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eNews11 February 2011

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.

St. Valentine (February 14)

 

St Valentine

Valentine was a holy priest in Rome, who, with St. Marius and his family, assisted the martyrs in the persecution under Claudius II. He was apprehended, and sent by the emperor to the prefect of Rome, who, on finding all his promises to make him renounce his faith in effectual, commended him to be beaten with clubs, and afterwards, to be beheaded, which was executed on February 14, about the year 270. 

 


The origin of St. Valentine, and how many St. Valentines there were, remains a mystery. One opinion is that he was a Roman martyred for refusing to give up his Christian faith. Other historians hold that St. Valentine was a temple priest jailed for defiance during the reign of Claudius. Whoever he was, Valentine really existed because archaeologists have unearthed a Roman catacomb and an ancient church dedicated to Saint Valentine. In 496 AD Pope Gelasius marked February 14th as a celebration in honor of his martyrdom.


The first representation of Saint Valentine appeared in a The Nuremberg Chronicle, a great illustrated book printed in 1493. Additional evidence that Valentine was a real person: archaeologists have unearthed a Roman catacomb and an ancient church dedicated to Saint Valentine. Alongside a woodcut portrait of him, text states that Valentinus was a Roman priest martyred during the reign of Claudius the Goth [Claudius II]. Since he was caught marrying Christian couples and aiding any Christians who were being persecuted under Emperor Claudius in Rome [when helping them was considered a crime], Valentinus was arrested and imprisoned. Claudius took a liking to this prisoner -- until Valentinus made a strategic error: he tried to convert the Emperor -- whereupon this priest was condemned to death. He was beaten with clubs and stoned; when that didn't do it, he was beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate [circa 269].


St. Valentine is the Patron Saint of affianced couples, bee keepers, engaged couples, epilepsy, fainting, greetings, happy marriages, love, lovers, plague, travellers, young people. He is represented in pictures with birds and roses. 

 

Adapted from www.catholic.org


The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year, behind Christmas. 

Vestry Retreat

Your 2011 Vestry will be away from the Parish 11 February to 13 February at Serra Retreat.  This is a time for the Vestry to spend time in communion with each other and work on strategic goals for the Parish. 

 

Fr. William Ledbetter, Assistant Priest, will lead the Saturday Masses.  Fr. Jason Cox will lead the Sunday Masses.

 

The Vestry pays the cost of the retreat itself and no Church funds are utilized. 

Get to Know Our Church

Get to Know Our Church 1
  
Get to Know Our Church 2
January 30 was the Children's Church Tour, the first event in the Stewardship of Faith & Knowledge "Get to Know Your Church Ministry" program for the parish families.  Michael Ensign led the tour, which was great fun and extremely informative.  The kids lit votives, toured the entire church (including the altar), modeled birettas, and even received their very own rosary.  A highlight of the tour was visiting the baptismal font where all of the children present had been baptized!

February's family ministry is the Breakfast Club.  On the second and fourth Saturdays of every month, the Breakfast Club serves a tasty breakfast to 150 homeless and needy Angelenos.  Although volunteers are heartily welcomed (and needed) every second and fourth Saturday, we are extending a special invitation to all parents and their children to assist on February 26 at 7:00 a.m. in the Parish Hall to help prepare and share pancakes, eggs, sausage, biscuits and good fellowship. 
Photos courtesy of David Seck 
Guibord Center to Open

Mo. Gwynne Guibord

"Breaking the Barriers" will be the inaugural event of the

Guibord Center: Religion Inside Out, a recently launched initiative founded by the Rev. Gwynne Guibord, former Assistant Priest of St. Thomas and former interfaith/ecumenical officer for the Diocese of Los Angeles. The blessing ceremony will take place on Saturday, Feb. 26 at the ProCathedral of St. John, 514 West Adams Blvd, Los Angeles. Music will begin at 1:30 p.m.; the program will begin at 2 p.m., followed by a reception. Parking will be available in the AAA lot on the corner of Adams and Figueroa. The Guibord Center is "committed to affirming the sanctity of people from every different faith and tradition, and to upholding the humanity that connects us all," according to its mission statement. For more information, email to

[email protected]

or call 323.309.4061. Click here  for a flyer.

In This Issue
St. Valentine
Vestry Retreat
Get to Know Our Church
Guibord Center
God's Plan for Me
Mother Knows Best
Coming Soon...
Treasurer's Report
ePrayer
Quick Links
4th Sunday before Lent

Celebrant (8am & 10:30am)
The Rev. Jason Cox

Homily
The Rev. Jason Cox

Deacon

Assistant Organist
Thompson Howell

 

PRELUDE

Fugue in G Minor ("The Little") - J.S. Bach

 

POSTLUDE 

"Final" from Symphony No. 1 - Louis Vierne

 

CHOIR ANTHEM

A New Commandment

Tallis

 

Readings
Ecclesiasticus  15. 15 - end
Psalm 119. 1-8
1 Corinthians 3. 1-9
Matthew 5. 21 - 37

God's Plan for Me


What is God's Plan for Me?  A Spiritual & Practical Guide/Course to support those in Job Transition is complete.  The course materials are available on the Parish website or directly from this link.

 

Many thanks to all who participated! 

Mother Knows Best

On February 14 in 1556, Thomas Cranmer was deposed as Archbishop of Canterbury by Queen Mary I.
Coming Soon...

 

Please join us for many Parish activities.  Here's a sampling of upcoming events - a full list is available online

 

 

Feb 12 @ 7:00am 
Homeless Feeding & Outreach
  
Feb 19 @ 10:45am
Newcomer Orientation 
 
Feb 21
President's Day Observed
Parish Office Closed
  
Feb 26 @ 7:00am 
Homeless Feeding & Outreach
Parish Families to assist!
  
Feb 26 @ 5:00pm
LA Schola sings Vigil Mass
 
Feb 28 @ 9:30am
USC AID Feeding Program
Treasurer's Report

Gifts through January 31:

$26,929.42

 

Ministries funded:

$33,268.58

 

Balance:

($6,339.23) 

Minutes from the January 2011 Vestry meetings are available online.
ePrayer

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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