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Dean's Note

Dear Friends In Christ,

Beginning last week with the parish wide gathering of “Celebrating Our Past, and Imagining Our Future Together,” as the choir and compline return on Sunday after their summer rest, and with the Blessing of Animals on Sunday, one can feel excitement and enthusiasm in the air! On Saturday, acolytes new and old are meeting at 9am for training and practice. At 10:30am onsite, the newly formed Children, Youth & Families (CYF) ministry will share ideas about a new Kid’s Space for the young people among us; and at 11am the finance committee, which is a ministry as well, will review the financial health and well-being of our cathedral parish.

After services at 8am (without pet companions) and 10am (with pet companions) on Sunday, the cathedral will reopen at 8pm for the return of its beautiful compline service with voices of an exquisite choir, incense, candles and prayers.

There are exciting events forthcoming, including the 40th Anniversary Gala Concert of the Episcopal Chorale Society on October 8th, and The Guibord Center’s Fundraising Dinner, “Our Hearts Beat On,” the evening of October 12th. Please join us for these special celebrations. But most importantly, mark your calendars for October 22nd & November 3rd for conversations with The Rev. Dr. Eric Law about your hopes and dreams for St. John’s, and the collective process of discerning how God is leading this congregation forward. Your participation and voices matter greatly and are essential to shaping what happens next in the life of this cathedral parish.

On a final bright note, I am pleased to announce that The Rev. Mel Soriano, on behalf of St. John’s and in partnership with Canterbury USC, will serve as an Associate Chaplain. We extend our most sincere gratitude to the Board of Canterbury USC and to The Rev. Dr. Glenn Libby for their warm welcome, abiding commitment to USC students and their generosity. A new weekly Contemplative Service at USC will launch this Tuesday at 7:30pm at the Kilgore Chapel on the USC Campus, offering guided silent prayer. Congratulations, Mel! I am sure he hopes to see you there too.

So much is happening thanks to all of you. Let us give thanks to God.

Much love and blessings,

Anne Sawyer

Interim Dean & Priest-in-Charge

Acolyte Training this Saturday, September 30th at 9am!

Acolyte training is open to everyone who would like to serve! The training will take place at the church with Canon John Theis, and we encourage all interested individuals to attend. 

It is important that we all be in step with each other, and shine brightly online and off to glorify God. Acolytes play an important role in our church services, and we want to ensure that everyone is well-prepared to serve. 

Please join us at 9am in the church for this special training session.

St. John’s is creating a Kids’ Space and we need your help!

The meeting room next to the parish hall has a changing table and several kid-friendly murals, so we’d love to make it available for kids and families during services. 

The room hasn’t been used in several years, so it’s in need of some sprucing up. That’s where you come in! At 10:30am on Saturday 9/30, we’ll be hosting a Kids’ Space Prep Party, during which we all can come together and think up some design ideas for the space - whether that’s a new paint job, some fun and colorful furniture, or other exciting decor! Please RSVP to msoriano@stjohnsla.org so we can get a headcount for refreshments.

The Feast of St. Francis

Sunday, October 1st, 2023



Said Mass is at 10:00 am |Without Pet Companions| In-Person Only

Choral Mass is at 10:00 am | With Pet Companions | In-Person and Online



Livestream available via Facebook and YouTube | Service Leaflet

The Cursillo Path

On Sunday October 8th, between morning services, the rector for Los Angeles Diocese Episcopal Cursillo, Jim Brown will be present to speak and answer questions regarding the purpose and function of the organization within the diocese. Once a year, a retreat weekend is held for new membership. Due to restrictions from the Coronavirus Pandemic, the last retreat was held in 2019. For many adult Episcopalians, the Cursillo Weekend is a profoundly joyful and enriching spiritual experience.

Women will be having their once a year retreat from October 19 - 22, and men will have their retreat weekend the following weekend of October 26 - 29. Please come to learn more about this wonderful ministry within the Episcopal Community.

The Episcopal Cursillo Weekend

Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry has powerfully reminded The Episcopal Church that it is a branch of the Jesus Movement. Within The Episcopal Church, the Episcopal Cursillo Ministry Committee oversees the Cursillo Movement. The Movement reaches out with a time-tested and proven Method for encouraging and equipping Christians to engage fully and faithfully in leading the Jesus Movement. This time-tested method is the Cursillo Method.

The Episcopal Cursillo Weekend is one part of the Method, which has three co-equal parts: Pre-Cursillo (time before the Weekend), the Weekend, and the Fourth Day (time after the Weekend).

Vestry On-Call

Nazario Palma



Vestry members are partners with clergy, encouraging the growth of community and the establishment of common ground in the spiritual life of the congregation. Parishioners are always welcome to speak with these individuals on Sunday morning; they assist in making sure our questions, comments, or concerns are heard.

The Episcopal Chorale

40th Anniversary Gala Concert

Sunday, October 8, 2023

The Episcopal Chorale will be marking its 40th anniversary at St. John's with a Gala Concert on Sunday, October 8 at 4:00pm. The concert will feature the Episcopal Chorale Society under the direction of Canon Dr. Charles Cheatham, Dream Orchestra with conductor Daniel Suk, and The California Philharmonic Art Chorus led by Director Baisheng Xu. Admission to the event requires tickets, which can be obtained with a $25 donation by calling (323) 854-2268.