May 5, 2024

Above: Bishop John Harvey Taylor, left and Canon to the Ordinary Melissa McCarthy listen as Varun Soni, J.D., Ph.D., dean of Religious and Spiritual Life at USC, addresses the chaplains. Below: Glenn Libby, who has been a chaplain at several college campus over three decades, chaired the April 30 meeting along with Taylor. Photos: Janet Kawamoto

CollegeChaplains_043024_3_md-scaled image

College chaplains explore new models of campus ministry at ‘think tank’ meeting

By Pat McCaughan

[The Episcopal News – May 1, 2024] In an era of widespread unrest and distrust of mainline institutions, campus ministries provide crucial spiritual, relational, and practical resources for students, according to a gathering of chaplains from across the Los Angeles diocese at St. Paul’s Commons April 30.

Bishop John Harvey Taylor welcomed the chaplains, who serve campuses from Isla Vista to Irvine, and from Riverside to Los Angeles, as the genesis of “a think tank … to position campus ministry on a continuum that begins with childhood Christian education, youth ministry, campus ministry, young adult ministry.”

And while recent campus unrest also affords opportunities for student support and resources (see related story), Taylor said the meeting’s goal was to gather information in preparation for 2025 diocesan budget conversations, which are beginning this month.

“We have identified resources that may enable us to include in the 2025 budget, someone who would be a new kind of resource person to support those who are doing ministry with our relatively younger cohorts,” Taylor said.

The chaplains heard from Varun Soni, J.D., Ph.D., dean of Religious and Spiritual Life at USC, who spoke movingly of the challenges the USC community is facing, as well as the ways that faith groups can support young people who are showing increased stress and worry about their future.

Chaplains provide ‘presence of prayer and nonviolence’ at UCLA demonstration, but endure attacks from counter-protesters

By Pat McCaughan

[The Episcopal News – May 1, 2024] Deacons Christie Mossman and Jeanne Roe Smith, as UCLA partner chaplains, say they were on the front lines to be “a presence of prayer and nonviolence, to be seen and to witness what was going on” when violence erupted as groups of demonstrators clashed on the Los Angeles campus Sunday.

“We wanted students to see that this is not just a Monday-through-Friday thing. We know a fair number of the students involved in the protests. They came out of the encampment for hugs, to meet with us and to chat with us,” said Roe Smith, executive director of the nonprofit Wesley Foundation, and a Methodist chaplain at the campus for 15 years. She also is involved in liturgy at St. Alban’s in Westwood.

“One young man said the experience has made him go back to his roots, the roots of his faith, and that he celebrated his first shabbat in years. That’s powerful,” said Mossman, who is an Episcopal deacon serving at St. Alban’s.

Although news reports often refer to the protesters as “pro-Palestinian,” Roe Smith told The Episcopal News that the student protestors she knows represent a more nuanced attitude, “an intersectional movement. It is not just pro-Palestinian. It is not just Arabs. It is all the people who are concerned about humanity at large, or who have been highly marginalized by systems of oppression and racism. Their message is ‘cease fire and divest.’ It is about divestment of the war machine, wherever it is, and the current largest iteration of that is in Gaza."

St. Paul’s Commons helps host first-ever Echo Park Earth Fest

by EN Staff

[The Episcopal News – May 1, 2024] Offering free compost and cookbooks, ministry partners at St. Paul’s Commons – headquarters of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles – staffed one of the busiest booths at the first-ever Echo Park Earth Fest, held April 27.

Thousands of Angelenos visited the lively event presented around Echo Park Lake by state Sen. Maria Elena Durazo, the community agency El Centro del Pueblo, and the L.A. Dodgers.

“It’s a dream come true,” said Dolores DeAngelis, community leader and parishioner of Echo Park’s St. Athanasius Episcopal Church, who was among early organizers who proposed and helped coordinate the festival. DeAngelis is also active with the Preserve Echo Park Lake (PEP) organization.

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

Visits with the next generation, Changeist and more

April 28, 2024

During check-in with five girls ages 7-14 from Iglesia Episcopal de La Magdalena in Glendale, who visited me Saturday at St. Paul’s Commons, Echo Park along with their parish leaders, including vicar the Rev. Canon Roberto Martinez, my opening question was if they liked Taylor Swift. The vote was 3-1 with one abstention. The three ayes were all in with the new album. The nay, 11, was also able to tell me where the world’s two worst wars are currently occurring and said that she wants to be an immigration justice lawyer. She said she liked classical music instead.

Protests and priorities

April 25, 2024

Universities under siege over the Gaza war bring it all back for us Vietnam-era college-educated boomers. Back then, you could be for Vietnamese self-determination, the U.S. minding its own business, or the victory of communist North Vietnam and the Viet Cong. You could have been for all three, or two out of three, but most people had a #1. Coming out and saying what you wanted made for better arguments in the dorm or campus teach-ins. There were actually a lot of people who were for the communists winning, in Vietnam and elsewhere. As my old boss Richard Nixon used to say, the left vs. right dynamic is eternal, and during the antiwar movement, after a generation of U.S. blunders, ideological lines had hardened.

Events & Announcements

May 18 service to honor retired Bishop Chet Talton: all are invited

A service in celebration and thanksgiving for the ministry of retired Bishop Chester Talton will be held on Saturday, May 18, 3 - 6 p.m. at St. John's Cathedral.

The Program Group on Black Ministries and the H. Belfield Hannibal Chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians invite the diocesan community to this event, which will begin with Eucharist and end with a seafood gumbo and peach cobbler dinner reception.

Talton, 82, was consecrated sixth bishop suffragan of the Diocese of Los Angeles in 1991 and served until his retirement in 2010. Prior to his election he was rector of St. Philip's Church in New York City's Harlem, and served churches in St. Paul, MN; Chicago; and California. He was the first person of African descent to be elected a bishop in the diocese.

Clergy are invited to wear green vestments; all attendees are encouraged to wear Afrocentric attire. St. John's Cathedral is located at 514 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles 90007.

DOK Spring Assembly to feature conversation with Victoria Hatch, first woman ordained in the diocese

Daughters of the King from around the Los Angeles diocese will gather via Zoom on Saturday, May 4 for their annual Spring Assembly, themed "Listening for God's Call."

The event will feature a presentation by the Rev. Canon Victoria T. Hatch, the first woman to be ordained a priest in the Diocese of Los Angeles, with guest moderator the Rev. Canon Pat McCaughan, vicar of St. George’s Church, Laguna Hills, and longtime correspondent for The Episcopal News of the Diocese of Los Angeles, as well as the church-wide Episcopal News Service.

The Assembly will open at 8:30 p.m. with Morning Prayer with the Rev. Linda Wirt, DOK-LA chaplain. A brief business meeting will follow the program; the meeting will conclude at 12:30 p.m. All are invited to attend; non-members are welcome.

GLEAM annual Garden Party celebrating LGBTQIA+ ministry returns to Pasadena June 2

GLEAM, the LGBTQIA+ ministry of the Diocese of Los Angeles, invites all to its annual Garden Party, an afternoon of food, fun and fundraising on Sunday, June 2, 2 - 4 p.m. at the episcopal residence, the Pasadena home of Bishop John Harvey Taylor and Canon Kathy O'Connor.

This year will mark the return of the Garden Party Hat Contest, with prizes given in the following categories:

Garden Party Chic (best use of flowers)
True Colors (best use of Pride colors)
Make A Statement (best message or theme)
Dynamic Duo (matching hats)
Hat-A-Tude (best upcycled or handmade hat).

A suggested donation of $40 includes admission and two drink tickets. Additional tickets may be purchased for $5 each. Cash, checks and credit will be accepted at the door. All are invited, including the LGBTQIA+ community and allies.

Reservations are required; the address will be provided to those who register here. An invitation in Spanish is here.

Santa Angelina apartments at Blessed Sacrament, Placentia, will hold grand opening May 13

National CORE, the Episcopal Church of the Blessed Sacrament and the City of Placentia invite the diocesan community to the grand opening celebration of Santa Angelina, a new affordable senior housing complex on the church’s campus, on Monday, May 13 at 11:30 a.m.

Santa Angelina was developed by National CORE, the Episcopal Church of the Blessed Sacrament and Episcopal Communities & Services. It is the latest project to be built under the Diocese of Los Angeles’ housing initiative, launched by Bishop John Harvey Taylor, which aims to build affordable apartments on 25 percent of its properties. Several other projects are in various stages of development.

A recent ABC-7 Eyewitness News report on recent legislation streamlining such projects that features the Santa Angelina project is here.

The grand opening will feature performances by the choir of the Children’s Learning Center, which also shares the Blessed Sacrament property; a ribbon-cutting ceremony; tours of Santa Angelina’s amenities and apartments; and a reception with an international tasting menu.

Bishop Taylor is scheduled to take part in the program, along with Orange County Supervisors Doug Chaffee and Katrina Foley; the Rev. R. Barrett Van Buren, rector of Blessed Sacrament Church; Placentia Mayor pro tem Kevin Irwin; Michael Duane, president of National CORE, the developer of the new complex; and Hope Through Housing Vice President Alyssa Cotter.

Reservations are requested here, or call 909.204.3490. Church of the Blessed Sacrament is located at 1320 North Angelina Drive, Placentia 92870.

Guests are invited to park in the south parking lot and along the west side of North Angelina Drive. Enter the site from Angelina Drive, as left turns are not allowed from Morse Avenue. Additional parking may be available at adjacent commercial centers. Parking guides will be available on the day of the event; guests should allow extra time to park before the event starts.

NOTE: An incorrect time was listed for this event in a previous issue of the Update. The News regrets the error.

Shepherd's Cup Golf Classic postponed

The Diocese of Los Angeles' second annual Shepherd’s Cup Golf Classic and Dinner has been postponed to Oct. 14, 2024.

The tourney will be held at the Industry Hills Golf Club and Pacific Palms Resort in the City of Industry. More information is here.

Maureen Cruise, RN, to advocate for state health bill at Inglewood forum

Holy Faith Episcopal Church, Inglewood, will host a community forum titled “California Universal Health Care Now” on Saturday, May 11 at 10 to discuss CalCare SB 2200 Health Care for All, a bill being considered by the California State Senate, with a vote due at the end of May.

Maureen Cruise, RN, board member of the Cal Care Campaign sponsored by the California Nurses Association, will be the speaker. Cruise has a long history of support for single-payer health care systems in the state.

The forum is sponsored by JAMM (Justice & Mercy Mission), a ministry at Holy Faith Church, and by its rector, the Rev. Joseph Oloimooja. Holy Faith Church is located at 260 N. Locust Street, Inglewood 903301. The forum, which is free and open to the public, will be held in the parish hall.

A Los Angeles area native and lifelong resident, Maureen Cruise received a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Psychology from UCLA. She enrolled in graduate studies in psychology before leaving to pursue a career in nursing. Cruise is a former research associate at UCLA’s Neuropsychiatric Institute, a former public health clinic nurse with the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services and a Red Cross volunteer. She has worked at LAUSD schools on projects as a parent outreach coordinator, student support sServices coordinator, and as a volunteer program developer. She has been active with many health care justice organizations and coalition partners in California for over 20 years.

Stillpoint announces Pentecost retreat, ‘Dancing with Wind and Fire’

Stillpoint: The Center for Christian Spirituality, invites the diocesan community to "Dancing with Wind and Fire: A Pentecost One-Day Retreat" on Saturday, May 18, 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.

“We invite you to gather with us to joyously celebrate Pentecost –a landmark moment that marked the start of a new movement that is still transforming us and the worlds we live in,” according to the invitation to the online. “If you are in need of a ritual, in community, to restart some area of your life, please join us.”

Participants will explore three movements during this online event:

"A deeper grounding that connects Spirit to Earth, moving from private to public and individual to collective
"A stirring up, being amazed , confused – and becoming Beloved Community
"Dancing with the potential invitation from these experiences – what is mine, yours and ours to do?"

Leaders Desta Goehner and Ravi Verma, both certified spiritual directors, will use a variety of practices – movement, silence, journaling, and small- and large-group discussions “to open our hearts and bodies to the Divine. And hopefully, leave with a renewed sense of hope, purpose and open to deep transformation.”

Cost is $75. The sessions will be conducted online and recorded. Register here.

First of 4 climate crisis programs will focus on water

Responding to the climate crisis requires new forms of imagination, and the first public event of a series featuring the four elements (Water, Fire, Air, and Earth) will immerse participants in a conversation about water and the climate crisis in relation to faith and science.

The water-themed event, which is sponsored by the Wildland-Urban Interface Climate Action Network (WUICAN), will be held on Thursday, May 9, 6 - 7:30 p.m. at St. Mark Presbyterian Church, 2200 San Joaquin Hills Road, Newport Beach 92660.

The Episcopal Church of the Messiah, Santa Ana, is among the sponsoring organizations; the Rev. Jim Lee, assistant priest at Messiah, is a member of the working group planning the event series.

“Participate in a Water Communion,” says the invitation. “Experience diverse prayer traditions. Share snacks and make new friends. Find out how the climate crisis is impacting different communities, and what you can do.”

Presenters include: Pastors Sadie and Ryan Cullumber of Harbor Christian Church; Keila Villegas, Water Justice director, Orange County Environmental Justice; Steve Allison, professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UCI; Rabbi Marcia Tilchin of the Jewish Collaborative of Orange County; and Duygu Ustun, Pacifica Institute.

Based at the University of California, Irvine, WUICAN is a consortium of community organizations, California Native American Tribes, land managers, and universities working together to develop community-driven policies and practices for land and water stewardship in the face of the climate crisis.

The event is free and open to the public. Reservations are requested; use the form here.

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.

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.

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 was recently sent to clergy and lay leaders, who will work with congregation-level coordinators to collect ticket orders, 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.

From the wider church

Full communion between Methodists, Episcopalians gets closer

By Jim Patterson

[UM News – May 1, 2024] Delegates to the United Methodist General Conference approved full communion with the Episcopal Church on April 30. The agreement needs the approval of the Episcopalians before going into effect.

During the conference’s “Ecumenical Day,” the morning plenary session was halted briefly to acknowledge the vote.

“We want to lift up and recognize this moment, which is an incredibly significant moment, especially on this day as we celebrate our ecumenical relations,” said the Rev. Gary Graves, secretary of the General Conference.

“As you adopted that resolution,” he noted, “you adopted the full communion relationship with the Episcopal Church in the United States, that has been worked on for many years.”

United Methodists strike down ban on ordination of gay clergy

By Yonat Shimron

[Religion News Service — Charlotte, North Carolina – May 1, 2024] United Methodists meeting for their top legislative assembly May 1 overwhelmingly overturned a measure that barred gay clergy from ordination in the denomination, a historic step for the nation’s second-largest Protestant body.

With a simple vote call and without debate, delegates to the General Conference removed the ban on the ordination of “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” — a prohibition that dates to 1984.

With that vote, the worldwide denomination of some 11 million members joins the majority of liberal Protestant denominations such as the Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the United Church of Christ, which also ordain LGBTQ clergy.

Read more here. A comment from the Rev. Canon Susan Russell, canon for Engagement Across Difference of the Diocese of Los Angeles, is here.

Church’s ‘A Closer Look’ on immigration series addresses LGBTIQ+ migration issues

By Shireen Korkzan

[Episcopal News Service – May 1, 2024] In 2023, Episcopal Migration Ministries launched the Rainbow Initiative to help bring attention to the special needs of LGBTIQ+ migrants who not only face persecution, discrimination and violence in their home countries, but also often in the countries where they seek asylum and resettlement.

Last Week, The Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations along with Episcopal Migration Ministries hosted the first in a virtual three-part series on immigration. Ninety people attended the hourlong “A Closer Look: LGBTQIA2S+ Migration” webinar.

For more churchwide stories, visit Episcopal News Service here.

General Convention 2024

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.

Calendar

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, 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

Information/Tickets

This year's theme is “Take Heart: The Power of Connection.” Yuval Ron and his international ensemble will return to bring his inspiring, unifying, and deeply spiritual music to this event.

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.

SATURDAY, MAY 4, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

World Labyrinth Day

All Saints Episcopal Church

132 N. Euclid Avenue, Pasadena 91101

Join the ASC Labyrinth Ministry in observing World Labyrinth Day as participants pray and meditate in a worldwide Walk as One for Peace. Some participants will “Walk as One at 1 p.m.” by walking a labyrinth at 1 p.m. local time to create a rolling wave of peaceful energy across time zones connecting people around the globe. Whether you are familiar with labyrinths or new to the idea of this ancient “moving” spiritual practice, all are welcome to take part in finding peace for all. World Labyrinth Day is an international event held on the first Saturday each May, sponsored by The Labyrinth Society in collaboration with partner organizations including Veriditas.

SUNDAY, MAY 5, 4 p.m.

Spring Organ Recital: Frederick Burgomaster

St. Edmund's Episcopal Church

1175 San Gabriel Blvd., San Marino 91108

St. Edmund's presents its annual Spring Organ Recitals on its famous Aeolian Skinner/Rosales Organ. A reception will follow. There is ample parking and a free will offering will benefit the music fund. Additional recitals will be held on May 12 and May 19.

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

Information: 310.540.1722

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. Online services available here.

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 p.m.

Spring Organ Recital: Ty Woorward

St. Edmund's Episcopal Church

1175 San Gabriel Blvd., San Marino 91108

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.

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 7 – 8 p.m.

A Resurrection Taizé

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church

525 E. 7th Street, Long Beach 90813

Information: 562.436.4047

St. Luke’s invites all to this quiet hour of prayer, chant and renewal. Taizé services will be held online throughout the year. Online services available here or by joining on this Zoom link. Meeting ID: 864 4405 5548, password 525

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.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 7 – 8:30 p.m.

The Welcome Table: A Christian Spiritual Gathering for the LGBTQ+ Community and Our Allies

Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church

24901 Orchard Village Road, Santa Clarita 91355

Information: 661-259-7307 or here

The Welcome Table is an experience created by and for the LGBTQ+ community. Gather with us as we eat, pray, sing, discuss, share communion, celebrate diversity and explore our faith community as our true, authentic selves. Come as you are, this place is for you.

SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2 - 4 p.m.

An Afternoon with Father John Dear, Peace Activist

Trinity Episcopal Church

1500 State Street, Santa Barbara 93101

Information: here, office@trinitysb.org or 805.965.7419

Meet longtime activist, author, teacher and Catholic priest the Rev. John Dear, who will be visiting Trinity on his national book tour. During these times of warfare, gun violence, racism, poverty, and climate change, John Dear has much to say in his new book, The Gospel of Peace, which is a commentary on the Gospels from the perspective of nonviolence. Dear’s Jesus is like Gandhi and Dr. King–nonviolent to the core, a disarming healing presence toward those in need, and a revolutionary disrupter of the unjust status quo. Prepare to be stirred up and inspired! Suggested donation: $20. Books will be available for sale for an additional $20. Cash, check, and credit card accepted at the door.

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 4 p.m.

Pentecost Sunday Evensong

St. Gregory's Episcopal Church

6201 E. Willow Street, Long Beach 90815

Information: 562.420.1311 or info@stgregoryschurch.com

St. Gregory’s hosts the annual Guild Service of the Long Beach Chapter of the American Guild of Organists with a festival service of Evensong for The Day of Pentecost, featuring music by Alfred V. Fedak, William Billings and Andrew Carter.

SUNDAY, MAY 19, 4 p.m.

Spring Organ Recital: Robert Hovencamp

St. Edmund's Episcopal Church

1175 San Gabriel Blvd., San Marino 91108

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.

THURSDAY, MAY 23, 6:00-8:30 p.m.

Christian Nationalism: American Democracy's Looming Threat

All Saints Church, Pasadena

132 N. Euclid Avenue, Pasadena 91101

Americans United for Separation of Church and State and All Saints Church present a stellar panel of experts in lively discussion. Rachel Laser, the Rev. Traci Blackmon, Eddie Tabash Esq., the Rev. Mike Kinman, Salam al-Marayati, Rabbi Susan Goldberg and moderated by Bradley Whitford. This event will be livestreamed.

SUNDAY, MAY 26, 6 p.m.

Classical Sundays at Six: International Laureates Organ Series

St. James in-the-City Episcopal Church

3903 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90010

Information

Bruce Neswick is artist-in-residence at St. James by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in La Jolla, a position to which he was appointed in summer 2022. Prior to moving to California, he served as the canon for music at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Portland, OR; associate professor of music in organ at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, and assistant organist of St. Francis in-the-Fields Episcopal Church, Louisville, KY. He has also served as director of music at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, and as canon for music at the Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta. Read more about this artist here.

SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 4 p.m.

Choral Evensong with Epiphany Parish Choir and Schola

Church of the Epiphany

5450 Churchwood Drive, Oak Park 91377

Information here or music@tcote.org or 818.991.4797

The upsurge in popularity of Choral Evensong has led an Oxford University researcher to study how and why this service meets the varied needs of those who attend. Is it the beauty of the music? The quiet, reflective atmosphere? The evocative language and rhythm of the liturgy? Or maybe it is the mystery and wisdom, the possibility of peace, meditation, and spiritual enrichment; a space for anonymity – a time to “lighten the darkness”? Answer these questions for yourself by joining us for this timeless service, led by Epiphany’s Parish Choir and Schola.

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

Opportunities

VOLUNTEER

Work Day: 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.

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.

PASADENA: Director of Children, Youth & Families Ministry, All Saints Church, a progressive and dynamic Episcopal Church rooted in a tradition of intellectual engagement and enrichment, and fully committed to offering a deeply fulfilling worship experience. All Saints core values are Radical Inclusion, Courageous Justice, Joyful Spirituality and Ethical Stewardship. All Saints is seeking a leader who will make the love of God real and meaningful for all children, youth and families; to continue to grow an engaging, empowering, compassionate, and listening space for all young people to explore faith and how it relates to their inner lives and the lives of the world around them. This position oversees all department activities for children, youth and families, coordinates with an engaged group of volunteers, and represents children, youth and families on parish and community committees. Job description 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