May 1, 2025 | VOLUME 37, ISSUE 18

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Third Sunday of Easter

May 4, 2025



SCRIPTURE READINGS

Acts 9:1-6, (7-20)

Revelation 5:11-14

John 21:1-19

Psalm 30

Preacher: The Reverend Jennifer Wagner Pavia

Saturday, May 17, 7:00 PM: Karaoke Night SoB venue at Luther Hall

Sunday, May 18, 11:30 PM: NYA Open House & Donor Luncheon at Luther Hall (see below)

Bible and Breakfast

Tuesdays | 9:30 AM

Luther Hall & Zoom

Midweek Eucharist:

Wednesdays | Resumes 4/30/25

Sanctuary

Adult Forum: The Tears of Things

Wednesdays, | 8:00 PM

Luther Hall & Zoom

The Daughters of the King is an international order for women who have taken a lifetime vow of service to God, to their church, and to daily prayers. Kathy Fairchild, President of our St. Bede’s Chapter of the Order of the Daughters of the King, has extended an invitation to all women who are interested in learning more about us and possibly becoming a member.

A series of 12 sessions, which follow the National Study Guide, will begin after the 10:00 AM service on Sunday, May 4th. Four of the current Daughters, Kathy Fairchild, Ina Klem, Corrine Henderson, and Susan Holder, are available to answer questions from anyone who is curious or eager to better understand the practices of the Order and what is involved in becoming a member.

NYA Class of 2025

Since the Neighborhood Youth Association moved into Luther Hall at the start of the year, St. Bede’s has been able to host several high school students and staff members who are helping them get into college. As a way of saying thanks, NYA is holding an Open House and Donor Luncheon on Sunday, May 18, from 11:30-1:30 p.m. and all St. Bede's parishioners and guests are invited. Please come meet students and hear their amazing stories firsthand--and learn about program updates.

We’d be grateful if you could RSVP for this event, so we can get an idea of how many people will join us for lunch. To RSVP, please email aliceshort55@gmail.com by Sunday, May 11. Thank you !

By Susan Holder

Holy Week and Easter were truly beautiful in so many ways this year. This was my first time, as Head Sacristan, leading the Altar Guild in preparing the church for the various services during Holy Week and Easter. It was challenging, as the learning curve was steep, but I believe it will be smoother next year and easier for future Head Sacristans due to the five pages of detailed directions documented by both Rea Crane and me.

Palm Arrangement for Palm Sunday

During Maundy Thursday Stephanie Landry washes the feet of Katya Zagorska as Reverend Jennifer looks on.

I am so very grateful to God’s people for attending to the care, beauty and traditional correctness practiced by the Episcopal church during these momentous holy days. I thank both members of the Altar Guild, as well as generous volunteers, for all the work they did to decorate and strip the church in order to visually represent the events of Holy Week and Easter. I thank Stephanie Landry for her help in picking up the palm arrangement from the florist and decorating the church for Palm Sunday. I thank several people for participating in the flurry of activities that occurred after the Tenebrae, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday services, including Rea Crane, Stephanie Landry, Ina Klem, Kelly Riggle-Hower, Lana Spraker, Janet Hartley, Bond Harper, Sharon Schmidt, Joyce Matlack, Jerry Hornof, and especially Carl Townsend for doing all the heavy lifting. If I have left anyone out, please know that this omission was inadvertent and I thank you just as much.

Left: Reverend Jennifer reads The Service of Light as Deacon Daniel Tamm holds the Pascal Candle next to the Easter Vigil fire. Right: Holy Eucharist during the Easter Vigil.

I give thanks to Reverend Jennifer for leading all the services, to Akani Fletcher for his perceptive sermon on Good Friday, to Frank Basile for creating the Bulletins for all the services and to Kyle Ferstead for her role in the Veneration of the Cross on Good Friday. I also thank Frank and our outstanding choir for the awe-inspiring music and song that so beautifully accompanied many of the services. In addition, I thank the Ushers/Greeters, Acolytes, Readers, Narrators and LEMs who all played an essential role throughout the week. And importantly, I want to thank Penny Jennings for taking so many fantastic photos of our Easter Day events, such that these memories can be even better preserved in our hearts.

Easter morning at St. Bede's.

The Easter Egg hunt was great fun for the children.

Holy Eucharist on Easter Day at the 10:00 AM service.

I also want to express my deep gratitude to Daphne Moote and all the Sisters of Bede who, under Daphne’s leadership, created a spectacular Easter brunch--one to rival the best restaurants in town. The great variety of homemade dishes were so scrumptious that we all happily indulged ourselves in luxurious delight. The joyous atmosphere of laughter, fun, and loving fellowship was an authentic portrayal of Christ’s commandment to love each other as He has loved us.

The people of God share in joyous, loving fellowship at the St. Bede's Easter brunch.

And, of course, I am very grateful to Reverend Jennifer for her guidance and patience during my learning process as Head Sacristan and her grace in performing my Baptism.

The Lord is risen, indeed. Alleluia. Alleluia.

By Susan Holder

I want to thank everyone in the congregation for your powerful support during my Baptism on Easter Sunday. My parents weren’t religious, I did not “grow up in the church,” and I don’t remember whether or not I was ever baptized. In addition, I have not found any evidence of my Baptism, nor do I have anyone to ask since all others in my family of origin have passed away. To know for sure and to put my soul at rest, Reverend Jennifer graciously agreed to baptize me, a gift for which I will be eternally grateful. And to be baptized on Easter was an extra special blessing! I am also sincerely grateful to Ina Klem & Lana Spraker for being such loving and supportive Sponsors. In addition, I thank Penny Jennings for taking beautiful, heartfelt photos of my Baptism. I also thank Kelly Riggle-Hower for the exquisite and delicious cake she specially made to celebrate my Baptism.

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

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.

Banner at All Saints, Riverside. Photo courtesy of Kelli Grace Kurtz

Bishop’s Commission on Climate Change seeks congregational liaisons

By Mostyn Trudinger-Smith

The Bishop’s Commission on Climate Change (BCCC) is asking all congregations to assign or elect a liaison, in a new initiative to share and discuss creation care projects and create direct communication among congregational “green teams” or creation care ministries, and with the BCCC.

Mahri Mendenhall, BCCC member and parishioner at Church of the Epiphany, Oak Park, who is leading the liaison initiative, said that the program is just ramping up, with about 40 liaisons so far, and an initial welcome meeting for the liaisons scheduled for May. She said she would love to one day see a liaison from every congregation, to create a web of mutual creation care inspiration and support.

“We need to do this together,” Mendenhall said. “We need to understand our place in this world and be a part of it for the good. It’s important to all of us, each of us and all of us. And we need your help.”



The role of the liaisons, Mendenhall said, is to share BCCC programs and information with their congregations, and to help their congregation discuss and discern how they can get involved in creation care. Some congregations already have robust creation care programs, while others are yet to get involved, Mendenhall said. Because of this, she said, the program is organic and will evolve based on the needs of the different congregations.

 READ MORE HERE

Willie Madl (left) and Ann Palmer point out rhubarb and strawberries growing at Bethany House and Gardens in Topeka, Kansas, on April 25 to some of the people attending the Grasslands Eco-region Network gathering. Madl is groundskeeper for the gardens, and Palmer helped design them. Photo: Melodie Woerman/ENS

Grasslands Network, the first Episcopal eco-region, hosts event in Kansas for people to learn about, reflect on environmental issues

By Melodie Woerman

[Episcopal News Service – Topeka, Kansas] A gathering for people interested in creation care issues took place April 25-26 in Topeka, Kansas, and was sponsored by the Episcopal Grasslands Network, the first eco-region created by legislation passed during the 2024 General Convention.

The event drew 134 registrants from 35 dioceses across The Episcopal Church, and about half of them – representing 10 dioceses – attended in person. It also attracted 22 people who indicated they were not Episcopalians, including some who had no religious affiliation.

The Grasslands Network currently includes 12 dioceses in the central and western United States – North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Western Kansas, Northwest Texas, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Rio Grande and Navajoland.

The creation of a second eco-region, named the East Coast Network, including the dioceses of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Western Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire, was announced during the event.

Kansas Bishop Cathleen Bascom told Episcopal News Service in an interview that she had the idea for these eco-region networks years ago. “For some decades, I’ve been intrigued by the church organizing itself along watersheds or in eco-regions,” she said. That concept was strengthened by her work while dean of the Cathedral of St. Paul in Des Moines, Iowa, when major flooding in the Midwest in 2008 prompted the congregation to plant native plants and grasses on cathedral grounds to help absorb rainwater before it ran off into the storm sewer system.

READ MORE HERE

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