Greetings!
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
From the Rector
Fr. Ian Elliott Davies |
Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,
It is always a great pleasure to send our good wishes to all our Parish Family and friends far and wide. We also remember that there are a number of Parishioners for whom our prayers and mediations are especially asked as they experience illness, bereavement or who are 'in any other necessity' -as we say in the Prayers of the People at Mass. The Weekly Intercessions and Prayer lists that are sent around many of you in electronic form(see ePrayer list) are a very important ministry in connecting our many Parishioners with matters for intercessory prayer and concern and I encourage you to take the opportunity to use those or any of the devotions that you may find on our Parish's website.
Through prayer we are 'connected' to God, to God's Holy Saints and to the Church Universal, through all ages and in all places. I hope that this may encourage and nourish you in your continued pilgrimage in faith and strengthen the bonds between us in this Parish. I leave you with this prayer by St Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury in the twelfth century.
Lord Jesu Christ; Let me seek thee by desiring thee, and let me desire thee by seeking thee; let me find thee by loving thee, and love thee in finding thee.
I confess, Lord, with thanksgiving, that thou hast made me in thine image,
so that I can remember thee, think of thee, and love thee.
But that image is so worn and blotted out by faults, and darkened by the smoke of sin, that it cannot do that for which it was made, unless thou renew and refashion it.
Lord, I am not trying to make my way to thy height, for my understanding is in no way equal to that, but I do desire to understand a little of thy truth which my heart already believes and loves.
I do not seek to understand so that I can believe, but I believe so that I may understand; and what is more, I believe that unless I do believe, I shall not understand, For thy tender mercies' sake, Amen.
I send my love & prayers, 
Fr Ian Elliott Davies |
|
Ascention Day
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Ascension of Christ by Garofalo 1520 |
The Ascension is one of the great feasts in the Christian liturgical calendar, and commemorates the bodily Ascension of Jesus into heaven. Ascension Day is officially celebrated on a Thursday, the fortieth day from Easter day.
The most influential account of the Ascension is in Acts of the Apostles[1:1-11] where Jesus is taken up bodily into heaven forty days after his resurrection as witnessed by his apostles, after giving the Great Commission with a prophecy to return.
The imagery of Jesus' Ascension is related to the broader theme of his exaltation and heavenly welcome, derived from the Hebrew Bible. The image of Jesus rising bodily into the heavens reflects the ancient view that heaven was above the earth. Belief in the Ascension of Jesus is found in the Nicene Creed, and is affirmed by Christian liturgy and, in the West, by the Apostles' Creed. The Ascension implies Jesus' humanity being taken into heaven. Ascension Day, celebrated 40 days after Easter, is one of chief feasts of the Christian year. The feast dates back at least to the later 300s, as is widely attested.
Please join us for our regular Mass on Thursday, May 13, 2010, Ascention Day at 7:00pm.
|
|
Mother's Day
Sunday, May 7, 2010
Sunday is Mother's Day! Bring your Mother to the 8:00am or 10:30am Mass and she will receive a special gift!
Mother's Day emerged from a custom of mother worship in ancient Greece, which kept a festival to Cybele, a great mother of Greek gods. This festival was held around the Vernal Equinox around Asia Minor and eventually in Rome itself from the Ides of March (15 March) to 18 March.
The ancient Romans also had another holiday, Matronalia, that was dedicated to Juno, though mothers were usually given gifts on this day.
In Europe there were several long standing traditions where a specific Sunday was set aside to honor motherhood and mothers such as Mothering Sunday. Mothering Sunday celebrations are part of the liturgical calendar in several Christian denominations, including Anglicans, and in the Catholic calendar is marked as Laetare Sunday, the fourth Sunday in Lent to honour the Virgin Mary and your "mother" church (the main church of the area). Historians think that children who served in houses were given a day off on that date so they could visit their families. The children would pick wild flowers along the way to place them on the church or to give them to their mothers.
International Women's Day was celebrated for the first time in 28 February 1909, in the US,[3] by which time Anna Jarvis had already begun her national campaign in the US. It is now celebrated in many countries on March 8.
The "Mother's Day Proclamation" by Julia Ward Howe was one of the early calls to celebrate Mother's Day in the United States. Written in 1870, Howe's Mother's Day Proclamation was a pacifist reaction to the carnage of the American Civil War and the Franco-Prussian War. The Proclamation was tied to Howe's feminist belief that women had a responsibility to shape their societies at the political level.
|
|
Online Bible study
Read, mark, learn and inwardly digest from the Web
Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
-Collect for Proper 28, The Book of Common Prayer
The study of Scripture is basic to the Christian life. Now the Episcopal Church has harnessed the Internet to allow Episcopalians to participate in Bible study by posting comments and thoughts on each week's Sunday readings from the Revised Common Lectionary. The complete weekly readings are posted along with study questions and reader comments here.
"The simple act of sharing our understanding of a Biblical passage with others is powerful. This exchange of ideas and observations has become, for me, personally, a remarkably helpful catalyst in growing my faith," said Mark Harbour, a volunteer and regular contributor from the Diocese of Los Angeles.
According to its mission statement, the online weekly Bible study intends "to grow an active, web-based community of laity and clergy to share insights and perspectives from the Episcopal Church's Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) Sunday readings."
Its vision is "to develop a deeper understanding of the Bible and to foster spiritual growth by applying the understanding gained from lectionary readings into the context of daily life."
The online Bible study also offers a downloadable list of weekly readings for the current lectionary year, which facilitates not only online participants but congregational Bible study groups as well.
Links with Facebook, Twitter, and other websites have driven traffic to the Bible study pages, helping the website grow into a resource useful not only to Episcopalians, but to all who seek to connect to an online faith community for study and reflection on Scripture. Some leave comments, some simply read what others have written, and some raise questions.
As Harbour explains, "The process of becoming a better Christian is not finding the answers to questions as much as getting better at asking them."
A special feature of the online Bible study is the weekly focus verse, designed for readers who want to participate but don't have time to review all the lectionary readings each week. Highlighting a single verse or a few short verses from each week's gospel selection allows even those with busy schedules to ponder a single sentence or two.
From the EpisopalLife Weekly Bulliten Insert
|
|
Ministry Fair
May 16 after Mass
The annual St. Thomas Ministry Fair will be held on Sunday, May 16 after Mass. Informational tables will be throughout the Parish Hall with brochures and representatives from each group. This will be an excellent opportunity to thank all of those who contribute so much to St. Thomas as well as and opportunity for Pairishioners to contirbut time and talents.
Acolytes
Altar Guild
Breakfast Club
Buildings & Grounds
Choir
Community Outreach
Faith & Knowledge (Sunday School & Adult Education)
Guardian Society (Planned Giving)
Hospitality
Lectors
Newcomers Committee
St. Agnes Guild (Gardening)
St. Martins Guild (Social Group)
USC / AIDS Lunch
Ushers/Greeters
Our Lady of Walsingham |
|
Ushers & Greeters
Ministry of welcome
The volunteers who make up the Usher & Greeter corps make all welcome at St. Thomas. They greet all worshippers before Mass distributing bulletins and seating worshippers. The ministry includes taking up the collection from the congregation, leading the gift bearers of the bread and wine to the altar during Sunday Masses, and guiding worshippers to the altar for Communion. It also includes giving out coffee mugs after the Peace and offering newcomers a chance to sign up to receive information about St. Thomas. This is a wonderful ministry for those who want to contribute to St. Thomas, meet new people with a minimum time commitment, usually once a month. Please contact Rector's Warden Les Rumsey or visit our booth at Ministry Fair! |
|
| Easter 6
Celebrant 8:00am & 10:30am
Fr. Ian Elliott Davies
Homily 8:00am & 10:30am
Fr. Ian Elliott Davies
Deacon 10:30am
The Rev. Walter S. Johnson
Organist-in-Residence 10:30am
John West
Prelude:
Pastorale - from Sonata IV
Pietro Yon
Postlude: Final - from Symphonie II Charles Marie Widor
Readings: Acts 16.9-15
Psalm 67
Revelation 21.10, 22-22.5
John 14.23-29 or John 5.1-9
|
Evensong May 16
The St. Thomas Choir will be singing the Evenson on Sunday, May 16, 2010 at 4:30pm. Please join us! |
Link from Sermon
Please follow this link to the full article from The New Yorker that Fr. Davies referenced in his Sermon from Easter 5. The Sermon archive is at the St. Thomas Website. |
Consecration May 15
On May 15, 2010 at 1:30pm Presiding Bishop The Most Reverend Katharine Jefferts Schori will consecrate The Reverend Canon Diane Jardine Bruce and The Reverend Canon Mary Douglas Glasspool at the Long Beach Arena. All are welcome! For invitation, travel choices and directions, please click here or find the link on the News page of the website. Information is also available on the LA Diocese website. |
Concert May 30, 5pm
There will be a benefit concert for our two Seminarians, Ms. Shireen Baker and Mr. Steve De Muth, on Sunday, May 30th at five in the evening. The concert will be a moveable feast of music and song beginning in the Church and moving into the Parish Hall for fellowship and refreshments and entertainment. Look forward to seeing you there! |
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. On the 4th Saturday of the month LA Schola sings the service.
|
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.
|
Mother Knows Best
Elizabeth I |
On May 8 in 1559, The Act of Uniformity receives Queen Elizabeth I's royal assent, reinstating the forms of worship Henry VIII had ordered and mandating the use of the Book of Common Prayer (1552). |
|
Movie Night May 14
Join us for Movie Night, Friday, May 14 following the 7pm Mass.
The story follows a robot named WALL-E, who is designed to clean up a waste-covered Earth far in the future. He eventually falls in love with another robot named EVE, and follows her into outer space on an adventure that changes the destiny of both his kind and humanity.
A potluck supper is also served by the St. Martin's Guild.
Discussion follows.
Join us for Film, Food & Fellowship! |
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. |
|
