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eNews18 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.

Rector's Corner

Fr Davies

Friday 18th February, Commemoration of S. Maximus the Martyr (295AD)

 

"'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean - neither more nor less.'

 

"'The question is,' said Alice, 'whether you can make words mean so many different things.'

 

"'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master - that's all.'"

 

The word du jour these days is multiculturalism.

 

Multiculturalism has as many and various definitions as there are experts (self-appointed or otherwise) to give them. Enthusiasts tend to say it is about people of different races, histories, traditions and faiths living side by side, without sur�rendering their identities. It is noticeable that some harsher critics argue that it is fostering a divided society that allows minorities to behave in ways that should not be tolerated in a civilized democracy.

 

It is important, of course, to realize that meaning and definition of what 'multiculturalism' might entail has shifted over the decades. In the 1960s (as many of us recall), it was an enriching live-and-let-live tolerance of steel bands, saris, the Beatles and samosas. Then, in the '80s, it expanded to the idea of celebrating differing cultures as a way of countering routine racial discrimination. But after 9/11 (which changed the entire landscape of national as well as international relationships) the hopes of 'multiculturalism' have turned to fear, and the emphasis has shifted (almost) subconsciously from valuing diversity to avoiding conflict.

 

The images that we have seen in recent weeks from Egypt have exposed some of those slowly-healing ancient wounds yet again. At the very time that your Parish Vestry were on Retreat at the Franciscan Serra Retreat House (last weekend) we received news and developments- thanks to the up-to-the-minute technological skills of some of our Vestry members! I was very moved to see in the Episcopal and Anglican Church press an image of a Muslim and Coptic Christian literally arm-in-arm holding their respective Christian Cross and Holy Qur'an in Tahrir Square, Cairo. What an image of promise and hope!

 

RC 021811
Courtesy Reuters

 It is my hope and prayer in the coming weeks and months that the Christian message of devotion, preparation (we are nearing Lent, then Holy Week and Easter) and commitment to following Christ in the tradition of bringing healing (indeed many Muslims honour Christ as The Great Healer) will grow in our hearts and communities.


For your pre-Lenten preparations you might like to consider any of the following which have received good reviews in the Church press.

 

I send my love & prayers,

ied sig

Fr Ian Elliott Davies


The Archbishop of Canterbury's Lent Book for 2011 by Fr Stephen Cherry
Barefoot Disciple: Walking the way of passionate humility
David Adam

Michael Perham
To Tell Afresh
St. Polycarp

 

St Polycarp

Polycarp (69 - 155 AD) was a 2nd century Christian bishop of Smyrna. According to the Martyrdom of Polycarp, he died a martyr, bound and burned at the stake then stabbed when the fire failed to touch him. Polycarp is regarded as a saint in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran Churches.

 


The early tradition that expanded upon the Martyrdom to link Polycarp in competition and contrast with John the Apostle who, though many people had tried to kill him, was not martyred but died of old age after being exiled to the island of Patmos, is embodied in the Sahidic Coptic fragmentary papyri (the "Harris fragments"), now in the British Library, dating to the 3rd to 6th centuries.  Polycarp has remained figured as a disciple of John the Apostle.


With Clement of Rome and Ignatius of Antioch, Polycarp is regarded as one of three chief Apostolic Fathers. The sole surviving work attributed to his authorship is his Letter to the Philippians; it is first recorded by Irenaeus of Lyons. He was an elder of an important congregation in an area where the apostles laboured.


Irenaeus, who remembered him from his youth, said of him: "a man who was of much greater weight, and a more steadfast witness of truth, than Valentinus, and Marcion, and the rest of the heretics". Polycarp lived in an age after the deaths of the apostles, when a variety of interpretations of the sayings of Jesus were being preached. His role was to authenticate orthodox teachings through his connection with the apostle John: "a high value was attached to the witness Polycarp could give as to the genuine tradition of old apostolic doctrine," Wace commented, "his testimony condemning as offensive novelties the figments of the heretical teachers. Irenaeus states (iii. 3) that on Polycarp's visit to Rome his testimony converted many disciples of Marcion and Valentinus. Surviving accounts of the bravery of this very old man in the face of death by burning at the stake added credence to his words.


February 23 is his Feast Day.

 

Adapted from www.wikipedia.org

In This Issue
St. Polycarp
Mother Knows Best
Vestry Retreat
Coming Soon...
Guibord Center
ePrayer
Quick Links
3rd Sunday before Lent

Celebrant (8am & 10:30am)
The Rev. Ian Elliott Davies

Homily
The Rev. Ian Elliott Davies

Deacon

The Rev. Walter S. Johnson


Assistant Organist
Thompson Howell
 

PRELUDE 

Antiphon 5 - "How Fair and How Pleasant Art Thou" - Marcel Dupre

 

POSTLUDE

Toccata in E Minor - Johann Pachelbel

 
CHOIR ANTHEM

Blessed be God and Father

Wesley

 

Readings
Leviticus 19. 1-2, 9-18
Psalm 119. 33-40
1 Corinthians 3. 10-11, 16 - end
Matthew 5. 38 - end
Mother Knows Best

On February 21 in 1173, Pope Alexander III canonized Thomas Becket three years after the Archbishop of Canterbury's martyrdom at the hands of King Henry II's knights.
Vestry Retreat

Your 2011 Vestry was away from the Parish 11 February to 13 February at Serra Retreat.  The weekend was spent in meditation, prayer and discussing strategic goals for the Parish.  

 Group Retreat Photo

Many thanks to Fr. William Ledbetter, Assistant Priest, who led the Saturday Masses.  Fr. Jason Cox who led the Sunday Masses.  Fr. Cox's sermon is available on the website

 

The Vestry pays the cost of the retreat itself and no Church funds are utilized.  Photo courtesy of www.eddiemillaphotography.com.

Coming Soon...

 

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

 

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
  

March 4 @ 7:45pm 

Movie Night Some Like It Hot
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.

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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