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10th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 15)
Sunday, August 14, 2022
SCRIPTURE READINGS
During Ordinary time, "Track 1" is utilized.
Isaiah 5:1-7
Psalm 80:1-2, 8-18
Hebrews 11:29-12:2
Luke 12:49-56
Preacher: The Reverend Ryan D. Newman
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Sunday, August 14
Neighbors 4 Neighbors
1:30 PM & 5:00 PM
Holy Nativity Episcopal Church
Saturday, August 20
Neighbors 4 Neighbors
9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Campus Wide
Monday, August 22
Vestry Meeting
7:00 PM
Zoom
Wednesday, August 24
TED Talk Wednesdays - Education Forum
7:45 PM
Luther Hall & Zoom
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Bible and Breakfast
Tuesdays | 9:30 AM
Luther Hall & Zoom
Midweek Eucharist
Tuesdays | 6:00 PM
Sanctuary
Evening Prayer
Wednesday | 7:00 PM
Luther Hall & Zoom
Education Forum
Wednesday | 7:30 PM
Luther Hall & Zoom
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Dear St. Bede's,
As you likely know by now, Bishop John Taylor has called me to serve on his staff as the Executive Director of the Commission on Schools for the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles (see article below). In this role, I will work with all our schools in the Diocese, especially with key leaders like heads of school, preschool directors, chaplains, senior administrators, and admissions staff. In addition, there is a consulting relationship with the Commission Office and the Episcopal schools in the Diocese of San Diego. Finally, I will have numerous opportunities to work with my colleagues at the National Association of Episcopal Schools and schools throughout the country.
I will continue to serve as St. Bede's Interim Pastor through my contract period (September 30). The Vestry and I are discussing the option to extend my role later into the fall if the congregation has not called a new rector. I have assured the Vestry that I will not abandon St. Bede's.
Even though I have this new position, I plan to keep my usual time commitment to St. Bede's of around 20 hours a week. The most noticeable impact might be my inconsistent participation in Tuesday's Bible and Breakfast due to some scheduling conflicts. However, I will continue to attend meetings, lead education, offer office hours on Tuesdays, celebrate and preach on Sundays and Tuesdays, assist with pastoral care, continue working with the search committee, and begin to train others to take on my communication and technology responsibilities in preparation for my departure when you call your new rector.
I am excited about this new opportunity and greatly appreciate your support. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Faithfully,
The Reverend Ryan D. Newman
Interim Pastor
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WEDNESDAY EDUCATION IN AUGUST | |
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TED Talk Wednesdays in August
The Wednesday Night Education Forum will feature some extraordinary speakers via Ted Talks during the final three Wednesdays in August (17th, 24th, & 31st). An open-ended discussion will follow the Ted Talk.
Each session will begin at 7:45 PM and will be preceded by the Office of Evening Prayer at 7:00 PM. Each session will be offered in a hybrid format (Luther Hall and Zoom).
This Wednesday's presentation will be "The Power of Vulnerability" by Brené Brown. In this 2010 TED Talk, Brené Brown studies human connection--our ability to empathize, belong, love. In a poignant, funny talk, she shares a deep insight from her research, one that sent her on a personal quest to know herself as well as to understand humanity.
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The annual backpack project at St. Bede’s is an outreach activity that has been popular since
2016, when we were first invited to partner with First AME church in the University Park
neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Almost every summer, we’ve been able to gather in some manner to shop for supplies,
organize an “assembly” event and enjoy a meal afterward, and this year was no exception.
Thanks to the generosity of our parish, we were able to fill 40 backpacks—15 for elementary
school students, 15 for middle school students, and 15 for high schoolers. Each of the high
school backpacks includes a graphing calculator.
It all runs like clockwork, thanks to the efforts of Janet Hartley, who is amazingly organized and wonderfully patient. On Wednesday of last week, parishioners assembled everything in about an hour – an effort that was followed by fellowship and a potluck dinner on our patio.
The backpacks will be delivered to First AME this week, and we are already talking about 2023.
Thank you to everyone!
- Alice Short
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How To Lead When You Don’t Know Where You’re Going
Tuesdays | 7:00 PM | Luther Hall & Zoom
September 6 - October 18
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When a church shifts from an ending to a new beginning, it can be a daunting challenge but also a huge opportunity. What happens when the old way of doing things no longer works but a way forward is not yet clear?
Church growth, building family-centered ministries, raising up new leaders, financial sustainability, welcoming a new rector... These issues, and many more, are front-and-center in the life of all Episcopal congregations, especially those in a transition process.
The St. Bede's Fall Education Series will be a 7-part series based on the book by Susan Beaumont, "How To Lead When You Don’t Know Where You’re Going" Leading in a Liminal Season." Whether you are currently a "leader" at St. Bede's or not, this education series is designed for everyone who wants to see St. Bede's thrive in the years to come.
The series will be at 7:00 PM on Tuesdays (September 6, 13, 20, 27, October 4, 11, & 18). It will be in the hybrid format (Luther Hall and Zoom). Eucharist will proceed each session at 6:00 PM in the Sanctuary. We invite you to join us. To assist with planning purposes, we kindly ask that you register for the series.
About the Author:
Susan Beaumont is a consultant, coach, author and spiritual director. Susan has worked with hundreds of congregations and denominational bodies across the United States and in Canada. She is known for her ground-breaking work in the leadership dynamics of congregations.
Before establishing her own practice, Susan worked for nine years as a Senior Consultant with the Alban Institute. Susan has also served on the faculty of two business schools, teaching graduate level courses in leadership, management and organizational behavior. She has corporate experience in human resource management and organizational development. She currently teaches at Wesley Theological Seminary.
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Ryan Newman appointed executive director of diocese’s Commission on Schools
by Janet Kawamoto
The Rev. Ryan Newman has been called as executive director of the Diocese of Los Angeles’ Commission on Schools, Bishop John Harvey Taylor announced Aug. 3.
Newman, who will begin his new duties on August 9, is currently interim rector of St. Bede’s Church, Los Angeles. He succeeds Canon Serena Beeks, who is retiring this summer after 34 years in Episcopal School leadership in the diocese.
“ I am deeply grateful and honored that Bishop Taylor has called me to serve as the next executive director of the Commission on Schools,” Newman told The Episcopal News. “Following in the footsteps of two dear mentors and extraordinary servants to Episcopal schools, Canon Serena Beeks and Canon Merrily Dunlap, I look forward to faithfully serving our amazing schools in the Diocese of Los Angeles.”
Selected after a nationwide search, Newman has served at schools in California and Hawaii, including St. Margaret’s School, San Juan Capistrano, as chaplain, technology and media specialist and webmaster; Campbell Hall, North Hollywood (2002 to 2013), as a teacher, high school advisor, sports coach, diversity coordinator and chaplain before becoming director of operations; and as rector at All Saints Episcopal School and Preschool in Kauai.
“We’re blessed indeed to have Ryan coming aboard at the Commission on Schools,” said Taylor. “He’s an expert on school-church relationships, with a deep and passionate commitment to the inclusive principles of Episcopal identity. Our educators, as well as missions and parishes with schools on campus, will have an energetic ally and proven problem-solver to call on at St. Paul’s Commons.”
Newman also served as dean of St. James’ Cathedral in the Diocese of San Joaquin from 2018 to 2020, where he helped rebuild the church and diocese’s ministry after the Episcopal diocese prevailed in a lengthy legal dispute with a breakaway Anglican group over properties. He was rector of All Saints Church in Kauai from 2013 to 2018, where he oversaw a 48% growth in average Sunday attendance, stabilized church finances, rebuilt the Sunday school program, developed Hawaii’s first Laundry Love program and launched a capital campaign that raised funds to repair and update church facilities, in addition to his leadership in the preschool.
Newman is a graduate of St. Margaret’s School, San Juan Capistrano. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science at USC, followed by a master of divinity degree from Virginia Theological Seminary. He is a doctoral candidate in education at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois; his dissertation focus is diversity, equity, inclusion and justice in independent schools.
He was ordained to the diaconate in June 2002 and to the priesthood in January 2003 by the late Bishop J. Jon Bruno.
From 1995 to January 2000 Newman was executive director of a nonprofit that produces a summer camp for special-needs children. He has been an active member of numerous diocesan, clergy, school and interfaith organizations, including the National Association of Episcopal Schools and the California Association of Independent Schools. He was a member of the board of directors of Hillsides, a diocesan institution that serves at-risk children and families, from 2010 to 2013. He also is founding principal of Rite One Consulting, an “Episcopal-centric” consulting firm serving schools, churches and nonprofit organizations.
Newman and his wife, Erin, a board-certified pediatrician and doctor of internal medicine at U.C. Irvine, live in Laguna Niguel with their daughter Alessandra, a student at St. John’s Episcopal School in Rancho Santa Margarita, and two pound puppies, Lucy and Olivia.
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VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED THIS SUNDAY!
August 14| 1:30 PM & 5:00 PM
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Grass Roots Neighbors is a volunteer community organization. They meet the immediate needs of our neighbors experiencing food and housing insecurity. GRN mobilizes to fill the gaps in existing services by providing assistance with love and respect. The organization's vision is to be a community effectively involved in ending poverty.
Among their outreach programs, GNR cooks and delivers a hot meal every Sunday to various encampments on the Westside. Once a month, St. Bede's with Holy Nativity assists GNR with preparing and providing meals. There are now four different volunteer time slots:
- 2 - 4 PM (mostly chopping of fruits and veggies)
- 4 - 6 PM (mainly packaging food)
- 6 - 8:30 PM (loading and distributing the food)
- 7:30 - 10:30 PM (distributing food in Venice by bike)
GNR utilizes the kitchen facilities at Holy Nativity Episcopal Church.
GNR, Holy Nativity, and St. Bede's have created a Google Sign-Up Form to assist with monthly volunteer coordination. Please click the button below to access the volunteer sign-up form.
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Spirit Sunday Concert (July 31)
Katie Thiroux Trio
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FROM THE EPISCOPAL NEWS
A newsletter serving the Diocese of LA
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After division and heroic effort, Lambeth Conference concludes with hope
[The Episcopal News – August 8, 2022] The Lambeth Conference of 2022, themed “God’s Church for God’s World,” concluded on Aug. 7 with more unity than seemed possible considering the contention of its first few days.
Bishops from around the church have reported that they emerged hopeful from the two-week meeting; despite disagreements, especially over human sexuality, they found the meeting of bishops from around the Anglican Communion useful in developing relationships, increasing their understanding of the challenges with which provinces in 160 countries must contend, and emphasizing the unity of their faith in Jesus Christ in all its expressions.
There were moments of palpable unity in prayer, said Bishop John Harvey Taylor of Los Angeles, who reported daily from the conference on his Facebook page and blog. “This afternoon, the Holy Spirit’s warm breath came fully among us and swept almost 650 bishops to our feet to pray together, to be the body of Christ in unity,” he wrote on Aug. 2. “It happened right after the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, had stated yet again that we are of two minds on marriage equity, pro and con, with each perspective rooted in sincerely held beliefs about doctrine and Holy Scripture.”
Speaking Aug. 7 in his final keynote address at the University of Kent before the conference’s closing service in Canterbury Cathedral, Welby asked, “How should we act? Above all in relationship. That is the first and greatest call… because it is the scriptural call.”
Describing the Anglican Communion, Welby asked, “Is it argumentative? Oh yes. Is it diverse? Immensely. Is it God’s holy people? Certainly. Let us go out together in obedience – sent out, as God’s church for God’s world.”
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Churches become art hubs as space-sharing website offers congregations off-hours revenue
Blocks away from the Empire State Building, a stunning, mid-19th-century Gothic-style brick church is nestled between steel skyscrapers in New York City’s NoMad neighborhood. The Church of the Transfiguration — affectionately known as “The Little Church” by its congregants — is home to an active Episcopal community and is a national landmark. The basement of the rectory was a stop on the Underground Railroad, and the church gave sanctuary to several dozen Black folks under attack during the Civil War draft riots.
But like many century-old churches, Church of the Transfiguration is struggling due to the cost of upkeep — plus the trials of COVID-19.
“The problem is that, particularly in New York, congregations are housed in large, historic properties, with large amounts of deferred maintenance,” nonprofit leader Kate Toth told Religion News Service. “At the same time, membership in most religious communities is declining. Those are two difficult trends to square.”
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With same-sex marriage in the spotlight, where does it stand across the Anglican Communion?
The Rev. David Sweeney has been an Episcopal priest for more than half his life. He’s been an actor even longer.
Sweeney is rector of Calvary Episcopal Church in Seaside, Oregon, where he has served since 1999. He also has about 60 shows under his belt as a regular performer with Coaster Theatre Playhouse in nearby Cannon Beach. His latest role is Mr. Boddy in the community theater’s production of “Clue: The Musical,” which opens Aug. 13.
“I’m not necessarily a creative writer, but I can be creative in my performing,” Sweeney told Episcopal News Service. “It’s an outlet for me. It’s a good community of people.” He also has long been drawn to acting because of “the challenge of creating a character which isn’t me, the whole process of living out that play with your fellow actors.”
Sweeney, 65, is a lifelong Episcopalian. He grew up in suburban Chicago, Illinois, and first got the acting bug while performing in middle school and high school productions in the small city of McHenry near the Wisconsin state line. “South Pacific,” “Arsenic and Old Lace” and “Fiddler on the Roof” were among the first shows on his resume.
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