral parish. This idea runs parallel with the food and hospitality of service: not only do many of us take good food for granted, but we do the same with great music. Canon Musician (and Congregations Project team member) Michael Boney oversees the organization of these musical offerings.

With the assistance of the ISM Congregations Project, the St. Michael’s team seeks to take “Come to the Banquet” to the next steps in their community. They envision “Come to the Banquet” growing not only in the number of those served, but in the musical and artistic offerings that are so crucial to its identity. They also hope to serve as a resource to congregations that wish to serve their own communities in similar ways.

Team Members

Rev. Lucas Grubbs, Canon Pastor.  Lucas has been Canon Pastor at St. Michael’s since 2007.  A graduate of the ISM and Yale Divinity School (M.Div 2005; STM 2007), Lucas has studied Emerging Church liturgies.  He strives to develop creative service to the church and community, Come to the Banquet being his latest initiative.
Michael Boney, Canon Musician.  Michael graduated from East Carolina University School of Music in 2002 with the Master of Music degree in choral conducting and organ performance.  He has been at St. Michaels since graduating, where he leads the liturgical music program and oversees its “Music at St. Michael’s” concert series.  Michael also provides musical leadership for the Diocese of Idaho.
Lida Rerecich, Lay-representative and culinary expert.  Lida is cook at Chandler Steakhouse in Boise.  She volunteers her culinary expertise at St. Michael’s and sing in the Cathedral Choir.  She began her music and cooking career at St. Michael’s when, at the age of ten, she would stay after the children’s choir rehearsal to help the church caterer.
 

Address:
518 North 8th Street
Boise, ID 83702

Website:
www.stmichaelscathedral.org