February 4, 2024

News

Bloy House announces winter lay leadership classes

Bloy House, the Episcopal Theological School Los Angeles, has scheduled several classes this winter for Episcopalians seeking lay leadership licensing in the Diocese of Los Angeles.

The school's new program is for laypersons who wish to take on greater leadership roles in their congregations or other ministries. "Certain ministries, as outlined in the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church, are lifted up by an official licensing and training process allowing those who are licensed an even greater scope and authority in their work," says its website. The lay ministries that will benefit from this training are: Eucharistic minister, Eucharistic visitor, preacher, evangelist, catechist, pastoral leader, worship leader, and parish and diocesan chaplain.

Learn more about lay leadership licensing here.

Winter 2024 lay licensing and formation classes

Beginning Preaching for Lay Licensing

Thursdays, Feb. 15, 22, 29 and March 7

7 - 8:30 p.m. via Zoom

Facilitators: The Rev. Kay Sylvester, rector at St. Paul’s Church, Tustin; and Mark Milliron, lay minister at St. Stephen’s Church, Beaumont

This class, part of the lay licensing curriculum, is required for the lay preacher and lay pastoral leader licenses and recommended for the lay worship leader license. However, the course may be of general interest to those not pursuing a lay license at this time. The class will discuss theories about preaching; sermon preparation and construction; working with the lectionary; methods of sermon delivery; and the unique role of preaching in Episcopal worship and gatherings. Note: in order to complete the class, participants will be required to prepare and deliver a sermon to the sponsoring clergy and a small group of parishioners outside of a worship service. The audience will be given a feedback form to fill out. This should be scheduled preferably between the third and fourth session so that the feedback can be shared with the instructor. More instructions will be given in the first class, but students should share this requirement with sponsoring clergy in advance.

The Book of Common Prayer for Lay Licensing

Wednesdays, Feb. 28 and Mar. 6, 13, 20

7 - 8:30 p.m. via Zoom

Facilitator: Melissa Hayes, director of liturgy at All Saints Church, Pasadena

This class, part of the lay licensing curriculum, is required for the worship leader and lay pastoral leader licenses. However, the course may be of general interest to those not pursuing a lay license at this time. The class will take a close look at the Book of Common Prayer, particularly understanding its practical use in leading worship. Participants will learn how to lead Morning and Evening Prayer services; how to plan worship services; and how to serve communion from reserved sacrament. Other worship services found in the Book of Common Prayer applicable to the Lay Worship Leader will also be discussed, as well as the use of other authorized worship resources. Note: in order to complete the class, participants will be required to plan and lead a prayer service for the sponsoring clergy and a small group of parishioners. The audience will be given a feedback form to fill out. This should be scheduled preferably between the third and fourth session so that the feedback can be shared with the instructor. More instructions will be given in the first class, but students should share this requirement with sponsoring clergy in advance.

Episcopal Identity

Saturday, Feb. 24, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Bloy House

1300 E. Colorado Street, Glendale 91205

Facilitators: The Very Rev. Gary Hall, president, and Linda Allport, dean of Bloy House

How would you describe the modern Episcopal Church - its theology, its worship and community, its history, its organization, and what you love about it - to a friend who has never experienced it? A deeper dive than a confirmation class; even cradle Episcopalians will learn something new about the church. Lunch will be provided. This class is required for all licensed lay ministries, except Eucharistic Minister, where it is recommended. Note: Since it is being held in person, a minimum of 15 registrations will be necessary to hold the class.

The fee for each class is $25 (some scholarship funds are available). Visit the Bloy House website for more information.

Debie Thomas to deliver Stern Lecture March 1 - 2 at St. Matthew's, Pacific Palisades

Author Debie Thomas will be the featured speaker for the 2024 Stern Lecture, presented by St. Matthew's Church, Pacific Palisades, in three parts on Friday and Saturday, March 1 - 2. Thomas also will preach at the 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. services on Sunday, March 3.

Thomas is a sought-after speaker on scripture, faith, writing, and spiritual practice who holds a master's degree in English literature from Brown University and an MFA in creative writing from the Ohio State University. She currently serves as minister of Lifelong Formation at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Palo Alto, California. A columnist and contributing editor for The Christian Century and author of Into the Mess and Other Jesus Stories, Thomas has also been published in The Kenyon Review and River Teeth. She was the well-received keynote speaker at the Diocese of Los Angeles' May 2023 Clergy Conference.

The lecture series will delve into content from Thomas’ upcoming book, A Faith of Many Rooms. Schedule for the three sessions is:

Session One: Friday, March 1, 7:30 p.m.

"Into the Wilderness: On the Virtues of Lostness"

Session Two: Saturday, March 2, 9 a.m.

"Beyond Belief: Living a Storied Christianity"

Session Three: Saturday, March 2, 10:30 a.m.

"But What About Sin? Inhabiting a More Spacious Salvation"

A short break will separate the two Saturday morning sessions and a light lunch will be offered for registered participants at 12 p.m. The event will be held at The Parish of St. Matthew, located at 1031 Bienveneda Avenue in Pacific Palisades, California.

The Stern Lecture is free of charge, however advance, online registration is required here or on the parish website.

The Stern Lecture was established in 1986 by Dr. W. Eugene Stern in memory of his wife, Libby Naffziger Stern, and is dedicated to bringing international scholars to St. Matthew's for lectures and preaching opportunities.

For more information, email connect@stmatthews.com or call 310.454.1358.

Absalom Jones, Black Lives services planned in February

The Program Group on Black Ministries and the H. Belfield Hannibal chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians will present two events in February marking Black History Month.

A service of Holy Eucharist in honor of Absalom Jones (1746 - 1818), first Black priest in The Episcopal Church, will be held on Saturday, Feb. 10, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. at St. John's Cathedral, 514 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles 90007. The Rev. Joseph Oloimooja, a native of Kenya and former priest-in-charge of Christ the Good Shepherd Church, Los Angeles, will be the preacher. A Mardi Gras-themed lunch featuring peach cobbler will follow.

The following Saturday, Feb. 17, at 11 a.m. the program group and UBE chapter will hold a Lenten Service for Black Lives at Christ the Good Shepherd Church, 3303 W. Vernon Avenue, Los Angeles 90008, one of several historically Black congregations in the diocese.

All are invited to both services and the following luncheons. There is no charge for either event.

Download the New Camino flyer here. An Episcopal News story about the event (with registration links) is here.

Camp Stevens to open summer camp registration Feb. 1

Camp Stevens, the diocesan facility in Julian, California, will open registrations Feb. 1 for its summer camp sessions. 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.

Art auction at St. John's Cathedral will feature works by Black artists

In honor of Black History Month, St. John's Cathedral, Los Angeles, and the Mary Harris Gallery will present "The Black Art Auction" on Friday, Feb. 2, 6 - 9 p.m.

The show and sale will include works by Black artists, including the Rev. Canon Warner Traynham, former rector of St. John's, as well as Tony Concept, Mary Harris, Chris Rocket, Anaya Needleman, Donald White Jr., Staff Campbell, Khaliyfah Al-Aswani, Charro, and Richard McKinley.

The show will provide "a feast for the senses, showcasing a diverse collection of stunning artworks that explore the rich cultural heritage and experiences of the African diaspora," according to the Mary Harris Gallery website, which includes thumbnails of the artworks as well as sale information. (Some works are not for sale.)

The evening will begin at 6 p.m., with an artist talk from 7 to 7:30 p.m. followed by the auction until 9 p.m. There is no charge for the show, but reservations are requested. A price list is here. Event t-shirts and hoodies will be available at $35 and $100, respectively.

New fund will help San Diego-area flood victims

The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego has established a relief fund for those affected by recent devastating floods.

The diocese "is stepping forward to offer support and aid to those in crisis," according to the EDSD News (Jan. 31). "We are establishing the EDSD Flood Relief Fund, a dedicated resource for providing immediate assistance to those affected by the floods. This fund embodies our commitment to being a compassionate and responsive presence in times of need. We invite you to share this with everyone who feels called to help. Let’s work together to bring relief, hope, and healing to our neighbors and communities during this challenging time."

Contributions to the fund may be made here.

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

60th anniversary celebration for St. Paul’s Church, Tustin

January 29, 2024

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Tustin, CA celebrated 60 years of worship with a gala celebration on Sunday — nearly 200 in church, 12 confirmations or receptions, and four baptisms, plus the magnificent music that is among this parish’s hallmarks. The St. Paul’s chancel choir, supplemented by strings and brass, offered among other splendid things a new anthem composed by associate pastor, music director, and youth minister the Rev. David Milligan.

Read more here.

Amazing people, late January 2024

January 27, 2024

You meet the most amazing people around the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, including the Rev. Michael S. Bell and Dante during our weekly three-way conversation about our 25% affordable housing initiative … Canon Andy Tomat, the hardest working volunteer treasurer in The Episcopal Church, for a lively, wide-ranging conversation over lunch at the Huntington Library Museum and Botanical Gardens … my deacon and priest colleagues in the San Gabriel Valley region known as Deanery V, meeting over lunch at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Sierra Madre …

Read more here.

Requiescant in pace

Marty E. Coleman

1931-2024

Marty E. Coleman, former longtime peace and justice officer of All Saints Church in Pasadena, died Jan. 29. She was 92 and in recent years resided at Westminster Gardens in Duarte.

Service arrangements are pending, and a full obituary – tracing Coleman’s extensive advocacy work from local coalition-building to conversations with former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev – is planned for an upcoming issue of The News.

Photo: Bob Williams

Canon

Thomas Charles Foster

April 26, 1938 – January 27, 2024

Canon Thomas Charles Foster, 85, former organist and music director at All Saints' Church, Beverly Hills, teacher, composer, member of the diocesan Commission on Liturgy & Church Music and director of music for diocesan and churchwide events, died Jan. 27 in Plano, Texas.

Foster served most recently at Epiphany Parish, Seattle, Washington, beginning in 2007 and retiring in 2017. In mid-2023 he and his wife moved to Plano to be close to family.

Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Carol Morey Foster – also a distinguished church musician and former music director at St. Paul’s Cathedral (for four years before it was demolished in 1980); St. John’s Church (now cathedral), Los Angeles; St. Mark's Church, Upland; and Church of the Epiphany, Oak Park – their sons, James Morey Foster (Anne Marie) of Southlake, Texas, and Thomas Hunter Foster of Newport Beach CA; and grandsons Nicholas Foster of Dallas and Christopher Foster of Southlake, as well as Lizzie, Tom Foster's faithful canine friend of 14 years.

A memorial service will be held at Epiphany, Seattle, on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 2 p.m. According to Carol Foster, the service will be livestreamed "for colleagues and friends far and wide." (Livestream information is pending.)

An obituary is here.

Events & Announcements

Celebration of first woman Anglican priest Li Tim-Oi will feature panel with Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori

[The Episcopal News – January 10, 2024] In 1944, in the midst of World War II, Bishop Ronald Hall of the Diocese of Hong Kong desperately needed Church of England sacraments to be administered in Macau. He ordained Hong Kong-born Li Florence Tim-Oi, then a deaconess, as the first woman priest in the Anglican Communion, of which The Episcopal Church is a member.

Church of Our Saviour, San Gabriel, and its resident Li Tim-Oi Center for Chinese ministry will mark the 80th anniversary of that historic ordination with a two-day event on Saturday and Sunday, Feb 10 and 11, which is also the celebration of the lunar new year.

All are welcome to join the celebration, which will begin at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 10 with an exhibit of artworks depicting women in the Bible, created by He Qi, renowned artist and member of Church of Our Saviour.

A panel discussion of women’s ordination will begin at 4:30 p.m., keynoted by the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, the first woman to serve as presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church and the first to lead a branch of the Anglican Communion. The Rev. Canon Susan Russell will moderate the discussion.

Read more here.

SAVE THE DATE

Feeling a call to lay or ordained ministry? Join the Discernment Information Gathering on March 16

[Commission on Ministry] How is God calling you?

We’re often surprised that God calls us…all of us. Today’s world pulls us in so many directions that it's sometimes hard to discern. Have you been wondering where God is calling you in your life, your work, your church and beyond? Have you tried to ignore that inner voice, but it keeps bubbling up? Have you been wondering what your next step on your faith journey might be?

The Commission on Ministry (COM) in the Diocese of Los Angeles wants to help those seeking answers to these questions. Please join us for a Discernment Information Gathering (DIG) on Saturday, March 16, 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. at St. Paul's Commons as we explore what answering a call can mean in your life.

Whether you think you might be called to ordained ministry, you’re looking for new inspiration in your lay ministry, you want to be prepared to serve on a congregational discernment committee, or you are just curious about what discernment means, this gathering is for you.

The day will include defining discernment, group discernment exercises, and an explanation of the orders of ministry. It will also include breakout sessions led by experts from around the diocese:

Opportunities for Lay Leaders
Spiritual Direction
Education Pathways
Chaplaincy
Congregational Discernment Committee Training*
Education for Ministry (EfM)
Lay Licensing
Ordination Process for Priests and Deacons
Sponsoring Clergy Responsibilities.

The cost for the DIG is $25 per person and includes lunch. Registration is required; sign up here. For more information contact COM member Cameron Johnson at cjohnson@stcross.org or 310.415.0288. St. Paul's Commons is located at 840 Echo Park Avenue, Los Angeles. (An incorrect link was included in a previous issue of the Update; it has been corrected here.)

*Those wishing to attend ONLY the Congregational Discernment Committee (CDC) training may do so at no charge. Please contact Cameron Johnson directly to register for CDC training only.

St. George’s, La Cañada, to begin worship services for neurodiverse community

St. George’s Church in La Cañada Flintridge will offer its first worship service designed to gather a neurodiverse community of faith – anyone with autism, ADD/ADHD, sensory disorders, learning disabilities, Down Syndrome, or other forms of neural differences – on Sunday, Feb. 18, at 11 a.m.

An open house for interested participants, with campus tours and a Q&A session, will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 3.

To prepare for the new weekly services, St. George’s has moved furniture in its worship space to allow for greater personal space for those with social anxiety and open space for those who need to do large-movement stimming (repetitive motions used as a coping mechanism). The service will be short – 30 to 40 minutes, based on how many interruptions or pauses need to be made – and will include communion with a brief prayer of blessing. Fidget toys (such as those pictured above) and other comfort aids will be available onsite, and participants are welcome to bring and use their own devices as well.

Find out more here, or email the Rev. Amy Pringle at rector@saintglc.org. Visitors to the website are particularly encouraged to fill out the brief Input form to give the church advance notice of any particular hopes and needs.

Mental Health First Aid training planned at St. George's, Laguna Hills

St. George's Church, Laguna Hills, will sponsor a Mental Health First Aid training session on Saturday, Feb. 24, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. for those wanting to learn how to accompany people experiencing mental health challenges. The training will be led by the Rev. Brian Tucker.

A suggested $30 donation per person will include a light lunch and training materials.

Register here or contact the Rev. Canon Pat McCaughan, vicar, at revpatmccaughan@aol.com or 909.892.0525. St. George's Church is located at 23802 Avenida de la Carlota, Laguna Hills.

Two congregations will screen 'The Philadelphia Eleven' documentary on March 16

All Saints Church in Pasadena and St. George's Church in Laguna Hills will host screenings of the award-winning documentary “The Philadelphia Eleven” – a celebration of the 11 women who shattered a stained-glass ceiling in 1974 when they became the first women priests in the Episcopal Church – on Saturday, March 16. Both screenings are scheduled at 2 p.m.

At All Saints, an opportunity for reflection and conversation will follow the film, with a festive reception afterwards. All are welcome; registration is requested. For information and to register, contact Debbie Daniels at ddaniels@allsaints-pas.org.

At Laguna Hills, the Rt. Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, first woman to serve as presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church, and the Rev. Canon Victoria Hatch, first woman to be ordained a priest in the Diocese of Los Angeles, will lead a discussion after the screening. The Rev. Canon Nancy Wittig, one of the Philadelphia Eleven, will join the conversation via Zoom.

All are invited to the screening and panel discussion at St. George's, located at 23802 Avenida de la Carlota, Laguna Hills 92653. To register, click here. For further information, email the Rev. Canon Pat McCaughan, vicar, at revpatmccaughan@aol.com.

Lenten series will connect spirituality to nature

Each Monday in Lent Payton Hoegh, a postulant for Holy Orders and member of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Hollywood, and the All Wanderers spiritual community, will lead a series of online meditations "to nurture mindful reflection and community during this sacred season of attention to Spirit's call."

The weekly gatherings will be "a space for stillness, curiosity and rich conversation centered around The Center for Spirituality in Nature's Monday Notes from Nature," says Hoegh when announcing the series. Each session will begin at 9 a.m. with a slow reading of the Monday Note from Nature and guided centering practice. Participants will be invited to engage both the natural world and the text from each week in purposeful reflection while stepping outside, looking out the window, or contemplating the note's accompanying picture. "It will be a time of deep, purposeful reflection and meaningful discussion engaging themes of the season of Lent," says Hoegh.

Information and registration for the full series or individual weeks is here.

From the wider church

Church Divinity School of the Pacific to withdraw from Graduate Theological Union

By Melodie Woerman

[Episcopal News Service – Jan. 31, 2024] Church Divinity School of the Pacific on Jan. 29 announced that in January 2026 it will withdraw from the Graduate Theological Union, a consortium of Protestant seminaries in Berkeley, California, that CDSP helped found in 1962.

The announcement from Stephen Fowl, the seminary’s president and dean since Aug. 1, 2023, said that after the school moves to a fully hybrid model for Master of Divinity students beginning in the summer of 2025, few opportunities will exist for the kind of collaboration GTU has afforded students in the past.

A year ago the seminary described plans for the new hybrid educational model in a joint announcement with Trinity Church Wall Street. In 2019, CDSP announced a new cooperative agreement with the New York church that affected leadership and governance.

In the withdrawal announcement, Fowl said the seminary’s new model would “focus the mission of the school’s credit-bearing academic programs on preparing priests for The Episcopal Church, which means we will not be accepting MA, MTS or Ph.D. students for the foreseeable future.” And with students able to live anywhere and visit the campus only for required on-site sessions, they would have few opportunities to take classes offered through GTU or to use its library.

Read more here.

Budget tops agenda as Executive Council meets in Louisville in advance of General Convention

By David Paulsen

[Episcopal News Service – Louisville, Kentucky – Jan. 26, 2024] The Episcopal Church Executive Council, meeting in the host city for the upcoming 81st General Convention, is due to focus much of its four days here on discussion and approval of a 2025-27 churchwide budget plan, setting up final adoption of the $143 million plan in June.

With Presiding Bishop Michael Curry recovering at home in Raleigh, North Carolina, from a medical procedure to address a recurring subdural hematoma, or brain bleed, House of Deputies President Julia Ayala Harris is chairing the Jan. 26-29 meeting of Executive Council.

“His spirit and leadership remain ever present with us and in our church,” Ayala Harris said in her opening remarks Jan. 26, and she shared words of gratitude from Curry himself for all the prayers for his health.

Executive Council: Opening remarks from the president of the House of Deputies

For more churchwide stories, visit Episcopal News Service here.

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, FEBRUARY 1, 7 - 8 p.m.

Taizé Heartfulness Service

St. Mary's Episcopal Church

428 Park Avenue, Laguna Beach 92651

Join us the first Thursday of every month for a prayerful service, including prayer, meditative music, readings, silence, and healing. All faith traditions are always welcome.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 8 p.m.

Recital: Raehann Bryce-Davis, mezzo-soprano

St. Matthew's Episcopal Church

1031 Bienveneda Avenue, Pacific Palisades

Information/Tickets here or 310.573.7422

will be accompanied by pianist Jeanne-Minette Cilliers in a program entitled “In Honor of Women.” Featured on the program will be Three Browning Songs by Amy Beach, "Fi Mi Love Have Lion Heart" by Peter Ashbourne, Wagner’s Wesendonck Lieder, and songs by Margaret Bonds and Maria Thompson Corley. Bryce-Davis has most recently been heard in the role of Fricka in the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s production of Wagner’s Das Rheingold. Other notable recent performances include her Metropolitan Opera debut in Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress and in Verdi’s Il Trovatore at the Glimmerglass Festival. Tickets: $45 or Music Guild season pass. A free pre-concert lecture will be offered by Music Guild president Tom Neenan at 7:10 p.m.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 7 – 9 p.m.

Every Child’s Life is Sacred: An Interfaith Concert for Humanity

St. John's Cathedral

514 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles 90007

Reservations here

Presented by The Guibord Center. Featuring the Yuval Ron Intercultural Ensemble: Elinor Sitrish, vocals; Khawaja Ehrari, vocals and ney flute; Banafsheh Sayyad, liturgical dancer; Housain Ehrari, percussion; Katyanna Zoroghlian, vocals; Norik Manoukian, woodwinds; Virgine Alimian, kanun (laptop zither); Jamie Papish, percussion; and Yuval Ron, oud, backup vocals and artistic director. Free to the community, but seating is limited and reservations are required. Free valet parking. The concert also will be livestreamed here.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 6 p.m.

Classical Sundays at Six: Emerging Artists Series

St. James in-the-City Episcopal Church

3903 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90010

Information here

Featuring Crossroads School EMMI Chamber Orchestra and ensembles, Alexander Treger, conductor. The Elizabeth Mandell Music Institute (EMMI) is a renowned high school music program. In addition to the outstanding college preparatory academic offerings at Crossroads, EMMI students study music theory, harmony, analysis, counterpoint, rhythm and ear training at the conservatory/college level. Read more here.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 5 p.m.

Choral Evensong for Epiphany

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 will sing "Lux Aurumque" by Eric Whitacre; Preces & Responses by Kenneth Leighton; Magnificat & Nunc dimittis (Collegium Regale) by John Tavener; and "Jesu, the very thought of thee" by Paul Halley. A reception will follow the service.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 12 – 2 p.m.

SAGES Lunch & Speaker Series

All Saints' Episcopal Church

504 N. Camden Drive, Beverly Hills

Reservations: Gflores@alllsaintsbh.org

Renne Bilson and Jacquie Dolan, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). This program supports foster children in the LA County juvenile dependency court system. CASAs are trained community volunteers who provide one-on-one advocacy to ensure the youth to whom they are appointed receive educational, medical, psychological, and emotional support--in order to help them overcome the trauma they have experienced and thus have a better future. All Saints' own Renne Bilson and founding President Jacquie Dolan have done impressive work and are passionate about what CASA can do - come be inspired as we learn about how they have ministered to some of the most vulnerable in our court system.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 7 p.m.

Taizé Service

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church

1432 Engracia Ave, Torrance 90501

The mutual ministry of St. Andrew's and Christ Church, Redondo Beach, invite all to this monthly candlelit service of music, meditation and prayer. Taizé services will be held in-person or online throughout the year. Online services are available here.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 8 p.m.

The Gift: An Evening of Romance & Soul Music

The Harmony Room

St. Barnabas' (St. Be's) Episcopal Church

2109 Chickasaw Avenue, Eagle Rock (Los Angeles) 90041

Tickets here

Featuring the love songs of Josef Powell. The Gift produces many genres of what they describe as “Grown Folks Music.” Their original songs and unique arrangements will thrill, entertain, and inspire you. Admission: $15. Tickets are available for purchase online, or purchase tickets at the door via cash or card. Visit our website and select the ‘Harmony Room’ tab for artist bios, tickets, FAQ and all other information. Light refreshments will be available for purchase. You are welcome to bring a beverage or snack of your own to enjoy.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Absalom Jones Feast Day Eucharist and Mardi Gras Celebration

St. John’s Cathedral

514 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles 90007

The Program Group on Black Ministries invites all to this special service and celebration, which will feature lunch with peach cobbler. The Rev. Joseph Oloimooja, a native of Kenya and former priest-in-charge of Christ the Good Shepherd Church, Los Angeles, will be the preacher.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 8 p.m.

Golden Bridge Consort

All Saints Episcopal Church

504 North Camden Drive, Beverly Hills 90210

Information here or 310.275.0123 or info@allsaintsbh.org

Join us for an evening of spectacular choral music. The Golden Bridge ensemble, led by Suzi Digby, OBE, features the finest professional singers in California. Their ninth annual concert will again focus on a program exploring the relationship between the English and American choral traditions and Renaissance works juxtaposed with newly commissioned compositions. Tickets available at the door. Music Guild members admitted free with season pass. A reception will follow the service

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 4:15 p.m.

Solemn Evensong

St. James in-the-City Episcopal Church

3903 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90010

Information here

The Choir of Saint James will perform Responses by William Byrd; Winchester Canticles (U.S. premiere) by Joe Twist; Dum Medium Silentium by Vytautas Miškinis; and "Salve Regina."

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 7 – 8 p.m.

A Love 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 on Facebook or on Zoom (meeting ID: 864 4405 5548; password 525).

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 3:30-5:30 p.m.

Ashes-to-Go

St. Francis Episcopal Church

2200 Via Rosa, Palos Verdes Estates 90274

On Ash Wednesday, St. Francis will offer drive-up Ashes-to-Go in our lower parking lot. Everyone is welcome! View all our Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, and Lenten programs here.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 7:30 p.m.

Missa Mystica for Ash Wednesday

All Saints Episcopal Church

504 North Camden Drive, Beverly Hills 90210

Information here or 310.275.0123 or info@allsaintsbh.org

All Saints’ Choir will perform Missa Brevis by G. P. Palestrina and "Ave verum" by William Byrd.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 11 a.m. - 3 pm.

Lenten Service for Black Lives and Potluck

Christ the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church

3303 W. Vernon Avenue, Los Angeles 90008

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2 - 4 p.m.

'Living Courageously as Beloved Community'

with the Rev. Carter Heyward

St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church

47535 Pines To Palms Highway, Palm Desert 92260

Information: 760.346.2697 or here

Carter Heyward, American feminist theologian, author, and one of the Philadelphia Eleven – the first women ordained as priests in The Episcopal Church – will present her recent book, The Seven Deadly Sins of White Christian Nationalism at an event celebrating the 50th anniversary of women’s ordination. The presentation and a Q&A session will be followed by a reception. Heyward also will preach at the 10 a.m. service on Sunday, Feb. 18 at St. Margaret's.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 6 p.m.

Classical Sundays at Six: Daniel Schlosberg & Inna Faliks, piano

St. James in-the-City Episcopal Church

3903 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90010

Information here

Featuring Symphony No. 6 by Gustav Mahler (arr. Zemlinsky). Daniel Schlosberg has appeared with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as featured soloist and in numerous chamber music concerts. He has a passion for contemporary music, collaborating frequently with Eighth Blackbird and Third Coast Percussion. He also gave the world premiere of Augusta Read Thomas’s “Starlight Ribbons” for solo piano; the U.S. premiere of Kaija Saariaho’s “Calices” (for violin and piano), and several sets of piano pieces by Stanley Walden. He was a founding member of Yarn/Wire, the lauded two piano/two percussion group. Read more about the artists here.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 7 p.m.

Choral Compline

Church of the Epiphany

5450 Churchwood Drive, Oak Park 91377

Information here or music@tcote.org or 818.991.4797

Compline is a contemplative and richly beautiful service that brings the day to a peaceful close. Liturgically and musically, Compline reached its apex during the Tudor era, when composers like Byrd and Tallis created music for Compline that has been described as “more divine than human.” Using glorious Tudor-era music, our service will be sung entirely a cappella by the Epiphany Schola.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 7:30 p.m.

A Service in the style of Taizé

All Saints Episcopal Church

504 North Camden Drive, Beverly Hills 90210

Information here or 310.275.0123 or info@allsaintsbh.org

Begun many years ago at the ecumenical French monastic community called Taizé, these services, with candlelight and singing of chants, are a wonderful way to refresh in the midst of a busy week.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 7 - 9 p.m.

Laós Chamber Music: Requiem

St. John's Cathedral

514 West Adams Blvd., Los Angeles 90007

Information and reservations here

Laós Chamber Music, hosted on the campus of Church of Our Saviour in San Gabriel and led by cellist Dustin Seo, and the St. John's Cathedral Choir, directed by Christopher Gravis, will present Maurice Durufle's celebrated Requiem and a new requiem setting by L.A.-based composer Niall Taro Ferguson. The concert will be preceded by a pre-concert panel discussion and light reception with Ferguson and Seo hosted by The Gathering: A Space for Asian Pacific American Spirituality. A wine reception will follow the concert. There is no charge, but reservations are requested. Parking information will be provided with reservation confirmation.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 6 p.m.

Classical Sundays at Six: Duo Syncopa

St. James in-the-City Episcopal Church

3903 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90010

Information here

Tomomi Sato, piano & Yue Qian, violin, met at Juilliard and continue their collaboration as Duo Syncopa at USC. Japanese pianist Sato is a prizewinner of the 2013 Seattle International Piano Competition. As a solo and collaborative recitalist, she has performed throughout the United States, Mexico, Europe, and Asia. Tomomi is a doctoral candidate in Keyboard Collaborative Arts at USC Thornton School of Music, studying with Kevin Fitz-Gerald. She also studies piano performance at USC with her long-term mentor Bernadene Blaha. Read more here.

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

Opportunities

VOLUNTEER

Immigration & Refugee ministry

IRIS (Interfaith Refugee & Immigration Service)

3621 Brunswick Ave. Los Angeles 90039

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

Food Pantry

Our Saviour Center

4368 Santa Anita Avenue, El Monte

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

PILGRIMAGES, RETREATS & TRAVEL

June 9 - 14, 2024

Aquinas At Orvieto, Italy:

Deepen Your Own Spiritual Journey as Mystic and Prophet

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

October 7 – 17, 2024

Italy Pilgrimage

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

EMPLOYMENT

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

LAGUNA HILLS: Choir Section Leaders. St. George's Church is seeking Baritone/Bass and Soprano section leaders immediately; an Alto position will be available the first week in April. The choir rehearses on Sundays at 8:45 a.m., followed by the service at 10 a.m. All standard “high holy days” are required. Above-average reading skills are required, as well as the ability to solo, to blend chorally while anchoring your section, and serving as a “go-to” for your fellow members. For information or to apply, contact Emett Loera, director of the music ministry, at emett.loera30@gmail.com.

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

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