From the Clergy & Vestry

2010 for St. Thomas is a year of transition into an exciting new vision for the Parish.  As we adapt to this new vision, our calling as Anglicans shall ground and center us as we move forward.  In a time of uncertainty about the future and how we will be able to cope with the myriad of pressures that challenge us, St. Paul reminds us to 'stand firm' to 'stand confidently' on Christ who is the Rock.  Ephesians tells us there are seven founding unities from which believers may take courage (4:4-6) 'one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.'
 
In 2010 St. Thomas will be known as the leader in Anglo-Catholicism on the West Coast by our practice and our example.  We shall faithfully educate ourselves and others in our liturgical ways.  We shall continue to provide a range of Masses:  Daily, Gregorian, Latin, Evensong, Low Sunday, High Sunday with Choir. 
 
In 2010 we shall innovate with a yearlong training program for seminarians.  We will move from concept to practice with the launch of a Sunday School for our youth.  We shall expand our Adult Education programs.  We will regularly bring in renowned experts who will share their knowledge, lead services and conduct seminars during their visit.
 
In 2010 we will continue our commitment to the sick and infirm.  We will maintain our outreach to the homeless and those in need.  We will educate and be given guidance with our local community in matters related to health, money and life management.
 
In 2010 we will meet the Diocesan recommendations for salary for the Rector.  We will provide additional hours for our Assistant Priest and Deacon.  We will retain the highest quality of office personnel.  We will continue our Christian responsibility of contribution to the Diocese.
 
In 2010 our music liturgy will grow further under our Organist-in-Residence, his scholar and our Choirmaster providing for consistent excellence.  We will fully fund our Choir and Music programs.
 
In 2010 we will continue our commitment to being good stewards of our physical plant with continued commitment to environmental stewardship.  We will continue the Acoustics project and will conduct a campus-wide needs assessment.
 
In 2010 we ask you to stand firm with us as we stand firm with Christ.  We ask you to maintain your pledge and increase it by 10% to meet our united vision.  Please communicate with your Every Member Canvass partner and submit your pledge after prayerful consideration.  With your love, prayers and generosity in 2010 we will continue to fulfill our mission being 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.

Todd grew up in the small southern Arkansas town of Arkadelphia.  He attended Caddo Valley Baptist Church (a VERY fundamental and country congregation of about 40 people...mostly related to each other) for the first 20 something years of his life. 

After receiving his Master's Degree in Mass Communication from Arkansas State University, he made his way to Nashville and then on to New York City where he appeared in the original revival cast of "Jesus Christ Superstar" on Broadway.  He was a member of St. Luke's Lutheran Church (a high Lutheran church...believe it or not...very similar to St. Thomas).  

After New York, Todd lived a couple of years on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands before heading to Los Angeles.  He remembers waking up EARLY (still on East Coast time) the first morning here...a Sunday...and thinking, "what can I do to fill the morning...everyone I know is still asleep."  Then he remembered driving by a church a couple of blocks away and decided to take a short stroll down for a visit. 

He's been here ever since, first as a catechumen, then a greeter, a lector, and now on the Vestry where he heads the Stewardship of Community and Outreach Committee and co-chairs the Health Cabinet which is working on the Parish Nurse Program for St. Thomas.  It is also at St. Thomas where he met his partner, Ted Chigaros, with whom he shares his life and their passion for travel.

He is always open to ideas and suggestions for outreach opportunities and for people who are interested in becoming more involved with the outreach of St. Thomas.

The novel H1N1 flu virus, commonly called swine flu, appears to be no more dangerous than many seasonal flu strains -- but it spreads more easily than many viruses.

Most at risk for infection:

Children and young adults under the age of 25 have been the most likely to contract the virus in the United States. For seasonal flu, the elderly, the very young and the chronically ill are usually most susceptible.

The toll:  In the U.S., as of Sept. 10, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was reporting 9,079 hospitalizations and 593 deaths related to H1N1. Worldwide, the World Health Organization was reporting 254,206 cases and at least 2,837 deaths.

To prevent infection:  Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds (about the amount of time it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice).

Don't touch your eyes, nose or mouth.

Avoid close contact with people who have the virus.

To prevent transmission:  Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing, preferably with a tissue. No tissue? Do the "Dracula sneeze" -- into the crook of the elbow.

Avoid close contact with healthy people.

For more info:  go to www.flu.gov.

 

 

Episcopal Café, a web site of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington (D.C.) has a page with useful links, some of which address specifically how churches are addressing communion. You can find that at http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/health_and_wellness/what_to_do_about_the_flu.html.
　
The most important steps to take are things we already know:

·Wash hands early and often, and use appropriate sanitizers.
·If you feel sick, stay home as an act of grace to others.
·If you have a family member sick, keep that person home for the same reason.
·Use discretion especially if you've recently been in Mexico, or have been with someone known to have this flu.
·Follow guidelines from the CDC and the State Department about travel to Mexico.
·Get your information from trustworthy sources: the CDC, local public health, or your health care provider.

"Let us with gladness present the offerings and oblations of our life and labor to the Lord." (BCP, p377)
 
Every Sunday we joyfully present our offerings of financial gifts and pledges to the Lord; but we also offer not just our money, we present our oblations, the bread and the wine, which will be consecrated as the Body and Blood of Christ to then be given back to us who receive it thankfully. The money, the bread, and the wine are all placed on the altar with thanksgiving. Our offerings represent to God our life and love. Our oblations of bread and wine symbolize all of God's gifts to us. Together they represent our labor, our time and ability (the work for which we are paid.) However, God doesn't want just our gifts of money, God wants the givers - us! That is the true joy of our giving!

Please join us this coming SATURDAY at the Venice Pier Coastal Clean Up site!!!

This is our 5th consecutive year running this site (same Venice Pier site as last year, and the year before that, and the year before that...)   After the clean-up, we'll go for the annual Post Clean Up Lunch at a local dining establishment!!

Venice Pier Site (foot of Washington Blvd)
Lots of cheap parking (or take transit and breath easier)!

HOW YOU CAN HELP:
We need your help to run the site, or you can come to pick up trash and enjoy the beach!
WHY?
Trash in LA and in our waterways is a SERIOUS issue for wildlife, tourism, and health
This is the biggest international clean up event in the WORLD

Bring yourselves and family/friends and anyone else and help us clean up VENICE BEACH (one of the best spots to be!) Info on what to wear/bring located here: http://www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/ccd/ccd2.html 

 

Associate Rector

One-on-one Pastoral counseling is available.  Please contact the office (323-876-2102 ext 2) to schedule an appointment with the Clergy.

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.]
 

Total Bounty (YTD):

$288,191.88

 

Sophie's Choice is a novel by William Styron published in 1979. It concerns a young American Southerner, an aspiring writer, who befriends the Jewish Nathan Landau and his beautiful lover Sophie, a Polish (but non-Jewish) survivor of the Nazi concentration camps. An immediate bestseller and the basis of the 1982 successful film. 

 

Friday, September 18th join in a viewing of the film and a lively discussion afterwards.

It's time to re-register your Ralph's Card for Community Rewards. Ralph's requires everybody do this every September, even if you registered in August! 

 

To make sure your grocery purchases benefit St. Thomas, please go to ralphs.com, sign in to (or sign up if it's your first time), click on "My Account" and then "Community Rewards" and search for Saint Thomas the Apostle (84981) 

 

Thanks for shopping at Ralph's for St. Thomas!

Interesting facts about

St. Thomas the Apostle

 

St Thomas Website