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April 21, 2024

Central New York Bishop DeDe Duncan-Probe named petition nominee for 28th presiding bishop

By David Paulsen

[Episcopal News Service – April 16, 2024] Central New York Bishop DeDe Duncan-Probe on April 16 was added as a nominee by petition to stand for election as The Episcopal Church’s 28th presiding bishop, joining four other bishops who were announced two weeks ago on the initial slate of nominees to succeed Presiding Bishop Michael Curry.

The two-week petition period closed at the end of the day April 15, and Duncan-Probe was the sole petition nominee. She joins Nebraska Bishop J. Scott Barker, Pennsylvania Bishop Daniel G.P. Gutiérrez, Atlanta Bishop Robert Wright and Northwestern Pennsylvania Bishop Sean Rowe, who also serves as bishop provisional of the Diocese of Western New York.

“We are grateful that the Holy Spirit continues to guide the church’s discernment process towards electing our next presiding bishop,” Steve Nishibayashi of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles said in the April 16 news release announcing Duncan-Probe as a nominee. Nishibayashi and Alaska Bishop Mark Lattime are co-chairs of The Episcopal Church Joint Nominating Committee for the Election of the Presiding Bishop, which produced the initial four-bishop slate.

Read more here.

Welcoming LGBTQ+ people is ‘more than flying the Pride flag,’ program group chair tells Diocesan Council

By Pat McCaughan

[The Episcopal News - April 17, 2024] In the current climate, where some 484 anti-LGBTQ+ bills are proposed across the nation and local school boards are increasingly becoming culture war battlegrounds, the Program Group on LGBTQ+ Ministry – besides serving as a resource for the diocese and wider Episcopal church – aims to focus on advocacy, training and encouraging congregations to create safe spaces for community.

“Creating safe spaces for queer people is a lot more than just flying the Pride flag and saying you’re open and affirming,” the Very Rev. Christopher Montella, program group co-chair, reported to the April 11 online meeting of Diocesan Council. “There is real meaningful work the community needs to do to make spaces that are safe and affirming for queer people, especially those who have had church and God and the Bible weaponized against them.”

Last year, he said, “many of us found ourselves in the position of showing up at a slew of school board meetings, and we learned that people need training on how to show up at those. It could be potentially dangerous for someone who’s not quite prepared to just show up at one of these meetings and have to face an angry crowd, as happened a couple of times.” 

Read more here.

Above: IRIS staff members are among the many immigration advocates who gathered at the California state capitol in Sacramento to meet with legislators’ representatives about protecting the rights of refugees and immigrants. Below left: Ruben Tomasian (back left) and Naomi Welikala (front right) of IRIS show their solidarity with other members of the CA Welcomes Coalition. Photo: IRIS

IRIS joins immigrant advocacy event in Sacramento

Staff members of IRIS (Interfaith Refugee & Immigration Ministry) took part in the annual Immigrant Advocacy Days in Sacramento on April 2 – 3 sponsored by CHIRLA (Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights).

Ruben Tomasian, IRIS’s Outreach & Capacity Building manager, with David Marcellus and Naomi Welikala, members of its outreach department, joined CHIRLA and other immigrant support organizations to “encourage community members and service providers alike to push for policy that puts our newest arrivals first,” according to Welikala. 

Convening in front of the state capitol, the team met with staffers of state senators and assembly members, IRIS and CHIRLA representatives spoke on behalf of immigrant-serving policy. 

Annual scholarship benefit event to honor NYA students who are 'going places'

Neighborhood Youth Association (NYA), an institution of the diocese, will hold its 41st annual scholarship benefit event, titled "Going Places," on Saturday, May 11, 5 - 7:30 p.m. at the Parish of St. Matthew's Sprague Center, 1031 Bienveneda Avenue, Pacific Palisades 90272

Attendees will find a op-up store, art exhibit, music and refreshments beginning at 5 p.m.; a reception with heavy hors d'oeuvres buffet will start at 5:15 p.m. The awards program will begin at 6 p.m.

NYA was founded in 1886 as "Church of the Neighborhood (later the Neighborhood Settlement Association) under the auspices of the Diocese of Los Angeles. Now an independent agency that maintains its ties with the church, NYA "empowers students to achieve 100% college placement and on-time high school graduation through mentoring, tutoring, and a holistic family approach to break cycles of poverty and vulnerability," according to its mission statement.

More about NYA is here. To order tickets to the benefit ($125 per person) or contribute to NYA scholarship funds, follow the "Donate Now" link on the home page. 

The Bishop's Blog (click here for additional entries)

Visiting Holy Trinity Church, Covina

April 15, 2024

I won’t say they saved the best for last during my Sunday visitation at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church - Covina, CA. It was a moment in keeping with a day that felt deeply holy from the moment I stepped into the parish’s lovingly maintained courtyard and saw the freshly planted, rain kissed petunias. After lunch, the Rev. Steve De Muth, rector since 2018 but rooted in the parish beginning years before, took a few members and me to Holy Trinity’s one-time children’s chapel, now fashioned into a meticulous homage to the chapel at Mission San Diego de Alcala. It's been the work of a decade, with the finishing touches added recently. 

Read more here.

La Casa de Maria, Immaculate Heart Community and the Diocese of L.A.

April 13, 2024

Enrique Narvaiz, longtime caretaker of La Casa de Maria, Montecito’s legendary retreat center and former novitiate, owned by our St. Paul's Commons, Echo Park, partners the Immaculate Heart Community, was in Mexico when his son Michael called from their home on the property on Jan. 9, 2018. It was 3:30 a.m. San Ysidro Creek had breached its banks, sounding like rolling thunder — and like a bomb after waters ruptured a gas main that spanned the creek, on the underside of a footbridge. 

Read more here.

This week

Fiesta will celebrate $100,000 raised for Lydia Lopez Center at Epiphany, East L.A.

County Supervisor Hilda Solis will join festivities; tickets are available for April 21 event at Plaza de Culturas y Artes

The Lydia Lopez Center for Community Empowerment – a new initiative focused on resources for immigrants and youth at historic Church of the Epiphany in East Los Angeles – will be launched on Sunday, April 21, with a gala 3 p.m. fiesta that has now exceeded its $100,000 fundraising goal.

Tickets may be purchased here for a donation of $100 each. The fiesta will be hosted at L.A.’s Plaza de Cultura y Artes, 501 N. Main Street, near Olvera Street and the city’s El Pueblo Historical Monument.

Bishop John Harvey Taylor will join the Rev. John Watson, priest-in-charge of the Church of the Epiphany, in welcoming guests set to include Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis, whose office is among supporters of the new center, named in honor of the late Canon Lydia Lopez, well known for her 50 years of local civil rights advocacy and leadership begun while an Epiphany parishioner.

The date and location of the fiesta are significant in that the weekend marks what would have been the 81st birthday of Lopez, who also served a term as president of the L.A. city commission on the El Pueblo Historical Monument.

The new center is focused on providing:    

• Access to community resources including referrals to immigration, housing, nutrition, medical, counseling, and employment services.  
• Access to youth resources including scholarships, tutoring, technology, recreation, and college placement – all cultivating next generations.
• Access to cultural resources including traditional Latin American arts, music, and interpretation and preservation of local history.  

Formation of the new center was proposed jointly by the Rev. Richard Estrada, assisting priest at Epiphany and a longtime advocate with Lopez in the immigration and sanctuary movement, and diocesan Canon for Common Life Bob Williams. The fiesta event is chaired by Grace Dyrness, retired USC professor and a parishioner of All Saints Church, Pasadena.

For more information email Watson at jwatson@ladiocese.org.

Seismologist Lucy Jones will speak on science and faith at San Marino event

Lucy Jones - seismologist, musician, climate change activist and Episcopalian – will be the featured speaker at the Thursday, April 18 presentation of “Inspiring Voices” at St. Edmund’s Church, 1175 San Gabriel Blvd., San Marino.

Jones will speak on “Thinking Like a Scientist on Matters of Faith.” The event will begin with a reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by her talk at 7 p.m.

A member of St. James’ Episcopal Church, South Pasadena, Jones is founder and chief scientist of the nonprofit Dr. Lucy Jones Center for Science and Society, which supports the application of science in the creation of more resilient communities. She holds a bachelor of Arts degree in Chinese language and literature from Brown University and a Ph.D. in geophysics from MIT. During her 33-year career as a seismologist at the US Geological Survey she became a well-known calm presence and source of information to the public after earthquake events. She also performs on the viol with the Los Angeles Baroque and SoCal Viols. (More about Jones and her work is here.)

Climate change commission asks congregations to 'ring out’ for Earth Day

[The Episcopal News – April 3, 2024] The Education Committee of the Bishop’s Commission on Climate Change for the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles has proposed that Earth Day 2024 be commemorated with the first annual “Ring Out for Earth.”

The committee invites every parish, mission, school, and institution within the six-county diocese to ring bells, pray or meditate for 425 seconds (7:08) on Sunday, April 21 at church or Monday, April 22 (Earth Day) at home as a call for the urgent need to care for God’s creation as the global atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration has reached 425 parts per million (ppm) as measured by the Keeling Curve; a level unprecedented in all of human history. CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels is the human-caused pollution responsible for blanketing and warming the planet.

Read more here.

Deanery 2 Earth Day event will provide information, tools to combat climate change

Deanery 2, the “Tri-Valley” area of the Diocese of Los Angeles, invites all to a Lunch & Learn event in honor of Earth Day on Saturday, April 20, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at St. Martin's in-the-Fields Church, 7136 Winnetka Avenue, Winnetka 91306.

The event will feature a special love & faith in action presentation titled “Climate Change 101 - Hope is a Renewable Resource,” as well as interactive sessions on Creation Care Scripture. Attendees also will hear the latest news from the Bishop's Commission on Climate Change, a report on all the activity already underway in and around the diocese, and new initiatives being planned to help combat climate change.

Spanish language translation will be available on site on the day of the event. A Spanish-language flyer for the event is here. 

All are welcome. Register here.

HFS gala will honor late Bishop Bruno, Diocese of Los Angeles for support creating ‘forever families’ 

HFS Adoption and Foster Care invites the diocesan community to its annual Circle of Hope reception and dinner on Sunday, April 28, 5 - 8 p.m. at the San Gabriel Country Club, 350 E. Hermosa Drive, San Gabriel 91776.

The fundraiser event, which marks the agency’s 75th anniversary, will honor several people and organizations, including the Diocese of Los Angeles and the late Bishop J. Jon Bruno, who invited HFS - formerly known as Holy Family Services – to establish its offices at the diocese’s Cathedral Center (now St. Paul’s Commons). Diocesan Convention later voted to accept HFS as a diocesan institution. Bruno’s son and daughter-in-law, Phil Bruno and Mary Bannon Bruno, who serve on the HFS board of directors, will represent the Bruno family. Bishop John Harvey Taylor and Canon Kathy O’Connor will represent the diocese at the event. 

Other honorees include 

• The California Endowment and its retiring CEO, Robert Ross, a member of St. Mark’s Church, Altadena, who delivered the annual Margaret Parker Memorial Lecture at the 2023 meeting of Diocesan Convention;
• The Mozilo Family Foundation, which has provided HFS with essential financial support for many years.

The event will also feature an opportunity drawing and live auction. Complimentary valet parking. Tickets are $150 and may be ordered here. (Reservations are requested by April 22.)

Shepherd's Cup Golf Classic slated for April 29 at Industry Hills club

[The Episcopal News – Feb. 21, 2024] The Diocese of Los Angeles' second annual Shepherd’s Cup Golf Classic and Dinner will be held on Monday, April 29 at the Industry Hills Golf Club and Pacific Palms Resort in the City of Industry. The day will begin with fellowship and registration at 9 a.m.; golfers will take to the course at 11 a.m.

The fundraising event, which supports the mission and ministries of the diocese, will include the golf tournament, a banquet dinner, and live and silent auctions. Sponsorship opportunities are available. 

Registration includes green fee, use of putting greens and driving range, golf bag drop-off service, golf cart, grab bag, and the dinner banquet, which will feature tournament prizes, the auctions, an opportunity drawing, and special guest speaker Bishop John Harvey Taylor.

Read more here.

Bloy House announces April and May 2024 online lay licensing and formation classes

[Bloy House - March 27, 2024] Bloy House is announcing the availability of a limited number of spots in upcoming online Lay Licensing classes scheduled for April and May.

In addition, in June Bloy House will offer an Introduction to the Diaconate class (see below).  

Stay tuned for additional class offerings in June.

April and May 2024 Lay Licensing and Lay Formation Classes

The April/May Lay Licensing classes listed below are part of a special program for Deanery 6 members. We have a limited number of spots in each class available for lay people not in Deanery 6 who would like to register. We will offer all of these classes again next year.

The Book of Common Prayer for Lay Licensing

Wednesdays, April 17 & 24, May 1 & 8

7:00-8:30 p.m., via Zoom. Fee: $25

Beginning Preaching for Lay Licensing

Tuesdays, May 7, 14, 21, & 28

7:00-8:30 p.m., via Zoom. Fee: $25

Click here to see the full description and register for any of the above classes.

June 2024 deacons class:

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Deacons: Who, What, Why -

An Introduction to the Sacred Order of Deacons

Saturdays, June 8, 15, 22

9 – 11 a.m., via Zoom. Fee: $25

Click here to register.

Three 2-hour sessions will offer a glimpse into the life and history of the diaconate. We’ll answer the questions: What does it mean to be a deacon today? How do I know that I am called? What are the steps for getting there? Participants will hear stories about deacons who act as the bridge between the church and the world and learn about the distinctive diaconal voice. Recommended for those discerning a call to ordained ministry. Facilitated by the Rev. Dennis Sheridan, Ph.D., a professor emeritus of Azusa Pacific University and an Episcopal deacon since 2014.

Early childhood educators invited to summer institute in San Juan Capistrano

[The Episcopal News – March 20, 2024] Registration is now open for the inaugural St. Margaret’s Summer Institute for early childhood education, to be held June 14 - 15 at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church and School in San Juan Capistrano.

The institute will bring together early childhood educators, administrators and policy makers over two days to explore and elevate the quality and excellence of early childhood education. Attendees will explore the essential role of play in early childhood education, diving into the latest research, methodologies and best practices.

Episcopal schools teachers and administrators are especially invited and encouraged to attend, according to the Rev. Ryan Newman, executive director of the diocesan Commission on Schools.

Read more here.

Date set for 2024 Episcopal-Lutheran Night at Dodger Stadium

Episcopalians are invited to join their Lutheran siblings at Episcopal-Lutheran Night at Dodger Stadium on Friday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. 

The Dodgers will play the Cleveland Guardians. Tickets will be $35. Fireworks and a drone show are scheduled after the game. 

More information will be available soon to church coordinators, according to the Rev. Canon Greg Larkin, Dodger night coordinator. 

Camp Stevens summer camp registration open

Registration is open for summer sessions for children at Camp Stevens, the diocesan facility in Julian, California.

Camp sessions will be held the following weeks:

• Session 1: June 23 – June 28, ages 8-15
• Session 2: July 7 – July 12, ages 8-15
• Session 3: July 14 – July 19, ages 8-15
• Session 4: July 21 – July 26, ages 8-15
• Session 5 (International Odyssey): July 28 – August 3, ages 12-17

"At Camp Stevens, our program isn’t built around crafts and activities: it’s built around people," camp staffers wrote on Facebook. "Each member of the group brings unique skills, experiences, and perspectives that shape a one-of-a-kind experience each week.

"The job of our staff is to facilitate creative outdoor play that builds belonging and fosters connection. On a given day, an adventure group might tackle a team building challenge, paint watercolors out by the pond, explore off trail and find a clearing to build forts in, hop in the pool at free time, visit with the camp farm animals, and watch shooting stars as they drift off to sleep. As our returning campers and staff have shared: there’s always more to see and explore but what makes it really special are the people you’re there with." 

For full information and registration, visit the website. Counselor Training, for campers age 16 and up who would like to be considered for summer camp counseling positions, will be held June 16 - 21. Information and application forms are here.

Episcopal Church’s presiding officers sign documents to create Coalition for Racial Equity and Justice

[Episcopal News Service – April 17, 2024] Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and House of Deputies President Julia Ayala Harris, The Episcopal Church’s two presiding officers, signed documentation on April 17 to create the new Episcopal Coalition for Racial Equity and Justice as an independent nonprofit incorporated in New York.

The signing, which took place in Raleigh, North Carolina, ahead of Executive Council’s April 18-20 meeting there, is the culmination of a three-year effort by churchwide leaders to establish long-term and lasting commitments to the church’s ongoing racial healing framework. The goal, first identified by Curry and Ayala Harris’ predecessor, the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, is to address the harms of the church’s complicity with white supremacy, colonialism and the racism that still is found embedded in the church and other American institutions.

Read more here.

Resolutions on Israeli ‘apartheid’ top agenda of General Convention international policy committees

By David Paulsen

[Episcopal News Service – April 17, 2024] The 81st General Convention is poised to consider 12 resolutions related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, starting with four separate resolutions that would label Israel’s disparate treatment of Jewish and Arab citizens a kind of apartheid.

A hearing on those four resolutions is scheduled for 11 a.m. Eastern April 18 on Zoom with the bishops’ and deputies’ committees on Social Justice & International Policy. Additional hearings are likely in the coming weeks as the parallel committees deliberate on whether to recommend the resolutions for approval by the House of Bishops and House of Deputies when they meet June 23-28 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Three of the apartheid resolutions were proposed originally for consideration by the 80th General Convention in 2022 but were deferred until this year’s meeting. A010, for example, would acknowledge that Israel “has passed laws that discriminate against its non-Jewish citizens, particularly Palestinians.” That resolution, along with A011 and A012, would put the church on record for the first time in labeling such a system as “apartheid.”

Read more here.

For more churchwide stories, visit Episcopal News Service here.

St. Luke’s of the Mountains Episcopal Church Celebrates 100 Years

By Mary O’Keefe

[Crescenta Valley Weekly - April 11, 2024] Seventy-four years after California obtained statehood, an artist sat on the corner of Rosemont Avenue and Foothill Boulevard in the small area known as La Crescenta and began to paint his dream church. The church would be made from the stones and rocks in the area and, from the beginning, was created to be the center of the community.

That artist was Seymour Thomas and the dream church he was designing was St. Luke’s of the Mountains Episcopal Church, which is now celebrating its 100th anniversary.

Since it was built, St. Luke’s has been the place for community gatherings.

Read more here.

Pasadena Faith Organizations Receive Grants to Enhance Security Measures

[Pasadena NOW – April 11, 2024] All Saints Episcopal Church and Chabad of Pasadena are among 193 California nonprofits awarded state funding to protect against hate-motivated violence

Two Pasadena-based organizations, All Saints Episcopal and Chabad of Pasadena, Inc., have been awarded substantial grants from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to bolster their security measures against hate-motivated violence. Their funding is part of a $39 million investment by the state to safeguard 193 nonprofit and faith-based organizations across California.

All Saints Episcopal Church received $176,925, while Chabad of Pasadena, Inc. was granted $250,000. These funds will be used to implement physical security enhancements, such as reinforced doors, gates, high-intensity lighting, access control systems, and inspection and screening systems.

Read more here.

Planning under way for 81st General Convention:

Episcopal Church provides information, resources

The 81st meeting of General Convention will convene June 23 - 28 in Louisville, Kentucky.

A major portion of its business will be the election of the 28th presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church to succeed the Most Rev. Michael Curry, who will conclude his nine-year term in November of this year. On April 2 the nominating committee announced its slate: Bishop J. Scott Barker of Nebraska, Bishop Daniel G.P. Gutiérrez of Pennsylvania, Bishop Sean Rowe of Northwestern Pennsylvania, and Bishop Robert Wright of Atlanta. (Read more here.) A fifth candidate, Bishop DeDe Duncan-Probe of Central New York, was added by petition. (Read more here.)

More about General Convention and Diocese of Los Angeles representation is here. This article is updated occasionally as new information becomes available.

THURSDAYS, 7 p.m.

Episcopal Students of UCLA

St. Alban's Episcopal Church

580 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles

Information: episcopalstudentsucla@gmail.com

We are a group of Christians, looking to further our relationship with God and strengthen our bonds in Christian community. Meeting in the library at St. Alban's Episcopal Church (right near campus), we are a welcoming community whose goal is to live out the truth of the gospel through spiritual growth, community experience, and service. 

FRIDAYS, 6 - 7 p.m.

Vigil for Peace

St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church 

3233 Pacific View Drive, Corona Del Mar, 92625

Join us every Friday in the St. Michael’s sanctuary and on Zoom as we pray for peace in our community and around the world. Log-in information here (see "Weekly Worship"), or join on Facebook Live.

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 7:30 p.m.

Film Screening: Mysterious Ways

Laemmele Theatre Royal

11523 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles 90025

Information/Tickets

“Mysterious Ways,” a 2023 independent film set in New Zealand, tells the story of the love between an English vicar and his Samoan partner and their struggle to be accepted by the community and church. The film confronts issues around sexuality and religion. Directed by Paul Oremland. Cast and crew will attend the screenings.

FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Lunch & Learn Lecture Series: Richard Zaldivar

St. Paul’s Commons,

840 Echo Park Avenue, Los Angeles 90026

Registration

Join the Immaculate Heart Community and Richard Saldivar, executive director of The Wall Las Memorias Project (TWLM), an organization dedicated to providing and increasing access to health prevention and wellness programs to Latino, LGBTQ and other under-represented and marginalized communities. From sharing a dream to constructing an AIDS monument, TWLM has been in the forefront of change in the Los Angeles community and beyond. The Immaculate Heart Community Lunch and Learn programing is available to all interested people. Please consider a donation to cover the costs of this event. Nobody will be turned away. 

FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 8 p.m.

Chamber Orchestra with Boris Allakhverdyan, clarinet

St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church

1031 Bienveneda Avenue, Pacific Palisades 90272

Information/Tickets here or 310.573.7422

St. Matthew’s Music Guild continues its 39th season with a concert by the critically acclaimed Chamber Orchestra at St. Matthew’s and clarinetist Boris Allakhverdyan performing Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A major, plus David Diamond’s Concerto for Small Orchestra and the Sinfonia in C major by 18th century Viennese composer Marianna Martinez. Allakhverdyan was appointed principal clarinet of the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 2016. He previously was principal clarinet of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. In 2022 he and the Chamber Orchestra at St. Matthew’s presented the world-premiere of Richard Danielpour’s “Four Angels for Clarinet and String Orchestra,” commissioned by St. Matthew’s Music Guild. Tickets: $45 or Music Guild Season pass. A free pre-concert lecture offered by former music director Tom Neenan begins at 7:10 p.m.

SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 9 a.m.

St. Paul’s Earth Day Nature Hike

Irvine Regional Park 

1 Irvine Park Road, Orange

Come and fill your senses with the beauty of the earth, the fragrance of nature, the chirping of birds, and the fellowship of the St. Paul’s, Tustin, community. Leading the hike is Kevin Browning, professor of Environmental Studies at Biola University. Meet at 9 a.m. at Parking Lot Q. Entrance fee to the park is $3.

SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 1 p.m.

Film Screening: Mysterious Ways

Laemmele Theatre Glendale

207 N. Maryland Avenue, Glendale 91206

Information/Tickets

“Mysterious Ways,” a 2023 independent film set in New Zealand, tells the story of the love between an English vicar and his Samoan partner and their struggle to be accepted by the community and church. The film confronts issues around sexuality and religion. Directed by Paul Oremland. Cast and crew will attend the screenings.

SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 4 p.m.

A Decade of Brilliance: Trio Céleste

Church of the Epiphany

5450 Churchwood Drive, Oak Park 91377

Information here or music@tcote.org or 818.991.4797

A combined Epiphany Music Guild and Red Door Vineyard Wine Event. Trio Céleste has pushed the boundaries of chamber music, redefining the art form with their exceptional virtuosity and passion. Their worldwide performances have won hearts and accolades from music enthusiasts and critics alike, and this season marks their 10th consecutive appearance at Church of the Epiphany. Join us as they offer an extraordinary selection of their “greatest hits," including masterworks of Beethoven, Dvorak, and Mendelssohn. Suggest donation: $25 ($15 for seniors, $5 for students). A festive reception will follow the service. Reservations are requested no later than Wednesday, April 17; email jwilcox@tcote.org or call 818.991.4797, ext. 26.

SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 6 p.m.

Classical Sundays at Six: Andrew Brownell, piano

St. James in-the-City Episcopal Church

3903 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90010

Information

Featured selections: Davidsbündlertänze by Robert Schumann and Valses poéticos by Enrique Granados. Since winning second prize at the 2006 Leeds Competition, Andrew Brownell has pursued an active and varied international performing career. Critics regularly remark on his creative programming and interpretive insight. Musical Opinion has described him as “potentially one of the most significant pianists of his generation” and The Oregonian wrote that Brownell “impresses as much with his mind as with his hands … the anti-Lang Lang.” Read more about this artist here.

SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 4 p.m.

Laós Chamber Music Concert

St. Gregorys's Episcopal Church

6201 E. Willow Street, Long Beach 90815

Information: 562.420.1311 or here

Members of the Laós chamber music ensemble, led by cellist Dustin Seo, will present music by Beethoven and Brahms. A free-will offering will be accepted, with a reception to follow.

SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 6 p.m.

Classical Sundays at Six: Los Angeles Symphonic Winds

St. James in-the-City Episcopal Church

3903 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90010

Information

Stephen Piazza, conductor. Wind Serenade No. 10 in B-flat Major, K. 361/370a, “Gran Partita” by W.A. Mozart. The Los Angeles Symphonic Winds is one of the most critically acclaimed and internationally recognized wind ensembles in the United States. Since 1983, the L.A. Winds have been a leading force in Southern California’s cultural community. Praising the Winds for their “dedication to the highest standard of musical excellence” former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger wrote: “As one of the great cultural treasures of Los Angeles, your band has enchanted audiences with fantastic performances, elegant melodies and graceful harmonies.” Read more about the artists here.

THURSDAY, MAY 2, 7 p.m.

Taizé Prayer Service

St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

428 Park Avenue, Laguna Beach 92651

Join St. Mary’s on the first Thursday of each month for this service in the style of France’s Taizé monastery.

THURSDAY, MAY 2, 7 - 9 p.m.

The Guibord Center's Annual Dinner Celebration 

St. John's Episcopal Cathedral

514 W. Adams Street, Los Angeles 90007

Save the date for this annual event, this year themed “Take Heart: The Power of Connection”

FRIDAY, MAY 3, 8 p.m.

Spring Concert: Fauré & Brahms

All Saints Episcopal Church

504 North Camden Drive, Beverly Hills 90210

Information/tickets here or 310.275.0123 or info@allsaintsbh.org

All Saints’ Choir and Orchestra. The year 2024 marks the centennial of the death of French composer Gabriel Fauré, and we commemorate the occasion with a performance of his glorious Requiem. Fauré composed the work between 1887 and 1890. Shorter than many settings of the requiem, its final version consists of seven movements for soprano and baritone soloists with mixed choir, orchestra and organ. The Requiem is paired in this performance with Brahms’ Vier Gesänge (Four Songs), scored for women’s voices, two horns and harp. The concert also includes the premiere of a new work by Craig Phillips, Homage to Fauré, scored for men’s voices, solo violin and strings. Tickets: $30 ($15 students & seniors). Admission free with Music Guild donor season pass.

SATURDAY, MAY 4, 9 a.m.

Men's Breakfast

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

1221 Wass Street, Tustin 92780

Reservations: David Milligan, david@stpauls.org

Guest speaker will be the Rev. Lester Mackenzie, rector of St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Laguna Beach. 

SUNDAY, MAY 5, 6 p.m.

Classical Sundays at Six: Emerging Artists Series

St. James in-the-City Episcopal Church

3903 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90010

Information

Honors Ensembles from the Colburn School’s Ed and Mari Edelman Chamber Music Institute, which offers one of the most comprehensive and intense pre-college level chamber music learning experiences of any music school in North America. Students are coached weekly by members of the Colburn’s nationally acclaimed faculty. Read more about Colburn School here.

THURSDAY, MAY 9, 7 p.m.

Taizé Service

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church

1432 Engracia Avenue, Torrance 90501

Our candlelit evenings of music, meditation, and prayer return for another season! Join us at St. Andrew's on the second Thursday of each month to experience this powerful, spiritual service.

THURSDAY, MAY 9, 7:30 p.m.

Missa Mystica on Ascension Day

All Saints Episcopal Church

504 North Camden Drive, Beverly Hills 90210

Information here or 310.275.0123 or info@allsaintsbh.org

All Saints’ Choir Schola sings Missa Ascendens, Christus in altum and Ascendens in altum by Tomás Luis de Victoria.

SUNDAY, MAY 12, 4:15 p.m.

Solemn Evensong

St. James in-the-City Episcopal Church

3903 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90010

Information

The Choir of Saint James performs Westminster Abbey Responses and St. James Canticles by James Buonemani (music director at St. James'); "O Clap Your Hands" by Orlando Gibbons; and "Totus Tuus" by Henryk Górecki. 

Wednesday, May 15, 5:30 - 7 p.m.

Bloy House Spring Reception

St. Paul's Commons

840 Echo Park Avenue, Los Angeles 90026

Reservations: rfelton@bloyhouse.org

Bloy House (The Episcopal Theological School at Los Angeles) invites its alumni and friends to the rooftop of St. Paul's Commons for fellowship, fun, and updates on the school's work and its next steps as it searches for a new leader. More about Bloy House is here.

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 5 p.m.

Chamber Music Concert IV: Maurice Clerc, organ

All Saints Episcopal Church

504 North Camden Drive, Beverly Hills 90210

Information here or 310.275.0123 or info@allsaintsbh.org

Maurice Clerc is the titular organist emeritus of the Cathedral of Dijon in France. He presents a varied program including music of Buxtehude, Mestres, Franck, Tournemire, Langlais and Cochereau. Tickets: $20 ($10 students and seniors). Admission free with Music Guild donor season pass.

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 6 p.m.

Classical Sundays at Six: Pacific Trio

St. James in-the-City Episcopal Church

3903 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90010

Information

Roger Wilkie, violin; John Walz, cello; Edith Orloff, piano; performing Nocturnes by Ernest Bloch; Trio by Gaspar Cassado; and Trio in A Minor by Maurice Ravel. “Top string quartets pop up everywhere, but first-rate piano trios are rare. A concert by the Pacific Trio was a special treat, as the trio demonstrated in convincing manner, why it should be considered one of the best.” So began the Los Angeles Times review of Pacific Trio’s debut. Each member has enjoyed a celebrated career on the international music scene, rich in recital, ensemble, and concerto performances. Read more about the artists here.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 7 p.m.

Concert: Hidden Journeys

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church

2901 Nojoqui Avenue, Los Olivos

Tickets/Information

Featuring Roger Roe, English horn and oboe, and R. Kent Cook, piano.

Events to be included in the online diocesan calendar and the Update may be emailed to editor@ladiocese.org.

VOLUNTEER

Work Days: APRIL 27, MAY 18

Camp Stevens

1108 Banner Road, Julian

Come lend a helping hand at camp! The trails need a little love after a wet winter so they can be safe and accessible all spring and summer long. Tools, materials, instructions, and lunch are all provided; families and friends are welcome. Sign up here.

Immigration & Refugee ministry

IRIS (Interfaith Refugee & Immigration Service)

3621 Brunswick Ave. Los Angeles 90039

In this new year, support is needed more than ever for newly arrived refugee and immigrant neighbors. Community members can volunteer with IRIS in many ways, from one-off or short-term opportunities, such as greeting newcomers at the airport, to donation coordination, transportation, translation, and more. For those interested in even deeper client connections, don't hesitate to ask about mentorship opportunities. Proficiency in Spanish, Arabic, Farsi (and other languages) is desirable, but not required, for some volunteer positions. A background check will be conducted for volunteers working directly with clients. Contact Ruben Tomasian at rtomasian@ladiocese.org. IRIS, a non-profit organization, is a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, and an affiliate of Episcopal Migration Ministries. Through refugee resettlement, immigration legal services, and organized community involvement, IRIS helps immigrants and refugees reach self-sufficiency. Check the website for more information. 

Food Pantry

Our Saviour Center

4368 Santa Anita Avenue, El Monte

With lower pandemic numbers and everyone back at school and work our Food Pantry is in need of volunteers. Lend a hand on Tuesdays and Thursdays and the second and fourth Saturdays of each month from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m., rain or shine, to help us help the neediest families in our community. Volunteers should be age 16 and up. Street parking is available on Santa Anita, McGirk and Lambert avenues. Please wear a mask. All activities are outdoors; dress appropriately and wear close-toed shoes. For information or to sign up (not required), email info@our-center.org.

PILGRIMAGES, RETREATS & TRAVEL

June 9 - 14, 2024

Aquinas At Orvieto, Italy:

Deepen Your Own Spiritual Journey as Mystic and Prophet

Join Matthew Fox, Meshi Chavez and Claudia Picardi for a five-day workshop at the ancient monastery of St. Ludovico in St. Thomas Aquinas’ hometown. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) was a mystic and prophet and one of the greatest geniuses in Western history. Courageous and controversial in his day, he brought science (from Aristotle) into the Christian West. His writings reveal an amazing mind and mystical heart. Matthew Fox, a member of the Dominican order, is a preeminent theologian and internationally acclaimed scholar of Western spirituality. He has written extensively on the wisdom of Aquinas and has translated for the first time in English some of his works. Discover Aquinas where he lived and worked, and experience monastic hospitality during this five-day retreat. More information is here.

October 7 – 17, 2024

Italy Pilgrimage

Join the Rev. Steve De Muth and the Rev. Barrett Van Buren for an 11-day pilgrimage across Italy. We will visit Venice, Florence, Assisi, and Rome. The tour price includes roundtrip airfare from Los Angeles, first class/select hotels, most meals, professional tour director, comprehensive sightseeing, all hotel service charges and local taxes, porterage and entrance fees. Cost is $4,549 per person from Los Angeles including $520 taxes/airline surcharges. For information, contact Steve De Muth, 100 N. Third Ave., Covina, CA 91723 or 626.967.3939 or padresteve@holytrinitycovina.com. A full itinerary is here.

EMPLOYMENT

Listings may be sent to news@ladiocese.org. There is no charge.

LAGUNA HILLS: Church Administrator, St. George’s Episcopal Church. Part time (18 hours/week). Seeking a responsible, proactive individual who is responsible for managing the daily activities of the Church, through working with staff and volunteers, managing the church’s schedule of events and keeping accurate records. The individual will work with the vicar, staff, volunteers and the community to support the goals and objectives of the church. Bilingual (Spanish/English) is a plus. Job description is here. To apply, contact Chuck Day at mickoday@yahoo.com.

LONG BEACH: Music Director. St. Luke’s Church / Iglesia de San Lucas looks forward to welcoming a creative collaborator and team player, someone who is passionate about music as a vehicle for spiritual growth and who views their music performance as a spiritual practice. The music director will lead a diverse and dynamic music program that is central to our identity as a parish, enhances our worship experience, and supports us in our aspirations to become a Beloved Community. For more information, please see the job description, which also includes information on how to apply. 

LOS ANGELES: Development Coordinator. IRIS (Interfaith Refugee & Immigration Service, a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles) seeks to hire a full-time development coordinator (our first) as we expand and reorganize as an independent non-profit after nearly 20 years as a successful, fiscally sponsored agency. This position requires a seasoned, confident, and humble professional who thrives in a thoroughly cross-cultural environment and measures her/his/their success by helping others to achieve their own. Full information, job description and application information are here.

LOS ANGELES: Episcopal Hospital Chaplain, PIH Health Good Samaritan Hospital, 1225 Wilshire Boulevard. Full time, salaried. Reporting to one of our department supervisors or managers, this position provides spiritual support to patients, their loved ones, and staff in our hospitals. This chaplain serves people of all belief systems (religious and non-religious), and provides or arranges special rites and rituals as requested by patients and/or surrogates. Full job description and information here.

STUDIO CITY: Organist. St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church is seeking a professionally trained church organist. The organist will be expected to play for two Sunday services and one choir rehearsal per week. Additionally, the organist will play for special services such as Holy Week and Christmas Eve. We value traditional worship drawn from the Book of Common Prayer. The preferred style of music is classical sacred music, ranging from Palestrina to Rutter. The pipe organ was built by Reuter in 1961. R. M. Ballantyne replaced the console and performed substantial refurbishment and modernization of the instrument in 2008. The organ has three manuals and 16 ranks of pipes with some unification. The organist will work directly under our Director of Music in a collaborative manner. Salary: $18,000. Weddings and funerals will provide additional compensation. A full job description is here. Send resume to Mark Gaddis via email at administrator@stmikessc.org or by mail at 3646 Coldwater Canyon Avenue, Studio City 91604.

TUSTIN: Sexton at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. 25 hours/week. The sexton serves to maintain a high standard of cleanliness and readiness of Church facilities to enable the work and ministry of the congregation and to create a pleasant atmosphere for members, guests, and staff. This includes deep cleaning of the kitchen, restrooms, church, and general gathering space(s), as well as basic household chores and changing out supplies as needed. Full job description and application instructions here.

The Episcopal News Update is published on Wednesday afternoons. News items, job listings, calendar items, questions and comments may be sent to editor@ladiocese.org. Weekly deadline is Tuesday at 12 p.m. Photos are welcome: please include them as email attachments (rather than embedded in a document). To subscribe, click here.

— Janet Kawamoto, editor