The
Episcopal News Update
A weekly newsletter serving the Diocese of Los Angeles
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Clergy deputies from the Diocese of Los Angeles to the 80th General Convention, meeting in Baltimore July 8 – 11 are (top row, from left): Fennie Chang, Antonio Gallardo, Melissa McCarthy and Rachel Nyback. Lay deputies are (bottom row from left): Ivan Gutierrez, Julie Dean Larsen, Dan Valdez and Canon Jim White.
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80th General Convention is scaled down, but deputies look forward to meeting in Baltimore July 8 - 11
By Pat McCaughan
[The Episcopal News – June 1, 2022] Even a scaled-back, significantly changed 80th General Convention of The Episcopal Church in Baltimore, Maryland, July 8 – 11 doesn’t dim the enthusiasm of several members of the Los Angeles deputation who are eagerly looking forward to representing the diocese at the church’s largest gathering.
Transitions and pandemic-related concerns mean three – the Rev. Antonio Gallardo; the Rev. Hsin-Fen “Fennie” Chang; and Ivan Gutierrez – will move from alternate to the role of deputy. All say they are anticipating connecting with Episcopalians from across the church and considering legislation focused on issues of diversity, inclusion, antiracism, and social justice.
A pandemic-related postponement had shifted the convention, originally planned for July 2021, to this year. Recently the presiding officers shortened convention from the original eight days to four amid continued Covid concerns. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, president of the House of Deputies, on May 26 also announced additional public health precautions, including restricted attendance, frequent rapid testing and wearing high-quality face masks at all times.
Bishop John Harvey Taylor praised the presiding officers’ actions. “The church did an amazing job figuring out how to bring people together as safely as possible to do what we might call the canonical and constitutional work of General Convention,” he said.
In addition to a shortened General Convention, the presiding officers’ design group has also recommended prioritizing legislation that needs to be taken up in July while postponing noncritical matters to 2024 when the 81st General Convention meets in Louisville, Kentucky.
Changes to L.A. deputation
The Los Angeles deputation has also changed, losing two clergy – the Rev. Yein Kim, and the Rev. Nancy Frausto, who transitioned out of the diocese – and a lay deputy, Kathryn Nishibayashi, who has resigned.
Kim began serving Feb. 6, 2022, as priest for Congregational Life at Trinity Wall Street Church in New York, and in August 2021 Frausto was named director of Latinx Studies at Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas. Their departures mean two elected alternates, the Rev. Antonio Gallardo and the Rev. Hsin-Fen (Fennie) Chang, take their place as deputies.
Nishibayashi, a three-term lay deputy to General Convention, reluctantly resigned, citing concerns about Covid. “You know how much I love convention and being a deputy, but with all the uncertainty around Covid, I’ve decided it’s best for me not to go to Baltimore, even for a shortened convention,” she wrote in an email to other deputies.
Instead, alternate Ivan Gutierrez, president of the diocesan Standing Committee and a parishioner at La Iglesia Magdalena in Glendale, will assume the role of lay deputy. “I am looking forward to discussions of diversity and inclusion,” he told The News recently. “As a Mexican American, I really would like to see my community grow within The Episcopal Church.”
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Diocese will mark Juneteenth with Evensong service at St. John's Cathedral
[The Episcopal News – June 1, 2022] The Diocese of Los Angeles will celebrate Juneteenth, a holiday marking the end of slavery in the United States, with a festive Evensong at St. John's Cathedral at 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 18.
Bishop John Harvey Taylor will preside at the Evensong; the Rev. Guy Leemhuis of St. Luke's, La Crescenta, will preach. Members of the Episcopal Chorale under the direction of Canon Chas Cheatham will perform various spirituals and gospel music. The Rev. Lester Mackenzie, rector of St. Mary's, Laguna Beach, will lead African drumming and song. Stacey Forte Dupre, who will be ordained a deacon on June 5 at the cathedral, will serve as deacon of the word; Deacons Dominique Piper and Margaret McCauley will also be participants. Canon Suzanne Edwards Acton and the Rev. John Limo will provide welcome.
All are welcome. Attendees are invited to wear festal white or African patterns if they wish.
St. John's Cathedral is located at 514 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles 90007. The cathedral staff request that all attending be prepared to show proof of full vaccination against Covid-19.
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Claremont church hosts ecumenical vigil, call to action to stop gun violence
By Pat McCaughan
[The Episcopal News – June 1, 2022] The Rev. Jessie Smith, rector of St. Ambrose Episcopal Church in Claremont, issued both an invitation to worship and a call to action to those attending a May 28 prayer vigil, “gathered again to mourn casualties of this recent cloud of massacres in the most innocent of places: a grocery store, a church, an elementary school.”
The Claremont church was alight with candles. Positioned in front of the altar was an empty child’s chair, “the kind found in elementary schools all over our country,” Smith said. “This chair is for those who are no longer with us, especially the children killed in Texas. The empty chair also plays a symbol of our grief for all those we mourn those killed in Laguna Woods, and those killed in Buffalo and those killed in too many other places by senseless acts of gun violence.”
On May 24, 2022, an 18-year-old Salvador Ramos shot and killed 19 children and two adults at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Earlier in the day, he shot and critically wounded his grandmother.
That attack came ten days after 10 African American shoppers were killed at a Tops Friendly Markets store in Buffalo, New York, on May 14. They were targeted by a white supremacist who livestreamed the attack, who was reportedly motivated by a far-right theory that people of color are replacing whites in the nation.
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Pride Month celebrations planned for June 26
Two celebrations on June 26 will mark Pride Month in the Diocese of Los Angeles.
St. John's Cathedral will hold a special 10 a.m. Sunday service in honor of Pride Month and 30 years of diocesan LGBTQ+ ministry. Music will be provided by the Trans Chorus of L.A. The Rev. Canon Melissa McCarthy, canon to the ordinary, will preach. St. John's is located at 514 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles 90007. The cathedral staff request that all attending be prepared to show proof of full vaccination against Covid-19.
That afternoon, the LGBTQ+ ministry of the diocese invites all to the post-Covid return of its annual Garden Party, 2 – 5 p.m. at the Episcopal Residence in Pasadena. For reservations, email gleamlainfo@gmail.com. Address and parking details will be sent by return email.
According to the event announcement: "We look forward to seeing you at one or both of these opportunities to gather in community as we celebrate 30 years of LGBTQ ministry in the Diocese of Los Angeles and continue the work of proclaiming God’s inclusive love available to absolutely everyone!"
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New partnership responds to growing need for spirituality in nature
[CSN – June 1, 2022] The Center for Spirituality in Nature ( CSN) is partnering with TryTank – an experimental lab for innovation within the Episcopal Church led by the Rev. Lorenzo Lebrija – to bring its Spirituality in Nature Groups ( SING) program to the Episcopal Church network.
In partnership with TryTank, CSN will form a pilot cohort of 10 Episcopal SINGs, providing resources, training, curriculum, and facilitated cohort meetings. These new communities will explore their local ecosystems, learn how best to support and care for them, as well as engage in ancient traditions related to finding God in nature.
The Center for Spirituality in Nature provides opportunities for deepening spirituality through nature and for nurturing loving relationships with the Earth. It offers a variety of programs, classes, webinars, talks, gatherings and resources for both individuals and groups.
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Deacons to be ordained June 11 at St. John's Cathedral
St. John's Cathedral, Los Angeles, will host a service of ordination for five new transitional deacons at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 11. Bishop John Harvey Taylor will ordain Timothy Paul Hartley, Ryan Michael Macias, C. Susanne Wright-Nava, Stacey Forte Dupré and Brian Joseph Tucker. The prayers and presence of the diocesan community are invited. For the safety of all, the cathedral deans and staff request that those attending and participating be prepared to show proof of full vaccination against Covid-19.
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Cam Sanders
June 23, 1965 - May 6, 2022
Cam Sanders, 56, photographer, died on Friday, May 6, at his home in Los Angeles. Sanders photographed dozens of clergy of the Diocese of Los Angeles at its annual convention in 2017 and was known for his artistic portrait and event photography.
Born in Cincinnati, he spent early peripatetic years as a Foreign Service child at his family's postings in the Middle East, Europe and Washington, DC.
He graduated from St. Paul's School, Yale, and Santa Monica College, and was a long-time member of All Saints Church, Pasadena, and a dedicated baritone in its Canterbury Choir. He also was a passionate actor, tap dancer, Masters swimmer, pianist, writer, cutthroat Scrabble player, champion crossword puzzler, and dog adopter.
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Pacific Inklings Festival to explore 'prophetic imagination' of author C.S. Lewis
The 2022 Pacific Inklings Festival, titled “C.S. Lewis and the Prophetic Imagination,” will be held on Saturday, June 4, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., at Orange County Assembly of God Church, Santa Ana. The event is sponsored by the Southern California C.S. Lewis Society.
Speakers will include noted Lewis scholars Michael Christensen, professor of Theology and Spiritual Formation at Northwind Theological Seminary, Florida, author of C.S. Lewis on Scripture and other books; and Diana Glyer, professor of English in the Honors College at Azusa Pacific University, accomplished potter, and author of Bandersnatch: C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and the Creative Collaboration of the Inklings and other books.
The event will begin with the launch of Sunbeams and Bottles: The Theology, Thought, and Reading of C.S. Lewis, a new book by Jim Prothero, C.S. Lewis Society director, professor of English at Vanguard University of Southern California and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, a noted watercolor artist, and a lay leader at St. Clement's Episcopal Church, San Clemente.
There will be a "massive" book table on site, according to the event announcement.
Orange County Assembly of God Church is located at 1440 E. Santa Clara, Santa Ana. Admission is $5 (cash in exact amount or check requested); students with ID are free.
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The Gathering invites all to Pentecost celebration
The Gathering – a Space for Asian Pacific Spirituality and All Saints Church Pasadena, invites all to a worship service celebrating the Feast of Pentecost on Sunday, June 5 at 3 p.m. at All Saints Church, 132 N. Euclid Avenue, Pasadena 91101. The event will feature Asian American/Pacific Islander music, art, and voices.
During this Easter season, The Gathering has been reflecting on Easter through AAPI Alive!, an online devotional guide highlighting AAPI voices. This journey will culminate with the Pentecost liturgy and reception celebrating the diversity and beauty of the diocese's Asian and Pacific Island communities.
All are invited to attend and free parking is available in the church's north lot and on the street. For information, email thegatheringedla@gmail.com
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SAVE THE DATE
Episcopal Night at Dodger Stadium to return Sept. 23
After a two-year Covid pandemic-imposed hiatus, Episcopal Night at Dodger Stadium will be back on Friday, Sept. 23. Game time is 7:10 p.m. The home team will play the St. Louis Cardinals, and the game, win or lose, will be followed by fireworks.
In response to the Dodgers' recent shift to electronic ticketing, the Rev. Canon Greg Larkin will email instructions on how to order tickets this year to each congregation's coordinator, who will receive and distribute tickets for his or her congregation. Clergy in charge of congregations: email the congregation name and city and the Dodger coordinator's name and email address to Larkin at greg.larkin@stcolumbaca.com.
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SAVE THE DATE
Restorative justice retreat, stories, podcast celebrate Camp Stevens' 70th anniversary
[The Episcopal News – May 11, 2022] To mark its 70th anniversary, Camp Stevens invites alumni, former staff, friends and the diocesan community to a Restorative Justice Retreat Oct. 28 – 30. The weekend will celebrate the camp's history of impact and growth while looking to the future.
Valarie Kaur – renowned civil rights leader, lawyer, award-winning filmmaker, educator, innovator, best-selling author of See No Stranger, and founder of the Revolutionary Love Project to reclaim love as a force for justice – will deliver a keynote address at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29. More about Kaur is here.
Read more about the retreat as well as other anniversary events here.
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Safe Church office provides new modules for abuse prevention curriculum
The Episcopal Church's Safe Church Office has produced three new educational modules – "Pastoral Relationships," "Inclusion," and "Power and Relationships" – as part of its Safe Church, Safe Communities training for the prevention of sexual and other abuse. Completion of the series is mandatory for Episcopal Church clergy and lay leaders, and must be renewed every three years.
The new training modules bring the total number to nine, all of which can be found on the Praesidium Academy website here.
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The Gathering invites diocesan community to Eastertide journey of art, poetry, music and more
The Gathering - a space for Asian Pacific American spirituality - invites the diocesan community to an Easter journey celebrating Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) voices. "AAPI Alive!" is a 50-day devotional guide beginning on Easter Sunday and ending on the Feast of Pentecost, celebrating the Resurrection and this season of new life through the beauty and strength of AAPI voices. The Gathering, a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, hopes that these offerings of prose and poetry, photographs, spoken word, visual art, vocals, and musical performance will connect readers to a celebration of the risen Christ and one another.
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End-of-life vigil companion training programs to begin in June
By Your Side Vigil Companions, which trains volunteers to be a compassionate presence in the lives of those nearing the end of life, will begin a new course in June.
Graduates of the program, which is offered by Episcopal Communities and Services, serve in many ways, according to program coordinator Susan Brown. "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," she said. "The pandemic 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."
A five-week online and hybrid training program will begin on June 21, 2 - 4 p.m., continuing on Tuesday afternoons until July 19.
There is no obligation to volunteer at the completion of the training.
To enroll, contact Susan Brown at sbrown@ecsbyyourside.org, or phone 818.822.6044 for more information. 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 added $30 under California Board of Registered Nursing Provider Number CEP 16239.
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Looking toward General Convention
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The 80th meeting of The Episcopal Church's General Convention will be held in Baltimore, Maryland, July 8 – 11, 2022 (shortened and scaled down due to increased cases of Covid-19 – see story here). The stories below explore issues of church-wide interest to come before the meeting, as well as logistical matters.
At the convention, the Diocese of Los Angeles will be represented by its bishop and by four clergy and four lay deputies. In coming weeks The Episcopal News will include stories about the bishop's and deputies' specific interests, committee assignments and more. Learn more about General Convention here.
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5 candidates for president, vice president to participate in upcoming House of Deputies forums
[Episcopal News Service – June 1, 2022] At least four deputies have expressed interest in running for president of the House of Deputies, along with one candidate for the house’s vice president, according to a June 1 announcement of the lineup of participants in upcoming candidate forums.
The candidates for president who signed up to participate in the June 4 and 13 forums are the Rev. Devon Anderson, Diocese of Minnesota; Julia Ayala Harris, Diocese of Oklahoma; Ryan Kusumoto, Diocese of Hawai’i, and the Very Rev. Ward Simpson, Diocese of South Dakota. The only candidate to come forward publicly for vice president is the Rev. Rachel Taber-Hamilton, Diocese of Olympia.
The General Convention Office facilitates all churchwide elections. Any deputy interested in being considered for president or vice president was required to submit an application to the General Convention Office by March 8 and agree to a background check. The General Convention Office declined to provide Episcopal News Service with the number of deputies who submitted applications by the deadline.
Those applicants still have time to decide whether or not to officially declare candidacies. The House of Deputies’ Rules of Order specifies that candidates for president must officially inform the house’s secretary of their intent to stand for election by General Convention’s third legislative day, with the election occurring on the fourth day. That timeline likely will need to be amended for the 80th General Convention, to accommodate convention’s shortened duration, set for July 8-11 in Baltimore, Maryland.
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Presiding officers call for June 6 resolution deadline as General Convention plan takes shape
[Episcopal News Service – June 1, 2022] The Episcopal Church’s presiding officers confirmed June 1 that they would be accepting their design group’s recommendation of a June 6 deadline for submitting resolutions to the 80th General Convention, giving legislative committees time to complete their work online before the church gathers in person next month in Baltimore, Maryland.
The final plan for mitigating the threat of COVID-19 transmission will be submitted for approval June 7 by the Joint Standing Committee on Planning and Arrangements and Executive Council. If the plan is backed by those two bodies, the 80th General Convention will be reduced from eight to four days, July 8 to 11.
“We are grateful to the legislative committee officers who met last week to provide input on the draft legislative plan and the deputies and bishops who have agreed to continue legislative committee work during June,” Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, president of the House of Deputies, said in a joint letter to the church.
“As a result, all remaining legislative committee hearings will be held online during June, and we encourage you to monitor the hearing schedule and sign up to testify about resolutions that affect your ministry and witness.”
Lea la carta en español aquí.
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Episcopal Church part of successful shareholder vote pressing Ruger to study its guns’ lethality
By David Paulsen
[Episcopal News Service – June 1, 2022] The Episcopal Church on June 1 was part of a successful push by shareholders of gun manufacturer Sturm Ruger & Co. to pressure the company to study the lethality of its products and include the findings in a human rights impact report.
The measure was contained in a resolution approved by a majority of shareholders at Sturm Ruger’s annual meeting, held online. The Episcopal Church has invested in Sturm Ruger since late 2018 as part of its broader participation in shareholder advocacy campaigns on issues ranging from human trafficking to climate change.
“We co-filed this resolution because gun violence is a public health crisis in our country,” Western Massachusetts Bishop Douglas Fisher told Episcopal News Service by email after the vote. Fisher chairs Executive Council’s Committee on Corporate Social Responsibility. “We need to approach this crisis from many angles and one of them is inviting manufacturers to be part of the solution,” he said, citing the proposed human rights impact report as one example.
The church’s investment in gun manufacturers sparked some controversy after it was endorsed by a resolution passed in 2018 by the 79th General Convention. While some critics of the plan questioned whether the church should put its money behind companies whose products can be used to kill, proponents said it would give the church a seat at the table in gun safety discussions with the companies.
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GC80 plans fewer resolutions, limited debate
By Kirk Petersen
[The Living Church – May 25, 2022] More than 120 bishops, deputies, and others got their first detailed look May 25 at how legislation will be handled at the truncated 80th General Convention, now scheduled for July 8-11 in Baltimore.
“It’s going to shift what convention is, because we’re going to have everything upfront,” Bryan Krislock, parliamentarian for the House of Deputies, told an online gathering of legislative chairs and committee members. To the extent possible, committee hearings will take place online in June, before convention even begins. Committees will meet at the convention itself only to resolve disagreements between the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops, or for limited special cases.
The deadline for introducing resolutions is June 6, a full month before the nominal beginning of convention. Committees will hold online hearings and meetings through June 25, at which time any resolution that has not been approved by committee will automatically be referred to the 81st General Convention in 2024.
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Committees hear testimony on extending Beloved Community, healing intergenerational trauma and use of ‘people of color’
By Pat McCaughan
[Episcopal News Service – May 12, 2022] General Convention’s committees on Racial Justice and Reconciliation received testimony about resolutions to further and extend Beloved Community and the healing of intergenerational trauma resulting from the destructive effects of racism and white supremacy during a May 11 online hearing. The committees also engaged in discussion about appropriate inclusive language to refer to People of Color.
For the first time, two-dozen bishops’ and deputies’ committees are holding hearings together online in advance of the upcoming 80th General Convention. The triennial convention is the church’s governing body, where final resolutions are considered and voted on by both the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies. For a schedule of online hearings, click here.
Julia Ayala Harris, chair of The Episcopal Church’s Standing Committee on Mission and a candidate for the president of the House of Deputies told committee members that the “time is right to make a reality” Resolution A125, which would establish a voluntary Episcopal Coalition for Racial Equity and Justice among dioceses and congregations.
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More General Convention-related stories from ENS are here.
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Florida bishop coadjutor election challenged with formal objection, effort to deny consent
By Egan Millard
[Episcopal News Service] The Diocese of Florida announced May 25 that a formal objection to the May 14 election of the Rev. Charlie Holt as bishop coadjutor has been filed with the diocese.
The objection, signed by 37 clergy and lay deputies to the diocese’s special election convention, claims that last-minute changes to the voting process violated diocesan canons and that technical problems disrupted the vote, rendering the election invalid.
In an email to members of the diocese acknowledging receipt of the objection, its Standing Committee and chancellor responded to the points of contention and denied any procedural errors or misconduct. No objections were raised during the election itself, they said, and the election was observed and confirmed by independent auditors.
“We want to assure you – with the highest degree of confidence – that we believe in the election’s validity from every perspective,” the committee members and chancellor wrote. “We value the input and consciences of our few friends who have objected, and we will do everything we can to follow the proper channels so that their questions and concerns may be answered.”
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At Episcopal services, worshippers mourn school massacre victims amid calls to stop gun violence
By David Paulsen
[Episcopal News Service – May 31, 2022] Episcopal congregations and church leaders are honoring the victims of last week’s deadly school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, and calling for action against gun violence in prayer vigils and worship services across the United States, including a vigil held in the Connecticut community where the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre occurred nearly 10 years ago.
“We will never get over what has happened. Children have been killed. Our hearts have been broken. The image of our hometown has been shattered,” the Rev. Michael Marsh, rector of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Uvalde, told those in the pews at the church’s May 29 Eucharist, which was livestreamed on Facebook. But, he continued, “my hope and my belief and even my experience are that we will get through this.”
The congregation has joined local efforts to collect donations to support survivors, families of victims and others in the community.
“This community responds together in times like this,” Beverly Heyen, a 15-year-old member of St. Philip’s, told Time. “Our hearts go out to everyone, and everyone is connected in some way. … And this church is a part of that.”
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Episcopal Relief & Development partners with Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe to aid Ukrainian refugees
[Episcopal Relief & Development – May 10, 2022] Episcopal Relief & Development is partnering with the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe to help local congregations throughout Europe provide assistance to Ukrainian refugees.
The Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe, the European presence of The Episcopal Church, has a long history of ministry to refugees dating back to before World War I. Since the late 1980s, the Joel Nafuma Refugee Center – based at Saint Paul’s Within the Walls in Rome – has provided direct service to refugees from countless countries, helping them rebuild shattered lives.
Episcopal Relief & Development is working with the Convocation to strengthen and expand the capacity of all Episcopal congregations across Europe to respond to the refugee emergency caused by the violence in Ukraine. The convocation is creating a fund to support local congregations’ refugee response and will pair those grants with training from Nafuma Refugee Center staff. This assistance will vary depending on the needs of the specific refugee groups but will likely include food, shelter, emergency supplies and trauma counseling. Additionally, the center plans to increase its staffing levels, allowing it to provide aid to more people.
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More reporting from Episcopal News Service is here.
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FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 8 p.m.
Chamber Concert:
Music of Stravinsky, Mozart and Anthony Constantino
St. Matthew's Episcopal Church
1031 Bienveneda Avenue, Pacific Palisades
Information and tickets here or 310.573.7422
St. Matthew’s Music Guild presents The Chamber Orchestra at St. Matthew’s under the direction of Dwayne S. Milburn. Igor Stravinsky composed his Concerto in E-flat “Dumbarton Oaks” in 1938 on a commission from Robert and Mildred Bliss and named it for their estate in Washington, D.C. Anthony Constantino was born in 1995 and raised in Tucson. He has been widely praised for music in a variety of styles including chamber music, vocal, and eletro-acoustic. “Awakenings” was commissioned by St. Matthew’s Music Guild in 2019 to celebrate the return to something approaching normalcy following Covid. Little did anyone know at the time the work’s premiere would be delayed until June 2022. Mozart’s Mass in C major (“Credo”), composed in 1776 for Salzburg Cathedral, is scored for four soloists, chorus, and chamber orchestra. The Chamber Orchestra at St. Matthew’s will be joined by the choir and soloists of St. Matthew’s Parish. “Liner Notes with Tom Neenan” – a pre-concert discussion of the coming program, will begin at 7:10 p.m. in the church and is free and open to the public. Masks are encouraged but not required for all audience members, who must show proof of having been fully vaccinated. Proof of vaccine booster is not required at this time.
SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Encountering Your True Self with the Desert Mystics: The Desert Mothers
Center for Spiritual Development
Meeting via Zoom and in person. Register here
Part two of an introduction to desert spirituality through the lives and teachings of the desert fathers and mothers, sponsored by the Orange County-based Center for Spiritual Development. "Little known outside of academic circles, the desert ammas/mothers share spiritual medicine for our anxious, frenzied world: silence, solitude, and stillness. We will meet Amma Syncletica of Alexandria and Amma Mary the Harlot (of Egypt). Their earthy wisdom awakens in us renewed awareness that God’s love has always surrounded us." Led by the Rev. Brad Karelius, who has been a priest in the Diocese of Los Angeles for 50 years. For 45 years he was associate professor of philosophy at Saddleback Community College. He is author of The Spirit in the Desert (2009), Encounters with the World’s Religions (2015) and Desert Spirit Places: The Sacred Southwest (2019). When registering, mark your preference for Zoom or in-person. Cost: $20 per person.
SUNDAY, JUNE 5, 3 p.m.
The Gathering: Feast of Pentecost Worship Celebration
All Saints Episcopal Church
132 N. Euclid Avenue, Pasadena 91101
The Gathering - a Space for Asian Pacific Spirituality and All Saints Church Pasadena, invites all to a worship service celebrating the Feast of Pentecost and featuring Asian American/Pacific Islander music, art, and voices. During this Easter season, The Gathering has been reflecting on Easter through AAPI Alive!, an online devotional guide highlighting AAPI voices. This journey will culminate with a liturgy and reception celebrating the diversity and beauty of our AAPI communities. All are invited to attend and free parking is available in the North Lot and on the street. AAPI Alive! is available online at www.aapialive.org. A flyer is here.
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THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 7 p.m.
Pentecost Taizé
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church
1432 Engracia Avenue, Torrance 90501
An evening of candlelight, scripture, meditation and song, presented by the Mutual Ministries of St. Andrew's and Christ Church, Redondo Beach. Priest: The Rev. Julie Beals
SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 4 p.m.
“Trinity Presents…”
A Slice of Summer: Gallops, Airs, and Tunes for June
Trinity Episcopal Church
419 South 4th Street, Redlands
A recital featuring The Nottingham Players. Free will offering. Cupcake reception in the garden following the program.
SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 5 p.m.
Chamber Concert: Something Old and Something New, with Melissa Givens, soprano
All Saints Episcopal Church
504 N. Camden Drive, Beverly Hills 90210
Information: 310.275.0123 or here.
Also featuring Genevieve Feiwen Lee, piano. American soprano Melissa Givens moves and excites audiences and critics alike with a rich, powerful tone, crystalline clarity, and intelligent musical interpretations. Especially noted for her expressiveness and elegance on the stage, she’s been hailed as a singer whose music making is “consistently rewarding” and “a pleasure to hear.” Selections include: "Dream Variations" (2010) by Jeremiah Joseph; Threnody Song Cycle (1972) by Zenobia Powell Perry; and Songs of the Seasons by Margaret Bond. Suggested donation: $20, students/seniors $10. Admission free with Music Guild season pass. Sponsored by All Saints’ Music Guild.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 4 – 6 p.m.
Inspiring Stories: Raising Kids in Interfaith Families
The Guibord Center (online)
With interfaith marriage on the rise in the United States and other countries, The Guibord Center continues a four-part series exploring the experiences of interfaith families. This second session will focus on families that have chosen to raise their kids in two or more spiritual traditions. More about the series is here.
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SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 4 – 10 p.m.
African American Heritage Club Juneteenth Celebration
Laguna Woods Village Clubhouse 5
24262 Punta Alta, Laguna Woods 92637
Presented by the African American Heritage Club of Laguna Woods. Allan Williams, a bishop's committee member and lay leader at St. George's Church, Laguna Hills, is among the organizers of the celebration, which will begin with a meet-and-greet at 4 p.m., and continue with a show, live entertainment, finger food and dancing until 10 p.m. Formal attire is requested. Tickets: $30. Juneteenth commemorates end of slavery in the United States.
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Additional events are listed on the diocesan calendar here.
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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 are required. All donors and staff will be screened before entering the facilities.
FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 1 - 7:00 p.m.
St. Mark's Episcopal Church
Parish Hall
330 E. 16th Street, Upland 91784
Reservations here or call 1.800.RED.CROSS (1.800.733.2767)
Sponsor code: stmarks
SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
St Luke's Episcopal Church
Church Hall
525 E.7th Street, Long Beach 90813
Reservations here or call 1.800.RED.CROSS (1.800.733.2767)
(Search by zip code)
MONDAY, JUNE 20, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
St. Ambrose Episcopal Church
Parish Hall
830 West Bonita Avenue, Claremont 91711
Reservations here or call 1.800.RED.CROSS (1.800.733.2767)
Sponsor Code: STAMBROSE
SUNDAY, JULY 10, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Grace Episcopal Church
Baxter Hall
555 East Mountain View Avenue, Glendora 91741
Reservations here or call 1.800.RED.CROSS (1.800.733.2767)
Sponsor code: GECG
Donate and get an exclusive Red Cross recycled cotton tote bag, while supplies last.
SUNDAY, JULY 24, 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
SUNDAY, JUNE 26, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
St. John Chrysostom Episcopal Church
30382 Via Con Dios, Rancho Santa Margarita 92688
Reservations here or call 1.800.RED.CROSS (1.800.733.2767)
Sponsor code: STJOHN (note, no "s")
Additional date at this location is Sunday, Oct. 23.
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.
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September 15 – 28, 2022
England and Scotland: A Pilgrimage of Faith & Heritage
Led by the Rev. Grant Holmes, honorary assistant priest at St. George's Church, Paris, France; and former vicar of St. Mary's Church in St. Alban's, U.K. Stops include a tour of London, Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's Cathedral; St. Alban's Pilgrim Church Trail; Canterbury, including a boat tour; the Cotswolds; Ely Cathedral; Cambridge; York; Edinburgh and St. Andrew's in Scotland. Highlights will include Evensong services, a private tour of Parker Library at Corpus Christi College (not open to the public), and free time for exploration. Package includes 12 nights' accommodation, daily breakfast, six lunches and two dinners; all guides, entrance fees, touring and transportation. Cost: $4,700 for double occupancy. Airfare, incidentals and additional meals not included. A $500 deposit is required; final payment is due June 17. A brochure is here. For information contact Bonnie Waite at 480.899.8006 or bonnie@yourcruise.com
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BEVERLY HILLS: Controller, All Saints Episcopal Church. The controller is responsible for all facets of financial management and operations, including accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, cash flow management, insurance, and human resources. The controller is a key member of the senior management staff and reports to the priest-in-charge. The controller also works collaboratively with the vestry, treasurer, volunteer groups, committees, and program staff. A full job description is 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.
JULIAN: Camp staff and counselors, Camp Stevens. Working a summer job at Camp Stevens isn't your average position. Our summer team is a collection of adventure creating, critical-thinking, empathy giving, game playing, dishwashing, luggage moving, camper inspiring life-changers. Summer Staff and Counselors complete the summer with experience and training in public speaking, child supervision, time management, scheduling and planning, group and team building, leadership styles, communication, restorative justice, trauma-informed care, diversity, equity and inclusion, anti-racism, feedback, food sanitation and handling, facility maintenance, trail work, outdoor skills, astronomy, health and safety management, and collaboration. Positions are open for Summer 2022. Counselors must be at least 16; staff must be at least 18. Compensation varies. Apply for Counselor Training here. Apply for staff positions here.
LOS ANGELES (ECHO PARK): Credit Union CEO/Manager, Episcopal Community Federal Credit Union. To provide strategic, vision, leadership, and management in all functional areas. Plan, direct and control credit union activities in accordance with credit union plans, policies, directives and activities as established by the Board of Directors. Responsible for ensuring financial stability and member satisfaction commensurate with the best interest of members, staff and credit union. A full job description is here. For more information and to apply, click here.
LOS ANGELES: Executive Director, IRIS (Interfaith Refugee & Immigration Service). The Diocese of Los Angeles is seeking a person who has deep experience in program strategy, development, and expansion that s/he will leverage to strengthen our existing programs and launch new, sustainable programs to better serve the needs of our clients. You will be successful in this role if you can create a multi-year program strategy, evaluate new service opportunities, build and implement programming, inspire and lead the IRIS program team, and take steps to grow the IRIS site with high quality, cost-efficient, and sustainable programming. The Executive Director will manage programs and monitor progress and compliance with the Bureau of Population, Migration, and Refugees, the Office of Refugee Resettlement, California Department of Social Services, Episcopal Migration Ministries and other funders to ensure standards and provision of timely and quality services to refugees and migrants are met. This position is a department head within the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles and ensures strong communication and coordination with central office leaders including the Commissioner for Human Resources, Chief Financial Officer, Chief of Staff and the Bishop Diocesan. A full job description with application information is here. Application deadline: May 20, 2022.
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 April 30. 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.
PACIFIC PALISADES: Live Stream Manager. St. Matthew's Parish is an inspiring house of worship situated in beautiful Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles. The Director of Program Ministry seeks a part-time Live Stream Manager who is an experienced audio/visual consultant to partner with our ministry team to broadcast our live Sunday morning worship service and special services. A full job description is here. Please email your resume to live@stmatthews.com. Learn more about St. Matthew's here.
PACIFIC PALISADES: General Maintenance Worker, St. Matthew's Church and School. St. Matthew's is a vibrant community that includes both a Church and a School situated in beautiful Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles. The Director of Facilities and Operations seeks a full time maintenance staff member with maintenance experience. This is a "hands-on" position and the ideal candidate will have repair maintenance and event setup experience, great people skills and a history of providing the highest level of customer service. A full job description is here. Please email resume to HR@stmatthews.com.
PASADENA: Facilities/Office Manager, All Saints Church. The Facilities/Office Manager’s primary responsibilities include oversight of all infrastructure operations of the church: facilities management; Building and Grounds (“B&G”) staff; the security company; and all office equipment. In addition, this person will collaborate closely with Human Resources and with the administrative assistant team. The primary objective of the person in this position is to ensure that these operations run smoothly so that the church staff and parishioners have the information, support and resources necessary to carry out the mission of the church in its pastoral, outreach and community building ministries. The Facilities/Office Manager must be flexible, responsive, and nimble in dealing with unexpected issues. See the entire job description here.
PASADENA: Bookkeeper, All Saints Church. See the entire job description here.
PASADENA: Giving Data Specialist, 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. See the entire job description here.
RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA: Youth Minister, St. John’s Episcopal Church and School. St. John’s is a community that lives in gratitude for the love and generosity of God. The Youth Minister will have a living commitment to the Gospel of Christ and will value the ethos of the Episcopal Church. From this vantage, the person we seek will share with the youth the transforming love of Christ in real and meaningful ways. The Youth Minister will lead in the creation, development, and delivery of programs that support the spiritual formation and well-being of youths, grades 6 through college, in and from the parish. The minister will model for the youth spiritual growth, ethical insight, age-appropriate theological and interfaith awareness, and engagement in the community with the living Gospel. This minister will also assist greatly in the pastoral care of the youth and their families. This is a part-time position. Request a full job description via email, ca@stjohns-es.org. Submit resume and cover letter to Rev. Christopher Potter via email at cpotter@stjohns-es.org
THOUSAND OAKS: Assistant Principal, St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School. Duties include helping with admissions, development, parent relations, student supervision, and program development. Candidate must have a college degree, a teaching credential, and a minimum of five years working in a school. Administrative experience is desirable. If interested, please send resume to nwhitson@stpatricksdayschool.org.
WOODLAND HILLS: Receiving Supervisor, West Valley Food Pantry. The Receiving Supervisor is responsible for coordinating the daily staging and oversight of a drive-through food delivery operation. Empathy and kindness to the clients should be part of this individual’s makeup. The Receiving Supervisor is the Food Pantry’s liaison with donating markets, and should cultivate excellent communication with the market's managers. Relationships with our volunteers is paramount, and a positive demeanor is a necessity. The Receiving Supervisor is responsible for accepting, tracking and inventory of all incoming deliveries and donations, in cooperation with the Warehouse Assistant. Full job description here.
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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 attachments (rather than embedded in a document). To subscribe, click here.
— Janet Kawamoto, editor
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