Saint Andrew (early first century-mid to late first century AD) is a Christian Apostle and the brother of Saint Peter. The name "Andrew" (Greek: manly, brave, "manhood, valour"), appears to have been common among the Jews from the second or third century BC. He is considered the founder and first bishop of the Church of Byzantium and is consequently the patron saint of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

The New Testament states that Andrew was the brother of Simon Peter, by which it is inferred that he was likewise a son of Jonah, or John.[Mt. 16:17] [Jn. 1:42] He was born in Bethsaida on the Sea of Galilee.[Jn. 1:44] Both he and his brother Peter were fishermen by trade, hence the tradition that Jesus called them to be his disciples by saying that he will make them "fishers of men."

The Gospel of John states that Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist, whose testimony first led him and John the Evangelist to follow Jesus.[Jn. 1:35-40] Andrew at once recognized Jesus as the Messiah, and hastened to introduce him to his brother.[Jn. 1:41] Thenceforth, the two brothers were disciples of Christ. On a subsequent occasion, prior to the final call to the Apostolate, they were called to a closer companionship, and then they left all things to follow Jesus.

Eusebius quotes Origen as saying Andrew preached in Asia Minor and in Scythia, along the Black Sea as far as the Volga and Kiev. Hence he became a patron saint of Ukraine, Romania and Russia. According to tradition, he founded the See of Byzantium (Constantinople) in AD 38, installing Stachys as bishop. His presence in Byzantium is also mentioned in the apocryphal Acts of Andrew, written in the second century. This diocese would later develop into the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Andrew is recognized as its patron saint.

The feast of Andrew is observed on November 30 in both the Eastern and Western churches, and is the national day of Scotland. In the traditional liturgical books of the Catholic church, the feast of St. Andrew is the first feast day in the Proper of Saints.

Adapted from www.wikipedia.org

EDITORS NOTE:  With the start of Advent the liturgy returns to using Mass Settings.  "MIssa O Magnum" is the setting for the Advent Season.

Tomas Luis de Victoria was born in the province of Avila, Spain in 1548 and died in 1611. He is considered by most musical scholars as one of the greatest Spanish Composers of the Renaissance style. His music, mostly religious choral works, venture away from the traditional counterpoint of many of his contemporaries such as Palestrina and Morales by using simple melodic lines and homophonic textures.  Victoria's music reflected his personality.  In his music, the passion of Spanish mysticism and religion is expressed.

The "Missa O Magnum" is a mass setting using melodic themes taken from his famous motet "O Magnum Mysterium." This work is known as a parody mass. Pietro Cerone, a contemporary of Victoria, describes the "rules" of parody mass composition as the common practice of composers when unifying the five movements of an Ordinary of the Mass setting around a model composition. Each movement (Kyrie, Gloria, etc.) should begin with the opening motif of the model and end with the closing; internal motivic material may used in the movements However Victoria once again ventures away from the traditional model and only two movements of this Mass -- Kyrie and Sanctus -- allude to the motet's memorable opening, in which pairs of voices imitate a motif of a falling fifth. Some sectional closings borrow music which closes a section of the motet (on text "jacentem in presepio").

Victoria published the Missa O magnum himself in 1592, in his third collection of masses; he published this volume in Rome, while on leave from his position as convent chaplain to the Dowager Empress Maria in Madrid.

It's Angel Tree time again! This year we at St. Thomas are assisting children at two groups!  Hillsides is the LA Episcopal Diocese foster care and treatment center for kids who are at-risk. http://www.hillsides.org/  IRIS is the non-denominational response to the needs of refugees settling in LA area.  IRIS help familes and children from Iraq, Somalia, Congo,  and other countries in serious difficultiesIt's also a ministry of our diocese and strongly supported by our Bishops. http://ministries.ladiocese.org/iris.html 

In total we're assisting 40 kids from these organizations. For most of these children, this will be the only present they receive.  

We urge you to explore the ministries and work of these two very worthy organizations.

The Angel Tree will be available starting this Sunday, November 28nd, and the (unwrapped) gifts should be returned by Sunday, December 12th.

The IRIS familes also desperately need food for their tables, so, if you are able, we are also collecting grocery gift cards. There will be a sign-up sheet under the tree.
 
Thank you for your generosity!

Sponsorships for the Advent Wreath are now available.  The Wreath iteself is available for $100 for the season and sponsorship of each candle (4 total) is just $25.  Please contact the office if you are interested.

St. Nicholas Sunday (December 5), and Greg Jamrock will provide music for the children during Sunday School on that day and Bronwyn Jamrock will head up preparing gift bags to be distributed to the children at the end of Mass by "St. Nicholas." Please bring your (and your friends) children. It should be fun and a lovely beginning to Advent!