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March 3, 2024

The pilgrimage group arrives at historic Goree Island, Senegal, an infamous transit point for the trade in enslaved persons. From left: Naomi Welikala, Martha Watson (partially hidden), Troy Elder, the Rev. Jean Chavanne, Lou Duncan, Bruck Rankin, Kim Ericson, Margaret McCauley, and David Telleen-Lawton.

Pilgrims from LA visit West African diocese for 'mission, outreach, and solidarity'

Nine travelers from the Diocese of Los Angeles and the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe’s American Cathedral in Paris recently returned from "Forced Migration in History,” an 11-day pilgrimage of study, travel, prayer and encounter in the West African Anglican Diocese of Guinea and Guinea-Bissau.

The travelers, representing St. John’s Cathedral, Los Angeles; St. George’s, Hawthorne; St. Stephen’s, Hollywood; St. George’s, Riverside; All Saints by-the-Sea, Santa Barbara; St. Mark’s, Van Nuys; IRIS (Interfaith Refugee & Immigration Service) and the diocese’s Program Group on Global Partnership, were led by Troy Elder, IRIS’s executive director. 

The purpose of the tour was to “pray, learn, interact with our African Anglican siblings, and discern future, sustained collaborations around themes of restoration, repentance for structural sin, and growth,” according to the tour announcement. 

The group “came together for this important work at the confluence of mission, outreach, and solidarity in Senegal and in Guinea, one of the poorest countries worldwide,” Elder wrote on Facebook. “A propitious, reflective beginning to Lent, and a new chapter in our revived, seven-years-and-counting relationship with our Anglican partners in West Africa.”

As part of their extensive pre-pilgrimage preparation, the group studied Camara Laye's The Dark Child, a classic West African memoir of migration, education, love, and loss.

Stops on the pilgrimage included All Saints School, Conakry, a kindergarten-through-high-school facility of special interest to several educators in the group; a house church in in Dakar, Senegal; and All Saints Cathedral, Conakry Guinée, where they were welcomed by the Rt. Rev. Jacques Boston, archbishop of Guinea and Guinea-Bissau.

— Reporting by Troy Elder

At left: The pilgrimage group travels in a pirogue – the means of maritime transport to coastal islands in Guinea. At right: Deacon Margaret McCauley greets parishioners at All Saints Cathedral, Conakry, after being recognized by Archbishop Jacques Boston (center) of Guinea and Guinea-Bissau.

IRIS invites diocesan community to 'Under My Roof,' an 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 two workshops, on March 8th and 15th at 10 a.m., for information on how to help lighten the path for those seeking refuge, guided by the spirit of Lenten renewal.

These workshops 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.

Seeds of Hope fundraiser nears goal to replace stolen forklift

Seeds of Hope, the Diocese of Los Angeles' food justice ministry, reports that it has raised nearly enough to replace a stolen forklift that is vital to their work of distributing produce to food-deprived communities.

"A huge thank you to our friends and supporters who keep us going even when the going is tough," the agency posted on Facebook Feb. 23. "We only need $430 to meet our $2,500 goal. We've been able to find a used forklift for sale while we wait for the insurance to process our claim and the money from our fundraiser can cover the deductible."

The forklift was stolen the night of Feb. 11, according to a Feb. 13 Facebook post. Staff members discovering the loss also found a broken lock and bent steel gate at their rented distribution center in Hollywood.

"This is a key piece of equipment for us as we load and unload heavy pallets in the process of distributing over 60,000 pounds of free, fresh, healthy produce each week," the staff wrote. "But we are not going to let this loss disrupt our efforts!"

Seeds of Hope is still accepting donations to help replace the forklift. To contribute, click here. 

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.

Lay down your anger; take up your cross

By Samuel H. Pillsbury

He called the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. — Mark 8:34-35

Jesus says that to follow him you must give up a part of your life. You must lay down something valued to pick up your cross. 

I think of these words when speaking with a man in jail or prison whose anger, bursting into violence, has ravaged his life and the lives of others. I pray that he might lay down his rage to take up the cross of peace.

I also think of the place in which I stand, and the anger at offenders enshrined in the walls, locks and chains and in the long sentences served. I think of an incarceration system that often exceeds the needs of safety to satisfy public anger.

What would it take for America to give up its consuming rage at selected wrongdoers? What would it take for us to lay down our need for their incarceration? 

Moving forward: Does your anger ever stand between you and the way of Jesus?

The Rev. Samuel H. Pillbury, deacon, is a chaplain in the Twin Towers jail in downtown Los Angeles. This article appears on The Episcopal News website here.

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

Visiting Iglesia de La Magdalena, Glendale

February 26, 2024

Bishop’s warden Erick Rivera, Jr. has spent all of his 42 years at Iglesia Episcopal de La Magdalena in Glendale. His Guatemala-born father is discerning a call to leadership in the church. After services yesterday, when I preached and presided, both Ericks, former Standing Committee president Ivan Guitierrez, other members of the bishop’s committee, the leaders of La Sociedad de Damas, and I had a bracing 90-minute conversation about the future of this lively, sturdy mission, which brims with the kind of love and spirit that sends me out into the world giving thanks for the power of the living Christ.

Read more here.

A visit from Bishop Lennon Chang of Taiwan

February 24, 2024

With apologies to Karl Barth, Anglicans and Episcopalians go out into the world with the gospel in one hand and a history book (or a phone for checking Wikipedia) in the other. For the Church of England, it was, of course, the British Reformation; for The Episcopal Church, the American Revolution. For the Diocese of Taiwan, TEC’s easternmost diocese, the formative event was the Chinese communist revolution of 1949. 

Read more here.

Requiescant in pace

The Reverend Karen Sue Chavez

May 22, 1948 – February 23, 2024

A celebration of life will be held for the Rev. Karen Sue Chavez, deacon, at 10:30 a.m. on March 16 at St. John Chrysostom Church, Rancho Santa Margarita.

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. St. John's Church is located at 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. An obituary will be posted soon on the Episcopal News website.

All Saints, Pasadena, to hold memorial for Marty Coleman

A memorial service for Marty Coleman, longtime peace and justice activist, will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 23 at All Saints Church, 132 N. Euclid Avenue, Pasadena. The Rev. Mike Kinman, rector, will preside. A reception in All Saints’ learning center will follow the service.

Coleman, whose ministries in peace and justice spanned four decades at All Saints and beyond, died Jan. 29 at age 92. An obituary is here.

Memorial service for Tom Foster set at All Saints’, Beverly Hills

A memorial service in celebration and thanksgiving for the life of Canon Thomas Foster will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 16 at All Saints’ Church, where he was director of music from 1976 to 2003. 

A reception will follow the service. All Saints’ Church is located at 504 N. Camden Drive, Beverly Hills 90210. Memorial donations to the All Saints’ Music Guild, which Foster founded during his tenure, will be gratefully received. 

Foster died Jan. 27 in Plano, Texas, where he and his wife, Carol Foster, lived in retirement. An obituary is here. 

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 3 p.m. ET 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.

ECW will convene Wisdom Circle March 7 to plan for future ministries

Episcopal Church Women-Los Angeles President Christine Budzowski will convene an online Wisdom Circle for members to consider how ECW can best support and encourage ministries throughout the Diocese of Los Angeles. The meeting will be held via Zoom on Thursday, March 7, 7 - 8:30 p.m.

ECW-LA asks that each deanery appoint a representative. In addition, each congregation is encouraged to send a representative to the online meeting, whether or not it has an active ECW chapter. All women members of congregations in the diocese are automatically members of ECW.

ECW is an umbrella organization supporting United Thank Offering (UTO), Daughters of the King (DOK), Girls Friendly Society (GFS), Church Periodical Club (CPC), and other diocesan organizations. It also offers grants for specific purposes as determined by the group. 

"If you have an interest in any of these organizations, please plan to attend," said Budzowski as she announced the event.

The Wisdom Circle will use the “Leading With Heart” program developed by Province VIII ECW and presented recently at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women and The Parliament of World Religions. More information about Leading With Heart is available here.

Register here to receive the Zoom link. Questions may be directed to Budzowski at christine@trinitywebconsulting.com or by text message to 310.948.0056.

St. Luke's, Monrovia, invites women singers to join March Evensong choir 

St. Luke's Church, Monrovia, invites women singers from churches throughout the Diocese of Los Angeles to participate in its annual Women's Evensong Invitational. The Evensong will be held at 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 17 at St. Luke's, located at 122 California Avenue, Monrovia 91016. Choir call is 2:30 p.m. The service, which lasts less than an hour, will be followed by a wine and cheese reception. 

Rehearsals for the choir will also be held at 12:30 p.m. on the two preceding Sundays, March 3 and March 10. Singers are expected to learn the music in advance. Full information from Kent B. Jones, St. Luke's music director, is here, or contact Jones at StLukesDirector@aol.com.

Artist-educator Katie Wolf to lead Lenten retreat on 'Crossing Thresholds'

Immaculate Heart Community, headquartered at St. Paul's Commons, invites the diocesan community to its Spring Lent Retreat 2024: "Crossing Thresholds: Spring from Lent to Easter" with artist and educator Katie Wolf, MFA, BFA, as its leader March 8 - 10.

The retreat will be held in person at St. Paul's Commons, 840 Echo Park Avenue, Los Angeles 90026, and will also be offered on Zoom. The schedule is as follows:

Friday, March 8, 5 - 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 9, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. 

Sunday, March 10, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Note: Daylight Saving Time begins on March 10.

Wolf and members of the Immaculate Heart Community will help participants:

• Ponder insights from the threshold that Jesus crossed, from what we celebrate in the journey of Lent to resurrection at Easter which inspires us and gives us hope
• Explore in the context of “thresholds” what it means to move from one experience to another, to cross into new ways of being, what it means to end one thing and begin another, and ultimately what it means in the possibility that each new threshold offers
• Experience a variety of ways to explore thresholds with scripture, nature, poetry, music and journaling. Wolf will lead several simple creative activities. No previous art experience is required. 

In addition to her extensive art practice in a variety of media, Wolf has taught art at St. Ignatius College Prep in San Francisco for 40 years. A biography is on her website.

Suggested donations from $50 to $100 are appreciated. Limited accommodations are available at additional cost at the St. Paul's Commons retreat center; for reservations, call 213.482.2040. For information or to register for the retreat, contact Christine Monroe, IHC vice president, at 530.409.6697 or cmonroe@ihworks.org. 

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 Thursday, Feb. 22 at 11 a.m. Sessions will continue each Thursday in Lent: Feb. 29 and March 7, 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. 

Spanish-language theological education sessions continue in Pasadena

Escuela para Ministerios en Español, a ministry of All Saints Church, Pasadena, has begun its Spring theological education sessions, which will continue on Saturdays, March 2 and 16, 5 – 7 p.m., via Zoom. 

The full program, taught entirely in Spanish, consists of six modules of formation that will be conducted throughout the liturgical year – and students can join at any time during any module. The Spring module is Spirituality and Prayer.

This program is offered for anyone interested in learning and engaging in an immersive Spanish Theological experience. Subjects offered in the six modules are: Theology and Spirituality, Theological Reflection, Sacred Scriptures: Hebrew Bible and New Testament, Church History and Anglican-Episcopal Tradition, Sacraments and Liturgy, and Mission: Our Baptismal Covenant. 

The class objective is to “awaken in students the interest to discover in daily life some of the important themes of contemporary Christian spirituality and the variety of approaches to prayer … [and] become familiar with the basic elements of contemporary Christian spirituality and how these themes find their expression in one's spirituality.” 

To join the class, register here. For more information, contact Alfredo Feregrino at 626.583.2713 or aferegrino@allsaints-pas.org, or email Ana Camacho at acamacho@allsaints-pas.org.

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

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

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

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

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

"Into the Wilderness: On the Virtues of Lostness"

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

"Beyond Belief: Living a Storied Christianity"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

SAVE THE DATE

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

[Commission on Ministry] How is God calling you?

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

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

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

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

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

The cost for the DIG is $25 per person and includes lunch. Registration is required; sign up here. For more information contact COM member Cameron Johnson at cjohnson@stcross.org or 310.415.0288. St. Paul's Commons is located at 840 Echo Park Avenue, Los Angeles.

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

Lenten series will connect spirituality to nature

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

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

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

Episcopal priest returns to ‘Jeopardy!’ to compete in Tournament of Champions

By David Paulsen

[Episcopal News Service – Feb. 28, 2024] The Rev. David Sibley’s four-day run on “Jeopardy!” in October 2022 has earned him a spot in the show’s Tournament of Champions, and Sibley, an Episcopal priest in the Diocese of Spokane, wasted no time proving he belonged there.

In the Feb. 27 episode of the popular quiz show, Sibley took a sizable, though not runaway, lead into the Final Jeopardy! round and answered the final clue correctly to maintain a razor-thin edge and advance to the tournament’s semifinals. He is now one win away from the finals in March.

Sibley, rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Walla Walla, Washington, took to Facebook on Feb. 28 to thank all his fans for their support, calling himself “incredibly fortunate, and incredibly blessed.”

Read more here.

Historically Black college with Episcopal roots loses appeal, faces loss of accreditation

By David Paulsen

[Episcopal News Service – Feb. 27, 2024] Saint Augustine’s University in Raleigh, North Carolina, has lost its appeal seeking to maintain accreditation, a decision that adds to concerns about the viability of the historically Black college, one of two such schools with Episcopal roots that receive financial support from the church.

Its accrediting agency, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, or SACSCOC, first ruled in December that Saint Augustine’s had failed to meet six of the agency’s requirements and standards, including those relating to the university’s governing board, its financial resources and financial documents. The agency said it planned to remove the university as an accredited member institution, but it gave Saint Augustine’s time to pursue an appeal.

On Feb. 27, the SACSCOC announced that it had denied that appeal. University officials have vowed to fight that decision in court. In a written statement reacting to the appeal denial, they said they would pursue an injunction allowing the university to remain an accredited institution while it pursues legal remedies.

Read more here.

Church of England’s divisions over same-sex marriage sink unity measure at General Synod

By David Paulsen

[Episcopal News Service – Feb. 27, 2024] The Church of England closed its most recent meeting of General Synod still deeply divided over attempts at greater LGBTQ+ inclusion, with both sides unhappy with the pace of progress and unable to agree on proposed language for framing their future discussions.

LGBTQ+ Anglicans and their allies argued that the church should offer its newly approved blessings for same-sex couples as part of stand-alone services, while Anglicans who are opposed to same-sex marriage warned that they could not accept changes seen as altering the church’s traditional theological teachings on marriage.

The Feb. 23-27 meeting of General Synod, the Church of England’s primary governing body, had considered a proposal seeking a unified path forward based on 10 shared “commitments.” That resolution, however, failed even to make it to a vote, with synod members instead deciding through a procedural motion on the meeting’s final day to simply move on to other business.

Read more here.

Presiding bishop announces Title IV transparency webpage detailing cases against bishops

[Episcopal News Service – Feb. 22, 2024] The Episcopal Church, on Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s direction, updated its website to launch a series of informational resources Feb. 22 intended to increase the transparency of pending disciplinary cases involving bishops while also making it easier for the public to file complaints and navigate the church’s inquiry process.

The new webpage on episcopalchurch.org includes chronologies for six active cases involving bishops under the church’s Title IV disciplinary canons — including two newly revealed cases against retired Florida Bishop John Howard. The webpage also shares statistical information on all complaints against bishops received in the past six months, data that will be updated at least once a year. And a blue “report misconduct” button was added to the top-right corner of all pages on the church’s website linking to the new Title IV page.

Read more here.

Virginia Theological Seminary announces full scholarship packages for all full-time residential students

[The Episcopal Church – Feb. 22, 2024] Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS) will offer full scholarship packages to all admitted, full-time residential students beginning in the 2024/25 academic year. The scholarships cover tuition, on-campus housing, and meal plans for full-time, residential students studying VTS’ Master in Divinity, Master of Arts, Diploma in Anglican Studies, Diploma in Theology, and Pathway to Ministry programs.

The new approach replaces the current system under which scholarships were only available to students who had a household income below $150,000, and assets, excluding their personal home and pension, of less than eight times the value of their housing, which for a single student is around $250,000.

Read more here.

For more churchwide stories, visit Episcopal News Service 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.

FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 6 p.m.

South Bay Stations of the Cross

St. Francis of Assisi Church

2200 Via Rosa, Palos Verdes Estates 90274

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 1, 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 2, 10 a.m.

Lenten Quiet Day

Desert Journeys Joshua Tree

67321 Sullivan Road, Twentynine Palms 92277

Information/Reservations: 760.362.4670 or 951.314.2301

The program will include short Daily Offices, community silence, and BYO lunch at Desert Journeys Guest House, led by the Rev. Canon David Caffrey, founder and host.

SUNDAY, MARCH 3, 5 p.m.

Choral Evensong

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 "Hear my prayer, O Lord" by Henry Purcell; Preces & Responses by William Smith; Magnificat & Nunc dimittis by David Conte; and "Let this mind be in you" by Lee Hoiby. A reception will follow the service.

SUNDAY, MARCH 3, 5 - 7:30 p.m.

Interfaith Study Group – Loss and Grief:

Compassionate Engagement in Difficult Times

Islamic Center of Southern California

434 S. Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles 90020

Information: Amanda McCormick, amccormick@allsaints-pas.org

Join us as our interfaith family comes together to compassionately listen and support each other as we explore the grief that has built in us since Oct. 7. Presented by: Chaplains Khurram Ahmed, Jonathan Stoner, and Rabbi Heather Miller. Please bring an open heart and mind willing to listen and learn, and a vegetarian dish to share in our potluck. The Interfaith Study Group is sponsored by All Saints Church, Pasadena; Islamic Center of Southern California; and Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center. 

SUNDAY, MARCH 3, 6 p.m.

Classical Sundays at Six: Emerging Artists Series

St. James in-the-City Episcopal Church

3903 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90010

Information here

The Colburn Sinfonietta, Maxim Eshkenazy, conductor, perform Symphony No. 3, “Eroica” by Ludwig Van Beethoven. The Colburn Sinfonietta is an ensemble for advanced young musicians working alongside student and faculty soloists conducted by Maxim Eshkenazy, who also leads the Colburn Youth Orchestra and the Colburn Chamber Orchestra. The orchestra regularly appears on Great Music at Saint James’ Sundays at Six. Read more about the artists here.

TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 7 p.m.

Documentary Screening: The Philadelphia Eleven

St. Augustine by-the-Sea Episcopal Church

1227 4th Street, Santa Monica

The 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 in St. Augustine's sanctuary, with time for reflection and conversation afterwards. All are welcome. There is no fee to attend, and no registration is required.  

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 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 6 session is titled “Keep On Keepin’ On.” The series will continue with “Movin’ On Up" (March 13), “We’ve Got To Have Peace" (March 20) and "People Become Ready"(March 27).

THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 7 - 8 p.m.

Taizé Service

Thursday, March 7, 7 - 8 p.m.

St. Mary's Episcopal Church

428 Park Avenue, Laguna Beach 92651 

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

FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 6 p.m.

South Bay Stations of the Cross

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church

1432 Engracia Avenue, Torrance 90501

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 8, 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).

FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 8 p.m.

Chamber Orchestra and Hye-Jin Kim, violinist 

St. Matthew's Episcopal Church

1031 Bienveneda Avenue, Pacific Palisades

Tickets and information here or 310.573.7422

Hye-Jin Kim will be heard in the lyrical Violin Concerto by Gian-Carlo Menotti. The world premiere of “Tamit and Moar," by New York composer and saxophonist Ethan Helm will feature the composer on soprano saxophone. “Tamit and Moar" honors two central deities, “Grandfather Sun” and “Grandmother Moon,” of the creation myths of the Tongva indigenous peoples of Southern California. Music of Florence Price fill out the program. Dwayne S. Milburn conducts. Tickets are $45 or Music Guild Season pass. A free pre-concert lecture offered by Music Guild president Tom Neenan begins at 7:10 p.m. prior to each concert.

SATURDAY MARCH 9, 10 a.m.

Panel Discussion: Palestine and Israel

Holy Faith Episcopal Church

260 N. Locust Street, Inglewood 90301

Reservations

Information: 310.674.7700

A panel discussion on the roots of the current conflict, the experiences of Christians and Muslims in Gaza, and how people of faith can respond. With guests Laila al Marayati, MD, USC OB/GYN and founder of KINDER USA, a medical charity serving children in Gaza and Lebanon; Estee Chandler, founder of Jewish Voice for Peace's L.A. chapter, actress and co-host of KPFK's Middle East in Focus; and Randy Heyn-Lamb, RN, part of the Sabeel Palestinian Liberation Theology movement and the Episcopal Palestine/Israel Network. Light refreshments will be served.

SUNDAY, MARCH 10, 4:15 p.m.

Solemn Evensong

St. James in-the-City Episcopal Church

3903 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90010

Information here

The Choir of Saint James performs Responses by Scott Perkins (world premiere); Merton Canticles by Ēriks Ešenvalds; "Like as the hart" by Herbert Howells; and "Salve Regina" by Cristóbal de Morales.

TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 7 – 8 p.m.

A Lenten 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 this Zoom link, or by logging onto Zoom with meeting ID 864 4405 5548; password is 525.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 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 13 session is titled “Movin’ On Up.” The series will continue with “We’ve Got To Have Peace” (March 20) and “People Become Ready” (March 27). 

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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 4:15 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, 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 Craig Phillips (All Saints' music director) and Reproaches by Tomás Luis de Victoria. 

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.

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 here

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