January 9, 2025 | VOLUME 37, ISSUE 2

VIEW AS WEBPAGE

First Sunday after the Epiphany

January 12, 2025

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Isaiah 43:1-7

Psalm 29

Acts 8:14-17

Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Preacher: The Reverend Jennifer Wagner Pavia

Saturday, January 11, 6:00 PM: "A Night of Texas Hold'em" SoB venue in Luther Hall (space still available)

Monday, January 13, 12:00 PM: Tech2Peace from Ahavat Torah in Luther Hall (see flyer below)



Sunday, January 19, 2:00 PM: Friends of Music presents violin, viola, and harpsichord trio in the Sanctuary (see flyer below)

Saturday, January 25, 6:30 PM: Six Course Wine Pairing SoB venue at

Short/Veilhaber Residence

Bible and Breakfast

Tuesdays | 9:30 AM

Luther Hall & Zoom

Midweek Eucharist:

Wednesdays | 7:00 PM

Sanctuary

Letter from Rev. Jennifer Wagner Pavia

Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Dear St. Bede's family,

A state of emergency remains in effect for Los Angeles City and County today as at least four fires continue to burn out of control in the area, fanned by a destructive windstorm.

Please evacuate if asked to do so by local authorities. Pack a go bag with clothing, medications, copies of important documents, pet supplies, and phone chargers, and be ready to leave. Call or text me at 310.720.6814 if you need shelter or resources.

Current wildfire updates information

LA County 211

Fire evacuation maps

LAFD Palisades Fire Information

Statement from Bishop John Harvey Taylor

The word for today, with the fires and devastation at their worst, is staying safe, staying indoors if we can, and following the guidance and orders of officials. We also do our gospel work of banding together in faith, assisting our neighbor when they need it, and accepting their help when we need it. God bless all who’ve reached out to offer shelter and other resources for evacuees. You are each in my prayers each moment today and in the days ahead, and I know you join me in prayer for those battling the fires in the worst possible conditions.

God of the sun and the sea, the rains and the winds, bear all our neighbors through this stormy night and throw a veil of protection over those battling these wildfires under the worst possible conditions. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles people are battening down during the worst windstorm in over a decade. My friends in Christ, neighbors and friends, if you can stay inside while these winds are blowing, please do so. The gusts can lift you off your feet.

The most familiar terrain could be treacherous until the winds die down sometime Wednesday, as forecasters expect they will. If you experience a power outrage, it may be intentional, to reduce fire risk.

If you must drive, watch for fallen branches and limbs.

If there’s smoke in the air, get out those masks.

Please be attentive to evacuation orders and do exactly as officials say.

The Rt. Rev. John Harvey Taylor, Bishop

The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles

From Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles News:

St. Bede’s Church welcomes Neighborhood Youth Association’s college placement program to Mar Vista parish campus

By EN Staff | Dec 18, 2024

The hospitality of St. Bede’s Episcopal Church in L.A.’s Mar Vista community will help Neighborhood Youth Association (NYA) – a diocesan institution since 1906 – strengthen its mission of 100% college placement for under-resourced students in 2025 and beyond.

Effective Jan. 8, at the invitation of the parish, NYA will relocate its afterschool mentoring and tutoring of high schoolers and middle-school students to the St. Bede’s campus at 3590 Grand View Blvd., home to the church since 1967.

Providing savings of more than $100,000 annually, the move brings NYA back to Mar Vista where the agency was headquartered for some 40 years before consolidating operations in nearby Venice on a site leased, at increasing cost, from the Los Angeles Unified School District.

“This gracious welcome from St. Bede’s – whose rector and members are longtime supporters of NYA – is a fiscal game-changer, making the agency more nimble in serving its students and their families,” said Bishop John Harvey Taylor, chair of NYA’s board of trustees. “Every year, thanks to NYA and its supporters, a brilliant cohort of first-generation children of immigrant workers heads off to four-year colleges. The board and I are fully committed to doing all we can to continue to support these families and this program, which our community and country need more than ever before."

READ MORE HERE

According to Senior Warden Jerry Hornof, the NYA will start their program on January 14 and will occupy Luther Hall on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons into the future.

On Sunday, January 19, at 2:00 PM in the Sanctuary, the St. Bede's Friends of Music presents the trio of Ken Aiso, baroque violin; David Garrett, viola de gamba; & Sonia Lee, harpsichord. The three players are top professionals and will be performing Baroque music on instruments of the period. It should be quite an unusual and beautiful event. A suggested donation at the door will be $15, which is quite a steal for such a high-quality event. We hope to see you there!

The Sisters of Bede met this past Monday, January 6, in Luther Hall. A discussion ensued about how to best distribute 2025 charitable contributions out of their treasury total of $6,600. The Sisters decided to spend $6,150 and made the following donations:

• NYA: $2,000 for a scholarship
• NYA: $500 for operational expenses
• St. Bede's: $1,500 for the nursery
• Friends of Music: $600
• Episcopal Relief & Development: $1,550 ($750 for Wells & Water Systems, $300 for Mosquito Nets & Training to help 25 Families, $250 for "Moments that Matter" Program Partnership, and $200 for Women)

The St. Bede's Mission Committee is organizing a clothing drive for cold weather items: new or gently used clothing and new underwear and socks. We will have a donation bin in the narthex (through Jan. 12) that's clearly labeled to collect the clothing.

In addition, as part of our Alternative Christmas Market (please see  above!), we are helping to collect monetary donations to help the Neighborhood Youth Association with plans for holiday crafts and gifts. (If you write a check, please write it to St. Bede’s with “Neighborhood Youth Association” in the memo.)

Questions? Please see a member of the Mission Committee. Thank you!

St. Bede's once again held two glorious services on Christmas Eve. The 4:30 PM service was once again shared with Thad's Episcopal Church. As seen in the photo above, children from both Thad's and St. Bede's participated in the pageant, under the leadership of Heather Simpson, Thad's Director of Children's Ministry. Thad's Lead Minister, the Rev. Jon Dephouse, preached the sermon, the music was provided by Thad's band and the Rev. Jennifer Wagner Pavia led the Holy Eucharist (see photo below).

At 10:30 PM St. Bede's held a Candlelit Carol Service where Music Director Frank Basile led the St. Bede's choir. This was followed by the Holy Eucharist.

On Monday, January 13,at 12:00 PM in Luther Hall, Ahavat Torah is having a special vegetarian potluck lunch n’ learn program with guest speakers from Tech2Peace: A Story of Peace Building Through Innovation. If you are interested in attending, please bring a vegetarian dish to share. Learn how this groundbreaking initiative has been fostering peacebuilding between Jews and Arabs, Israelis and Palestinians, through the power of tech, innovation, and dialogue—even amidst times of conflict. Join Tech2Peace’s CEO, Hela Lahar, and Chairperson, Aliza Peleg, during their visit to Los Angeles to hear about the Tech2Peace story and how it is holding up during the war. Tech2Peace is proud to be supported by organizations like USAID, Google and UJA and has touched countless lives with its work in bridging divides. Please join in and invite your friends. Please RSVP to Sandi at ahavattorah2022@gmail.com.

The whole Townsend family gathers at the award sign, above, in August 2024 

By Carl Townsend

As many of you might recall, Coburg Tree Farm, the Townsend family forest, took the crown as Washington State’s Tree Farm of the Year in 2023. (See the June 1, 2023, Quill). This award automatically put us in the running for the Western Region.  

We faced stiff competition from our Oregon contenders, but we prevailed and moved on to the National judging.  

We had one final judging visit in August 2024 by a pair of judges from the Eastern Region, who brought a fresh perspective. Apparently, they were impressed by our operation. Ultimately, the group of regional judges convened and decided that Coburg Tree Farm was the nation’s best. I’ll be joining the family in Portland, Maine, in March to accept the award.  

The recent awards were not our first foray into the tree farming spotlight. In 1976, my parents won the Washington State TFOY award, and went on to win the Western Region in 1977.  

Mom was elated as her four boys won the 2023 award. Sadly, she passed away before the National award was announced. But, I know that now, as she has joined Dad, they can look down on us and take pride in their family legacy.  

My brothers and I are now challenged with the task of passing on our legacy to our nine children and several grandchildren. 

The official announcement from the American Forest Foundation can be found here.  

Our official entry video starring Carl can be found here.

And a good write-up from the local home blog can be found here. 

Visit the St. Bede's website and at the top of every page, look for the "Donate" button. When you click on the "Donate" button, you will be transported to St. Bede's Vanco eGiving and Payment Process Site.

Vanco is an industry leader in online payments. More than 40,000 churches, faith-based groups, nonprofits, schools, and educational organizations trust Vanco to securely complete transactions every day. Vanco complies with PCI Level 1 standards, the highest security standard in the payment processing industry.

You are invited to set up one-time or recurring gifts using credit, debit, or bank transfer on Vanco's secure payment processing platform. Giving online through the Vanco site saves time and the hassle of remembering to bring your offering. In addition, you decrease the expense incurred by St. Bede’s from handling and processing checks and cash.

Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe offers a blessing over the flag-draped casket of former President Jimmy Carter during a state funeral Jan. 9 at Washington National Cathedral. Photo: Associated Press

Jimmy Carter remembered by grandsons, friends, President Biden at National Cathedral funeral

Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe officiates at service for 39th president

By David Paulsen

Family members, friends, former colleagues, members of Congress and all five living U.S. presidents gathered Jan. 9 to pay tribute to former President Jimmy Carter, who was mourned at his state funeral held at Washington National Cathedral, the landmark Episcopal cathedral in the nation’s capital city.

Former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump sat together in the front rows, alongside President Joe Biden. Biden was among several people who gave eulogies for Carter, who died Dec. 29 at age 100.

Biden recalled a friendship that dated to 1974, when he was a senator from Delaware and one of the first Democrats to endorse Carter’s candidacy for president. “It was an endorsement based on what I believe is Jimmy Carter’s enduring attribute, character,” Biden said. “Character, I believe, is destiny – destiny in our lives, and quite frankly destiny in the life of the nation."

“Jimmy Carter’s friendship taught me … strength of character is more than title or the power we hold,” Biden continued. “It’s the strength to understand that everyone should be treated with dignity, respect. That everyone, and I mean everyone, deserves an even shot.”

Carter, a lifelong Georgia resident, served for one term as the United States’ 39th president, from 1977-1981, and went on to work for peace and human rights. In 2002, Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize “for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts,” most notably in the Middle East.

National Cathedral, the seat of both The Episcopal Church’s presiding bishop and the bishop of the Diocese of Washington, had been chosen for several past presidential funerals, including services for Dwight D. Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford and George H.W. Bush. At Carter’s funeral, Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe, with Washington Bishop Mariann Budde and National Cathedral Dean Randy Hollerith.

The funeral’s service program is available here.

READ MORE HERE

Altadena’s St. Mark’s Episcopal Church burns after catching fire at 6:30 am on Jan. 8. Photo: Earle Rothwell

Fires claim Altadena church, Palisades rectories, hundreds of homes; diocese rallies to serve evacuees

By Bob Williams | Jan 8, 2025

Relief contributions requested via diocesela.org/annual-appeal

Among the 1,000-plus structures lost in still-raging Southland firestorms are homes of scores of members of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, where St. Mark’s Church in Altadena and parish rectories at St. Matthew’s, Pacific Palisades, also have been destroyed, sources confirm.

From the Pacific coast to the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountain range and beyond, thousands of Southern Californians have been evacuated to safe shelters including Episcopal churches and parish halls. Pasadena’s All Saints Church housed more than 180 overnight on Jan. 7, and dozens more congregations have notified the bishop’s office of shelter space available. (A listing will follow on the diocesan website.)

“The word for today, with the fires and devastation at their worst, is staying safe, staying indoors if we can, and following the guidance and orders of officials,” Bishop John Harvey Taylor said in a statement this morning before making pastoral visits at local shelters and churches.

READ MORE HERE

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