Harold S. Kushner's book, The Lord Is My Shepherd - Healing Wisdom of the Twenty-Third Psalm, is our source for a five week study exploring one of the most familiar and intriguing portions of Scripture. In the midst of difficulty people of faith have turned to these powerful verses for comfort and support. Journey with us as we try to find the source of its power and enduring witness.

Steven DeMuth, a candidate for the seminary, leads the book discussion.  The discussion meets on Tuesdays after Mass (7:30pm) and will go from November 17 to December 15.  You may purchase the book at Amazon or any other retailer.

The UK is about to switch its currency from Pounds to Euros, giving a gang a chance to rob the poorly-secured train loaded with money on its way to incineration. But, during the robbery, one of the big bags falls literally from the sky on Damian's playhouse, a 5-year old given to talking to saints. The boy then starts seeing what the world and the people around him are made of. Ethics, being human and the soul all come to the forefront in this filmis today and where it wants to be in the future.  Fr. Ian Elliot Davies will lead the discussion.

The Hospitality Committee is looking for volunteers to help set up and clean up after the coffee hour on Sundays. They would like four to six volunteers so a schedule can be set up and no one person has to work more than once a month.  The coffee hour is an important part in our Parish fellowship allowing us to get to know each other better.  Your participation can help keep this essential part of Parish life running smoothly. Please contact John Boughner, Les Rumsey or the Parish Office if you are interested. 

In response to the H1N1 Flu (commonly known as the Swine Flu), St. Thomas Hollywood encourages parishioners to partake of communion via intinction.  (The Sacred Minister will dip the host into the wine and place the consecrated host on the parishioners tongue, which should be extended.)

 

For those parishioners who out of custom prefer to continue using the chalice, the chalice is cleaned with a grain-alcohol cloth after each use, significantly reducing any transfer of germs.

 

We are mindful of the sensitivity of certain people to these issues, and we would kindly remind you that receiving just the Sacred Host is full Communion. You do not have to receive the Chalice, and vice-versa: receiving only the Chalice is full Communion.

 

Common sense will be one of our best weapons against this flu:

For more information:  www.flu.gov 

"Faith & Our Future" is the theme for the 2009 meeting of Diocesan Convention, set for December 4-5 at the Riverside Convention Center. Information for delegates and clergy, including meal reservation forms as well as photos, biographies and statements from candidates for diocesan office are on the Los Angeles Diocese website www.ladiocese.org.

The Stewardship of Community Outreach is sponsoring a family for Thanksgiving Dinner through Women at Risk.  Five children- ages 1, 5, 7, 9 and 17.  They have NO income to provide for the family and are in desperate need.  We are currently collecting donations of Ralph's Club Gift Cards that will be given to the family so that they have a meal this Thanksgiving.  Please contact Kaye McKlaine at 310-709-9424 and give the Gift Cards to Kaye by this Sunday.  God Bless. 

• Personal hygiene products (especially disposable razors, shampoo, soap, feminine hygiene items,  disposable diapers and  deodorant)
• Ribbon and other basket-making equipment and supplies for Baskets of Hope
• New or gently used children's books

November 16, 2009 Bishop Christopher Epting, Deputy for Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations of The Episcopal Church, has issued the following:

 

Now that the full text of the Vatican's "Apostolic Constitution" dealing with certain former Anglicans who wish to become Roman Catholics has been released, it is clear that what is being touted by some as an 'ecumenical gesture' may be understood as 'pastoral' but is not necessarily very ecumenical. Even though Cardinal Walter Kasper has now given one newspaper interview, there has otherwise been a noticeable silence on the part of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity on this matter. This appears to be a unilateral action on the part of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith which flies in the face of the slow, but steady progress made in the real ecumenical dialogue of over forty years.

This is "come home to Rome" with absolute clarity. Any former Anglican who has been ordained will not only have to be re-ordained as a priest in the Roman Catholic Church, not only re-ordained as a transitional deacon, but even re-confirmed as an adult member of the Body of Christ! Any one who does make this move is not an Anglican, nor an Anglo-Catholic, but a Roman Catholic convert.

As we have said on numerous occasions, we commend with our blessing any Anglican who in good conscience wishes to become a Roman Catholic just as we welcome any Roman Catholic who in good conscience wishes to enter into full communion with the Anglican Communion. But these decisions are to be made as individuals not as communities of persons. The Vatican may rest assured that we will never create "Roman Catholic Ordinariates" within the Anglican Communion for former, disaffected Roman Catholic converts. We will continue to welcome individuals, from the Roman Catholic Church or any other Christian communion, who desire to be in full communion with the See of Canterbury, and therefore with the Anglican Communion.

For our part, The Episcopal Church remains committed to genuine, ecumenical dialogue both on the national (Anglican - Roman Catholic Consultation in the USA) and international (Anglican - Roman Catholic International Commission) levels. We are encouraged by Cardinal Walter Kasper's comment in Osservatore Romano on November 15 that these will, of course, continue. The recent "Apostolic Constitution" is a distraction, but likely only a minor one, from the real goal of ecumenical conversation between the largest (Roman Catholic) and third largest (Anglican) Christian communion in the world.
 
Bishop Christopher Epting
Deputy for Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations
The Episcopal Church

Our Every Member Canvass campaign completes on Sunday, November 22, Christ the King.  Please return your Pledge Card to the Office as soon as possible to allow for proper planning for 2010. Please contact the Office if you have any questions.  We are deeply grateful to the following Parishioners who have pledged for 2010:
 

 

Associate Rector

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.]
 

On the Second and Fourth Saturdays of each month the Homeless Breakfast takes 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.

The St. Agnes Guild is holding work day on Saturday, November
21 from 9am-Noon.  You don't need any particular skills to help out.  Come join the fun!  Contact Ken Koonce.
 

 

 

On Thanksgiving Eve there will be a Vigil Style Mass held at 7:30pm. 

 

On Thanksgiving Day there will be a Mass held at 7:00pm

 

Both Masses will be celebrated by Fr. Ian Elliott Davies. 

 

The Office of St. Thomas the Apostle will be closed on Thursday & Friday November 26-27.

 

As many readers receive the eNews at their office email, next weeks eNews will launch into cyberspace on Wednesday, November 25.

The Parish Society of Our Lady of Walsingham will be hosting a Bake sale on Sunday 22, November 2009; which will begin at 9a.m. following the Low Mass and will continue till 1p.m. following the High Mass.

Money raised will go to our continued Ministry of Faith and Education throughout the new year. If you have any questions please contact
Mark S. Vigil.

It's Angel Tree time again! This year we are assisting the children of women living with AIDS through Women at Risk. St. Thomas has supported this organization for a number of years.  The needs have quadrupled since last year, while their funding has decreased.  This year we'll be assisting 64 families and 129 children.  We had 20-30 children last year from this group.  For these children, this will be the only present they receive.

The Angel Tree will be available this Sunday, November 22nd, and the gifts should be returned by Sunday, December 13th.

Last year we started giving a gift to the mothers as well. This year, the families desperately need food for their tables, so, if you are able, we are also collecting grocery gift cards. There will be a sign-up sheet under the tree.

 

Interesting facts about

St. Thomas the Apostle

 

St Thomas Website