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. |
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Rector's Corner
From Fr. Ian Elliott Davies
Brother and Sisters in Christ,
 As I am writing this "Rector's Corner" we are preparing for the upcoming Every-Member Stewardship Canvass and Campaign "Stewarding the Mysteries of God." This year there will be a slightly different 'flavour' from previous years. Building on the foundational work of Fr Stuart and the important perspective of not treating the 'Campaign' as an attempt to 'raise the money-level on the Church thermometer' I hope and pray that as many of you as possible will make time to meet with your campaign "Ambassador" (again a slightly different approach from last year) and have conversations with each of them, in person, if possible. In the next few weeks we will be hosting Choral Evensong & Benediction (as usual) and enjoying Dr Lucinda Carver's excellent recital, the Blessing of the Animals will be here soon- which always reminds me that Fall is soon to be in the air and the next season in the Church's year- All Saintstide, All Souls' Day Requiem and before we know it Thanksgvining will be upon us. So with a very, very big and deep breath I wish you all much love and many prayers for the next busy weeks and months. Fr Ian Elliott Davies  |
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Stewarding the Mysteries of God
Every Member Canvass program launches on Sunday
 On Sunday, September 12, 2010 the members of the 2010 Every Member Canvass team will be consecrated at the 10:30am Mass. Your fellow Parishioners are giving of their time and talent to have a one-on-one dialogue with every member of the Parish. This is an excellent opportunity to discuss and explore what St. Thomas means to you with a fellow Parishioner. The in-person get together is casual and will be scheduled for what is most convenient for you - usually before or after the Mass that you attend.
Your Ambassador will contact you within the first two weeks of the launch to introduce themselves and begin to find a good time to get together.
This is not about money. It is not about meeting a budget. (The budget process doesn't even begin until the campaign is over in November.) Stewardship at St. Thomas is about our relationship to God and one another involving all aspects of our lives. It is about supporting the ministry we actively live in this place, in our community, the Diocese, and the world. It is about setting aside a portion of our time every day for prayer, meditation, and worship. It is about embracing an encompassing attitude of joy and love in community.
The 2010 Stewardship prayer will be prayed at every Mass from September 12 to November 21, Christ the King. Please use in your personal devotions:
O God, who hast been pleased to call us to be Ambassadors for thee, make us now of one heart and mind to pray and work and give for the up-building and strengthening of thy Church at home and abroad. Bless our Every Member Canvass, and stir up the wills of all our people to do according to their ability as good stewards in thy service; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Holy Cross Day
Feast Day celebrated Sepember 14
 In the Christian liturgical calendar, there are several different Feasts of the Cross, all of which commemorate the cross used in the crucifixion of Jesus.
September 14
This feast is called in Latin Exaltatio Sanctae Crucis (literally, "Raising Aloft of the Holy Cross". In some parts of the Anglican Communion the feast is called Holy Cross Day, a name also used by Lutherans. The celebration is sometimes called Feast of the Glorious Cross.
The True Cross is said to have been discovered in 326 by the mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine I, Helena of Constantinople, during a pilgrimage she made to Jerusalem. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre was then built at the site of the discovery, by order of Helena and Constantine. The church was dedicated nine years later, with a portion of the cross placed inside it. In 614, that portion of the cross was carried away from the church by the Persians, and remained missing until it was recaptured by the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius in 628. Initially taken to Constantinople, the cross was returned to the church the following year.
The date of the feast marks the dedication of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in 335. This was a two-day festival: although the actual consecration of the church was on September 13, the cross itself was brought outside the church on September 14 so that the clergy and faithful could pray before the True Cross, and all could come forward to venerate it.
In Roman Catholic liturgical observance, red vestments are worn at church services conducted on this day, and if the day falls on a Sunday, its Mass is used instead of that for the occurring Sunday in Ordinary Time, what some would call a Sunday after Pentecost.
September 14 is the titular feast of the Congregation of Holy Cross and the Episcopal Church's Order of the Holy Cross.
Adapted from www.wikipedia.org |
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Catechism Class
Starts Saturday, 18 September
Beginning Saturday, 18 September the 2010-11 Catechism Class will begin. The class is the cornerstone of our Stewardship of Faith and Knowledge program. Anybody interested in being Baptized, Confirmed, Received and/or Renewed, please contact the Parish Office to schedule an appointment to see the Rector. The course commitment is a weekly class each Saturday morning starting with 10am Mass leading up to a retreat in April and Baptism/Confirmation/Reception/Renewal liturgy with the Bishop at the Great Vigil of Easter in 2011. Graduates have a deeper understanding of themselves, their relationship with God and with the community of St. Thomas the Apostle. Space is limited.
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Concert on September 19
Recital after Evensong & Benediction
On Sunday, September 19, 2010 at approx. 5:30pm after the Choir-sung Evensong & Benediction a free recital will take place.
Pianist Lucinda Carver (USC Thornton School of Music), Soprano Camille King (who sang the premiere of the Handel cantata at St. Thomas) and violinist Aimee Kreston (concertmaster, Pasadena Symphony) will perform.
The Programme:
Schumann Frauenliebe und Leben
Brahms Sonata in G major for Violin and Piano, Op. 78
Intermission
Schumann Four Lieder
Mozart L'amerņ, sarņ costante , KV 208
Mozart Exultate, jubilate KV 165
A pot-luck reception will follow. |
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Time to Re-register for Ralph's
As of September 1st - must re-register Ralph's Card
http://www.ralphs.com |
It's time to re-register your Ralph's Card for Community Rewards. Ralph's requires everybody do this every September, even if you registered in August!
To make sure your grocery purchases benefit St. Thomas, please go to ralphs.com, sign in to (or sign up if it's your first time), click on "My Account" and then "Community Rewards" and search for Saint Thomas the Apostle (84981)
Thanks for shopping at Ralph's for St. Thomas! |
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Discussion of Anglican Covenant
Presiding Bishop calls on all congregations
Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, House of Deputies President Bonnie Anderson and Executive Council member Rosalie Simmonds Ballentine are calling on all Episcopal congregations to engage in discussion of the proposed Anglican Covenant at some time during the next two years. The Episcopal Church leaders suggested in a Sept. 3 letter that congregations consider organizing a discussion group on the covenant during Advent (2010 or 2011) or Lent (2011 or 2012) or at another time before General Convention in 2012.
"In order for General Convention to reflect the mind of the whole church, the bishops and deputies who participate in General Convention need to know the thoughtful and faithful reactions of the many and varied faith communities represented in this church," the church leaders said.
A covenant first was proposed in 2004 as a way for the Anglican Communion to maintain unity amid differing viewpoints, especially on issues of human sexuality and biblical interpretation.
The study guide suggests questions for congregations to consider, such as: In what ways does the covenant strengthen the corporate life of the Episcopal Church and the common life of the Anglican Communion; and what are the positive and negative consequences of signing on to and living into the covenant?
Comments on the covenant, especially from bishops and diocesan General Convention deputations, are encouraged by April 24, 2011, to gcoffice@episcopalchurch.org. Jefferts Schori, a member of the Standing Committee, said in her pastoral letter to the church in early June: "We have been repeatedly assured that the Anglican Covenant is not an instrument of control, yet we note that the fourth section seems to be just that to Anglicans in many parts of the communion. So much so that there are voices calling for stronger sanctions in that fourth section, as well as voices repudiating it as un-Anglican in nature. Unitary control does not characterize Anglicanism; rather, diversity in fellowship and communion does."
Williams has said that the covenant is not going to solve all of the communion's problems.
"It's not going to be a constitution, and it's certainly not going to be a penal code for punishing people who don't comply," he said when the final text was released. "But what it does represent is this: In recent years in the Anglican family, we've discovered that our relations with each other as local churches have often been strained, that we haven't learned to trust one another as perhaps we should, that we really need to build relationships, and we need to have a sense that we are responsible to one another and responsible for each other. In other words, what we need is something that will help us know where we stand together and help us also intensify our fellowship and our trust."
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| Trinity 15
Celebrant 8:00am & 10:30am
Fr. Ian Elliott Davies
8:00am & 10:30am
Fr. Ian Elliott Davies
10:30am
The Rev. Walter S. Johnson
Organist-in-Residence 10:30am
John West PRELUDE
Sheep May Safely Graze J.S. Bach/arr. Virgil Fox
POSTLUDE
Carillon Sortie Henri Mulet Readings:
Jeremiah 4.11-12, 22-28
Psalm 14
1 Timothy 1.12-17
Luke 15.1-10
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Blood Sugar Screening
St. Thomas' Health Cabinet and our parish nurse Tim Wright from Queenscare will be offering free BLOOD SUGAR screenings at St. Thomas Sunday, September 12th from 9 AM to 3 PM. Tim will also be providing information on diabetes.
The purpose of Blood Sugar Screening is to: Check for diabetes; Monitor treatment diabetes; and to determine if an abnormally low blood sugar level (hypoglycemia) is present. It's painless and it's free! |
| Ready for our Close Up
St. Thomas has been rented for the filming of an Independent film next week.
Monday, 13 September Filming is from 5:30a-5:30p - Morning Prayer will be held in the Rector's Office. Evening Prayer and Low Mass held as usual in the Church.
Tuesday, 14 September Filming is from 5:30a-5:30p - Morning Prayer will be held in the Rector's Office Evening Prayer and Low Mass held as usual in the Church.
Wednesday, 15 September 5:30a-5:30p - Filming is from 5:30a-5:30p - Morning Prayer will be held in the Rector's Office. Evening Prayer and Low Mass held as usual in the Church.
Thursday, 16 September Filming is from 11:00a-11:00p. Morning Prayer held as usual in the Church. Evening Prayer & Low Mass will be held in the Rector's Office.
NOTE: In the event that production runs over-time services will be held in the Rector's Office. |
| Sunday School
St. Thomas the Apostle offers Sunday School each and every Sunday. We have a wonderful teacher who is eager to work with children of all ages. She provides a wonderful, fun and liturgically sound lesson. All children are welcome! |
| Edna Garren
Longtime friend and parisioner of St. Thomas Edna Garren passed away on Tuesday, August 24. Deacon Johnson will lead the prayers for Internment on Saturday, September 25, 2010 at 2:30pm. All are welcome. |
| Movie Night
Following the 7pm Low Mass on Friday, September 17, 2010, join us in the Large Parish Hall for movie night! This month's movie will be Ponette, the story of a four-year-old who is coming to terms with the death of her mother. Ponette is the winner of "Best Foreign Film" at the NY Film Critics Circle and "Best Actress" (four-year-old Victoire Thivisol) at the Venice Film Festival. |
| Thank You WeHo!
On Tuesday, September 8, 2010 St. Thomas the Apostle was awarded a continuing grant for its Homeless Outreach Program. On the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month St. Thomas provides a hot meal, counseling and referrals as well as medical care. These services are provided in an atmosphere that promotes respect and dignity for each individual.
St. Thomas continues to be the only faith-based institution funded by the City for providing Social Services. The City's commitment marks a total of nine years of funding well in excess of $150,000.
St. Thomas is grateful to the City Council, Social Services Commissioners and Staff as well as to the People of West Hollywood for our continued partnership.
Please support this vital ministry through a donation or volunteering of your time. |
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.
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Mother Knows Best
On September 12 in 1922, The House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church voted in favor of deleting the word "obey" from the marriage vows. |
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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