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February 23, 2020

diocesela.org/episcopal-news

Bishop Taylor gives invocation at L.A. County Board of Supervisors meeting

Above: Bishop John Harvey Taylor of the Diocese of Los Angeles asks the blessing of God on the work of the government "for the sake of all your people - especially the weakest and most vulnerable" in his invocation at the Feb. 18 meeting of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Supervisor Hilda Solis of the First District presents Taylor with a certificate of appreciation (at left).

Prayer for Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors meeting on Feb. 18, 2020:

God of all creation, on this day the Church remembers your great reformer Martin Luther, who died 474 years ago on Feb. 18. Although gravely burdened by the prejudices of his time, Martin invited people of faith to begin to think for themselves. And he proclaimed the terrifying idea that God didn’t exist to glorify the church, but that the church existed to glorify God and care for God’s people.

Gracious God, may all of us who work in human institutions remember Martin Luther today and every day. Whether we serve in faith institutions, private industry, or government, when we are at our best, we do our work not for our own sake, but the sake of all your people. Especially the weakest and most vulnerable. Especially those, like Jesus, who will have nowhere to lay their heads tonight. Even the prisoner, whom you command us to treat humanely.

God of all, bless and inspire all these your servants at the County of Los Angeles as they make our community just a little safer and more decent today and every day by virtue of their devoted and creative work.

We pray in your mighty name. Amen.

Photos: Janet Kawamoto

Going to the Ministry Fair?

Time to register!

Clergy and lay members of the diocesan community are invited to register as soon as possible for the Diocesan Ministry Fair, to take place on Saturday, March 7 at Campbell Hall School in Studio City. Congregations are encouraged to send teams of leaders to take advantage of this opportunity to acquire new skills for ministry and personal growth.

 

There is no charge to attend the fair and its workshops, but registration is required for planning and security reasons. Attendees will need to print out their confirmation letters to show at the gate for entry to the parking lot. They do not need to commit to specific workshops in advance.

 

To register, click here or on the Ministry Fair logo above.

 

Some 35 workshops will be presented at the fair, covering a wide range of church-related topics, from spirituality and Christian formation to social media, church finance, community organizing and more.

The Ministry Fair will begin with coffee and registration at 8 a.m., followed by opening prayer at 8:45 a.m., workshop sessions at 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m., and Eucharist at 12 p.m. Two additional workshop sessions will be offered at 1:30 and 2:45 in the afternoon.

Exhibitors from diocesan ministries also will take part in the fair.

Complimentary coffee and snacks will be available during registration in the morning, but attendees will need to bring a sack or picnic lunch. Picnic tables are available on campus.

For additional information, or to arrange for special physical accommodation, contact Samantha Wylie at [email protected].

A list of Ministry Fair workshops and presenters is here.

Diocesan Lenten program set to engage households in reducing carbon impact

All Southland Episcopalians are encouraged to join a churchwide initiative engaging households and congregations in reducing carbon impact, conserving energy, and saving money by taking sustainable actions outlined at www.sustainislandhome.org. The goal is to have as many households as possible within the Diocese of Los Angeles participate by logging in, creating a profile, and taking recommended actions that are in turn aggregated to reflect progress at both diocesan and churchwide levels.

An online table displays results comparatively by diocese. Pioneered by the San Francisco-based Diocese of California, the Carbon Tracker program has to date documented the reduction of 198 tons of CO2e in that region, representing a savings of more than $25,000 in a joint effort of some 375 households.

Los Angeles Bishop Diocesan John Harvey Taylor and Bishop Suffragan Diane Jardine Bruce, together with Canon to the Ordinary Melissa McCarthy who regularly champions efforts addressing the current climate crisis, urge parishioners and clergy across six Southern California counties to log in and participate in this effort, especially during the coming Lenten season beginning with Ash Wednesday, Feb. 26, and continuing through Maundy Thursday, April 9, as well as the subsequent weeks leading up to Earth Day.

Read more here.

Local deacon awarded churchwide grant for video project

The Rev. Anthony Keller, St. George’s Church, La Canada, who has been awarded one of 16 Evangelism Grants from The Episcopal Church for his “That Deacon on Youtube” video outreach ministry. At its February 2020 meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah, the church's Executive Council ratified awards of more than $66,000 in Evangelism Grant funding to 16 Episcopal communities. The Episcopal Evangelism Grants program, designed to fund local and regional evangelism efforts, began in 2017 as a result of the 2015 General Convention’s increased investment in evangelism galvanized by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry. Grants provide up to $2,000 for an individual congregation and up to $8,000 for multi-church, diocesan and regional collaborations. The committee received 74 applications from across the church, Anderson said, and requests far exceeded the funding allocated in the budget. The next application cycle will open this spring, and each diocese or organization whose application was not funded in this cycle has been invited to reapply. In advance of the 2020 grant deadline, the Executive Council Episcopal Evangelism Grants Committee will offer a webinar and other support to potential applicants. Read more here.

Simply Mary: Meditations on the Real Life of the Mother of Christ

By Jim Prothero

Resource Publications, Eugene, Oregon 2020

The Virgin Mary has appeared to thousands and performed miracles from the early fifth century until now. Millions around the world are devoted to her. But have we wrapped so much elevating imagery around her that we've lost the real woman who gave birth to Our Lord? What do we really know about her from Scripture, and how have we made this first-century peasant woman into a sort of glowing, semi-goddess? And while we're at it, how has the divinity of her Son obscured our clear sight of her? Simply Mary: Meditations on the Real Life of the Mother of Christ answers these questions in a combination of reflection and biography, exploring things we can know and can surmise from the record that have not been brought up before now. With both the eyes of faith and of a realistic, historical appraisal, this book addresses the most important question that has never been answered: who was the woman, Mary of Nazareth? Before she can be the Mother of God, she has to be a woman. Jim Prothero is an adjunct professor of English at Vanguard University of Southern California, director of the Southern California C.S. Lewis Society, and a novelist and artist. More information is here.

Adel M. 'Del' Martinez

August 9, 1934 - January 2, 2020

Adel Maria “Del” Martinez, who gained regional and national recognition as executive director of Neighborhood Youth Association (NYA) from 1972 to 1998, died Jan. 2 at age 85 after many months of debilitating illness. Her life and achievements for NYA, an institution of the Diocese of Los Angeles since 1906, will be celebrated at a memorial service set for 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 21, at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 580 Hilgard Ave., Los Angeles 90024. All are welcome. Activist and advocate, Martinez worked her entire adult life to improve the lives and expand opportunities for minority groups, for children, their families, and all disenfranchised people that she could help. Read more here.

Lent Madness 2020: The Saintly Smackdown returns

“What are you doing for Lent?” In the run-up to the church’s holy season of repentance and renewal, this question echoes in parish halls and dining rooms, pews and study halls. One exciting and life-giving answer to the proverbial question is “Lent Madness!” That’s because, for the eleventh straight year, people of faith the world over are filling out brackets and gearing up for the 2020 “saintly smackdown.” With its unique blend of competition, learning, and humor, Lent Madness allows participants to be inspired by the ways in which God has worked through the lives of saintly souls across generations and cultures. Throughout Lent, thirty-two saints will battle to win the coveted Golden Halo. Based loosely on the NCAA basketball tournament of a similar name, this online devotion pits saints against one another in a bracket as voters choose their favorites throughout this penitential season. Read more here.

'Make Me an Instrument of Peace: A Guide to Civil Discourse' online course debuts ahead of 2020 engagement

The Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations and Department of Faith Formation, in partnership with ChurchNext, a ministry of Forward Movement, has released “Make Me an Instrument of Peace: A Guide to Civil Discourse.” This five-part online curriculum covers the following topics: civil discourse in context, tenets for civil discourse, values-based conversations, the complexities of policy, and sacred space for debate.

Peacebuilding involves learning from and working with others, while also sharing different perspectives with humility and vulnerability. Bishop Curry says, “Love your Democratic neighbor, love your Republican neighbor, love your independent neighbor.” Civil discourse helps us to understand how we can engage with people who have different views from our own and lays out the value for doing so. This guide to civil discourse curriculum aims to "enhance our ability to learn from and understand one another, and to apply that practice to public policy conversations," according to an announcement from The Episcopal Church. In ChurchNext’s online platform, participants receive weekly video lessons offered by a team of five leaders from across the Church. Following each video segment, participants are invited to engage in discussion and reflection on thought-provoking questions in a forum with other people from around the country. This approach allows for a balance of individual engagement with the material and open conversation with others who are learning along with each participant. Read more here.

Jonathan Montaldo will lead retreat focused on Thomas Merton, Mary Oliver

Stillpoint: The Center for Christian Spirituality, will present a retreat with Jonathan Montaldo titled "Thomas Merton and Mary Oliver: Mentors For Entering the School of Our Lives“ on Saturday, March 14, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. at All Saints Church, Pasadena. According to the retreat announcement, "We will ruminate in common upon Merton's teaching a way of prayer for making an index for your spiritual autobiography, a way of praying he taught his novices that resonates with Ignatius of Loyola’s Contemplatio ad Amorem and the Buddhist Metta, loving-kindness, meditation. Mary Oliver's poems instigate a way of praying with our bodies at attention to finding God in all our life's things." Our work, she wrote, is 'loving the world.' We shall develop exercises for us and our spiritual directees to pray, as Merton taught, "out of the roots of our own lives." Presenter Jonathan Montaldo has edited or co-edited many volumes of Thomas Merton's work including The Intimate Merton, Dialogues with Silence, A Year with Thomas Merton, and Choosing to Love the World. Cost is $68 ($78 with lunch. Limited scholarships are available. To register, click here.

Singers sought for annual Women's Evensong in Monrovia

St. Luke's Church, Monrovia, is seeking singers for its 13th annual Women's Evensong Invitational on Sunday, March 15 at 4 p.m. Music to be performed includes the trio from J.S. Bach's Magnificat and service music by Kent Bennett Jones, St. Luke's minister of music. "We would like to involve women from as many parishes as possible," said Jones. "Some sight reading is necessary, as rehearsal time is limited." Singers will rehearse at 12:30 p.m. on Sundays, March 1 and 8, as well as the day of the Evensong. A reception will follow the service. For information, contact Jones at [email protected]. St. Luke's Church is located at 122 South California Avenue, Monrovia 91016.

Prospective Holy Land pilgrims invited to meet in Riverside

The Rev. Canon Kelli Grace Kurtz will host an information meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 6 p.m. for a Holy Land pilgrimage planned for Dec. 28, 2020 - Jan. 8, 2021. The meeting will take place at All Saints Church, 3847 Terracina Drive, Riverside 92506. Canon Iyad Qumri, Palestinian-born certified tour guide and an honorary canon of the Diocese of Los Angeles, will lead the pilgrimage with his son Rami Qumri, also a certified guide. Canon Qumri has led many pilgrimage groups from the Los Angeles diocese, including all of the diocesan youth pilgrimages. For additional information and to register for the information meeting, contact Kurtz at [email protected].

Called to the Wall 2020 planned for March 28

Called to the Wall, the annual pilgrimage to the U.S. – Mexico border in support of immigrants’ rights sponsored by the dioceses of Los Angeles and San Diego, will be held this year on Saturday, March 28. The pilgrimage group will travel by car caravan with stops at several churches along the way, and conclude at the border. Plans are being finalized; watch The Episcopal News Update for more information.

Camp Stevens opens registration for summer sessions

Camp Stevens has opened registration for its summer programs for children and teens. Offerings include:

In addition, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Harvest Weekend, and Thanksgiving family camps will offer lodging, food and activities for all ages. For more information about Camp Stevens offerings, see the brochure here or visit campstevens.org.

Echo Park exhibit features paintings by veteran priest Warner Traynham

“Abstractions in Oil,” an exhibit of paintings by the Rev. Canon Warner Traynham, retired rector of St. John's, Los Angeles, will be on view at St. Paul’s Commons through March 31. Selected paintings are available for purchase from the artist. St. Paul’s Commons is located at 840 Echo Park Ave., Los Angeles 90026, with two levels of free secured parking. For further information, email [email protected] or call 213.482.2040, ext. 240. Read more here.

End-of-life vigil companion training to be offered in Long Beach

Episcopal Communities & Services will offer "By Your Side" end-of-life vigil companion training in five 2-hour sessions between Feb. 20 and March 19 at St. Thomas' Church, Long Beach. The By Your Side program trains volunteers to be a compassionate presence in the lives of those nearing the end of life. The training will take place on five successive Thursdays, 7 - 9 p.m. There is no requirement for those who complete the program to volunteer as end-of-life companions; however, at the completion of the course a practicum and placement will be offered. The training covers the practical medical, emotional and spiritual challenges of the end-of-life process, and provides participants with the knowledge and empathy to care for those who are dying while respecting all religious or spiritual beliefs. A fee of $70, which includes all materials, is due at the first session. Scholarships are available. For information, see the flyer here, or contact Susan Brown, [email protected] or 626.403.5424 for information.

Girls invited to GFS 'Not So Quiet Day' March 14

Girls Friendly Society Los Angeles will hold a "Not So Quiet Day" for girls ages 5 and up on Saturday, March 14, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Trinity Church, Redlands. Using the "Signs of Life" curriculum from the Society of St. John the Evangelist, girls will look at how water, light, food, shelter and community shape and transform people. The day's program also includes Eucharist and lunch. Participants are asked to bring supplies for Healing Water Ministry, such as travel-size soap, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner and lotion, as well as sanitary products and underwear. There is no cost for the program. All girls are invited, whether or not they are members of GFS. To register, click here. Trinity Episcopal Church is located at 419 S. 4th Street, Redlands 92373. A flyer with more information is here.

Annual Lenten retreat will offer women opportunities to 'pray, play, praise'

"Pray, Play, Praise," the annual Women's Lenten Retreat sponsored by Bishop Suffragan Diane Jardine Bruce, will be held on Saturday, March 21, 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 1145 Valencia Mesa Drive, Fullerton 92833. The retreat will be "a day to relax, refresh spiritually and enjoy a series of workshops that encourage expansion of the way we relate and connect with each other and God," according to the event announcement. A registration fee of $40 per person includes continental breakfast, snacks, lunch and workshop supplies. Scholarships are available. For information and to register, click here.

ECW Annual Meeting to be held in Alhambra

The 2020 annual meeting of the Diocese of Los Angeles' Episcopal Church Women will be held on Saturday, March 28 at Holy Trinity & St. Benedict’s Church in Alhambra (pictured at left). According to Christine Budzowski, diocesan ECW president, the board is working to line up speakers and program, which will be announced as soon as they are finalized. For information, contact Martha Watson at [email protected].

Restorative justice training offers tools for those seeking to address conflict, mend relationships

A Restorative Justice & Circle Process Training will be hosted on Saturday, March 28, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. at St. Michael & All Angels Church, Studio City. The training, cosponsored by Deanery 2, will be taught by leaders from the Center for Peacemaking at Fresno Pacific University. There is no charge for the training. A light breakfast and a lunch will be provided. Childcare is available for a small fee. For more information see the flyer here. To register, click here. Registration is limited to 50 participants. St. Michael and All Angels Church is located at 3646 Coldwater Canyon Avenue, Studio City 91604. For additional information, contact Hannah Bowman, event organizer, at [email protected]. Read more here.

Presiding Bishop Curry encourages support for 1000 Days of Love

Episcopal Relief & Development Sunday is March 1

The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church, encourages congregations and supporters to support the One Thousand Days of Love campaign through observance of Episcopal Relief & Development Sunday on March 1. Globally, 155 million children under the age of six are not reaching their full potential due to inadequate nutrition and healthcare. One Thousand Days of Love is a three-year, $3-million grassroots church-wide fundraising campaign dedicated to expanding Episcopal Relief & Development’s programs for children up to age six. The campaign launched in September 2019 and will run for 1,000 days, until May 31, 2022. Diocesan contact for Episcopal Relief & Development and the Thousand Days of Love campaign is Linda Allport of St. John’s Rancho Santa Margarita, [email protected] or 949.981.3404. Read more here.

High-school age Episcopalians invited to 2020 Episcopal Youth Event in Maryland

The Program Group on Youth & Young Adult Ministries invites high-school age Episcopalians to consider attending Episcopal Youth Event 2020, which will be held July 7 - 11 at the University of Maryland. Every three years young people from all over the world gather for a week of exploration, prayer and fun. This year's speakers, preachers, workshops and more will be keyed to the theme “Unite! ¡Unámonos!” and to Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's "Way of Love" initiative. To learn more about the event, including costs, scholarships and fundraising and more, and to register, click here.

Nuevo Amanecer Conference on Latino/Hispanic Ministries, May 12-15

Nuevo Amanecer, a biennial event that unifies and celebrates the Latino ministries from across The Episcopal Church, will have the honor of hosting Presiding Bishop Michael Curry at their May 12-15, 2020 gathering at Kanuga Conference Center in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Lay leaders, clergy, diocesan missioners, parish staff, church planters, and anyone else interested in expanding their knowledge by sharing best practices and exploring new methods of church growth, discipleship and evangelism, are invited to attend. Speakers include Damaris de Jesús and Bishop José McLaughlin. Read more here.

Women invited to Franciscan spirituality program in San Francisco

Companions in Franciscan Spirituality in San Francisco invites women over age 18 to its 10-day residential immersion programs in Franciscan Spirituality. The program, which is free of charge, includes studying Franciscan spirituality and living out of that spirituality by sharing in community life, worship and ministry in the church and wider community. Program dates in 2020 are April 3 - 13, July 3 - 13, and Oct. 2 - 12. For more information, contact Sr. Pamela Clare at [email protected].

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

By Your Side Vigil Companions Training (Session 1 of 5)

St. Thomas Episcopal Church

5306 E. Arbor Road, Long Beach

Information: 626.403.5424 or [email protected]

By Your Side Vigil Companions trains volunteers to be a compassionate presence in the lives of those nearing the end of life. Training is 10 hours over 5 weeks, on Thursday evenings. A fee of $70 is due on the first night of training; scholarships are available.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 7 p.m.

Overcoming Negative Thought Habits

St. Paul’s Church

1221 Wass Street, Tustin

Information: 714.544.3141

In this six-week class, the Rev. David Milligan will guide participants to "identify patterns of self-defeating habitual thinking a lay out a spiritual practice for changing the foundation of our thought processes, creating an energetic shift in our lives."

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 5 p.m. – SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 3 p.m.

Dreams as a Path to Deep Healing of the Soul

The Center for Spirituality in Ontario

1127 N San Antonio Avenue, Ontario 91762

Information/registration: Ashanti Smalls, [email protected]

Westerners have been raised to believe for the past few centuries that dreams have nothing to do with truth or with their spiritual life. However, early Christian literature bears witness to the spiritual importance of dreams, and in the 20th century the work of Carl Jung has reclaimed for dreams their rightful place in contemporary spirituality. In this workshop, participants will be led to explore the symbolism of their own dreams as a path to a surprising depth of healing. Suggested donation is $120; includes Friday supper, Saturday morning coffee and lunch. Reserve with a $40 non-refundable deposit. Scholarships available. The center (at Christ Church, Ontario) does not have facilities to accommodate guests overnight.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Lenten Theme: Falling in Love, with Brian McLaren

Trinity Church

1500 State Street, Santa Barbara

Information/Registration here

Brian McLaren, best-selling author, activist, and theologian, will lead a workshop structured around his new book, The Galapagos Islands, A Spiritual Journey. Cost is $20 ($23 by credit card); lunch will be provided. Books will be available for sale at the event.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Listening for the Heartbeat of God: Celtic Spirituality

Church of Our Saviour

535 W. Roses Road, San Gabriel 91775

Information here

Presented by Stillpoint: The Center for Christian Spirituality and led by J. Phillip Newell. The program will offer a look at spirituality for today, modeled on the vital characteristics of Celtic spirituality throughout the centuries.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 5 - 7 p.m.

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper

Sweetland Hall, All Saints Church

132 N. Euclid Avenue, Pasadena 91101

Information: Christine Cox, 626.583.2765 or [email protected]

Join us as we merge the Anglican tradition of Shrove Tuesday pancakes with the festive energy of the best Mardi Gras party in town. Gluten-free and sugar-free options available; along with children’s crafts and activities. Suggested donation: $5 Adults, $3 Kids (under 5 years free). Enjoy a fabulously festive intergenerational party with something for everyone!

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1-2 p.m.

Webinar: Accurate Count: Engage the 2020 Census

Information/registration here

Episcopal Migration Ministries will hold a webinar concerning the 2020 Census. "As an official partner of Census 2020, The Episcopal Church can help make the count as accurate as possible, but we need you to help us do that," says the event announcement. "The census count is critical to many issues that Episcopalians care about, including walking alongside immigrants." The webinar will give information on how individuals can engage the 2020 Census.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

By Your Side Vigil Companions Training (Session 2 of 5)

St. Thomas Episcopal Church

5306 E. Arbor Road, Long Beach

Information: 626.403.5424 or [email protected]

By Your Side Vigil Companions trains volunteers to be a compassionate presence in the lives of those nearing the end of life. Training is 10 hours over 5 weeks, on Thursday evenings. A fee of $70 is due on the first night of training; scholarships are available.

SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Restorative Justice & Circle Process Training

St. Michael & All Angels Church

3646 Coldwater Canyon Avenue, Studio City 91604

Information: [email protected]

Restorative justice is a model grounded in relationships that seeks to meet the needs of those who have been harmed, address conflict and restore relationships and community. The goal is for participants to develop skills to facilitate restorative justice work in their own contexts, and to leave the workshop prepared to guide a restorative justice circle. Cosponsored by Deanery 2, this training session will be taught by leaders from the Center for Peacemaking at Fresno Pacific University. There is no charge for the training. A flyer is here; registration is here.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Lenten Retreat: The Spiral and the Cross

St. Joseph Center, Spirituality Building

434 Batavia Street, Orange

Information/Registration here

Deirdre Ní Chinnéide, continuing the program from the prior day’s Celtic Concert, will lead “The Spiral and the Cross: Symbols of Hope through Challenging Times – A Lenten Retreat.” Drawing on the Celtic Christian heritage and spirituality, Chinnéide will weave together an experience to inspire, nourish and prepare participants for the Easter message of hope through poetry, scripture and worship.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Exploring Ministry with Chinese Culture and Communities

St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church

133 E. Graves Avenue, Monterey Park

Information/Reservations: the Rev. Peter Huang, [email protected]

New Community, the multicultural ministries program of the diocese, continues its series of Asian Immersion conversations in which lay and clergy leaders will learn more about and engage with Asian cultures and communities. Hosted by Bishop Suffragan Diane Jardine Bruce. Will include presentations and discussions on the diverse Chinese communities in Southern California. Participants also will explore how their congregations can be more present to the Chinese communities in their neighborhoods. The event is free and includes lunch. Reservations are required (use email above).

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 12 p.m.

Healing Lives Through the Beauty of Music

St. Luke the Physician Church

122 S. California Avenue, Monrovia

Information: [email protected]

A string quartet from the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music will perform a concert of chamber music, followed by a buffet luncheon in the church’s guild hall. The presentation, dedicated to parishioner Trish Gresham and other community members who are undergoing cancer treatment, is made possible by a grant from the Mari and Ed Edelman Charitable Fund for Music and Public Service. The event is free, and free-will offerings to fund nonprofit cancer research are welcome. Please notify if you plan to attend.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2 p.m.

Celebratory Service: Absalom Jones

St. Philip’s Episcopal Church

2800 Stanford Way, Los Angeles

Information: 323.232.3494

A service in celebration of Absalom Jones, first African-American priest in the Episcopal Church, will be held at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church. The “loving, liberating and life-giving” service, sponsored by the H. Belfield Hannibal chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians, will celebrate Jones’ life and ministry with lessons and spirituals. All are invited.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 4 p.m.

Solemn Choral Evensong

St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Palms

3647 Watseka Avenue, Los Angeles

St. Mary's Schola Marialis, under the direction of Sean Smith, will sing the Responses by Bernard Rose (1916-1996), Anglican chant by David Willcocks (1922-1993) and Gerald Hocken (1908-1979), Evening Service in F by George Dyson (1883-1964), and "O nata Lux" by Thomas Tallis (1505-1585). Evensong is offered on the fourth Sunday of each month at St. Mary's.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 7 p.m.

Concert: Weicheng Zhao and USC Thornton Chamber Singers

All Saints Church

132 N. Euclid Avenue, Pasadena 91101

Information/tickets: 213.821.5756 or [email protected]

Organist/Choirmaster Weicheng Zhao and the USC Thornton Chamber Singers will present Jean Langlais’ Messe Solenelle. Admission is free with a suggested donation of $20.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 7 p.m.

Taizé Service of Healing and Wholeness

St. Francis Episcopal Church

2200 Via Rosa, Palos Verdes Estates

Information: 310.375.4617

A meditative service that includes candlelight, periods of silence, chants and intercessory prayer with a prayer team leader. Taizé is a calming and beautiful form of sung contemplative prayer developed in an ecumenical monastery in France. Director of Music Jeannie Cobb, will lead the congregation in chanting, accompanied by Bob Backes and Alexander Milovanov on classical guitar and Clayton Cobb on mandolin. A reception with light refreshments in the Board Room will follow the service. Taizé services are offered throughout the year on the fourth Tuesday of each month. Donations are welcome.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 7:30 p.m.

Missa Mystica for Ash Wednesday

All Saints’ Church

504 N. Camden Drive, Beverly Hills 90210

310.275.0123 ext.112 or www.allsaintsbh.org

Craig Phillips, Communion Service in G and William Byrd, "Miserere mei, Deus."

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 6 p.m. -7 p.m.

Celtic Concert

St. Joseph Center, Spirituality Building

434 Batavia Street, Orange

Information here

Vocalist Deirdre Ní Chinnéide of Inis Mór, Ireland, will connect the audience to the power of Celtic Spirituality with an evening of Irish music and poetry, including selections from her new album “I Will Sing for You,” due for release in Ireland in 2020. A light reception will be held before the concert, beginning at 5 p.m. A spiritual retreat will be held on the following day; registration is requested for both the concert and the retreat.

SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 4 p.m.

Aria Marathon

St. Luke’s Church

525 E. 7th Street, Long Beach 90813

Information: 562.436.4047

This fundraiser for St. Luke’s music ministry is an afternoon of operatic solos and duets performed by singers from the St. Luke’s choir and the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at Cal State University, Long Beach. There is no charge for admission, but a free-will offering will be taken and raffle tickets will be sold for a chance to win two tickets to the Long Beach Symphony Pops Broadway Blockbusters concert on March 21.

SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 5 p.m.

Choral Evensong for Lent

All Saints’ Church

504 N. Camden Drive, Beverly Hills 90210

310.275.0123 ext.112 or www.allsaintsbh.org

With All Saints’ Choir, featuring works by Daniel Purcell and Philip Moore. A reception will follow.

SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 5 p.m.

Choral Evensong

St. Wilfrid of York Episcopal Church

18631 Chapel Lane, Huntington Beach 92646

Information: www.stwilfridschurch.org

Presented with the American Guild of Organists, Orange County Chapter. Music by American & British composers, including David Hogan and Gustav Holst; Craig Hella Johnson's Meet Me Here (Considering Matthew Shepard) and Philip Stopford's Beatitudes. A reception will follow the service.

SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 6 - 9 p.m.

Soul Force Sundays:

Revolutionary Spirituality & Music in the Latin America Consciousness

Church of the Epiphany

2808 Altura Street, Los Angeles (Lincoln Heights)

Information here www.soulforceproject.com

Featuring contemporary and traditional Son Jarocho by Laura Rebolloso, a founding member of one of the most innovative folk ensembles of Mexico, Son De Madera. A prolific composer, poet and social visionary, Rebolloso plays leona, jacana and sings original verses in the Jarocho style of Veracruz. The event also will honor the Rev. Richard Estrada and his legacy of community organizing and empowerment, and remember L.A. activist Ruben Salazar, pioneering reporter of the Chicano movement, who died during a protest against the Vietnam War.

SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 8 p.m.

Compline at the Cathedral

St. John's Cathedral

514 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles

Information: www.stjohnsla.org/compline

Thirty minutes of stillness, prayer, and song—bathed in calming candlelight—followed by food and fellowship. We are a welcoming and affirming community seeking to worship, pray, and connect to God and one another.

TRAVEL & PILGRIMAGE

Central Europe: Oberammergau Passion Play

September 2 - 14, 2020

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.

EMPLOYMENT

Listing information may be sent to [email protected]. Some documents, such as full job descriptions, are stored in an online Dropbox folder. It is not necessary to have a Dropbox account to download the files: select "Continue download" if the program invites you to create an account.

ALTADENA: Director of Christian Formation (all ages). St. Mark’s Church. Half-time with benefits; salary commensurate with experience. Director of Christian Formation will work with the rector, staff, and the Formation Committee to develop and implement a coordinated program of formation for all members of Saint Mark’s Church. A full job description is here. Contact: the Rev. Carri Patterson Grindon at [email protected]

BEVERLY HILLS: Chief of Staff, All Saints Church. The chief of staff manages all business and administrative affairs necessary to support All Saints’ ministries. Primary areas of responsibility include: finance, human resources, buildings and grounds, information technology, office administration, stewardship, communications and membership database. A full job description is here. Contact: [email protected]

BEVERLY HILLS: Assistant to the Rector, All Saints Church. The assistant to the rector supports the Rector administratively so that she may lead the parish most effectively. Responsibilities include calendar, scheduling, travel management, correspondence, meeting management, keeping parish records, etc. A full job description Is here. Contact: [email protected].

EL MONTE: Director of Development, Our Saviour Center. Plans, schedules, and implements moderate-sized, comprehensive fundraising projects and programs, including specific fundraising programs such as annual fund, grant writing, research, etc. May coordinate and oversee the work of support staff and/or volunteers. Demonstrates good judgment in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions. Position is expected to raise gift dollar amounts as established at each fundraiser specialization. Full job description here. Contact: Janet Fall, executive director, at [email protected]

LOS ANGELES: Staff Accountant. The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles is seeking a staff accountant who has strong general ledger skills. The job includes accounting for government contracts, maintaining records for mission congregations, bank reconciliations, and monthly journal entries. The ideal candidate is a hard worker who can easily navigate new financial accounting software systems, who communicates well, works well in a variety of situations, and who has a servant heart. Send resume and cover letter to [email protected].

LOS ANGELES (area): Technical/Administrative Assistant (part-time). Stillpoint: The Center for Christian Spirituality is seeking a person with an aptitude for technology and a desire for freedom and variety in his or her work. Details can be found here.

OJAI: Organist/Choir Director. St. Andrew’s Church is seeking an experienced person well-versed in both organ and choral conducting skills. This is a part-time, contracted position, and compensation is commensurate with experience. Individuals who have excellent musicianship, can work both independently and collaboratively, are creative, and demonstrate strong leadership skills are encouraged to apply. More information is here.

OXNARD: Party/Event Supervisor. All Saints/Todos los Santos Church is seeking an individual or individuals to help open, partially set up, supervise and clean up after events held at the church hall. Typically needed one to two Saturdays a month. If interested, please contact the Rev. Melissa Campbell-Langdell, [email protected].

PASADENA: Building and Grounds Manager, All Saints Church. The manager has responsibility for supervision of a staff of eight full-time and part-time employees; for planning, organizing and directing campus maintenance, repairs and major events; and for managing annual budgets for the department. Fully bilingual (English and Spanish) preferred. Full job description and application instructions are here.

SANTA BARBARA: Director of Music Ministries. All Saints-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church is seeking a full-time Director of Music Ministries/Organist or part-time Director of music ministries versatile in both modern and traditional sacred music. This position can be held by one person or by two people (distinct director of music ministries and organist). Application period closes on Monday, March 1. A full job description with application instructions is here.

SIERRA MADRE: Ministry Intern at Church of the Ascension. Seeking a driven and organized part-time ministry intern, 5(+) hours/week (Sunday mornings from 7:45-12:45). Job duties include assisting Minister to Young Persons with childcare and various youth service activities. As-needed assistance with various kitchen maintenance duties (including coffee hour duties and kitchen upkeep.) Submit resume and cover letter to: [email protected], ATTN: The Rev. Canon Michael A. Bamberger.