Parishioners from All Saints, Beverly Hills - home parish of Grace-Based Films founder Brian Ide – turn out for the Jan. 23 debut of "A Case for Love." Photo: Colleen Dodson Baker | |
'A Case for Love' screening draws praise, commitment from Episcopalians around the diocese
By Pat McCaughan
[The Episcopal News – January 24, 2024] Unselfish love is an antidote for the divisions ailing society, said some Episcopalians from the Diocese of Los Angeles after attending the one-day Jan. 23 screening of A Case for Love, a feature-film documentary inspired by the teachings of Presiding Bishop Michael Curry.
“Yes – saying yes and choosing to be kind makes you kinder all the time,” said Canon Serena Beeks, retired executive director of the diocesan Commission on Schools, in a telephone interview from New York City, where she viewed the film.
“If you can bring one person along every now and then, it helps. But it’s one person at a time. That is how movements start, but it’s not fast, certainly not at the beginning, so we have to persevere,” added Beeks. “What’s the alternative? We can be selfish. But let’s not. That’s not much fun. Let’s give it a shot.”
“A Case For Love poses an explicit, scary question – has love lost the battle? – and answers with a resounding no, especially when it comes to those living everyday lives, caring for those around them or receiving self-sacrificial love,” said Bishop John Harvey Taylor, who saw the evening screening at the Santa Anita Mall in Arcadia. “We all see the love in those families, and indeed in our families. It comes naturally. Bishop Curry’s prophetic call is to understand at last that the health of our culture and politics, even our survival as a nation, depend on finding a new civic vocabulary rooted in love and our obligation to our neighbor. This wonderful film deepens my believe that if this shift is to occur, the Episcopal Church will be in the lead.”
Produced by Grace-Based Films, a company formed by parishioners of All Saints Church in Beverly Hills, A Case for Love included interviews with “ordinary people doing ordinary to extraordinary things,” director Brian Ide says in the introductory moments of the film. “We wove those stories into seven chapters with universal themes; stories like answering the call, or exclusion, or being dealt a difficult hand in life, or love and loss – themes that many of us can resonate with."
Read more here.
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Clinton Foundation brings faith leaders together for year-long conversation
Bishop John Harvey Taylor is among two dozen Los Angeles-area interfaith and ecumenical leaders participating in a year-long William J. Clinton Foundation program, meeting monthly at St. Paul’s Commons, designed to equip faith communities to understand, teach about, and treat addiction. The program on Jan. 19 was provided by Stuart C. Nelson, president and CEO of the Institute for Spirituality and Health in Houston, who oversaw a lively conversation about the teachings in various traditions about the relationship between faith and health.
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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.
*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.
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St. George’s, La Canada, to begin worship service 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.
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20 years a priest
January 24, 2024
Twenty years a priest today, ordained by Bishop Chet Talton with Laura Queen, Robert Moon, Carol Wade, and Julie Wakelee. I arrived that morning at St. John’s Episcopal Church on W. Adams in Los Angeles, not yet a cathedral, with an upset stomach from too much Chipotle too late on a too-important night. I hadn’t gotten the memo about having a custom chasuble made, as most ordinands did. I’d ordered one from Almy that looked like two acres of fabric for red regimental overcoats.
Read more here.
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A new ministry at St. George's, Riverside
January 20, 2024
Born in Claremont, raised outside any tradition of faith, the Rev. Dr. Karri Backer, when she was in early twenties, worked in a coffee house in Rancho Cucamonga and had lots of friends who tried to persuade her to give herself to Jesus Christ. But she resisted until she studied religion at UCLA, was assigned to read the Bible as literature, and experienced, instead of Christian doctrine, the actual life, words, and actions of Jesus of Nazareth and his model of self-sacrifice ministry.
Read more here.
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On CBS: Bishop Gene Robinson on why 'God called me out of the closet'
In a segment aired Jan. 21 on CBS News' Sunday Morning program, retired news anchor Ted Koppel interviews Bishop Gene Robinson, ninth bishop of New Hampshire and first openly gay man to be elected a bishop in The Episcopal Church, on the 20th anniversary of his consecration. In the 12-1/2-minute segment, Koppel also interviews three openly gay bishops elected more recently, including the Rt. Rev. Mary Glasspool, who was elected as suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Los Angeles in 2009 and now serves as bishop assistant in the Diocese of New York. The segment, as well as a summary article, is here.
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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.
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'New Camino' seminar will offer a fresh take on Latino/Hispanic ministries
[The Episcopal News – Jan. 10, 2024] Congregations considering launching or expanding ministry to Latino members of their communities are invited to join the Program Group on Hispanic Ministries and the Rev. Canon Anthony Guillen, The Episcopal Church’s missioner for Latino Ministries, for New Camino, a two-day in-person seminar with a fresh take on Latino/Hispanic ministries.
New Camino, to be held Friday and Saturday, March 22 – 23 at St. Paul’s Commons in Los Angeles, “is all about reimagining and revitalizing Latino/Hispanic ministries,” according to the seminar announcement. “Come and be a part of this transformative journey, exploring new ways to serve communities in our diocese.”
Participants will have the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals who are passionate about Latino/Hispanic ministries. Through engaging workshops, inspiring speakers, and interactive sessions conducted in English, attendees will delve into innovative approaches and fresh perspectives and together forge a new path forward.
“Whether you’re a church leader, a volunteer, or simply interested in learning more, this event is for you!” says the announcement. “Discover practical strategies, gain valuable insights, and build meaningful connections. Let’s come together and create a stronger, more inclusive future for Latino/Hispanic ministries.”
Read more here.
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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.
A suggested $20 donation per person will include a light lunch and training materials.
To register, 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.
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All Saints, Pasadena, to screen 'The Philadelphia Eleven' documentary
All Saints Church in Pasadena will host a screening 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 at 2 p.m.
"Don’t miss this opportunity to watch their inspiring story in community as we learn from their example how we can continue the work of calling the church to become more fully the Beloved Community it aspires to be," says the announcement from the parish.
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.
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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.
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Art and activism will mark Black History Month at St. John’s Cathedral
Abstract art and religious and political activism will intersect at St. John's Episcopal Cathedral for its 2024 celebration of Black History Month.
The cathedral will provide a platform for several local artists to express social and political commentary in unique and thought-provoking ways, according to the Rev. Anne Sawyer, interim dean.
"Abstract art, with its focus on shapes, color, and forms, allows for unconventional and symbolic representations of societal issues and political movements," says Sawyer. "This year St. John's is focused on providing a safe space for our community to gather to discuss strategies to confront racism." Pictured above is a work by Mary Harris, one of the featured artists.
In coming weeks, three guest preachers who are committed to social justice will speak at several 10 a.m. services at the cathedral.
The Rev. Brandon Harris, associate dean of Religious and Spiritual Life at USC, will kick off Black History Month on Jan. 14, Martin Luther King Jr. Sunday. Harris is committed to interfaith engagement and racial justice. He was ordained at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, the historic church community of Dr. King.
The Rev. Canon Warner Traynham, former rector of St. John's, known for his pioneering leadership in the inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons in the church, will return to preach on Jan. 28.
Andre Henry, theologian, musician, anti-racist activist and author of the bestselling book All the White Friends I Couldn't Keep will preach for Absalom Jones Sunday of Feb. 11. The Rev. Absalom Jones (1746 – 1818), an early anti-racism activist, was the first Black priest ordained in the Episcopal Church.
The cathedral invites all to attend these special services and events. For more information, visit the website. St. John's Cathedral is located at 514 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles 90007.
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Retired Episcopal priest, ‘Gilded Age’ actor Jack Gilpin reflects on his life in theater, on screen and the church
By Melodie Woerman
[Episcopal News Service – January 24, 2024] The Rev. John Gilpin, who goes by “Jack,” is like many other priests in The Episcopal Church. He found a calling to ordained ministry later in life – he was 61 when ordained a priest in 2012 – and as a bivocational priest, he continued the job he had before ordination.
But one thing that makes Gilpin unique is that job. He is a professional actor, having starred on Broadway and in regional theater, as well as in numerous movies and television series, including recurring roles in “Kate and Allie,” “Law and Order” and “Billions.”
He currently can be seen in the HBO Max series “The Gilded Age” as Mr. Church, the butler for one of the featured New York families in the 1880s. The character’s name, he assured Episcopal News Service, was established before he landed the part.
Read more here.
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Episcopal recipients of $6 million in Lilly grants focus on lay leadership, community engagement, digital growth
By David Paulsen
[Episcopal News Service – January 24, 2024] Four Episcopal dioceses and one Episcopal parish are launching new initiatives focused on congregational vitality and leadership development after being awarded a combined $6 million in the latest round of grants from the Lilly Endowment’s Thriving Congregations Initiative.
The Episcopal grants were awarded to the dioceses of Albany, Iowa, Spokane and Vermont, and Christ Episcopal Church in Denver, Colorado. Each of the individual grants totaled more than $1 million, to be used over the next three to five years to develop, test and assess their new programs.
Overall, Lilly awarded grants to 104 faith-based recipients “to help congregations flourish by strengthening ministries that lead their congregations to deeper relationships with God, enhance their connections with each other and contribute to the vitality of their communities and the world.”
Read more here.
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RIP: Former Grace Cathedral Dean Alan Jones dies at 83
[Grace Cathedral, San Francisco – January 23, 2024] The Very Rev. Alan William Jones, 83, dean emeritus of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, California has died after a long illness. He is survived by his wife, Virginia “Cricket” Price Jones, and his three children, Lena Roy, Charlotte Voiklis, and Edward Jones.
Jones served as Grace Cathedral’s seventh dean for 24 years, from 1985 to 2009. A formidable, bearded figure when he first appeared at Grace Cathedral, Jones was one of the leading experts on Christian spirituality in The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion, known for his blend of Anglican tradition, progressive theology and English wit. He also loved to travel and especially enjoyed swimming.
During his long tenure as dean, Jones led major transformations to San Francisco’s iconic cathedral with its staff and congregation that further cemented Grace’s position as the “cathedral for all” in the city.
Read more here.
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For more churchwide stories, visit Episcopal News Service here. | |
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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
Information here Zoom Meeting ID: 912 3096 9532; Passcode: 080100
Worship bulletins here
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.
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 12 – 2 p.m.
SAGES Lunch & Speaker Series
All Saints' Episcopal Church
504 N. Camden Drive, Beverly Hills
Reservations: Gflores@alllsaintsbh.org
Curtis Berak/Harpsicord. A master and acclaimed harpsichord maker and hurdy gurdy (we will learn all about this instrument!) player, Curtis promises to inspire us with an introduction to these two instruments invented during the Middle Ages, and which he supplies all over the West Coast for music from the Baroque and Renaissance era. He is an expert in his field and we are so very fortunate to have him join us! Suggested donation: $15. SAGES is All Saints' fellowship ministry for mature adults. We gather two Thursdays a month for lunch, friendship, prayer and engaging presentations.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 28, 5 p.m.
Chamber Music Concert III
All Saints Episcopal Church
504 North Camden Drive, Beverly Hills 90210
Information/tickets here or 310.275.0123 or info@allsaintsbh.org
Music by Beethoven & Bruch, performed by Roger Keller, clarinet; Connie Kupka, viola; David Speltz, cello; and Stephen Manes, piano. This concert features Beethoven’s “Eyeglass Duo” for viola and cello, and “Trio, Op. 11,” and other duos and trios of Max Bruch. Tickets: $20 ($10 students and seniors). Admission free with Music Guilddonor season pass.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 28, 6 p.m.
Classical Sundays at Six: Phillip Levy, violin & Tae Yeon Lim, piano
St. James in-the-City Episcopal Church
3903 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90010
Information here
Featuring works by Mozart, Schubert, Schumann, and Kreisler. Hailed by the San Francisco Chronicle as the top classical performer of 1995, violinist Phillip Levy has received worldwide critical acclaim at festivals in Spoleto, Bayreuth, Edinburgh, Israel, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Ojai, Seattle and Aspen. Read more about the artists here.
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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.
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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.
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, 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.
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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.
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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.
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Events to be included in the online diocesan calendar and the Update may be emailed to editor@ladiocese.org. | |
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.
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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.
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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.
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