HOLY BAPTISMS THIS EASTER | |
Sacraments are outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace. In the case of Holy Baptism, the outward and visible sign is water in which the person is baptized in God's name, and the inward and spiritual grace is union with Christ, birth into God's family the Church, forgiveness of sins, and new life in the Holy Spirit. Special days are set aside for baptisms, the next being The Great Vigil of Easter on April 19. If you are interested in Holy Baptism for you or someone you know, please speak with Rev. Jennifer. | |
SHROVE TUESDAY: BREAKFAST FOR DINNER! | |
Senior Warden Jerry Hornof and Rev. Jennifer flipped pancakes and served up breakfast for dinner on Shrove Tuesday as we celebrated the eve of Ash Wednesday--the beginning of Lent. We buried the Alleluia with a short liturgy of prayer, scripture, and song and bid farewell to the "A" word of praise until we resurrect it again on Easter. | |
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ASH WEDNESDAY: AT HOME DEPOT
AND ST. BEDE'S
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By Kelly Riggle Hower
On this Ash Wednesday, I’m rereading a portion of the Isaiah 58: 1 – 12 passage:
“Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?” And this portion is followed by the reply to such a query: “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house?”
It’s very timely.
It's easy for me to notice at this time in the world’s timeline that however much we, as followers of Christ, try to walk in his footsteps, we can feel a little unheard in a world where we see children’s homes crushed, people losing their jobs, the earth itself suffering.
And yet on this Ash Wednesday morning for a couple hours in the Home Depot parking lot, Rev. Jennifer, verger Rosemary, vestry member Liz, and I were shown nothing but kindness and the generosity by the day laborers we'd come to greet with ashes. From the man who shouted out “Hey, all you Catholics. It’s Ash Wednesday!” as an invitation to join us, to Angel who put ashes on Jennifer’s forehead, to the thoughtful truck-driving workers who bought us an umbrella, to the taco truck owner who took the red “Know your rights” cards from us to share with his customers, it was nothing but goodness, welcome, generosity.
When we set out to serve the people around us, we are reminded, in their service to us, of the great goodness in humanity. It is a wonderful thing to contemplate this Lenten Season.
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OPENINGS for TEXAS HOLD'EM | |
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Even if you are not a gambler, or a gambler at heart, you can come join the laughter and fun while supporting a great cause, as proceeds from Sisters of Bede venues go directly to St. Bede's Outreach Programs. You don't even have to know how to play the game since instructions will be provided. Thank you, Tim. This is your chance to try something new, or, if you're an old hand at Texas Hold'em, show us how it's done!
🔗 Sign up here: Register Now
For more information, reach out to Tim Peters or Daphne Moote.
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Daylight Savings Time in 2025 will take effect on Sunday, March 9, at 2 a.m. (Yes, the Farmers' Alamanac says the proper term is "saving," rather "savings," but somehow, "savings" sounds better.) At that moment, clocks will jump forward one hour, a shift that means longer daylight in the evenings (yesssss!) but shorter mornings. Don't forget to reset your clocks and watches! | |
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Here come the Yale Alley Cats!
The Alley Cats are excited to be visiting Los Angeles, the hometown of our first female member, Ryann Schaffer, this spring. There will be a public concert on Sunday, March 9 at 2 p.m. at St. Bede's Episcopal Church. Members are looking forward to seeing and connecting with members from the St. Bede’s congregation and community, and there will a reception after the performance.
Founded in 1943, the Yale Alley Cats are Yale's classiest, most up-beat, and fun a cappella group with a diverse repertoire including everything from jazz standards to Motown, from timeless classics to contemporary chart-toppers. The group has released several dozen albums and performed for public figures such as President Barack Obama, her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Martha Stewart, and Jay Leno, bringing refined tenor-bass harmonies and witty charm to destinations and events around the world. In addition to visiting multiple group member’s hometowns in DC and Florida, this year, tour destinations also include Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, and Italy.
To reserve tickets for the March 9th event, please use the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-yale-alley-cats-in-los-angeles-tickets-1235323448689?aff=oddtdtcreator
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A NEW DATE FOR PAINT, SIP & NOSH | |
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The "Paint, Sip & Nosh" Sisters of Bede venue has been rescheduled to Saturday, April 5. We truly hope that everyone already signed up can attend--and there's room for more guests.
Keep in mind that this is the FINAL "Paint, Sip & Nosh" venue since Kelly Riggle Hower and her husband, Mark, are planning a move to Spokane this summer. As an art teacher for children and a truly compassionate and beautiful soul, Kelly leads this venue with inspiration, encouragement and tons of positive feedback.
No art experience is needed—just come ready to enjoy a creative and social atmosphere. Plus, all proceeds from Sisters of Bede events go directly to St. Bede's Outreach Programs—so you can have fun while supporting a great cause!
Register Now
For more information, reach out to Kelly or Daphne. We can’t wait to see you there!
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FIELD TRIP TO THE BALLOON MUSEUM | |
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My Great, Big, Wonderful, Grownup Field Trip Day at the Balloon Museum!
By Kelly Riggle Hower
The thing about St. Bede’s is that people take you on beautiful adventures, whether it’s in a chat at coffee hour about a transformational moment in life, or in the joy of a Sisters of Bede venue … or on a field trip with some truly remarkable women to the Balloon Museum!
When Daphne Moote texted to tell me our dear Susan Holder had a jury duty conflict and asked if I'd like to join her and Stephanie Landry on an outing to the Balloon Museum, I knew absolutely zero about the museum-- but I also knew that I was 100 % in on this thing.
After lunch in the flower district at Poppy & Rose, a black-owned restaurant where the waitress brought free mimosas to the table because she knows a fun group when she sees one, we headed to the Balloon Museum at Ace Mission Studios on 6th Street. The big placard as we entered promised us “a groundbreaking exhibition that brings together monumental inflatable artworks by renowned international artists,” and they were not over-selling it!
We were lifted and transported by the artists whose works engaged us in an "Alice in Wonderland"/"James and the Giant Peach"-like adventure. We crawled through a ginormous black-lit ball pit, meandered through a mirrored labyrinth, drifted through more bubbles than Lawrence Welk could have imagined in his wildest dreams, swung an enormous ball with charcoal attached that marked the walls with balloon-swipe art, and lay on our backs on bouncy-waterbed-type cushions while a giant balloon butterfly-- i scintillating, vibrating colors-- swept over us...to name just a few of the out-of-body and in-our-nerve-endings kind of experiences we had.
Some of the artists who contributed to this included Cyril Lancelin with a vividly alluring, luminous labyrinth, MOTOREFIICO’s wildly bouncing spheres, Sasha Frolova with her delightfully disorienting kaleidoscopic fountain. And then there is the black-light ball pit where grown adults could actually swim among black plastic balls in a stadium parking lot-sized ball pit lit with the kind of black lights I haven’t seen since a junior high school dance.
I have to say that while in that ball pit I was divided between the pure joy of a black-light mega-ball p: to being disoriented, invited, mystified, stimulated and just taken back to the feeling of being 5 on the big fairground Ferris wheel. We squealed, shouted and sang. Our pop repertoire included “Come Fly With Me!,” “Up, Up, and Away!,” and the lyrics to Lawrence Welk’s sign off with the Champagne Music Makers orchestra (OK, that was me, but I was very, very young when I heard that closing theme… I just have a great memory for lyrics!).
It was a day to remember, and I always will--probably even at the very end when I hardly remember my name. Thank you for inviting me, Daphne and Stephanie. And for those of my fabulous St. Bede’s fellow adventurers who haven’t been yet… what are you waiting for?
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Dear friends,
Many of you have shown concern about new immigration policies and how they will impact this vulnerable population among us here in Los Angeles. Below is information about how you can get involved through CLUE (Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice), an organization that St. Bede's works with and supports. Join us in preparation for this essential work.
Blessings,
Rev. Jennifer+
At the core of nearly every faith tradition lies the concept of a just, harmonious, and loving society where all souls are valued and everyone can thrive.
It is unconscionable that people fleeing violence in other countries would be deported back to those places, regardless of threats to their safety and security.
Because the Trump Administration is threatening immigrant communities across the country (regardless of documentation status), CLUE is working across Southern California to protect immigrant workers and their families in a variety of important ways.
You can join us in this work or support it with your donations knowing that you are doing your part to protect vulnerable people.
SUPPORT CLUES IMMIGRATION WORK
RAPID RESPONSE NETWORKS
If you see ICE Activity anywhere you go, you can report it to the Rapid Response hotlines in your area.
- Los Angeles: 888-624-4752
- Orange County: 714-881-1558
- San Bernardino/Riverside: 909-361-4588
- Kern County: 661-432-2230
- Central Valley: 559-206-0151
CLUE is working with RRN partners to offer ongoing trainings for faith leaders and community members who want to show up for workers and families being targeted by ICE.
If you want to be trained to be a rapid responder and you live in Orange County, Los Angeles or the Inland Empire, contact Sithy Bin at sbin@cluejustice.org.
CLUE WELCOME NETWORK
CLUE is cultivating its vast network of houses of worship to create a network of congregations that provide respite, and even longer-term shelter, to migrants released into Southern California.
Over 30 congregations are already participating in the CLUE Welcome Network that houses asylum seekers and refugees. We receive referrals from CHIRLA (Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights) for asylum seekers in need of shelter, from legal service providers that are seeking sponsors for people being released from detention, or direct walk-ins. Some congregations in the network provide temporary shelter or short-term housing, and others support those efforts with gifts of supplies, transportation, etc.
Thank you for standing in intimate solidarity as we seek to build a society where everyone is safe and lives with dignity.
If your congregation is interested in joining the network, offering housing or supplies or services, please contact Sithy Bin at sbin@cluejustice.org.
In faith and solidarity,
Rev. Jennifer Gutierrez
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PRAYER FOR PEACE IN THE HOLY LAND | |
ST. BEDE'S ONLINE GIVING PORTAL | |
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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.
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FROM THE EPISCOPAL NEWS
A newsletter serving the Diocese of Los Angeles
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St. Paul’s ministry brings new dresses to girls, renewed energy to congregation
By Pat Mac Caughan
[The Episcopal News] – Members of St. Paul’s Church in Pomona launched a ministry to help dress young girls around the world and revitalized community in their own backyard.
On a recent Saturday, about a dozen women and men in the church’s Sophia room were busily laying out patterns, cutting, stitching, and ironing vibrant animal print and flowered materials to make sleeveless dresses, to send to Dress A Girl Around the World.
“When we have finished one hundred dresses, we send them off to be distributed,” said Jo Ann Newton, senior warden, who inspired the ministry, which began in June 2024.
“Dress A Girl” is a campaign of Hope for Women International, a Christian nonprofit women’s empowerment organization. The sleeveless, zipper-less, buttonless dresses, made to specification, bear the organization’s labels which, Newton hopes, could help prevent young girls from becoming victims of human trafficking.
“Young girls in need have always been near and dear to my heart. Many people in this country don’t realize there are children without clothes,” she said, affirming the organization’s mission to raising awareness of human trafficking while distributing the dresses.
Newton shared her vision with Sandra Martinez-Moore, chair of the church’s chapter of the Daughters of the King, an international order of women of Episcopal and other faiths who dedicate themselves to a life of prayer and service. Martinez-Moore enthusiastically embraced the ministry and it has continued to expand.
READ MORE HERE
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The Rev. Bryan Velez of the Diocese of Puerto Rico offers ashes to a woman on a street in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, on Ash Wednesday. Photo: Facebook | |
Ash Wednesday services help people mark the start of Lent churchwide
By Melodie Woerman
[Episcopal News Service] Churches across The Episcopal Church marked Ash Wednesday with services and the imposition of ashes in churches, parks, online, on city streets and other locations.
Some churches and clergy offered “Ashes to Go,” in which ashes are available for people on-the-go to receive in various locations beyond church buildings.
The practice of placing ashes – made from burning the prior year’s Palm Sunday fronds – in the sign of the cross on the foreheads of worshippers is to remind them of their mortality and serves as a mark of penitence. It also gives the day its name. The Book of Common Prayer makes the imposition of ashes optional, although most Episcopal churches offer it.
The ashes are imposed with the words, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a 40-day period in which Christians engage in penitence and often acts of self-denial, including fasting, suggested by Christ’s 40 days in the desert. Among the earliest Christians, it was the time when people who wanted to join the church were prepared for Baptism, which would take place at Easter.
READ MORE HERE
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