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6th Sunday after The Epiphany
Sunday, February 13, 2022
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Jeremiah 17:5-10
Psalm 1
1 Corinthians 15:12-20
Luke 6:17-26
Preacher: The Reverend Ryan D. Newman
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Saturday, February 12
Sisters Venue - Pairings of food and wine
7:00 PM - 9:30PM
Veilhaber Residence
Saturday, February 19
LA Neighbors4Neighbors
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
10:00 AM - 2:00PM (Client Hours)
St. Bede's
Friday, February 25
Beer and Brats
6:00 PM - 9:00PM
Mohler Residence
Sunday, February 27
Annual Meeting of the Congregation
11:30 AM
Sanctuary & Online
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Bible and Breakfast
Tuesdays | 9:30 AM
Currently on Zoom Only
Evening Prayer
Wednesday | 7:00 PM
Currently on Zoom Only
Education Forum
Wednesday | 7:45 PM
Currently on Zoom Only
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Hukilau, oil on canvas painting by Robert Lee Eskridge, c. 1940 | |
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During last Sunday’s sermon, I shared the story of the Hukilau, the ancient Hawaiian practice of fishing. It is a powerful illustration for us as we launch the search process for St. Bede’s fourth rector and seek to emerge from the pandemic hyper-focused upon St. Bede’s mission, ministries, outreach, and growth.
“A ‘ohe hana hui ke alu ‘ia.”
“No job is too big when done together.”
I want to revisit and summarize the roles, both the traditional role and application to our St. Bede’s community. Also, I want to invite you to reflect and discern what role you will play in the search process and St. Bede’s future. Everyone has a vital role to play!
If you did not get a chance to hear the sermon, I invite you to listen on Soundwaves from St. Bede’s Podcast or watch on our YouTube Channel.
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The Spotters
The Spotters leave the safety of the shore and head out into the open waters to look for fish. First, they carefully study the water’s movement and potential life that might flourish beneath the surface. With great patience and watchfulness, soon the Spotters see the fish and identify their movement patterns. When all the information is gathered and processed, the Spotters signal to the keepers of the net (the Fishermen).
Who are going to be our Spotters? The Spotters will continually be attentive to the shifting tides, patterns and trends, and the life that flourishes below the surface. In addition, our spotters will be courageous listeners and observers who identify the gifts and talents of others.
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The Fishermen
The Fishermen have the physically daunting task of taking the massive net out into the water. Before the Hukilau, the Fishermen have been responsible for maintaining and preserving the sacred vessel that is the fishing net. Finally, after a great deal of back-and-forth communication with the spotters, the Fishermen let down the net into the water teeming with life and abundance.
Who will be our Fishermen? The Fishermen will venture out into the water and are willing to take risks for the whole. The Fishermen will safely maneuver the congregation through the process of letting down the nets into the abundance of God that awaits us. The Fishermen are brave and bold as they shepherd resources, draw out and steward others’ skills and gifts, and lead by example.
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Dragging out a hukilau net Photo courtesy Honolulu Magazine | |
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The Divers
The Divers carefully monitor the situation and often are called to go below the water’s surface to check the status of the fishing net. The Divers watch to prevent the net from becoming entangled or snagging on the coral reef. The divers are sometimes forced to adjust or repair the net to keep the operation going.
Who will serve as our Divers? The divers stop at nothing to secure our future and will go beneath the surface to repair relationships, resolve conflicts, promote unity, and demand transparent and healthy communication. Our Divers will be sage-like presences who consult with others, coaches up everyone, inspire us, and exude goodness and joy.
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The Luau Caretakers
The Luau Caretakers are working hard behind the scenes. They are tasked with planning and coordinating the luau—the grand party that follows the catch. These highly organized individuals work together like a symphony to produce a one-of-a-kind experience for the whole community.
Who will take on the role of Luau Caretaker? The Luau Caretakers oversee every sacred detail of welcome and hospitality and will evangelize first and foremost with their heart and soul. The Luau Caretakers will draw the community together and continually push us to expand our definition of community. Our Luau Caretakers make sure that no one is left out from partaking in God’s abundance.
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Community Members on the Shoreline
Young and young at heart assemble on the shoreline and wait for the signal. When a kupuna (elder) fisherman gives a thumbs up, the entire community begins to pull the net in the same direction (the Huki). The net is full of life and abundance, and it requires everyone to work together to pull the net ashore.
Who will be the Community Members on the Shoreline? These individuals will be called upon to pull ashore the net filled with abundant life. They will be skilled in collaboration as they pull together in the same direction. They will embody and articulate St. Bede’s mission, vision, and values through their servant-leadership and selfless approach. As this group grows, so can our net and our reach.
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You heard me say it on Sunday, and you will hear it often during this transition period:
The nets are ready. The Moana (Ocean) is teeming with life and abundance. So, my sisters and brothers of St. Bede’s, let’s go fishing!
Let’s go to the Hukilau!
The Reverend Ryan D. Newman
Interim Pastor
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On Saturday, Feb. 19, St. Bede’s will again be hosting LA Neighbors4Neighbors (N4N), the non-profit that offers services-- including showers and laundry, meals, groceries, clothing, medical checkups, and COVID vaccines--to unhoused people.
On the third Saturday of every month, N4N volunteers drive to homeless encampments on the Westside, asking people if they are interested in assistance. If the answer is yes, the volunteers drive them to a staging area—as of January, that’s our parking lot--and then drive them back to their encampments when they are ready.
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On Feb. 19, N4N will set up outdoor stations for various services (volunteers may use Luther Hall to plug in their laptops or organize supplies). A long shower and laundry truck will be parked on Charnock. A portable toilet will be positioned in the southwest corner of the parking lot. Set-up will start about 8 a.m., and N4N volunteers estimate they will be done with cleanup between 4 and 5 p.m. The client service hours are from 10 a.m.- 2p.m.
We want to have representatives from the parish be present during the event, and we’re looking for volunteers to be at the church in shifts (2-4 hours). At some point, we will institutionalize sign-ups; for now, please let me know if you are interested! We will keep you posted on other volunteer opportunities –- a clothing or blanket drive, for example—that will arise.
(In addition, N4N welcomes volunteers who can assist with gathering and organizing supplies and, in some instances, drive clients to and from the church. Find out more at visit LA Neighbors4Neighbors.)
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N4N is an impressive organization with a group of amazing volunteers. I met many of them on Jan. 15, the first time most of them visited St. Bede’s. Because of the omicron surge, the N4N volunteers decided not to bring clients to church, but, rather, organize supplies and then deliver them to various encampments.
During the day, I was able to spend some time talking to various volunteers and watching them work. What was that like? Impressive. Humbling. Kind of glorious.
About 25-30 N4N volunteers converged at St. Bede’s, many of them veterans and a few who were not. Supplies came from various sources: Volunteers brought them in cars and vans, and a representative from our city councilman’s office brought supplies in his truck. Four medical personnel—beacons of hope and sanity—appeared to be ready for almost anything. Everyone involved was friendly, gracious, and efficient. (They were thankful for a partnership with our parish.)
About 10 a.m. everyone formed a circle in Luther Hall to introduce themselves; after introductions were made, we went around the circle again, this time to hear from experienced volunteers. Their words were testament to need and hope and dedication. We were reminded, gently, that their clients have suffered—from fear, from violence, from illness of all kinds. The system has failed them. Caution and consideration were emphasized. Don’t be expected to be greeted with open arms. Don’t push. There are thousands of backstories—and everyone has one. Please listen. Respect.
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The people of N4N were enthusiastic but clear-eyed. There was business to be done in a finite period of time. Many of the volunteers knew one another and greeted one another warmly, but this event was not a social occasion.
The day was prayerful, even if a formal prayer wasn’t uttered. It was loving, even if people chose not to embrace. It was a village---in the best sense of the word.
The term “God’s work” is overused and, I suspect, frequently abused. But I can’t think of a better example than the work done by N4N.
It is a mission, and now it is our mission as well. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions and interest.
Alice Short
Email | Phone
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DOWNTOWN GRAFFITI AND MURAL TOUR | |
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We invite everyone to join us on Zoom for the upcoming Adult Forums, hosted Wednesdays evenings. Evening Prayer starts at 7 PM, and the forum begins at 7:45 PM. All are welcome.
Adult Forum on Zoom
Lent & Easter Videos: Elaine Ruffolo
- Week 1 (2/16/22): Last Suppers of Florence
- Week 2 (2/23/22): Easter Across Italy: Holiday Traditions From North to South
Zoom info (same as what we use for Bible & Breakfast):
Connection information:
1) Dialing in by phone only:
Call: (415) 762-9988 AND follow the verbal instructions.
Meeting ID: 574-349-6585#
Participant Code: #
Password: 545724
2) Computer, Tablet, and Smartphone Access:
Zoom Access Link
Meeting ID: 574 349 6585
Password: 545724
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JEANNETTE'S SERVICE UPDATE | |
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New Service Date:
Saturday, April 2 @ 10 AM
The service celebrating the life of Jeannette Young, initially scheduled for Saturday, February 12th, has been rescheduled for Saturday, April 2nd at 10:00 AM.
Please continue to keep Jeannette's family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.
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The SuperBowl is this Sunday at SoFi Stadium. If you live east of St. Bede's, especially near the stadium or the 405, please allow extra time for your commute to church.
Click on the image below to see a large image version.
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FROM THE EPISCOPAL NEWS
A newsletter serving the Diocese of LA
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Through research, letters, creative expression, commission seeks better police-community relations
by Pat McCaughan
[The Episcopal News – February 9, 2022] As the Bishop’s Commission on Gospel Justice and Community Care continues to examine policing across Southern California communities, chairperson Sister Patricia Sarah Terry is meeting with clergy and asking Episcopalians to join a letter-writing campaign in support of including mental health first responders in crisis situations. She is also seeking art, articles, poetry, reflections, videos, photos, podcast episodes, and other creative expressions for inclusion in a planned Lenten daily resource guide to be made available online to the diocese.
With this multi-pronged effort she aims to assess and, she hopes, to build upon the character and strength of local church and police relationships, while also addressing community spiritual needs in a time of heightened tensions, said Terry, a former U.S. attorney and a member of the Anamchara Fellowship, a monastic community devoted to prayer and service.
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How an Arkansas priest wound up planning an interfaith prayer house in Mongolia with a Tibetan oracle
It might seem far-fetched for an Episcopal priest from Little Rock, Arkansas, to be working on an interfaith prayer house in Mongolia, a mostly Buddhist country between Russia and China. But for the Rev. Susan Sims Smith, it’s just the latest stage of her longtime dedication to fostering interfaith connections.
The project – which is still in its initial stages and has been delayed by COVID-19 – is a collaboration with one of the exiled Tibetan government’s top Buddhist advisors. It draws on Sims Smith’s experience creating the Arkansas House of Prayer – “an interfaith haven for silent prayer and meditation” in the woods on the outskirts of Little Rock.
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Episcopal bishops’ Sacred Ground circle inspires Alabama pilgrimage to Montgomery, Selma
Eight Episcopal bishops, including the Rt. Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, the former presiding bishop, are in Alabama this week on a racial justice pilgrimage to civil rights landmarks, museums and memorials in Montgomery and Selma.
The bishops began developing the pilgrimage after participating in a Sacred Ground discussion circle that met on Zoom and concluded in mid-2021. Sacred Ground is The Episcopal Church’s 10-part, video-based discussion series that confronts the historical roots of systemic racism and examines how that history still shapes American institutions and social interactions today
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Episcopal parish hosts ‘Maus’ conversation after school board removes Holocaust book from curriculum
After the Athens, Tennessee-based McMinn County Board of Education removed “Maus,” the Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel about the Holocaust, from its middle-school curriculum—an act that drew international media attention—some local Episcopalians decided to host an online talk about the book.
The Tennessee school board’s action is part of a recent rise in attempts to censor what is taught in public schools across the United States. Such book bans extend well beyond “Maus.” For instance, Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” is a frequent target, according to American Library Association.
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Retired Episcopal priest serves as intermediary between labor unions, employers
The Rev. Richard Smith, an Episcopal priest, has been working to improve the lot of workers in California long enough to have protested for farm workers alongside Cesar Chavez in the 1970s during the lettuce strike, when Smith was a Jesuit seminarian.
He’s still passionate enough about workers’ rights that last Holy Week he ritually washed the feet of janitors on strike at a picket line.
Now retired from St. John the Evangelist, a congregation in San Francisco’s north Mission district, he is one of a small number of clergy serving as intermediaries between labor unions and employers whose workers, particularly those in food service, are considering unionizing.
In a process known as the “card check” or “majority sign-up,” employers forego an anti-union campaign and instead choose to recognize a union endorsed by a majority of their employees. In the card check process — so called because workers sign a union authorization card — the employer and the union engage a trusted third party to accurately count and verify signatures on the cards.
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PREVIOUSLY SHARED...WORTH REPEATING | |
Health Screening: Do you wonder about the cardiovascular health of yourself and/or loved ones? Do you have any risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, smoking, or family history? If you have any of these concerns or “just want to make sure” you are healthy, you have the opportunity to take advantage of a preventative screening at St. Bede’s Luther Hall on Saturday, March 5, 2022. St. Bede’s is hosting the Life Line Screening team who will be working in collaboration with the Beverly Hills Health Center. Life Line Screening uses advanced ultrasound technology that looks inside your arteries for signs of plaque buildup. They offer five different screenings for $139. They have partnered with over 100 hospitals across the country and have conducted over 10 million screenings since 1993. To register for your appointment, please call 1-888-653-6450 or visit https://llsa.social/HSC. | |
Annual Meeting: The Vestry of St. Bede's has rescheduled the meeting to Sunday, February 27, 2022. The meeting will begin at 11:30 AM and be held in a hybrid format (in-person and online). If conditions allow, we will host a luncheon following the meeting. | |
Digital Service Program Initiative: The initiative encourages congregation members to download the Sunday service program onto their mobile devices (iPhone, iPad, Kindle, etc.) to minimize our overall environmental footprint. Our initial goal by Holy Week 2022 is to reduce our weekly printing output by 15%. Each week in The Quill, there is a link to the Service Program page on St. Bede’s Website. Programs are uploaded by Saturday evening and often earlier. A link to the page can also be found under the “Worship and Education” tab on St. Bede’s Website. | | | | |
