St. Wilfrid of York Episcopal Church and School

We are a Christian community seeking to know and unconditionally share God's unfailing love.

Weekly Newsletter

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Saturday, May 30

• Picnic in the Park from 11am to 2pm at Helme Park (see below)
• "Border Crossings: Music Beyond the Boundaries" concert by the Orange County Women's Chorus at 7pm in the sanctuary (see below)

Sunday, May 31

• Outreach Commission Meeting at 9:45am in Sacquety Hall
• Newcomer Luncheon at 12:15pm in the office (see below)
• "Border Crossings: Music Beyond the Boundaries" concert by the Orange County Women's Chorus at 3pm in the sanctuary (see below)

Monday, June 1

• The Visitation of the Blessed Mary Prayer Service at 5pm in the chapel (see below)
• Vestry Meeting at 6pm in Sacquety Hall

Tuesday, June 2

• Grief Group Meeting at 9:30am in the church office
• Rector's Bible Study at 11am in Sacquety Hall
• Men's Group Meeting at 7:30pm in the office

Wednesday, June 3

• Weekly Holy Eucharist at 7:15am in the chapel

Friday, June 5

• Funeral Service for Mary Lou Hughes at 10am in the chapel, followed by a reception in Sacquety Hall

Sunday, June 7

• Food Pantry Sunday - donate non-perishable food using the baskets in the narthex
• Godly Play at 8:30am in Room 9
• Choral Evensong Service at 5pm in the sanctuary (see below)

Tuesday, June 9

• Rector's Bible Study at 11am in Sacquety Hall

Wednesday, June 10

• Weekly Holy Eucharist at 7:15am in the chapel

Saturday, June 13

• Al-Anon Workshop "Detachment with Love" at 10am in Sacquety Hall (see below)

Sunday, June 14

• Small Change Sunday to support Laundry Love
• Godly Play for Everyone at 9:30am in Sacquety Hall
• Prayer Partner's Meeting at 11:45am in the office
• "Latino Families and Human Development: Stress, Adaptation, and Resilience" EPA Lecture Series at 1pm in Sacquety Hall (see below)

Tuesday, June 16

• Grief Group Meeting at 9:30am in the church office
• Rector's Bible Study at 11am in Sacquety Hall
• Preschool Board Meeting at 5pm in the preschool office
• Finance Meeting at 6pm in Fr. Nathan's office
• Men's Group Meeting at 7:30pm in the office

Wednesday, June 17

• Weekly Holy Eucharist at 7:15am in the chapel
• Laundry Love at 5:30pm at Huntington Coin Laundry

Friday, June 19

• Church office closed on honor of Juneteenth

Saturday, June 20

• Campus Work Day at 7am starting in Sacquety Hall (see below)
• Financial Audit at 9am in the office

Sunday, June 21

• Summer Bake Sale after both services in Sacquety Hall
• Godly Play at 10:30am in Room 9
• Youth Group Meeting at 4:30pm in the Youth Center

Monday, June 22

• Vestry Meeting at 6pm in Sacquety Hall

Tuesday, June 23

• Rector's Bible Study at 11am in Sacquety Hall

Wednesday, June 24

• Weekly Holy Eucharist at 7:15am in the chapel

I don't know if you realize it or not, but last Sunday something special happened. It wasn't just the beautiful music (which was wonderful), the impressive Acts reading (which I enjoyed), or the fantastic smell of the incense, but we had a Holy Spirit moment on our church campus. One of our members, who has chosen to remain anonymous, felt the tugging of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit brought to mind those who, until recently, were displaced by the Garden Grove evacuation order, and how they didn't have much time to gather up essential items before evacuating. So, the parishioner responded by asking several other church members if they would like to contribute money to buy toothbrushes, pillows, towels, socks, etc. The response was immediate and overwhelmingly positive. More details are below in this email.

For me, what made this act of generosity especially meaningful is how our actions overlaid with Pentecost. Peter responds to the Holy Spirit's outpouring by boldly proclaiming the faith; we responded to the real needs of our unnamed neighbors by giving them essential items. This is what the community of God looks like. We act. We do. We help. And all of this happened because someone was sensitive to the Holy Spirit. We lived into our baptismal covenant and calling.

So let us celebrate and continue doing the things the Holy Spirit leads us to do.

Many Blessings,

Fr. Nathan Biornstad+

As we celebrated the Feast of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came to Jesus’ disciples after his death, resurrection and ascension, an emergency was unfolding just a few miles from our church campus. A possible leak in a large chemical tank led to widespread evacuation orders and thousands of people being forced to flee to shelters. That morning, several St. Wilfrid’s parishioners decided to pool their resources and buy personal-care items for the evacuees. By late afternoon, several hundred dollars had been raised simply through word of mouth, enabling us to donate toothbrushes, toothpaste, bottled water, pillows, towels, socks and underwear for children and adults, children’s t-shirts and granola bars. The items were delivered to the Garden Grove Elks Lodge, where approximately 120 families (and pets) “camped” on air mattresses and volunteers worked to accommodate them.

“How great it is to see the Holy Spirit working through us!” said Fr. Nathan. "And for this to happen on Pentecost; yah, the Holy Spirit is still at work doing important things.”

Outreach Commission Chair Steven Nadolny said “The need was immediate and the fast response shows what God’s people can do when the Holy Spirit leads them.”

The Visitation of the Blessed Mary Prayer Service

A special feast-day liturgy for The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be celebrated at an Evening Prayer Service in the chapel on Monday, June 1st, at 5:00pm. All are invited to join us for this intimate service honoring Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth.

This service commemorates one of the most joyful moments in the Gospel of Luke: Elizabeth, pregnant with John the Baptist, recognizing Mary as “blessed among women,” while the unborn John leaps for joy in the presence of Christ. The service also includes the Magnificat, Mary’s beautiful words of praise and thanksgiving.

Outreach Opportunity:

Helping Briarwood Square Neighbors

The families that were recently displaced due to the devastating apartment fire were also evacuated due to the chemical incident in Garden Grove. Evacuating caused many families to spend money that they simply don't have. Now that the families have returned to their homes, their Amazon Wish Lists are working again. All donations are greatly appreciated.

For questions, more information, or to offer greater assistance, please contact Laurie, Parish Administrator, at admin@stwilfridschurch.org.

Pack your picnic basket and join us for fun, food, and friends at Picnic in the Park! Bring your own meal and hang out with your church family. Laughter guaranteed!

Latino Families and Human Development: Stress, Adaptation, and Resilience

GLEAM-OC + Episcopal Pride Alliance Lecture Series

Edwin J. Vazquez, M.A.

June 14 | Sacquety Hall | 1-3pm

This talk examines how family development is shaped by relationships, neighborhoods, institutions, and public policy. Drawing on research on Latino and Mexican-origin families, it explores acculturation, immigration-related stress, ethnic identity, and the cultural strengths that support resilience across generations.

All are welcome!

The Orange County Women’s Chorus looks forward to presenting their third concert of the season, Border Crossings: Music Beyond the Boundaries on May 30th and 31st, 2006 at St. Wilfrid of York Episcopal Church in Huntington Beach. Join us as we celebrate music by immigrants and refugees, and songs that remind us of the ties that bind, not the walls that divide. “We’d planned a different program for our May concert, but the headlines from Minneapolis and around the nation these past few months cried out to us for a change of course,” said Artistic Director Eliza Rubenstein. “This performance is a feast of music by composers who came to the United States seeking safety and success, and a reminder of the gifts that immigrants bring—and have always brought—to our country. It’s not a lecture. It’s a joyous program of beautiful music by our siblings from other shores.”

St. Wilfrid's parishioners may receive $5 of their ticket price by using code STW.

Online pricing:* Adult $35, Senior (65+) $30, Student (with ID) $15

At the door: Adult $40, Senior $35, Student $18

Website will offer details on events to welcome bishop-elect

A new online hub of information related to the upcoming series of events welcoming the Rev. Dr. Antonio J. Gallardo L. as eighth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles is set to launch Friday, May 29. Produced in English and Spanish, the webpages offer details of the July 11 consecration at All Saints Church in Pasadena and concurrent watch parties around the diocese; the July 12 installation at St. John's Cathedral during Evensong preceded by the afternoon downtown "Walk for Love and Truth"; and upcoming summer Saturday celebrations in each of the diocese's 10 geographic deaneries. Topics include ticketing for the consecration and installation, opportunities to share in giving gifts planned for the new bishop, and arrangements for a July 10 clergy gathering with Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe. A special edition of the Episcopal News Update -- to be emailed May 29 to all subscribers -- will provide links to the new website, which has been created by Samantha Wylie, diocesan program officer and Diocesan Convention coordinator, working in collaboration with the consecration and transition committees.

All invited to Episcopal- Lutheran Dodger Night Sept. 3

Baseball season is underway, so it is time once again for all Episcopalians to gather at Dodger Stadium for Episcopal Night, to watch the Dodgers play the St. Louis Cardinals. This year's game will be on Thursday, Sept. 3, at 7 p.m. Tickets will be $48 per person.

Ticket purchases will be organized, as usual, through congregation coordinators. Ticket orders must be placed by congregation coordinators no later than July 20.

This is an evening for Episcopalians and friends to gather together and have a good time as the Diocese of Los Angeles. The diocese will be joined again by the Lutherans of the Southwest California Synod in the true spirit of baseball and ecumenism, so invite your Lutheran friends to come out and join.