The Eleventh Sunday After Trinity

To see more sermons and services go to our YouTube Page!

Click on the video below to see Beethoven's "Allegretto alla Polacca" from Serenade in D Major, Op. 8 performed by Melody Chang, Alejandro Duque & Michael Kaufman at the church on 14 June 2014 and presented by Sunset ChamberFest & St. Thomas the Apostle, Hollywood.

"Allegretto alla Polacca" from Serenade in D Major, Op. 8 by Ludwig van Beethoven

On Sunday, 5 October, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi (affectionately known as "Fleas' Sunday") will be celebrated at St. Thomas. At the 10:30am High Mass, bring your pets to receive a special blessing. All [properly leashed or contained] pets are welcome!

This week, we received the letter below from the Old Mission Santa Barbara:

Dear Parishioners of St. Thomas,

It is with much regret and a heavy heart that I notify you of the final decision that has been made by the Franciscan Friars regarding the Mission Renewal Center as of August 6, 2014. Even after my request for reconsideration of their initial plan to close the MRC, they have come back with the announcement that the retreat center will be closing.

The administration's written statement is as follows: "After nearly a year of careful analysis, deliberation and discernment, we have decided to close the Mission Renewal Center (MRC) effective December 8, 2014. The MRC closing will include both overnight and day use and it will result in the loss of employment for the employees working in MRC administration, housekeeping and in the kitchen."

A verbal comment that was made at the announcement meeting presented the closure as a "new beginning" with the friars taking a step back and evaluating various opportunities they have been given as to the role of the mission and what would work best for the friars' ministry and the community.

I am sorry that this news is what it is. I have made so many friends with not only the organizers, but also members of all the groups and it has been like having a large, extended family of friends. I am very sad that these relationships will be ending. I wish all the best and pray for you in finding 'new' homes to have your retreats. And please pray that I too will find a 'new' home that will be as rewarding as this position has been working with all of you.

Peace, Prayers and Blessings,

Marion Schlinger
Director, Mission Renewal Center
 

Cry and pray for Liberia

A Medical Teaching mission (a Trauma symposium) was at T-3 and with less than 3 days to go was cancelled. A Trauma symposium had a very low priority at this moment. Dr Benedict Kolee (CMO Jackson Doe Memorial hospital, Nimba County, Liberia) sat in my backyard describing the deteriorating situation in his homeland to my dedicated team.

A catastropic epidemic was occurring with Ebola and the situation was worsening by the hour. Humanitarian aid had been slow in responding. Doctors without Borders had been hanging in against overwhelming odds. Hospitals were closed. Health care providers described having to care for patients without proper protective gear such as gloves.

Two physicians I had known, my friends, had died from Ebola.
Bodies were lying in homes and on the streets. Our Frranciscan Third Order Medical Scholarship program was on hold also as all the educational institutions had been closed.

Dr Kolee returned to Liberia taking with him the 200 educational CDs (made for the symposium), an ultrasound machine that I had gotten for Liberia and donations of ultrasound gel and intraosseous needle kits. Almost immediately he was emailing for help. Phebe hospital (an Episcopal/Lutherna hospital) had closed. A physician had been infected but had survived but 3 nurses had died. The physician had had no gloves and had been using plastic garbage bags on his hands when caring for a patient.

Our greatest asset in Liberia was this dedicated Anglican physician who was my mentee and scholarship recipient and now my colleague and friend who knew everyone and could pull off almost anything (and believe me in the past, we have done just that).

With the help of the Franciscan Third Order, $8000.00 was immediately wired to purchase bioprotecctive gear and gloves -which was admiitedly only a small stopgap in now what was being called one of the worst humanitarian disasters in history. Tonight I received the joy filled news that Phebe Hospital will re-open - in part thanks to our help and we will be named in that ceremony.

I know saints named only posthumously but I think at this time the Rev Tom Johnson and all the members of the Medical Mission fund to Africa really need to be nominated.

The world is learning what we should have known before -that there are no geographical borders with illness or poverty - that we are all intertwined -as John Donne said so many years ago

'Seek the welfare of the land to which I have sent you, and pray to the LORD on its behalf; for in its welfare you shall find your own.'

Kathryn TSSF 

Our Latin Vigil Mass Cantor, Hilary Fraser-Thomson, is a member of the brand-new choral ensemble THE L.A. CHORAL LAB. Their first concert, Introducing the L.A. Choral Lab, is on Friday, 26 September at 8pm, at Zipper Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles. You are warmly invited to come experience a night of beautiful choral music in an intimate setting. The program includes works by Moses Hogan, Eric Whitacre, and Vincent Persichetti, along with new works by local composers. Tickets and more information: www.lachorallab.org  

Music is a vital and essential part of our devotion and identity as members of our beautiful parish, and serving in music ministry is an excellent way to make a profound impact on the spiritual life of our community. The St. Thomas Choir is looking for parish members who are interested in serving the parish as music ministers, who possess a solid singing voice, and who approach ministry and music-making with optimism and openness. If interested, please contact our Organist/Choirmaster, Jeffrey Parola, or speak to him after High Mass. 

I had a terrific time with you. I look forward to being back at St. Thomas the Apostle in the future.

On this day in 1888 sensational preacher Billy Sunday married Helen Amelia Thompson, who became his evangelistic campaign adviser. Her organizational talents helped raise him to national prominence.

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.

If you receive a ticket, contest the ticket by filling out the form found CLICKING HERE! Contact the Office if you have any issues.