Bishop Mary Glasspool and Bishop J. Jon Bruno issued the following letters to the diocesan community on Nov. 14.

It has been an honor and a privilege to have served you all in the Diocese of Los Angeles these past five-and-one-half years. This past August I received a call to become assistant bishop of New York, and I have accepted that call. God willing, I will begin this new ministry on the East Coast April 1, 2016.

The next several months will, of course, be busy! Bishop Jon Bruno is designating some time during our upcoming Diocesan Convention to celebrate our time together. And while the outline of my planned sabbatical has been adjusted, I will still be taking it from January 18 to March 18, 2016. During this time I will be spending two weeks in the Diocese of Cuernavaca (February 13 - 27) on the fourth annual Pilgrimage and Intensive Spanish Language Course; two weeks in Texas at a meeting of the bishops suffragan adjacent to the spring House of Bishops' meeting (March 6 - 18); and at least one week (dates to be determined) on retreat. Read more here.

Members of St. John's Church, La Verne, led by Kelli Grace Kurtz, vicar (pictured above at center right), gathered on Nov. 15 to pray in the aftermath of a spate of violent terrorist attacks in the preceding days, weeks and months. The candlelit service was held in the memory of attack victims in Paris, France, and Beirut, Lebanon, as well as students killed in a massacre in April at Garissa University, Kenya; and those enduring  continued conflict in Israel and Palestine, Syria, Egypt and Iraq. The service at St. John's reflected reactions to the two recent attacks expressed by Episcopalians and Anglicans throughout the world. Bishop J. Jon Bruno sent a message of support to Bishop Pierre Whalon of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe, headquartered in Paris. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry urged "all Episcopalians and people of good will and faith to pray for those who have died, those who are in harm's way, those who seek to help in any way; and to pray for us as a human family." The church's Executive Council, in Maryland at its regularly scheduled meeting,  said Nov. 16 that Episcopalians should respond to recent attacks with both prayer and discernment, and expressed its "sorrow and grief for those who died, those injured, and those for whom peace has been shattered by the recent acts of terrorism in Paris and Beirut." As the situation was being played out in the French capital, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby Tweeted, "We weep with those affected [and] pray for deliverance and justice." Read more reactions at Episcopal News Service.

     Just after marking his first month in office as 27th presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, Michael Curry will be an honored guest preacher and speaker for the 120th annual meeting of the Diocese of Los Angeles, which during its Dec. 4-5 proceedings in Ontario will also welcome biblical scholar and author Renita Weems to deliver the biennial Margaret Parker memorial lecture. Like the 2014 meeting, the convention will revolve around the theme of Horizons & Heritage; this year's emphasis will be the future ministry of the diocese. Read more here.

Prince of Peace Episcopal Church