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| Weekly E-Newsletter |
Week Ending December 18, 2009 |
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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. |
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Christmas Message from Presiding Bishop |
 The mornings are dark, pitch black until after most of us have begun our days. The hints of dawn in the eastern sky, those streaks of rose and pink that promise more and brighter
light, bring hope even in the dark mid-winter. Where do you look for that kind of hope borne on slim rays of light? Jesus is already abroad, even in the darkness. The hungry
one fed, the street people who have their feet cared for, the humble and honored guest at your dinner table - each one offers a glimpse of that dawn, if you look closely enough.
What we have waited long for, ages and eons for, has been born among us. He comes among us quietly, almost stealthily, in an obscure barn, long ago. This child holds all our hope for light. This tiny frame seems too frail to
bear our yearning. Yet the nations come streaming to this light even before he is weaned. The divine has come to dwell in our midst, and God's eternal promise of peace, restoration, and home is made flesh. Where and how will you seek out this light of the world? In what other frail frames will light expunge darkness? The light grows with our own eager searching, light reaching out to light, divine reflection yearning for its source. May the light of Christ light your way in the darkness, may
his light spread through nations besieged by war and hunger, may we continue to search out his light in the dark places of our own hearts.
The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori
Presiding Bishop, The Episcopal Church
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| Christmas - Ephipany Schedule of Services |
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Thursday, 24 December Christmas Eve
7:30 am Morning Prayer
5:00 pm Family Mass with Hymns
11:00 pm Midnight Mass with Choir followed by a reception
Friday, 25 December Christmas Day
7:30 am Morning Prayer
10:30 am High Mass with Choir
6:30 pm Evening Prayer
Sunday, 27 December The Feast of St. John the Apostle
7:30 am Morning Prayer
8:00 am Low Mass
9:45 am Holy Rosary
10:30 am High Mass with Choir
4:30 pm Evening Prayer
Thursday, 31 December The Solemnity of the Mary
10:30 pm Solemn Mass followed by a non-alcoholic potluck
Sunday, 3 January 2010 The Second Sunday After Christmas
7:30 am Morning Prayer
8:00 am Low Mass
9:45 am Holy Rosary
10:30 am High Mass with Choir
4:30 pm Evening Prayer
Wednesday, 6 January 2010 The Epiphany
7:30 am Morning Prayer
7:30 pm High Mass with Choir
The St. Thomas the Apostle Office will be closed starting December 23, 2009. It will reopen January 04, 2010. A Blessed Christmas to all! |
| Bishop Bruno Appoints Fr. Stuart |
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This week Bishop Jon Bruno announced his appointment of Fr. Mark Stuart as Interim Rector of St. Augustine's-by-the-Sea Parish, Santa Monica beginning January 17, 2010. His last Sunday at St. Thomas the Apostle will be Sunday, January 10, 2010. A parish-wide sit-down luncheon will be prepared and served by the Hospitality Commitee.
Fr. Stuart has served as Associate Rector at St. Thomas since May 2002.
Fr. Davies, the Vestry and the People of St. Thomas the Apostle thank Fr. Stuart for his service and wish him blessings and success in his new ministry.
In appreciation for his commitment and service, the Executive Committee has authorized the creation of a 'purse' for Fr. Stuart. Total funds contributed to the 'purse' will be presented to Fr. Stuart January 10, 1010 with a list of contributors (though not specific donation amounts). Should you wish to contribute please note "Fr Stuart Purse" on the memo section of your cheque (or on the outside of an envelope if submitting cash) and submit it to the office or in the collection plate. | |
| Communion & H1N1 |
 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:
- Wash hands early and often, and use appropriate sanitizers. Please use the dispensers that are placed around the Church grounds.
- 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.
- Get your information from trustworthy sources: the CDC, local public health, or your health care provider.
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| The Reason for the Season |
St. Thomas' Stewardship of Community Outreach is launching a food drive to benefit SOVA food pantries this holiday season. The goal this year is to fill the SOVA food bin twice during the holidays, once before Thanksgiving and once before Christmas. Thanks to you we filled the bin before Thanksgiving. Please help us meet the goal for Christmas. The food bin is located in the foyer near the church office during the week and will be in the recreation hall during coffee hour on Sundays throughout the holidays. The following items are needed:
Canned and packaged foods
- 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
SOVA is a nonsectarian program of Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles, dedicated to alleviating hunger and poverty in the community through food distribution and offering a wide range of supportive services.
Three SOVA food pantries provide free groceries and supportive resources to 7,000 individuals each month. SOVA participants represent our community's diverse cultures, faiths and ethnicities. Volunteers respond to each person's needs, respecting their dignity, individuality and privacy. With extraordinary community support and a service approach that has been described as "the model for food assistance in the future," SOVA has been providing outstanding community service for 25 years.
SOVA also needs volunteers and assistance in linking with manufacturers and distributors as sources of large quantity donations. Also if you or someone you know are in need, please contact SOVA at 818-988-7682 or visit their website at www.http://www.jfsla.org/sova/ for eligibility requirements, locations and times of pantry operation. |
| Last Opportunity to sponsor Christmas Flowers |
If you would like to contribute toward the cost of Christmas flowers and decorations, please fill out the form in the bifold and return it with your donation to the Parish Office no later than Sunday, 20 December. The suggested minimum donation is $25. Contributions are also accepted via Paypal. (Send funds to admin@saintthomashollywood.org and note that the contribution is for flowers.)
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| Dessert and Savory Reception |
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Join us for a Dessert and Savory Reception after Christmas Eve Mass. The Hospitality Committee would like to invite any Parishioner who would be interested making or purchasing a Savory or Dessert Treat for this event to sign up on the bulletin board in the large parish hall or contact John Boughner 310-606-1503 / johnmboughner@aol.com. |
| Vestry Service Opportunity |
The Annual Parish Meeting will take place in the Parish Hall on Sunday, 17 January 2010, following the High Mass. At the meeting the Congregation will elect four new Vestry persons to serve a three year term. Serving on the Vestry is a further step in your spiritual life, is a further manifestation of Stewardship of our faith and is a tremendous responsibility and privilege.
Existing Vestry persons welcome the opportunity to speak with individuals about the experience of their service. The specifics of vestry service for the class of 2010 are provided in an in-person discussion with Fr. Davies prior to the Annual Meeting.
We invite individuals considering this spiritual journey to contact Fr. Davies as soon as possible.
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| Treasurer's Report as of November 30, 2009 |
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Total Bounty YTD: 384,545.50
Ministries Funded YTD: 383,459.46
BALANCE AS OF 11/30: $1,086.04 |
| Service Schedule |
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 through Friday
7:30 AM - Morning Prayer
6:30 PM - Evening Prayer
7:00 PM - Low Mass
Tuesday
6:00 PM - Reconciliations / Confessions
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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Advent IV |
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Celebrant (8am)
The Rev. Ian Elliott Davies
Celebrant (10.30a):
Homily (8am & 10.30a):
The Rev. Ian Elliott Davies
Deacon (10:30a):
The Rev. Walter S. Johnson
Organist-in-Residence (10:30a):
John West
PRELUDE
Advent Prelude Charles Callahan
Tim Johnson, flute
POSTLUDE
Toccata On Veni Emmanuel Adolphus
Micah 5.2-5a
Canticle: Magnificat or Psalm 80.1-8
Hebrews 10.5-10
Luke 1.39-45[46-55] |
| Clergy |
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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 |
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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 |
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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.] |
| Lessons & Carols |
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The annual Lessons & Carols service will take place this Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 4:30pm. The service will be sung by the choir and all of the traditional lessons will be read. Please join us for this most wonderful service that will feature Organist in Residence John West.
PRELUDE
Greensleves arr. Ralph Vaughn Williams
POSTLUDE
Finale on a Noel
Harry Banks (FRENCH CAROL) |
| Angel Tree - Thank you |
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Thank you to the Parish who generously supported this year's Angel Tree. Special thanks to the Parishioners who took all of the unclaimed Angels last week to make sure that everybody would have a gift this year. In 2009 we assisted 64 families and 129 children. We had 20-30 children last year from this group.
Thank you for your generosity! |
| Homeless Breakfast |
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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. |
| Decorating |
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Volunteers are invited to assist the Altar Guild in cleaning the church interior on Saturday, December 19th, beginning after mass at approximately 10:30a.m.
Volunteers are also invited to come decorate the Church on Wednesday, December 23rd beginning at 9a.m. Lunch will be provided!
If you would like to participate, please contact the Sacristan, John Thornbury at john_thornbury@yahoo.com or 310.869.1194. |
| St Martin's Guild Outing
Sat. Dec. 19 |
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The St. Martin's Guild invites Parishioners to an outing to the Museum of the American West (formerly the Autry Museum) on Saturday, 19 December.
The Guild will enjoy two exhibits: Charting the Canyon and Dreamers in Dream City. Parishioners should arrive in the Parish Car Park by 12 noon and bring a brown-bag lunch; the group will return around 3:30pm. Tickets can be purchased at the door; however, the Guild currently has 8 free tickets. Please contact Marty Wolf for more information (310) 560-2426. |
| Boxing Day Open House |
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On Boxing Day, Saturday 26th December, also being the Feast of St Stephen, Proto-Martyr of the Church, we will be hosting a Boxing Day Open House party at the Rectory, 2pm- 5pm. All are welcome- we will be serving light refreshments & food- and we would love to see as many friends & parishioners as possible- the Latin Vigil Mass follows at 5pm.
Please RSVP so we can plan. |
| New Year's Eve Pot Luck |
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There will be a potluck after the New Years Eve Mass on December 31, 2009.
Please join us and ring in the New Year at Saint Thomas with good food and fellowship in a non alcoholic atmosphere.
Please Sign up in the large parish hall. |
| Mother Knows Best |
Interesting facts about
St. Thomas the Apostle  |
In 1937 St. Thomas had a total of 1400 parishioners. |
| ePrayer List |
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Prayer is at the center of our worship and binds us together as a community of faith. This week we commenced our electronic prayer chain email. A list of persons on the prayer list is sent weekly.
The prayer chain email is an opt-in list only - it will not be sent unless you sign up for it. If you'd like to be on this distribution list, please update your profile (please use link at the bottom of the email, customized with your email)or contact the office. |
| Miss a week? |
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If you missed an eNews, they are now conveniently archived! Click here! |
| 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.") |
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| Shopping
Online =
Donation for St. Thomas! |
Do you shop online? If you shop at Amazon.com, BestBuy.com, eBay.com...or any of thousands of companies - they will contribute up to 30% of your purchase to St. Thomas the Apostle at no additional cost to you.
It's easy - goto GoodShop.com ( www.goodshop.com) and in the box "Who Do You Support" put in "St. Thomas the Apostle." Click on the St. Thomas located in Hollywood, CA. Then click on your store - and follow the link "Goodshop this Store." For St. Thomas to receive donations, you must click through to the store from this site.  |
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From October 2008 to September 2009 St. Thomas earned $462.15 in donations from GoodShop thanks to your shopping via GoodShop. During this Holiday Season click on GoodShop first! | |
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