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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. Thomas has a great respect for both the rich liturgical heritage of the church and for living the message of social justice proclaimed by Jesus Christ. Whether you are young or old, gay or straight, single, married or in a relationship, female or male, poor or wealthy, you are welcome at St. Thomas just as you are...a child of God and an inheritor of God's grace. |
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Sermons Available
 | | 111211 Advent III Sermon.mov |
Did you know that all of the Sermons from March 2011 on are available online at our website and on our YouTube channel?
Advent (our time of preparation) is a wonderful time to revisit past sermons. |
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The Time is Now.
The Needs are Great.
Thank you to those who have prayerfully considered the role of St. Thomas the Apostle in your life and returned your 2012 pledge card.
Pledge commitments represent 75% of the operating income of the Church. At its regular Vestry meeting in December the Vestry will finalize a proposed budget. As always the Vestry will present to the Parish a proposed balanced budget at the Annual Parish meeting (January 15, 2012).
Please return (or revise) pledges to the Parish Office as soon as possible.
The 2011 Stewardship prayer:
Lord God of Hosts, Source of all gifts we, Thy people, rejoice in the fullness of Thy generosity. We thank thee for those whose lives are visible signs of Thy love and blessing to others. Give us the courage to do the same. Make us good stewards of all we have received and will receive, generously sharing our time, talents and treasure to build thy kingdom of love and justice. We ask this through Jesus Christ Our Lord, In whom we begin and end all things.
Amen.
You can watch any or all of the Stewardship talks online!
We are most grateful to the following parishoners who have met with their Ambassador and made a financial pledge commitment for 2012.
2012 Pledging Members (14 December 2011):
Heather Amaral
Robert Amore
David Anderson
Michael Austin
Shireen Baker
Lance Barshinger & David Lynch
David F. Bode, MD
John Bollard
Rodney Borr
Alex Bramm
John Buckley
Steven W. Carry
Lucinda Carver
Kathryn Challoner, MD
Audrey Chambers
Brad & Wendy Chambers
Efrain Cisneros
Jacqueline Cohl
Craig Coogan
Scott Crowell
Bill Daniel
Fr. Ian Elliott Davies
John & Janis Davies
Evelyn Davis
Lloyd Davis
Steve De Muth
Curtis Dombek
Thomas Doyle
Debby Driscoll
Robert Ducker
Tony Durek
John Eglin
Michael Ensign Evans
Joseph & Michelle Farnham
Mia Fenwick
Christine Field
David Firman
Jim Fossett
Brian Frankish & Tannis Benedict
Camellia & Jeff Friesen
Howard Gaass
Christopher Gable & Gerardo Vergara
Stephanie Gammon
Christopher Gragg
Clint Gray
Bob Halvorson
John Harper
Ron Hartwig
Wes Haynes
Peter & Julie Heimark
Jane A. Heitz
Bob Henry & Linda Wendell
Sarah Hensley
Helen Hughes
James Hughes
Joy Jakubowski
Luis Javier & Laurence Jackson
Patricia Neal Jensen
Jeffrey Johnson
The Rev. Mr. Walter S. Johnson
Timothy Joslin
Sue Ann Keeling
James Keltner
Margaret Kemp
Stephen Kemp
Dawna Kemper
Peter T. Kempson
Taffia Kennedy
James R. Kennett
Ken Koonce
Bruce A. Larson
Len Leatherwood & Ray Beaty
Joe Lopez
Ted Marbury
Doris Martin
Vincent G. Mazzucchelli
Fr. Doug McKinney & Tom Gossard
Robert D. Miller
Sandra Minott
Catherine Nameth & Alex Levine
Barry Norcross
Paul Norwood
Ruth & Randy Oglesby
Carolyn Olman
Donesh Olyaie
Erin & Windy O'Malley
Patrick O'Shea
Anthony Palacios & John Garces
Robert & Barbara Patrick
Andrew Petrucelli
Jeffrey R. Pierce
Alison Platt
Jan Quanbeck
Joseph Rials
Jo Ann Ridenour
Vince Roncone
Les Rumsey
Keith Ryan
Tim Scerba
John Schleif
Darrell Schmitt
Garland & Kathy Schweickhardt, MD
Ryan Scott
David Seck
Kristin Sekora
Gary K. Shaw
Anita Sherman
Stan Shipley
Bryan Siddall
David A. Silvas
John Sims
Anthony Smiljkovich
Amy Steelman
Walter Tanner & Jessica Kostosky
Suzanne Tenner
Thomas G. Thanangadan
Darcine Thomas & Howard March
Reece P. Thomson
John Thornbury
Paul Tournay & Lee Cox
Richard Francis Tracz
Ayako Travis
Christopher Wagner
Richard L. Wagner
Lynn Walker
Gary Warning
Joseph Warren
Michelle Waterloo
Robert Weihing
Charles T. Wells
Janet West
David Wildman
Curtis Wilkins
Cynthia Williams
Randy Williams
Robert Wilson
Stephen J. Yoder
John Zaragoza |
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Christmas Week
SATURDAY, 24 DECEMBER - CHRISTMAS EVE
5:00PM Family Mass (Sermon & Hymns)*
11:00PM Midnight Mass (Sermon & Choir)
NOTE: Complimentary Valet Parking will be provided for the Midnight Mass Service. Drop your car off on Gardner Street.
SUNDAY, 25 DECEMBER - CHRISTMAS DAY
7:30AM Morning Prayer
8:00AM Low Mass (1549 Prayer Book, Sermon)
10:30AM High Mass (Sermon & Choir)*
SATURAY, 31 DECEMBER - NEW YEAR'S EVE 10:30PM Low Mass followed by alcohol-free New Year's Eve Potluck Party in the Parish Hall. All are welcome!
SUNDAY, 01 JANUARY
8:00AM Low Mass (1549 Prayer Book, Sermon)
10:30AM Hight Mass (Sermon & Choir)*
NOTE: The Parish Office will be closed from 23 December 2011 through 5 January 2012.
FRIDAY, 6 JANUARY - EPIPHANY
7:30PM Epiphany Mass (With Choir)
* Denotes Childcare available |
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Reason for the Season
The annual outreach programs continue this year. Thanks to Christopher Gable for leading the program!
PLEASE RETURN ANY ANGEL TREE AND OTHER GIFTS ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16 SO THAT THEY CAN BE DISTRIBUTED IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS!
SOVA Outreach
 St. Thomas' Community Outreach Committee continues our food drive to benefit SOVA food pantries this holiday season. We collect food throughout the year to benefit SOVA, one of the St. Thomas partners in the Homeless Coalition. During the upcoming holidays our goal is to fill the SOVA food as often as possible. The food bin is located in the foyer near the church office. The following items are needed: - Canned and packaged foods
- Personal hygiene products (especially disposable razors, shampoo, soap, feminine hygiene items, disposable diapers and deodorant)
- Ribbon and other basket-making equipment and supplies for Baskets of Hope
- New or gently used children's books
SOVA is a nonsectarian program of Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles, dedicated to alleviating hunger and poverty in the community through food distribution and offering a wide range of supportive services. To learn more about SOVA visit their website. Angel Tree  It's Angel Tree time again! This year we at St. Thomas are assisting children at two groups.
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. ttp://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 Advent Sunday, November 27th, and the (unwrapped) gifts should be returned by Sunday, December 11th.
The IRIS families 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. VETERANS This year, we are reaching out to military veterans and their families via the LA/SFV Veteran's Employment Committee. The LA/SFVVEC helps encourage employers to hire veterans re-entering the civilian workforce and assists unemployed veterans and their families.
Please bring inexpensive ($5 range) unwrapped toys and canned good/packaged foods/personal care items to help these families in need.
DADT repeal this Fall gives us another great reason to help these families in need, and to support the people who support us.
Thank you for your generosity!
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Christmas Hospitality
Christmastime is an especially hospitable time at St. Thomas.
CHRISTMAS EVE: Join us for a Dessert and Savory Reception after Christmas Eve Mass. The Hospitality Committee would like to invite any Parishioner who would be interested making or purchasing a Savory or Dessert Treat for this event to sign up on the bulletin board in the large parish hall or contact Don Cummings. BOXING DAY: There will be an Open House at the Rectory from 5pm to 7pm on Monday, December 26, 2011 for our annual Boxing Day Open House. All are welcome. Please contact Michael Ensign if you'd like to bring something. NEW YEAR'S EVE: A pot-luck will be served after the 10:30pm Mass. Sign up on the bulletin board in the large parish hall or contact Don Cummings. |
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Episcopal News Available
The Winter edition of The Episcopal News is available online. |
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Advent IV
Celebrant (8am & 10:30am)
Fr. Ian Elliott Davies
Sermon
Fr. Ian Elliott Davies
Deacon
The Rev. Walter S. Johnson
Organist-in-Residence
John West |
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PRELUDE
Savior of the Nations, Come
Tune: NUN KOMM DER HEIDEN HEILAND
Setting by John Behnke
Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming
Tune: EST IST EIN ROS'
Setting by Kenneth T. Koesche
POSTLUDE
Toccata On 'Veni Emmanuel'
Adolphus Hailstork
The Choir sings the Missa Brevis by Cannicciari at each Mass during Advent.
The announcement about The Organ Project is online! |
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LECTIONS
2 Samuel 7.1-11, 16
Psalm 89.1-8
Romans 16.25-end
Luke 1.26-38 |
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ADVENT LESSONS & CAROLS
Join us at 4:30pm for our annual Advent Lessons & Carols Service.
PRELUDE
Greensleves
Arr. Ralph Vaughn Williams
POSTLUDE
Fantasia on O Come Emmanuel
15th Century French Melody
Setting by Cuthbert Harris
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MOVIE NIGHT: Christmas Vactation
Following the 7pm Low Mass on Friday, December 16, come join the fun at Movie Night and Potluck Christmas party! This month, we'll be showing National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation! Bring your favorite Christmas treat and prepare for hilarity with your Parish Family (and the Griswold family)! |
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Mother Knows Best
On December 16
in 1485, Catherine of Aragon, the first wife of Henry VIII, was born in Laredo Palace, Alcala de Henares, Spain. |
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Christmas Flowers
If you would like to contribute toward the cost of Christmas flowers and decorations, please fill out the form in the bifold and return it with your donation to the Parish Office no later than Sunday, 19 December. The suggested minimum donation is $25. Contributions are also accepted via Paypal. |
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Parking Update
Thank you to the individuals who have written to the Los Angeles City Council regarding the recent approval of new parking restrictions and sent copies to the office. Despite our efforts, the parking rules will take effect in mid-January. We will provide more information as we have it. |
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The Complexities of Advent
Continues on ...
Sunday December 18
After High Mass in the Rector's Office join Dr. Thomas Doyle as he leads an Adult Education course "The Complexities of Advent."
What are the implications for theology and Christian daily living if we broaden our notion of Advent to include each developmental stage from infancy to the full maturity of Christ? Advent for Christ then is a 30 year period in which various facets of his divinity were developed. How might that look for us, in the stages of development into which we find ourselves?
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Church Preparation
The annual Altar Guild cleaning extravaganza will take place immediately after the 10am mass on Saturday December 17th. Lunch will be provided. While this is an all-day affair, any amount of time contributed will be appreciated. Please contact John Thornbury at 310.869.1194 for further information. Thanks! |
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Annual Parish Meeting (01/15/12)
The Annual Parish Meeting will take place in the Large Parish Hall following the High Mass on Sunday, January 15, 2012. At the meeting, the Congregation will elect four new Vestry persons to serve a three-year term.
The entry period to stand for the 2012 Vestry is now closed.
Thank you to all who expressed interest in following their spiritual path to the Vestry.
A PDF document is available here or directly on our website with information about the candidates. Please visit the site and learn about the candidates.
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Please join us for many Parish activities. Here's a sampling of upcoming events - a full list is available online
December 17 @ 10:30am
Semi-Annual Cleaning of Church (lunch provided)
December 18 @ 12:00pm
Our Lady of Walsingham Coffee Hour
December 18 @ 4:30pm
Advent Lessons & Carols
December 23 until January 5
Office Closed
December 23 @ 10:30am
Decorating the Church
December 24 @ 7:30am
Homeless Feeding & Outreach
December 24
Christmas Eve Services
5:00pm Family Mass 11:00pm Midnight Mass
December 25
Christmas Day
8:00am Low Mass 10:30am Choral High Mass
December 26 @ 5pm
Boxing Day Party at Rectory
December 31 @ 10:30pm
New Year's Eve Mass
January 6 @ 7:30pm
Epiphany High Mass
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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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History online
Articles and photos from the early years of St. Thomas the Apostle are now available on our website!
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Video Introductions
A brief introduction to the liturgy at St. Thomas:
 | | St Thomas Liturgy Sampler.mov |
A brief introduction to St. Thomas, its history, its place in Hollywood, the Damien Chapel and the organ.
 | | Introduction to St. Thomas |
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