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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 Solemnity of Christ the King |
To see more sermons and services go to our YouTube Page!
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The Fortieth Anniversary of Fr. John Crean's Priestly Ordination
Sunday celebrates the fortieth anniversary of The Very Reverend John Crean's ordination to the priesthood. He was ordained a priest on St. Andrew's Day in 1974 in the Cathedral Church of St. Andrew in and for the Diocese of Honolulu (Hawaii). The ordaining prelate was the Right Reverend Edwin Lani Hanchett, D.D., the only native born Hawaiian bishop ever ordained in the Episcopal Church.
Fr. Crean was born in New York City, grew up in Westchester County NY and Southern Connecticut. He received all his education on the East coast. He graduated from Fairfield College Preparatory School in Connecticut, a Jesuit institution, and holds a bachelor's degree cum laude from Holy Cross College, also a Jesuit institution, in Worcester Massachusetts. There he majored in German, philosophy and theology. Upon graduating from Holy Cross, he went on to receive both his master's and doctor's degrees in German from Yale. He taught at Yale for two years, at the University of Wisconsin, Madison for five, and at the University of Hawaii for twenty-five years. His final academic appointment was at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan where he taught and was department chair during his last four academic years of 1998-2002.
After ordination in Honolulu in 1974, Fr. Crean served bi-vocationally both as priest and professor. He held the ecclesial positions of associate rector, rector, program director for campus ministry, diocesan spiritual director and deanery dean in the Diocese of Hawaii.
In 1980 Fr. Crean was asked by the then diocesan bishop, Edmond Browning, to craft and direct a Spiritual Formation Program for the new Diocesan Diaconate Program. Hawaii had been identified as one of four dioceses to launch such a pilot program in the training of permanent deacons in ECUSA.
In 1996, Fr. Crean and his wife, the Reverend Deacon Charleen Crean, ordained in Honolulu in 1986, moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan where he went on to serve as rector of three successive parishes, and to run the spiritual formation program for another newly designed diaconate program in the Diocese of Western Michigan. While in that diocese he once again served several successive terms as Dean of the Grand Valley Deanery.
Since 1980, in his scholarly capacity, Fr. Crean has published and presented exclusively on the Rule of Saint Benedict. Since 1995 he has served both as coeditor and board member of MAGISTRA, A JOURNAL OF WOMEN'S SPIRITUALITY IN HISTORY.
Now, since 2010 canonically resident in the Diocese of Los Angeles, Fr. Crean has been serving on Diocesan Council as well as on the Commission on Ministry. Since 2014 he has also been appointed to the Ecumenical and Interfaith Program Group of Council. Since 2011, he has been an Adjunct Associate Priest at All Saints, Pasadena, and from January 2012-August 2013 he served as the Interim Pastor at Saint Luke the Physician, Monrovia.
Fr. Crean's most cherished post of all, however, is that of being Assistant to the Rector of his beloved home parish, Saint Thomas the Apostle, Hollywood.
While Fr. Crean very much enjoys doing full-time interim pastoral work-which he will do so soon once again commencing February 1st, 2015-he is already grieving not being on the altar every Sunday at St. Thomas, Hollywood. But-shhhhhh-Saturdays are one of his two "days off." One never knows when our Canon Rector might desperately need a relief pitcher for a Saturday evening Latin Vigil Mass! I guess one could say: Sic transit gloria Saturday!
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GoodShop / GoodSearch
We thank the following Parishioners who registered at GoodShop.com or GoodSearch.com for St. Thomas and went to GoodShop.com before shopping at online retailers and/or used GoodSearch.com as their internet search engines. Thanks to your efforts, St. Thomas received $1,545.12 this year! In total since 2009, this program has generated $3,863.39! Joan Henehan, Larry Jackson, James Kennett, Ken Koonce, James Vandernaald, Christopher Wagner, Joseph Warren. If these seven Parishioners can generate $1500, imagine what could happen if more Parishioners were involved! Register today at GoodShop.com! If you have issues setting up your free account, contact the Parish Office.
On Cyber Monday and throughout the holiday shopping season make sure to go to GoodShop.com first and see if the online retailer at which you are shopping is partnered with GoodShop.com! |
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Advent Series:
Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus
This year's Advent Series will offer a meditation, study, and discussion of the traditional Advent hymn, Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus. The presenters will focus on various theological themes suggested by the text of this hymn. Some of these themes are highlighted below:
1. Come Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free
From our fears and sins release us
Let us find our rest in Thee
2. Israel's strength and consolation
Hope of all the earth Thou art
Dear desire of every nation
Joy of every longing heart
3. Born Thy people to deliver
Born a child and yet a King
Born to reign in us forever
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring
4. By Thine own eternal spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone
By Thine all sufficient merit
Raise us to Thy glorious throne
Our 2014 Advent Series begins in the Parish Hall on Wednesday December 3rd at 7:30 p.m. with Fr. John Crean leading a discussion of the first stanza. The Advent Series will continue on Wednesday December 10th at 7:30 p.m., with Canon Ian Elliott Davies leading a discussion of the second stanza. The final meeting of the Advent series will be on Wednesday December 17th, with Mother Shireen Baker leading a discussion on the final two stanzas. A soup supper will be provided at each of the sessions. All are welcome!
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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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Christmas & Epiphany Schedule
WEDNESDAY, 24 DECEMBER
CHRISTMAS EVE
5:00pm - Family Mass with Sermon & Hymns
11:00pm - Midnight Mass with
Sermon & Choir
THURSDAY, 25 DECEMBER
CHRISTMAS DAY
10:30am - High Mass with Sermon & Choir
FRIDAY, 26 DECEMBER
ST. STEPHEN'S DAY
5:00pm - Boxing Day Party in the Rectory
7:00pm - Low Mass
SUNDAY, 28 DECEMBER
THE HOLY INNOCENTS
8:00am - Low Mass with Sermon
10:30am - High Mass with Sermon & Choir
WEDNESDAY, 31 DECEMBER
NEW YEAR'S EVE
10:30pm - Low Mass followed by alcohol-free
New Year's Eve Potluck Party
SUNDAY, 4 JANUARY 2015
THE SECOND SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS
8:00am - Low Mass with Sermon
10:30am - High Mass with Sermon & Choir
TUESDAY, 6 JANUARY 2015
THE EPIPHANY
7:30pm - High Mass with Sermon & Choir
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Stewardship Update
A Century of Service
We are most grateful to the following 127 Parishioners (as of Tuesday, 25 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:
Anonymous
Jose Abdo
Caroline Adan
Kellie Jane Adan
Mary A. Allen
David Anderson
Lela Anderson
Michael J. Austin
Richard E. Backlund
David Bartlett
Bob Beukema & Ken Mosesian
Brit Bjurstrom
John Bollard
Rodney Borr
Malcolm Callison
Nicolas Carrera & Edward Blancarte
Dr. Kathryn Challoner
Brad & Wendy Chambers
Efrain Cisneros & Clark Dilley
Craig B. Coogan
Fr. John & Dea. Charleen Crean
Jolin Crofts
Jennifer Collins & Pauline Smith
Donald Cummings
Brad Daley
Bill Daniel
Canon Ian Elliott Davies
John & Janis Davies
Lloyd R. Davis
Greg Dilger & Jeff Lawson
Debby Driscoll
Ruth Dunham
Michael Ensign Evans
David Firman
Jim Fossett
Brian Frankish & Tannis Benedict
James Frazier
Jeff & Chanel Friesen
Howard J. Gaass
Christopher Gable & Gerardo Vergara
Eddie Garcia
Christopher Gragg
Clint Gray
Myles & Heather Griffith
Bob Halvorson
John Harper
Ron Hartwig
John Hazlet
Peter & Julie Heimark
Joan Henehan & Jennifer Williams
Bob Henry & Linda Wendell
Sarah Hensley
Salvador Hernandez
Helen Slayton Hughes
James B. Hughes
Jeffrey Hyatt
Luis Javier & Laurence Jackson
Patricia Neal Jensen
Jeff Johnson
Dea. Walter S. Johnson
D. Jones
Leslie Kaplan
Sue Ann Keeling
Stephen Kemp
Dawna Kemper
Taffia Kennedy
Maurice King
Thomas Kingsley
Ken Koonce
Bruce A. Larson
Len Leatherwood & Ray Beaty
Robert Lee
Jack J. Linehan
Pete Lisowski & Shannon Stacy
Joe Lopez
Ted Marbury
Doris Martin
Vincent G. Mazzucchelli
Andrew Miller & Whitney Wyatt
Robert D. Miller
Anita & Joe Muro
Paul Norwood
Ruth & Randy Oglesby
Carolyn S. Olman
Anthony Palacios & John C. Garces
Jeffrey Parola
Robert Patrick
Laura Patterson
Alison Platt
Janice Quanbeck
Eddie Quintana
Jo Ann Ridenour
Charles L. Rumsey
John V. Schleif
Daniel & Sarah Schulz
Ryan Scott
Gary K. Shaw
Stan Shipley
David Silvas
Anthony Smiljkovich
Christine, Dana, and Vivian Snyder
Steven Strom
Fr. Mark D. Stuart
Suzanne Tenner
Thomas Thanangadan
Reece P. Thomson
John Thornbury
Edward Q. Tosca
Paul Tournay & Lee Cox
Ayako Travis
Bradley Upham
James Vandernaald
Christopher Wagner & Gary Collis
Lynn Walker
Gary Warning
Joseph Winford Warren
Michelle Waterloo
Robert Weihing
Charles Wells
Janet West
Christopher White
Randy Williams
Michael & Shelley Williamson
Marty Wolfe
Addison Wright & Laurene Landon
Stephen Yoder
John Zaragoza
If you would like to download a pledge card, you may do so by CLICKING HERE!
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The First Sunday of Advent
Lections
Isaiah 64:1-9
Psalm 80:1-7
I Corinthians 1:3-9
St. Mark 13:24-end
Celebrant
Preacher
Canon Ian Elliott Davies
Deacon
Dea. Walter Johnson
Organist/Choir Mstr
Mr. Jeffrey Parola
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Sunday's Music
Prelude
Veni redemptor gentium I & II
by Thomas Tallis
(1505-1585)
Offertory
Adam lay ybounden
by Boris Ord
(1897-1961)
Postlude
Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme by Heinrich Schmidt (1861-1923)
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The Reason for the Season
We're directing some of our Outreach to kids in need in our immediate community by supporting the West Hollywood office of The Trevor Project. The Trevor Project saves young lives through its accredited, free and confidential phone, instant message and text crisis intervention services. A leader and innovator in suicide prevention, since 1998, The Trevor Project offers the largest safe social networking community for LGBTQ youth, best practice suicide prevention educational trainings, and resources for youth and adults. We are donating gift cards for office supplies and materials (Staples, Office Max, Amazon) so they can stretch their budget, using the money we've saved them to train more counselors and help more kids. It's a simple, but concrete, way to make a big difference in the lives of young people.
Literally Healing at Children's Hospital Los Angeles is an innovative reading program dedicated to advocating literacy and its importance to children's success. There are two arms of the program: Therapeutic Library, which tackles sensitive issues in a non-threatening manner to ease the medical and emotional anguish, and the Giving Library, which offers patients staying at the hospital (and their visiting siblings) a choice of one free, brand new book daily to keep. This year, the Parish of St. Thomas the Apostle is once again helping with Literally Healing's Book Drive! You may send books of your own choosing or send books on the hospital's wish list. CLICK HERE for the hospital's wish list and address information. Books donated MUST be brand new to control infection.
Once again, St. Thomas will have an Angel Tree to benefit Hillsides, a premier provider dedicated to improving the overall well-being and functioning of vulnerable children, youth, and their families. Their vision is to create lasting change in the lives of all at-risk children and youth that they serve by providing high quality care, advocacy, and innovative services that promote safe, permanent environments where young people can thrive.
We continue our Food Drive to benefit SOVA food pantries this holiday season. We collect food throughout the year to benefit SOVA, one of our partners in the Homeless Coalition. This year, our goal is to fill the SOVA bin (located in the foyer near the Parish Office) at least twice between now and Chrismtas! We thank Christopher Gable for his continued work with this wonderful cause.
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Choir Boutique
On Sunday, 14 December following the High Mass, the annual Choir Boutique and Christmas sing-a-long will take place in the Large Parish Hall.
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Seasonal Cleaning of Church
On Saturday, 20 December following the 10am Low Mass, Parishioners are encouraged to attend the Semi-Annual Cleaning of the Parish Church. Supplies and lunch will be provided. While this is an all-day affair, any amount of time contributed will be appreciated.
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Annual Parish Meeting
The Annual Parish Meeting will take place in the Large Parish Hall following the High Mass on Sunday, 18 January 2015. At this meeting, the Congregation will elect four new Vestry persons to serve a three-year term, and four delegates & two alternate delegates to represent St. Thomas at the Annual Diocesan Convention. Those interested in standing for the Vestry or representing the Parish at the Diocesan Convention must request a nomination form from and submit paperwork to the Parish Office on or before Thursday, 8 January in order to be nominated. Those seeking the Vestry need to meet with Fr. Davies prior to the Annual meeting in order to understand the specifics of the ministry.
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On This Day in
Christian History
On this day in 1863 the first annual national Thanksgiving Day was celebrated. Back in October of the same year, President Lincoln had proclaimed the fourth Thursday of each November from that time forward as a national day of thanks.
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Please join us for many Parish activities. Here's a sampling of upcoming events - a full list is available online
28 November
Parish Office Closed
13 December @ 7:30am
Homeless Feeding & Outreach
16 December @ 7:30pm
Vestry Meeting
22 December @ 10:00am
County-USC AIDS Clinic Feeding Program
25 December - 2 January
27 December @ 7:30am
Homeless Feeding & Outreach
17 January @ 10:30am
Newcomer Orientation Series
24 January @ 5:00pm
LASchola sings Latin Vigil Mass
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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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