St Thomas the Apostle
eNews
July 30, 2010
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 Father Rector
Fr. Ian Elliott Davies
Fr. Ian Elliott Davies
 
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
 
Just before going away on vacation this year the appointed Sunday Gospel reading from St Luke was the familiar passage about Ss Mary and Martha. What marvelous lessons we can learn from them- if we are prepared to be patient, attentive and committed to hearing Christ. Over the last few weeks we have been thinking about finding God (or rather, being found by God!) in the places where grace and love meet.
In the sacramental action of the Mass we find a consistent celebration of God loving the ordinary into the unique, the graceful and holy - loving the bread and the wine into the body and blood of Christ Our Saviour and Redeemer; loving you and me and the fractured, broken world in which we live into that kingdom called heaven. If we will open our eyes and ears this realm and divine kingdom breaks through the ordinary and we behold anew the glory of recreation. As you and I pray, meditate and live together then in worship, we further the kingdom. So it is that in the Mass, here breaks through and we are given a glimpse of the majestic love of God. The bread and the wine usher in the Lord of Lords and, at the King's banquet, the food of Angels becomes the food of humanity. Heaven breaks its heart for our fallen race: then grace and love, like bright beams of light, shine on those gathered around the earthly altar.

Episcopalians and Anglicans cherish buildings and places-this place is holy because God (who is holy) has met us here and returned our life to us, transfigured and renewed. Philip Larkin will have the last word!
 
 
.... A serious house on serious earth it is,

In whose blent air all our compulsions meet,

Are recognised, and robed as destinies.

And that much never can be obsolete,

Since someone will forever be surprising

A hunger in himself to be more serious,

And gravitating with it to this ground,

Which, he once heard, was proper to grow wise in,

If only that so many dead lie round.
 
Philip Larkin, "Church Going."
 
With my love & prayers,
Fr Davies Signature
 Fr Ian Elliott Davies
Thanks to Mother Guibord
Sunday's visit
 
Mother Gwynne Guibord and her partner Dr Lo Sprague returned to St. Thomas last Sunday after too long an absence. 
 
We look forward to welcoming Mother Guibord & Lo back soon!!!
St. Oswald
Feast Day celebrated August 5
 
St. OswaldOswald (c 604 - August 5 642) was King of Northumbria from 634 until his death, and is now venerated as a Christian saint. He was the son of �thelfrith of Bernicia and came to rule after spending a period in exile; after defeating the British ruler Cadwallon ap Cadfan, Oswald brought the two Northumbrian kingdoms of Bernicia and Deira once again under a single ruler, and promoted the spread of Christianity in Northumbria. He was given a strongly positive assessment by the historian Bede, writing a little less than a century after Oswald's death, who regarded Oswald as a saintly king; it is also Bede who is the main source for present-day historical knowledge of Oswald. After eight years of rule, in which he was the most powerful ruler in Britain, Oswald was killed in the Battle of Maserfield.
 

Oswald did the most to spread the religion in Northumbria. Shortly after becoming king, he asked the Irish of D�l Riata to send a bishop to facilitate the conversion of his people, and they sent Aidan for this purpose; initially, the Irish sent an "austere" bishop who was unsuccessful in his mission, and Aidan, who proposed a gentler approach, was subsequently sent instead. Oswald gave the island of Lindisfarne to Aidan as his episcopal see, and Aidan achieved great success in spreading Christianity;

Bede puts a clear emphasis on Oswald being saintly as a king; although he could be interpreted as a martyr for his subsequent death in battle, Bede portrays Oswald as being saintly for his deeds in life and does not focus on his martyrdom as being primary to his sainthood-indeed, it has been noted that Bede never uses the word "martyr" in reference to Oswald. In this respect, as a king regarded as saintly for his life while ruling-in contrast to a king who gives up the kingship in favour of religious life, or who is venerated because of the manner of his death-Bede's portrayal of Oswald stands out as unusual. Bede recounts Oswald's generosity to the poor and to strangers, and tells a story highlighting this characteristic: on one occasion, at Easter, Oswald was sitting at dinner with Aidan, and had "a silver dish full of dainties before him", when a servant, whom Oswald "had appointed to relieve the poor", came in and told Oswald that a crowd of the poor were in the streets begging alms from the king. Oswald, according to Bede, then immediately had his food given to the poor and even had the dish broken up and distributed. Aidan was greatly impressed and seized Oswald's right hand, stating: "May this hand never perish." Accordingly, Bede reports that the hand and arm remained uncorrupted after Oswald's death.
 
Adapted from www.wikipedia.org
Blessed Brat Day
Sunday August 15
 
brat
The Blessed Brat Feast Day Sunday 15 August 2010 Being the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary; immediately following the High Mass in The Parish Hall.
 
We'll be serving up grilled brats with all the fixings; chips and soft drinks included. Donations Graciously Accepted.  Gifts contributed will fund the Lady of our Cell of Walsingham's continued ministry of faith and education.
Nothing Says Assumption like a grilled Blessed Brat!
Separation would 'inhibit dialogue'
Standing Committee decision
 
The Standing Committee of the Anglican Communion has agreed that separating the Episcopal Church from the rest of the Anglican Communion "would inhibit dialogue and ... would therefore be unhelpful," according to a July 26 bulletin from the Anglican Communion Office. The proposal for separation came on July 24 from Dato Stanley Isaacs, a Standing Committee member from the Province of South East Asia, but was not passed "and the group agreed to defer further discussion until progress on Continuing Indaba project had been considered," the release said.

The Continuing Indaba project "brings clergy and laity from dioceses around the Anglican Communion together to have the hard conversations, on a range of issues, that will help them better hear the mind of God," according to the Anglican Communion Office. "The aim is for all involved to be more effective in mission and be more accountable to each other through genuine relationship."

 
The Standing Committee also confirmed that the next meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council, the communion's main policy-making body, will be held at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Auckland, New Zealand. The meeting is due to be held in 2012, but no dates have been announced.
 
The committee, met in closed sessions July 23-27 at the Anglican Communion Office in London, also heard reports from Hellen Wangusa, Anglican Observer at the United Nations; Bishop James Tengatenga from Southern Malawi, chair of the ACC; and the Rev. Canon Kenneth Kearon, secretary general of the Anglican Communion.

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams questioned whether the ACC's committee structure was "appropriate for this new century," according to the release. "He said questions needed asking about whether revised instrument structures were required to better foster the relationship-building parts of the communion's life, 'so when it comes to looking at the complex questions of the communion we have a better foundation upon which to build.'"

The Standing Committee usually meets annually but has met biannually for the past three years. It oversees the day-to-day operations of the Anglican Communion Office and the programs and ministries of the four instruments of communion -- the archbishop of Canterbury, the ACC, the Primates Meeting, and the Lambeth Conference of bishops.

Adapted from Episcopal News Service. 
In This Issue
Rector's Corner
LA Schola
St. Oswald
Blessed Brat Day
Separation of Episcopal Church
Rector...Holiday
Faith in times of Terror
Cholesterol Screening
Flowers, Orchids & Lamps
Mother Knows Best
ePrayer List
Trinity 9
Celebrant
8:00am & 10:30am
Fr. Jason Cox
 
Homily
8:00am & 10:30am
Fr. Jason Cox
 
Deacon
10:30am
The Rev. Walter S. Johnson

Assistant Organist 10:30am
Thompson Howell

Readings:
Hosea 11.1-11
Psalm 107.1-9, 43
Colossians 3.1-11
Luke 12.13-21
Rector Holiday
 
Father Davies will be on a well-deserved holiday until the 11th of August.  During this time the Parish Office will coordinate pastoral care and support. 
 
Fr. Jason Cox will be celebrating and preaching on Sunday 1 and 8 of August.

Fr Cox

 
The Rev. Jason Cox.He first came to Los Angeles in 2002 to participate in the Episcopal Urban Intern Program (EUIP), a program that provides young adults with the opportunity to discern vocation through simple living in Christian community and service to those in need in LA county. After completing the program, Jason attended Virginia Theological Seminary. Upon his return to the Diocese in 2007, Jason was appointed Executive Director of EUIP. Jason has been instrumental in expanding EUIP locally and nationally, trebling the number of interns recruited in Los Angeles, and helping to found the Episcopal Service Corps, which assists and plants similar programs in cities across the country. He was ordained to the priesthood in 2008.
 
The Daily Offices continue at 6:30pm.  Weekday masses will be led by Assistant Priest Fr. William Ledbetter at 7pm in the Lady Chapel.. 

Fr Ledbetter

Faith in times of Terror
 
 
Dr Doyle.
 
What is terrorism? Why does it happen? How is it related to the problem of evil in the world?  What is the proper response of mainstream religious institutions to the insecurity of fundamentalists or identity-driven terrorism?  What is the proper religious attitude and response to political violence?  In short, how does one have faith in times of terror?

Parishioner Dr. Thomas Doyle will lead the three session adult education course.  All are welcome.  August 8, 15, 22.  The sessions start at 12:30pm in the Small Parish Hall after the Sunday Hight Mass.
Cholesterol Screening
 
The St. Thomas/QueensCare Parish Nurse program will be offering free Cholesterol Screenings on Sunday August 8th starting at 9am. 
 
In addition to screening the TOTAL Cholesterol levels, the event will also inform individuals about HDL & LDL (good and bad cholesterol) levels and the ratio between the two. And the total. A very meaningful measurement. 
 
 
High cholesterol is one of the major risk factors leading to heart disease, heart attack and stroke.
 
Stop by for this quick and easy screening!
Flowers Orchids Lamps
 

flowers

 
Commemorate a friend, familiy member or special occasion by sponsoring Altar Flowers ($125), St. Damien Chapel Orchids ($30) and Lamps ($10).  Sign-up sheets are on the buulletin board located in the Large Parish Hall.  After choosing your date email your dedication to the Parish Office.  (Weeks without sponsors may result in no flowers.)
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.
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

 
On August 5 in 1633, Archbishop of Canterbury George Abbot died at Croydon.
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.
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