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Dean's Note
Dear Friends in Christ,
In June Mel Soriano was ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons on his way to becoming a Priest. As a Transitional Deacon, I am pleased to welcome the Rev. Soriano as a member of the St. John’s staff as of this week. Rev. Soriano/Mel will have the office next to mine, serve and preach on Sunday mornings, and dream with you about how to engage in ministry. Mel brings to this vocational calling many gifts from his previous career in software development and business, as well as his warm, kind and listening heart and compassionate soul.
Mel and I are still in the early stages of discerning how God is calling him in this place. As a graduate of USC, Mel is interested in creating a safe and affirming place for young people, children and families. Mel is an active member and leader of The Gathering, which is a ministry of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community within the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles.
Mel and his husband, Stephen, are avid walkers and pilgrims who recently clocked over 1M steps on the Camino De Santiago – Mel for the 6th time. When Mel approached me about serving at St. John’s, I was drawn to his infectious smile and kind, gentle way. This said, there is seemingly no limit to his depth or intellectual acuity for anyone wanting to dive deep into most topics of conversation, matters of faith, and the presence of God all around.
Let us give Mel a warm welcome to St. John’s. I give thanks for his presence among us.
Blessings,
Anne Sawyer
Interim Dean & Priest-in-Charge
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My name is Mel Soriano, and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve at St. John's Cathedral.
Some of you may have met me on Pentecost when I preached at the 8:00 am service. Since then, I was ordained a Deacon here at St. John's and look forward to meeting more of you in the coming months.
I just returned from the Camino de Santiago, an ancient walking pilgrimage across Spain. Along with a couple dozen other friends and family, we walked 500 miles on a spiritual journey filled with fellowship, prayer, and delicious food. I think that we all walk our own spiritual caminos every day, and one of the joys of worship together is that we can share our journeys with each other.
When we meet, I hope that I can hear about your life and the ways God lives in you. You can ask me about some of the ways God moves me, in addition to moving my feet. For example, I live in Altadena, went to USC for undergraduate and graduate studies, owned a software company for two decades, and recently graduated from Bexley Seabury Seminary in Chicago. Like many born in the Philippines, I was raised Roman Catholic. At All Saints Pasadena, you would have found me leading Taize worship services, singing in the choirs, rolling out our labyrinth, and serving as a lay counselor. In addition to my time at St. Alban's, I am also the leader of The Gathering (a space for Asian-American Pacific Islander spirituality in the Diocese of Los Angeles).
On Sundays, you might meet my husband Stephen, a third-grade teacher at Sierra Madre Elementary. Please do say hi when you see me. I would love to hear about your spiritual journey.
Blessings,
Mel+
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Feast of the Transfiguration
Sunday, August 6, 2023
Said Mass is at 8:00 am | In-Person Only
Sung Mass is at 10:00 am | In-Person and Online
Livestream available via Facebook and YouTube | Service Leaflet
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Vestry On-Call
Hamilton Yang
Vestry members are partners with clergy, encouraging the growth of community and the establishment of common ground in the spiritual life of the congregation. Parishioners are always welcome to speak with these individuals on Sunday morning; they assist in making sure our questions, comments, or concerns are heard.
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Seeking Members Called to Serve on the Vestry, Beginning This Month – Volunteer Now
Members of St. John’s Cathedral Los Angeles in Good Standing are invited to give their name to the “Vestry Member on Call,” Hamilton Yang, or to Senior Warden, Canon Lurelean Gaines, this Sunday if you wish to be included on the ballot for election to serve. If you miss this opportunity, you may contact Canon Gaines by email at Sr.Warden@stjohnsla.org by Wednesday, August 9th.
The Vestry of St. John’s decided to extend an open welcome to all qualified members, instead of appointing new members to fill open seats. Then based on the final list of those qualified, each vestry member will select their top four candidates. Ballots will be tallied during the open vestry meeting after church on 13 August, at 11:30 am. Please join us for a light lunch and the work of being church.
To qualify as a vestry member, you must be a pledging member of St John’s for at least a year, baptized or on the path to baptism, a member of the Episcopal Church, and attends church regularly. This is an exciting time in the life of St. John’s Cathedral as you discern a call for your next Dean, engage in active ministry, and oversee the development of surrounding church property. St. John’s needs you.
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A Conversation with the Rev. Fadi Diab
Last Thursday evening, Dr. Lo Sprague, the esteemed founder and president of The Guibord Center, had the privilege of engaging in a captivating conversation with the highly respected Rev. Dr. Fadi Diab. This event took place at St. John's Cathedral and began with a service of Choral Evensong. Following the service, attendees were treated to an enlightening conversation between Dr. Sprague and Rev. Diab, an influential theologian in the Palestinian community known for his unwavering commitment to justice and peace. The evening concluded with a simple yet meaningful meal, further fostering a sense of community and understanding among the participants. This event served as a unique opportunity for attendees to gain profound insights into the intersection of theology, social justice, and peace building.
You can watch a recording on YouTube by clicking HERE.
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Connect with our St. John's Community
If you want to get more involved, keep up to date with life at the Parish, or meet other parishioners with similar interests, come join the St. John's Cathedral Community Group in WhatsApp!
Follow the link below to join the community page and select from a variety of group chats for the Parish: the Flower or Liturgical Guild, the Parish Hiking Group, a Young Adults Ministry group chat, and more!
If you have a ministry or community building activity you'd like to get represented on the WhatsApp community with a group chat, feel free to reach out to Caleb Triche at 951-271-6186 or caleb.triche@gmail.com to get it set up!
WhatsApp is free to download and use from the AppStore or GooglePlay.
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