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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
 | | All Saints Festival Sunday |
To see more sermons and services go to our YouTube Page!
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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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On Sunday, 16 November in the Rectory following the High Mass, the "Let's Talk About..." series continues with this week's topic being "The History of the Church" led by Michael Ensign.
All are invited.
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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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Advent Lessons & Carols
On Sunday, 7 December at 5pm, St. Thomas and LASchola will present Advent Lessons & Carols. As we prepare to celebrate the glorious coming of Christ, join us in our traditional celebration of Advent Lessons and Carols with the LASchola, under the direction of Gerald Craft and organist Jeffrey Parola. Let the words of the Prophets and Gospels move you. Surround yourself in the beauty of Saint Thomas' Neo-Gothic church. Let the exuberance and grace of the schola's voices open your heart. Revel in the sounds of Saint Thomas' English-Romantic organ. Don't cheat yourself from the opportunity to nourish your soul with the joys of the season. Bring your friends and neighbors! You'll be glad you did. Reception to follow.
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Stewardship Update
A Century of Service
We are most grateful to the following 66 Parishioners (as of Thursday, 6 November) 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:
Mary A. Allen
Lela Anderson
Michael J. Austin
Richard E. Backlund
David Bartlett
John Bollard
Rodney Borr
Malcolm Callison
Craig B. Coogan
Fr. John & Dea. Charleen Crean
Donald Cummings
Brad Daley
Canon Ian Elliott Davies
Lloyd R. Davis
Ruth Dunham
Michael Ensign Evans
David Firman
Howard J. Gaass
Christopher Gable & Gerardo Vergara
Christopher Gragg
Clint Gray
John Harper
Ron Hartwig
Peter & Julie Heimark
Joan Henehan & Jennifer Williams
Bob Henry & Linda Wendell
Sarah Hensley
Helen Slayton Hughes
James B. Hughes
Jeffrey Hyatt
Luis Javier & Laurence Jackson
Patricia Neal Jensen
Dea. Walter S. Johnson
D. Jones
Stephen Kemp
Dawna Kemper
Taffia Kennedy
Robert Lee
Joe Lopez
Doris Martin
Vincent G. Mazzucchelli
Andrew Miller & Whitney Wyatt
Robert D. Miller
Anita & Joe Muro
Ruth & Randy Oglesby
Carolyn S. Olman
Jeffrey Parola
Janice Quanbeck
Eddie Quintana
Jo Ann Ridenour
Charles L. Rumsey
John V. Schleif
Stan Shipley
Christine, Dana, and Vivian Snyder
Fr. Mark D. Stuart
Suzanne Tenner
Reece P. Thomson
John Thornbury
Bradley Upham
Christopher Wagner & Gary Collis
Lynn Walker
Gary Warning
Joseph Winford Warren
Charles Wells
Christopher White
Michael & Shelley Williamson
If you would like to download a pledge card, you may do so by CLICKING HERE!
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Stewardship Meditation
Looking Ahead
Sometimes giving generously is not always about the immediate need. It may be in addition to the immediate need. Our life experience teaches us what to anticipate or expect. Sometimes our generosity flows from foreseen circumstances.
Again we can refer to the parable of the "Good Samaritan". A simple man traveling down the road gives directly. He meets the immediate need that appears before him - the need of the man who fell among thieves. His immediate needs were evident, but the Samaritan saw beyond these to provide for future care. He gave two denarii to the innkeeper and said, "Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend."
We are challenged to be generous not only to immediate needs, but also those that we may not see. This can be difficult, because it requires trust. It is hard for many of us to move out of our comfort zone and challenge the status quo. Some feel that just "holding the line" is good enough, while others want to reach for greater things. Our beloved Parish of St. Thomas the Apostle would not even exist were it not for people who chose to challenge the status quo. Our wonderful building on Hollywood Blvd. would not be here were it not for those who dreamed and then had the courage to reach for that dream. Our vestry has set some goals and visions for 2015 but they need each and every one of us to make them a reality. We, like the Good Samaritan, are challenged to take a step of faith.
Prayer: O God of abundance, help me not to judge the foolishness of a man who would travel alone on a lonely road surrounded by danger. Instead, help me to be generous that I may grow in faith and trust others with the gifts You have entrusted to me. Amen.
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The Third Sunday Before Advent (Remembrance Sunday)
Lections
Amos 5:18-24
Psalm 70
I Thessalonians 4:13-end
St. Matthew 25:1-13
Celebrant
Preacher
Dean John Crean
Deacon
Mr. Jeffrey Parola
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Sunday's Music
Prelude
"Prière du Christ montant vers son Père" from L'Ascension
by Olivier Messiaen
(1908-1992)
Offertory
Chorale
by William Mathias
(1934-1992)
Postlude
Prélude en ut majeur
by Jules Massenet
(1842-1912)
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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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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 1837 Presbyterian minister and newspaper editor Elijah Lovejoy was murdered in Alton, Illinois. After he defended a black man burned at the stake by a mob, Lovejoy was accused of inciting slaves. His press was destroyed by vandals three times, and when a mob tried to destroy his warehouse, he was shot trying to save it. His death helped to galvanize the abolitionist movement.
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Please join us for many Parish activities. Here's a sampling of upcoming events - a full list is available online
8 November @ 7:30am
Homeless Feeding & Outreach
11 November
15 November @ 10:30am
Newcomer Orientation Series
19 November @ 7:30pm Vestry Meeting
22 November @ 7:30am
Homeless Feeding & Outreach
22 November @ 5:00pm
LASchola sings Latin Vigil Mass
24 November @ 10:00am
County-USC AIDS Clinic Feeding Program
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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