eNews
1 June 2012

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.

Sermons
  
Whit Sunday
Whit Sunday
Did you know that all of the Sermons from March 2011 on are available online at our website and on our YouTube channel?

 

Parking Update
 
We continue to work hard on removing the weekend parking restrictions that the City recently imposed.   We have had much dialogue with the City and have also requested Diocesan support.  Although we were successful in getting temporary relief for Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, the City declined to provide interim relief between now and August.  The restrictions are set to expire on August 17 unless they are renewed.  We anticipate that the area residents will request a renewal.   We are working through the political process to oppose any renewal.  Currently, we do not know when the hearing on the renewal will occur.  We will distribute that information as soon as we receive it.  We are also working on a petition for all 91 parishioners who reside in Mr. LaBonge's district.  If you receive a copy of the petition in your email inbox, that means that you live in Mr. LaBonge's district based on your address in the Church's directory.
St. Justin, Martyr at Rome, c. 165
 
St. Justin was an early Christian apologist, and is regarded as the foremost interpreter of the theory of the Logos. Most of his works are lost, but two apologies and a dialogue did survive. 
 
St. Justin's First Apology addressed to Emperor Antoninus Pius, was published in 155 and attempted to explain the faith. Christianity was not a threat to the state, he asserted, and should be treated as a legal religion. He wrote "on behalf of men of every nation who are unjustly hated and reviled." St. Justin argued that Christians are, in fact, the emperor's "best helpers and allies in securing good order, convinced as we are that no wicked man...can be hidden from God, and that everyone goes to eternal punishment or salvation in accordance with the character of his actions." He further showed that Christianity is superior to paganism, that Christ is prophecy fulfilled, and that paganism is actually a poor imitation of the true religion. 
 
However, this apology has gained the most attention for modern readers because in it he records detailed descriptions of early Christian worship (to show unbelievers that Christianity is not subversive). The most famous passage is this:
 
On the day called Sunday there is a gathering together in the same place of all who live in a given city or rural district. The memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits. Then when the reader ceases, the president in a discourse admonishes and urges the imitation of these good things. Next we all rise together and send up prayers.
 
When we cease from our prayer, bread is presented and wine and water. The president in the same manner sends up prayers and thanksgiving, according to his ability, and the people sing out their assent, saying "Amen". A distribution and participation of the elements for which thanks have been given is made to each person, and to those who are not present they are sent by the deacons.
 
Those who have means and are willing, each according to his own choice, gives what he wills, and what is collected is deposited with the president. He provides for the orphans and widows, those who are in need on account of sickness or some other cause, those who are in bonds, strangers who are sojourning, and in a word he becomes the protector of all who are in need.
 
St. Justin's Second Apology was written soon after Marcus Aurelius became emperor in 161. In these writings, he tried to show that the Christian faith alone was truly rational. He taught that the Logos (Word) became incarnate to teach humanity truth and to redeem people from the power of the demons. 

Four years later, St. Justin and his disciples were arrested for their faith. When the prefect threatened them with death, St. Justin said, "If we are punished for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, we hope to be saved." They were taken out and beheaded. Since he gave his life for the "true philosophy," St. Justin has been surrnamed Martyr.
In This Issue
Sermons
Parking Update
Volunteers Needed
Coming Soon...
Trinity Sunday

  

Lections

Isaiah 6:1-8
Psalm 29
Romans 8:12-17
St. John 3:1-17

Celebrant & Preacher

Fr. Ian Elliott Davies

 

Deacon

Dea. Walter S. Johnson


Choir Master & Pianist
Mr. James Keltner
Looking for Volunteers

 

We have a few production companies using our facilities in the coming months, and we're looking for Parishioners interested in volunteering to be our site representatives. Please email the office if you are interested and available. 

On This Day in Church History 

 

On this day in 1843 Isabella Baumfree, having received a vision of God telling her to "travel up an' down the land showin' the people their sins an' bein' a sign unto them," leaves New York and changes her name to Sojourner Truth. She became one of the most famous abolitionists and women's rights lecturers in American history.

Coming Soon...

 

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

 

9 June @ 7:30am

Homeless Feeding & Outreach


16 June @ 10:30am 

Newcomer Orientation Series

 

20 June @ 7:30pm

Vestry Meeting
 

23 June @ 7:30am

Homeless Feeding & Outreach

 

23 June @ 5:00pm

LASchola sings the Mass

 

25 June @ 9:30am

County-USC AIDS Clinic Feeding Program

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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