|
|
|
| Weekly E-Newsletter |
Week Ending July 10, 2009 |
|
|
Dear Parishioner
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. |
| Being Episcopalian |
 The 76th General Convention is upon us, and thousands of Episcopalians will meet to worship, deliberate, and work together for the future of the Church.
But what does it mean to be an Episcopalian anyway?
First, it actually might be more appropriate to change that noun to an adjective and ask what it means to be an Episcopal Christian, for this Church and its members are one part of the "one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church." Our baptismal covenant is a summary of our Christian faith, as we boldly proclaim that we believe in one God, who has created us, who has redeemed us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and who empowers us for mission through the Holy Spirit.
We are Anglicans. Our heritage is the Book of Common Prayer. When other Christian groups were organizing on the grounds of common agreement, our Anglican ancestors bound themselves to one another in common worship, common prayer. It was that decision to avoid the extremes of religious opinion of that day that marked Anglican Christianity as distinct and special. Far from an "anything goes" mentality, this marks a deep respect for one another in Christ, and a willingness to let go of our own infallibility.
As part of what was originally called "The Protestant Episcopal Church in the USA," our heritage is also wrapped up in the American experience. At the opening of the first Convention of The Episcopal Church in 1786, Bishop William White spoke of the excellence of this religion, not only because it gives "peace of mind and fixes the hopes of its members on an immovable foundation," but also because it has "in every respect been a friend to the helpless and afflicted." Today, we are in all fifty states, and also several countries. Yet, we still celebrate that same balance of faith and action bound together by what White termed "a mild spirit pervading the whole system."
We are also members of what is still the official name of the Church, the "Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church." We are, all of us, called to be missionaries in what we say and how we live. That same baptis-mal covenant that expresses our belief in God also includes promises of action by which we can live out Jesus' call to not only love God, but our neigh-bor as well. We promise to continue in the com-munity of apostolic faith, worship, and teaching; to persevere in resisting evil and repent when we do sin; to proclaim the Good News in both our words and actions; to seek and serve Christ in all persons; to strive for justice and peace and respect the dig-nity of every human being. These are remarkable promises, and we make them with boldness and also humility, "I will, with God's help."
As Episcopal Christians, we acknowledge the leadership of bishops, which is what the episcopos literally means, but we also celebrate the shared leadership of lay people and clergy, particularly as our elected deputies gather together with the bish-ops for the 76th General Convention of The Epis-copal Church. Our Prayer Book contains a "Prayer for a Church Convention" that offers an excellent summary not only for those who will meet in con-vention, but for all of us who follow Christ in and through The Episcopal Church:"Teach us in all things to seek first your honor and glory. Guide us to perceive what is right, and grant us both the courage to pursue it and the grace to accomplish it; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
The Rev. Canon Charles K. Robertson is canon to Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori. The people pictured on these pages are church members from dio-ceses throughout The Episcopal Church. Hear and see them tell their stories of being Episcopalians at www.iamepiscopalian.org
|
| General Convention - July 8 to 14 |
|
Let us pray As deputies and bishops of The Episcopal Church meet in Anaheim, California, for General Convention, please join with them in prayer for the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
For General Convention
God our Wisdom, who eternally makes all things new: encourage by your Holy Spirit those who prepare for General Convention to labor together for the building up of your world and your Church; counsel them when to act and when to wait; turn their hearts always toward those in greatest need, and away from their own preoccupations and fears; help them never forget that love and mercy are your greatest gifts given us all to offer one another as we see in them Jesus Christ who alone is our joy, our way, our truth, and our life. Amen.
For Participants
God of light and life: As General Convention draws near, help me to continue to grow up in all ways into Christ. Fill me with energy for the work before me; show me your surprising face in the people around me; delight me afresh with the variety of your creation; inspire me with a vision of your justice becoming concrete in the world; and above all, teach me to love you and my neighbor more fully, less grudgingly, and with more forbearance day by day, and give me the grace of good humor, the leaven of laughter, and the tonic of hope through it all, in Jesus' name. Amen.
Commissioned by the General Convention Office and written by the Rev. Jennifer Phillips, vicar of St. Augustine's Church, Kingston, Rhode Island.
| |
| Meet the Vestry: Bronwyn Jamrok |
Bronwyn Schrecker Jamrok is a cradle Episcopalian and has been a parishioner at St. Thomas since 2004. From 2007-2009 Bronwyn served as the Clerk of the Vestry. Her term expires at the 2010 Annual meeting. She and her husband Greg are actively involved with our Newcomer ministry.
She is mostly from Virginia, but grew up as an Air Force brat which gave her the opportunity to live in many exotic places such as Nebraska and Southern Illinois. Her longest geographical stint was in Harrisonburg, Virginia where she attended James Madison University and majored in Psychology, minored in Music, and obtained a Masters in Special Education.
Bronwyn is currently employed by the Institute of Medicine in Washington, D.C. where she manages the peer review process through the magic of telecommuting. She is currently on maternity leave after giving birth to Henry Joseph Jamrok on May 11th. She has been happily married to Greg Jamrok since 2005. |
| 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 |
|
|
| Trinity V |
 |
Celebrant (8am & 10.30a):
The Rev. Ian Elliott Davies
Homily (8am & 10.30a):
The Rev. Ian Elliott Davies
Deacon (10:30a):
The Rev. Mark D. Stuart
Guest Organist (10:30a):
2 Samuel 6.1-5, 12b-19
Psalm 24
Ephesians 1.3-14
Mark 6.14-29 |
| Clergy |
 |
|
The Rev. Ian Elliott Davies
Rector
The Rev. Mark D Stuart
Associate Rector
The Rev. Michael Cooper
Assistant Priest
The Rev. Mr. Walter Johnson
Deacon |
| Pastoral Counseling |
|
|
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 |
|
|
Missa Vigil hoc septem dies cum lingua Latina. Missa mos ineo 5 meridianus et cum ero Abeo Gregoriana in Ecclesiae Parochiae Sancta Thomasiensis.
[The Vigil Mass on Saturday will be in Latin this week. Join us at 5pm in the Church with Gregorian Chant.]
|
| Homeless Breakfast |
|
|
Saturday, July 11th the Homeless Breakfast will take place. Volunteers are welcome and greatly needed!
150 homeless and needy Angelinos are served a tasty breakfast by St. Thomas volunteers. Come at 7:00am to help prepare and share pancakes, eggs, sausage, biscuits and good fellowship. Come at 7:30am to help serve. Come at 9:00am to help clean up.
Deacon Johnson serves as the Social Worker providing outreach to the Homess during the Breakfast. This portion of the program, including providing safer sex kits, hygene items and other critical supplies is funded in part by a grant from The City of West Hollywood. |
| Dorot Tazedek July 16 |
|
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 |
| St Agnes Guild |
|
|
Please join the St. Agnes Gardening Party on Saturday, July 18th at 9:00 a.m. and help us beautify our gardens and grounds. "I think that if ever a mortal heard the voice of God it would be in a garden at the cool of the day."
- F. Frankfort Moore |
| The Psalms of King David Special Exhibit at The Getty |
 |
Temptation and Salvation: The Psalms of King David June 9-August 16, 2009 at The Getty |
| Featured Article |
 |
|
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!
RSVP this Event on Facebook |
| Mother Knows Best |
Interesting facts about
St. Thomas the Apostle  |
The St. Thomas pipe organ is one of the largest instruments in Southern California. A pipe organ's size is determined by number of ranks of pipes (sets of pipes). St. Thomas is approx. 70 ranks. The average church organ would be about 30 ranks. The St. Thomas instrument contains more than 5,000 individual pipes. Each pipe is hand crafted. |
| Minutes |
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
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! THANK YOU, Thanks to Ralphs...and happy shopping! |
|
| |
|
