The
Episcopal News Update

A weekly newsletter serving the Diocese of Los Angeles
February 27, 2022
Follow, share new diocesan content on social media

Twitter account features blog posts, commentary from Bishop John Harvey Taylor

A new Twitter account highlighting Bishop Harvey Taylor’s blog posts of weekly visits to congregations, interspersed with links to statements and commentary on issues of interest, is now live.

Follow @edlabishop and learn more about local ministries across the diocese and to engage issues of common interest.

The blog may also be read here.
#WeeklyQuery seeks to build diocesan Twitter, Instagram audiences

#WeeklyQuery – a new series on Twitter and Instagram – invites audience responses to questions related to Episcopal Church parish life.

Launching this week in advance of Lent, the series opens with the question: “What is your favorite church season?” Add your response on Twitter (@ladiocese), or Instagram (#episcopaldioceseoflosangeles), and be sure to follow both accounts to track and engage future posts.
Bishop’s Commission on Gospel Justice and Community Care sets Lenten series of daily posts on Facebook

Providing insights into issues of policing in local and national contexts, the Bishop’s Commission on Gospel Justice and Community Care invites all in the diocese to follow its Facebook page and engage in daily posts on topics including countering racism and providing mental health-care options for intervention rather than arrest.


Additional diocesan social media feeds to follow and share include the diocesan Facebook page and YouTube channel and The Episcopal News's Facebook page and Twitter (@EpiscoNews_LA).
St. Peter's, San Pedro, highlights stories of African Americans in honor of Black History Month

The contributions of Black Americans are sometimes overlooked when people of the United States learn about the nation's history.

In an effort to introduce some of these stories and in celebration of Black History Month, the Inclusion Committee of St. Peter's Church, San Pedro, has produced The More You Know, a 32-page collection of brief items about Black Americans who have contributed to American life in women's and civil rights, science, politics, medicine, journalism, education, sports, the arts and more. The collection ends with several personal reminiscences and reflections on encountering racism from Black and White perspectives.

Writers include Don Briggs, Daisy Carr, Tom Carr, Michelle Durojaiye, Jean Foster and Bose Labisi.

In a typical entry Durojaiye describes the work of Mary Bethune (pictured above), "an educator and school founder who served as an unofficial advisor on African-American issues to presidents Roosevelt and Truman. Born to parents who had grown up as slaves, Bethune was the only one of 17 children in her family to go to school. After attending bible college in Chicago, she dedicated herself to educating others. She worked in Georgia and South Carolina, then founded Florida’s Daytona Normal and Industrial Institute for Girls in 1904. The school became Bethune-Cookman College, one of the few black colleges in the country. A firm believer in education as a path to racial equality, Bethune focused on vocational education and social activism and became a worldwide public figure."

The More You Know is available as a PDF here.
Five-week Lenten curriculum guides study of Bishop Curry's Love Is the Way

A five-week Lenten study guide of Bishop Michael Curry’s book Love is the Way: Holding Onto Hope in Troubling Times is now available.

Developed by One in the Spirit – the Diocese of Los Angeles' engagement across difference ministry – the curriculum is available in a downloadable PDF in both English and Spanish and is suitable for either group discussions or individual reflection.
The study guide includes reflections from:

  • The Rev. Canon Melissa McCarthy, canon to the ordinary
  • The Rev. Antonio Gallardo, vicar of St. Luke's Church, La Crescenta
  • The Very Rev. Canon Gary Hall, interim dean of Bloy House and former dean of Washington National Cathedral
  • Missioner for Youth Gabriel Vasquez-Reyes
  • The Rt. Rev. John Harvey Taylor, bishop diocesan

The writers invite participants to explore differences that challenge us while encouraging reflection on the love that binds us together: God’s love and the reflection of that love in human lives.

To download the English curriculum, click here. The Spanish curriculum is here.
People
Martha Macias named controller for the Diocese of Los Angeles

Martha Macias, former senior accountant for the diocese, will now serve as its controller, according to a recent announcement from the Rev. Susan Stanton, director of finance.

"As controller, Martha will be responsible for supervising and managing the daily accounting functions of the department and ensuring that the accounting books and records, processes, and controls are maintained in accordance with our policies and standards as well as Generally Accepted Accounting Principles," wrote Stanton. "As demonstrated in the preparation of the 2022 budget, Martha is also responsible for assisting the finance director with managing the annual budget process, detailing monthly analysis of budget to actual performance and coordinating grant management for our many ministries."

Before joining the diocesan staff in 2019, Macias was a senior accountant for CBS Radio for six years. Previously she was a business manager for four years at Liberman Broadcasting Inc. and an escrow officer for five years at LandAmerica United Title. She is a graduate of Cal State University and holds a bachelor's degree in business administration.
Events & Announcements
Panel discussion will celebrate Black voices in The Episcopal Church

[Church Pension Group] In celebration of Black History Month, Church Pension Group will sponsor "Celebrating Black Voices," an honest conversation with five Black leaders who serve The Episcopal Church, on Monday, Feb. 28, 9 - 10 a.m. PST (12 - 1 p.m. EST). Collectively, the panelists' service to the Church spans more than 150 years and each of them continues to serve in ways that make a difference.

Hosted by the Church Pension Group’s (CPG) People of African Descent affinity group, the conversation will explore the panel’s experiences and thoughts around Becoming Beloved Community; examine themes around social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion; and discuss the challenges and opportunities they see in a predominantly white Church.

Kimtoya Williams, chair, People of African Descent Affinity Group and assistant manager of digital production for CPG, will moderate the conversation.

Panelists:
  • The Rt. Rev. Nathan Baxter, senior adjunct professor of practice, Lancaster Theological Seminary
  • Patricia Favreau, executive vice president and chief communications officer, CPG
  • The Rev. Glenna J. Huber, rector, Church of the Epiphany, Washington, D.C.
  • The Hon. Byron Rushing, vice president, House of Deputies of The Episcopal Church
  • The Very Rev. Sandy Wilson, dean, Cathedral Church of All Saints, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; member, CPF board of trustees

Biographies of the speakers and the event agenda are here. Individuals can submit questions in advance to corpcomm@cpg.org. This conversation will be recorded.

To participate, register here.
Camp Stevens invites all to family camps, retreats; summer camp registration continues

In addition to its summer sessions for children and teens, Camp Stevens will hold its annual series of Family Camps this year: Memorial Day, May 28 – 30; Harvest, Oct. 7 – 9; and Thanksgiving, Nov. 25 – 27.

"Family Camps are a great way to connect with your family and experience all Camp Stevens has to offer," says the announcement. "All you have to do is bring your family and we provide the rest. Cost covers your private room, food, and activities."

Weekend activities may include archery, climbing wall, garden tour or project, staff-led hikes, ice dye or tie-dye projects, swimming, campfire with s'mores, family-friendly trivia, culinary projects, visits with the camp's pigs and goats, family fun games, beer and wine tasting, or arts and crafts. More information about family camps, including cost, is here. For reservations, click here.

Camp Stevens also offers family retreats on specific dates: this spring's available weekends are March 11 – 13 and April 1 - 3. Individuals, families or groups are invited to stay in one of the camp lodges, visit the town of Julian, take hikes, tour the gardens and enjoy meals served in the camp dining hall or patio. For pricing and lodge availability, email Sam at retreats@campstevens.org for pricing and lodge availability.

Summer camp registration continues

Summer camp registration is now open for children ages 8 to 15 for these sessions:

  • Adventure Session 1: June 26 – July 1
  • Adventure Session 2: July 3 – July 8
  • Adventure Session 3: July 10 – July 15
  • Adventure Session 4: July 17 – July 22

Teens 16 and up are invited to apply for Counselor Training (June 12 - 21). The camp also offers Wilderness Trips for teens up to age 17, featuring such activities as rock climbing and sea kayaking.

For information about all summer camps, visit the website here. Cost is on a tiered system, with each family choosing which rate to pay, according to its means. Fees for Adventure Sessions range from $625 to $795. Some camperships are available.

Covid-19 mitigation measures will be observed at all camp sessions until the staff, guided by camp nurses, the American Camping Association and public health officials, deem them no longer necessary: see the website for details.
Episcopalians invited to 'Lenten Virtual Borderlands Experience'

[The Episcopal Church] The Episcopal Church's Latino Ministries office and Episcopal Migration Ministries invites church members and others to walk a special Lenten journey with immigrant sojourners and advocates in a free, five-week Lenten Virtual Borderlands Experience, 4 – 5:30 PT (7 – 8:30 p.m. ET) on Thursdays: March 10, 17, 24, 31, and April 7.

  • Hear stories from our immigrant siblings 
  • Learn from those involved in migration ministry
  • Follow the steps of those who have crossed borders in search of a better way of life

This series can be done individually or as part of a congregational study group. To register, click here.
Guibord Center announces March, April events

The Guibord Center has announced two upcoming events; a continuation of its "Inspiring Stories" series and a program focused on the kinship of animals and humans.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 4 - 6 p.m.
Inspiring Stories: How Perpetrators of Racism Recognize Their Complicity

Online: Register here

"Tragic events in our nation over the past two years have awakened many of us to how we perpetuate racist thoughts and behaviors, knowingly or not. In this event, the third in our four-part series on racism, we'll hear from people who have come to realize their role in maintaining racist attitudes and systems. They'll share how they turn to their spiritual traditions for guidance and strength to transform themselves and their communities. Join us as we hear from compelling storytellers whose personal reflections open a space for deeper exploration and transformative engagement." Storytellers for this event will be announced soon.
SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Kindred Spirits: One Animal Family, Part II

St. John's Cathedral
514 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles 90007
In person and online: register here

An in-person interview and book signing with Anne Benvenuti, Ph.D., celebrates her new book, Kindred Spirits: One Animal Family. Benvenuti describes what she calls a global shift of consciousness in how humans relate to other animals. In this interview, she will "connect the dots between the ecological, social, and political challenges we face and some of our most important resources for meeting them. She explores how we find comfort, inspiration, and courage in our relationships with dogs and cats, as well as in understanding the lives of other animals. The evolutionary significance of these connections? Giving everything we have to save our family - our one animal family - is a natural response. But we first have to consciously affirm and experience that animals are our family. Anne illustrates these ideas with stories of people and animals in places where this cultural shift is happening...none too soon, and hopefully not too late." Following the program at the in-person event, Benvenuti will sign copies of Kindred Spirits: One Animal Family. To purchase the book in advance, click here.

The Guibord Center, an interfaith organization founded by the late Rev. Gwynne Guibord, an Episcopal priest, works to increase understanding among Los Angeles' diverse faith communities. All of their programs are free; donations are gratefully accepted. Learn more here.
Kaleidoscope Institute workshop to focus on ways to consensus

[The Kaleidoscope Institute] Have you ever wondered if there’s a better way than majority rule to make group decisions? Have you wondered where God was in your group’s decisions? The Kaleidoscope Institute (KI) offers a three-hour online workshop on faith-based consensus, facilitated by the authors of Sacred Decisions: Consensus in Faith Communities, on Tuesday, March 22, 12 - 3 p.m.

In this workshop, there will be opportunities to discuss the rationale and process of faith-based consensus, and to practice using it in a small group.

The fee for this new workshop is as low as $1; additional donations are welcome. Participants' feedback on their experience will help KI staff refine and perfect this new curriculum. Registration is limited to 20 persons.

Click here to register.
The Abundant Table invites all to end-of-winter celebration March 6

The Abundant Table Farm invites the diocesan community to a celebration of community and the beginning of Spring on Sunday, March 6, 1 – 4:30 p.m.

"We will learn and reflect on the magical gift of the microbiological community of the soil and recognize and celebrate the community of life and support around the land of The Abundant Table," says the event invitation. "We invite you to join us in this end-of-winter celebration of community on the farm."

Schedule for the day is:

  • 1 – 2 p.m. Introduction to the farm and experiential learning fun and reflection in the field
  • 2 – 3 p.m. Farm Tour with Farmer Guadalupe
  • 3 – 3:30 p.m. Circle of Gratitude for the community of the farm, especially its farmers
  • 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Community-centered farm church service

Covid-19 protocols will be observed; masks are required. For reservations (requested by Friday, March 4), click here. Additional information and instructions are here.

The Abundant Table Farm is located at 684 E. Guiberson Road, Fillmore 93015
Bloy House announces 'Education for Your Faith Journey' classes for March

The Education for Your Faith Journey program at Bloy House (Episcopal Theological School Los Angeles) is designed to meet the education needs of those not currently served by seminaries or other church programs. Each class meets online weekly for four weeks. Class sessions are about 60 to 90 minutes long. The class fee is $50; financial aid is available.

TUESDAYS, MARCH 1, 8, 15 & 2; 7 - 8 p.m.
Faith and Grief
Led by Victor Luna, M.S.W., M.Div., school social worker with the Los Angeles Unified School District.
While grief and loss are universal, they are also complicated and complex processes. In these four sessions, we will review the stages of grief and the array of emotions that we experience when we lose someone or something of value in our lives. We will explore the following:
  • How to grieve in a healthy manner?
  • What do the scriptures teach about grieving?
  • How does our faith sustain us?
Finally, participants will reflect on the losses from the pandemic and health crisis and how to turn to the divine for guidance during these difficult times.

THURSDAYS, MARCH 3, 10, 17 & 24; 7 – 8 p.m.
Let There Be Light! Best Practices for Living Beyond Crisis
Led by the Rev. Carlos Ruvalcaba, program director, Instituto de Liderazgo and associate rector, St. Stephen’s Church, Hollywood, and St. Barnabas Church, Eagle Rock.
When we look at ourselves 22 months ago, we cannot help but to think in a world that literally had to shut down. The disruption and suffering caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic turmoil, the social upheaval, and violence came to change our lives and livelihood in ways both small and profound. Is all this a tragedy? Yes! Could all this be a gateway to something new and better? Yes!

In this four-week, one-hour course participants will explore these questions: What was normal? What is normal nowadays Where have we been? Where are we headed? How might we attend to the pandemic’s impact on our lives, while also identify our role in fixing the mess of the world and solving the catastrophes that are already upon us?

Optional reading material includes Alexis Pauline Gumbs' Undrowned, Black Feminist Lessons from Marine Mammals, along other reflections that will help us in our discussion time and further activities.

Class sessions may be recorded; if so, the link to the video will be sent to all students.

Information and registration links for both sessions are here.
New diocesan Commission on Climate Change will begin work in March

The Bishop’s Commission on Climate Change – a new forum engaging individuals and congregations in deeper response to urgent environmental issues – is set to begin work in March, taking up priorities underscored by the U.N.’s COP26 conference and in the recent Diocesan Convention lecture given by Mary Nichols, parishioner of St. James’, Los Angeles, and former chair of the California Air Resources Board.

The commission is chaired by the Rev. Canon Melissa McCarthy, diocesan canon to the ordinary, who was among Episcopal Church representatives to the COP26 conference in November. Nominations for new commission members are now being received, and names or self-nominations may be emailed to bishopsoffice@ladiocese.org.

The commission’s work, set to commence with monthly Zoom meetings, is three-fold:
  • Advocacy and education for diocesan congregations, schools, institutions, and individuals in addressing climate change
  • Engagement of General Convention legislation calling dioceses, congregations, and individuals to action
  • Preparedness for natural disasters and responsiveness when they occur

In addition, the commission will bring attention to intersections of food insecurity and racial justice; tracking of federal, statewide, regional and local legislation; and development of an anthology of online resources. The role of youth and young adults, together with local schools and seminaries, also will be key. Updates of the commission’s work will follow in news reports and on the diocesan website.

Above: Fellow climate activists Mary Nichols and Melissa McCarthy meet before the Margaret Parker lecture at the 2021 Diocesan Convention. Both attended the recent U.N. climate conference, COP26; Nichols in person and McCarthy via the internet. Photo: John Taylor
By Your Side training for end-of-life companions scheduled

By Your Side Vigil Companions, a project of Episcopal Communities and Services, trains volunteers to be a compassionate presence in the lives of those nearing the end of life. Training sessions are scheduled in March and April.

"The mission of By Your Side since 2011 has been to be supportive of people in palliative care and to be at their bedside at the end of their lives as needed," says By Your Side director Susan Brown. "The pandemic has brought all of us to an acute awareness of life’s fragility, and of the immense value of being companioned. In adapting to the reality of COVID, we redefined being 'present' to include presence at the bedside and presence without proximity, realizing that what is most important is connection."

Brown invites interested people to enroll for Zoom (or hybrid) training sessions on Mondays, March 7 – April 4, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. There is no obligation to volunteer at the completion of the training.

To enroll or for more information, contact Brown at sbrown@ecsbyyourside.org or 818.822.6044. Enrollment is limited to 30 people. A fee of $70 (which includes all materials) is due by the second class. Scholarships are available. CE (12 hours) for nurses is available for an additional $30 under California Board of Registered Nursing Provider Number CEP 16239.
From the wider church
Presiding bishop, interfaith leaders pray for peace as Russia steps up its advance on Ukraine

By David Paulsen

[Episcopal News Service – February 23, 2022] More than a dozen interfaith leaders, including Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, offered prayers and calls for peace in Ukraine on Feb. 23 during an online vigil organized by The Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations and the Quakers’ Friends Committee on National Legislation.

Participants in the hourlong vigil included representatives from the Jewish, Muslim and Sikh faiths and several Catholic and Protestant Christian denominations, as nearly 1,000 people watched and listened live on Zoom and Facebook.

Curry, in his opening remarks, offered prayers for the “people and children of God whose lives and freedom are threatened.” Nearly 200,000 Russian and Russian-backed troops have deployed to the border of Ukraine for what Western leaders have warned is an imminent invasion of the former Soviet republic, and some of those troops already have moved into an eastern region held by separatists.

“We pray for peace. … We pray for a just peace,” Curry said. “We pray that the lives of innocents and the lives of any human child of God will be spared. We pray that our leaders will find a diplomatic way, a nonviolent way.”

Read more here.
Episcopalians explore, embrace green burial as a final act to care for creation

By Heather Beasley Doyle

[Episcopal News Service – February 21, 2022] When John Christian Phifer talks about his work at Tennessee’s first conservation cemetery, he first provides context by describing the mainstream funerals familiar to many Americans, which he used to coordinate. “You walk into a large fancy room and there’s a casket and people are all dressed in formal clothing, and you feel this kind of velvet rope between you and everything else that’s happening, and you don’t know what to do, you don’t know how to feel,” Phifer, now executive director of Larkspur Conservation at Taylor Hollow, told Episcopal News Service. Attendees feel more like observers to a quiet process, he said, whereas “the exact opposite of that happens at Larkspur.”

At Larkspur’s 112 acres, families and friends hike into a nature preserve to bury their loved ones without durable caskets or cement vaults; the experience is meant to create deeply personal spiritual rituals, while also seeking to preserve land and reduce carbon emissions.

Episcopalians are helping to shape the future of funeral practices as people increasingly consider the economic and environmental costs of typical American burials, while also seeking to reconnect with the circular nature of life and death in the natural world. When retired Archbishop Desmond Tutu died late last year, his choice of alkaline hydrolysis, or “aquamation,” a flameless, water-based alternative to cremation with a lower environmental impact, became news. Both Larkspur and Campo de Estrellas conservation cemeteries have strong Episcopal ties, and Episcopalian Mallory McDuff’s book Our Last Best Act, an exploration of earth-friendly options for human bodies after death, was published in December. Phifer, McDuff and others hope that their work and choices will encourage more people to choose burial practices that, with enough momentum, could help curb the climate crisis while changing burial rituals in the United States.

Read more here.
General Convention committee discusses clergy pension assistance as online hearings get underway

By David Paulsen

[Episcopal News Service – February 18, 2022] Bishops and deputies are considering a General Convention resolution that calls on the church to study the feasibility of creating a fund to support under-resourced congregations in paying their clergy pension assessments. A hearing on the resolution was held Feb. 17 by the Agencies & Boards Committee, not in a conference room but in a Zoom room – open to anyone with an internet connection who had registered in advance.

The hearing drew 28 attendees, a mix of committee members, observers and two deputies who had signed up to testify about Resolution D003, which was drafted and proposed by members of the House of Deputies’ Black caucus.

Most congregations’ largest expenses are building maintenance and clergy compensation, Annette Buchanan told the committee in her testimony in support of the resolution. Many Black congregations, in particular, “are close to closing, and others are without vital ministry” because of these financial burdens, though Buchanan, an alternate deputy from New Jersey and past president of the Union of Black Episcopalians, noted that other Episcopal congregations could benefit from the proposed fund as well.

“We are hopeful that this body will appreciate the desperate need that many congregations across the church have,” Buchanan said.

Read more here.
More reporting from Episcopal News Service is here.
Coming up
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 8 p.m.
Concert: "After Silence" with VOCES8
St. Matthew's Episcopal Church
1031 Bienvenda Avenue, Pacific Palisades
Tickets and information here or 310.573.7422
Called “the Rolls-Royce of British vocal ensembles” (Artdesk), VOCES8 will perform a varied program spanning 400 years as part of the St. Matthew’s Music Guild’s thirty-eighth season of concerts. The program will feature selections from Monteverdi’s Madrigals, Book VI, Benjamin Britten’s “Hymn to St. Cecilia,” and masterpieces by Gibbons, Victoria, Rachmaninoff and others. Masks are required for all audience members. All audience members must show proof of having been fully vaccinated before February 11, 2022. Proof of vaccine booster is not required at this time.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 10 a.m.
Messiah Black History Program - 20th Anniversary
Episcopal Church of the Messiah
614 N. Bush Street, Santa Ana 92701
Information here
Livestreamed here
On demand here
Keynote speaker: Assembly Member Chris Holden. Recognizing the need for education and a better understanding of African American history and culture, the Messiah Black History Program was developed by Allen Doby, a late parishioner. The first Black History Program was held on Feb. 24, 2002. The program is held annually during Black History Month (February). The objective is to raise awareness of the contributions of people of African descent to society, revealing their past and present, in an effort to inspire a better world. The program offers perspectives on civil rights, social justice trends and the need to embrace the diversity and inclusion of all people. Each year, a distinguished keynote speaker is invited to share her or his journey, as a person of African descent in America. After the service, the speaker joins parishioners for a soul food luncheon and informal discussions. The first keynote speaker, in 2002, was Jewel Plummer Cobb, cancer researcher, professor and the first Black woman to hold the position of president at California State University, Fullerton.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 11:30 a.m.
Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of Luke: Singing With Mary
St. John's Cathedral, Los Angeles
Via Zoom: register here
Presenter: Joel B. Green, professor of New Testament Interpretation and associate dean for the Center of Advanced Theological Studies at Fuller Seminary. This series will take a deep dive into the Gospel of Luke, the text for most Gospel readings at Eucharist this liturgical year. How does Luke tell the story of Jesus? How is his story distinct, and how similar to the other writers who tell the story of Jesus? Participants will see the whole map, but pay particular attention to key places of interest. "We will combine the study of the text with time to allow ourselves to meet the Jesus who speaks in a unique way through this telling of the Gospel," according to the course announcement. Recordings of previous sessions are at the link above: additional classes will be held on March 6 and March 13.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 12 p.m.
The Shorts: A Small Town Rises
St. Stephen's Church, Santa Clarita
Via Zoom: contact Mary Jo Higginbotham at maryjohigg@gmail.com for link
Sponsored by St. Stephen's Anti-Racism Coalition. In 1964, Black Mississippi sharecropper Eddie Short and White college graduate Mary Sue Gellatly from Oregon joined forces to challenge and disrupt the status quo in the heart of the Mississippi Delta during the voting rights campaign known as “Freedom Summer.” The two civil rights activists met in the tiny cotton town of Shaw, MI, in the middle of a pressure cooker of violent White resistance to the growing Civil Rights Movement. Their struggle brought triumph and tragedy in equal measure.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 5 p.m.
Lamentation of Black Souls
All Saints Episcopal Church
132 N. Euclid Avenue, Pasadena 91101
In-person and livestream here
During Black History Month we continue to turn our hearts and minds to the vast contributions of African-Americans in the United States. The collective stories of human bondage, heartbreak, and despair are reflected in every note of the songs and letters preserved through generations. It is in these anguished cries to heaven, that we gain a visceral insight into the souls of a strong, proud race; bowed, yet unbroken. Weicheng Zhao and Michal Dawson Connor will lead a musical meditation of Slave Songs and Letters with Grace Chung, Xin Xin Martin, and Elizabeth Tatum. Join us as we reach back into time and experience the life-stories and music of truly remarkable people.

TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 7 - 8:30 p.m.
Celtic Spirituality with John Philip Newell: Embracing the Sacredness of Earth, Ourselves and One Another
The Guibord Center
Online: register here
An extraordinary presentation and special discussion with John Philip Newell, the much-acclaimed teacher and author of Celtic spirituality. In his most recent book, Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul: Celtic Wisdom for Reawakening to What Our Souls Know and Healing the World, Newell shares the Celtic view that the earth and every living being is sacred. He offers Celtic spirituality as key to overcoming our conflicts and healing the earth, through helping us reconnect with the divinity of God, each other, and the world around us. Newell is a Celtic teacher and author of spirituality who calls the modern world to reawaken to the sacredness of the earth and every human being. He teaches regularly in the United States and Canada, as well as leading international pilgrimages on Iona in the Western Isles of Scotland. Read more here.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 7 a.m., 12:10 p.m., 7:30 p.m.
Ash Wednesday Services
All Saints Episcopal Church
132 N. Euclid Avenue, Pasadena 91101
7 a.m. in the chapel, 12:10 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in the church.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 7:30 p.m.
Missa Mystica for Ash Wednesday
All Saints’ Church
504 N. Camden Drive, Beverly Hills 90210
Information: 310.275.01, ext.112 or www.allsaintsbh.org
Sung by All Saints’ Choir: Communion Service in G by Craig Phillips; "Miserere mei, Deus" by William Byrd.
THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 7 p.m.
Concordia Choir Concert
Trinity Episcopal Church
419 S. Fourth Street, Redlands
Tickets: here or 218.299.4886
Information: Church office, 909.793.2014
Michael Culloton conducts the world-renowned Concordia Choir of Minnesota during their 16-day 2022 National Tour of the Southwest United States. Hear some of America’s finest a cappella choral music. Tickets: $20; to purchase, click here or call 218.299.4886. Proof of full vaccination or negative Covid-19 test (within 72 hours) required; masks required.

SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 11:30 a.m.
Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of Luke: Luke’s Portrayal Of Jesus
St. John's Cathedral, Los Angeles
Via Zoom: register here
Presenter: Luke Timothy Johnson, professor emeritus of New Testament and Christian Origins at Candler School of Theology, Emory University. This series will take a deep dive into the Gospel of Luke, the text for most Gospel readings at Eucharist this liturgical year. How does Luke tell the story of Jesus? How is his story distinct, and how similar to the other writers who tell the story of Jesus? Participants will see the whole map, but pay particular attention to key places of interest. "We will combine the study of the text with time to allow ourselves to meet the Jesus who speaks in a unique way through this telling of the Gospel," according to the course announcement. Recordings of previous sessions are at the link above: final class will be held on March 13.

SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 5 p.m.
Choral Evensong
All Saints’ Church
504 N. Camden Drive, Beverly Hills 90210
Information: 310.275.01, ext.112 or www.allsaintsbh.org
Sung by All Saints’ Choir: "Pilgrim’s Hymn" by Stephen Paulus; Preces & Responses by Kenneth Leighton; Magnificat and Nunc dimittis in E by Herbert Murrill; "O Lord, support us" by David Briggs. A reception will follow the service.

SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 6 p.m.
Classical Sundays at Six: Colburn Youth Orchestra
St. James' in-the-City Episcopal Church
3903 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90010
Information here
Tickets here
The Colburn Youth Orchestra, under the direction of Maxim Eshkenazy, perform L'Arlésienne Suites 1 & 2 by Georges Bizet and "Realm" by Maxim Eshkenazy. There is no charge, but tickets are required to attend.

SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 8 – 9 p.m.
Managing Mental Health During Covid-19 and Beyond: A Virtual Conference
Church of the Messiah, Santa Ana
Via Zoom here: meeting ID 482 012 5705
Led by Lawrence J. Budner, M.D. How have Covid-19 and the restrictions related to managing it taken a toll on the mental health of Americans, especially children and adolescents? As part of Messiah Church’s continuing education program, psychiatrist Larry Budner will first answer that question out of his professional experience and go over some of the ways of managing the stresses. Participants will then be invited to share their experience during the pandemic as well as ways they themselves have found of keeping active and happy.
SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 11:30 a.m.
Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of Luke: The End And The Beginning
St. John's Cathedral, Los Angeles
Via Zoom: register here
Presenter: Mark Kowalewski, co-dean of St. John's. This series will take a deep dive into the Gospel of Luke, the text for most Gospel readings at Eucharist this liturgical year. How does Luke tell the story of Jesus? How is his story distinct, and how similar to the other writers who tell the story of Jesus? Participants will see the whole map, but pay particular attention to key places of interest. "We will combine the study of the text with time to allow ourselves to meet the Jesus who speaks in a unique way through this telling of the Gospel," according to the course announcement. Recordings of previous sessions are at the link above.

SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 4:30 p.m.
Solemn Evensong
St. James' in-the-City Episcopal Church
3903 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90010
Information here
Tickets here
Choir of Saint James offers the uniquely Anglican service of Evensong in the style of the great English Cathedrals on the second Sunday of the month. Freewill offering. Ticket required to attend.

SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 5 p.m.
Chamber Music Concert IV: American Soundscapes
All Saints’ Church
504 N. Camden Drive, Beverly Hills 90210
Information: 310.275.01, ext.112 or www.allsaintsbh.org
Performers: Patricia Cloud, flute; Roger Wilkie, violin; William Wood, bassoon; Edith Orloff, piano; Craig Phillips, organ. Music selections include Three Pastoral Scenes, Poem for Violin and Piano and Scenes from a Gallery by Craig Phillips; Canzone for flute and piano op. 38a by Samuel Barber; Trio for Flute, Bassoon and Piano by Chick Corea; Three Preludes for violin and piano by George Gershwin, arranged by Jascha Heifitz; Air for bassoon and piano by Alec Wilder. Tickets: $20 adults / $10 students & seniors. Admission free with Music Guild donor season pass.

SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 6 p.m.
International Laureates Organ Series: Clive Driskill-Smith
St. James' in-the-City Episcopal Church
3903 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90010
Information here
Tickets here
British organist Clive Driskill-Smith has taken the classical music world by storm, enthralling audiences from Beijing to Boston to Budapest with his extraordinary playing and fearless programming. Critics have praised his “blazing technique and unbelievable virtuosity” (Chiff Chat, American Guild of Organists) and described his performances as “intensely moving and truly breathtaking” (Organo Pleno, Australia). His solo recitals and duo performances with Grammy Award–winning percussionist Joseph Gramley bring audiences to their feet across the world. Read more about this artist here. Ticket required to attend.
Additional events are listed on the diocesan calendar here.
Blood Drives
Churches continue blood drives

Blood supplies are critically low in California, and congregations in the Diocese of Los Angeles have stepped up to help replenish them by hosting blood drives. Currently scheduled events are listed below.

Additional helpful resources from the American Red Cross:

Donors may save up to 15 minutes by completing pre-donation reading and answering health history questions here, rather than filling out forms on the day of donation.

Reservations through the Red Cross are required. All donors and staff will be screened before entering the facilities.

SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 8:15 a.m. - 2 p.m.
St. John's Episcopal Church, Cardinal Gym
30382 Via Con Dios, Rancho Santa Margarita 92688
Reservations here or call 1.800.RED.CROSS (1.800.733.2767)
Sponsor code: St. John (note no "s")
Additional dates at this location are Sundays, June 26 and Oct. 23.

SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
St. John's Episcopal Church
Vicenti Hall
4745 Wheeler Avenue, La Verne 91750
Reservations here or call 1.800.RED.CROSS (1.800.733.2767)
Sponsor code: STJOHNS
Additional dates at this location are: Sunday, May 29; and Sunday, July 24.

Will your church host blood drives in coming months? Send the information to news@ladiocese.org for inclusion in the calendar. Please include the date, times, location and sponsor code.
Opportunities

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

COVINA: Organist/Choirmaster, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. Part time (6-12 hours per week). Holy Trinity Church in Covina seeks an organist/director of Music responsible for providing music in the Episcopal/Anglican tradition (music ancient, classical, contemporary, and multicultural). Send resume to the parish administrator via email at holytrinitycovina@yahoo.com. For a full job description, click here.

FILLMORE/VENTURA: Community Engagement and Development Coordinator, The Abundant Table, a non-profit, organic certified farm and BIPOC- and women-led worker collective in Ventura County, California that seeks to transform our food system towards justice, liberation, and increased health for all people, while caring for the land and all who tend the land. Community Engagement and Development Coordinator will be responsible to oversee and coordinate the TAT community engagement and development processes, including management; fundraising; community engagement, coordination and development. 30 hours/week; salary and benefits $32,864.Full job description here.

LOS ANGELES: Coordinator for Capacity Building, Outreach and Volunteers, Interfaith Refugee and Immigration Service. IRIS is a program of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles and the Southern California based affiliate office of Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM). IRIS offers refugee resettlement assistance, intensive case management and immigration legal services to the low-income refugee and immigrant community of the greater Los Angeles region. The Coordinator for Capacity Building, Outreach and Volunteers will work across IRIS’ departments to build comprehensive community capacity and engagement to support IRIS’ efforts to support refugee and immigrant integration throughout the greater Los Angeles region. This position is responsible for: recruiting, training and supervising volunteers and co-sponsors; tracking and maintaining data; working with IRIS staff, donors and partners to coordinate donations of household goods; coordinating IRIS community engagement efforts including education and outreach to program partners, faith groups, educational institutions, and other community partners; and develop and distribute materials to engage local stakeholders around resettlement service activities that positively impact refugee and immigrant communities in the region. Full job description here.

LOS ANGELES: Executive Director, Commission on Schools. The Diocese of Los Angeles and the Commission on Schools are seeking a lay or ordained person with school, preschool, and/or parish leadership experience to be a part of the diocesan staff beginning Summer 2022. Being an Episcopalian is not required but is preferable, and a non-Episcopalian must be willing to fully understand, articulate, and support the ministries of Episcopal schools and preschools. The position is 1000 hours per year, benefits eligible, with the work schedule to be determined by the needs of the position with respect to the school year and diocesan considerations. Please send a cover letter, resume, and a reference list to Canon Anilin Collado via email at anilincollado@ladiocese.org or by postal mail at 840 Echo Park Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90026 no later than March 1. A job description is here.

LOS ANGELES: Seminary Dean and President, Bloy House. The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles is recruiting an individual to serve as dean and president of Bloy House, the Episcopal Theological School of Los Angeles. Over its 50-year history, Bloy House has trained generations of lay leaders, priests, and deacons, moving flexibly with the needs of the diocese and the changing realities of academic seminaries. Our vision is that Bloy House will now put greater emphasis on lay formation and will provide an integrating hub for the many excellent existing, but disparate, formation programs in the diocese, as well as visioning new initiatives and expanded constituencies. A full job description is here.

LOS ANGELES: Preschool Director, St. James' Episcopal School. The preschool director oversees the Grammercy Place Preschool and is the supervisor for the St. Andrew’s Place preschool site director. The preschool director is responsible for curriculum, evaluation, professional development and parent and family engagement and communications for both preschool campuses. Website is here. Full job description here.

PASADENA: Associate for Giving & Stewardship, All Saints Church. The purpose of this position is to provide excellent stewardship of All Saints’ donors and to ensure accurate and timely processing of all income. This position reports to the Director of Giving & Stewardship. Full time (hybrid in-person and online). Full job description here.

PASADENA: Administrative Assistant for Pastoral Care, Health & Healing and Giving Office, All Saints Church. Full time with benefits. Performs routine administrative functions for Pastoral Care, such as drafting correspondence, scheduling appointments, organizing and maintaining paper and electronic files; write reports of prayer requests and pastoral care needs; handle phone and email, provide information, coordinate meetings and more. A complete job description is here.

SANTA CLARITA: Youth Ministry Coordinator, St. Stephen's Church. Part-time. The role of the youth ministry coordinator will be to develop, coordinate and lead all St. Stephen’s Church youth activities. The major goal is to guide young people in their faith journey by creating a welcoming environment, providing faith direction and encouraging discussion, education and programming. 10-15 hours per week. A full job description is here.

SIERRA MADRE: Director of Music (organist/choir director), Episcopal Church of the Ascension. Ascension is a medium-sized historic parish located in Sierra Madre, California. Our worship is rich with an emphasis on traditional Anglican liturgy and music. We have a modest 10 set, 13 rank, 1983 Harris pipe organ, a beautiful Kawai grand piano, and a 7-member volunteer choir. Our congregation is a lively mix of people with a median age of 50. This position is part-time (Sunday mornings and a week -night choir practice.) A full job description is here.


OUTSIDE THE DIOCESE

OAKLAND: Director of Children and Youth Ministries, St. John’s Episcopal Church. The founding congregation of Confirm not Conform, St. John's prides itself on being welcoming, innovative and action focused. Its vision is to manifest God’s love through invitation, inclusion, faith and action and it is seeking ways to extend its relevance to the unchurched now and in the future. St. John's is seeking a Director of Children and Youth Ministries to lead its efforts in actively revolutionizing ministry for and with young people within the church and the larger community. St. John’s seeks a person who is passionate about social and environmental justice and equity, and who is excited to empower children, youth, and families to take action locally and beyond. The DCYM oversees the creation and delivery of a holistic formation program from birth through high school graduation and beyond, including intentional spiritual nourishment of the caring adults who walk alongside children and youth during these times. Full job description is here. Interested and qualified candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to Martha Whitesides, martha.whitesides@ministryarchitects.com.

Additional job listings are here. Listings are free: send information to news@ladiocese.org.