St Thomas the Apostle
eNews
October 29, 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 Fr. Ian Elliott Davies

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Fr DaviesI would like to express my very great appreciation to all of you for the very wonderful welcome and celebration on the Last Sunday after Trinity that greeted our very dear Suffragan Bishop, the Right Reverend Mary Douglas Glasspool.
It was an unusually busy weekend with a visit from one of the City of West Hollywood Human Resources officials at the Breakfast Club, preparing the Church and Hall for the Visit, then the LA Schola (and refreshments) were magnificent at the Saturday Latin Vigil Mass. We all had opportunity to snooze for just a few hours and then we geared up for the Primary Visitation of our new Suffragan. Bishop Glasspool arrived at 7.10am for Mattins and then the two Masses, an Education Hour and finally lunch- a fairly exhausting schedule. Many hours of preparation, rehearsal and planning went into the Visitation and I would like to say, personally, how very proud I am of all our Parishioners and friends- it is an honour for me to serve as your Parish Priest and Rector. Anglo-Catholic tradition is at its very finest when we are able to affirm and celebrate together on such occasions.

There are so many people to thank by name but I would like to mention Mr Joseph Warren our Parish Secretary who dealt with myriad minutiae with amiable efficiency-he's a First Class Star!

Our Bishops symbolize the Universal Church to us as a Parish (and in turn symbolize and represent us to the Universal Church at Synods, Conventions and other important occasions) and it is always appropriate that we grasp the wider horizon and context of the mission of Christ's Holy Church on such wonderful occasions. We send our prayers and support to Bishop Glasspool and her partner and wish all our Bishops many happy years of work together in this astonishingly exciting and diverse Diocese.
 
I send my love & prayers as always,

 

IED Signature
 
Fr Ian Elliott Davies
Bring on the Light Concert
Interfaith Chanukkah - Holiday concert at Temple Israel of Hollywood

If you are interested, please contact Tamara Davidovici at Temple Israel via email or at 323-876-8330 ext, 1004.

Bring on the Light
Stewarding the Mysteries of God
Every Member Canvass program continues

Stewardship 2010 Logo

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.
 
 
 
 
We are most grateful to the prayerful consideration that the following individuals gave by providing a financial pledge to St. Thomas for 2011. 

(List updated as of October 26, 2010.) 

Bode, David
Boughner, John M.
Bruce, Linda & John
Carver, Lucinda
Coogan, Craig
Davies, Ian Elliott
Davis, Evelyn C.
Eglin, John
Evans, Michael
Garces, John & Palacios, A
Gray, Clint
Halvorson, Bob
Hansen, Ward
Hartwig, Ron
Howell, J. Todd
Hughes, Helen
Hughes, James
Javier, Luis
Johnson, Jeffrey Lee
Johnston, Mary L.
Kennish, James R.
Marbury A, Ted
McConnell, Robert D.
Minott, Sandra
Olman, Carolyn
Thanangadan, Thomas
Thomson, Reece P.
Thornbury, John E.
Walker, Lynn
Warren, Joseph
Wildman, David
Williams, Billy Ray
All Saints and All Souls
Feast Day celebrated October 31 and November 2


All SaintsAll Saints' Day (in the Roman Catholic Church officially the Solemnity of All Saints and also called All Hallows or Hallowmas), often shortened to All Saints, is a solemnity celebrated on 1 November in Western Christianity, and on the first Sunday after Pentecost in Eastern Christianity, in honour of all the saints, known and unknown.

In terms of Western Christian theology, the day commemorates all those who have attained the beatific vision in Heaven. In the Roman Catholic Church, the next day, All Souls' Day, specifically commemorates the departed faithful who have not yet been purified and reached heaven.

Christian denominations celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints' Day and the Feast of All Souls' Day because of the fundamental belief that there is a prayerful spiritual communion between those in the state of grace who have died and are either being purified in purgatory or are in heaven (the 'church penitent' and the 'church triumphant', respectively), and the 'church militant' who are the living. Those who have died and are with God watch over those still living, and the saints are held to intercede with God on behalf of the living. On their part, the living pray to the saints and remember in intercessory prayers to God all who have died, particularly their deceased relatives and friends.

The Western Christian holiday of All Saints' Day falls on November 1, followed by All Souls' Day on November 2, and is a Holy Day of Obligation in the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church.

The origin of the festival of All Saints celebrated in the West dates to May 13, 609 or 610, when Pope Boniface IV consecrated the Pantheon at Rome to the Blessed Virgin and all the martyrs; the feast of the dedicatio Sanctae Mariae ad Martyres has been celebrated at Rome ever since. The chosen day, May 13, was a pagan observation of great antiquity, the culmination of three days of the Feast of the Lemures, in which the malevolent and restless spirits of the dead were propitiated. Liturgiologists of the Middle Ages based the idea that this Lemuria festival was the origin of that of All Saints on their identical dates and on the similar theme of "all the dead".

The feast of All Saints, on its current date, is traced to the foundation by Pope Gregory III (731-741) of an oratory in St. Peter's for the relics "of the holy apostles and of all saints, martyrs and confessors, of all the just made perfect who are at rest throughout the world", with the day moved to November 1.

In the Roman Catholic Church, All Saints' Day is a Holy Day of Obligation, meaning going to Mass on the date is required (unless one is ill or elderly).

Adapted from www.wikipedia.org

St. Thomas the Apostle will celebrate All Saints Day on Sunday, October 31, 2010 at the 8am and 10:30am Masses.

St. Thomas the Apostle will have three services on All Souls Day, Tuesday, November 2, 1010:  8am, 12pm and 7:30pm with the Choir singing the Mass.
Fire at Virginia Theological Seminary destroys chapel
Nobody hurt in blaze

VTS FireA fire that broke out at 3:55 p.m. Oct. 22 destroyed the 129-year old Immanuel Chapel at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia, according to news reports and a statement from VTS.
 
"At this stage, the cause of the fire is unclear. The VTS Community is saddened and devastated by this catastrophe," said the Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, the seminary's dean, in a statement posted on its website. "The buildings nearby are intact and safe. The ministry and mission of VTS continue, even as the community grieves."

Alexandria Fire Department spokesman John North said no one was injured in the fire, according to the Alexandria Times. He also said the chapel was fully engulfed in flames when the first fire crews arrived. He said the final damage is likely to be a "terrible loss," according to an Associated Press report.

VTS Stained Glass WindowNorth was unsure whether the chapel was occupied when the fire first started, the Times reported.  VTS confirmed that stained glass windows, including a large iconic window underneath the words "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel," were destroyed. The chapel is also one of the worshipping sites for Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill, an Episcopal church in Alexandria.

Founded in 1823, Virginia Theological Seminary is the largest of the 11 accredited seminaries of the Episcopal Church. The school prepares men and women for service in the church worldwide, both as ordained and lay ministers, and offers a number of professional degree programs and diplomas.

Shireen Baker, Postulant for Holy Orders from St. Thomas the Apostle attends Virginia Theological Seminary.  She writes on her blog:

I had so much to write about today. Today was the last day of the quarter; I was going to write about that. Today I went to a forum about the emergent church; I have a lot to write about that. Today for the first time ever at VTS we had an Anglo-Catholic High Mass; I could have written about that. I had a lot of things to write on today, but no, those things will have to wait.
 
Today the Virginia Theological Seminary Chapel burned to the ground. This was an historic chapel, over 100 years old. And we watched helplessly as smoke billowed out of the church, as the roof caved in, as the windows cracked and crumbled. We don't know what caused it, and it doesn't matter.
 
As we all sat together in Scott Lounge praying and singing, for the first time ever I truly felt like I was living in communion. So the question is not, why did this happen? But why does it take something like this to truly bring us together?
 

News report from Episcopal News Service

In This Issue
Rector's Corner
Rector's Corner
Stewarding the Mysteries of God
All Saints and All Souls
Fire at Virginia Theological
LASchola sings 10/23
Outreach meeting 10/31
Billy Elliot 11/05
Flu Shots 11/07
Mother Knows Best
ePrayer List

All Saints Day

Celebrant (8am & 10:30am)

Fr. Ian Elliott Davies

 

Homily (8am & 10:30am)

Fr. Ian Elliott Davies

 

Deacon

Rev. Walter S. Johnson

 

Organist-in-Residence (10:30am)

John West

 

PRE

Elegy

Healey Willan
 
POST
Fanfare on Sine Nomine

John West


Readings

Isaiah 1.10-18
Psalm 32.1-8
2 Thessalonians 1
Luke 19.1-10

Bishop Glasspool Visit
We were delighted and blessed to welcome the Right Rev. Mary Glasspool to St. Thomas on Sunday, October 24, 2010.

Bishop Glasspool visits
Eddie Milla, Randy Williams, Bishop Glasspool (photo courtesy Reece Thompson)
Outreach meeting 10/31  

As we enter into the end of one liturgical year and the beginning of another - there are many programs and projects where St. Thomas works with the community we live and serve.


Anybody interested in supporting the Stewardship of Community & Outreach committee in this years efforts (Thanksgiving Outreach, Angel Tree, more!) please join us after the 10:30am Mass on Sunday, October 31 for a brief meeting in the Rector's Office.  If you can't make it and are interested in participating, please contact Chair J. Todd Howell.

Billy Elliott 11/05 

 
Billy Elliot Poster
Nominated for 3 Oscars and BAFTRA winning film, Billy Elliott tells the story of a talented young boy who becomes torn between his unexpected love of dance and the disintegration of his family.
 
The film will be shown immediately following the 7pm Mass.  Enjoy the potluck during the film and stay for a brief discussion after lead by Fr. Ian Elliottt Davies.
 
All are welcome!

Flu Shots Nov. 7

Flu Shot

Sunday, November 7th roll up your sleeves.  It' that FLU SHOT time of year again...almost.  The flu shots will be offered free of charge by the St. Thomas Health Cabinet and Queenscare Parish Nurse program.  9am to 3pm (as supplies last.)   

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 November 2 in 1164, Thomas a Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, left for France for a six-year exile after being condemned in royal court for "ingratitude" toward England's Henry II, who had once been his dear friend.

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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