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| Weekly E-Newsletter |
Week Ending July 03, 2009 |
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Dear Parishioner
This weeks e-News comes a day earlier since some organizations will be closed on Friday.
St. Thomas the Apostle is an Episcopal Parish in the Anglo-Catholic tradition. We are called by God to be a holy place where love is found, where all are named and where hearts are freed to change the world. |
| Patronal Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle (July 3) |
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"The Incredulity of St Thomas" by Caravaggio
Saint Thomas the Apostle, also called Doubting Thomas, or Didymus (meaning "Twin"), was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He is perhaps best known for disbelieving Jesus' Resurrection when first told of it, then proclaiming "My Lord and my God" on seeing Jesus in John 20:28. He was perhaps the only Apostle who went outside the Roman Empire to preach the Gospel. He also crossed the largest area, which includes Persia and India.The Confession of Peter ("Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God") is commemorated on 18 January, and the Conversion of Paul (on the approach to Damascus) a week later on 25 January. On 29 June we commemorate the martyrdoms of both apostles. The date is the anniversary of a day around 258, under the Valerian persecution, when what were believed to be the remains of the two apostles were both moved temporarily to prevent them from falling into the hands of the persecutors.
In Thomas' best known appearance in the New Testament, John 20:24-29, he doubts the resurrection of Jesus and demands to touch Jesus' wounds before being convinced. Caravaggio's painting, The Incredulity of Saint Thomas (illustration above), depicts this scene. This story is the origin of the term Doubting Thomas. After seeing Jesus alive (the Bible never states whether Thomas actually touched Christ's wounds), Thomas professed his faith in Jesus, exclaiming "My Lord and my God!"; on this account he is also called Thomas the Believer.
Thomas is revered as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Churches, and Oriental Orthodox Churchesand The Irish Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church.
The Roman Catholic and Anglican calendars honour him on July 3, the day on which his relics are believed to have been translated from Mylapore, a place along the coast of the Marina Beach, Chennai in India to the city of Edessa in Mesopotamia.
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| Independece Day |
 During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the American colonies from Great Britain occurred on July 2, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia. After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining this decision, which had been prepared by a Committee of Five, with Thomas Jefferson as its principal author. Congress debated and revised the Declaration, finally approving it on July 4. A day earlier, John Adams had written to his wife Abigail:
"The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more."
Adams' prediction was off by two days. From the outset, Americans celebrated independence on July 4, the date shown on the much-publicized Declaration of Independence, rather than on July 2, the date the resolution of independence was approved in a closed session of Congress.
One of the most enduring myths about Independence Day is that Congress signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The myth had become so firmly established that, decades after the event and nearing the end of their lives, even the elderly Thomas Jefferson and John Adams had come to believe that they and the other delegates had signed the Declaration on the fourth. Most delegates actually signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776. In a remarkable series of coincidences, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, two founding fathers of the United States and the only two men who signed the Declaration of Independence to become president, died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the United States' 50th anniversary. President James Monroe died exactly five years later, on July 4, 1831, but he was not a signatory to the Declaration of Independence.
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| Gordon's House |
 To honor the memory of the Reverend Canon Gordon B. Yeaton, Jr., "Gordon's House" is a collaborative youth service project in conjunction with the L.A. Diocese and Habitat for Humanity of Orange County at the 76th General Convention.
Youth and adult volunteers will frame the home on July 10 and 11 during General Convention; then the frame will be transported to its permanent site in Westminster, Calif. where it will be completed.
St. Thomas the Apostle Stewardship of Outreach & Community Committee is grateful for the donations made by Parishioners and is pleased to announce that the donations and the matching dollars, St. Thomas is contributing $530 to "Gordon's House" - meeting the Diocesan request of each Parish. Thank you! |
| Catechumenate 2009-10 |
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In the early Church, those seeking to become Christians through the Sacrament of Baptism were enrolled in a process of preparation lasting from 2 - 3 years culminating with the Great Liturgy of the Easter Vigil at which time they were brought into the fullness of the Christian Faith. This process based on the Catechism of Christian teachings was known as the Catechumenate.
Here at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish we have restored the Catechumenate for the modern time and as such have been recognized by Bishop Bruno as a leader in adult Christian formation in the Diocese of Los Angeles. Our Catechumenate is a strict commitment of nine months ending at Easter Vigil with the visitation of one of our Bishops. Our Catechumens are comprised of those new to the faith who are not baptized, those who are baptized but not confirmed, those who wish to be received from other communions with Apostolic Succession, and Episcopalians wishing to renew their baptismal vows. The process involves not just a didactic approach to Christian belief, but also dialog, discussion and active participation in exploring a vibrant, meaningful, and personal faith expressed in the community of our Parish.
We are now in the process of forming the next Catechumenate for 2009 - 2010 which will begin on July 12th. If anyone is interested in knowing more, or wishes to be enrolled please contact the office to make an appointment to see Fr. Davies. |
| Service Schedule starting June 22, 2009 |
NOTE: Daily mass on M,W,F will be at 8am and T,Th at 7pm. Please join us!
PLEASE NOTE THAT DURING THE GENERAL CONVENTION (JULY 8 - 17 DAILY MASS WILL BE HELD EVERY MORNING AT 8AM)
MASSES & DAILY OFFICES
Sunday
7:30 AM - Morning Prayer
8:00 AM - Low Mass
9:45 AM - Rosary
10:30AM - High Mass with Choir - Childcare Available
4:30 PM - Evening Prayer
Monday
7:30 AM - Morning Prayer
8:00 AM - Low Mass
6:30 PM - Evening Prayer
Tuesday
7:30 AM - Morning Prayer
6:00 PM - Reconciliations / Confessions
6:30 PM - Evening Prayer
7:00 PM - Low Mass
Wednesday
7:30 AM - Morning Prayer
8:00 AM - Low Mass
6:30 PM - Evening Prayer
Thursday
7:30 AM - Morning Prayer
6:30 PM - Evening Prayer
7:00 PM - Low Mass
Friday
7:30 AM - Morning Prayer
8:00 AM - Low Mass
6:30 PM - Evening Prayer
Saturday
10:00AM - Low Mass
5:00 PM - Vigil Mass with Gregorian Chant
6:30 PM - Compline
Many additional activities occur each week at St. Thomas the Apostle. See the calendar for more! | |
We hope to see you soon!
Blessings from
St. Thomas the Apostle |
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| Patronal Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle (Observed) |
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Celebrant:
The Rev. Ian Elliott Davies
Homily: The Rev. Ian Elliott Davies
Deacon:
The Rev. Mr. Walter S. Johnson
Organist
Habakkuk 2:1-4
Psalm 31 1-5
Ephesians 2:19-end
St. John 20:24-29 |
| Clergy |
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The Rev. Ian Elliott Davies
Rector
The Rev. Mark D Stuart
The Rev. Mr. Walter Johnson
Deacon |
| Pastoral Counseling |
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One-on-one Pastoral counseling is available. Please contact the office (323-876-2102 ext 2) to schedule an appointment with the Clergy. |
| Vigil Mass Update |
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Vigil Vulgus in Imbuo ero in Latin is week. Suo nos procul 5pm in Templum qua a trio mos sono Byrd Vulgus.
[The Vigil Mass on Saturday will be in Latin this week. Join us at 5pm in the Church where a trio will sing the Byrd Mass.]
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| 4th of July |
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The Office will be closed on Monday, July 6, 2009 in observance of Independence Day though the Daily Mass schedule is unaffected.
(Fr. Davies, as a British and a US citizen will be praying a Rosary in Aramaic since he's still mourning the loss of the colonies.) |
| The Psalms of King David Special Exhibit at The Getty |
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Temptation and Salvation: The Psalms of King David June 9-August 16, 2009 at The Getty |
| Dorot Tazedek July 16 |
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On July 16 Temple Israel's Dorot Tzedek (social justice program) will address the health crisis in Los Angeles. The speaker will be Dr. Rishi Manchanda, director of Social Medicine & Health Equity at St. John Well Child and Family Center in South LA. It starts at 7:00 PM in the Chapel at Temple Israel. Please RSVP to Judy Kirshner, co-chair of the program kirshnergilbert@aol.com |
| Featured Article |
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Come one, come all to St. Thomas the Apostle's Movie Night! This month's movie will be the Academy Award Winning Babette's Feast held on Friday, July 17, 2009.
Take the style of Ingmar Bergman, stir in some Lutheranism, add a dash of Guy De Maupassant, a pinch of Chekov (such a severe and forbidding brew!). Mix well with the grand cuisine of nineteenth century France and what do you have? Babette's Feast!
Food will be served, and a discussion will follow. What could be better than a little intellectual stimulation mixed with conviviality?
All are welcome - parishioners, friends of parishioners, children of parishioners, et al. We've even got a big screen! Mark your calendars and spread the word! |
| Mother Knows Best |
Interesting facts about
St. Thomas the Apostle  |
Fr. Davis (Wales) is not the first foreign born Rector at St. Thomas. Fr. Wurtele, the second rector, was born in Canada and the fifth rector, Fr. Ledsam, was born in Australia. |
| Minutes |
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The minutes from the Vestry Meetings of St. Thomas the Apostle are now available on the St. Thomas the Apostle website. Click here to get the minutes. (Or goto the "Wardens & Vestry" page and click on "Minutes.")
Each month after the Vestry approves the prior months minutes they will be posted in PDF format. |
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Shop at Ralphs:
Donate
to St.
Thomas! |
35 Households have St. Thomas the Apostle as their charitable contribution for when they shop at Ralph's. For the last Quarter (March 1 to May 31) those purchases resulted in a contribution of over $200! Since the program began in October 2007 $1,569.50 has been contributed by Ralph's!
Please register your Ralph's Reward Card with St. Thomas as the Charitable organization on their website ( www.ralphs.com). click on "rewards CARD" in the upper right corner of the homepage, under the "Welcome!" sign, click "Sign In / Register", in the "New Customer?" column, click "Sign up today!", fill-in the form, confirm your email address & sign in, after signing in, on the new home page, click "Community Contribution", under "Participant" click "enroll", enter your Ralph's Rewards Card Number, confirm your address, under "Find Your Organization", type " 84981", confirm "St. Thomas the Apostle Parish." That's it! Now every purchase you make at Ralph's with your rewards card will benefit St. Thomas. (The bottom of each receipt confirms the contribution.) Your friends & family can register too! Thanks to the following households for purchases this quarter. Bade, Dennis; Barter, Norma; Cisneros, Efrain; Coogan, Craig; Cummings, Donald; de Richemont, Amelie; Dickson, Scott; Gaal, George; Gaass, Howard; Gibson, Maryjane; Heitz, Jane; Howell, J. Todd; Jackson, Laurence; Kennedy, Taffia; Koonce, Ken; Martin, Doris; Miller, Robert; Morse, Richard; O'Connor, Maryscott; Palacios, Anthony; Peisinger, Joel; Quanbeck, Janice; Rumsey, Charles; Scerba, Tim; Schleif, John; Serdar, Jana; Thanagadan, Thomas; Thomas, D Thomson, Reece; Thurber, Sam; Tracz, Richard Francis; Warren, Joseph; West, Janet; Wildman, David Wilson, Jack
(If you are not listed, then you may need to reregister your rewards card.)
THANK YOU, Thanks to Ralphs...and happy shopping! |
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