October 31, 2024 | VOLUME 36, ISSUE 44

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All Saints Sunday

Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

November 3, 2024

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9

Psalm 24

Revelation 21:1-6a

John 11:32-44

Preacher: The Reverend Jennifer Wagner Pavia

Sun., November 3: All Saints Sunday (bring photos of departed loved ones) & Daylight Savings Time ends

Sun., November 3: 4:00 PM: Choral Evensong in the Sanctuary (see flyer below)

Sat., November 16, 3:00 PM: "Fables & Fantasy" at Veterans Memorial Auditorium (see flyer below)

Bible and Breakfast

Tuesdays | 9:30 AM

Luther Hall & Zoom

Midweek Eucharist:

Wednesdays | 7:00 PM

Sanctuary

Adult Forum:

Wednesdays | 8:00 PM

Luther Hall & Zoom

Please remember to turn back your clocks one hour on Saturday night, November 2, so that you won't be late to church for the All Saints Day celebration on Sunday, November 3!

All Saints Day is for remembering the people we loved, who were important to us, who made an impact on our lives and then died and left us behind. In addition to actively mourning and holding space for the pain of loss, this day is a time to remember that the love of God is far greater than death. Everyone is invited to bring photos of their departed loved ones to be honored at church on November 3.

A CHORAL EVENSONG

The Feast of All Saints will continue at 4:00 PM on Sunday, November 3, when Music Director Frank Basile will lead the St. Bede's Choir and the Friends of Music in a Choral Evensong. All are summoned to this meditative evening prayer in song, for it will call upon the audience to ponder the mysteries of the heavenly kingdom.

O God, the Maker and Redeemer of all believers: Grant to the faithful departed the unsearchable benefits of the passion of your Son; that on the day of his appearing they may be manifested as your children; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

By Cynthia Rothschild

Although there weren’t as many fans Saturday night at the Sister of Bede’s Party of Parties as there were at Dodger Stadium, the crowd that gathered was ready for another great event. It was the annual fundraiser for neighborhood outreach and my chance to fill my calendar with unique and fun activities.

Laughter was heard all around as patrons posed for pictures accessorized with cutouts of Margarita glasses, hats and even a mustache. The Latin music was curated by Daphne Moote who, even though her plate is full, always asks for more to do.

The room was adorned with colorful tablecloths, votives and Mexican themed decor.

The Sisters of Bede know how to put on a spread. We enjoyed guacamole with chips and a layered bean dip (thanks Rea) to start, in addition to Margaritas. Carl’s wonderful home brewed beers also kept the group lively before dinner.

Reverend Jennifer lead us in a blessing. There was a celebrity sighting, too. Reverend Jennifer’s sister, Julie, was visiting from Connecticut. It was delightful to meet her and hear lots of stories about all the trouble . . . that’s for another time 😊.

We then dined on delicious tacos from Taco Soul, accompanied by homemade salads. The chef had prepared 3 different taco fillings including a vegan option that I can say was yummy and perfectly seasoned.

As dinner wound down, the hosts of the planned venues explained their events. The venues included a new Karaoke night at the church, planned for spring and sponsored by the free-formed Young Adult Group, and a new Game Night for all ages, planned for next fall. I saw a few people surreptitiously changing into running shoes, and the race was on to sign up for venues!

I think everyone got their first choices so there were a lot of happy faces. There might still be spaces in a few venues, and those who missed the party can still put their names on the wait list (see link below). The best thing is that we raised a record-breaking amount of over $5,400 for the Neighborhood Youth Association and other groups!

The finale was a decadent ice cream sundae bar with Mexican Chocolate provided by Kathy Russell. It disappeared quickly as we indulged in delight.

The Sisters of Bede are so grateful to everyone who attended and gave generously. A huge thank you goes out to all who were involved in making the night successful including Daphne, Rea, Kathy, Susan, Dee, Mary, Stephanie, Cynthia, Ina, Jerry and Karen, and Carl and Jennine.

Seeing all the dancing going on during clean-up, I think next year we need to make it a dance party!

Click HERE to view the list of the 2024-2025 venues.

Click HERE to sign up to either attend or put your name on the Wait List for a specific venue.

Friends of Music’s Gala Opening Concert

By Elizabeth Coombs

Many Partners Make for More Fun

OCT. 19, 2024 MAR VISTA  With the help of friends, St. Bede’s gussies up pretty well, as Mar Vista saw last Saturday night when the church hosted its first-ever “community gala”. Proceeds of the event, themed “Celebrating Neighborhood Partners,” will benefit St. Bede’s Friends of Music nonprofit, which supports music for our weekly services and special holy-day programs. From welcoming remarks to the final clean up, the evening drew upon the talents and generosity of St. Bede’s extended community. Coming together to create an upscale evening of al fresco dining and fantastic music, the friends of the Friends of Music program composed a beautiful reflection on partnership.

The evening kicked off with bountiful table of appetizers and charcuterie prepared by Susan Holder and Stephanie Landry, wines, nonalcoholic beverages and beer crafted by in-house hops grower and brewmaster Carl Townsend. On tap were Festbier, a traditional Oktoberfest style beer; a Belgian monastic table beer; an American Pale Ale; and an American IPA.

The event featured a cozy and festively lit courtyard, thanks to decorations by Daphne Moote and concert lighting and heaters provided by event co-producer Rob Kadota of the Mar Vista Music Project/MVMP. The event’s host and co-producer, Akani Fletcher of Spirit Sunday Productions, described St. Bede’s as a community hub, fostering and supporting dozens of groups, “from Girl Scout troops to city council forums; support for the unhoused and hungry; to film production crews … by offering its facility for them to meet and expand their activities.” Akani took turns with Susan and Senior Warden Jerry Hornof recognizing a few of those organizations. Notably recognized were Ahavat Torah, the Jewish congregation that worships weekly in our sanctuary and fellowship hall, and who were present in large number at the gala. Also called out for special mention was LA’s First African Methodist Episcopal Church, whose foster care/adoption project St. Bede’s annually supports with new backpacks full of school supplies, and who generously donated to the gala event.

In a nod to the weeklong Jewish holiday of Sukkot, whose third day coincided with the gala, the dinner buffet was spread in Ahavat Torah’s sukkah, a temporary shelter celebrating the fall harvest and G-d’s protection of the Israelites in the wilderness following the Exodus. As explained by Rabbi Ilana Grinblat, sukkahs are traditionally roofed with plant materials so that they have a view of the stars, and are open on one side to remind the faithful of human fragility and dependence on the Almighty. Entering through the open side, gala guests filled St. Bede’s china with hearty and delicious favorites (from Dulan’s Soul Food Kitchen), including baked chicken and fish, corn and okra salad, collard greens, mashed potatoes and gravy, macaroni and cheese, salad and corn muffins. Dulan’s legendary peach cobbler and Daphne’s flourless chocolate cake capped off the feast.

A strolling saxophonist summoned guests into the sanctuary for the headlining musical act, the all-female Sunnie Paxson Quartet. Paxson, an award-winning jazz pianist keyboardist, was joined by friends on drums, bass and, of course, sax. Numbers that had toes tapping, heads bopping and couples dancing in the aisles included standards like Wood and Mellin’s “My One and Only Love” and Bobby Timmon’s “Moanin”, as well as several of Paxson’s own contemporary jazz compositions, such as the smooth “Brazilian Sea” and the bright, complex “Sea Bound.” The rollicking, explosive “Cracker Jax” finished off the concert to a standing ovation, and guests drifted out, reluctant to bring an end to such a memorable evening.

Special thanks to all who partnered with the Friends of Music to make this event a fundraising and social success, notably Daphne, Jerry, Carl, Susan, Stephanie and especially Akani for bringing the event into being and Rob for his many donations and tireless work before, during and after the event. The Earth thanks you too, as the gala was a completely green event, with no disposable dishware or plastics used and all waste composted. Thank you too, to the many generous ticket and table purchasers. Please remember, the Friends of Music season is just starting and it’s not too late to become a supporter!

Daphne Moote has made a beautiful and memorable video of the event, which can be accessed HERE.

Most of you know parishioner Karen Scharre, wife of St. Bede’s Senior Warden Jerry Hornof. For many years Karen has played violin in the Orchestra Nova LA, formerly known as the Los Angeles Doctors Symphony Orchestra. Karen is excited about their upcoming performance in November and encourages St. Bede’s parishioners to take advantage of this magical concert for the entire family. We hope to see you there!

From the Orchestra Nova LA website:

Join us for an enchanting “Fables and Fantasy” themed family concert presented by Orchestra Nova LA! This magical afternoon will feature repertoire, a live narration, and video projections designed to be a fun and engaging experience for the whole family. This concert promises to spark the imagination and delight audiences of all ages. Come and share in the joy of music and storytelling with us!

PROGRAM:

RICHARD WAGNER – Ride of the Valkyries

SERGEI PROKOFIEV – Peter and the Wolf, Op. 67: Narration by Gabriela Bonet**

PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY – Excerpts from the Nutcracker, Op. 71

JOHN POWELL (ARR. SEAN O’LOUGHLIN) – How to Train Your Dragon (from the Motion Picture)

RSVP HERE

** Gabriela Bonet is an actress, singer, and dancer whose film credits include The Babymoon, Renacer, Trapo Sucio, Curing Assholes, God is an Astronaut, and the Puerto Rican TV Series Incognita 2. Gabriela holds a B.A. in Acting from the University of Puerto Rico and an MFA in Acting from the USC School of Dramatic Arts.

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.

Voting booths are set up in the parish hall at Grace Episcopal Church in Newton, Massachusetts, on Nov. 3, 2020. Photo: Egan Millard/Episcopal News Service

Episcopalians organize prayer vigils, call for peace as tense election season draws to close

By David Paulsen

Episcopal bishops are issuing statements calling for peace on Nov. 5, Election Day. Church leaders are planning various prayer vigils in the hours leading up to the polls closing. An ecumenical partnership in North Carolina has responded to this tense campaign season by buying billboard ads promoting unity.

And on Nov. 6, the day after the election, the Episcopal cathedrals in Washington, D.C., and New York have scheduled additional prayer vigils while the nation reacts to the result of this year’s close presidential race or awaits final word on the outcome.

At a time when the American electorate is starkly divided, Episcopalians and church leaders are responding to feelings of fear and anxiety by turning to their faith for solace – and to maintain hope for a future in which people of all political affiliations can come together.

“We are approaching the end of a contentious presidential election in a time when the country remains deeply divided and polarized,” Wisconsin Bishop Matthew Gunter said in an Oct. 24 message to his diocese. “It is understandable that many of us feel anxious. Christians are to be people of prayer in all times, but particularly in times of heightened anxiety.”

READ MORE HERE

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The Rev. Dr. Carter Heyward

All are invited to Diocesan Convention address by Carter Heyward of the Philadelphia 11

By EN Staff 

A highlight of this year’s Diocesan Convention, meeting Nov. 8 – 9 at the Riverside Convention Center, will be an address by the Rev. Carter Heyward, a priest, professor, theologian, activist, writer, and one of the Philadelphia 11, the first women ordained as priests in The Episcopal Church.

Heyward’s address is scheduled for approximately 1:30 p.m. (after the lunch break) on Saturday, Nov. 9. The diocesan community is invited and encouraged to attend. Visitors will be seated in a gallery off the convention floor. The address, along with other convention business, will be live-streamed on the diocese’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Heyward, 89, is featured in the documentary The Philadelphia 11, which will be screened at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8, following the convention dinner at the Riverside Convention Center. All are invited to the screening, which will be held at no charge.

Heyward became a professor at Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts (now EDS at Union in New York), in 1976, soon after her ordination, which at first was condemned by the House of Bishops, but later regularized after the 1976 meeting of General Convention authorized the ordination of women into the priesthood.

READ MORE HERE

The Rt. Rev. John Harvey Taylor, VII Bishop of Los Angeles, after voting.

Politics and Peace: A word about the election

By John Harvey Taylor

My siblings in Christ in the Diocese of Los Angeles:

“Peace be with you,” our Lord said to his friends when he appeared to them after the Resurrection. And then he said it again: “Peace be with you.” According to the account in John’s gospel (20:19-23), they were afraid of Jerusalem’s religious authorities. Their fear was akin to what many feel about the coming election, especially our vulnerability to events beyond our control. Our faith is that Jesus’s two-fold promise is meant for us as well, even as Nov. 5 looms. And it surely is. Peace be with you. Peace be with you.

But Jesus twins peace with empowerment and responsibility. In the same encounter, he vested the apostles with heaven’s own authority when it came to forgiveness of sin. As I write today, I read this as a challenge to my Christian identity. His friends were terrified of those in power and no doubt angry at what they’d done to him. Jesus chose the moment of their maximum fear to confer the power to condemn or absolve their enemies. It was up to them whether to act in vengeance or the soul of grace.

We too are being invited to make best use of our authority in Christ, devoting ourselves to the glory of God and to what is best for all God’s people. In that spirit, three propositions and a prayer:

If we can, we put relationships first. The baptismal value of respecting the dignity of every human being applies even to political antagonists. Unless we think we can change someone’s mind, and I probably never have, it is better to listen to a differing view and see what it teaches us. If necessary, we avoid talking about politics, and when we can’t, we resist the impulse to sever relationships with those who disagree.

We vote and advocate. Our obligation to perfect the Union won’t end with this election. Write your representatives. Donate when you can. Under the Electoral College, 40,000 people can decide a presidential election. Take that as a sign of the individual’s power to make a difference, especially locally. Work on a school board or city council campaign. Testify before the planning commission in favor of affordable housing.

We center our Christian and Episcopal identity in all we do in the public square. Stressful times are opportunities to rededicate ourselves to practices of private prayer and meditation. Our mission or parish offers opportunities for fellowship, study, service, and mutual reassurance. Beyond personal and parish life, a vital dimension of our heritage as Anglicans is understanding that we are part of the social fabric and invested in its well-being. As Episcopalians, we have a charism of proclaiming equity for all God’s people as God had fashioned them in magnificent diversity, notwithstanding race and nation, orientation and identification. In this respect, one cannot counsel compromise. In our private and public discourse, we speak up in Christ’s name especially for those being scapegoated most ruthlessly such as our trans and immigrant worker siblings.

READ MORE HERE

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