September 14, 2023 | VOLUME 35, ISSUE 34

Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost:

September 17, 2023

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Genesis 50:15-21

Psalm 103:(1-7), 8-13

Romans 14:1-12

Matthew 18:21-35

Preacher: The Reverend Jennifer Wagner Pavia

Saturday, September 16, 9:30 AM - 2:00 PM: Diocesan Climate Change Summit at St. Paul's Commons in Echo Park or Online

Monday, September 18, 7 PM: Vestry

Saturday, October 14: Party of Parties

Bible and Breakfast

Tuesdays | 9:30 AM

Luther Hall & Zoom

Midweek Eucharist

Wednesdays | 7:00 PM

Sanctuary

Adult Forum

Wednesdays | 7:45 PM

Luther Hall & Zoom

THE PARTY OF PARTIES IS COMING !

If you would like to host an event for Sisters of Bede, all you need to do is pick a theme; create a menu; choose a date, time and place; decide how many guests you’d like to have at your event; and what you’d like to charge. If you have any questions, or need ideas, please see one of the Sisters.

If you would like to be a host, please fill out the form (LINKED HERE) and return it to Daphne Moote by Sunday, Oct. 1. You can either bring it to church or email it to moote@mac.com.

SEASON of CREATION 2023

SEASON OF CREATION 2023 September 1 to October 4

COME CELEBRATE WITH ST. BEDE'S! Wednesdays at 7:45pm

It's not too late to join our Adult Education experience! Be part of the global movement for the Season of Creation, an annual month-long ecumenical and global season when Christian communities pray and respond together to the cry of creation. We'll dig deep into our faith and come away feeling refreshed in our unity and our love for each other, our Creator and His Creation.

September 6 - A Passion for the Planet

Geoffrey Hudson’s A Passion for the Planet is an hour-long oratorio on the subject of climate change. Blending scientific prose, poetry, and sacred texts from many faiths, the libretto traces an arc from beauty and gratitude into darkness and out again into hope. We will watch this video of a live performance with orchestra and choir.

September 13 - Special Rogation Day Procession

In ancient times, the observance consisted of an outdoor procession that culminated in a special celebration of the Eucharist. The term from which this observance is drawn is the Latin rogare, meaning “to ask.” We will move from station to station of images to hear scripture and offer prayers for creation, for all who labor, for the fruitfulness of the land and waters; and for deliverance in time of war, disaster, and epidemic disease. Please note: the Procession will start at 7pm followed by the service of Eucharist which will conclude the evening with a period of silence.

September 20 - Creation Care StorySharing

We know that the shortest distance between two people is a story. Stories move us and connect us like no argument or facts every could. And you don’t need special expertise to share your story. You just need to notice the moments when you’ve experienced God’s presence in your life and in the world. Then use your words – out loud – to share those stories and welcome others to do the same. No preparation required.

September 27 - The Letter Movie–A Message for Our Earth

In 2015, Pope Francis wrote Laudato Si', an encyclical letter about the environmental crisis to every single person in the world. A few years later, four voices that have gone unheard in global conversations have been invited to an unprecedented dialogue with the Pope. This documentary follows their journey to Rome and tells their powerful personal stories alongside the latest information about the planetary crisis and the toll it’s taking on nature and people.

October 4 - Take Action!

Inspiration from the season will move us forward in our peace and justice work for all creation.

OTHER OFFERINGS in our community

Ballona Creek Salt Marsh and Dunes Tour

Saturday, September 9 from10:00am-12:00pm

Registration required at ballonafriends.org

Meet us in the dirt parking lot behind Gordon's Market/Alka Water

303 Culver Boulevard, Playa del Rey

Our expert docents will lead you through the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve, where you’ll learn about its history and ecology. Enjoy all the special and unique native plants as you journey through different habitats. You might even meet some of the local wildlife.

Diocesan Climate Change Summit (see next article below)

Saturday, September 16 from 9:30am-2pm

St. Paul’s Commons 840 Echo Park Ave. Los Angeles

Registration required for in person or online participation at diocesela.org

Focusing on practical action by congregations and individuals, the Climate Change Summit will underscore U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres’s recent statement that “the era of global warming has ended” and “the era of global boiling has arrived.” The morning plenary presentation will feature seismologist Lucy Jones. "The summit is a great opportunity to bring our diocesan community together to do what we can to address this issue which affects our whole world. It’s not easy work but it is necessary work,” said the Rev. Canon Melissa McCarthy, diocesan canon to the ordinary, who chairs the 30-member commission on behalf of Bishop John Harvey Taylor.

Ballona Creek Freshwater Marsh Tour

Sunday, September 24 from 10am-12pm

Registration required at ballonafriends.org

Ballona Discovery Park 13110 Bluff Creek Drive, Los Angeles

The Freshwater Marsh is a restored wetland that was previously filled and farmed for decades. Now it is a flourishing marsh filled with native plants providing habitat for more than 250 species of migratory and resident birds. This marsh is one of Los Angeles ’birding hot spots!

More events to be added as the season progresses.

ST. BEDE'S PARISH REPs SOUGHT for DIOCESAN CLIMATE CHANGE SUMMIT

Elizabeth Coombs is extending an invitation to all St. Bede’s parishioners concerned about climate change. She is encouraging us to be part of a team that actively participates in contributing to the prevention of irreparable planetary damage and the advancement of intergenerational justice at the local level. Elizabeth enthusiastically plans to be a representative and encourages all interested parties to attend the Diocesan Climate Change Summit described below. Please let Elizabeth (elizabethcoombs@earthlink.net) or Rev. Jennifer know of your plan to attend the summit, either in-person or online.

Seismologist Lucy Jones will share insights at diocesan Climate Change Summit September 16

By EN Staff

Distinguished seismologist Lucy Jones – a well-known voice for earthquake science and safety – will deliver the morning plenary presentation at the diocesan Climate Change Summit, a hybrid event set for Saturday, Sept. 16, at St. Paul’s Commons, Echo Park.

Registration is here. All are welcome. Coffee and table conversation starting at 9:30 a.m. will precede the program opening at 10 a.m. Sessions will continue until 2:30 p.m. with a 30-minute break for lunch.

Jones, who is a lay leader at St. James Episcopal Church in South Pasadena, will be joined by afternoon presenters Kate Varley and Lisa Markus, also Episcopalians and climate specialists from local congregations.

“The church has tremendous potential to make a difference,” McCarthy added. “I firmly believe we can do anything we are called to do when we are working in community and with God’s help. The issue of climate change needs our concerted, intentional, and communal attention.”

The summit has been called in keeping with Diocesan Convention resolutions adopted last November.

The summit program will bring news of Commission partnerships, including the “Climate Connections” disaster resilience plan, now a pilot project, engaging congregations in strategic, collaborative response to crises including earthquakes and heatwaves. Made possible by a grant from Southern California Edison, the program is coordinated by Jones, who co-chairs the Commission’s Disaster Resiliency Subcommittee with Mary Nichols, a lay leader at St. James’, Los Angeles, and former head of the California Air Resources Board.

Box lunches, available for a donation of $12, will be provided during the 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. program. St. Paul’s Commons, the diocese’s administrative and ministry hub, is located at 840 Echo Park Avenue, Los Angeles. Free parking is available in the on-site garages.

Further information may be requested from Samantha Wylie, coordinator of Diocesan Convention, by email at swylie@ladiocese.org. For those using the Metrolink or other train lines that go to Union Station, directions for reaching Echo Park are here.

HOMECOMING SUNDAY IS SEPT. 24

The St. Bede's Homecoming Barbecue will be held on Sunday, September 24, after the 10:00 AM service. This is an annual event to mark the end of the summer vacation season, reconnect with the St. Bede's family, and highlight the many opportunities and activities at St. Bede's. The Vestry will provide everything, so it is not necessary to sign up. See you there!

ST. BEDE'S ONLINE GIVING PORTAL

Are you planning to attend worship online and want an easy way to make a pledge payment? Do you want to ditch the checkbook and set up reoccurring payments? Are you looking for a convenient way to make a one-time special gift to St. Bede's?

Did you know you can make donations online to St. Bede's, securely and easily?

Visit the St. Bede's website and at the top of every page, look for the "Donate" button. When you click on the "Donate" button, you will be transported to St. Bede's Vanco eGiving and Payment Process Site.

Vanco is an industry leader in online payments. More than 40,000 churches, faith-based groups, nonprofits, schools, and educational organizations trust Vanco to securely complete transactions every day. Vanco complies with PCI Level 1 standards, the highest security standard in the payment processing industry.

You are invited to set up one-time or recurring gifts using credit, debit, or bank transfer on Vanco's secure payment processing platform. Giving online through the Vanco site saves time and the hassle of remembering to bring your offering. In addition, you decrease the expense incurred by St. Bede’s from handling and processing checks and cash.

FROM THE EPISCOPAL NEWS

A newsletter serving the Diocese of LA

Tom Quijada-Discavage eases the way for clergy, congregations in transition

By Pat McCaughan

[The Episcopal News] When the Rev. Tom Quijada-Discavage isn’t shepherding congregations through transitions, he is leading another flock as priest-in-charge at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Los Angeles.

Or he’s helping to plan the annual conference for the clergy of the diocese. Or working with clergy who are hoping to come to the Los Angeles diocese, while also supporting those who are retiring, or who are leaving ministry. And providing formation opportunities for the recently ordained.

“Today I had two Zoom calls with clergy who have expressed interest in looking at possible calls in the diocese,” he told The Episcopal News recently. “We get a number of people who think they want to come here or might have family connections here and have a desire to connect or be closer to them.”

But “the great challenge is the cost of living here; making that a possibility for people who don’t quite get the picture of what cost of living entails.”

As of August the median listing home price in Los Angeles is about $1.2 million, trending up 22.5% year over year, according to Realtor.com. Reports place the cost of living in Los Angeles at 6% higher than the state average, and 50% higher than the national average. According to RentCafe, a nationwide internet listing service for renters, housing in Los Angeles is 140% more expensive than the rest of the country, while utilities are about 11% pricier. Both groceries and clothing rank about 16% higher than elsewhere in the U.S.

EPISCOPAL NEWS SERVICE

San Quentin State Prison is just one of the places where volunteers from the Diocese of California and other churches have helped lead Kairos Prison Ministry weekends for incarcerated people. But Kairos’ anti-trans policy has prompted discussions about church involvement going forward. Photo: Jitze Couperus/Flickr/Creative Commons

California diocese challenges Kairos’ prison ministry’s anti-trans policy

BY MELODIE WOERMAN

[Episcopal News Service] In August, an Episcopalian from the Diocese of California who has long volunteered with Kairos Prison Ministry International learned that the ministry’s Code of Conduct requires the use of a person’s gender assigned at birth for volunteers and participants in its ministry weekends, meaning transgender or nonbinary people were not welcome.

The volunteer, Christina Reich, soon resigned in protest of such a policy, which runs counter to The Episcopal Church’s policies of LGBTQ+ inclusion as approved by General Convention. Since then, Reich’s resignation has resulted in broader scrutiny by Episcopal leaders in the San Francisco-based diocese of all levels of the diocese’s engagement with Kairos.

Kairos is an interdenominational

Christian ministry of volunteers who support prisoners and their families. It offers three programs: Kairos Inside, including a weekend event serving those in prison; Kairos Outside, which serves families of incarcerated people; and Kairos Torch, a mentoring program for incarcerated young people up to age 25.

Committee completes initial review of possible presiding bishop nominees, renews call for prayers by all Episcopalians

The Joint Nominating Committee for the Election of the Presiding Bishop has reviewed applications from the bishops who have entered the discernment process for the 2024 election of the 28th presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church.

The work took place during the committee’s Sept. 6-9 meeting in St. Louis, Missouri.

The meeting followed the committee’s call for nominations from May 15 to July 15. During that time, 111 Episcopalians submitted bishops’ names.

The committee invited those bishops to enter the discernment process. Those who agreed provided biographical information, references, and written and video responses to several questions.

“We are thankful to all of the Episcopalians who suggested the names of bishops to us,” said Dr. Steve Nishibayashi, a canon in the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, who co-chairs the committee with Alaska Bishop Mark Lattime.

Lattime added that “we are now combining these applications with our earlier work, including our survey last year and the interviews we conducted to learn about the job of being presiding bishop, and this part of the process is off to a good start.”