Presiding over the 2023 meeting of Diocesan Convention, Bishop John Harvey Taylor is flanked by Canon Steven Nishibayashi, secretary of convention; Canon Melissa McCarthy, canon to the ordinary; and Canon Richard Zevnik, chancellor. Photos: Janet Kawamoto | |
Convention ‘Love in Action’ theme applies to climate change, affordable housing, social justice, finance, building beloved community
By Pat McCaughan
[The Episcopal News – November 15, 2023] Bishop John Harvey Taylor’s vision of love in action includes tackling climate change, developing affordable housing, securing economic justice and building beloved community via showing up to “the precious and unique miracle of other people” locally, regionally, and internationally.
Amid applause, and shouts of “yeah” and “Amen,” Taylor on Nov. 10 welcomed hundreds of online and in-person delegates, visitors, guests, and exhibitors to the Riverside Convention Center for the 128th annual meeting of the diocese, themed “Love in Action for Healing, Housing and Hope.” Guests included Robert Ross, M.D., president of the California Endowment, as the Margaret Parker lecturer (see related story) and Lucy Jones, Ph.D., founder of the Lucy Jones Center for Science and Society, who was guest preacher at the Nov. 11 Eucharist.
In an era plagued by what he called a “global epidemic of sleeping sickness,” Taylor recalled sharing “incarnational connection” with parishioners during his official visitations to many of the diocese’s culturally diverse congregations – and invited Episcopalians to do likewise. “I do it almost every week – jump in, the holy water’s fine!”
For example, he noted a series of 2023 worship services hosted by the Program Group on Black Ministries and the Union of Black Episcopalians, including Presiding Bishop Michael Curry preaching at the Martin Luther King celebration at Christ the Good Shepherd Church. A 2024 series is also planned, and “when we’re invited to come to church in Leimert Park, or at St. Barnabas in Pasadena, or at Church of the Advent on West Adams in Los Angeles, that invitation is to all of us, not just those who already go to church there!”
Similarly, other events – including the 80th anniversary of Li Tim Oi’s ordination as the Anglican Communion’s first female priest, are open to the entire diocesan community. It is “an event for all of us to enjoy, a means of learning and atoning, a way to bridge difference and make friends. Because more often than you’d think, being woke is just a matter of showing up.”
Read more here.
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Be awake in the light of Christ, Bishop Taylor tells Diocesan Convention
[The Episcopal News – Riverside, California] Bishop John Harvey Taylor on Nov. 10 declared that Episcopalians in the Diocese of Los Angeles “are woke and proud of it,” in an address to hundreds of lay and clergy delegates, guests, and visitors to the diocese’s 128th annual meeting, themed “Love in Action for Healing, Housing and Hope,” at the Riverside Convention Center.
“Sleepers awake – if we’re not asleep in darkness – if we’re awake in the light of Christ and striving to be mediators of Christ’s love, justice, and righteousness – then yes, that means we’re ‘woke’, said Taylor, reclaiming the social justice origins of the term, more recently used pejoratively by anti-progressive politicians.
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“Being woke can take many forms – whether we’re woke to the condition of people different from us – or the danger posed by climate change to the Creation that people of all conditions share,” added Taylor, amid applause, cheers, and shouts of “yeah” by convention attendees.
Taylor’s address also incorporated reflections of his planned 2026 retirement, wars in Israel-Palestine, Ukraine, Maghreb, and Sudan; affordable housing; reconciliation; savoring relationships; supporting ministries for the LGBTQ+, multicultural and people of African descent communities; support for transgender rights, especially for children and young people; and reconciliation, specifically congratulating St. James’, Newport Beach’s admission as a parish congregation.
Read more here.
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USA’s promise of rights for all – not some – must be kept, Robert Ross tells convention in Margaret Parker lecture
By Pat McCaughan
[The Episcopal News – November 15, 2023] As the nation anticipates celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026, “the pros of that document remain powerful and enduring and compelling – life, liberty, and pursuit of justice in a democratic republic,” Dr. Robert Ross told lay and clergy delegates attending the 128th annual meeting of the Diocese of Los Angeles in Riverside.
But “at the time the Founding Fathers signed that beautifully written and conceived document, it said ‘for all,’ but it meant ‘for some,’” continued Ross, president of the California Endowment, the largest private health foundation in the state, who delivered the eighth biennial Margaret Parker Lecture on Nov. 11.
... “The upcoming anniversary is an opportunity to make the words “for all” real. For me, it evokes God’s love as a policy agenda,” said Ross, who is African American. He challenged “the faith community in this country … to show up more powerfully than it is now, to get this nation back on track."
Read more here.
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Three named as honorary canons at convention dinner
[The Episcopal News – November 15, 2023] Bishop John Harvey Taylor named three honorary canons during the Friday night dinner at Diocesan Convention, held Nov. 10 - 11 at the Riverside Convention Center.
The three honorees are: Canon Linda Allport, dean of Bloy House; Canon Urla Gomes, retiring CEO of the Episcopal Community Federal Credit Union; and the Rev. Canon Gary Bradley, retired rector of Church of Our Saviour, San Gabriel.
The title of "canon" originally was used for members of the clergy at a cathedral, and for key advisors to the bishop of a diocese. Today it is used to honor people - both clergy and lay - who have given outstanding service to the church.
Read more here.
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Convention session, report videos are online
Videos of convention sessions and addresses, plus reports of several diocesan ministries and the 2023 Necrology, are on the diocesan YouTube channel at the following links:
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Vaya con Dios to the Rev. Eduardo Bresciani Undurraga
November 15, 2023
On the Rev. Eduardo Bresciani Undurraga’s father’s side, ancestors fought for Italian unity with Giuseppe Garibaldi’s forces. On his mother’s side were heroes of Chilean independence. Such stories run deep in a family. His parents were married in November 1947, on the same day as the future Queen Elizabeth and Phillip. When I visited him on Monday at his home in Bellflower, he told me that even though his father, an architect, was born in Santiago, when he’d comment on Chilean affairs, Eduardo’s mother would laugh and say he didn’t know anything about it because he was a foreigner.
Read more here.
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‘The Holdovers’
November 13, 2023
A scene showing a New England prep school chapel in the early seventies, filled with distracted boys in their coats and ties? Been there, done that. Alexander Payne’s wonderful movie “The Holdovers” is set in a fictional school called Barton over the 1970-71 holiday break. I went to a different school back then, but Barton is pretty much the same — red-brick, federalist-style buildings and icy paths across snowy lawns that made my feet feel cold and wet even though I was sitting with Kathy in a theater in Arcadia.
Read more here.
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'Firefly' electrician training program for young women is accepting additional students
Students are still be accepted for the St. Stephen's Firefly Program, funded by a grant from the Los Angeles Girls Friendly Society, which provides young women ages 14 - 17 with "technical training, hands-on group projects, and mentorship in a fun and interactive space," according to an announcement from the church, which is known for its innovative projects. The program is offered for "beginners, aspiring electricians, or young women looking to expand their skill set."
The $50 registration fee includes necessary safety equipment and overalls (valued at $315). Scholarships are available, and no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Registration for the program is here. Sessions are held once a month on Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 6125 Carlos Avenue, Hollywood (Los Angeles) 90028.
The class is conducted in Spanish and translated into English. A video about the program, shown at Diocesan Convention on Nov. 11, is here.
Read more here.
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All welcome for Neighborhood Youth Association ’80s Night fundraiser Nov. 30 in Venice
The Neighborhood Youth Association (NYA) – a diocesan institution specializing in 100-percent college placement and mentoring for under-resourced students – will hold an ’80s night dance fundraiser Nov. 30 starting at 7 p.m. at the Winston House, 23 Windward Avenue, Venice. All are welcome. The $50 cover charge is a donation to NYA, and the event flyer (above) includes a QR code for payment directly to NYA. For further information, phone NYA at 310.664.8893.
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Volunteers, donations welcome for Community Thanksgiving Dinner Nov. 23 at St. Paul’s Commons, Echo Park
Helping to brighten the holiday for neighbors in need, St. Paul's Commons invites volunteers and financial donors to share in serving 500 free Thanksgiving Day dinners in the Echo Park complex's Great Hall, continuing a 35-year tradition.
Volunteers may sign up by emailing media@ladiocese.org to request further information about shifts and requested duties. Donation checks may be made payable to the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles and mailed to 840 Echo Park Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90026.
Questions may be referred to Canon Luis Garibay, building superintendent and coordinator for the event, by phone at 213.482.2040 or by email at luisgaribay@ladiocese.org.
Volunteer shifts are available on both Wednesday, Nov. 22, and Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23, when dinner will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on a first-come-first-served basis. Thanksgiving Day one-hour shifts begin at 7 a.m. and conclude at 3 p.m.
The traditional dinner, which will be opened with a prayer by Bishop John Harvey Taylor, complements the ongoing longtime ministry of the Friday Food Bank operated at St. Paul's Commons each week, assisted by Seeds of Hope and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.
The event, co-chaired by Canon Luis Garibay and Delores DeAngelis of St. Athanasius' Church, is a collaborative project of the ministries based at St. Paul's Commons, including the diocesan offices, St. Athanasius', Nefesh Jewish Community, Immaculate Heart Community, Seeds of Hope, the Friday Foodbank, Holy Spirit Community, and more.
St. Paul's Commons, the administrative and ministry hub of the Episcopal Diocese, is located at 840 Echo Park Avenue, Los Angeles.
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All are welcome to reading of new play at All Saints, Beverly Hills
A table reading of Colleen Dodson Baker's autobiographical play, "The Family Darling," will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. at All Saints' Church, 504 N. Camden Drive, Beverly Hills.
"The Family Darling," which takes place in the mid 90’s in New York City during the AIDS crisis, "is about people coming together in the face of trouble and the name of joy," says Dodson Baker (pictured at left), a member of All Saints who began writing the play more than 25 years ago.
A former Broadway actress and executive assistant for Time, Inc., Dodson Baker is on the board of Grace-Based Films, producers of This Day Forward and A Case for Love, a new documentary about Presiding Bishop Michael Curry.
A wine and cheese reception will follow the reading, which will be completed without an intermission. All are welcome, but seating is limited. For reservations, click here.
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Paula Walker to be ordained to diaconate
Bishop John Harvey Taylor will ordain Paula Walker to the vocational (permanent) diaconate at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18 at St. Mark’s Church, 1014 E. Altadena Drive, Altadena 91001.
The service will be live-streamed here.
The prayers and presence of the diocesan community (in person or online) are requested.
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The Rev. Walter S. Johnson
December 18, 1938 - November 1, 2023
The Rev. Walter S. Johnson, 84, retired deacon at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Hollywood (Los Angeles), died Nov. 1.
Survivors include his son, Walter Steven Johnson Jr. of Miami, Florida, and a sister, Florence Scott, of Wilmington, Delaware. Service arrangements are pending.
Walter Johnson was born Dec. 18, 1938 in Wilmington. He lived in New York and St. Thomas, Virgin Islands before moving to Los Angeles, where he worked in social services for the city.
Ordained a deacon on Dec. 2, 2006 by Bishop Chet Talton, Johnson served his entire ordained ministry at St. Thomas', where he was head of outreach for the parish's Saturday breakfast club, assisting local people with social services through the West Hollywood City Council.
An associate of the Order of the Holy Cross and a member of the Program Group on Black Ministries, Johnson also was a chaplain for the central committee of the Society of Catholic Priests, North American province (an Anglican group).
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Celebration of life for the Rev. Peter Rood planned for Dec. 30
A celebration of life for the Rev. Peter Rood (July 29, 1955 - April 20, 2023) will be held on Saturday, Dec. 30 at 10 a.m. at Holy Nativity Episcopal Church, 6700 83rd Street, Westchester (Los Angeles) 90045. A reception will follow the service, with music, food, and dedication of the parish garden in Rood's memory.
"In honor of Peter's enduring commitment to aiding those in need, we will be collecting blankets and socks for individuals in unhoused communities," according to the announcement. "Additionally, we warmly invite you to share any photos or videos of Peter. These will be used to craft a special slideshow, intended to honor the many lives he has touched throughout his life." Photos or videos may be emailed to peterscelebrationoflife@gmail.com
Reservations are requested here for the service and reception.
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Wini Williams Carter, a Long Beach treasure, dies at 104
[Long Beach Press-Telegram – November 13, 2023] Wini Williams Carter, a Long Beach icon who lived a lifetime of volunteer service to the community, has died. She was 104.
Carter died at her home recently after months of hospice care for aging issues and an infection following eye surgery, according to her daughter, Renee Williams. A celebration of Carter’s life will take place at 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 525 E. Seventh St.
“Wini was a Long Beach treasure,” Rep. Robert Garcia, former two-term Long Beach mayor, said Thursday, Nov. 9. “I’ve enjoyed celebrating birthdays with her and seeing her supporting our community. She was kind, caring and a true blessing to everyone she came in contact with. She will be greatly missed.”
Read more here.
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SAVE THE DATE
Jan. 6 fiesta, immigration justice forum set for historic Church of the Epiphany, Lincoln Heights
[The Episcopal News] All in the diocese are invited to join the historic Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, Lincoln Heights, in celebrating the congregation’s Jan. 6 feast day and sharing in a strategic immigration justice forum.
Well known as a hub used by activists Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta in organizing the United Farmworkers union, Church of the Epiphany continues its legacy of civil rights work, a central focus for the Saturday-afternoon immigration forum and related community resource street fair.
Organized under the theme “Epiphanies: A Festival of Discovery,” the 2 p.m. forum will include a panel discussion shared by leading local immigration justice advocates.
The congregation’s Mariachi procession and Eucharist for the Feast of the Epiphany will follow at 5 p.m. recalling decades of the congregation’s similar bilingual Latin American observances. Portions of a new gallery exhibit tracing Epiphany’s history will be on view during the fiesta and forum. Traditional foods and beverages of the season will be served.
The Jan. 6 events also will highlight the upcoming launch of the Lydia Lopez Center for Community Empowerment, an initiative honoring the late Canon Lydia Lopez, who was active in neighborhood, diocesan, and international ministries for more than 50 years. Focused on equipping new generations, the center will focus on immigration, education, cultural and history resources.
Read more here.
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'Philadelphia 11' documentary will be screened in Claremont Dec. 9
Deanery 6 invites all to a screening of the documentary film The Philadelphia 11 at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9 at the Laemmle Theater in Claremont.
The film follows the story of 11 women deacons who, convinced of their call to the priesthood and frustrated by the Episcopal Church's refusal to authorize the ordination of women, were made priests in 1974 by a group of supportive bishops at a service in Philadelphia. Although their action caused enormous controversy at the time, it influenced the next General Convention's vote to ordain women as priests.
A panel discussion with speakers who were present at these historic events will follow the screening.
"In this feature-length documentary film, we meet the women who succeed in building a movement that transforms an age-old institution, and challenges the very essence of patriarchy within Christendom," according to the film's website.
Reservations are requested and may be made here. Donations will be accepted at the door. The Laemmle Theater is located at 450 W 2nd Street, Claremont 91711-4664. Parking is available on the street, in the parking structure at the corner of College Avenue and First Street, and in several public lots.
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Videos from forum countering white Christian nationalism available for adult ed, Lenten forums
[The Episcopal News – November 8, 2023] Videos from the diocesan forum “From Swords to Plowshares: Our Need to Address White Christian Nationalism” are now posted on the diocesan YouTube channel, available for adult education including Lenten study series. The videos can be paired with the diocesan Engagement Across Difference curriculum on Christian nationalism available here.
Video Part 1: The Rev. Pamela Cooper-White
In the first video, the Rev. Pamela Cooper White, introduced by Bishop John Harvey Taylor, keynotes the forum presented July 9 by the Program Group on Ecumenical and Interfaith Life of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles.
Video Part 2: The Rev. Janna Louie
In the second video, the Rev. Janna Louie, an L.A.-based American Baptist minister, offers perspectives from her work as chief of staff of the Baptist Joint Committee (BJC) for Religious Liberty. Her presentation focuses on ways in which the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community experience white Christian nationalism.
Inquires about the videos may be emailed to media@ladiocese.org. Read more here.
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Diocesan staff to observe autumn, winter holidays
Diocesan offices at St. Paul's Commons and elsewhere will close for several holidays and events in November and December.
Offices will be closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 23 -24 for the Thanksgiving holiday.
In December, offices will be closed on Friday, Dec. 22 for Christmas Eve and Monday, Dec. 25 for Christmas Day, as well as Friday, Dec. 29 for New Year's Eve and Monday, Jan. 1 for New Year's Day.
The Episcopal News Update will be on hiatus for Thanksgiving week (issue date Nov. 26) and for Dec. 24 and 31. Announcements of January events should be submitted by early December so save-the-date notices can be included before the Christmas-New Year hiatus.
Each issue of the Update is emailed on Wednesday and dated for the following Sunday. Weekly deadline is Tuesday at 12 p.m.
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Bloy House announces formation classes for laity
Bloy House, the Episcopal Theological School at Los Angeles, has added two new formation classes designed to meet requirements for the new diocesan lay licensing program, but of general interest as well.
The fee for formation classes is $25. Click here for more information and to register.
Anti-Racism for Laity
Tuesdays, November 28, Dec 5, 12, and 19; 7 - 8:30 p.m.
In accordance with a resolution of the 2000 General Convention that “the lay and ordained leadership of the Episcopal Church, including all ordained persons, professional staff, and those elected or appointed to positions of leadership on committees, commissions, agencies, and boards be required to take anti-racism training and receive certification of such training” the diocese now requires that every licensed lay minister complete training in understanding systems of oppression and how they affect the Episcopal Church and society in general. Facilitated by Suzanne Edwards-Action, M.A. (pastoral ministry), founder of My Work To Do. This class is required for all licensed lay ministries.
Introduction to the Bible for Lay Licensing
Tuesdays, January 9, 16, 23, and 30; 7 - 8:30 p.m.
While this course has been designed for the new diocesan lay licensing program, the topic is of general formation interest as well. How did we get the Bible we have today, and how do we best read and interpret it? We will cover the composition and construction of our Hebrew and Christian scriptures and pay close attention to the diverse voices and major themes that we encounter. These discussions will develop tools for interpretation and study of our sacred scripture. Facilitated by the Rev. Jerry Sather of St. John Chrysostom Church, Rancho Santa Margarita, and Linda Allport, dean of Bloy House. This course is required for licensing of lay preachers, evangelists, and pastoral leaders, and recommended for worship leaders and catechists.
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2024 United Thank Offering grants will fund projects 'Welcoming the Stranger'
United Thank Offering (UTO) gives out more than a million dollars each year in grants that fund innovative mission and ministry projects in the Episcopal Church and throughout the Anglican Communion.
Over the next few years, inspired by Matthew 25, UTO grants will focus on areas of ministry that serve those whom society has left out and left behind. The grant focus for 2024 will be on Jesus’ call to “welcome the stranger.” This includes funding projects that: welcome people with differences that cause isolation (culture, life experience, disability, mental health, etc.) in new ways that are meaningful and deemed necessary by that community, or encourage truth telling, acknowledging historic trauma, and establishing a pathway towards healing.
Church or ministry leaders interested in applying for a UTO grant may click here and review the documents under the “Application Materials for the Episcopal Church” tab at the bottom of the page. Note that the grant proposal must be submitted by the UTO coordinator for the diocese with a letter of support from the bishop diocesan, and only one grant can be submitted per diocese. These grants are for new projects or existing projects that are expanding in a substantially new direction. Typical grants are for $55,000 or less, but can be up to $100,000 with additional budget documentation.
Those interested in applying should email Bishop John Harvey Taylor (jtaylor@ladiocese.org) and Tammy Smecker-Hane (tsmecker@cox.net), the diocese's UTO diocesan coordinator, a one-paragraph proposal description by Nov 18. If more than one group is interested in applying, a diocesan committee will evaluate the proposals and select one to go forward. The committee will work with the applicants to submit the best possible proposal, which will be due on Jan 19, 2024.
To discuss project ideas in advance, email Smecker-Hane at address above.
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By Your Side training for end-of-life and crisis companions to begin Nov. 20
By Your Side online training sessions for Fall 2023 will begin on Nov. 20 and continue through Dec. 18, meeting on Mondays via Zoom from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
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Since 2011, the mission of By Your Side has been to support people in times of change and difficulty, particularly in health crisis, and to have trained volunteers at their bedsides at the end of their lives as needed. More than 500 volunteers have been trained to be such a compassionate presence.
By Your Side, a ministry of Episcopal Communities & Services, an institution of the Diocese of Los Angeles, continues to develop teams of people to serve in hospital and long-term care settings, especially in ECS communities. Team members have had the opportunity to deepen their understanding of what it means to really be “with” the people they support; those having difficulty with changes in their lives, with challenging diagnoses or increasing frailty. In the larger community, individuals and spiritual care teams strengthen their understanding of what being together through the end of life can really look like. Volunteers gain tools for taking care of themselves while being present for others.
All interested persons are invited to join By Your Side in this exploration. There is no obligation to volunteer at the end of the training. A fee of $70 (which includes all materials) is due by the second class. Scholarships are available. CE (12 hours) for nurses is available for an added $30 under California Board of Registered Nursing Provider CEP 16239.
For further information and to register for training sessions, contact Susan Brown at sbrown@ecsbyyourside.org or 818.822.6044.
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Help Ramallah orphanage replace furnace through LA - Jerusalem companion diocese ties
Contributions especially welcome amid current tensions
Amid suffering and tensions escalated by the Oct. 7 Hamas attack against Israel, support for charitable projects in the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem is doubly appreciated. Concrete initiatives include replacement of the 57-year-old furnace at Ramallah’s Arab Evangelical-Episcopal Home and School.
Donors are invited to join Bishop John Harvey Taylor and others in the Diocese of Los Angeles in contributing via this secure link on L.A.’s diocesan website to assist the $60,000 furnace replacement project, increasingly important as fall weather gives way to winter cold.
Fundraising efforts – highlighted by the Rev. Fadi Diab, rector of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Ramallah, and his wife, Ruba Gammoh, during their visit to the United States this past summer – have succeeded in raising nearly $20,000 toward the effort, with additional gifts from congregations and individuals requested to meet the goal.
Read more here.
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Episcopal Coalition for Racial Equity and Justice moves closer to launch as independent nonprofit
By David Paulsen
[Episcopal News Service – November 14, 2023] A group of Episcopal clergy and lay leaders assigned to develop the structure for the new Episcopal Coalition for Racial Equity and Justice are progressing toward incorporating the coalition as a nonprofit, possibly by early next year, group leaders said Nov. 13 in an online meeting.
Ryan Kusumoto, a lay deputy from Hawaii, serves as chair of the constituting group, which also includes a diverse mix of other Episcopal leaders. He was joined on Zoom by former Connecticut Bishop Ian Douglas to present the group’s update to Executive Council’s Committee on Mission Within The Episcopal Church.
Kusumoto and Douglas began the session by reviewing the resolution that the 80th General Convention passed in 2022 calling for creation of the coalition. The coalition had been proposed months earlier in a wide-ranging report produced by the Presiding Officers’ Working Group on Truth-Telling, Reckoning and Healing that pressed the church to confront its past complicity with racist systems and the lingering legacy of colonialism and white supremacy embedded in the church and other American institutions.
The coalition’s goal “is not to supplant or replace the work of the church,” Douglas emphasized. “This is alongside … the work under the auspices of the Executive Council and the staff of the Church Center.”
Read more here.
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Presiding bishop joins Christian leaders in letter to Biden, calling for ceasefire in Gaza
[Churches for Middle East Peace – November 13, 2023] In a Nov. 9 letter to President Joe Biden, Churches for Middle East Peace and thirty American Christian leaders called on Biden and his administration to support an immediate ceasefire, de-escalation, and restraint by all involved. The letter is below.
Dear President Biden:
We, the heads of churches, denominations, and church-based organizations in the United States, remain deeply grieved at the now more than month-long violence between Hamas and Israel. We condemn the brutal attacks of Hamas on October 7th that caused the loss of life of nearly 1,400 Israelis and citizens of other nations, and we call for the immediate release of all civilians held hostage. The horrific violence of Hamas does not justify further violence against Palestinian civilians.
Read more here.
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Bishop of armed forces and federal ministries celebrates Veterans Day weekend in San Diego
By Shireen Korkzan
[Episcopal News Service – November 13, 2023] The Rt. Rev. Ann Ritonia observed her first Veterans Day weekend as bishop suffragan for armed forces and federal ministries by traveling to California to visit chaplains and preach at Episcopal parishes in the Diocese of San Diego.
A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Ritonia was ordained the first woman bishop suffragan in the ministry’s nearly 60-year history during a consecration ceremony on Sept. 30 at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Lafayette Square, Washington, D.C.
The bishop suffragan for armed forces and federal ministries is a member of the presiding bishop’s staff and is elected by the House of Bishops. In this role, Ritonia is responsible for recruiting, endorsing and supporting more than 100 chaplains in the military, veterans’ hospitals and federal prisons.
Read more here.
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General Theological Seminary eyes deal with Christian nonprofit to lease, renovate buildings
[Episcopal News Service – November 9, 2023] General Theological Seminary, The Episcopal Church’s oldest seminary, announced Nov. 9 that it was negotiating with an unnamed Christian nonprofit to renovate and lease space on its close, or campus, in an arrangement that would allow continued use of some buildings for the seminary’s hybrid Master of Divinity program.
The plan would provide much needed revenue for General Theological Seminary and would help address deferred maintenance estimated at $32 million, according to seminary officials. The news comes months after the seminary, located in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood, ended its full-residency programs to focus on growing its hybrid program.
“We are in a position where we can share the [General Theological Seminary] close with a strong nonprofit partner, with whom we can potentially create some exciting, shared programming,” Virginia Theological Seminary Dean Ian Markham, who also serves as General’s president, said in a news release. “We are seeking to model the use of resources for the future of the church.”
Read more here.
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Registration open for the 'Great EpisGOpal Race' Nov. 20-28
[UTO and EMM] Building on 20 years of partnership, United Thank Offering and Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM) are teaming up for the 4th annual "Great EpisGOpal Race." This Nov. 20-28 virtual event offers multiple fun ways — running, biking, swimming, hiking, paddle boarding, and more — to participate and raise funds to support refugee resettlement and other EMM programs.
Sign up on your own or create a team. Learn more here.
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UTO matching grant challenge to support ministries of Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem
[The Episcopal Church - November 2, 2023] The United Thank Offering – in partnership with the Good Friday Offering – will match up to $100,000 of donations given through Dec. 15 to help sustain outreach ministries in the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, which operates across several countries or territories and includes churches, schools, medical facilities, and other ministries.
“United Thank Offering has supported the diocese with over $1 million in grants since 1973, thanks to the generosity of Episcopalians everywhere,” said UTO Board President Sherri Dietrich. “We know people want to help those projects continue their work through and after the current heartbreaking conflict; this challenge grant will allow us all to make a powerful contribution to those impacted by this conflict.”
Matched donations to the United Thank Offering will be given in 2024 as a grant to the diocese to disburse where the needs are greatest.
Read more here.
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Interested in giving input on the 2025-2027 Episcopal Church budget?
[The Episcopal Church] The Joint Budget Committee of the Executive Council will hold open hearings via Zoom to receive feedback from the wider church on the 2025-2027 working budget. The working budget was presented to the Episcopal Church Executive Council during its Oct. 24-27 meeting and is available publicly for review and input.
Register to be a speaker or listener at the following hearings, held via Zoom:
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Saturday, Dec. 9, 11 a.m. (2 p.m. ET)
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Tuesday, Dec. 12, 4 p.m. (7 p.m. ET)
Click here to register for hearings.
In addition, at 1 p.m. (4 p.m. ET) on Monday, Nov. 20, the budget committee will hold a Zoom session with the Executive Council. The public is invited to observe the session, but will not be able to participate.
Written responses regarding the budget can be emailed to BudgetCommittee@episcopalchurch.org.
Read the budget committee’s recent update to the Executive Council here.
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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
Information here Zoom Meeting ID: 912 3096 9532; Passcode: 080100.
Worship bulletins here
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.
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 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.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 7 - 8 p.m.
A Thanksgiving Taizé
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, invites all to this monthly candlelit service of music, meditation and prayer. Taizé services will be held in-person or online throughout the year. Livestream is available here
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 4 p.m.
Kirkin' of the Tartan Evensong
St. Gregorys's Episcopal Church
6201 E. Willow Street, Long Beach 90815
Information: here or 562.420.1311
Music at Four presents St. Gregory's Choir and friends in a festive service of Evensong conducted by Hanan Yaqub. St. Andrew's feast day will be celebrated with bagpipes and music by A. Herbert Brewer, Elaine Hagenberg and James Mulholland. A reception will follow the service.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 4 p.m.
Schubertiade I - Die Winterreise
St. Mark's in-the-Valley Episcopal Church
2901 Nojoqui Avenue, Los Olivos
Tickets and information here
Part of the Santa Ynez Valley Concert Series, this is the first of two events devoted to the music of Franz Schubert and features the epic song cycle Die Winterreise. (The second will be on Sunday, February. 18, 2024.) Performers Ben Lowe, baritone, and Robert Cassidy, piano, recorded the cycle in November 2019 at Studio Hill in Austin, Texas. CDs will be available for purchase at the concert. Tickets are $25; students are free. Sponsorships and season tickets are available.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 5 p.m.
Tesserae: Il Pastor Fido
All Saints Episcopal Church
504 North Camden Drive, Beverly Hills 90210
Information here or 310.275.0123 or info@allsaintsbh.org
First published in 1590, Guarini’s pastoral tragicomedy Il Pastor Fido was not only a highly popular literary work. It also became a primary source of texts for composers of madrigals and monodies throughout the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods. Featuring complex webs of love affairs and a vivid mythological-pastoral setting, the poem inspired some of the most harmonically adventurous and dramatic musical settings of the period, including Caccini’s famous "Amirilli, mia bella." The program will also feature works by Monteverdi, Rossi, Marenzio and others.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 6 p.m.
Classical Sundays at Six: Althea Waites, piano
St. James in-the-City Episcopal Church
3903 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90010
Information here
Selections include: "Fantasy and Fugue in C Major," K. 394, by W.A. Mozart; "Flamenco and Fugal Dance" by Margaret Bonds; Three-Fours (Waltz Suite), Opus 71 by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor; "Momentum" by Tania Leon; Sonata in A Minor, D. 784 by Franz Schubert. Internationally acclaimed pianist Althea Waites has concertized extensively throughout the United States, Europe and Asia as a soloist, chamber musician, and collaborative artist. Read more about this artist here.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 9 a.m.
Thanksgiving Service
St. Mark's-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church
2901 Nojoqui Avenue, Los Olivos
Information: 805.688.4454 or here
St. Mark's welcomes all to gather in gratitude for the many gifts God so graciously gives. A reception will follow in Stacy Hall.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 6 p.m.
Classical Sundays at Six: YuEun Kim, violin & Sung Chang, piano
St. James in-the-City Episcopal Church
3903 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90010
Information here
Featuring Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Opus 100 by Johannes Brahms and Fantasy in C Major, D. 934 by Franz Schubert. Violinist YuEun Gemma Kim, born in South Korea, started playing piano at age 5 and violin at 7. She moved to the United States about seven years ago to study at USC under the tutelage of violinist Midori Goto. Read more about this artist here.
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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1 - 4 p.m.
A Holiday Happening
Faith Episcopal Church
27802 El Lazo, Laguna Niguel
Information here
Gift boutique, bake sale, live music, crafts, and holiday fun for all ages.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2, 5 p.m.
Documentary Screening: The Philadelphia Eleven
Christ Episcopal Church
408 S. Broadway, Redondo Beach
Reservations: christrb@aol.com or 310.540.1722
The Mutual Ministry of St. Andrew's Torrance and Christ Church Redondo Beach will screen The Philadelphia Eleven, a documentary about the first eleven Episcopal women to be ordained to the priesthood in 1974. All are invited to attend. The showing will be in the parish hall and refreshments will be served. Donations are welcome. Reservations recommended by Nov. 27.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3, 4 p.m.
An Advent Service of Lessons and Carols
Church of the Epiphany
5450 Churchwood Drive, Oak Park 91377
Information here or music@tcote.org or 818.991.4797
This service tells a story of God’s work through history through scripture, anthems, and congregational song. It begins with the story of the fall of humanity, continues through the prophets assuring God’s people of God’s love and promising a coming Messiah, and concludes with the Annunciation and Mary’s joyful song of praise. Epiphany’s Parish Choir and Schola lead this service.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3, 5 p.m.
An Advent Festival of Lessons & Carols
All Saints Episcopal Church
504 North Camden Drive, Beverly Hills 90210
Information here or 310.275.0123 or info@allsaintsbh.org
All Saints’ Choir performs this seasonal favorite including: Advent Responsory by Richard Marlow; "Adam lay ybounden" by Philip Ledger, "Comfort, Comfort Ye My People," arr. Goudimel; "E’en so, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come" by Paul Manz; "The Cherry Tree Carol," arr. John Scott; "Dancing Day" by Craig Phillips (music director at All Saints' Church), "A Hymn to the Mother of God" by John Tavener; "Magnificat in G" by C. V. Stanford; and Vesper Responsory by G. P. Palestrina.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3, 5 p.m.
Advent Lessons and Carols
St. Wilfrid of York Episcopal Church
18631 Chapel Lane, Huntington Beach 92646
The choir and clergy of St. Wilfrid’s invite you to participate in Advent Lessons & Carols, a beautiful and inspired candlelit evening to begin the season of Advent.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3, 6 p.m.
Classical Sundays at Six: Samuel Nebyu, violin
St. James in-the-City Episcopal Church
3903 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90010
Information here
With Jacopo Giacopuzzi, piano; YuEun Kim, violin; Sung Chang, piano will perform Les Caquets - Rondo en Staccato by Chevalier de Saint-Georges; Sonata in A Major, Opus 47 “Kreutzer” by Ludwig Van Beethoven and La Jota Aragonesa, Opus 5, by Jose White. Ethiopian-Hungarian violinist Samuel Nebyu has performed as a soloist at international music festivals and venues throughout the world. Read more about this artist here.
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 12 – 2 p.m.
SAGES Lunch & Speaker Series
All Saints' Episcopal Church
504 N. Camden Drive, Beverly Hills
Reservations: Gflores@alllsaintsbh.org
Marilyn Wells, founder of Stories from the Front Line. A psychologist by training, Dr. Wells leads a citizen-based outreach organization to the homeless in the city of Los Angeles. Her team is tireless in their pursuit of various solutions to homelessness in our local communities. Come hear her understanding of the biggest issues facing the unhoused, as well as the most viable solutions. Suggested donation: $15. SAGES is All Saints' fellowship ministry for mature adults. We gather two Thursdays a month for lunch, friendship, prayer and engaging presentations.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 8 p.m.
'O magnum mysterium': Choir of Clare College, Cambridge University
St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church
1031 Bienveneda Avenue, Pacific Palisades
Tickets/Information here MusicGuildOnline.org or 310.573.7422
A survey of more than five centuries of beloved choral repertoire appropriate for the Advent and Christmas seasons, including settings of the text "O magnum mysterium" (O great mystery) by Spanish composer Cristóbal Morales (16th century) and more contemporary settings by Francis Poulenc and Morten Lauridsen. Also featured on the program will be carols from seventeenth-century France and Germany, plus seasonal works by Herbert Howells, John Tavener, John Rutter, Will Todd and Lucy Walker. Tickets: $45 or Music Guild Season pass. A free pre-concert lecture offered by Music Guild president Tom Neenan will begin at 7:10 p.m.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Spiritual Retreat for Women: The Desert Mothers
Trinity Episcopal Church
2400 N. Canal Street, Orange
Reservations: 714.528.2995
Julie Mussche, a spiritual director with the Center for Spiritual Development in Orange, will lead a half-day spiritual retreat for women on the subject of desert mothers. She will use the books The Way To Discernment by Elizabeth Liebert and The Desert Mothers by Mary Earle. Co-sponsored by Church of the Blessed Sacrament, Placentia. Cost is $35, which includes continental breakfast and lunch. Cash and checks (payable to Blessed Sacrament Church, with "Women's Retreat" in the memo area) will be accepted at the door.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10, 4:15 p.m.
Advent Service of Lessons and Carols
St. James in-the-City Episcopal Church
3903 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90010
Information here
Patterned after the ever-popular service of Nine Lessons and Carols originating from King’s College, Cambridge, England, this service on the Second Sunday of Advent is offered by the Choir of Saint James. Selections include; Advent Responsory by Richard Marlow; "This is the Truth from Above" by Ralph Vaughan Williams; "Vis Aeternitatis" by James Buonemani (music director at St. James'); "My Lord has Come" by Will Todd; "Alleluya, a New Work" by William Mathias; "I Wonder as I Wander" by Aaron McDermid; "Angelus ad Virginem" by Andrew Carter; "The Shepherd’s Carol" by Bob Chilcott; "O Magnum Mysterium" by Morten Lauridsen.
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 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.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Pasadena Symphony Orchestra Holiday Candlelight Concert
All Saints Episcopal Church
132 N. Euclid Avenue, Pasadena
Information/Tickets here
Featuring the Donald Brinegar Singers and JPL Chorus, Los Angeles Children's Chorus, L.A. Bronze Handbell Ensemble, soloist Jamal Moore and conductor Jenny Wong. Top off your holiday season and enjoy fully reserved seating arrangements in the architecturally exquisite and acoustically sonorous All Saints Church. Tickets: $65 - $165.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 5 p.m.
A Christmas Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols
All Saints Episcopal Church
504 North Camden Drive, Beverly Hills 90210
Information here or 310.275.0123 or info@allsaintsbh.org
All Saints’ Choir, Parish Choir and Choristers; featuring beloved Christmas carols for
congregation & choir.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 6 p.m.
Classical Sundays at Six: Cristina Montes Mateo, harp & Friends
St. James in-the-City Episcopal Church
3903 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90010
Information here
With David Rejano Cantero, trombone; Susan Greenberg, flute; Judith Farmer, bassoon. Unanimous winner of the first prize in the XII Edition of the “Torneo Internazionale di Musica” (Rome, 2006) and the first prize in the International Harp Competition “V. Bucchi” (2009), Cristina Montes Mateo is recognized throughout the world as one of the leading harpists of her generation. Read more about the artist here.
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Events to be included in the online diocesan calendar and the Update may be emailed to editor@ladiocese.org. | |
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.
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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.
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EMPLOYMENT
Listings may be sent to news@ladiocese.org. There is no charge.
CORONA DEL MAR: Director of Music. Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church seeks a director of music to help us create inspiring and transformative liturgical experiences in the English Cathedral tradition. The successful candidate will be an outstanding musician, choral director, and organist, with a track record in cathedral music or a similar setting. At present, the position is part-time with hopes of increasing the position to full-time in the next couple of years. A full job description and application information can be found here.
COSTA MESA: Music Minister, St. John the Divine Episcopal Church. Working in conjunction with, and directly reporting to the rector, the Music Minister serves as organist/pianist and choir director. The Music Minister is encouraged to use traditional Episcopal hymns along with contemporary music, using a variety of hymnals, instruments and accommodating the abilities of volunteers. As this is a worship leadership position in our church, the qualified candidate must understand himself, or herself, as first and foremost a person who worships God in spirit and in truth (John 4:23). This is a non benefited part-time job position. A full job description with application information is here.
COSTA MESA: Parish Administrator, Saint John the Divine Episcopal Church. The Parish Administrative Assistant (AA) serves the church working directly with the rector of the parish. The AA is responsible for a wide variety of communication and administrative tasks and is the key contact (with the clergy) for groups using the facility, and visitors. The non-benefited position is approximately 15 hours a week, currently Tuesday-Thursdays, 10 - 3 p.m. A full job description with application information is here.
MANHATTAN BEACH: Choir Section Leaders, Trinity Lutheran Church. Nine month contract – Saturday morning rehearsal 9-11 a.m. Sunday morning 9 a.m. call for 10 a.m. service. Also Christmas, Holy Week, and Easter. Benefits as per California employment law. Compensation is essentially $100 a week on a per-call basis. Solo opportunities as well. Looking for good readers and strong singers to thrive in a vocally healthy and creative environment. For questions, or to set up an audition, please send resume and possible sound clip to Director of Music & Liturgy James Koenig; olympicrange@msn.com or text 323.309.9532.
PASADENA: Childcare staff. All Saints Church is seeking two part-time employees to care for groups of five to 20 children on-site during Sunday services (8 a.m. - 1 p.m.). Hours will vary during other days of the week, usually focused around afternoons and evenings depending on program status and family needs. Total hours per week are a minimum of 5 on Sunday, and will not exceed a total of 8 hours per week. A full job description is here.
SANTA MONICA: Music Director. St. Augustine by-the-Sea, an inclusive and progressive Episcopal Church, is seeking a creative and dynamic music director to lead its music program. An organist and adult choir are in place. The music director will select choral offerings and help plan music and manage the church's music program, rehearsing and directing the choir. Full job description is here. Compensation: $25,000+. Starts Summer 2023 (negotiable). Send resume and references to the Rev. Nathan Rugh, rector, at nate@saint-augustine.org.
TUSTIN: Sexton. St. Paul's Episcopal Church. 25 hours/week. The sexton serves to maintain a high standard of cleanliness and readiness of Church facilities to enable the work and ministry of the congregation and to create a pleasant atmosphere for members, guests, and staff. Job description here. Contact: administrator@stpauls.org.
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The Episcopal News Update is published on Wednesday afternoons. News items, job listings, calendar items, questions and comments may be sent to editor@ladiocese.org. Weekly deadline is Tuesday at 12 p.m. Photos are welcome: please include them as email attachments (rather than embedded in a document). To subscribe, click here.
— Janet Kawamoto, editor
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