eNews
28 June 2013

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
The Fourth Sunday After Trinity
The Fourth Sunday After Trinity

  

To view more sermons, go to our 

St. Thomas YouTube page!!!

Bishop Bruno Hails Supreme Court Rulings, Reaffirms Marriage Equality

Marriage equality for all was reaffirmed June 26 by the Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bruno, Bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles, who commented after the U.S. Supreme Court's announcement of its rulings on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and California's Proposition 8.
 
"Today we reaffirm that marriage equality does indeed mean marriage equality for all," Bp. Bruno said. "This understanding is widely held within the Diocese of Los Angeles and endorsed by the larger Episcopal Church through its General Convention.

"We rejoice at the repeal of DOMA's discrimination against LGBT families, and we feel confident that Gov. Brown and Attorney Gen. Harris will act swiftly to restore marriage for same-gender couples in California now that the U.S. Supreme Court action will allow the lower court's decision to stand.

"Pastoral and liturgical support for same-gender couples remains a priority in the Diocese of Los Angeles," said Bp. Bruno, who five years ago formed a diocesan Task Force on Marriage to provide consultation and collaboration in this area. Meanwhile, Episcopalians at the chur
ch-wide level, responding to General Convention actions, formed a similar body and developed liturgies for provisional use.

To offer a prayerful community response to the Supreme Court decisions, a Mass was held yesterday at St. John's Pro-Cathedral. Bp. Bruno Celebrated and Suffragan Bishop Mary D. Glasspool Preached "A Celebration of Equality."
Presiding Bishop

In the wider Episcopal Church, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori wrote "...I welcome today's decision of the United States Supreme Court that strikes down the 17-year-old law prohibiting federal recognition of same-sex civil marriages granted by the states... 

"I am deeply aware that faithful Americans find themselves on all sides of these issues, including those who have not yet clearly discerned an effective or appropriate response. It is possible to disagree AND work together for the good of the larger community. That is the bedrock of our democratic political system. It is also the foundation of life in the Body of Christ. Together we can help to build up the whole community, particularly if we have the courage to listen deeply to those who hold a different view. The Episcopal Church has an ancient tradition of attempting to hold divergent views together for the sake of deeper truth. All are beloved of God, and the flourishing of each is what we believe God intended from the beginning of creation. May we help to build a beloved community in which each and every person is treated with dignity, knowing that each and every one reflects the image of God," concluded Presiding Bishop Schori.
St. Martin's Guild
 
On Thursday, 4 July St. Martin's Guild is organizing a potluck and fireworks outing! At 6:30pm Parishioners should arrive with their favorite dish at 3001 Dell Ave. in Venice. By 9pm, the group will have walked to Marina Beach (0.3 mile away) to enjoy the 4th of July Fireworks Celebration of Marina del Rey! At 9pm explosions will be shot from a barge across the marina's main channel for twenty minutes. You may also listen to synchronized music on 88.9FM as well. See Maty Wolfe for more details.


On Saturday, 20 July St. Martin's Guild's Kitchen Klutch will next meet in the Rectory following the Vigil Mass. This group meets in a different kitchen each month to cook, enjoy a meal and enjoy each other's company! All are welcome!
Requiem: James C. Reedy

Vestryman David Silvas and his family mourn the sudden death of his uncle, James C. Reedy. On, Saturday, 13 July a Requiem Mass will take place at 5pm in the Parish Church. All are invited to support David and his family.
The Special Speakers Series at 
The Guibord Center 
Guibord Center  
  "The Bible, Women and Violence"
presented by Dr. Amy-Jill Levine
 
Sunday, 14 July 2013  
1:30pm
 
St. John's Pro-Cathedral
514 W. Adams St.

The Bible has been viewed as a misogynist text that treats women as property, sanctions their abuse, promotes their subordination, and proclaims the impossible standard of virgin mother.

How has the Bible been used to prevent women's flourishing, and how might a more historically informed and theologically aware reading recover the Bible as an inspirational resource for both women and men?

Dr. Amy-Jill Levine, Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt University Divinity School and College of Arts and Sciences, combines historical-critical rigor, literary-critical sensitivity, and a frequent dash of humor with a commitment to eliminating anti-Jewish, sexist, and homophobic theologies. 

Free Admission - Reception Follows!

For more information and to RSVP, please CLICK HERE
In This Issue
Sermons
U.S. Supreme Court Rulings
St. Martin's Guild
Requiem: James C. Reedy
The Guibord Center
Fr. Davies' Holiday
Treasurer's Report
Family Follies
Parking
Quick Links
The Fourth Sunday After Trinity Sunday

 

Lections

II Kings 2:1-2, 6-14
Psalm 77:11-end
Galatians 5:1, 13-25
St. Luke 9:51-end

Celebrant & Preacher

Fr. Mark D. Stuart

  

Deacon

Dea. Walter S. Johnson


Choir Master
Mr. James Keltner
 
Organist
Mr. Jeffrey Parola
Fr. Davies on Holiday

Through 4 July Fr. Davies will be on holiday in Great Britain celebrating his mother's 70th birthday and his parents' 50th wedding anniversary. During this time, Frs. Gary London & Mark D. Stuart will be available for the Masses and pastoral needs.
Treasurer's Report
As of 31 May 2013

Gifts Received
$138,861.28

Ministries Funded
$153,060.10

BALANCE
($14,198.82)

Approved minutes from the April Vestry meeting may be seen by CLICKING HERE.

Approved minutes from the May Vestry meeting may be seen by CLICKING HERE.
St. Thomas Family Follies

The first annual Family Follies is a fun-filled evening which takes place tomorrow, 29 June at 7pm. All ages are welcome! $10 suggested donation.
On This Day in 
Christian History 

   

On this day in 1245 Pope Innocent IV convened the Council of Lyons to deal with the "five wounds of the Church:" (1) the poor behavior of both the clergy and laity; (2) the insolence of the Saracens who occupied the Holy Land; (3) the Great East-West Schism; (4) the cruelties of the Tatars in Hungary; and (5) the persecution of the Church by Emperor Frederick II. 

Coming Soon...

 

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

   

4 July 

Parish Office Closed


7 July

Patronal Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle


13 July @ 7:30am

Homeless Feeding & Outreach

 

17 July @ 7:30pm

Vestry Meeting 

20 July @ 10:30am 

Newcomer Orientation Series

 

22 July @ 9:30am 

County-USC AIDS Clinic Feeding Program 


27 July @ 7:30am

Homeless Feeding & Outreach

 
27 July @ 5:00pm
LASchola sings the Mass 
Parking at St. Thomas

   

Regardless of what the signs read, parking on Gardner Street is now allowed on Sundays unrestricted between 7am and 1pm. There is no two-hour time limit! If you receive a ticket, please turn it in to the Parish Office.

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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