|
|
|
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 Third Sunday Before Advent |
To view more sermons, go to our
St. Thomas YouTube page!!!
|
|
Thanksgiving Eve
 On Wednesday, 27 November, the Eve of Thanksgiving, St. Thomas Parish will be celebrating a Solemn Mass with guest organist Blake Howard accompanying traditional Thanksgiving hymns! All are encouraged to attend. |
|
LASchola to sing The Mass for Five Voices by William Byard and Premiere "Asperges me" by St. Thomas Parishioner Mason Shefa
30 November 2013 at 5:00PM.
During last months Vigil Mass we experienced the beauty of Byrd's "Mass for Four Voices." This month will continue the theme of Byrd with "The Mass for Five Voices." The series of masses shows Byrd in a reflective mode: it would seem that he composed these cycles as exercises, as easily performable functional music, and as historical examples. Though they are straightforward in design, the masses possess a "classical" quality of precision and balance. Their simple expression and contrapuntal concision make them unique in Renaissance music, and early examples of the classical spirit which was to dominate Europe two hundred years after Byrd's time.
The LASchola will also premier the work "Asperges Me" by Saint Thomas the Apostle parishioner, Mason Shefa. Mr. Shefa is currently a student at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.
All are warmly invited.
 | |
Mason Shefa
|
|
|
Advent Candle Sponsors
 Sponsors are requested for the Advent Candles. Please contact the Parish Office if you are interested in sponsoring a candle ($25/week). One candle is available each Sunday in Advent and your dedication will be printed on the Sunday requested. |
|
On Saturday, 21 December at 5pm the Parish of St. Thomas the Apostle and LASchola will present Advent Lessons & Carols. This festive service will take place instead of the regularly scheduled Latin Vigil Mass.
|
|
Christmas & Epiphany Schedule
Tuesday, 24 December - Christmas Eve
5:00pm - Family Mass with Sermon & Hymns
11:00pm - Midnight Mass with Sermon & Choir
Wednesday, 25 December - Christmas Day
10:30am - High Mass with Sermon & Choir
Thursday, 26 December - St. Stephen's Day
5:00pm - Boxing Day Party in the Rectory
7:00pm - Low Mass
Sunday, 29 December - The First Sunday of Christmas
8:00am - Low Mass with Sermon
10:30am - High Mass with Sermon and Choir
Tuesday, 31 December - The Solemnity of Mary
10:30pm - Low Mass followed by alcohol-free New Year's Eve Potluck Party
Sunday, 5 January - The Second Sunday of Christmas
8:00am - Low Mass with Sermon
10:30am - High Mass with Sermon & Choir
Monday, 6 January - The Epiphany
7:30pm - High Mass with Choir
|
|
Christmas Flowers and Decorations
 If you would like to contribute toward the cost of Christmas flowers and decorations, please fill out the form inserted in the Orders of Service and return it no later than Sunday, 15 December. The suggested minimum donation is $25.
You may also pay via PayPal by clicking the button below. Please include in the notes your dedication as "in memory of..." and/or "in thanksgiving for...".
|
|
Stewardship Update
We are most grateful to the following 116 Parishioners (as of Thursday, 21 November) out of a potential 219 who have prayerfully considered the role of St. Thomas the Apostle in their life and made a financial pledge commitment for 2014:
Caroline Adan
Kellie Jane Adan
Mary A. Allen
Heather Amaral
Robert Amore
David Anderson
Richard E. Backlund
Tannis Benedict & Brian Frankish
Alex Bernal & Thomas Meissnest
Bob Beukema & Ken Mosesian
John Bollard
Rodney Borr
Bob Brkich & Ben Pratt
John Buckley
Malcolm Callison
Dr. Kathryn Challoner
Efrain Cisneros
Jennifer Collins
Craig Coogan
Donald Cummings
Bradford Daley
William Daniel
Fr. Ian Elliott Davies
John & Janis Davies
Lloyd Davis
Debby Driscoll
Michael Ensign Evans
David Firman
James A. Frazier
Jeff Friesen
Howard J. Gaass
Christopher Gable & Gerardo Vergara
Eddie Garcia
Clint Gray
Bob Halvorson
John Harper
Ron Hartwig
Peter & Julie Heimark
Jane A. Heitz
Sarah Hensley
Bob Henry & Linda Wendell
Helen Slayton Hughes
James B. Hughes
Luis Javier
Patricia Neal Jensen
Jeff Johnson
Dea. Walter S. Johnson
Robert John Jones
Leslie Kaplan
Jim Keltner
Stephen Kemp
Peter Kempson
Taffia B. Kennedy
Thomas Kingsley
Ken Koonce
Helen Land
Dean Larkin & Paul Park
Bruce Larson
Len Leatherwood & Ray Beaty
Joe A. Lopez
Ted Marbury
Doris Martin
Vincent G. Mazzucchelli
Andrew Miller & Whitney Wyatt
Robert D. Miller
Paul Norwood
Randy & Ruth Oglesby
Carolyn S. Olman
Erin & Windy O'Malley
Anthony Palacios & John C. Garces
Doris J. Parr
Robert & Barbara Patrick
Alison Platt
Janice Quanbeck
Enrique David Ramos & David Bartlett
Joseph Rials
Jo Ann Ridenour
Linda Rockstroh
Vincent Roncone
Christopher A. Rose
Charles L. Rumsey
Julian Sands
John Schleif
Darrell Schmitt
Daniel & Sarah Schulz
Dr. Kathleen & Garland Schweickhardt
John Scoles
Ryan Scott
Anita Sherman & Joe Muro
Stan Shipley
David A. Silvas
John Sims & Curtis Schwab
Steven Strom
Fr. Mark D. Stuart
Walt Tanner & Jessie Kostosky
Suzanne Tenner
Thomas G. Thanangadan
Reece P. Thomson
John Thornbury
Ayako Travis
James Vandernaald
Christopher Wagner & Gary Collis
Lynn Walker
Gary Warning
Joseph Warren
Michelle Waterloo
Janet West
Cynthia Williams
Jenny Williams & Joan Henehan
John Williams & Marilyn Anderson
Randy Williams
Riva Winningham & Jesse Thompson
Martin William Wolfe
Addison Wright & Laurene Landon
Rex A. Yancey
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Solemnity of Christ the King
Lections
Jeremiah 23:1-6
Psalm 46
Colossians 1:11-20
St. Luke 23:33-43
Celebrant & Preacher
Fr. Ian Elliott Davies
Deacon
Dea. Walter S. Johnson
Choir Master
Mr. James Keltner
Mr. Jeffrey Parola
|
|
Sunday's Music
Prelude
Chorale
by William Mathias
(1934-1992)
by Horatio Parker
(1863-1919)
Processional
by William Mathias
(1934-1992)
|
|
At 7pm on Black Friday (29 November) the Parish Church will host a semi-formal High Mass to be a place of beauty and sanctity as an alternative to the rushing financial, bargain-hunting world. Guest Organist Blake Howard will be playing meditative music to accompany this solemn Mass.
|
|
Treasurer's Report
As of 31 October 2013
Gifts Received
$261,540.24
Ministries Funded
$296,332.36
Balance
($34,792.12)
YTD Endowment Yield*
$21,178.80
Net Balance
($13,613.32)
Approved minutes from the October Vestry meeting are now available by CLICKING HERE!
*The full Endowment yield will be received in December.
|
|
The Reason for the Season
We continue our food drive to benefit SOVA food pantries this holiday season. We collect food throughout the year to benefit SOVA, one of our partners in the Homeless Coalition. During the upcoming holidays our goal is to fill the SOVA bin (located in the foyer near the Parish Office) as often as possible! We thank Christopher Gable for his continued work with this wonderful cause.
|
|
Advent Series
During the Wednesdays in Advent following the 7pm Mass, the Stewardship of Faith and Knowledge committee presents "Prayer and Spirituality from Different Traditions and Histories." We kick off the series on Wednesday, 4 December with special guest speaker Chazzan Danny Maseng from Temple Israel of Hollywood who will talk on the great spiritual traditions and practices of Judaism.
|
|
Scheduling Changes in December
On Saturday, 7 December, Fr. Davies and Dea. Johnson will be joining our four Delegates at the Annual Diocesan Convention. On this day, the 5pm Latin Vigil Mass is cancelled.
In December, the Vestry meeting, normally scheduled for the third Wednesday of the month, has been moved to Tuesday, 17 December to accommodate our Advent series on Wednesday.
|
|
Semi-Annual Cleaning Day
Following the 10am Mass on Saturday, 21 December, Parishioners are encouraged to attend the semi-annual cleaning of the Parish Church. Supplies and lunch will be provided. While this is an all-day affair, any amount of time contributed will be appreciated.
|
|
Annual Parish Meeting
The Annual Parish Meeting will take place in the Large Parish Hall following the High Mass on Sunday, 19 January 2014. At this meeting, the Congregation will elect four new Vestry persons to serve a three-year term, and four delegates & two alternate delegates to represent St. Thomas at the Annual Diocesan Convention. Those interested in standing for the Vestry or representing the Parish at the Diocesan Convention must request a nomination form from and submit paperwork to the Parish Office on or before Thursday, 16 January in order to be nominated. Those seeking the Vestry need to meet with Fr. Davies prior to the Annual meeting in order to understand the specifics of the ministry.
|
|
On This Day in
Christian History
On this day in 1963 President John F. Kennedy, 35th President of the United States of America, was murdered. On this very same day, C.S. Lewis and Aldous Huxley also died.
|
|
Please join us for many Parish activities. Here's a sampling of upcoming events - a full list is available online
23 November @ 7:30am
Homeless Feeding & Outreach
25 November @ 10:00am
County-USC AIDS Clinic Feeding Program
28-29 November
Parish Office Closed
30 November @ 5:00pm
LASchola sings the Mass
14 December @ 7:30am
Homeless Feeding & Outreach
17 December @ 7:30pm
Vestry Meeting
21 December @ 10:30am
Newcomer Orientation Series
|
|
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.
Please make sure to remit your citation to the Parish Office promptly. The City may not dismiss citations that are more than two weeks late.
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
