|
|
|
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. |
|
|
LASchola to sing Victoria's
Missa Ave Maris Stella
On Saturday, 26 April LASchola will accompany the 5pm Latin Vigil Mass with Missa Ave Maris Stella by Tomás Luis de Victoria.
Of all the great late Renaissance Spanish composers Victoria is considered one of the greatest. His music is perfectly suited to its purpose which was not only to adorn the Liturgy but also to express the Catholicism of the Counter-reformation as defined by the Council of Trent. He wasn't a particularly prolific composer only twenty Masses have survived fifteen of which are parodies ('parodies' in the context means Masses based on a pre-existing work), one is freely composed, and four are 'paraphrase' Masses - they're based on plainchant.
 As you might suspect from its name Missa Ave Maris Stella is one of the fifteen parody Masses it's based directly on the Marian plainsong Hymn 'Ave maris stella'. It's a truly lovely work that de Victoria first published in 1576 and then reprinted it (along with the Missa O quam gloriosum in 1583). It's for four parts (SATB) and is in transposed Dorian mode - which equates to G Minor, and it is this use of the minor key that accounts for it sometimes being described as 'soulful'. I'm not sure that I'd use the word 'soulful' to describe this Mass while its true that it expresses deep feeling there's no sorrowfulness here. Victoria's intent when he was composing it was to express the idea in music of our lifting up our eyes to the heavens and fixing our gaze upon a star, the 'Star of the Sea' that is one of the Blessed Virgin Mary's titles.He does this by taking the melodic beginning of the chant (rising a fifth (D - A) and proceeding upwards from there through B-flat) which is quite a striking variation on what one would normally expect from a piece in the Dorian mode and compels the sound and our musical gaze ever upwards until it rests upon the 'Stella Maris'. You'll hear this rising theme throughout the Mass - it's de Victoria's way of highlighting the basis of his Mass. Victoria's paraphrasis of what is a very memorable chant in all voices at first glance makes it a typical late late Renaissance imitative composition but as you listen and examine it more closely you can see that de Victoria is also making use of a far older technique than imitation - cantus firmus. During the paraphrase you can hear the melody appearing from time to time in longer notes. The effect of this is to allow phrases from the chant to bring themselves to our attention by stepping out in front of the other voices. Doing this meant that de Victoria could weave a more varied and interesting musical tapestry that would normally be found in a parody Mass and it is this touch of genius combined it the artful and alluring melodic twists and turns that make this Mass such an intense pleasure to listen to.
Please join us for this beautiful mass setting to welcome in Eastertide. A reception will follow the service in the parish hall.
|
|
|
Capital Campaign Surpasses $300,000!
During the Season of Lent, a time for reflecting and acknowledging God's abundant grace, it's been heartening to see members and friends of St. Thomas the Apostle step up to pledge generously to our campaign, "Claiming our Heritage; Building our Future". We have now received pledges from 51 people totaling $313,800. That's an average pledge of more than $6,100, payable over one to five years! While there is still much work to be done, the generosity of so many of your fellow parishioners is inspiring. Just think of all that can be done to enhance our worship, maintain the beauty of the stained glass windows, keep our beautiful church secure, and serve the community. Your generosity will make the difference.
CLICK HERE to download a Capital Campaign pledge card.
Watch the Capital Campaign Address, which was delivered by Leslie Kaplan.
 | | Capital Campaign Address |
Watch a special video outlining the history of St. Thomas complete with historical photographs.
 | | St Thomas 100 Years in Hollywood |
Watch the Capital Campaign Address, which was delivered by John Schleif.
 | | Capital Campaign Address |
Watch the video below for more information!
 | St. Thomas Capital Campaign
Claiming Our Heritage, Building Our Future |
Presented by Robert Patrick
Featuring Fr. Ian Elliott Davies & Michael Ensign
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Second Sunday of Easter
Lections
Acts 2:14a, 22-32
Psalm 16
I St. Peter 1:3-9
St. John 20:19-end
Celebrant & Preacher
Fr. Ian Elliott Davies
Deacon
Dea. Walter S. Johnson
Choir Master
Mr. Jim Keltner
Mr. Jeffrey Parola
|
|
Sunday's Music
Prelude
"Offertoire" from Cycle après la Pentecôte,
Op. 57 No. 35
by Charles Tournemire
(1870-1939)
Offertory Anthem
"We Walk by Faith"
by Henry Lebedinsky
(b. 1975)
Postlude
Fanfare
by William Mathias
(1934-1992)
|
|
Vestry Report
CLICK HERE for approved minutes from the March Vestry meeting.
|
|
Parish Trip to Catalina Island
On Saturday, 26 April, celebrate spring with the St. Martin's Guild on Catalina Island! This all-day trip has always been very fun for St. Thomas Parishioners and friends. If you are interested in going, contact Marty Wolfe for pricing and more details.
|
|
Fr. John Crean
On Monday, 28 April at noon Fr. John Crean, sometime assisting priest at St. Thomas, will commemorate his 40th anniversary of ordination by Celebrating a Tridentine Mass at the High Altar at St. Thomas. All are invited to attend.
|
|
Tickets Now Available for Julian Sands Performing Pinter
CLICK HERE for tickets! On Saturday, 31 May at 7:30pm Julian Sands will perform "A Celebration of Harold Pinter" as a benefit for the St. Thomas Capital Campaign. Originally a memorial to Pinter presented by Julian at St. Thomas shortly after Pinter's death, it went on to become a highly acclaimed theatre piece, directed by John Malkovich, and performed at the Edinburgh Festival and later in New York City. A limited number of $250 VIP tickets, which include best seating and pre-show Q&A with Julian Sands in the Rectory Garden, are available. $100 premium seating & $50 general admission tickets are also available ($25 for seniors and students). All tickets include post-show reception and valet parking. All proceeds will go to the Capital Campaign. Please help make this event a success. We send our many thanks to Julian.
|
|
On This Day in
Christian History
On this day in 1214 Louis IX, king of France and saint, was born. Leader of the Seventh and Eighth Crusades (he died on the latter), he was known for his humility: he wore hair shirts and visited hospitals - where he emptied the bedpans.
|
|
Please join us for many Parish activities. Here's a sampling of upcoming events - a full list is available online
Homeless Feeding & Outreach
26 April @ 5:00pm
LASchola sings Latin Vigil Mass
County-USC AIDS Clinic Feeding Program
10 May @ 7:30am
Homeless Feeding & Outreach
Newcomer Orientation Series
21 May @ 7:30pm
Vestry Meeting
26 May
Parish Office closed
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
