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. |
Rector's Corner |
Beloved Brothers and Sisters in
Christ,
As we approach Holy Week
Rabbi Rosove from Temple Israel of Hollywood
and I had lunch last week and he and I got to talking about the Paschal elements
in our respective traditions.... ours, which is profoundly rooted in the Exodus
tradition and all the elements of "the Lamb of God who takest away the sin of
the world"- and how our Christian liturgies on Palm Sunday and throughout Holy
Week try to 'make present' the 'passing over' into the new life of grace and
hope. But we can only understand the contours of that grace, hope, celebration
and rejoicing if we have also kept in our hearts some of the experiences of
sadness or bereavement and that 'letting go' of the old... which is what we are
meant to have been doing throughout our lenten journey. At the Exodus of the
Hebrews from Egypt into the wilderness and then on into the Promised Land- the
Land Flowing with Milk and Honey there is the remembrance that the 'old life'
(Pharaoh, his chariots and warriors symbolizing perhaps those things that would
prevent us from entering into new life or seeing grace at work) and as we
approach that boundary, the liminal, the margins at the edge of the Red Sea- it
looks as if we've reached the end of the line, perhaps the old enemy will
overtake us and triumph- perhaps we cannot move on any further, we are so stuck
and 'mired' in destructive desires, behaviours- and so Moses prays for God's
help and the Red Sea divides. There is an ancient rabbinic tradition that says
that God's power is SO dynamic that it isn't just the Red Sea that divides at
that moment but it is EVERY river, every stream, every expanse of water, every
bowl and jug of water throughout ALL the Universe that divides- a powerful sign
to us that God's grace is not limited. Many of us need to ponder and 'sit with'
those elements for a good, long while... sensing some of the mystical elements
in our tradition.
I send my love & prayers for a blessed
Holy Week & Triduum,
The Rev'd Fr I.E. Davies, B.D. (Wales & Cantab) M.R.I.Ph.
| |
The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday
|
Palm Sunday is the feast that commemorates an event mentioned by all four Canonical Gospels Mark 11:1-11, Matthew 21:1-11, Luke 19:28-44, and John 12:12-19: the triumphant
entry of Jesus
into Jerusalem in the days before his Passion. It is also called Passion
Sunday or Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion.
Palm Sunday is marked by the distribution
of palm leaves (often tied into crosses) to the assembled worshipers. Palm fronds are blessed with an aspergilium outside the church building. A procession
also takes place. It includes the normal liturgical procession of
clergy and acolytes, the parish choir and the entire congregation. The palms are saved in many churches to be burned the following year
as the source of ashes used in Ash
Wednesday services. The Roman Catholic Church considers the palms
to be sacramentals. The vestments for the day are
deep scarlet red, the color of blood, indicating the supreme redemptive
sacrifice Christ was entering the city who welcomed him to fulfill- his
Passion and Resurrection in Jerusalem.
In the Episcopal and many other Anglican churches and
in Lutheran churches as well, the day is nowadays officially called The
Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday; however, in practice it is
usually termed "Palm Sunday" as in the historic Book of Common Prayer and in earlier Lutheran
liturgies and calendars, by way of avoiding undue confusing with the
penultimate Sunday of Lent in the traditional calendar, which was
"Passion Sunday."
Adapted from www.wikipedia.org
|
Easter Flowers
|
If you would like to contribute toward the cost of Easter flowers and decorations, please fill out the yellow form provided with the Order of Service and return it with your donation to the offering plate or the Parish Office no later than Palm Sunday, 28 March, 2010. The suggested minimum donation is $25. You may also contribute via PayPal. Please provide your "In Memory Of" or "Thanksgiving for" in the Special Instructions Section of your PayPal payment.
|
Easter Vigil Desert Reception
|
Easter Vigil Desert Reception will be held after the great vigil Saturday
evening, April 2.
Please stop by the kitchen before the service to drop off your favorite
decadent goody.
|
Gourmet Easter Breakfast
|
Join us for our annual gourmet Easter morning Breakfast created by our own John
Boughner.
Breakfast is served between the two morning Masses. It's a wonderful way to mingle with your fellow parishoners and celebrate
the Risen Lord!
Just $10 - tickets are available from John starting Sunday, March 14 at both Coffee Hours.
|
Easter Egg Hunt
|
On Easter Sunday (April 4, 2010) at approx. 9:30am there will be an Easter Egg Hunt! Please meet in the courtyard. (Please bring your own basket.)
|
Census 2010: It's in Our Hands
|
In mid March, households across the country received Census forms
by mail. This decade's Census is a vital opportunity for our communities to show
our diversity and our strength. It's time to stand up and be counted!
In
particular, 2010 will be the first time that the Census reports numbers on
same-sex spouses, in all fifty states. In the previous census, if a same-sex
couple indicated that they were married, they were reclassified as "unmarried
partners" in official tabulations. This year, people will be counted exactly how
they identify their relationship. And because the Census relies on
self-identification, cohabitating same-sex couples who consider themselves
married can identify as such on the form, regardless of whether or not they live
in a state that legally recognizes their relationship.
For those members
of our communities who don't live with a same-sex partner, the 2010 Census does
not ask specific questions about sexual orientation or gender identity. On the
question asking about a person's sex, transgender respondents should select the
gender with which they identify.
Here
are five very important things everyone should know about the
Census:
1. It's Safe. All Census forms and
personally-identifiable information are kept completely confidential for 72
years. They don't get shared with any other government agencies (including the
military, the IRS, or immigration), and they're not subpoenable under the
Patriot Act. 2010 Census information will be made public-for genealogical
purposes-on April 1st, 2082.
2. It's Easy. The 2010 Census is
"short-form" only, and should take 10 minutes or less to complete.
3.
It's Important. Census numbers are used to determine political representation in
Congress and state legislatures, and are also used to allocate and distribute
more than $400 billion in federal funds to state, county, and local
governments.
4. Everyone Counts. The Census is a count of everyone who is
residing in the United
States on April 1st, 2010, regardless of
citizenship or legal status. It is vital that our communities participate, and
help ensure a complete count of all people this year.
5. The Census is
hiring! We are currently hiring hundreds of thousands of door-to-door
census-takers in communities all across the country. These temporary jobs are
part-time or full-time with flexible hours, and pay well. If you are interested
in applying for a Census job, please call our toll-free jobs line at
(866)-861-2010, or visit www.2010censusjobs.gov
|
Holy Week & Easter Services
|
Palm Sunday, 28 March 7:30 AM - Morning Prayer 8:00 AM - Low Mass
9:45 AM - Holy Rosary 10:30AM - High Mass with Choir - Childcare Available 4:30 PM - Evening Prayer Monday in Holy Week, 29 March 7:30
AM - Morning Prayer 6:00 PM - Confessions 6:30 PM - Evening Prayer 7:30 PM - Low Mass 7:45 PM - Soup Supper Tuesday in Holy Week, 30 March 7:30
AM - Morning Prayer 6:00 PM - Confessions
6:30 PM - Evening Prayer 7:30 PM - Low Mass 7:45 PM - Soup
Supper
Wednesday in Holy Week, 31 March 7:30
AM - Morning Prayer 6:00 PM - Confessions
6:30 PM - Evening Prayer 7:30 PM - Low Mass 7:45 PM - Soup
Supper
Maundy Thursday, 1 April 7:30
AM - Morning Prayer 6:30 PM - Evening Prayer 7:30 PM - Institution of the Lord's Supper & Procession to the Altar of Repose (w/ Choir) 9:00 PM - All-Night Vigil of Prayer at the Altar of Repose
Good Friday, 2 April 7:00
AM - Meditations on the Holy Rosary 12:00PM - Stations of the Cross 7:30 PM -
Mass of the Pre-Sanctified & Venetration Holy Saturday, 3 April 7:30
PM - The Great Vigil of Easter with Choir Easter Sunday, 4 April 7:30
AM - Morning Prayer 8:00 AM - Choral High Mass of the Most Holy Feast 9:45 AM - Holy Rosary 10:30AM - Choral High Mass of the Most Holy Feast - Childcare Available 4:30 PM - Evening
Prayer
|
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 |
|
|
Palm Sunday Holy Week Begins
|
|
CELEBRANT (8am & 10:30am):Fr. Ian Elliott Davies HOMILY (8am & 10:30am):Fr. Ian Elliott Davies DEACON (10:30am):The Rev. Mr. Walter S. Johnson Organist-in-Residence (10:30am):John West PRELUDE
'Largo' from
Xerxes George Frederich Handel
POSTLUDE
Grand Choeur Theodore Dubois READINGS:
Luke
19.28-40
Psalm 118.1-2, 19-end |
Clergy |
|
The Rev. Ian Elliott Davies
Rector
The Rev. Michael Cooper
Assistant Priest
The Rev. Mr. Walter S. 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. |
Passover |
| Passover begins at sundown March 29th and continues through April 6. Passover is a Jewish and Samaritan
holy day and festival commemorating the Hebrews' escape from
enslavement in Egypt. We wish our Jewish brothers and
sister, especially at Temple Israel of Hollywood a most blessed observance of
this sacred holiday.
|
Wedding Saturday, March 27, 2010
|
|
Josie Richstad invites the St. Thomas community to witness her marriage with
Chris Sanchez at 5pm.
|
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. |
Socks Needed
|
|
Our clients at St. Thomas the Apostle Breakfast Club, are in need of
Socks. There will be a basket in the Parish Hall to place your
donations.
(The sock distribution will be done in addition to podiatry medical care provided by QueensCare and the St. Thomas Health Cabinet.) Thanks, and may
God continue to bless you.
The Rev. Mr. Walter S. Johnson, Deacon
|
Mother Knows Best |
Interesting facts about
St. Thomas the Apostle, The Episcopal Church and The Anglican Community |
On March 28 in 1661 the Scottish Parliament passed the Rescissory Act,
which repealed all church-state legislation created since 1633. The act
restored the Anglican episcopacy to Scotland.
|
Parish Directory
|
|
The Parish Directory is available for download. The Directory includes Parishioners contact information who authorized inclusion in the Directory on their 2010 Pledge Card. Click here.
|
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" link under "The Parish" and follow the link to "Minutes.") |
|
|