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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
 | | The Ninth Sunday After Trinity |
For more videos from the Parish, including all sermons dating back to March 2011, visit the Parish YouTube Homepage!
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No Parking Restrictions to be Lifted!
On Wednesday, 8 August, a large contingent of St. Thomas Parishioners led by Fr. Davies attended a meeting of the Transportation Committee of the Los Angeles City Council. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the Parish's attorney Julie Heimark, as well as many others, Councilman Tom LaBonge urged the Transportation Committee, which in turn made the recommendation to the City Council, that the current No Parking restriction be lifted for Gardner Street on Sundays from 8am to 7pm. The Transportation Committee also instructed the Department of Transportation to provide the Parish with written confirmation that they will not enforce permit parking restrictions on major holidays, such as Christmas and Easter.
The current weekend No Parking restrictions will remain in effect until at least 18 August when they are due to expire. The City Council will vote on the Transportation Committee's recommendation later this month. Assuming the vote is positive, the new Gardner Street restrictions will be:
No Parking Anytime Except
Sunday through Friday
2-Hour Parking
8am - 7pm
Handicap placards will still be exempt from the restrictions.
 | | St. Thomas folks who attended the Transportation Committee meeting. |
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Mary Sumner, Founder of the Mothers' Union, 1921
 Today is the commemoration of Mary Sumner, who founded the Mothers' Union, an international Christian charity that seeks to support families worldwide.
Sumner dedicated herself to raising her children and helping her husband, Priest and eventual Bishop George Sumner, in his ministry by providing music and Bible classes. In 1876, when her eldest daughter gave birth, she was reminded how difficult she had found the burden of motherhood. She was inspired to call a meeting of mothers in the parish to offer mutual support. Her plan was quite radical in its day as it involved calling women of all social classes to support one another and to see motherhood as a profession as important as those of men, if not more so. The first meeting found Sumner so overcome with nervousness that her husband had to speak for her and invite the women to return next week. At that second meeting, she gathered enough courage to lead her own meeting.
Rapidly, the Mothers' Union spread to throughout the United Kingdom, and, in 1896, the Mothers' Union Central Council was formed. Sumner was unanimously elected president, a post she held into her nineties. In 1897, during her Diamond Jubilee, Queen Victoria became patron of the Mothers' Union, giving it an unprecedented stamp of approval. The Mothers' Union would spread out through the British Empire setting up branches in New Zealand, Canada, and India. Sumner lived to lead the Mothers' Union to act in rebuilding the heart of Britain after the First World War.
Today, its members are not all mothers or even all women, as there are many parents, men, widows, singles and grandparents involved in its work. Its main aim is to support marriage and family life, especially through times of adversity.
Sumner died on this day in 1921 at the age of 92. She is buried with her husband in the grounds of Winchester Cathedral. She will be commemorated today at the 7pm Mass.
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The Dormition and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Lections
Revelation 11:19--12:6, 10
Psalm 45:10-end
Galatians 4:4-7
St. Luke 1:46-55
Celebrant & Preacher
Fr. Ian Elliott Davies
Deacon
Choir Master
Mr. James Keltner
Organist
Mr. Jeffrey Parola
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Blessed Brat Feast
This Sunday, 12 August, the Parish Cell of Our Lady of Walsingham will be hosting "The Blessed Brat Feast Day" immediately following the High Mass. They'll be serving brats with all the fixin's!
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New Catechism Class Forming
On Saturday, 8 Sept. the new Catechism Class will begin. The class is the cornerstone of our Stewardship of Faith and Knowledge program. Anybody interested in being Baptized, Confirmed, Received into the Episcopal Church or Parishioners wishing to renew their vows, please contact the Parish Office to schedule an appointment. The course commitment is a weekly class each Saturday morning starting with a 10am Mass; the process leads up to a retreat and culminates at the Great Vigil of Easter with the Bishop. Graduates have a deeper understanding of themselves, their relationship with God and with the Parish community. Space is limited.
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On This Day
in Christian History
On this day in 70 AD, Roman troops, led by Emperor Vespasian to put down a Jewish rebellion known as the First Jewish-Roman War or The Great Revolt, break through the walls of Jerusalem and destroy the temple. Some said that the event occurred on the same day of the year as the earlier destruction of Solomon's temple by Babylonians.
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Please join us for many Parish activities. Here's a sampling of upcoming events - a full list is available online
11 August @ 7:30am
Homeless Feeding & Outreach
15 August @ 7:30pm Vestry Meeting
18 August @ 10:30am
Newcomer Orientation Series
22 September @ 7:30am
Homeless Feeding & Outreach
22 September @ 5:00pm LASchola sings the Mass 27 August @ 9:30am County-USC AIDS Clinic Feeding Program
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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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