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by Pat McCaughan

Bishop Joseph Jon Bruno, the sixth bishop of Los Angeles, was remembered May 1 as “a giant of justice, a good shepherd, a family man, ‘Papa,’ the beloved husband, father and grandfather, and a son of the city” during a private family memorial service livestreamed from St. John’s Cathedral.

On behalf of Mary Bruno and the family, Bishop Diocesan John Harvey Taylor, Bruno’s successor, welcomed Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Armenian Church Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, numerous bishops from The Episcopal Church, and mourners who gathered in person and thousands more who watched online to celebrate the life of Bruno, who was 74. He died suddenly April 23 at his home in La Quinta with Mary Bruno at his side. (An obituary is here.)

“Jon was a son of this city, a priest in every fiber of his being, a giant of justice, a good shepherd … the way of love and equity was always clear in Jon’s heart,” Taylor said. “He could always see over the horizon and deep into the promised land.”

Bruno’s compassion and love meant a resounding “yes” from the towering former football linebacker, Taylor said. Yes to a child welcomed to the altar, yes to a colleague needing help, yes to a priest-to-be who was stymied in another diocese, yes both to Israelis and Palestinians, yes to a mayor wanting a word of advice or prayer — yes to an unconscious patient in the ICU whose family knew that if one whispered voice could get through, it would be Jon Bruno’s.”

Read more here.

Three dioceses – Los Angeles, San Diego, and Western Mexico – have united to host the 10th annual “Called to the Wall” via crucis pilgrimage as an online event on Saturday, May 15, 4:30 - 6 p.m. All are welcome, and participants are asked to register here in English or Spanish via the website of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego.

Los Angeles Bishop Suffragan Diane M. Jardine Bruce, a co-founder and leader of the pilgrimage since its inception, will welcome participants to the online observance, and join Los Angeles Bishop John Harvey Taylor, San Diego Bishop Susan Brown Snook and Western Mexico Bishop Ricardo Gómez Osnaya who will offer reflections during the joint observance. Professor Jennifer Hughes, who proposed the original Called to the Wall observance, is part of a planning team with members from all three dioceses.

Dedicated to building bridges of healing and reconciliation, the Called to the Wall pilgrimage seeks to increase solidarity and awareness around conditions faced by migrants on both sides of the Mexico-U.S. border

Music and video will be interspersed between prayers led by representatives of the three dioceses. The order of worship calls for the Diocese of Western Mexico to lead “Section 1: Stories from the border/ Historias de la Frontera,” the Diocese of Los Angeles to lead “Section 2: Christian Response / La Respuesta Cristiana,” and the Diocese of San Diego to lead “Section 3: What is our Hope? ¿Cuál es nuestra esperanza?”

Among the bishops, Gómez Osnaya will describe conditions that lead people to leave their homes to come to a strange country, and the plight they suffer in migrant camps south of the border while they await their hearings. Taylor will reflect on the theological foundation for this work and the church's role in providing sanctuary and respecting the dignity of every human being, and Snook will outline the issue of unaccompanied migrant children and about ways people can help.

By Susan Russell

On Pentecost evening, Sunday, May 23, the Diocese of Los Angeles will host "A Balm in Gilead," a memorial service celebrating the souls of unsung heroes throughout our diocesan family who were lost to COVID-19.

The service will include prayers, meditations, and readings shared by various soloists and groups with music drawn from the songs featured in Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s book Songs My Grandma Sang; songs of hope, courage, and inspiration in times of pain and peril. The service will begin at 5 p.m. and will be streamed on the diocesan YouTube channel and Facebook page.

Organizers of the service have created a Facebook group as a place to share photos and remembrances of those we love but see no more – a place to share our grief and celebrate their lives. It will provide photos and names for the "Balm in Gilead" service on May 23 and will also stand alone as an ongoing tribute to those we have lost during this global pandemic. You can add your contributions here.

The service is the inspiration of Lisa Naulls, a parishioner at St. John’s Episcopal Church Rancho Santa Margarita. "One Sunday while attending a virtual service at St. John’s I was overcome by the magnitude of two things: the immensity of COVID’s devastating effect on all aspects of our lives, and the power of God‘s love to heal us through our families, our friends, and the comforting words of Jesus," Naulls said. "Our nation's COVID memorial ceremony in January sparked in me a desire to convene with my brothers and sisters to honor those touched by COVID, and to express triumphs and tears together, in a communal and sacred space, with our most precious faith family."

Names and photos may also be forwarded via email to the Rev. Canon Susan Russell, diocesan canon for Engagement Across Difference, at [email protected].

Register here

Presenters: Bob Williams, Canon for Common Life, and Diocesan Historian-Archivist, and Kip Lewis, senior risk control consultant for GuideOne Insurance.

From recording oral histories to maintaining archival records, each congregation’s efforts to preserve its shared stories and documents are important to the local church and wider community alike. Zoom in and learn more about best practices for:

Drawing from 35 years’ experience in diocesan and parish research, Canon Williams plans to enliven this webinar with anecdotes from the history of the Diocese of Los Angeles, the first convention of which was held 125 years ago this spring.

Register here

Hosted by Jack Rutledge, VP of Client Services for Church Insurance Agency. He’ll cover Cyber Liability and how it affects churches in handling their online presence, data, payments, and communication.

Register here

Presenter: Tim Alderson, Executive Director of Seeds of Hope. Learn more about organizing food distribution efforts, implementing measures to mitigate food waste, and best practices for cultivating wellness for our congregational communities.

Register here

Presenter: The Rev. Michele Racusin, CFO of the Diocese of California. By popular demand, we’ve added another session to this series of workshops with valuable resources, tools, tips, and best practices for serving as treasurer of your congregation.

Additional information about the workshop series is here. All workshops are livestreamed and recorded, and will be made available for on-demand viewing here.

Neighborhood Youth Association (NYA), an institution of the diocese that provides mentoring and academic support for at-risk young people in the Venice area, will hold its 38th annual Scholarship Awards Benefit, "Help & Hope: Together We Succeed," on Saturday, May 8, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.

The virtual celebration will take place via Zoom (link below) and will be preceded beginning May 5 with digital giving and preview posts via NYA's website. Viewing the celebration is complimentary, and contributions may be made here to help NYA achieve 100% college placement for its graduating high school seniors.

A fully non-sectarian agency founded through the diocese in 1906, NYA receives support from several Westside congregations. NYA Benefit chair is Sarah Newman, parishioner at St. Matthew’s, Pacific Palisades, and a member of the NYA board of trustees, which is chaired by Bishop John Harvey Taylor. The parishes of St. Bede’s, Mar Vista (Los Angeles), and St. Augustine’s by-the-Sea, Santa Monica, also provide key support.

On May 8, gathering music will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the program at 5:45 p.m. and concluding remarks at 6:15 p.m.

The Zoom link for the benefit event is zoom.us/j/99505459407#success.

Bishop Diane Jardine Bruce invites the diocesan community to a special worship service celebrating Pentecost and Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the midst of this challenging season for Asian Pacific Americans (APAs). The Pentecost Gathering Worship Celebration will be held on Sunday, May 23,

3 - 4 p.m. via Zoom.

This free event is hosted by The Gathering – a Space for Asian Pacific American Spirituality, a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles to APAs. The Gathering holds events to engage topics relevant to APA communities and offers a space for Asian Pacific Americans to gather to share in their spiritual journeys. Everyone interested is welcome to attend.

To register, click here. Email the Rev. Peter Huang ([email protected]) or the Rev. Yein Kim ([email protected]) for additional information.

The Girls Friendly Society has announced two upcoming events for girls ages 5 and up. GFS is open to all girls, including those from other faiths. A robust badge curriculum teaches about the Bible, Christian beliefs and traditions. Members are also encouraged to attend national and worldwide events to increase their understanding of the breadth and diversity of God's kingdom. Visit www.gfscalifornia.org for more information.

Upcoming events include:

St. John the Divine Episcopal Church

183 E. Bay St., Costa Mesa, CA 92627

Information and registration here (by May 10).

The service, themed "God Hears You, Loves You and Makes You Resilient," will be held in the park area. It will include readings and reflections by GFS high school graduates; honors for participants in this year's events; welcome for new board members and appreciation for outgoing board members; recognition of new sustaining members. A picnic will follow with hot dogs and individually packed extras. GFS members should wear their vests, and bring a blanket to sit on. All participants must wear a mask if not eating, and follow social distancing rules. Hand sanitizer will be provided.

Camp Wrightwood

Registration: to be announced. Save the date.

Theme is “Me and My Mama Bear.” Girls may bring their mom, grandma, aunt or mentor. Overnight and one-day options will be available. More details coming to explain COVID era accommodations.

GFS has also announced several scholarship opportunities for members.

In response to the requests of members and leaders, a Supplies for Success Scholarship program has been established to assist members in grades K-12 with school supply costs. The program has been financially supported by GFS-LA sustaining members, Bishop John Harvey Taylor, and Bishop Diane M. Jardine Bruce. A letter of reference is required to apply. The application is here; deadline is June 15.

For college students, the GFS-USA Book Scholarship application is available here. Applications are due June 15.

The Center for Lay Chaplaincy in the Diocese of Los Angeles has several upcoming trainings for lay ministers.

Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) for Lay Pastoral Care Providers is designed to provoke, encourage, and instill the practice of self-reflection in order to support the exploration of how one’s beliefs, attitudes, assumptions, and theological heritage shape one’s pastoral presence.

Two sessions of CPE for Lay Pastoral Care Providers are being offered, one beginning the week of June 6, and the second the week of September 26. These courses include 12 weeks of in-person meetings followed by eight weeks of online sessions. More information is here.

Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) for Youth Ministry is designed to be an introduction to the practice of pastoral care within the context of youth ministry. The class is structured around case studies, drawn from the student’s ministry experiences, with attention to developing the student’s capacity for identifying and then appropriately exercising their personal and pastoral authority. The course is offered through Bloy House, The Episcopal Theology School at Los Angeles, and will meet every other week beginning Aug. 20. To sign up for the course, click here.

The Rev. Jana Milhon-Martin is director of the Center for Lay Chaplaincy. She may be reached at [email protected] or 909.685.3424.

Camp Stevens, the diocesan facility in Julian, has been given the go-ahead by the state of California to open registration for Summer 2021 resident camps, contingent on the COVID-19 rating scale (which must remain below the purple tier). Sessions already are filling up quickly, according to a recent camp Facebook post.

Adventure Session 1 (6 days, Ages 8 – 15): July 11 – 16

Adventure Session 2 (6 days, Ages 8 – 15): July 18 – 23

Adventure Session 3 (6 days, Ages 8 – 15): July 25 – 30

Adventure Session 4 (6 days, Ages 8 – 15): August 1 – 6

The usual Mini Camp, International Odyssey, or Wilderness Adventure sessions will not be offered for Summer 2021. Each week of camp will have a reduced total capacity as well as reduced group sizes. Groups will keep separate from other groups, meals will be primarily outdoors, and there will be health checks and other safety measures in place.

Camp Stevens offers a tiered pricing structure, allowing families to choose the price which best meets their budget. Camp fees are confidential and each camper receives exactly the same experience regardless of price paid.

Register or learn more here.

Episcopal Communities and Services still has openings at its final Spring training session for By Your Side Vigil Companions, a program that trains volunteers to be a compassionate presence for those nearing the end of life.

"This year has brought all of us to an acute awareness of life’s fragility, and of the immense value of being companioned," says the course announcement. "The mission of By Your Side, which has always been to be supportive of people in palliative care and to be at the bedside at the end of their lives as needed, has had to adapt to the realities of COVID. We've needed to ask: 'How can we practice presence without proximity?' We have also grappled with the need many of us feel to talk about what we are living through, perhaps to grieve. Together we are exploring being together, in the hospitals, in our communities, over technology or the phone, in whatever ways we can."

The training program will be conducted in 2-hour sessions over five weeks via ZOOM on Tuesday afternoons, May 25 - June 22, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.

There is no obligation to volunteer at the completion of the training. A fee of $70 ( which includes all materials) is due by the second class. Scholarships are available. CE credit (12 hours) for nurses is available for an additional $30.

For more information or to register, contact Susan Brown, By Your Side administrator, at [email protected] or 818.822.6044. Enrollment is limited to 30 people.

Blood supplies are critically low in California, and congregations in the Diocese of Los Angeles have stepped up to help replenish them by hosting blood drives. Currently scheduled events are listed below.

Donors may save up to 15 minutes by completing pre-donation reading and answering health history questions here, rather than filling out forms on the day of donation.

Reservations through the Red Cross are required. All donors and staff will be screened before entering the facilities.

Holy Trinity Episcopal Church

100 N. Third Avenue, Covina 91723

Information: 626.967.3939

Reservations here or call 1.800.RED.CROSS (1.800.733.2767)

Sponsor code: HTEC

Holy Trinity will offer a blood drive each month. Upcoming dates are: June 10, July 8, August 5.

St. Francis of Assisi Church

280 Royal Avenue, Simi Valley 930065

Reservations here or call 1.800.RED.CROSS (1.800.733.2767)

Sponsor code: StFrancisSimi

Upcoming dates at this location are: Thursday, June 3; Monday, June 14; Monday, July 12; Thursday, July 22; Thursday, Aug. 5; Thursday, Nov. 18.

St. Alban’s Episcopal Church

12692 Fifth Street, Yucaipa 92399

Reservations here or call 1.800.RED.CROSS (1.800.733.2767)

Sponsor code: ST ALBANS

Upcoming dates at this location are Mondays; June 28, July 26, Aug. 23, Sept. 27, Oct. 18, Nov. 22 and Dec. 27.

St. Francis of Assisi Church

280 Royal Avenue, Simi Valley 930065

Reservations here or call 1.800.RED.CROSS (1.800.733.2767)

Sponsor code: StFrancisSimi

Upcoming dates at this location are: Monday, June 14; Monday, July 12; Thursday, July 22; Thursday, Aug. 5; Thursday, Nov. 18.

Grace Episcopal Church

555 East Mountain View Avenue, Glendora 91741

Information: Jennifer Bachman, 909-257-9921

Reservations here or call 1.800.RED.CROSS (1.800.733.2767)

Sponsor code: GECG

Holy Trinity Episcopal Church

100 N. Third Avenue, Covina 91723

Information: 626.967.3939

Reservations here or call 1.800.RED.CROSS (1.800.733.2767)

Sponsor code: HTEC

Holy Trinity will offer a blood drive each month. Upcoming dates: July 8, August 5.

All Saints Episcopal Church

132 N. Euclid Avenue, Pasadena 91101.

Reservations here or call 1.800.RED.CROSS (1.800.733.2767)

Sponsor code: ASEC

Information: [email protected]

Upcoming date at this location is Aug. 17.

St. Mark's Episcopal Parish

330 E 16th Street, Upland 91784

Register here or call 1.800.RED.CROSS (1.800.733.2767)

Sponsor code: stmarks

Upcoming date at this location: Tuesday, Nov. 2

By appointment only. Donors must be healthy and identification is required.

Will your church host blood drives in 2021? Send the information to [email protected] for inclusion in the calendar.

St. James in-the-City Church, Los Angeles

Live-streamed and on demand here

Center for Spirituality in Ontario

Information here

Enrollment: Ashanti Smalls, [email protected]

A series of interactive online meetings using Matthew Fox’s book Original Blessing as the springboard for exploration and reflection. The series, which began Oct. 12, is for persons of any age or walk of life, who share an interest in processing their inner journeys. Participants may join at any point, though regular participation is presumed. Sessions are led by the Rev. Gianluigi Gugliermetto, director of the Center for Spirituality. Suggested donation is $7 per session.

Community of Divine Love Monastery

Via Zoom: For link email [email protected]

A contemplative worship experience; a serene candlelight service with prayer, scripture, music, meditation and silence, offered in memory of the late Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bruno.

St. James' Episcopal Church

3903 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90010

Information/Livestream/on demand here

Choir of St. James’, Canon James Buonemani, director

St. James' Episcopal Church

3903 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90010

Information/Livestream/on demand here

St. Wilfrid of York Church, 18631 Chapel Lane, Huntington Beach 92646

Memorial donations may be made to St. Wilfrid's, where Sacquety was rector from 1978 to 1998. Sacquety died on Easter Day, April 4, in hospice care. An obituary is here.

The Guibord Center (via Zoom)

Register here

The Guibord Center's storytellers this month have been involved in the challenging issue of immigration justice. In the face of such uneven progress toward justice over the years, what core spiritual values motivate them to stay with this work? What challenges do they experience within their faith traditions and the interfaith community? And what would progress toward humane immigration reform look like? Storytellers for this online interactive conversation will be announced soon. The Guibord Center is an interfaith organization founded by the late Rev. Gwynne Guibord, a priest of the Diocese of Los Angeles, to encourage understanding among Los Angeles' diverse religious communities.

September 2022

Join Bishop Guy Erwin of the ELCA and Canon Jim Newman of the Episcopal Church for a 13-day journey across central Europe to Oberammergau, Germany. The day-long Oberammergau Passion Play is produced every decade and is a four-century “thank you” to God for saving the people of this picturesque Bavarian Alpine village. Experience this spiritual event and look at the culture and religion of Poland (Warsaw, Krakow, Auschwitz and Czestochowa), Hungary (Budapest), Czech Republic (Bratislava), Austria (Vienna & the Salzkammergut) and Germany (Oberammergau & Munich). Cost is $4,899 from Los Angeles including $450 taxes/airline surcharges.) Information: Jim Newman, 3590 Grand View Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90066; 310.391.5522 or 888.802.6722; [email protected]. A full itinerary is here.

ALTADENA: Church Office Administrator, St. Mark's Episcopal Church. Part-time (20-25 hours/week, Monday - Friday). Responsible for church communications, maintenance of office a records, assisting with financial operations, administrative support for the rector and other staff. A full job description is here. Salary is commensurate with experience. Contact: The Rev. Carrie Patterson Grindon, rector, at [email protected].

BEVERLY HILLS: Administrative Coordinator, All Saints Episcopal Church. Seeking a detail-oriented person to handle a wide range of responsibilities, including financial, calendar, coordinating volunteers, offices support, phone and more. Compensation based on experience. Benefits include health (dental and vision) and pension. Full job description and application information here.

CORONA DEL MAR: Communication Specialist (part time) at St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church. The Communications Specialist supports parish ministries by ensuring that important, engaging, and relevant events in the life of Saint Michael and All Angels are communicated through multiple channels both internally and externally. Through both front-end development of our website, email campaigns, and live-streamed parish events, this role contributes to the church’s total effort to communicate our mission to love God, grow together, and connect with the community. Full job description and application instructions are here.

HOLLYWOOD-LOS ANGELES: Seeds of Hope Food Distribution Associate. Bilingual (English-Spanish). This position will be an essential part of the Seeds of Hope team getting healthy, nutritious food to more families in need in Los Angeles and surrounding counties. Job duties include picking up, sorting, organizing and delivering produce; providing great customer service; documenting quantities and submitting data for reports. Work hours are full time, but variable. Valid Class C driver's license, experience with driving 16-ft or larger truck required. Full job description is here.

LA CRESCENTA: Coordinador(a) de Oficina Parroquial. San Lucas de las Montañas. San Lucas está buscando un(a) Coordinador(a) de Oficina como parte del equipo de esta Misión para apoyar a Dios en lograr su visión para el mundo. Somos un congregación diversa que aspira a estar cada día más unida en Cristo, y con un alto grado de participación de voluntarios comprometidos. Si estás interesado(a) en utilizar tus talentos para una gran causa, aprender, y hacer una diferencia, te invitamos a aplicar. Puedes conseguir aquí la descripción de trabajo e información de cómo aplicar.

LA CRESCENTA: Church Office Coordinator, St. Luke’s of the Mountains. St. Luke’s is looking for a Church Office Coordinator as part of the team of this mission to support God in achieving God’s vision for the world. We are a diverse congregation that aspires to be more united in Christ every day, and with a high degree of participation of committed volunteers. If you are interested in using your talents for a great cause, learning, and making a difference, we invite you to apply. You can get the job description and information on how to apply here.

SANTA ANA: Office Manager, Church of the Messiah. Part-time. The Office Manager will serve as the focal point for parish business operations, and is responsible for a broad range of administrative, specific operational and oversight functions. Bilingual proficiency (English/Spanish) required. More information is here.

TUSTIN: Director of Family Ministries, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Part-time (15-20 hours weekly) Seeking a high-energy leader to direct our church school, plan activities for families, and minister to parents. A more detailed job listing can be found here. St. Paul's hopes to hire someone to begin working alongside its departing director around May 16. Please send resume and cover letter to: the Rev. Kay Sylvester, rector, at [email protected].

Additional job listings are here. Listings are free: send information to [email protected]. Applications for jobs must be sent to the contact included in the listing.