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, August 29

• Celebration to Meet Bishop Antonio+ at 11am in Sacquety Hall (see below)

Tuesday, September 1

• 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, September 2

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

Sunday, September 6

• Food Pantry Sunday - donate non-perishable food using the baskets in the narthex
• Godly Play at 8:30am in Room 9

Monday, September 7

• Church and preschool closed in honor of Labor Day

Tuesday, September 8

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

Wednesday, September 9

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

Thursday, September 10

• Rehearsals for The St. Wilfrid Choir resume at 7:30pm in Room 11/12

Saturday, September 12

• Classic English Country Garden Party at 3pm in the Rose Garden (see below)

Sunday, September 13

• Homecoming Sunday celebrated at both services (see below)
• Godly Play for Everyone at 9:30am in Sacquety Hall
• Episcopal PRIDE Alliance Potluck Luncheon at 12:15pm in Sacquety Hall
• Blessing of the Waves at Pier Plaza - lawn seating at 5pm (see below)

Tuesday, September 15

• 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 the Fr. Nathan's office
• Men's Group Meeting at 7:30pm in the office

Wednesday, September 16

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

Saturday, September 19

• Back to School Bingo Night at 6pm in Sacquety Hall (see below)

Sunday, September 20

• Godly Play at 10:30am in Room 9

Tuesday, September 22

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

Wednesday, September 23

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

Sunday, September 27

• Godly Play at 9:30am in Room 9
• OC Around the Table at 3pm (see below)

It's hard to believe that we are just a couple of days away from the Bishop's visit! This will be a great opportunity to hear directly from +Bishop Antonio, to learn about his vision for our diocese, and to ask him any questions that you may have. Last November, +Bishop Antonio was elected at our annual Diocesan Convention. After his election, the area Bishops across the provinces confirmed that they sensed God had called +Bishop Antonio to serve our diocese. A diocese is a large geographical area, in our case stretching from Santa Barbara to San Clemente to Barstow (but not including Palm Springs) which the Bishop oversees. According to canonical law, a bishop needs to visit each church once every three years. In order to accomplish this, and because our diocese has so many churches, retired bishops will often visit local congregations for confirmations and receptions into the Episcopal church.

This Saturday, at 11am in Sacquety Hall, you will have a chance to meet the bishop without driving any farther than you normally do on a Sunday morning. Of course, we will have some food and beverages to enjoy. This is your opportunity to show your support and offer prayers for our bishop.

I remember the first time I met a Bishop. I was in my twenties, and was going to be confirmed in the Episcopal Church. +Bishop Bruno was impressive. His aura and presence were awe-inspiring; he was warm and friendly. I could not help but wonder how this man held so many cares and responsibilities upon his shoulders. I also recall, in those days it was common for a bishop to slap someone on the cheek when being confirmed. This gentle slap signified that we, as Christians, needed to be brave when sharing our faith. I was not a big fan of being hit, and I remember being nervous about it; I wondered if it would be gentle or painful. Thankfully, it was gentle.

This was how I participated in the ancient tradition of confirmation. I am so glad that I joined the Episcopal Church because, not only do I love our liturgy, but I have also experienced God in the midst of our services many, many times. And so, I kept coming back.

Do you remember the first time you saw a Bishop? What was your experience? Feel free to send me an email at nathan@stwilfridschurch.org if you'd like to share your story with me.

Many blessings,

Fr. Nathan Biornstad+
Rector

Celebration to Greet 
the Rev. Dr. Antonio José Gallardo Lucena

Saturday, August 29 at 11:00am | Sacquety Hall

St. Wilfrid's is honored to host a special celebration to welcome and greet The Rt. Rev. Dr. Antonio Gallardo Lucena, our new Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles.

Join us this Saturday, August 29, at 11am as members of churches from across Deanery 10 gather to celebrate this exciting new chapter in the life of our diocese. This joyful meet and greet will be an opportunity to welcome Bishop Antonio's+, introduce ourselves, and spend time together in fellowship with Episcopalians from throughout our deanery.

Whether you attended Bishop Antonio's+ consecration or are meeting him for the first time, we hope you'll join us as we extend a warm St. Wilfrid's welcome and celebrate his ministry among us. We look forward to sharing this special occasion with you!

Godly Play Returns in September

Mark your calendars! Our traditional Godly Play program, for children ages 4 through 5th grade, returns on September 6th. We’re especially excited to add a new 4th Sunday gathering at 9:30am, giving our young people another chance to learn and explore together between services.

1st Sunday: 8:30am in Room 9

2nd Sunday: 9:30am in Sacquety Hall (Godly Play for Everyone)

3rd Sunday: 10:30am in Room 9 

4th Sunday: 9:30am in Room 9 

Looking for updated family photos? One of our preschool families is generously offering discounted mini photo sessions as a fundraiser for St. Wilfrid's Preschool, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting the preschool.

Sessions are just $53 and include a 15-minute photo session for your immediate family (or up to six people), an online gallery of 30–40 professionally edited images, and two high-resolution digital downloads of your choice. Choose from a variety of beautiful locations, including the Huntington Beach and Balboa Piers, museum gardens, nature trails, scenic parks, and more.

Best of all, your photos will be ready in plenty of time for holiday cards and gifts. 

To sign up for a session or view the available locations, click the link below. A flyer with additional details and booking information will be available soon.

The diocese's weekly Resource Roundup newsletter is on their summer hiatus.

This weekly newsletter sent by Bishop Antonio and the leadership team will include reflections, updates on the work of the diocese, and upcoming events as we walk together in God's mission of love, truth, and service.

People gather alongside the Rt. Rev. Antonio Gallardo Lucena and the Rev. Canon Jon Feuss, Canon to the Ordinary at St. Paul's in Barstow.

Finding God at Every Corner of Our Diocese

by The Rt. Rev. Antonio Gallardo Lucena

The Spirit of God is Present at Every Corner of our Beautiful Diocese!

Although my schedule is getting busier, I am getting to the part of this calling that I was looking for: visiting congregations. This past Sunday, the Rev. Canon Jon Feuss, Canon Clare Zabala Bangao, Diocesan Missioner for Mission Congregations and I worshiped with the good people of St. Paul’s in Barstow. For more than 20 years they have been creating a community with the local Lutheran Church, and today they refer to themselves as “Two Churches, One Mission, One Family.” After the coffee hour, a few of us went to the previous Sanctuary (which had not been used for worship for more than 5 years) to deconsecrate the space. Although it was a sad moment for all present, we were reminded that this “end” has made possible a new beginning for this congregation. 

On Saturday, I continued to gather with the people from our deaneries during a visit to Deanery 9 – North Orange County, where St. Paul’s in Tustin served as a gracious host. Through questions and exchanges we got to know one another more, and all left inspired by the way that God is at work in our congregations.

This was also a week to continue to develop and strengthen relationships. I met with NMAC — a national HIV organization that offers capacity building, leadership development, policy education, and public engagement to end the HIV epidemic among communities most impacted in the United States — in preparation to serve as a keynote speaker at their annual conference in Anaheim, where more than 3,000 people will gather. I met with the planning team for the celebration of the 50 years of LGBTQ+ efforts in our church, where I will be one of the speakers talking about what is to come. I also met with the Episcopal Bishops of African Descent; gathered with our area deans; met with the Rev. Jaime Edwards-Acton and the Rev. Francisco Garcia to talk about the great work and the future of Sacred Resistance, and also with the Rev. Andy Barnett, the new Rector of All Saints Church in Beverly Hills.  

Along with staff, we joined in celebrating the good work of Amila Orucevic, Immigration Legal Services Manager at IRIS, who will be retiring at the end of the month. I facilitated my first meeting with the Corporation of the Diocese, where we discussed matters that are relevant to our diocese, including the 2027 budget.

I also dedicated time to meet with the partners that help me to stay healthy and balanced: my personal trainer, my business coach, and my psychotherapist, and of course, lots of loving time with my pup Milo.

In the week ahead, I will meet with Bishops Little and Brookhart as we prepare to start congregational visitations. I will also meet with the leaders of Bloy House, as well as the Standing Committee, the diocesan leadership team, the planning team for Diocesan Convention, a gathering of Black Clergy, and the team working on the annual Corp Sole financial audit. Also, this week I will join for the first time the monthly meeting of Bishops from Province VIII.

I will end the week spending time with the people of Deanery 10 – South Orange County on Saturday, and perform my first official visitation as your bishop to St. Matthew’s in Pacific Palisades.

Thank you for your continued prayers. They sustain me.

Bishop Antonio

“Hope Is Already Here”: Deanery 2 Welcomes Bishop Antonio

People from across Deanery 2 – Tri-Valley gathered at St. Martin in-the-Fields in Winnetka with Bishop Antonio for conversation, connection, and an open Q&A about the life and ministry of their congregations hosted by the vicar, the Rev. Gabriel Ferrer.

Bishop Antonio shared a message of hope rooted in the work already taking place across the Diocese: “There is great work already happening in our congregations.”

He reflected on love as a call to care for others, see their needs, and meet them—and on truth as understanding our responsibility to one another.

Together, Deanery 2’s gathering offered a simple reminder: the work of love, care, and community is already underway.