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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. |
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Sermons
 | | The Eighteenth Sunday After Trinity |
To see more sermons and services go to our YouTube Page!
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Ebola Discussion This Sunday
Parishioner Dr. Kathryn Challoner MD will lead the lecture and discussion "An Update on Ebola". This event, part of our Stewardship of Faith & Knowledge, will take place this Sunday at 9:15am. All are invited!
Dr. Challoner, an expert in international emergency medicine, will be deployed to Haiti in November to work at the Trauma Hospital in Port au Prince Haiti, and then she will travel to Liberia in 2015.
 | | Dr. Challoner (left) visiting a refugee camp in Liberia |
 | | Dr. Challoner (center) in Liberia. |
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Organ Update
The main organ blower has been reinstalled. Weston reports that the rebuilders did a perfect job in all aspects and the unit is new in every way. It is now hooked into the west chamber section of the organ; the right chambers will remain on temporary blowers for their rebuilding.
The blower has very little vibration now by itself and is also mounted on springs and multiple dampers so that no vibration goes into the building. The soundproofing in the blower room has not been installed, so the goal of quietness is on its way in the next while.
There have been comments about the huge size of the blower that it looks like the 'Titanic'. Weston notes that the blower is mostly empty space. There are a couple small fans inside and lots of area for the air to move in. It is basically an overgrown hair dryer.
Some people have talked about how the lights in the church used to dim when the organ was turned on - that it was sort of fun, maybe spooky. This dimming happens when the blower motor is first getting up to speed. After that it mainly glides. It's like a car where you step on the gas to get it up to speed and then back off as it glides along.
Thank you to everyone who has supported the Capital Campaign for helping make Weston's renovation of the St. Thomas Memorial Organ a reality!
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All Souls' Day
Three Requiem Masses will take place on All Souls' Day (Monday, 3 November) at 8am, 12noon, 7:30pm. Every name from the Parish Chantry Book will be prayed for during the course of the day, and at the 7:30pm Requiem Mass, the Parish Choir will be singing selections by Morales, Duruflé, and Fauré.
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Free Flu Shots
CALL TO ARMS!!!
Get ready to roll up your sleeve for a free flu shot. Walgreens will be providing free flu shots in the Parish Hall on Sunday, 16 November from 9am to 1pm. Everyone in the Parish is welcome.
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Thanksgiving Eve Mass
 On Wednesday, 26 November at 7:30pm, St. Thomas Parish will be celebrating a Solemn Mass with Guest Organist Blake Howard accompanying traditional Thanksgiving hymns! This is a very festive tradition at St. Thomas, and all are encouraged to attend. |
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Stewardship Update
A Century of Service
We are most grateful to the following 22 Parishioners (as of Thursday, 23 October) out of a potential 227 who have prayerfully considered the role of St. Thomas the Apostle in their life and made a financial pledge commitment for 2015:
Craig B. Coogan
Donald Cummings
Canon Ian Elliott Davies
Lloyd R. Davis
Ruth Dunham
Michael Ensign Evans
Clint Gray
Ron Hartwig
Peter & Julie Heimark
Joan Henehan & Jennifer Williams
Jeffrey Hyatt
Luis Javier & Laurence Jackson
Patricia Neal Jensen
Dea. Walter S. Johnson
D. Jones
Joe Lopez
Doris Martin
Anita & Joe Muro
Carolyn S. Olman
Bradley Upham
Joseph Winford Warren
Michael & Shelley Williamson
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Stewardship Meditation
Being Open to God's Will
Sometimes people contrast giving with receiving. In fact, it seems that learning to give often depends on having first learned to receive! Both giving and receiving depend on being able to focus on something other than oneself.
The Blessed Virgin Mary is a prime example. In the Gospel of St. Luke 1:26 - 38 we find the account of the Annunciation. In the last of these verses (v. 38), we hear Our Lady's response, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." Like many other holy people in the Scriptures, Mary's heart is open to God and His purposes. Because her heart is open, she does not oppose God's will with her own will. To receive God's gifts we must first be open to God's will. Our will must not stand in the way.
Sometimes this is because we have to change our understanding if we are to receive a gift. St. Peter was certainly a faithful follower of Jesus, yet he sometimes found it difficult to receive the gifts Jesus wanted to bestow on him. A classic example was his resistance when Jesus prepared to wash his feet. In St. John's Gospel 13:8 he said, "You will never wash my feet."
St. Peter understood his relationship to Jesus in a certain way. Jesus understood their relationship differently. St. Peter expected to serve the Lord and he would have gladly washed the feet of Jesus. He could not, however, imagine his Lord washing his feet. He could not imagine the depth of the love emanating from the Sacred Heart of Jesus. His mind had to be changed before he could receive the gift. When Jesus said to him, "Unless I wash you, you have no share with me," Peter replied, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" ( St. John 13:9). St. Peter's mind had changed.
How often our minds can get stuck on a certain understanding of reality that may not be God's understanding! When this happens it is almost impossible to receive God's gifts. And, if we cannot receive, then it is very difficult to be in a relationship with God.
Prayer: O God of abundance, open mine eyes to a new understanding of what thou doth intend for me. Amen.
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The Last Sunday After Trinity
Lections
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Psalm 90:1-6
I Thessalonians 2:1-8
St. Matthew 22:34-end
Celebrant & Preacher
Deacon
Mr. Jeffrey Parola
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Sunday's Music
Prelude
Canzonetta
by Willim Mathias
(1934-1992)
Offertory
Consolations, No. 4
by Franz Liszt
(1811-1886)
Postlude
Toccata cromatica con durezze e ligature
by Johann Caspar Kerll
(1627-1693)
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Evensong Service
at Holy Trinity Church
Fr. Mark D. Stuart invites all Parishioners to Holy Trinity Episcopal Church (100 N Third Ave. Covina) on Sunday, 9 November for a very special Evensong Service at 4pm commemorating the 100th anniversary of Remembrance Day.
Under the auspices of Daughters of the British Empire in CA, Royal Canadian Legion Western Zone, British United Services Club, and American Legion, those who gave their lives in the service of their country will be honored with a traditional program of music and prayer.
Canon Ian Elliott Davies will be the guest preacher.
In order to plan the service & reception effectively, an RSVP is requested. RSVP HERE
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The Guibord Center Presents "Sacred Texts in Sacred Places:
Jewish Sacred Texts"
On Sunday, 9 November at 3pm at Wilshire Boulevard Temple (3663 Wilshire Blvd) "Jewish Sacred Texts" will take place. Learn about the Torah from Rabbi Beau Shapiro in the magnificent, newly-renovated Wilshire Boulevard Temple, founded in 1862 (as Congregation B'nai B'rith).
Space is limited, so don't delay!
CLICK HERE for more information.
CLICK HERE to register.
All events at the Guibord Center are offered at no charge!
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On This Day in
Christian History
On this day in 1648 the Peace of Westphalia ended central Europe's Thirty Years War. Extending equal political rights to Catholics and Protestants (including religious minorities), the peace treaties also marked the first use of the term "secularization" (in discussing some church property that was to be distributed among the warring parties).
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Please join us for many Parish activities. Here's a sampling of upcoming events - a full list is available online
25 October @ 7:30am
Homeless Feeding & Outreach
25 October @ 5:00pm
LASchola sings Latin Vigil Mass
27 October @ 10:00am
County-USC AIDS Clinic Feeding Program
8 November @ 7:30am
Homeless Feeding & Outreach
11 November
15 November @ 10:30am
Newcomer Orientation Series
19 November @ 7:30pm Vestry Meeting
27-28 November
Parish Office Closed
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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, contest the ticket by filling out the form found CLICKING HERE! Contact the Office if you have any issues.
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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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