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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 Feast of St Francis of Assisi |
 | | The Seventeenth Sunday After Trinity |
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New Sign
After several months of work, a new sign was designed and installed last week at the corner of Hollywood Blvd. and Gardner St. We have a bold new presence in the 'hood. The bottom half, which currently lists the Mass times, is interchangeable for special holidays and feasts.
Special thanks to Ken Koonce and Evelyn Davis for spearheading and implementing with their expertise in publicy and signage, Brad Chambers for his impeccably inflexible architectural standards, Clint Gray for his special gift donation to help with the cost, the Vestry which took a leap of faith with our limited budget, Lazo Designs and Dzigner Signs for the construction, and George Campos Company for the installation.
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Spring Cleaning in the Fall
Please join us on Saturday, 20 October for a Parish Cleaning Day! Our annual spring event had to be postponed this year because of critical volunteers taking early vacations. Now that the summer heat is lifting, it's time to lift up our shirtsleeves and get the parish ready for the many holidays ahead of us. If you can help clean our beautiful new windows in the chapels and transept, or give the sanctuary a good dusting, vacuuming, and mopping, please join us! Donuts and coffee will be available in the morning, and pizza for lunch. We'll start at 10:30am, but feel free to come by whenever it is convenient for you. There will be plenty to do! If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Ken Koonce, People's Warden (kkoonce@roadrunner.com/323-856-5844)
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Stewardship Reflection
Reflection #5
St. Matthew 23:1-12
He that is greatest among you
shall be your servant...
In the culture of sports, it is proclaimed by owners, players and fans: "We're Number One!" this declaration is accompanied by holding one's hands up in the air with the index finger pointing to the sky. So, "who's Number One?" In the time of Jesus, the Pharisees were among the groups in Jewish society with prominent place and power. Certainly, this was deserved due to historical heritage, scriptural knowledge, and spiritual piety. The Pharisees wore liturgical vestments in public that were "broad and long" in order to demonstrate "We are Number One!" Jesus the One Son of God and One Son of Man warned the disciples and those in the crowd against seeking to be Number One. Jesus used the misdirected beliefs and misguided practices of the Pharisees as a caution. The Pharisees had built a discipline that contradicted the very teaching they espoused. The Pharisees did not seek first the Kingdom of Heaven, rather human recognition. The Pharisees were more concerned about making a fashion statement than engaging a faith commitment.
Jesus is our Teacher who invites you and me to a faith commitment. We are called to believe the words of Jesus. We are encouraged to practice discipleship founded on Christ. We are to have a faith based in the Oneness of God in Christ. God in Christ is Number One! This Divine Oneness binds us in spiritual unity as people of God. Making a pledge commitment through intentional and proportional giving is indeed faith commitment. We know that like the Pharisees, it is easy to be seduced by property, power and prestige. We can be easily seduced by money, using it to seek out not just human recognition, but our very identity. The greatest challenge of the spiritual life is to claim the identity of Jesus for ourselves, to affirm again and again that through our baptism we are one in Christ.
In the city of San Antonio, there lives a man named David Robinson. While a member of the Spurs professional basketball team, Mr. Robinson heard the teachings of Christ and turned his life to the Holy One. Servanthood and stewardship in Christ became Number One for Mr. Robinson. His faith commitment has led to the giving of millions of dollars to combat hunger and support the homeless, children, and an inner-city school. David Robinson has learned that the "greatest among us shall be servant." The servant who gives, offers, and shares is "Number One in Christ."
Each time we feast at the Lord's table we receive the body of Christ and become the Living Christ. Through the bread and wine, we celebrate a meal
 of gratitude for a life of gratitude for our oneness in Christ.
The Rev. Richard J. Aguilar Priest-in-Charge, St. Margaret's Church, Diocese of Southeast Florida |
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The Guibord Center Presents
Baha'i 101
Sunday, 14 Octrober 1:30pm
St. John's Pro Cathedral Community Hall 514 W. Adams Blvd. Did you know: 1. The Baha'i faith is an independent world religion with nearly 6 million followers. 2. It is the second-most widespread faith in the world (after Christianity). 3. Baha'i followers accept the divinity of Jesus, Buddha, Krishna & Mohamed. 4. There is no clergy in the Baha'i faith. 5. Baha'i governance is conducted by institutions of the faith elected by the general membership. 6. Baha'i elections are conducted by secret ballot without nominations or electioneering. Learn more about the Baha'i faith from Randoph Dobbs of the Los Angeles Baha'i Center! A reception will follow. |
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The Nineteenth Sunday After Trinity
Lections
Job 23:1-9, 16-end
Psalm 22:1-15
Hebrews 4:12-end
St. Mark 10:17-31
Celebrant
Fr. Ian Elliott Davies
Preacher
Ms. Shireen Baker, Seminarian
Deacon
Choir Master
Mr. James Keltner
Organist
Mr. Jeffrey Parola
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Support a Seminarian
One of our Parish Seminarians, Shireen Baker, has been given a chance to study at St. George's College in Jerusalem this January. The great thing about this adventure is that a large portion of the trip, like tuition and room & board, is paid for by her seminary, but she is expected to raise the money for airfare and a bunch of other incidentals, which is estimated to cost around $2000.
If you would like to contribute, please make your check payable to St. Thomas the Apostle and write "Scholarship Fund" in the memo section.
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Diocesan AIDS Mass
On Sunday, 21 October at 5pm, St. Marks, Upland (330 E. 16th St.) will host the Diocesan AIDS Mass. Bp. Mary Glasspool will Celebrate and Preach at the annual service for remembrance and intercession on behalf of all those who have died, and those who are still living with HIV/AIDS in the Diocese of Los Angeles. The first panel of a Diocesan AIDS Quilt will be displayed and ready for attendees to add their loved ones' names and memories. A reception in the Parish Hall will follow the service.
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Potluck Garden Party!
On Saturday, 27 October following the 5pm Vigil Mass, join us for a Potluck Garden Party! This is a wonderful opportunity to meet with Clergy, Parishioners, the LASchola singers, and new faces! Please tell your friends and family. For more info, contact David Silvas (626) 818-5128 or CLICK HERE to send an email!
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All Souls' Day
On Friday, 2 November three Requiem Masses will take place (8am, 12pm, 7:30pm). Every name in the Parish Chantry Book will be prayed for during the course of the day, and at the 7:30pm Mass, the Parish Choir will be singing a Requiem Mass.
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Thanksgiving Eve
On Wednesday, 21 November on the Eve of Thanksgiving, St. Thomas Parish will be celebrating a Solemn Mass with Guest Organist Jason Klein accompanying traditional Thanksgiving hymns. All are encouraged to attend.
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On This Day in
Christian History
On this day in 1518, German reformer Martin Luther underwent an excruciating interview about his 95 Theses (posted one year earlier) with Cardinal Thomas Cajetan in Augsburg. It as so painful, Luther later recalled, that he could not even ride a horse because his bowels ran freely from morning to night.
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Please join us for many Parish activities. Here's a sampling of upcoming events - a full list is available online
13 October @ 7:30am
Homeless Feeding & Outreach
17 October @ 7:30pm
Vestry Meeting
20 October @ 10:30am
Newcomer Orientation Series
22 October @ 9:30am
County-USC AIDS Clinic Feeding Program
27 October @ 7:30am
Homeless Feeding & Outreach
27 October @ 5:00pm LASchola sings the Mass
12 November
Parish Office Closed
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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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