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March 17, 2024

Training course offers 'first-aid' strategies to help people facing mental challenges

[The Episcopal News – March 13, 2024] Just as CPR courses teach how to help someone experiencing a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training equips members of diocesan congregations to assist those facing mental health challenges.

Those challenges now affect a growing number of people in the United States – about one in five, according to the Rev. Brian Tucker.

“We all have these times when we are struggling,” said Tucker, the diocesan MHFA trainer and a former hospital chaplain who serves at Prince of Peace Episcopal Church in Woodland Hills.

Especially since the pandemic, he says, “collectively, communities are experiencing a mental health crisis … which can be everything from situational anxiety to a full-on mental illness diagnosis in any given year. And in a lifetime, the number goes to about half.”

Unfortunately, unlike heart attacks or physical ailments, mental illness is still stigmatized, “but it’s just part of life,” Tucker added. “Mental Health First Aid just makes us better equipped to be good neighbors and to meet people where they are.”

Read more here.

Keep calm, and use the power you have for good, Bishop Taylor tells Jonathan Club breakfast gathering

[The Episcopal News – March 13, 2024] Everyone can make a difference in the world - they just have to choose to use the power they have, Bishop John Harvey Taylor told the March 12 meeting of the Breakfast Club at the downtown Los Angeles Jonathan Club, founded in 1895, an association for well-connected Angelenos of an array of religious and non-religious thought; a fact Taylor acknowledged as he addressed "the challenge that we share ... [of] keeping calm amid the unfolding domestic and international crises of this hyper-political year 2024."

Taylor was introduced at the event by Jonathan Club member Eric Edmunds, a parishioner at St. Matthew’s Church, Pacific Palisades.

He promised not to stress faith in the divine as the only way to calm and peace. "In these anxious political times,” he said in a 20-minute address, “I can preach faith in whatever it is that you love as a reliable source of calm and contentment – family and friends; movies, music and books; the Dodgers and Angels; the Bruins and Trojans; plenty of exercise and plenty of sleep and water…Getting away from our phones and the news once in a while, and especially the good feeling we get from making thoughtful, caring choices about what we eat and drink and what we say and do because of what's at stake for us each anxious day ... our health, and the safety and feelings of the people closest to us. These are matters about which we are infinitely powerful."

Read more here.

SAVE THE DATE 

L.A.’s Plaza de Cultura y Artes is venue for April 21 fiesta reception launching new Lydia Lopez Center

[The Episcopal News – March 13, 2024] All are invited to a Sunday-afternoon fiesta fundraiser set for 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 21 at La Plaza de Cultura y Artes to launch the new Lydia Lopez Center for Community Empowerment focused on welcoming immigrants, empowering youth, and teaching cultural arts and history at the landmark Church of the Epiphany, Lincoln Heights.

Tickets are $100 per person, and may be purchased here, or with checks payable to the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles and mailed to the Rev. John Watson, Epiphany’s priest-in-charge, at 840 Echo Park Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90026.

“The new center addresses priorities close to Lydia’s heart throughout her more than 50 years of ministry in this diocese and the wider Episcopal Church,” said Grace Dyrness, chair of the fundraiser committee. “The center is a wonderful and practical way to build on her legacy by serving others.”

Read more here.

Date set for 2024 Episcopal-Lutheran Night at Dodger Stadium

Episcopalians are invited to join their Lutheran siblings at Episcopal-Lutheran Night at Dodger Stadium on Friday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. 

The Dodgers will play the Cleveland Guardians. Tickets will be $35. Fireworks and a drone show are scheduled after the game. 

More information will be available to church coordinators after Easter, according to the Rev. Canon Greg Larkin, Dodger night coordinator. 

Altar guild members invited to Province VIII virtual annual seminar

The National Altar Guild Association (NAGA) invites all Altar Guild members to its 2024 Annual Seminar on Saturday, March 16, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. via Zoom.

Marcia Himes, president of NAGA, will speak on NAGA’s Triennial events at the General Convention and how its members assist with the Eucharist for thousands of attendees; “truly an amazing and moving ministry to witness,” according to Sarah Chesbro, Province VIII representative to the NAGA board.

Participants also will take part in a virtual Via Dolorosa – The Way of Tears - led by the Rev. Caroline Hall, using the Stations of the Cross at Saint Benedict’s Episcopal Church, Los Osos, Calif., in the Diocese of El Camino Real. The Via Dolorosa is a processional route in the Old City of Jerusalem that follows the story of Jesus’ journey to the cross and beyond. The stations, one of which is pictured above, were created by a local artist.

To attend, contact Chesbro at sarahchesebro@gmail.com. She will provide the Zoom link for the meeting. 

The Commission's Corner

Lenten reflections from the Bishop's Commission on Gospel Justice & Community Care

The Bishop's Commission on Gospel Justice and Community Care is offering weekly reflections during Lent to support a Gospel perspective for reducing the incarceration rates of marginalized persons and the decriminalization of behaviors that are better addressed through compassion and health-focused strategies.

Incarceration and mental health

Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to those who deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people.

— Isaiah 10:1

Average daily inmate population, L.A. County jails: 

2013; 18,687

2023; 13,871

In the first half of 2023 (through June), Los Angeles County had an average daily inmate population of 13,871 within its jail system (down from 17,070 for all of 2019, due to reducing the incarcerated population during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020). Of the 2023 average daily inmate population, 1,470 were female.

• Black people and other people of color experience harsher treatment at every stage of the criminal legal process.
• Black people, in particular, are incarcerated at significantly higher rates than white people.

The mission of the Bishop’s Commission on Gospel Justice and Community Care is “to articulate a gospel vision for policing and community care; to assess people’s personal, local experiences of policing and community safety and to advocate for public policy reform that contributes to holistic community care.” The commission was formed following the May 25, 2020 murder of George Floyd, which sparked worldwide protests and a national reckoning on police violence and systemic racism.

Reflection: Jesus, of course, is the benchmark for the unjustly accused, falsely tried, and ultimately shamefully murdered, with the approval of the Roman power and the betrayal of his own people. Our role in that horrible, yet God-sparked, event was that of the bored, self-absorbed spectator. 

Incarceration has dramatically declined over the last decade, mostly because the overcrowding in our county jails was exacerbating the 2020-2022 plague of biblical proportions.

Despite the declining jail population statistics, the important issue of mental health among the incarcerated goes substantially unaddressed. Los Angeles County is imprisoning more people with mental illness than it did a decade ago, but is failing to provide them with basic treatment. The U.S. Department of Justice says the county jail system is decrepit, dangerous, and unfit to house anyone, let alone people with mental illness.

Jesus loved the mentally ill – not the demons that possessed them, but the real people he could see as no one else could. He was not afraid of those demons, or ignorant of their power to warp and disturb the most beautiful of God’s creation. He waded in to the midst of them, casting out the traumas, the mental obsessions, the compulsions: digging through the pain to resurrect the sacred within every human being, loosening the chains, both real and unreal, that bind so many of us. In jail, there are very few advocates for the mentally ill, except, fortunately, for our Lord and Savior. There are tiny budgets for medication, and about $100 per month per inmate for professional mental health services. 

Are we to remain complacent of the conveniently invisible? Who will speak up for them? Who will pray for them? You, with your old pal, Jesus? 

— Virginia Green, Ph.D., MFT, is founder and CEO of Stillwater Family Therapy Group, Inc., which serves the mental health needs of families and individuals in Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Manhattan Beach.

Image above right is a mixed-media collage by Virginia Green (who is pictured at top). This article appears on The Episcopal News website here.

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

A memorial for Charlie Munger

March 12, 2024

Charlie Munger, who died in November within sight of his 100th birthday on Jan. 1, fell ill at his home in Santa Barbara. When he got to the hospital, a nurse asked him how he was. “I’m dying,”he said. “How are you?” His daughter Emilie Munger Ogden told the story Sunday afternoon during his family’s beautifully organized celebration of life at Harvard-Westlake School, which he served for 54 years as a trustee and its most generous single benefactor.

Read more here.

Redwood’

March 9, 2024

The photo shows my guitar with, at far left, Tony Award-winning Broadway superstar Idina Menzel — Maureen from the original cast of Rent, and the voice of Elsa in Frozen. Menzel and Taylor are appearing together until the end of the month at the La Jolla Playhouse in Redwood, Menzel’s lovely new musical about grief and survival. Kathy and I saw it Friday night.

Read more here.

Requiescat

Funeral set for the Rev. Ellen Murasaki-Wekall

Funeral services for the Rev. Ellen Murasaki-Wekall will be held on Friday, April 5 at 3 p.m. at Church of Our Saviour, 535 Roses Road, San Gabriel. A reception will follow the service. Internment of ashes at St. George's Church, La Canada, will be private.

Murasaki-Wekall, who died March 4 at 99, was a priest of the Diocese of Los Angeles, and counselor and spiritual advisor to dozens of its clergy and lay leaders. An obituary is here.

This week

Final call: Register now for Discernment Information Gathering (DIG) on March 16

From the 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? 

We invite you to the Discernment Information Gathering (DIG) on Saturday, March 16, 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. at St. Paul’s Commons, 840 Echo Park Avenue, Los Angeles. The cost is $25 per person, which includes lunch. (Financial assistance is available). Register here today.

The Commission on Ministry knew there was a hunger in the diocese for a different way to look at discernment for lay leadership and ordained ministry. We knew that there must be a way to recognize and capture the energy of discernment. With that in mind, we developed the Discernment Information Gathering (DIG) to help people recognize what discernment is, why it’s important, and what options there are for lay and ordained leadership. We want you to “dig” deep!

At the DIG, you’ll learn about “what is discernment?”, the different orders of ministry, and participate in a discernment exercise. We offer breakout sessions on Chaplaincy, Spiritual Direction, and Opportunities for Lay Leaders. There’s a session titled Education Pathways to provide information about seminary options and classes offered by Bloy House. We also include a workshop for sponsoring clergy to help them recognize and realize their responsibilities to parishioner discernment and development, and a session to train congregational discernment committees. New sessions added this year include EfM (Education for Ministry), which is a great first step for discernment, as well as a session that pertains to the new lay licensing program we have in the diocese. Last but not least is a session that outlines the ordination process for priests and deacons. Some sessions are available in both Spanish and English, and there will be Spanish-language interpretation for the morning plenary session.

The Discernment Information Gathering is hosted by the Commission on Ministry, which is in itself a group focused specifically on discernment, and we want everyone who is interested to be fully versed in the offerings we have in the diocese. We hope you will join us to learn more about how God is calling you on your own discernment journey and how you might accompany others on theirs. For more information, contact Cameron Johnson at cjohnson@stcross.org.

IRIS invites diocesan community to online discussion of refugee ministry

[IRIS – Feb. 27, 2024] In the spirit of Lent, Interfaith Refugee and Immigration Service (IRIS) warmly invites our Episcopal family to “Under My Roof," a reflective Zoom gathering as we explore the sacred journey of welcoming refugees into our community. Join us for a workshop on Friday, March 15 at 10 a.m., for information on how to help lighten the path for those seeking refuge, guided by the spirit of Lenten renewal.

This workshop, second of two, will motivate and empower our congregations for the mission of refugee resettlement, which is the foundation of IRIS's life-saving work. We will explore the various ways and levels to which we may collaborate, engage, and participate to support newly arrived families and welcome them under our roofs, literally or figuratively.

To register, click here or email Ruben Tomasian, IRIS’s Capacity Building and Community Outreach manager, at rtomasian@ladiocese.org. 

By Your Side training to begin April 15 in Palos Verdes

By Your Side will offer a training session on Mondays, April 15 - May 13, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at The Canterbury, 5801 Crestridge Road, Rancho Palos Verdes.

Since 2011, the mission of By Your Side - a program of Episcopal Communities & Services (ECS), a diocesan institution - has been to support people in times of change and difficulty, particularly in health crisis, and to be at their bedsides at the end of their lives as needed. More than 500 volunteers have been trained to be a compassionate presence.

“We continue to develop teams of people to serve in hospital and long-term care settings, especially in our ECS communities,” says Susan Brown, By Your Side administrator. “There, team members have had the opportunity to deepen their understanding of what it means to really be ‘with’ the residents they support, and residents become even more aware of the needs of neighbors having difficulty with changes in their lives, with challenging diagnoses or increasing frailty.”

For further information and to register, contact Brown at sbrown@ecsforseniors.org or 626.403.5424. A fee of $70 (which includes all materials) is due by the second class. CE credit(12 hours) for nurses is available for an added $30 under California Board of Registered Nursing Provider CEP 16239. There is no obligation to volunteer after the training.

Shepherd's Cup Golf Classic slated for April 29 at Industry Hills club

[The Episcopal News – Feb. 21, 2024] The Diocese of Los Angeles' second annual Shepherd’s Cup Golf Classic and Dinner will be held on Monday, April 29 at the Industry Hills Golf Club and Pacific Palms Resort in the City of Industry. The day will begin with fellowship and registration at 9 a.m.; golfers will take to the course at 11 a.m.

The fundraising event, which supports the mission and ministries of the diocese, will include the golf tournament, a banquet dinner, and live and silent auctions. Sponsorship opportunities are available. 

Registration includes green fee, use of putting greens and driving range, golf bag drop-off service, golf cart, grab bag, and the dinner banquet, which will feature tournament prizes, the auctions, an opportunity drawing, and special guest speaker Bishop John Harvey Taylor.

Read more here.

Good Friday Offering, special online concert to support Middle East ministries

[The Episcopal Church – Feb. 14, 2024] As The Episcopal Church’s Good Friday Offering prepares to mark 102 years, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry invites the whole church to an afternoon of sacred music and collective giving to support siblings in Jerusalem and the Middle East.

Recorded at Christ and St. Luke’s Church, Norfolk, in the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia, the concert will air online at 12 p.m. (3 p.m. ET) Friday, March 29 on The Episcopal Church’s Facebook page and website. Viewers will have the opportunity to make donations during the event to go toward the offering, also frequently gathered by churches during Good Friday services.

The Good Friday Offering was first gathered in 1922 as an intentional response of The Episcopal Church to support Anglican ministries in the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East that were impacted by the devastation of World War I, the Spanish flu pandemic, and social and political unrest affecting Armenian Christians, among others throughout that region.

Read more here.

Climate Change group offers Lenten program on 'Climate + Faith'

The Bishop’s Commission on Climate Change, through its Education Subcommittee, will offer a "Love and Act" online Lenten study program of reading, reflection, prayer and practice using the SALT Project's "Climate + Faith."

The program will be held on Zoom beginning at 11 a.m. on each remaining Thursday in Lent: March 14, 21 and 28.

In these sessions, designed as devotionals, participants will use this short booklet that includes weekly reflections, suggested activities and spiritual practices, and links to videos and enrichment resources.

The program will be led by Rev. Josh Paget of St. Cross Episcopal Church in Hermosa Beach, assisted by Education Subcommittee co-chairs Kate Varley Alonso and Paula Walker.

To register, click here. Download the Climate + Faith resource here. There is a $10 charge, but assistance is available (via the registration form) for anyone needing financial help. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. 

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

Camp Stevens summer camp registration open

Registration is open for summer sessions for children at Camp Stevens, the diocesan facility in Julian, California.

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.

Lenten series connects 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.

Episcopal priest is runner-up in ‘Jeopardy!’ match, falls short of tournament finals

[Episcopal News Service – March 11, 2024] The Rev. David Sibley’s quest for “Jeopardy!” tournament glory ended earlier than he and his fans had hoped on March 8, when the Episcopal priest lost in the semifinal round and failed to advanced to the finals of the show’s Tournament of Champions.

Sibley, rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Walla Walla, Washington, had advanced to the semifinals with a dominant performance Feb. 27 in his opening-round match. Then on March 8, he faced off against Emily Sands, a project manager from Chanhassen, Minnesota, and Yogesh Raut, a psychologist from Vancouver, Washington.

Read more here.

Episcopal Parish Network conference inspires leaders, nurtures Episcopal witness

By Lynette Wilson

[Episcopal News Service – Houston, Texas – March 8, 2024] During the first plenary session of the Episcopal Parish Network’s 39th Annual Conference the moderator asked a full room: How many of your parishes are growing? At least two-thirds of the hands went up.

Some 650 clergy and lay leaders are gathered at the Westin Galleria and Westin Oaks hotels here for the March 6-9 conference. Formerly known as the Consortium of Endowed Episcopal Parishes, the network is a national, membership-based organization of clergy and lay leaders representing 200 parishes of all sizes and budgets. It hosts an annual conference where members come to share experiences, learn, and generate ideas and practices for creating dynamic ministries and parish life. It also offers peer-to-peer online education and thought leadership initiatives throughout the year.

Read more here.

Generative AI: Its innovation, implications and use in the Christian world

[The Presbyterian Outlook – March 5, 2024] Artificial intelligence has sparked a lot of questions since it started making headlines a few years ago. What is ChatGPT? How does it work? Are computers taking over?

For Christians, there are added speculations about AI replacing things like sermon writing, thoughtful exegesis, or even pastoral care. While these are things to consider, it is worth remembering that generative artificial intelligence is still simply a tool, dependent on human insight and intuition. And with any new tool, we get the opportunity to consider its implications for the kingdom of God. As we’ve found ways to use telephones for prayer chains and social media for event planning, AI may be the next technological advancement worthy of our attention.

In this article, you will find the stories of individuals who are considering such developments as they pioneer creative uses of artificial intelligence for ministry.

One of several people interviewed for this article is the Rev. Lorenzo Lebrija, priest of the Diocese of Los Angeles, executive director of Try Tank Experimental Lab, and chief innovation officer at Virginia Theological Seminary. His team is working on an Episcopal Church-specific AI. 

Read more here.

For more churchwide stories, visit Episcopal News Service here.

St. James Episcopal Names New Rector

[South Pasadena Review – March 7, 2024] The Rev. Gregory Kimura is the new rector at St. James Episcopal Church, the senior warden of the church has announced.

Kimura will officially start at St. James, located at 1325 Monterey Road, on March 23, and will lead the church’s celebrations for Holy Week and Easter.

Kimura, a fourth generation Japanese American and Alaskan, is the canon vice-dean at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, overseeing clergy, music, finance and business operations of the cathedral and community preschool.

He has post-graduate degrees from Harvard and Cambridge universities.

Read more here.

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, MARCH 14, 7 p.m.

Taizé Service

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church

1432 Engracia Avenue, Torrance 90501

Our candlelit evenings of music, meditation, and prayer return for another season! Join us at St. Andrew's on the second Thursday of each month to experience this powerful, spiritual service.

FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 6 p.m.

South Bay Stations of the Cross

Christ Episcopal Church

408 S. Broadway, Redondo Beach 90277

Information here

Join fellow Episcopalians to walk The Stations of the Cross each Friday during Lent, hosted each week by one of the churches in the South Bay.

FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 6 p.m.

Dinner and Movie: The Need to Grow

St. Paul's Episcopal Church

1221 Wass Street, Tustin 92780

Information

Reservations: email administrator@stpauls.org

The Need to Grow is a documentary film about cutting-edge solutions to climate change and what individuals can do to help.

FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 7 p.m.

Stations of the Cross / Via Crucis

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

242 E. Alvarado Street, Pomona 91767

Information: Sandra Martinez-Moore, 714.328.2212 or Sanlvlee@gmail.com

Led in Spanish and English by Sandra Martinez-Moore and the Daughters of the King. Continues on Fridays in Lent (before Holy Week).

SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 10:30 a.m.

Celebration of Life: The Rev. Karen Sue Chavez

St. John Chrysostom Church

30382 Vía Con Dios, Rancho Santa Margarita 92688

Chavez, 75, died on Feb. 23 after a short illness. Survivors include her husband, Louis Chavez, and their adult children. The Rev. Canon John Saville will be the homilist. He is the retired rector of St. John’s Church, Corona, where Chavez served as a deacon for many years. A reception will follow the service. 

SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 11 a.m.

Memorial Service: Canon Thomas Foster

All Saints’ Church

504 N. Camden Drive, Beverly Hills 90210

A reception will follow the service. Foster, director of music at All Saints’ Church from 1976 to 2003, died Jan. 27 in Plano, Texas, where he and his wife, Carol Foster, lived in retirement. An obituary is here. Memorial donations to the All Saints’ Music Guild, which Foster founded during his tenure, will be gratefully received. 

SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 2 p.m.

Documentary Screening: The Philadelphia Eleven

St. George's Episcopal Church

23802 Avenida de la Carlota, Laguna Hills 92653

Registration

Information: The Rev. Canon Pat McCaughan, vicar, revpatmccaughan@aol.com

A screening of the award-winning documentary – 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 – will be followed by a panel discussion with 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. The Rev. Canon Nancy Wittig, one of the Philadelphia Eleven, will join the conversation via Zoom.

SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 2 p.m.

Documentary Screening: The Philadelphia Eleven

All Saints Episcopal Church

132 N. Euclid Avenue, Pasadena 

Registration: Debbie Daniels, ddaniels@allsaints-pas.org

An opportunity for reflection and conversation will follow screening of the award-winning documentary – 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. A festive reception will follow. All are welcome; registration is requested.

SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 4 p.m.

Women’s Evensong Invitational 

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church

122 South California Avenue, Monrovia

The Rev. Neil Tadken will be officiant, and Michele Hemmings, alto staff singer at St. Luke’s, will be cantor. The singers are coming from churches all over Los Angeles County. Evensong, or Evening Prayer, is a centuries-old, uniquely Anglican service created from the sevenfold monastic cycle of prayer, combining the offices of Vespers and Compline. Selections will include Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis by Christoph Dalitz. The anthem and all the service music were written or arranged by Kent B. Jones, director of music and organist at St. Luke’s. A wine and cheese reception will follow the service.

SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 6 p.m.

Classical Sundays at Six: International Laureates Organ Series

St. James in-the-City Episcopal Church

3903 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90010

Information here

Nicole Keller, organ, is in demand as a concert artist, adjudicator, and clinician. She has concertized in the States and abroad in venues such as St. Patrick Cathedral, New York; Cathédrale Notre-Dame, Paris; Dom St. Stephan, Passau; St. Patrick Cathedral, Armagh, Northern Ireland; and The Kazakh National University for the Arts, Astana, Kazakhstan. She specializes in eclectic programs suited to instrument and audience with a desire to expand the listener’s horizons, pairing familiar sounds and genres with less familiar ones. Read more about this artist here.

SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 7 p.m.

A Service of Contemplation and Prayer in the Style of Taizé

Church of the Epiphany

5450 Churchwood Drive, Oak Park 91377

Information here or music@tcote.org or 818.991.4797

In the 1940s, a monastic community in Taizé, France, created a new form of prayer service that was designed to be ecumenical and nondenominational. Brief, easy songs are repeated to create a meditative atmosphere and are interspersed with readings and silence to encourage contemplation. Led by the Parish Choir, this quiet, reflective service is patterned on the worship practices at Taizé. This service offers worshipers the opportunity to enter into a prayerful experience of God.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 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.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 7 - 9 p.m.

Virtual Lenten Teaching Series Journey:

‘Growing’ and Groovin’ through Lent with Curtis Mayfield’

Church of the Advent, Los Angeles (conducted online)

Information/Registration

Led by the Rev. Vanessa Mackenzie and the Rev. Kelvin Sauls, these Zoom sessions explore Lenten themes through the songs of Curtis Mayfield (1942–1999), “American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer, and one of the most influential musicians behind soul and politically conscious African-American music” (Wikipedia). The March 20 session is titled “We’ve Got To Have Peace.” The series will conclude with “People Become Ready” (March 27). 

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 7 – 8:30 p.m.

The Welcome Table: A Christian Spiritual Gathering for the LGBTQ+ Community and Our Allies

Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church

24901 Orchard Village Road, Santa Clarita 91355

Information: 661.259.7307 or here

The Welcome Table is a monthly experience created by and for the LGBTQ+ community. Gather with us as we eat, pray, sing, discuss, share communion, celebrate diversity and explore our faith community as our true, authentic selves. Come as you are; this place is for you.

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 6:30 p.m.

Center for Lay Chaplaincy/PRISM Information Session

Via Zoom: Register here.

Learn about CFLC/PRISM by attending our monthly info sessions. If you are curious about spiritual care, eager to volunteer, considering joining a training cohort, or simply have general inquiries, this session provides the perfect starting point to address your interests and questions.

FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MARCH 22 - 23

New Camino

St. Paul’s Commons

840 Echo Park Avenue, Los Angeles 90027

Registration with lodging

Registration without lodging

A dynamic two-day seminar specifically designed for dioceses and congregations wanting to explore new ways to shore up existing Spanish-speaking ministry, as well as learn how to engage with the English-dominant, later-generation Latinos. A key focus of New Camino is to challenge and debunk the stereotypes and preconceived notions about today’s Latino communities, particularly regarding ministry and worship. Cost is $300 with lodging; $160 without. Read more here.

FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 6 p.m.

South Bay Stations of the Cross

St. Cross Church

1818 Monterey Blvd., Hermosa Beach 90254

Information here

Join fellow Episcopalians to walk The Stations of the Cross each Friday during Lent, hosted each week by one of the churches in the South Bay.

FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 7 p.m.

Stations of the Cross / Via Crucis

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

242 E. Alvarado Street, Pomona 91767

Information: Sandra Martinez-Moore, 714.328.2212 or Sanlvlee@gmail.com

Led in Spanish and English by Sandra Martinez-Moore and the Daughters of the King.

SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2 p.m.

Memorial Service: Marty Coleman

All Saints Church

132 N. Euclid Avenue, Pasadena

The Rev. Mike Kinman, rector, will preside at the service for Coleman, a longtime peace and justice advocate who died Jan. 29 at age 92. A reception in All Saints’ learning center will follow the service.

SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 7 p.m.

SUNDAY, MARCH 24, 3 p.m.

Orange County Women’s Chorus: Arms

St. Wilfrid of York Episcopal Church

18631 Chapel Lane, Huntington Beach, CA 92646

Information/Tickets

A memorial to the more than 40,000 Americans killed by guns every year, and a contemplation on how we find peace amid the violence. You’ll hear songs that ask hard questions, songs that preserve the names and the voices of those we’ve lost, and songs that imagine a world in which the arms that kill are conquered by the arms that embrace. Join us for this unique musical meditation on pain, healing, and love. This is a program you will not forget. The themes and texts of this program will be difficult for children. Tickets: $30 (seniors $25; Students with ID: $18). 

SUNDAY, MARCH 24, 4 p.m.

The Newfangled Four Barbershop Quartet

St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church

6201 E. Willow Street, Long Beach 90815

Music at Four presents The Newfangled Four, one of the top barbershop quartets in the world. Combining old-fashioned slapstick humor with their quirky offbeat comedy, The Newfangled Four merges their talents as top-notch harmony singers and world class entertainers. Free-will offering, with a reception to follow.

SUNDAY, MARCH 24, 4:15 p.m.

Classical Sundays at Six: ICantori of Walla Walla University

St. James in-the-City Episcopal Church

3903 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90010

Information here

Conducted by Kraig Scott, ICantori will perform Responses by Margaret Burk and Truro Canticles by Gabriel Jackson. Icantori (Italian: “the singers”) is the select choir of Walla Walla University, an auditioned group chosen from the 1,500-member student body, enjoys a history of touring that began in 1929. Read more about the artists here.

TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 7 – 8 p.m.

A Holy Week 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 here or by joining on this Zoom link or Meeting ID: 864 4405 5548, Password 525

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 7 - 9 p.m.

Virtual Lenten Teaching Series Journey:

‘Growing’ and Groovin’ through Lent with Curtis Mayfield’

Church of the Advent, Los Angeles (conducted online)

Information/Registration

Led by the Rev. Vanessa Mackenzie and the Rev. Kelvin Sauls, these Zoom sessions explore Lenten themes through the songs of Curtis Mayfield (1942–1999), “American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer, and one of the most influential musicians behind soul and politically conscious African-American music” (Wikipedia). The series concludes March 26 with “People Become Ready.” 

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 7 - 8 p.m.

Tenebrae: A Service of Darkness

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church

1432 Engracia Avenue, Torrance 90501

Information: 310.540.1722

The mutual ministry of St. Andrew's and Christ Church, Redondo Beach, invite all to this yearly Holy Week Tenebrae service. Follow the Passion of Christ in darkness and candlelight, music and scripture. This service is led by the choir of the Mutual Ministry, and joined by strings, oboe, and organ under the direction of music director, Kevin Wood. Online service is also available here.

THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 12 p.m.

Maundy Thursday Foot Washing Service

Christ Episcopal Church

408 S. Broadway, Redondo Beach 90277

Information here

THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 6 p.m.

Deanery 6 Maundy Thursday Service

St. Mark's Episcopal Church

330 E. 16th Street, Upland

Agape meal, foot washing and stripping of the altar. An overnight prayer vigil, in-church and virtual, will begin at 8 p.m. This service is part of the Deanery 6 Collaborative Worship Services for Lent, hosted by various congregations in the area.

THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 7:30 p.m.

Missa Mystica on Maundy Thursday

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 sing Missa Brevis by G.P. Palestrina; "Peace is my last gift" by Craig Phillips (All Saints' music director); "Ubi caritas" by Maurice Duruflé; "Adoro te devote," arr. Ian Schipper. 

FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 12:10 p.m.

Good Friday Service

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 sing The Passion According to St. John by Canon Craig Phillips (All Saints' music director) and Reproaches by Tomás Luis de Victoria. 

FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 7 p.m.

Deanery 6 Solemn Good Friday Liturgy and Veneration of the Cross

St. Paul's Episcopal Church

242 E. Alvarado Street, Pomona

This service is part of the Deanery 6 Collaborative Worship Services for Lent, hosted by various congregations in the area.

FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 7 p.m.

Good Friday Liturgy and Veneration of the Cross

Christ Episcopal Church

408 S. Broadway, Redondo Beach 90277

Information here

SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 7 p.m.

Deanery 6 Easter Vigil

St. Ambrose's Episcopal Church

830 W. Bonita Avenue, Claremont

Lighting of the Paschal fire, renewal of baptismal vows, and the first Easter celebration of the Holy Eucharist. This service is part of the Deanery 6 Collaborative Worship Services for Lent, hosted by various congregations in the area.

SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 7 p.m.

The Great Vigil of Easter

Christ Episcopal Church

408 S. Broadway, Redondo Beach 90277

Information here

SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 8 p.m.

Great Vigil of Easter

All Saints Episcopal Church

504 North Camden Drive, Beverly Hills 90210

Information here or 310.275.0123 or info@allsaintsbh.org

All Saints’ Choir and Brass Quintet perform "The Lord is risen indeed" by Craig Phillips (All Saints' music director) and "Now is the hour of darkness past" by Daniel Pinkham.

TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 7 p.m.

John Holiday, countertenor & Kevin Miller, piano

St. Mark's in-the-Valley Episcopal Church

2901 Nojoqui Avenue, Los Olivos

Tickets and information

John Holiday captured the hearts of America as a top-five finalist on The Voice competition in 2022. He has performed at world-renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, and the Philharmonie de Paris. Kevin Miller is acclaimed for his dynamically artful piano performances. He has held music staff positions at major opera houses across the country. Advance purchase tickets are recommended. Student tickets are free.

SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 10 a.m.

Easter Week Eucharist and Wildflower Walk

Desert Journeys Joshua Tree

67321 Sullivan Road, Twentynine Palms 92277

Eucharist and BBQ at Desert Journeys Guest House, plus a short wildflower walk in the desert if you wish. The event will be led by the Rev. Canon David Caffrey, founder and host.

SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 6 p.m.

Classical Sundays at Six: International Laureates Organ Series

St. James in-the-City Episcopal Church

3903 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90010

Information here

Adam Brakel has been hailed as “an absolute organ prodigy” by National Public Radio and “one of the most talented organists in the world” by the Chicago Tribune. Read more about this artist here.

SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 4:15 p.m.

Joby Talbot’s Path of Miracles

St. James in-the-City Episcopal Church

3903 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90010

Information

Members of the Choir of Saint James & guests, conducted by Maura Tuffy. Path of Miracles is an extended choral composition by Joby Talbot, written in 2005 following a commission from the vocal chamber group Tenebrae. Under the direction of Nigel Short, Tenebrae’s first performance was scheduled for 7 July 2005 in London, but was delayed because of the bombings that took place in the city that day. The City of London Festival quickly rescheduled the event, and the world premiere took place on 17 July 2005 at St. Bartholomew-the-Great Church in London. Read more about the artists here.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 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.

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

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.

LOS ANGELES: Episcopal Hospital Chaplain, PIH Health Good Samaritan Hospital, 1225 Wilshire Boulevard. Full time, salaried. Reporting to one of our department supervisors or managers, this position provides spiritual support to patients, their loved ones, and staff in our hospitals. This chaplain serves people of all belief systems (religious and non-religious), and provides or arranges special rites and rituals as requested by patients and/or surrogates. Full job description and information here.

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