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Weekly E-Newsletter
Week Ending
February 05, 2010
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.
In This Issue
Rector's Corner
Sexagesima Sunday
Social Justic Shabbat
A Litany for Haiti
Heart Health & Medication Sunday (02/07/10)
Pastoral Counseling Available
Gift of Giving 2/13/10
Mother Knows Best
MardiGras in the Cathedral
Transforming Sunday School
ePrayer List
eNews Archive
Rector's CornerFr Davies in Hat

We can hardly believe it... on Sunday it will be Sexagesima, the following Sunday is Quinquagesima (also St Valentine's Day!) and then we will be in Lent!

I have been devising a proposed Lent Study Course for 2010 "The Eucharistic Gospel: Through Lent With St John" which will show us art work inspired, through the ages, by the Fourth Gospel. The course will bring together two of my favourite themes- the literature and Gospel of the Johannine Community and superb artwork- I hope the course will inspire our devotions and our hearts as we 'travel' at a very different pace through Lent this year. Patience, waiting and 'pacing' our hearts is not popular today. Waiting has become almost uncivilized in our era of 'hyper speed.' How many times have you stood in line or waited at the intersection and almost burst a blood vessel fuming over some minor inconvenience? God's time and pace is not usually our time nor our pace- I pray we may be granted the spiritual discipline of patience and wonder to live in this 'moment' given to us by God's grace. Festina Lente!

I send my love & prayers, always,

 
IED Signature
 
The Rev'd Fr I.E. Davies, B.D. (Wales & Cantab) M.R.I.Ph.
Sexagesima Sunday
Sexagesima, or, in full, Sexagesima Sunday, is the name for the second Sunday before Ash Wednesday in the Gregorian Rite liturgical calendar of the Roman Catholic Church, and also in that of some Protestant denominations, particularly those with Anglican and Lutheran origins.

The name "Sexagesima" is derived from the Latin sexagesimus, meaning "sixtieth," and appears to be a back-formation of Quinquagesima, the term formerly used to denote the last Sunday before Lent (the latter name alluding to the fact that there are fifty days between that Sunday and Easter, if one counts both days themselves in the total).

Through the same process, the Sunday before Sexagesima Sunday was formerly known as Septuagesima Sunday, and marked the start of the Pre-Lenten Season which eventually became the time for carnival celebrations throughout Europe, this custom being later exported to places settled and/or colonized by Europeans.

The reforms of the Second Vatican Council eliminated Sexagesima and the other pre-Lent Sundays in the new Roman Catholic liturgical calendar. These reforms went into effect in 1970. Six years later the churches of the Anglican Communion likewise abolished Sexagesima and the other pre-Lent Sundays. Sexagesima and the other pre-Lent Sundays remain in celebrations of the extraordinary form of the Roman rite according to the 1962 Roman Missal (the Gregorian Rite).

Adapted from www.wikipedia.org

Social Justice Shabbat
Brown Bag Dinner
A Litany for Haiti
The world's gaze is on Haiti as its people continue to work towards recovery from the Jan. 12 earthquake that crippled much of the nation's infrastructure and killed and injured tens of thousands of its people. The Episcopal Church, through the Diocese of Haiti and Episcopal Relief & Development, is committed to immediate relief and long-term reconstruction, and asks the prayers and support of all Episcopalians for its mission there.

God of infinite mercy, who calls forth order out of chaos, peace out of turmoil, calm out of fear, we come before you aching and tender, crying out for Haiti and her people, saying, We lift our prayers to you, O God:
You are the hope of all Creation.

We pray for Haiti, land of mountains and sea, where the very earth has shifted. May her tremors cease. May her tumult end. We pray for her people, shattered yet courageous, frightened yet bold, destitute and longing for relief. May their voice be heard. May their need be met. We lift our prayers to you, O God.
You are the hope of all Creation.

We pray for the injured, broken and lost: thirsting for clean water, hungry for food, stripped of shelter, desperate for medical care; they look to the world for hope. May their dry mouths find drink, their empty bellies find food, their families find cover, and their bodies find health. We lift our prayers to you, O God.
You are the hope of all Creation.

We pray for rescuers, those who do the work of recovery, laboring in the midst of agony; for healers, doctors, nurses, and all who tend those wounded in body, mind, or spirit. May their hands be steady. may their resolve be sure. May their work be filled with grace. We lift our prayers to you, O God.
You are the hope of all Creation.

We pray for the dying and those who have died, whose frail bodies now line the city streets. May mercy be abundant. May death have dignity. May they never be forgotten.  We lift our prayers to you, O God.
You are the hope of all Creation.

We pray for the global community, grieving and responding in love. May our action be swift.  May our purpose be certain.  May our devotion endure. We lift our prayers to you, O God.
You are the hope of all Creation.

We pray for the days to come, the future, and the promise of what lies ahead. May new roads be paved; new industry be born; new fortunes rise; and new friendships sustained. We lift our prayers to you, O God.
You are the hope of all Creation.

Gifts earmarked for Episcopal Relief & Development (Haiti relief) may be sent payable to the Treasurer of the Diocese, P. O. Box 512164, Los Angeles, CA 90051, or made directly online through Episcopal Relief & Development's secure website.
 
We join our Presiding Bishop, the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, in calling the Episcopal Church to prayer and action, and we appreciate her perspective gained from her own recent pastoral visit to the Diocese of Haiti. Her comments are available via online video here.
 
Contributions can also be made to the American Red Cross.
Heart Health & Medication Sunday
heart
St. Thomas's Parish Nurse program would like to announce that Feb 7, 2010 is Heart Health and Medication Review Sunday. Blood pressure screening with information on cardiovascular health will be available in the small parish hall after both morning Mass Services. Any parishioners that would like may bring all their medications bottles for review if they have any questions or concerns about them.
 
Communion & H1N1
 
H1N1In 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.
For more information:  www.flu.gov
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
2 Before Lent
Patronal Saint
Celebrant (8am & 10:30am)
The Rev. Ian Elliott Davies 
 
Homily (8am & 10.30a)
The Rev. Ian Elliott Davies
 
Deacon
(10:30a):
The Rev. Walter Johnson
 
Organist-in-Residence: 
John West
 
PRELUDE
 
Suite For  Musical Clock
George Frederich Handel
1.Prelude
2. Air
3. A Voluntary on a Flight of Angels
4. Sonata for bells
5. Minuet
6. Gigue
 
The Musical Clock was built by Charles Clay in the early reign of George I of England and became the sensation of London. Its musical sound was created by bells and a miniature automatic pipe organ. Handel wrote at least 2 sets of these Suites for the instrument

 

POSTLUDE
 
Trio No. 1.
Opus 100
Gustav Merkel
 



READINGS

Genesis 2.4b-9, 15-end
Psalm 65
Revelation 4
Luke 8.22-25
Clergy
Fr Davies
The Rev. Ian Elliott Davies
Rector
 
Fr Cooper
The Rev. Michael Cooper
Assistant Priest 
 
Deacon Johnson 
 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
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.
Gift of Giving

Calling St. Thomas Parents Who Want to Instill the Gift of Giving: Join us for fun, fellowship and community service on February 13th at 7 am in the parish hall to help serve the homeless at the Breakfast Club.  All ages welcome.  Learning to give to those less fortunate can never begin too early!
Mother Knows Best
Interesting facts about
St. Thomas the Apostle, The Episcopal Church and The Anglican Community
 
Doubt
On February 5 in 1736, John and Charles Wesley, Anglicans who helped pioneered the Methodist movement, arrived in America at Savannah, Georgia.
MardiGras in the Cathedral
mardigras
The Program Group on Gay & Lesbian Ministry invites you to MardiGras in the Cathedral. 
Food!  Fun!  Friends! 
Sunday, February 14, 2010
7pm to 9pm

$25.00 at the door
Music by dj Justin Palmer
hors d'oeuvres, open bar. 

St. John's Cathedral
514 West Adams Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA

RSVP to the Rev. Vicki Mouradian
Transforming Sunday School Room

Come One, Come All for Fun and Frolic as We Transform the Sunday School Room on Saturday, February 6
at 9am. 


Pizza will follow as a reward!

Contact Len Leatherwood
ePrayer List
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?
If you missed an eNews, they are now conveniently archived! Click here!
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.")
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