May 29, 2025 | VOLUME 37, ISSUE 22

Seventh Sunday of Easter

The Feast of Saint Bede the Venerable

June 1, 2025

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Acts 16:16-34

Revelation 22:12-14,16-17,20-21

John 17:20-26

Psalm 97

Preacher: The Rev. Jennifer Wagner Pavia

Saturday, May 31, 1:00 PM: "Vicar of Dibley and Afternoon Tea" SoB venue in the Luther Hall.

Saturday, June 7: 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM: "Spring Brunch SoB venue at Rea Crane Residence

Bible and Breakfast

Tuesdays | 9:30 AM

Luther Hall & Zoom

Midweek Eucharist:

Wednesdays | 7:00 PM

Chapel in the Sanctuary

Adult Forum: The Tears of Things

Wednesdays | 8:00 PM

Luther Hall & Zoom

INVITATION to NYA SCHOLARSHIP CELEBRATION

A ST. BEDE'S PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

As we all become more frequent targets of financial scams, the potential to lose

significant amounts of money is greater than ever. These scams can be very

sophisticated and range from impersonating government officials to offering

fake investment opportunities, and they can have devastating consequences on

our financial and identity security. Staying informed about common scams is

crucial for everyone to protect themselves. This is why I am writing to warn you

of a scam involving St. Bede's through Reverend Jennifer's email.

I recently received an urgent email request allegedly from Reverend Jennifer.

The sender asked me to purchase six $200 gift cards from Macy’s, and since she

instructed me that she could not be disturbed at that time, I was not to call her. I

was directed to buy the gift cards on that same day. Total discretion was

required as they were a surprise thank you for folks in the congregation.

I have read many warnings about scams, how they work, and what to look for.

Clues include being asked to buy gift cards, and the need for secrecy and

urgency. While all of these elements were present, the request looked legitimate

and I did not suspect a scam. But it was.

Fortunately, the scammers were not

able to access the information on the gift cards and did not use them. St. Bede's

is unable to return them, and we have them for sale––intact and with their full

amount. If you have use for one (or more!) they make great graduation,

wedding, off to college, or birthday gifts.

Please contact me to purchase.

Reverend Jennifer asks you to disregard any email you may receive that is not

from her work email jennifer@stbedesla.org or personal email

jwpavia@gmail.com. Do not respond to any email or request from her that does

not originate from these two email addresses. Please call or text her at (310)

720-6814 if suspicious of an email, and let her know of any scam you may

encounter using her name.

Thank you, Rea Crane

Beware of fishing !

INVITATION to WOMEN of St. Bede's

Sisters of Bede Meeting on Monday, May 5 - Front row: Daphne Moote (Chairperson), Tana Raikes (Secretary), Ina Klem, Susan Holder, & Mary Deutsche. Back row: Kathy Russell (Book Cart Coordinator), Bond Harper, & Penny Jennings (Treasurer). Photo: Lana Spraker

By Lana Spraker

The Sisters of Bede (SoBs) is a group of St. Bede’s women who meet the first Monday of the month to share fellowship, delicious food, stimulating conversation and prayer. We support each other with heart-centered listening. Usually there is a topic to focus our thoughts. This is also a time when we share our concerns for our loved ones, the community and the world. The trust that has been cultivated over time inspires us to speak from our hearts about life’s challenges. The SoBs offer the gift of spiritual support for each other, and we laugh a lot as well!

All those people at St. Bede’s who identify as women are invited to join us in person at 6:30 PM in Luther Hall for food and conversation on the first Monday of the month. At 7:30 PM there is a Zoom hookup for women who cannot come in person. (Note: there will be no Monday night SoB meeting in July.)

We truly hope you will join us.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask Rev. Jennifer or any of the women pictured above.

INVITATION to HOST COFFEE HOUR

St. Bede’s is looking for more people to sign up to host a Coffee Hour after the 8:00 AM and the 10:00 AM services. The second and third Sundays of the month are already covered by the Vestry and the Sisters of Bede, respectively, so the open spots are the first, fourth and occasionally fifth Sundays of the month. There is a Sign-up Sheet (pictured on the left) on the left wall just as you enter the kitchen.

The type of food doesn’t have to be fancy, and the quantity need not be plentiful. Coffee and creamer are always available at the church. Most frequently, people partner with other parishioners so that the workload & cost can be shared; in addition, it’s more fun that way! Being of service in this way is a lovely and much appreciated gift to your fellow parishioners and an important way to contribute your time, talent and treasure to St. Bede’s. If you have any questions about participating in this way, please ask any Vestry or Sisters of Bede member.

WHO WAS ST. BEDE?

By Kathy Russell

Saint Bede is the Patron of our Parish. We will be celebrating his feast day on May 25, including an Evensong service. Let’s look at why he is so well remembered.

Bede was an English monk and priest. He was born in about 672 and spent most of his life in Northumbria, in the Northeast of England. At the age of seven, he entered a monastery near his home, but soon moved to a larger monastery at Jarrow. Despite the customary age of ordination to the deaconate of 25, he was ordained at the age of 19. His ordination to the priesthood was at age 30.

Bede is best known as a scholar in a variety of subjects: history, science, theology, grammar, and hagiography. While he authored 60 books, he is best remembered for his

Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum, or An Ecclesiastical History of the

English People. Completed in about 731, its five books span the time from

the earliest days of Christianity in Roman Britain to the early 8th century. The

focus of the work was the growth and unification of the Church in Britain.

Thus, it does not emphasize the events and political struggles in the wider

world. Nevertheless, it is considered, to this day, an important source of

information on this period in English history. He has often been called the

“Father of English History.” The Historia was widely copied in the years

shortly after his death, both in England and on the Continent. It was first

printed in 1475 in Strasbourg. (Note: the Gutenberg Bible was printed in

about 1455.)

Bede used a variety of sources to compile the Historia, as well as others of his works. The monastery at Jarrow was a center for scholarship in the north of England. Its library was very well stocked, containing more than 200 books. In addition, Bede maintained a wide correspondence with sources throughout England.

When writing history, it is important to have a consistent method of dating events. Bede had a variety of methods available to him.

One that may be familiar from reading the Bible is to tie events to a particular ruler’s reign. For example: In the 6th year of King X’s reign.” Bede, however, chose the “Anno Domini” method. This system was devised in 525 by Dionysius Exiguus to calculate the date of Easter. Bede adapted this form of dating to the events of the 8 centuries of history covered by the Historia. Largely because of the popularity of his work in the middle ages, the “Anno Domini” dating was adopted as the preferred dating method.

Bede died on the eve of Ascension Day on May 25, 735. He was buried in the monastery at Jarrow. According to legend, the epithet “Venerable” was added to his tombstone by angels. However it came about, he was referred to as the Venerable Bede from the 9th century onwards. In 1022, a monk who cared for the shrine to St. Cuthbert in Durham,

secretly moved Bede’s bones to Durham, and placed them in St. Cuthbert’s coffin. When Cuthbert’s remains were moved to the new Durham Cathedral, Bede’s bones were placed in a separate relic box at his side. In 1370, Bede’s bones were moved to the Galilee Chapel at the West end of the cathedral.

Although the tomb was despoiled during the English Reformation, the tomb is there today and can be seen by visitors to the cathedral. The text on the wall to the right of the picture is Bede’s “Christ is the Morning Star,” which will be included in the Evensong Service. While Bede has been traditionally known as “Venerable,” it wasn’t until 1899, under Pope Leo XIII, that he was formally canonized as a Saint and Doctor of the Church. He is the only British Saint with the Doctor of the Church designation.

ELECTION PRAYER for NEW EDLA BISHOP

SUPPORT for IMMIGRANTS

PRAYER FOR PEACE IN THE HOLY LAND

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

ST. BEDE'S ONLINE GIVING PORTAL

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.

ESPISOPAL NEWS SERVICE

During the May 23-24, 2025, pilgrimage to the Sand Creek Massacre site – co-sponsored by the Episcopal Church in Colorado – Fred Mosqueda, a Southern Arapaho tribal elder whose great-great grandfather survived the surprise attack, told stories of survivors that have been passed down through generations. On Nov. 29, 1864, U.S. Army soldiers killed at least 230 Arapaho and Cheyenne people, most of whom were women, children and elderly, at the Big Sandy Creek encampment. Photo: Joe HubbardY

Colorado Episcopalians study Sand Creek Massacre’s legacy during pilgrimage to historic site

By Shireen Korkzan

[Episcopal News Service] Episcopalians from the Episcopal Church in Colorado made a pilgrimage to the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site in today’s Kiowa County to learn how the deadliest day in the state’s history continues to impact the Cheyenne and Arapaho people more than 160 years later.

“The tribes tried to work with the U.S. government, but this betrayal showed us that we couldn’t trust them at all. It was fight or flight with the U.S. government as they totally slaughtered our people,” Fred Mosqueda, a Southern Arapaho tribal elder who lives in Oklahoma, told Episcopal News Service.

His great-great-grandfather, named Mixed Hair, survived the Nov. 29, 1864, surprise attack at the encampment near Big Sandy Creek. Despite efforts by Southern Cheyenne Chief Black Kettle and other tribal leaders to make peace with the white settlers, over the course of eight hours, U.S. Army cavalry soldiers, led by Col. John Milton Chivington, a Methodist pastor, killed and mutilated at least 230 Cheyenne and Arapaho people, most of whom were women, children or elderly. The soldiers then looted the village, leaving most of it burned or destroyed.

Then-governor of the Territory of Colorado, John Evans, had earlier that year commanded all so-called “friendly Indians” to seek sanctuary at Fort Lyon while the Army would hunt “hostile Indians” like wild game. While Evans wasn’t directly involved with the massacre, his two proclamations – which current Colorado Gov. Jared Polis formally reversed in 2021 – created the conditions that lead up to the attack.

Puppets voice theological concerns with joy, levity

By Mostyn Trudinger-Smith

It’s a serious thing to say “I don’t think God loves me” to a pastor face to face, and a seriously personal interaction to video and post on TikTok. Unless one of those faces is bright red with a round blue nose and shaggy fur, in which case the whole thing becomes a little less serious, a lot more playful.

The artist behind AsktheRev, a puppet ministry project out of St. Augustine by-the-Sea, who asked to be referred to by her artist name Leebs, said that the puppets allow her to ask real questions and access different parts of herself more easily. The fact that puppets pose the questions to clergy tempers the seriousness with playfulness.

“It’s accessing another part of myself, or I’m forgetting about myself because I have this thing on, and this becomes my voice, in a way,” Leebs said. “Whereas if I’m sitting here and I’m talking to you, it’s almost too serious” when asking hard questions.

Each video features, in addition to a clergy member of the Episcopal Church, Curio, a blue creature with horns and curiosity that can verge on antagonism, Chalice, a bright yellow creature excited about liturgy, spelling, and everything else, or TeAmo, a more thoughtful creature, red with long eyes and a bright sequin heart on its chest.

“I think they all are me,” Leebs said. “The one that I am probably most resonating with these days is Chalice, because of that energy of excitement. ‘Yeah, this is the world!’ And when I’m thinking about things in a more community way it’s gonna be TeAmo. And then Curio is just like, ‘Well, if God is real. Then why do we have suffering?’ So it’s all it’s all different parts of me.”