eNews
30 May 2014


 

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 Sixth Sunday of Easter
The Sixth Sunday of Easter

 

To view more sermons, go to our 

St. Thomas YouTube page!!!

Julian Sands' A Celebration of Harold Pinter Discounted Tickets Available
 
As you are likely aware, Julian Sands will be performing his critically acclaimed production of A Celebration of Harold Pinter at St. Thomas on Saturday, 31 May at 7:30pm as a benefit for our Capital Campaign. 

In order to make this an experience available to all, we are reducing the general admission and premium tickets by 50%!!!

Ticket LevelOriginal PriceCurrent Price
VIP (limited)$500.00$250.00
Premium$100.00$50.00
General Admission$50.00$25.00
Student/Senior$25.00$12.50

In order to benefit from this ticket discount, please  CLICK HERE to email the Parish Office your ticket reservation, and bring cash or a check to the event (performance begins at 7:30, doors open at 7:00).
 
There have been a limited number of tickets donated. If you are unable to pay for the event, but would still like to attend, please contact the office for details.
 
CLICK HERE to download 
a Capital Campaign pledge card. 
Life Line Screening

   

On Tuesday, 10 June, the Parish will once again host Life LIne Screening sponsored by St. Vincent Medical Center. Life Line Screening will be offering safe, painless, non-invasive preventive health screenings that are typically not part of a routine physical. Screenings to be offered are:

1. Stroke/Carotid Artery Screening ($70) - Ultrasound scan of carotid arteries that screens for buildup of fatty plaque - a leading cause of strokes.

 

2. Heart Rhythm Screening or Atrial Fibrillation ($70) - A quick and easy test using EKG electrodes placed on the arms and legs to identify the presence or absence of an irregular heartbeat.

 

3. Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening ($70) - Ultrasound screening for an abdominal aneurysm (enlargement) that could lead to a ruptured aorta.

 

4. Peripheral Arterial Disease Screening ($60) - Evaluates for peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in the lower extremities, which increases the risk of heart disease.

 

5. Osteoporosis Risk Assessment ($60) - Ultrasound screen of the heel for bone mass density. Osteoporosis is painless and silent in its early stages.

Package A (includes tests 1-4): $139
Package B (includes all 5 tests): $149

Register today by calling (888) 653-6450. Not only will you receive a $10 discount off any package priced $139 and up, but St. Thomas will also receive a $10 donation for any member that signs up through this number and attends the screening. (NOTE: St. Thomas only receives the donation if you pre-register by phone). 

Capital Campaign - Security


As a Parish in the heart of Hollywood, tucked into a corner of a bucolic neighborhood and surrounded by well-kept homes, we can sometimes be lulled into thinking we are exempt from the realities of urban life. As we have seen and experienced over the last couple of years, we are not exempt and, in fact, the physical layout of the church and hall are appealing to those looking for opportunities for mischief!

There have been multiple attempts to break into both the hall and the church, many of them successful. Although we are fortunate that no significant damage has been done, there has been theft and vandalism. From doors being forced open, to small fires being started, to the man sleeping under a pile of our vestments in the sacristy, we know that we are susceptible to crime.

Although it's impossible to always avoid being a target of crime, there are steps we can and should take to protect our sacred space and the objects and people therein. During the parish meetings in the early stages of the Capital Campaign, there was significant support for including security measures in the campaign. To that end, we've identified a number of projects that will make the property more secure without having a negative impact on people who need to regularly access the church and hall.

The most significant of these is the gates that would be installed along the courtyard entrance on Hollywood Blvd. As you can see from the renderings below and the in the Parish Hall, these gates are very much in the style and ornamentation appropriate for our church. Additional simple gating would secure the property in the back of the church, near the door to the small hall, kitchen, and entrance to the sacristies.

If the targeted funds are raised, other security measures include additional lighting throughout the premises; a total re-vamping of our locking and key systems (we have well over 40 different keys and door locks, making security difficult to manage); and, alarm systems where appropriate (smoke/fire alarm monitoring, and motion sensors to detect trespassers).

No one wants to create a fortress or give the impression that we are closed upon ourselves, fearful of the world around us. However, as stewards of so much that has been given to us over a period of 100 years, we do need to take seriously the risks we have and do what we can to protect the church and its many treasures.




The Guibord Center - A New Community Event Added to 2014 Schedule!
 


The Guibord Center Advisor Jihad Turk has graciously invited us to return to The Islamic Center of Southern California to once again experience "The Breaking of the Fast: If'tar". This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about Muslim fasting during the month of Ramadan, and to enter into conversation with one another about the meaning of fasting in your own faith tradition.

Our first If'tar event in 2012 was filmed and photographed and is available on our web site HERE. For many attendees the best parts of the conversation happened among the participants at each table, and in this case "you had to be there." And then there is the amazing hospitality provided by our hosts for the evening, The Islamic Center.

Take advantage of this special opportunity, bring a friend, and invite others to join us at this free event. You may RSVP HERE.

434 S. Vermont Ave.
Sunday, 13 July 
6:45-9:00pm
In This Issue
Sermons
Discounted Julian Sands Tickets
Life Line Screening
Chamber Concert
Capital Campaign - Security
The Guibord Center
Kitchen Klatch
Coming Soon...
Parking
ePrayer
Quick Links
The Seventh Sunday of Easter

 

Lections

Acts 1:6-14
Psalm 68:1-10
I St. Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11
St. John 17:1-11

Celebrant & Preacher

Fr. Ian Elliott Davies

  

Deacon

Dea. Walter S. Johnson

 
Choir Master
Mr. Jim Keltner

 

Organist

Mr. Jeffrey Parola
Sunday's Music

 

Prelude

"Pri�re apr�s la communion" from Livre du Saint-Sacrement
by Olivier Messiaen
(1908-1992)


Offertory Anthem

"Come, Thou Holy Spirit"
by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina 
(1525-1594)

Postlude

Salmo XIX
by Benedetto Marcello
(1686-1739)
Ministry Fair  

On Sunday, 15 June following the High Mass, the annual Ministry Fair will be held. Participants will be provided a small card, which will be marked as they visit each of the ministries represented. After the Fair, one card will be chosen at random, and its owner will be given a small gift for his or her participation. Details to follow as the event draws near.

Kitchen Klatch
  

On Saturday, 28 June following the 5pm Latin Vigil Mass, the Kitchen Klatch will meet at Jessica Kostasky & Walter Tanner's residence. The Kitchen Klatch is a wonderful opportunity for Parishioners to gather, cook a meal, share recipes, and engage in wonderful fellowship. See Marty Wolfe for details.

On This Day in 
Christian History 

   

On this day in 339, Eusebius died at the age of 74. Author of the 10-volume Ecclesiastical History, he is called the father of church history. In his day, though, he was as much a maker of history as a recorder. At the Council of Nicea, he argued for peace between the heretical Arians and Orthodox leaders like Athanasius. When Arianism (the belief that the Son of God did not always exist, but was created by - and therefore distinct from - God the Father) became hugely popular after the Council, Eusebius was one of the people to depose Athanasius. Though he wasn't an Arian himself, he strongly opposed anti-Arianism.

Coming Soon...

 

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

  

14 June @ 7:30am

Homeless Feeding & Outreach

 

18 June @ 7:30pm
Vestry Meeting

 

21 June @ 10:30am 

Newcomer Orientation Series

 

21 June @ 5:00pm
LASchola sings Evensong & Benediction

 

23 June @ 10:00am 

County-USC AIDS Clinic Feeding Program 

 

28 June @ 7:30am

Homeless Feeding & Outreach

 

4 July 

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.
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