Episcopalians in Orange 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.

Keynote speaker for the Orange County forum on Oct. 5 will be Sandra Hutchins (pictured), sheriff of Orange County. Hutchens was appointed to the position on June 10, 2008. Prior to her appointment, she was retired from the position of division chief within the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. In the June 2010 California primary election, she won a majority of the votes and is currently serving her first full term as sheriff.

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. For information, call the diocesan Office of Community Relations at 213.482.2040, ext. 240.

Upcoming forum dates and locations:

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.

[Episcopal Church Office of Public Affairs] Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has announced the distinguished expert panelists for the Nov. 15 live forum "Fifty Years Later: The State of Racism in America." The Episcopal Church will host and produce the 90-minute live forum in collaboration with the Diocese of Mississippi. The forum will be held at St. Andrew's Episcopal Cathedral in Jackson, Miss., beginning at 11 am Pacific time. Moderator will be journalist and PBS commentator Ray Suarez (pictured). Jefferts Schori will give the keynote address.

Participating in the first panel - Racism in America today: Why does racism persist? - are:

The second panel - Racism in America's future: Where is there hope for change? - will feature

The live webcast of the forum will be available on the Episcopal Church website. Questions for the panelists will be accepted prior or during the forum to Neva Rae Fox, Public Affairs Officer, at PublicAffairs@episcoplchurch.org.

 

Family members and friends of those with physical and intellectual disabilities (e.g., Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, etc.) are invited to gather at the Cathedral Center of St. Paul on Saturday, October 19, 10 a.m. - 12 noon, to discuss ways these individuals can be more fully included in and advantaged by the liturgical and educational resources of the Church. Topics to be discussed are:

The meeting will be convened by Rebecca Booth, chair of the diocesan Program Group on Disabilities, and Mimi Grant, deputy to the 2012 General Convention and member of the Developmental Disabilities Task Force of the Episcopal Church's Standing Commission on Health. To register for the meeting, for further information or to suggest resources, contact Booth at rebecca10242003@yahoo.com or Grant at mimi@abl.org.

Hillsides invites the diocesan community to join in its centennial Founder's Day Celebration on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2 - 4:30 p.m. on the Hillsides campus at 940 Avenue 64, Pasadena.
The day will include some old-fashioned fun, including entertainment, games, face painting and crafts, and refreshments including an ice cream sundae bar and cupcakes.  The Walt Disney Company, Wells Fargo, and THE Magazine!  Families are invited to browse Hillsides' display of historic photos and artifacts, watch the "100 Faces of Hillsides"  video, meet Hillsides alumni, and hear from Pasadena's Mayor Bill Bogaard. Complimentary valet parking is available. Free to the public. For reservations, email to Carrie Espinoza at cespinoza@hillsides.org.

As the fall season begins, Girls Friendly Society (GFS) invites all congregations to consider starting a chapter of this Episcopal ministry for girls of any race, nationality or faith background, age 5 and older. Girls learn about the Bible and Christian behavior through fellowship meetings and fun activities in a safe and positive setting. In addition, they are able to participate in diocesan gatherings, to travel to national and world assemblies, and to gain a sense of belonging in the local and larger Episcopal Church. This program is an asset to any child-oriented parish. GFS materials are available at no cost online. (www.GFSCalifornia.org) This user-friendly website has information such as: "How to form a branch," "GFS traditions" and "Planning Meetings," as well as downloadable lesson plans. For more about GFS, click here or contact Margaret Nolde, GFS-LA president, at 714.330.1156.

The American Red Cross will hold a community blood drive on Sunday, Sept. 29, 12 noon - 2 p.m., at St. Andrew & St. Charles' Episcopal Church, 16651 Rinaldi Street, Granada Hills 91344. All donors will receive a ticket for two free admissions to the Laugh Factory and a voucher for buy-one-get-one-free San Diego Padres Tickets. To schedule an appointment, click here www.redcrossblood.org and enter Sponsor Code: StAndrewsStCharles. For more information, contact Toria Meadors at toria@ezprintsupplies.com

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Santa Clarita, will hold a gala weekend of activities on the weekend of Oct. 12 - 13, including a parish dinner on the Saturday evening. The Rev. Canon Lynn Jay, former rector, will preach and the Rev. Kelly O'Connell, present rector, will preside at a service of celebration on Sunday morning. For tickets to the Saturday dinner, call the parish office at 661.259.7307. For more about the weekend activities, visit St. Stephen's website.

St. Aidan's Church, Malibu, will hold a wine festival titled "A Celebration of All Things Grape" on Sunday, Sept. 22, 3 - 6 p.m. Tickets are $35;  ticket holders receive a raffle ticket, access to an exciting live auction, live music, tastings of award-winning wines from Northern, Central and Southern California vintners, a souvenir wine glass and delicious food!  All proceeds go to support St. Aidan's outreach to the homeless and disadvantaged. To reserve tickets email to office@staidanschurch.org.

Oktoberfest Family Funfest, a fundraiser for Our Saviour Center, the social service outreach for Church of Our Saviour, will be held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21, at the Church of Our Saviour, 535 W. Roses Road, San Gabriel. Oktoberfest Family Funfest will feature entertainment including an oompah band, games and activities for children, a silent auction, and food and refreshments. The admission price of $10 for adults will include a meal that includes one bratwurst on a bun, potato salad, sauerkraut, and dessert. Children's admission of $5 includes a hot dog meal with chips, dessert, and 10 game tickets. Beer on tap, wine, soft drinks and souvenir Oktoberfest Family Funfest glass beer steins also will be sold. Since 1985, Our Saviour Center has been providing life-sustaining programs to the poor, hungry and homeless in the El Monte-area.  For more information contact Shelley Machock at Our Saviour Center,  626.579.2190, ext. 112, or at CenterEvents@live.com.

Holy Spirit, an Episcopal community in Los Angeles, will sponsor the annual Silver Lake Blessing of the Animals on Saturday, Oct. 5 in honor of St. Francis' Day. The Rev. Thomas Carey will preside at the blessing at the "Polka Dot Plaza," located at Sunset Blvd. and Edgecliffe Drive. Donations will benefit the Echo Park Animal Alliance. Carey is an Episcopal priest and a member of the Anglican Order of Saint Francis. He is vicar of Church of the Epiphany, Los Angeles. For further information contact Nick Cuccia at 323-663-0633 or nacinla@gmail.com.

CARA Ministries ("Come Apart & Rest Awhile") invites women of the diocese to look into their own beauty, honesty, integrity and wisdom as women of faith in "Pearls in the Making," a retreat on Saturday, Nov. 2, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church, 4745 Wheeler Avenue, La Verne. Registration fee (nonrefundable) is $45 ($50 after Oct. 26), and includes lunch. Limited scholarships are available. For registration and information, call 909.973.6012 or email to CaraMinistries@hotmail.com, or download a flyer with information and registration form here.