Staff and members of All Saints Church, Pasadena, rang handbells on the church steps at noon (Pacific time) on Aug. 28 to mark the moment of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s "I have a dream" speech, delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial at 3 p.m. on Aug. 28, 1963. A video of the celebration is here (photo and video by Mel Soriano). At the same time, the carillon at the Cathedral Center sounded a full peal and a 50-ring toll. Bells at Washington National Cathedral sounded at the same time in commemoration as President Barack Obama addressed an anniversary gathering at the Lincoln Memorial. For more about Episcopal church commemorations of the March on Washington, visit Episcopal News Service here. In addition, Forward Movement, publisher of "Forward Day by Day" and many other church resources, is offering 12 meditations as a free download to honor and remember the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. The prayers are written by the Rev. Robert Thompson, school minister for Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. They are available here.

New diocesan program to help LA County residents obtain health insurance under Affordable Care Act

Under the national Affordable Care Act, many Californians will be able to obtain health insurance under new rules taking effect in January 2014. The Diocese of Los Angeles, under the leadership of Archdeacon Joanne Leslie and newly named Diocesan Health Outreach Coordinator Shelley Weitzel (pictured), is beginning a program to help church members and others determine their eligibility and options for insurance. The program will work with Covered California, the state government program formed to develop an organized marketplace where legal residents of California can buy health coverage as required under ACA. The diocesan project is coordinated under the nonprofit Community Health Councils (of which Leslie is a board member) and its partners from across Los Angeles County to conduct outreach and education activities to raise awareness about opportunities for affordable healthcare coverage. Weitzel, a member of St. Mark's Church, Glendale, will be available to visit any congregation or church organization to provide information about the new insurance marketplace and help people apply online. She is available for Sunday, Saturday or weekday or evening forums at any congregation or church school in Los Angeles County. (Those in other counties may call her for contacts that will provide similar informational services locally.) For information or to set up a forum, contact Weitzel at sweitzel@ladiocese.org or 818.398.3670.

Young adults of the diocese (ages 21 - 39) are invited to join Bishop J. Jon Bruno and Bishops Suffragan Diane Jardine Bruce and Mary Glasspool for "Versed," an extraordinary series of programs exploring the human nature of people in the Bible. The six discussions, which are sponsored by the Program Group on Youth and Young Adult Ministry, will take place from 7 - 9 p.m. on Tuesday evenings beginning October 8 and continuing through Nov. 12 at the Cathedral Center of St. Paul. Each program will begin with dinner and continue with a discussion with one of the bishops. Topics and dates are:

• October 8 - History of believers throughout Christian history. Led by Bishop Bruce
• October 15 - Thomas: Healthy doubt. Led by Bishop Bruno
• October 22 - Peter: One step forward, two steps back. Led by Bishop Glasspool
• October 29  - Paul: Blinded into belief. Led by Bishop Glasspool
• November 5 - Mary: Belief at the birth. Led by Bishop Bruce
• November 12 - Heaven and Hell: sin and redemption. Led by Bishop Bruno.

Cost is $60 for the series (includes dinner). To register, use the form here. For information, contact Chris Tumilty, diocesan youth officer, at 213.482.2040 or ctumilty@ladiocese.org. The Cathedral Center is located at 840 Echo Park Avenue, Los Angeles 90026.

Episcopalians in Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties will be the next groups to share in diocesan Community Safety Forums, building on the success of similar gatherings recently hosted by Bishop J. Jon Bruno in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties.
Local civic leaders will be among presenters at each presentation. Bishop Bruno has requested that each congregation send a team of at least two representatives - clergy and lay - to join him at one of the local forums. Riverside County clergy and lay leaders are asked to note that a Sept. 14 forum has been cancelled and replaced with customized on-site consultations at each church campus. For information, call the diocesan Office of Community Relations at 213.482.2040, ext. 240. Upcoming forum dates and locations are:

Orange County
Saturday, Oct. 5, 10 a.m. - 12 noon
St. George's Church
23802 Avenida de la Carlota, Laguna Hills

San Bernardino County
Saturday, Oct. 12, 10 a.m. - 12 noon
St. John's Church
1407 N. Arrowhead Avenue, San Bernardino.

Costas Dafnis, 23, of Shreveport, Louisiana, was awarded a $1,000 prize in a nationwide composition contest held by the LGBT ministries of St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Long Beach and St. Wilfrid of York Episcopal Church, Huntington Beach, and made possible by a grant from the Bishop Stevens Foundation. The works submitted all were settings of the ancient Phos Hilaron text, and were written by composers under the age of 25. Judging the contest were James Buonemani, organist and choirmaster at St. James' in the City, Los Angeles; Robert Istad, director of choral activities at California State University, Fullerton; and Christopher Gravis, minister of music and arts at St. Wilfrid's Church. Dafnis' setting will be premiered by the Choir of St. Wilfrid's under Gravis' direction at the service celebrating National Coming Out Day on Sunday, October 6 at 5 p.m. at St. Luke's Church, Long Beach. Once the work has received its premier, copies of the score will be made available to congregations of the diocese (for information, call St. Luke's Church at 562.436-4047). All are invited to the service at St. Luke's, which is located at 525 E. 7th Street, Long Beach 90813.

All are invited to attend the Annual Bishop's Garden Party -- a fundraiser benefiting the seminarians of the Diocese of Los Angeles -- set for Saturday, Sept. 7, 2 - 4 p.m. at the residence of Bishop Jon and Mary Bruno, 3534 E. California Blvd., Pasadena. The diocesan community is invited to attend to visit with the bishop and meet the seminarians, who are future clergy and lay leaders of the diocese. Admission is $25 per person; larger gifts are also welcome to assist with tuition and related costs. This year's event will feature artwork by students at diocesan Episcopal schools, with original drawings and other pieces available for purchase. For information, contact Donna Keller, Bishop's Guild president, at 951.545.4218 or donnakeller68@yahoo.com.

St. Andrew's Church, Irvine, will salute the American heritage of community building in "Americana!" a fundraising event beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21 on the church patio. The evening will feature hors d'oeuvres and dinner, a no-host bar and silent and live auctions. Tickets are $60: all proceeds benefit the Saint Andrew's Revive & Restore Project. For information and tickets, contact the church office at office@standrewsirvine.org or 949.559.4699. The church is located at 4400 Barranca Parkway, Irvine 92604.

The Rev. Rachel Nyback will present "Making the Church a Safe Place" training from 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21 at Saint Michael & All Angels Church in Corona del Mar. The course fulfills diocesan requirements for sexual misconduct prevention training for clergy and church staff members and volunteers, including vestry, Sunday school teachers, child care workers and lay eucharistic ministers. By canon law, the training must be renewed every five years. A certificate of compliance will be provided for all who complete the workshop. Cost is $10 per person. Refreshments will be provided. For reservations, call St. Michael's Church at 949.644.0463, ext. 12. The church is located at 3233 Pacific View Drive Corona del Mar, California 92625.

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Fullerton invites the diocesan community to a "Compassion Class" series on Tuesday evenings, 7 - 8:45 p.m., Sept. 3 through Nov. 19. A description of the series follows: "Do you have a desire to follow Christ's invitation to love, but wonder what this means practically? What do we do when we have been wounded by another, when there are serious injustices in the world, or when, try as we might, we just can't forgive? How, exactly, do we become a people who love God and others as ourselves?  This fall we will look at these issues within a framework of radical compassion, for ourselves and others. This class will involve both instruction and practice, and at the end of the class you will have specific tools for engaging with these important questions above. Come ... join us as we seek to learn how to follow the invitation Jesus offers us, and experience a love for ourselves and other that flows from God's own love for us all." Suggested donation is $10 per person. Send inquiries or reservations to the Rev. Karri Backer at karri.backer@gmail.com.

St. Paul's Church, Pomona, will offer a day with Terry Hershey, an author, humorist, inspirational speaker, ordained minister and self-professed golf addict who divides his time between designing sanctuary gardens and sharing his practice of "pausing" and "sanctuary" to help us do less and live more. The retreat, to be held from 9 a.m to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5, is titled "How to Be Me When the World Wants Someone Else -- Intimacy and Communication from the Heart. Hershey will speak about communication and intimacy "as if they were a journey, where we are learning the elements that allow us to communicate clearly by becoming more fully human more fully alive." Cost is $39 per person, including lunch. To register or for information, call Phyllis Phelps at 909.973.6012 or the church office  909.622.2015. St. Paul's is located at 242 E. Alvarado Street, Pomona 91767.

 St. George's Episcopal Church will host an art show Saturday and Sunday, Sept 21 - 22 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. featuring fine art, ceramics, and photography created by local artisans, including Mims Ellis, Robin Cohen, Babs Fine, Kathryn Hansen, Christine Sargent, Katie Terry, and Mark Kennedy. Bill Wawrychuk, one of the event organizers, will display some of his collection of bonsai. In addition to the art show, a special adult symposium titled "The Artist, The Word: Exploration of the Holy Spirit," will be held at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21. Dr. Joanna Roche, art historian at California State University, Fullerton, will explore the history of several works of art, and , and the Rev. Anthony Keller, deacon at St. George's, will lead a discussion of the theology surrounding each work as it is compared with scripture. The symposium will be held inside the church, with a wine and cheese reception immediately following in the library. St. George's is located at 808 Foothill Blvd, La Canada 91011. For information, contact the church office at 818.790.3323 or office@SaintGLC.org.

St. Paul's Church, Lancaster will present its third annual Holly and Rose Tea on Saturday, October 5. There will be two seatings: at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. The menu will feature tasty traditional tiny sandwiches, fancy sweets, scones with jam and Devonshire cream and savories. Mimosas and champagne also will be available. There will be a silent auction for baskets, door prizes, vendors of handcrafted items and other products, and piano stylings by Jim Romedy. Cost is $25 for adults, $15 for children under 12. Reservations are required: call the church office at 661.945.6704 or 661.942.7806 and indicate the 11 a.m. or 2:30 p.m. seating.

A five-week training course for those who wish to serve as a compassionate companion for people facing the end of life will be held in Glendale on Monday nights, 7 - 9 p.m. beginning Sept. 9, sponsored by By Your Side®  and Episcopal Communities & Services. After completing training, volunteers may minister in their own congregations and communities of influence. By Your Side also is seeking volunteers to serve homeless patients and those without families at several long-term care facilities, including LAC+USC Medical Center, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, and Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center. This training program is directed by the Rev. Sarah W. Nichols, director of pastoral care at Episcopal Communities & Services, and Dr. Don Gabard with support from Dr. Pamelyn Close, LAC+USC Medical Center. It will be held at Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center, the Glendale Cancer Center Auditorium, 1520 South Central Avenue, Glendale, CA 91204. To sign up for training or for a brochure, contact Susan Brown, By Your Side administrator, at sbrown@ecsbyyourside.org or 626.403.1498.

Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles

     The Diocese of Los Angeles will have its annual Episcopal Night at Dodger Stadium on Friday, August 30. The game, pitting the Dodgers against the San Diego Padres, will begin at 7 p.m. and conclude with fireworks.

Christ Episcopal Church

408 South Broadway, Redondo Beach 90277

Information: Barbara, 310.251.6830 or Be the Match

     Friday, Sept. 6 (6 - 9 p.m.), Saturday, Sept. 7 (12 noon - 5 p.m.), and Sunday, Sept. 8, 12 noon - 4 p.m. The art show artists will contribute 25% of their sales to help pay for the cost of doing bone marrow swabs; those tested do not have to pay. The drive is conducted by Be the Match. Potential donors must be in good health and between the ages of 18 and 44. Results will be placed in a worldwide bone marrow matching system. A flyer with more information is here. The congregation has already held several such drives in honor of a young parishioner, Maya, whose life was saved by a bone marrow transplant.

Episcopal Residence

3435 East California Blvd.,

Information/Reservations: 951.545.4218 or donnakeller68@yahoo.com

     This annual event to support seminarians of the Diocese of Los Angeles will feature an exhibit of art work by students at Episcopal schools in the diocese. Invitations will be mailed soon: for information, contact Donna Keller, chair, at 951.545.4218 or donnakeller68@yahoo.com.

St. Clare of Assisi Episcopal Church

6563 East Avenue, Rancho Cucamonga 91701

Information/Tickets: Gisele Tackoor at gtackoor@aol.com

Participants are invited to come dressed appropriately for the "Roaring 20s" theme. The evening will feature dinner, wine-tasting, a silent auction and piano bar. Tickets are $50 per person. Seating is limited, and advance ticket purchase is required. Attendees must be 21 years of age or older. Child care will not be available.

St. Paul's Episcopal Church

1221 Wass Street, Tustin 92780

Information/Reservations:714.544.3141 or www.stpauls.org.

     Tim Alderson, director of the diocese's Seeds of Hope program, will be the principal speaker. Morning workshops will include: Fall Planting: a Review from the Master Gardeners; Planting in Small Spaces: container vegetable gardening; Planting Perennial Vegetables, and a Q & A and garden tour with master gardeners. Alderson will speak on "What's this all about," an explanation of the Seeds of Hope mission of using church properties to grow food for the needy of the diocese's communities. After-lunch discussion will center on sharing resources, focusing on the questions "What resources does your congregation have for food production and feeding?" and  "What resource does your congregation NEED for food production and feeding?" For information and reservations, contact St. Paul's at 714.544.3141 or visit www.stpauls.org.

Agape International Spiritual Center

5700 Buckingham Parkway, Culver City 90230

Information/Reservations: regasaward2013@gmail.com or 213.748.1643

      ICUJP (Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace) will honor Rabbi Leonard Beerman, a founder of Leo Baeck Temple in Los Angeles; Maher M. Hathout, senior adviser of the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC); and Eisha Mason, associate regional director, West Region, American Friends Service Committee in the Pacific Southwest. The free program, which will begin at 7 p.m., will feature a sharing and discussion with the three honorees, moderated by ICUJP founder the Rev. Canon George Regas, retired rector of All Saints Church, Pasadena. A ticketed reception will begin at 5 p.m. and will feature catered hors d'oeuvres, a gift bag, discussion and a short program, with reserved seating for the evening program.

St. Paul's Episcopal Church

3290 Loma Vista Road, Ventura 93003

Information: 805.643.5033

     Bishop Suffragan Mary D. Glasspool will install the Rev. Susan Bek as rector of St. Paul's. Dinner in Kahler Hall will follow the service. The prayers and presence of the diocesan community are requested. (Clergy: red stoles). For reservations, email dinner choice (pork, chicken, vegetarian or child's meal) to office@saintpaulsventura.org.

St. Mark's Episcopal Church

1014 E. Altadena Drive, Altadena

Information: 626.798.6747

     St. Mark's offers Centering Prayer every Monday morning at 10 a.m.

St. James' Episcopal Church

1325 Monterey Road, South Pasadena

Information: 626.799.9194

     The centering prayer group meets each Monday evening, except holidays.