Anglicans, Episcopalians respond to U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran
[Episcopal News Service] Anglican and Episcopal leaders communion-wide, including the Most Rev. Sean Rowe, presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church, and Archbishop Hosam Naoum, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and primate of the Anglican Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East, have released statements calling for prayers in response to the United States and Israel on Feb. 28 launching a series of joint attacks on Iran, which led to the death of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Following the attacks, sirens blared across the Holy Land “warning of incoming missiles from Iran,” according to Naoum, whose province includes the Diocese of Iran.
“Suddenly, our people from the Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf find themselves once again huddled in shelters, fearing for their lives as the shadow of a total regional war looms over us,” Naoum said in a Feb. 28 letter. “I call upon the global church to join us in urgent, unceasing prayer. We implore God to protect the innocent – the mothers, the children and the elderly – who are caught in the crossfire of ‘Operation Epic Fury’ and the subsequent ‘crushing responses.’”
In a Feb. 28 letter to The Episcopal Church, Rowe asked Episcopalians to pray for members of the Diocese of Iran, which has four churches, and for all Iranians.
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Bishop Taylor calls for prayer at outset of warfare; L.A. is home to largest Iranian population outside Tehran
After U.S-Israel attacks on Iran began Feb. 28, Bishop John Harvey Taylor called for prayer, noting in a Facebook post (full text below) that "[t]hose of us who believe in the saving power of the risen Christ will have a lot of work to do" following "the worst abuse of presidential power in United States history." Los Angeles is home to more than 500,000 residents of Iranian descent, the largest population outside Tehran.
My friends in Christ:
The best we can do this morning is pray and pray hard, especially for those most at risk from this violence -- U.S. volunteers as well as innocents in Iran and Israel and people in and around U.S. installations in the region.
About the event itself, we know all we need to know from the news. Our government has undertaken an aggressive war without congressional warrant or an imminent threat. The U.S. and Israel are attacking Iran and attempting regime change not because they have to but because they want to.
First of all, this is a crisis for those in the line of fire.
It is also a constitutional crisis -- the worst abuse of presidential power in United States history. Only President Roosevelt's words about the attack on Pearl Harbor suffice. It is a day that will live in infamy.
Today is the first day of a new epoch for our country. Because of our government’s lawlessness, liberty and justice for all are on the line as never before. Those of us who believe in the saving power of the risen Christ will have a lot of work to do.
For today, all we can do is pray. Pray as hard as we ever have.
Pray for the innocent. Pray for our country, Lincoln's vision of the last best hope of earth.
Yours in Christ's love,
John
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Forum on constitutional crisis set for March 11; livestream link posted as event reaches capacity
A coalition of Los Angeles-area religious and other non-profit organizations is sponsoring "A Multi-Faith Response to Our Current Constitutional Crisis," a forum and panel discussion set for 10 a.m., March 11 near downtown Los Angeles (location withheld). Because in-person registrations have reached capacity at 150 attendees, a livestream is provided via this link. Panelists will include Bishop John Harvey Taylor of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. Keynote speaker is L.A. civil rights attorney Connie Rice; moderator will be Salam Al-Marayati, president of the Muslim Public Affairs Council. Sharing in arrangements is The Guibord Center: Religion Inside Out. Inquiries may be emailed to media@ladiocese.org.
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Teen Tech Center opens in El Monte thanks to Best Buy Foundation
by Bob Williams
Hard-working high-schoolers are printing 3D models, recording their own podcasts, mixing music and more at the new Best Buy Teen Tech Center created by the electronics retailer’s charitable foundation at the Dorris Dann Kids Campus in El Monte.
Cris Abrego, chairman of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, joined El Monte Mayor Jessica Arcona and Assemblymember Mike Fong were among dignitaries present for the Feb. 28 grand opening of the state-of-the-art learning lab, now the hub of longstanding STEAM education provided at the Kids Campus afterschool and on Saturdays.
Representatives of state Sen. Susan Rubio and L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis also were welcomed to the podium by Marguerite Ponce, program director of the Kids Campus, a branch of the non-sectarian Our Saviour Center established by San Gabriel area Episcopalians in 1985.
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Climate Change Commission seeks liaisons in congregations, begins strategic planning
by Rodell Jefferson III
Adding liaisons in all congregations to help “co-create and nurture a climate-conscious and creation-attuned diocese” is a key goal affirmed by the Bishop’s Commission on Climate Change (BCCC) during its Feb. 28 retreat meeting at St. Paul’s Commons in Echo Park.
The in-person meeting brought together 12 participants from across the Diocese of Los Angeles, including scholars, scientists, and other professionals, all committed to widening the commission’s work through a network of liaisons in each of the diocese’s 132 congregations. Parishes and missions that do not yet have liaisons may email names, contact information, and inquiries here.
The Rev. Payton Hoegh and the Rev. Daniel Tamm, co-chairs of the commission, said the retreat was designed to build relationships and clarify purpose as the group prepares for strategic planning in the weeks ahead, deepening the work of the commission’s subcommittees on advocacy, education, disaster resiliency, and convention resolutions.
"It feels like it's time to have an opportunity to pause, reflect, prayerfully, and discern our shared purpose, in terms of caring for God's earth and doing climate justice," Tamm said.
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Stillpoint names Jasmine Bellamy new executive director
Stillpoint — a contemplative community specializing in spiritual direction and enrichment — has named Jasmine Bellamy, an experienced faith leader and business executive, to serve as its executive director effective March 1.
Bellamy's appointment was announced by Krystle Hart on behalf of the board of trustees of Stillpoint, an institution of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles.
Bellamy "is a contemplative practitioner, spiritual director, and purpose-driven senior executive with more than 30 years of leadership experience across for-profit, nonprofit, faith-based, academic, and mission-driven contexts," Stillpoint noted in announcing her appointment.
"She is a graduate of Stillpoint’s BIPOC Spiritual Journey Program and received her Certificate in Spiritual Direction through Liberated Together. Bellamy is the founder and spiritual director of Love 101 Ministries and the founder of The LOVING Leader, integrated formation initiatives devoted to the theology and practice of Love as a lived discipline. Through retreats, leadership cohorts, and communities of practice, she guides diverse leaders and seekers in integrating contemplative depth, spiritual reflection, and courageous action.
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The Rev. Jeff Wilhelm, former rector in Ojai, Beaumont, dies at 79 in auto accident
The Rev. Joseph “Jeff” Franklin Wilhelm – a former rector of St. Andrew’s, Ojai, and previously St. Stephen's, Beaumont -- died Feb. 25 in a fatal automobile accident. He was 79 and a resident of South Haven, Michigan.
Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Barbara, who is recovering from injuries sustained in the accident; daughters Katie (Andre Van Schalkwyk) Wilhelm and Nell (Peter) Walker; and his cherished grandchildren Lila Walker, Maggie Walker, Max Walker, Sam Wilhelm-Van Schalkwyk, and Tillie Wilhelm-Van Schalkwyk. He is also survived by his sister, Pamela Stewart; niece Molly (James) Murray; and nephew Nick (Sarah) Stewart.
A memorial service is set for March 7 at 3 p.m. at the Episcopal Church of The Epiphany, 410 Erie St. South Haven, Michigan 49090. The Rev. John Wakefield will officiate.
Before being ordained in the Diocese of Los Angeles in 2005, Wilhelm was a television and screen writer with credits including M*A*S*H, The Bob Newhart Show, Hunter, and Eight Is Enough. Previously he was vice president at Grey Advertising in Los Angeles.
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Applications open for 2026 CLUE summer Young Religious Leaders Fellowship
Young adults passionate about economic justice and faith -rooted organizing against low wages, racism and unjust immigration policies are invited to apply for the Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE) Young Religious Leaders Fellowship. The 2026 Fellowship cohort will work alongside experienced organizers and faith leaders in the fight for a sacred and just society, with the program running from June 15 - Aug. 23.
Learn more and apply here
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New resource for Anglican-Roman Catholic reconciliation offered for study groups, shared liturgies
Eight years in formation, a new joint resource from The Episcopal Church and the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S. addresses how deeper union between the churches can be realized through shared work in interreligious, racial, and ecological reconciliation.
More information here. Find the resource here
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Episcopal Church LGBTQ+ task force encourages survey participation
All are invited to complete a 15- to 20-minute survey offered by the Task Force on LGBTQ+ Inclusion to help the church better understand how it honors the dignity of all people and where work remains to be done. Survey must be completed by March 15
“Since 1976, when General Convention affirmed that 'homosexual persons are children of God who have a full and equal claim with all other persons upon the love, acceptance, and pastoral concern and care of the Church,' the Episcopal Church has expanded full access to ordination, marriage, and leadership for LGBTQ+ members,” said the Rev. Canon Susan Russell, chair of the Episcopal Church’s Task Force on LGBTQ Inclusion. “However, the reception of these commitments varies widely. And so as the chair of the Episcopal Church’s Task Force on LGBTQ Inclusion, I want to personally invite, encourage and urge you to participate in a church wide survey about LGBTQ+ experience in the Episcopal Church.
“In 2022, the 80th General Convention established the Task Force on LGBTQ+ Inclusion to conduct a churchwide audit. This survey seeks to hear from all members, both LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+, about your experiences with pastoral care, sacramental access, representation in leadership, and institutional accountability. Your voice matters. Your experience matters. And your commitment to calling our Church to live fully into its commitment to full and equal claim for ALL God’s beloved matters. Please give us 15 minutes of your time to complete the survey and be part of the ongoing journey of becoming more fully the Beloved Community God would have us be. Thank you and God bless!”
A survey report will be shared with the 82nd General Convention in 2027. Learn more and complete the survey, offered in English, French, and Spanish, by March 15.
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Cancelled: Discernment Information Gathering set for March 14 will be rescheduled
The diocesan Commission on Ministry (COM) has cancelled the Discernment Information Gathering (DIG) that had been set for Saturday, March 14. More information will follow when available.
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L.A. summer young-adult trip to Taiwan set to build relationships linking companion dioceses
By EN Staff
Young adults ages 18-30 are invited to apply for a mission experience in the Episcopal Diocese of Taiwan, a companion diocese of the Diocese of Los Angeles. Set for June 25-July 8, the trip will be hosted by the Diocese of Taiwan, and co-led by the Rev. Hsin-fen "Fennie" Chang and Missy Morain, L.A. diocesan missioner for Christian formation, children and youth ministries. The experience will include visits to churches and church schools, and sharing in leadership of the Northern Region Children’s Camp, a summer day-camp for children. Participants also will visit night markets, museums, and multiple cities in both the northern and southern regions of the diocese. Application and more information are available here.
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Bloy House to offer Sacred Leadership Licensing courses in March, April
Starting March 16, Bloy House will offer a new four-week slate of courses, including:
Multiculturalism: In light of the present political and theological crisis in nationally, Bloy House will offer this course as a survey of both white Christian nationalism and theologies of liberation. The Very Rev. Paul Anthony Daniels will teach this course.
Lay Eucharistic Minister and Visitor: As canonically required, for Lay Eucharistic Ministers and Visitors, we will offer the "Episcopal Identity" and "Antiracism" courses. These courses will be taught by the Rev. Hershey Mallette-Stephens.
Governance: For vestries that are interested in strengthening their relationships and functionality through prayer and process, Bloy House is offering the second iteration of our Governance course. The Rev. Jeff Thornberg will teach this course.
Sign up today! Any questions can submitted via Bloy House's "Contact Us" form on the Bloy House website, bloyhouse.org.
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CLUE seeks donations to maintain bond fund for detained immigrants
Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE) has been operating a volunteer-run bond fund for six months, which has reportedly become the largest immigrant bond fund in the United States. Now, after bonding out more than 100 people who have been able to return to their families, the donation-fed fund is running dangerously low.
CLUE is calling on the network of faith leaders and community members to help continue this sacred work. 100% of donations go directly towards paying somebody’s bond. Donations, small or large, can make a life-changing impact on families.
Donate here
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All invited for online noontime Lenten series led by theologian-priest Maggi Dawn
St. John's Cathedral invites all to share in a weekly online noontime Lenten series that began Feb. 25 with the Rev. Dr. Maggi Dawn reflecting on her book, Giving It Up, which offers daily Bible readings from Ash Wednesday to Easter Day.
Dawn is canon theologian for the Diocese of Rhode Island, a former assistant dean at Yale Divinty School, and wife of the Very Rev. Andrew Tremlett, dean of St. Paul's Cathedral in London. She is also an indie rock musician and songwriter. (Tremlett and Dawn visited L.A.'s St. John's Cathedral, where they are pictured above with the Very Rev. Anne Sawyer, interim dean and priest-in-charge) on Feb. 6.
Each week Dawn will read a story, and participants will share thoughts and learnings, ponder a related question, and close in guided prayer or song. The biblical stories will be familiar, but how they relate to our lives will be fresh.
Dawn writes: "One of my favorite ways of going deeper in faith is to re-read the stories of scripture, imagining myself right inside the story. I want to get beyond the dry theory to something that connects to real life; and I believe that before we ever get to principles and lessons and calls to action, we need a deep and personal connection to God. It is my pleasure to join you this Lent for a weekly online meeting, looking further into how to deepen that connection with God. Lent is always associated with “wilderness” — but this is an invitation to a journey through Lent that does not feel like a dry, dusty punishment, but instead like a deep dive into a God who longs to feed our souls. I hope you will join me as we pray, read, and talk together."
Dawn’s book is available on Amazon electronically via Kindle or in print, though shipping may take 7-10 days. The zoom link will be available on the St. John’s website at: www.stjohnsla.org. The group will next meet on Wednesday, March 11 at noon for one hour.
| | The Bishop's Blog (additional entries are here) | | |
March 3, 2026
Once more I took my weakening ears into the breach, that oasis of glorious sound, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, to see Gustavo Dudamel conduct the LA Phil before he decamps to New York at the end of this season. As the Eagles sang, I’m losing all my highs and lows. Music tends to fall apart in my ear. With recordings, especially today’s compressed digital files, I hear the sound without always locating the tonality. Live music is a little better.
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Hearing the Echoes
March 2, 2026
Our youngest grandchild, Emmett, who is seven months old, lives in New York. He and his parents, Dan and Michelle, came to visit Kathy and me last week, and for the whole wonderful week.
You know how it is with houseguests. You get used to them. Even at night, the house sounds and feels different when someone is around beside us regulars. I awoke this morning thinking that Emmett and his family were still aboard. I quickly remembered and realized, with some sadness, that the house felt emptier. I reckoned the tug of feeling as Emmett’s echo — conveying the sadness of his family’s absence, joyful memories of their presence, and anticipation of reunions. We have also heard many of Frannie, Harriet, and Silas’s echoes over the years.
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Holy Trinity Saint Benedict Episcopal Church, Alhambra, and the Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers
March 2, 2026
My Sunday was full of church present and church future — visiting a thriving parish that goes against the grain of narratives of decline, then spending the afternoon with our denomination’s foremost imaginer of the church that the living spirit of our God in Christ is bringing into being.
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CLUE encourages all to buy tickets for March 23 awards dinner fundraiser
Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE) is hosting its annual awards dinner March 23, bringing together partners in labor, faith, and justice organizations to connect, celebrate, and recommit to all we can achieve when we work in sacred solidarity to build a more sacred and just society.
In the past year, CLUE has trained thousands of community members in nonviolence, resistance, and accompaniment, and helped hundreds to become court observers and rapid responders, and reunited more than 100 families separated by ICE detention. Costs of tickets and donations to the fundraiser will support CLUE's work.
Learn more and reserve a seat here.
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All invited to Kairos Palestine II Webinar March 17
The Episcopal Peace Fellowship's Palestine Justice Network invites all to join a 90-minute webinar Tuesday, March 17 at 4 p.m., exploring the recently released Kairos Palestine II Document and Study Guide. The webinar will include presentations by Palestinian Christian authors of the call for A Moment of Truth: Faith in a Time of Genocide, and co-hosted by the U.S.-Lutheran Palestine Israel Justice Network, and will provide an overview of this vital word from our Palestinian siblings in Christ, and offer creative and practical ways to bring that message to your congregation. The program is free, but to receive the link, participants must register their interest by email to dgrafton@hartfordinterational.edu.
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Claremont School of Theology to host talk with seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones
In partnership with Westwood United Methodist Church, Claremont School of Theology is eager to announce a lecture and conversation with renowned seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones. Dr. Jones, a parishioner of St. James' Episcopal Church in South Pasadena, will speak on the intersection of science, morality, and faith in our present moment. Register to attend in-person or online at https://cst.edu/lucy-jones/.
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'Doing Church Boldly' is focus for March 7 Palisades parish lecture by Francisco Garcia
The Rev. Dr. Francisco Garcia, a co-convener of the Sacred Resistance Task Force in the Diocese of Los Angeles, will give a talk titled "Being Bold and Doing Church Boldly: Cultivating a Pastoral-Prophetic as the People of God."
The Stern Lecture at the Parish of St. Matthew free with online registration in advance.
Register here
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Immaculate Heart Community to introduce new climate action program; all invited to March 14 webinar
Join the Immaculate Heart Community for the introduction of Bright Action, a new climate engagement program to helps individuals as well as congregations and communities to reduce carbon emissions through simple, meaningful steps rooted in our spiritual commitment to care for creation.
Register for the March 14 webinar, from 4 - 5:30 p.m., here.
Bright Action invites the community to embrace carbon‑reduction as a sacred expression of caring for creation. Through educational modules, personalized action plans, and simple tools for tracking progress, the program helps households reduce greenhouse gas emissions in ways that are both practical and spiritually meaningful. Participants can learn climate solutions, choose actions that fit their lives, join team challenges, and celebrate collective milestones — all while contributing to measurable reductions in our community’s carbon footprint.
For congregations and organizations, Bright Action offers engagement campaigns, participation dashboards, and tools to measure Scope 3 emissions, strengthening shared commitment to stewardship and environmental justice.
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St. Luke's, Monrovia, invites women singers to join March Evensong choir
St. Luke's Episcopal 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 15 at St. Luke's, 122 California Ave., Monrovia. Choir call is 2:30 p.m.
Rehearsals for the choir, for those who are able to attend, will also be held at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 22 and Sunday, March 8. 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.
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Diocese of San Diego will host churchwide Episcopal Communicators conference
The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego will host the churchwide Episcopal Communicators Conference April 14-17 in San Diego. All communicators active in Episcopal congregations, institutions, and dioceses are invited to attend.
"We know that ministry today can rise or fall on connection—how clearly we speak, how well we listen, and how faithfully we share the story of what God is already doing among us," organizers said. "The Episcopal Communicators Conference is not a luxury or a marketing exercise; it is formation for this moment. Clergy and staff who attend consistently return with sharper tools, renewed confidence, and a deeper sense of support for the work they carry. The cost of participation is real—but so is the return: clearer invitations, stronger engagement, and a congregation better equipped to be seen, heard, and understood in its community."
A key organizer on the conference host committee is Chris Tumilty, communications director of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, who previously served the Diocese of Los Angeles as communications specialist and youth ministry coordinator.
Register here.
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Episcopal Church Foundation offers congregational resources for faithful action
The Episcopal Chuirch Foundation, as part of its Vital Practices ministry, offers congregations two new Toolkits for ministry, “Congregational Solidarity and Resistance” and “Solidarity with our Trans and LGBTQ+ Siblings.”
The toolkits offer resources, prayers, study guides, advocacy tools, and practical suggestions for congregations to begin or deepen their work of solidarity with marginalized community members. The toolkits were developed in collaboration with TransEpiscopal, the Episcopal Migration Caucus, the Staff Office for Gender Justice at The Episcopal Church, Palestinian Anglicans & Clergy Allies, Sacred Resistance, and the AuSable Inclusion Center. They are designed to meet Episcopal communities where they are and equip them to widen their circle of belonging, bear witness to the dignity of every child of God, and take faithful action in the face of injustice.
The Congregational Solidarity and Resistance toolkit includes two pieces by the Rev. Dr. Francisco Garcia, one of the conveners of the Sacred Resistance Task Force in the Diocese of Los Angeles.
| | From the Wider Church & Media | |
Archbishop of Jerusalem and the Middle East shares pastoral letter in light of escalating conflict
[Anglican Communion News Service] The Most Rev. Hosam Naoum, Anglican archbishop in Jerusalem and primate of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East, on Feb. 28 shared the following pastoral letter about the escalating conflict in the Middle East. In it he notes, “Every single nation now engaged in this combat, and those bearing the brunt of the retaliatory strikes, resides within our ecclesiastical boundaries.”
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As some dioceses embrace life together after mergers, others decide against closer partnerships
[Episcopal News Service] Several diocesan mergers in recent years have contributed to discussions across the church over how best to structure The Episcopal Church’s local expression of the faith. At the same time, other dioceses have decided to move ahead separately after considering closer partnerships.
The two Episcopal dioceses in the state of Indiana, Indianapolis and Northern Indiana, had announced in January 2023 that they were launching a process to discern whether to reunify as one statewide diocese. Last fall, however, the two dioceses decided to halt those talks, and in November 2025, each diocesan convention passed resolutions saying they were not ready for reunification but would seek to “continue and expand this Season of Collaboration.”
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TUESDAYS, 10 – 10:30 a.m.
Episcopal Church Immigration Updates
Via Zoom
Join Episcopal Migration Ministries and the Office of Government Relations every Tuesday at 1 p.m. ET for 30-minute updates on U.S. immigration policy and how Episcopal congregations and communities are responding. Spanish interpretation is available. Register here.
TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS, 9:15 – 10:15 a.m.
Community Yoga Class
St. James Episcopal Church
1325 Monterey Road, South Pasadena
Community yoga is an inclusive and accessible gathering for people of all ages and skill levels. Please bring your own yoga mat and water bottle. Beginners are welcome. $15 per class, $120 for a 10-class pass. A collaboration between Caitlyn Ference-Saunders, RYT500 and St. James' Episcopal Church. We respect the history of yoga as a holistic South Asian practice. Our classes are offered with cultural respect and religious neutrality in mind. All are welcome.
TUESDAYS, 4:30 - 6 p.m.
Teen Tuesdays
St. Francis Episcopal
2200 Via Rosa, Palos Verdes Estates
The new St. Francis Youth Group meets Tuesdays from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the Parish Hall! This weekly gathering is a relaxed “study hall” style hangout where teens (ages 13–18) can come after school to do homework, enjoy pizza and snacks, play games, and share in a short devotional. It’s a space to unwind, connect with friends, and grow in faith together. The Youth Group is a joint ministry of St. Francis and Wayfarers Chapel, and all teens in the community are invited to join—so bring your friends! Come for the pizza. Stay for the friendship and faith.
For more information contact Shelley Reece, missioner of programming and youth, at shelley.reece@stfrancispalosverdes.org
WEDNESDAYS, 10 a.m.
Midweek Holy Eucharist
St. Francis Episcopal Church
2200 Via Rosa, Palos Verdes Estates
Join us for a peaceful midweek Holy Eucharist service, celebrated with hymns and prayers from Rite II in our Chapel. Each week we include the collect for the saint commemorated in the church calendar. It’s a wonderful opportunity to pause, reflect, and be renewed in the middle of your week. All are welcome!
WEDNESDAYS IN LENT
February 25, March 4, 11, 18, and 25, 5:30 p.m.
Disastrous Dinner Parties
St. Francis Episcopal
2200 Via Rosa, Palos Verdes Estates
More information: https://www.stfrancispalosverdes.org/
We’re pulling up a chair to some of the most unforgettable meals in the Gospels — the ones where Jesus said the quiet part out loud, challenged the seating chart, corrected the host, and completely rearranged the room. We’ll gather for food, conversation, and a closer look at the table moments where Jesus disrupted expectations and revealed the upside-down values of the Kingdom of God. Each week includes dinner, teaching, and thoughtful discussion. Come hungry — for good food and good questions.
All are welcome. Bring a friend. Childcare will be available at all the Lenten dinners.
WEDNESDAYS, 7 p.m.
Women's Lectionary Study
St. Francis Episcopal Church
2200 Via Rosa, Palos Verdes Estates
Join us every Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Library for Women’s Lectionary Study. We’re exploring scripture through “A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church – Year W” by Rev. Dr. Wilda Gafney, discovering fresh perspectives that center women’s voices and experiences in the Bible. You don’t need the book, and you don’t need to attend every week— just come as you are to listen, learn, and share in open, thought-provoking conversation. Everyone is welcome — men and women alike!
THURSDAYS, 7-7:30 a.m.
Churches for Middle East Peace weekly calls on Holy Land conflict
Via Zoom
Join weekly briefings on the Israel-Hamas war hosted by Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), of which The Episcopal Church is a founding member and active on the board. CMEP mobilizes Christians in the United States to advocate for equality, human rights, security, and justice for Israelis, Palestinians, and all people of the Middle East. Learn more and register.
THURSDAYS, 10-10:30 a.m.
Episcopal Public Policy Network/Office of Government Relations weekly calls
Via Zoom
Join these 30-minute conversations each Thursday with Office of Government Relations staff members, who share an overview of the political environment and legislative outlook, offer advocacy tips, and answer questions. Register here.
THURSDAYS, 7 p.m.
Episcopal Students of UCLA
St. Alban's Episcopal Church
580 Hilgard Ave., 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.
FIRST SATURDAYS, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Dress a Girl Around the World Sewing Ministry
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
242 E. Alvarado St., Pomona
All are invited to participate in St. Paul's sewing ministry, creating dresses for the Dress a Girl Around the World project. Experienced sewing is not required! Please email seniorwarden@stpaulspomona.org to attend.
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SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Experience Lent through 12 meditative practices
Prince of Peace Church
5700 Rudnick Ave., Woodland Hills
Daughters of the King and Episcopal Church Women invite all to experience Lent through 12 meditative practices. You may drop in or spend the morning sampling the stations, including: prayer in the Chapel, the Stations of the Cross, a labyrinth, Rosary making, worship through singing, a tour of the new Pantry, a visit with a priest, and healing prayer. Bring your children to enjoy the activities Alma has planned.
SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in Regas House
Youth Self-Care Day
All Saints Church, Pasadena
132 N. Euclid Avenue, Pasadena
All Saints Pasadena is offering a relaxed self-care day for youth, featuring free hair styling and cuts, manicures, and makeup from The Paul Mitchell School, and beauty, art and paint from Jazzy Jam for Empowerment, and quiet space with therapy dogs. There will be handmade quilts and pillowcases, YA books from The Book Truck, a pop-up store with products from EOS, Briogeo and more, cookies from Diddy Riese, snacks, beverages, and space to just be. "We’re creating a gentle space for youth to pause, breathe, and find a little joy," said Amanda Baughman, Director of Children, Youth & Families. All youth 10-18 years old are welcome to come just as they are. Preregister for services today! For questions and to pre-register for styling, haircuts & art, contact the Director of Children, Youth, and Families at abaughman@allsaints-pas.org.
SUNDAY, MARCH 8, 4 p.m.
Mozart's Requiem in D minor
St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church
3233 Pacific View Drive, Corona del Mar
St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Corona del Mar invites you to a special concert performance of Mozart’s Requiem, one of the most profound and beloved works in the choral repertoire. This performance will feature the St. Michael’s Choir and 40-piece orchestra, with soloists Paulina Ovadkova, Christina Alexopoulos, Vincent Loza, and Matthew Cook, under the direction of Lukas Hasler. The concert is free and open to the public, offered as part of our ongoing commitment to sacred music and community engagement.
MARCH 13, 7:3-0 p.m.
St. Martin’s Music Salon presents an evening of Chamber Music
St. Martin in-the-Fields Episcopal Church
7136 Winnetka Ave., Winnetka
Chamber and Organ Music with a variety of instruments and combinations!
Music by Beach, Bonis, Corelli, Elgar, Franck, and Prokofiev!
Featured musicians are Suzanna Giordano Gignac, Shahid Yasser Osuna, Nancy Roth, Lorenzo Sánchez, and Christian D Stendel. Freewill donation.
SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 9 a.m.
Miroslav Volf
All Saints by-the-Sea Episcopal Church
83 Eucalyptus Lane, Santa Barbara
Miroslav Volf, Henry B. Wright, Professor of Theology and director of the Yale Center for Faith and Culture at Yale University will be at All Saints on Saturday, March 14 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. This lecture will be on his book Free of Charge: giving and forgiving in an age stripped of grace. No need to have read his book in advance. The cost is $25.
SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 1 - 3 p.m.
Stations of the Cross Art Exhibition Opening
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 409 Topa Topa Dr. (Corner of Bristol Rd. & Ojai Ave.), Ojai
Fourteen local artists share their talents and interpretations of the Stations of the Cross. Refreshments served under the Pergola.
SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 4 p.m.
Women's Evensong Invitational
St. Luke's Episcopal Church
122 S. California Ave., Monrovia
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Monrovia will present its annual Women’s Evensong Invitational on Sunday, March 15, at 4 p.m. This is the third in our series of choral evensongs for the 2025-2026 season. The Rev. Neil Tadken will be officiant, and Kelly Lauer will be cantor. The singers are coming from churches all over Los Angeles County and beyond. All are welcome to attend.
Selections will include Paul M. French's Nunc Tempus Acceptabile and the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis by Denis Mason. The Phos Hilaron and the Monrovia Preces and Responses were written by Kent B. Jones, Director of Music and Organist at St. Luke’s.
FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 8 p.m.
St. Matthew’s Music Guild Return to St. Matthew’s Church Concert Featuring LA Phil Principals
St. Matthew’s Church
1031 Bienveneda Ave., Pacific Palisades
Allakhverdyan and Crockett Play Strauss: clarinetist Boris Allakhverdyan and bassoonist Whitney Crockett with the Chamber Orchestra at St. Matthew’s, Dwayne S. Milburn, conductor. David Lefkowitz’s Zachor, Strauss’ Duet-Concertino for Clarinet and Bassoon; and Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings.
Tickets: $45 general admission | $10 students with ID at the door
For more information: musicguildonline.org | 310.573.0722
SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 4 p.m.
Jazz Angels: Empowering Young Musicians and Preserving Jazz
St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church
6201 E. Willow St., Long Beach
Jazz Angels musicians perform selections of classic and contemporary jazz standards, taking listeners through a toe-tapping history of jazz. Jazz Angels is a non-profit organization that has empowered over 4000 Long Beach youth (ages 11-17) since 2006. Free-will offering, with a reception to follow.
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Pilgrimage to Spain
Holy Trinity Church, Covina, and Blessed Sacrament, Placentia, with NAWAS International Travel
October 13 - 24 2026
Join the the Rev. Steven De Muth and the Rev. Barrett Van Buren in a pilgrimage to Fatima, Lourdes, and Spain with Avila and Barcelona. Explore Holy places and historic sites throughout the Iberian Peninsula and France as we trace the footsteps of the three shepherd children at the Cova da Iria in Fátima, spend time with Teresa of Ávila, mystic and writer of The Interior Castle and more, participate in an evening torchlight procession on our way to the famous grotto of our Lady in Lourdes, visit majestic Madrid, the royal city and the Prado, the Archabbey of Montserrat and with the beloved Black Madonna. Finally, enjoy a few days in Barcelona and see the hopefully completed Sagrada Familia, and much more.
Full trip information pamphlet here. For more information, contact padresteve@holytrinitycovina.com or 626.967.3939
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Journey to the Holy Land
All Saints, Riverside, and friends, with Qumri Pilgrimages
February 2027
Join All Saints Episcopal Church, Riverside, in a Journey to the Holy Land led by the Rt. Rev. Diane M. Jardine Bruce and the Rev. Canon Kelli Grace Kurtz, with local guides Canon Iyad Qumri and Rami Qumri. For more information, email PilgrimKGK@gmail.com
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Interfaith Refugee and Immigration Service
Assemble “Essentials Kits”, organizing drives for essential items for immigrant and refugee families, set up fundraiser events for IRIS, facilitating workshops for clients, or suggest an idea of your own. Visit the IRIS volunteer page to get involved.
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Seeds of Hope
Volunteer with Seeds of Hope at free farmers’ markets, gardens, and compost sites, which all rely on volunteers. From lifting boxes to planting seeds, every hand makes a difference.
To join, fill out the volunteer form here pick what you want to do, and join the crew.
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Food Pantry
Our Saviour Center
4368 Santa Anita Avenue, El Monte
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. For information or to sign up, email info@our-center.org. Volunteers may fill out a volunteer form here.
| | HUNTINGTON BEACH: Youth Director. St. Wilfrid’s Episcopal Church is seeking a Youth Director who will be responsible for guiding youth, grades 6-12, in their understanding of themselves and their Christian faith. Duties include organizing social and faith-based youth events centered on belonging, community building, and appreciating their self-worth. The Youth Director should be a strong leader by example and knowledge, and will help to build strong leaders in the church from the youth community. A detailed job description can be found here. | LA VERNE: Full-Time University Chaplain and Director of the Office of Spiritual & Religious Life, University of La Verne. The Office of the Provost is seeking a thoughtful, compassionate University Chaplain to guide spiritual life and nurture community across our diverse student body. This full-time role supports students, faculty, and staff through pastoral care, interfaith engagement, spiritual programming, and mission-centered initiatives that reflect our historic Church of the Brethren values of peace, service, and inclusion. The ideal candidate will bring strong listening skills, a grounding in spiritual formation, and a commitment to supporting people from all backgrounds and traditions. A master’s degree in a related field is preferred. Full job description here. | LONG BEACH: Organist and Director of Music. St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church is seeking a talented Organist and Director of Music to begin on Jan. 1, 2026. This essential role involves playing the organ and/or piano for all worship services, directing and leading the adult choir, and collaborating closely with the clergy to plan and enhance the music for all liturgical seasons. Key administrative responsibilities include overseeing the maintenance of the church's musical instruments and managing the music budget. We are looking for a dedicated musician to sustain and grow our vibrant musical tradition. Salary will be negotiated based on experience and qualifications. Interested candidates are encouraged to contact Allen Stout, the Bishop’s Warden, at astout1176@gmail.com or 714.381.5910 | LOS ANGELES: Part-time Sexton. St. John’s Cathedral is seeking a part-time Sexton (20 hours per week) to assist with the care and upkeep of its historic campus. This important role helps ensure the cathedral remains a welcoming place for worship, prayer, and local gatherings. Responsibilities include facility cleaning, basic maintenance, event setup, and helping prepare spaces for services and activities. Candidates should be dependable, physically able to assist with light maintenance and setup tasks, and able to work Sundays and major church holidays. Full job description here. To apply, please email churchoffice@stjohnsla.org | PASADENA: Part-Time Youth Associate, All Saints Church. Reports to director of Children, Youth, and Families. Hours: 12 hours/week, Sept 2025 through June 2026; Wednesdays and Sundays required (non-exempt position). Compensation: $20/hour. The ideal candidate will have a heart for serving youth, spiritual maturity, a commitment to continual spiritual and personal development, and a desire to make a positive impact on the lives of youth in our community. As a youth associate, you will work closely with our youth minister and director of Children, Youth, and Families to plan, organize, and implement programs that support the spiritual, emotional, and social needs of our youth. Full job description here. | | |
The Episcopal News Update is published on Wednesday afternoons. News items, job listings, calendar items, questions and comments may be sent to mtrudinger-smith@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.
— Mostyn Trudinger-Smith, managing editor
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