August 28, 2022

Attending the Lambeth Conference from the Diocese of Los Angeles were, at left: Bishop John Harvey Taylor and steward Ryan Macias; and interpreters Katherine Feng and Fennie Chang. Photos: John Taylor

Lambeth Conference participants from L.A. diocese share perspectives on international gathering

By Janet Kawamoto

[The Episcopal News – August 24, 2022] Being at the Lambeth Conference was a rich and varied experience for the four Diocese of Los Angeles clergy who attended the July 27 – Aug. 7 gathering: Bishop John Harvey Taylor, attending as one of some 650 bishops from all over the Anglican Communion; the Rev. Ryan Macias, a volunteer steward; and the Rev. Fennie Hsin-Fen Chang and the Rev. Katherine Feng, who served as translators for, respectively, Bishop Lennon Chang of Taiwan and his wife, Hannah Chang.

The bishops engaged in a program of bible study focused on 1 Peter and consideration of the “Lambeth Calls,” a set of statements about issues facing the Anglican Communion and the world: Safe Church, Anglican Identity, Reconciliation, Human dignity, Environment & Sustainable Development, Christian Unity, Interfaith Relations, Discipleship, and Science and Faith.

“First of all, most of all, [it was my responsibility] to listen, and appreciate that I was experiencing the world writ small – at least 165 countries’ worth,” said Bishop Taylor, noting that one of the things that made the Anglican Communion special “is that it’s by and large a community of national churches. It’s a consequence of our roots in the Church of England.” The viewpoints of the bishops at the conference reflected the realities of their political and social situations. “So we spent a lot of time sharing and comparing stories about what was going on at home and what we were trying to do to address it,” said Taylor, adding, “It was also my responsibility to hear all the speeches and participate in daily study and Lambeth Calls sessions.”

Forty-nine men and women, ages 20 to 30, from around the Anglican Communion made up the stewarding team, Macias, a recently ordained deacon serving as curate at All Saints’ Church, Riverside, told The Episcopal News. “We represented 22 different countries – places as far wide as Belize, South Sudan, Ghana, Australia, Pakistan, and Barbados.”

The stewards, he said, were “responsible for the logistical aspects of the conference – everything from providing hospitality for delegates, ecumenical visitors, exhibitors and staff, to security and crowd control.” Attendees were housed and many sessions were held at the University of Kent, located a short distance from Canterbury Cathedral. “A big part of the job was helping people find their way around the university’s enormous campus,” said Macias.

Taylor said he admired his colleagues’ work at the conference. “It was an inspiration to see Fennie and Katherine working long hours making sure that Bishop Chang and his spouse, Hannah, had the same rich experience as everyone else,” said Taylor. “They didn’t have a booth like the other translators, since the Changs were their only customers. This enabled us to have many fist bumps as we passed on the floor. And every time I turned around, Ryan Macias was offering someone a helping hand and making friends for Christ at the same time.”

Also inspiring was the wide variety of worship services reflecting the multinational, multilingual bishops and others in attendance, especially the “magnificent” opening Eucharist, said Taylor, “featuring 1,200 of us pinching ourselves in unison.”

Read more here.

SAVE THE DATE

Restorative justice retreat, stories, will celebrate Camp Stevens' 70th anniversary

[The Episcopal News] To mark its 70th anniversary, Camp Stevens invites alumni, former staff, friends and the diocesan community to a Restorative Justice Retreat Oct. 28 – 30. The weekend will celebrate the camp's history of impact and growth while looking to the future.

A video invitation from Kathy Wilder, executive director of Camp Stevens, is above (or here).

Valarie Kaur – renowned civil rights leader, lawyer, award-winning filmmaker, educator, innovator, best-selling author of See No Stranger, and founder of the Revolutionary Love Project to reclaim love as a force for justice – will deliver a keynote address at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29. More about Kaur is here.

Read more here. A web page with retreat schedule information is here.

Echo Park Immigration Center hosts inaugural gala, presents awards named in honor of Canon Lydia Lopez

By EN Staff

[The Episcopal News – August 24, 2022] The Echo Park Immigration Center (EPIC) recognized three longtime immigration justice leaders – Canon Lydia Lopez of All Saints, Pasadena; Jeanne Row Smith, campus minister and executive director of the Wesley Foundation UCLA, based at St. Alban’s, Westwood; and Guillermo Torres, executive director of Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice – in the agency’s first-ever gala, held Aug. 20 at historic Pico House in Los Angeles.

The Canon Lydia Lopez Award is presented for “significant service building beloved community with our immigrant community in Los Angeles.” Lopez was presented the award prior to the gala, captured on video and aired during the event, as she was unable to attend in person for health reasons.

The Echo Park Immigration Center (EPIC), launched in 2021, is a faith collective that provides resources and mentoring for immigrant youth and their families. Through support from donors, the center now serves more than 60 families in need through workshops, mentoring, and educational trips, as well as providing school supplies and emergency relief.

Additional resources that EPIC provides include legal consultations with attorneys at no cost, accompaniment to ICE check ins and court hearings, housing referrals.

Read more here.

Episcopal Schools celebration will welcome Ryan Newman, new executive director, and celebrate Serena Beeks, retiring director

Bishop John Taylor and the Commission on Schools invite the diocesan community to the Bishop's Annual Episcopal School Eucharist and Luncheon on Thursday, Oct. 6, 11:30 a.m. at St. Paul's Commons, 840 Echo Park Avenue, Los Angeles.

Each year, Episcopal school leaders - school heads, directors, rectors and vicars, chaplains, division heads, business managers and more – come together to celebrate the beginning of a new school year and Episcopal Schools Week. Leaders from affiliated schools and those outside the Diocese of Los Angeles are also welcome.

This year's gathering will welcome the Rev. Ryan Newman, newly appointed executive director of the diocese's Commission on Schools, and celebrate Canon Serena Beeks, retiring executive director.

The Eucharist will begin in St. Athanasius Church at 11:30 a.m., followed by a hosted luncheon in the Johnathan Daniels conference room. Vegetarian meal options will be available.

To register, click here.

Books

Desert Spirituality for Men

by Brad Karelius

Resource Publications,

an imprint of Wipf and Stock Publishers

paperback / $21

"Inspired by Richard Rohr, Ronald Rolheiser, Belden Lane, and Thomas Merton, Desert Spirituality for Men reveals the transformative and healing power of the desert—for men who actively seek God. Blending a memoir of his son’s fight for life, reflections on his own desert retreats and response to the Lord’s persistent desire for relationship, Brad Karelius offers guidance to men in their holy longing for God. An Episcopal priest for 50 years, professor of philosophy for 45 years, husband, and father, Karelius also tells about the power of his friendship with six remarkable men, and he describes some of their well-founded prayer practices that will sustain and nurture any man in his quest. This book will encourage men of all callings and stages in life to plan their own retreats to the desert—where God lives and gives life."

The Rev. Canon Brad Karelius is associate professor of philosophy at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, California, and an Episcopal priest in the Diocese of Los Angeles. He is author of The Spirit in the Desert: Pilgrimages to Sacred Sites in the Owens Valley (2009), Encounters with the World’s Religions: The Numinous on Highway 395 (2015), and Desert Spirit Places: The Sacred Southwest (2018).

More about Desert Spirituality for Men, including an interview with Karelius, is here. The book is available at Vroman's, Pasadena, and other outlets.

The Gathering's September museum trip will focus on Asian American artists

The Gathering - a Space for Asian Pacific Spirituality - invites all to the Chinese American Museum for a tour of its exhibits with special focus on "Collective Resilience - Asian American Artists Honoring Our Community's Strength and Unity" on Saturday, Sept. 17, 11 a.m.

Come explore the Asian American experience and its collective resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic through the perspective of art. The museum visit will be followed by lunch nearby.

The museum is located at 425 N. Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles 90012. More information on the exhibition can be found here.

Additional information for CAM can be found here. Admission fee for adults is $3 (seniors $2). Optional lunch nearby will be at individual expense. Everyone who is interested is welcome to attend.

For additional information, email thegatheringedla@gmail.com.

Sacred spaces will be topic of Sept. 24 seminar

The Center for Spiritual Development will present "Landscapes of the Sacred: Our Own Personal Stories," an exploration of sacred spaces, on Saturday, Sept. 24, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., to be led by Canon Steve Bruce of the Diocese of Los Angeles and Julie Mussché, a spiritual director with degrees in geography. The session will be held both in person and via Zoom

"With the help of Belden Lane’s book Landscapes of the Sacred, we will look at the relationship between sacred, or ‘mystical’ experiences in the context of the places where they occur," according tothe seminar description. "We’ll explore a number of extraordinary experiences documented by Merton, Ignatius and other formative figures and we’ll also look at experiences, including our own, that may on the surface seem ordinary. One of Lane’s axioms is that 'sacred space is ordinary space, ritually made extraordinary.'”

Retreatants will have time to reflect on memorable sacred experiences and the places where they occurred. There will also be opportunities for a reflective garden walk, small group conversation and prayer.

Participants might benefit from reading Lane’s book before attending. The in-person session will take place at St. Joseph Center - Spirituality Building in Orange (address available on registration). All attendees must show proof of vaccination (including boosters, if eligible) to be maskless indoors. Otherwise, masks are required. Registration and information about the program and presenters is here. For questions, call 714.744.3172 or email thecsd@csjorange.org

CSD is a ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph, based in Orange, California. Canon Bruce is a member of their program development team.

Church of Our Saviour to celebrate 155th anniversary with Ice Cream and Mooncake Festival

Church of Our Saviour, San Gabriel, invites the diocesan community to help celebrate its 155th anniversary at an Ice Cream and Mooncake Festival in Cleaver Hall at Church of Our Saviour on Sunday, Sept. 11. The event, which will begin at about 11 a.m. (after morning worship), will feature treats, tea, and traditional Chinese music.

Our Saviour's autumn anniversary roughly coincides with the Chinese Harvest Festival or Moon Cake Festival, which takes place on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month – generally in September or October. The Chinese celebrate with Moon cakes, a special delicacy that resembles the full moon. Members of Our Saviour's Chinese congregation will offer the traditional cakes, and give a presentation on Chinese tea. The event will also feature music on the Guzheng, a Chinese plucked zither or stringed instrument. Since school resumes at about the same time, children will bring their backpacks to be blessed and will enjoy special games and prizes. There will be ice cream for dessert.

There is no charge for admission, and reservations are not required. Church of Our Saviour is located at 535 W. Roses Road, San Gabriel.

Francisco Garcia to teach course in Theology, Justice & Intersectionality for CDSP

The Rev. Francisco Garcia, a Ph.D. candidate and former rector of Holy Faith Church, Inglewood, will present a class on Theology, Justice & Intersectionality this fall for the Center for Anglican Learning and Leadership at CDSP (Church Divinity School of the Pacific).

"This class will provide students with an introduction to intersectionality as a tool for social analysis and critical theological reflection, as a way to inform liberative praxis in various ministry and community contexts," writes Garcia, who is working on his dissertation at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. "We will engage questions and discussions of race, class, gender, and sexuality as they are treated theologically, emphasizing works from U.S. scholars of color, scholars from the Global South, women, and LGBTQ backgrounds.

"In addition, the course, wherever appropriate, will make connections to historical and contemporary movements for justice and liberation (both within and outside of church/religious settings) that either inform or are informed by intersectional reflection and action. Finally, we will explore theoretical and practical applications to Episcopal/Anglican ministry settings, and invite students to actively engage their own social locations and ministry contexts as they engage the course material."

García serves as an assistant chaplain at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Chapel in Nashville. Informed by his work in community, faith, and labor organizing in Los Angeles and Nashville, his doctoral project entails developing theologies of organizing – rooted in Latinx, Christian and interfaith liberation traditions — that challenge the pressing structural injustices of our time and construct alternatives.

The seven-week courses is open to lay and ordained people; "anyone really interested in the content, including folks in various formation programs," says Garcia. There is a CEU option for those seeking credit.

For information or registration, click here.

Summit in Orange County will combat antisemitism and hate

All are invited to "Driving Out Darkness: Orange County Summit on Antisemitism and Hate," to take place on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the student center at the University of California at Irvine.

The program is a one-day immersive learning experience for leaders across al sectors of the Orange County community, including civic, government, non-profit, faith-based, education, media and law enforcement.

The summit will bring together national and local leaders to:

• Educate the community about the history of antisemitism and its current and complex manifestations
• Explore the relationship between antisemitism, other forms of hate, and threats to democracy
• Provide tools and develop strategies to combat anti-Jewish and other forms of hate
• Engage with stakeholders to leverage our collective resources to foster lasting partnerships and collaborations.

For more information click here. A flyer is here.

Cathedral Choral Academy offers quality music education for children who love to sing

Do you know a child who loves to sing?

The Cathedral Choral Academy at St. John's Cathedral in Los Angeles provides quality music education to girls and boys ages 7 - 14. No previous musical experience is necessary. All children receive a full scholarship. This program meets at St. John's every Thursday, 5 - 7 p.m. (dinner included). The 2022-23 program, which will begin Sept. 8, will include multiple performance opportunities throughout the year. For information, email Stephen Salts, director, at ssalts@stjohnsla.org. St. John's Cathedral is located at 514 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles 90007.

A video introduction to the program and its director, Stephen Salts, is here.

Conoce a un niño que le gusta cantar?

La Academia de Coro Catedral provee educacion de calidad musical a ninas y niños de edades 7 – 14, sin importar experiencia muscial previa. Todos los niños reciben beca completa. Este programa se junta todos los Jueves entre 5 - 7 p.m. (cena incluida) comenzando Septiembre 8, 2022 y incluye oportunidades multiples de funciones a lo largo del año. Para mas informacion comuníquese por correo electronico ssalts@stjohnsla.org. La Catedral de San Juan está ubicada en 514 W. Adams Blvd., Los Ángeles 90007.

Stillpoint to begin 'Wisdom in Practice' program

Stillpoint: The Center for Christian Spirituality invites the diocesan community to consider joining a community of seekers in Wisdom in Practice, a "uniquely curated online experience of learning that incorporates the teachings of wisdom guides, transformational readings, small groups reflections and guided spiritual practices."

Enrollment deadline for the 2022-23 cohort is Sept. 2.

Participants virtually attend all Stillpoint one-day retreats, which are held virtually on Saturdays and include such topics as Native American spiritual teachings; the writings of Teresa of Avila; and The Wisdom of Wild Grace with Christina Valters-Paintner.

The cohort will also take part in about six retreats that focus on the teaching and exploration of spiritual practices. This year's theme is "Presence, Compassion and Gratitude." Participants also join small-group Wisdom Circles about six times a year for shared learning, personal reflection, spiritual practice, prayer and meditation and reading discussions.

"This unique online program is an invitation to re-intensify your spiritual life," according to the Stillpoint website. "It is a nine-month cohort-based experience designed to enrich your relationship with the Divine and support you into further enrichment of your life. From September through May, you will journey together with fellow seekers, mentors and spiritual teachers.

Tuition is $700; scholarships are available. For more information about the program click here. To join an interest list, click here.

Registration is open for Education for Ministry sessions to begin in September

Education for Ministry (EfM) a four-year program of course in scripture, theology and church history sponsored by the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, will be offered in about 20 congregations around the diocese, according to Gary Leonard, diocesan EfM coordinator.

EfM is taught in small-group settings, usually from September to May. In addition to academic studies, participants explore their personal beliefs and effective practice of their faith.

"During these uncertain times with COVID-19 disrupting our lives and the struggle to end racial inequality," Leonard wrote in a course invitation, "you may have been looking for new ways to deepen your faith or for a way to challenge old ways of thinking so that you can start putting your faith into action in challenging new and dramatic ways."

During a recent graduation service for EfM graduates, Bishop John Harvey Taylor remarked that the program helps "to address the disconnect in basic biblical understanding between those who preach and those who hear." Making that connection, he added, is vital to forming effecting lay leaders in the church.

Registration deadline for the coming academic year is Aug. 3.

Read more here.

New webpages provide resources for those exploring lay and ordained ministry

[Commission on Ministry] The Commission on Ministry (COM) serves the diocese by guiding individuals as they discern how they may be called to further lay or ordained ministry. In fulfilling this responsibility, COM advises the bishop in determining current and future needs for ministry in the diocese, and works closely with the Office for Formation and Transition Ministry.

This is a holy and deeply challenging ministry in an ever-shifting landscape. Recently, in an effort to provide transparency and update the documentation of the discernment process, COM published an extensive set of pages on the diocesan website. The information can be found here, or visit the diocesan home page, click on the dropdown menu on the right and select “Leadership: Are you called.”

Read more here.

Stillpoint offers eight-month exploration of spiritual life

Stillpoint: The Center for Christian Spirituality, an institution of the Diocese of Los Angeles, will present Spiritual Journey, an eight-month exploration of spiritual life in a small group setting, both online and in person. The program is intended for "individuals seeking to deeply enrich our relationship with the Divine and help you recognize the ways that God/Spirit is present and working in your life," according to Stillpoint's website.

A trained facilitator accompanies members as they develop their skills in deep listening and personal discernment. "You will be introduced to the deep and expansive practices of spiritual formation, the ancient practice of spiritual direction, and a process of discernment for the next steps in your spiritual journey."

The Spiritual Journey Program is open to people of all denominations and faiths. In-person sessions will be offered in Pasadena, Santa Barbara and Long Beach. Two online options will also be provided: one of the online sessions is created intentionally for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) individuals. Groups will begin in September 2022 and continue through April 2023. Each group meets one Saturday per month (9 a.m. - 2 p.m.). Facilitators will determine which Saturday to meet based on the needs of the group. Sessions will include time for personal reflection, sharing in pairs and triads, experience-based learning, group discussion of assigned readings, and practice in forms of prayer and contemplation.

Tuition is $500 and includes instruction, facilitated group interaction, and private sessions with faculty (does not include books). There is a $25 application fee. After the application form is submitted, a program facilitator will contact the prospective participant to provide further instructions and a scholarship request form to complete. Deadline to apply is Sept. 2, 2022.

For more information and to begin the application process, click here.

Safe Church office provides new modules for abuse prevention curriculum

The Episcopal Church's Safe Church Office has produced three new educational modules – "Pastoral Relationships," "Inclusion," and "Power and Relationships" – as part of its Safe Church, Safe Communities training for the prevention of sexual and other abuse. Completion of the series is mandatory for Episcopal Church clergy, lay leaders and school employees, and must be renewed every three years.

The new training modules bring the total number to nine, all of which can be found on the Praesidium Academy website here.

Read more here.

Episcopal leaders prepare to represent church at World Council of Churches Assembly

By Egan Millard

[Episcopal News Service – August 23, 2022] Next week, when the World Council of Churches hosts its 11th Assembly, described as “the most diverse Christian gathering of its size in the world,” delegates from The Episcopal Church will be there to represent the church, including newly elected House of Deputies President Julia Ayala Harris.

Ayala Harris, who was elected at General Convention in July, told Episcopal News Service she is “honored and thrilled” to be representing The Episcopal Church on an international and ecumenical stage for the first time and expects that the experience will shape her understanding of leadership in the church.

The Assembly, she said, is “a great opportunity to learn more from other denominations and churches in diverse contexts on the variety of ways that they bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to their people.”

Read more here.

Charlie Holt withdraws acceptance of election as Diocese of Florida bishop coadjutor

By ENS staff

[Episcopal News Service – August 19, 2022] The Rev. Charlie Holt, whose election as bishop coadjutor in the Diocese of Floria was called into question amid objections to the election process, has withdrawn his acceptance of the result, presumably paving the way for the diocese to pursue a new vote.

Holt’s decision was announced Aug. 19 by the Florida Standing Committee. “We have been in contact with Bishop [John] Howard and have also engaged in discussions with the Office of the Presiding Bishop to determine the best path forward,” the Standing Committee said. It did not commit yet to holding a new election but said it would “find a path that brings the broadest confidence to our diocese and church.”

Read more here.

South Carolina Supreme Court reversal blocks transfer of 6 churches to Episcopal diocese

By ENS staff

[Episcopal News Service – August 19, 2022] The South Carolina Supreme Court, after ruling in April that the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina must be returned 14 church properties occupied by Anglican Church in North America congregations, reversed itself in an opinion issued Aug. 17, saying that the ACNA diocese is only required to return eight of the church properties.

For the remaining six churches, the ACNA congregations successfully argued in petitions for a rehearing that they had not placed their property in trust for the benefit of The Episcopal Church and its associated diocese. The state Supreme Court had previously ruled that 15 additional ACNA congregations could retain their church property for similar reasons.

“I am very disappointed, as I am sure are many of you,” Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley said in a message to her diocese. “I am keenly aware of the many connections across our diocese to the six churches that were referenced in the Court’s decision. The cost to all of our communities is significant, particularly to those with direct links to these churches. …

“I am particularly mindful that when a decision we understood to be final, is subsequently reversed again, it creates a distinct kind of pain and anger. Know that we will be reviewing all possible courses of action as we move forward.”

Read more here.

EMM’s Neighbor to Neighbor program offers local support system for asylum-seekers

By David Paulsen

[Episcopal News Service – August 18, 2022] Episcopal Migration Ministries, or EMM, is best known as one of nine U.S. refugee resettlement agencies, facilitating The Episcopal Church’s role in assisting new arrivals to the United States as they flee war, violence and persecution in their home countries. The church has welcomed more than 100,000 refugees since 1980.

But not all migrants who seek safety in the United States arrive as refugees. Hundreds of thousands of migrants apply each year for asylum, and many find new homes in communities across the country, while their cases are being reviewed. For the past two years, EMM has expanded its outreach to those migrants through the more recent Neighbor to Neighbor program.

The program is focused on supporting asylum-seekers partly because the federal government does not offer the same financial assistance it does for refugees. “Asylum-seekers are like a forgotten population,” Allison Duvall, EMM’s senior manager for church relations and engagement, told Episcopal News Service. As a church, “we want to be providing at least equivalent amount and quality of service to asylum-seekers as refugees receive through federal funding.”

Read more here.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 10 a.m.

Addiction Recovery Workshop

Via Zoom  

Registration here

The workshop is sponsored by the church-wide Episcopal Church Women and Brotherhood of St. Andrew Recovery Ministry. The Brotherhood of St Andrew’s Recovery Ministry is a small group of men who work to be a conduit of information and resources regarding recovery from addiction. As addiction involves much more than alcohol and drugs it is important to know what addiction is. Leader is Lee Wright, a former career Navy officer, a member of Christ Church, Pensacola, Florida, and the Brotherhood's national vice president for recovery ministry. Workshop is limited to the first 100 persons who join the Zoom meeting the day of the event.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 7 p.m.

A Marvelous Jazz Experience: The Judy Wexler Quintet

The Harmony Room

St. Be (St. Barnabas') Church

2109 Chickasaw Avenue, Los Angeles 90041-1904

Tickets here

Information here

The Harmony Room at St. Be presents the Judy Wexler Quintet on Saturday, August 27 at 7PM! This live jazz performance features Judy Wexler on vocals, Jeff Colella on keys, Gabe Davis on bass and Tina Raymond on drums, with special guest Jay Jennings (of Snarky Puppy) on trumpet! Come enjoy yourself with us to the finest of jazz music in beautiful Eagle Rock.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 6 p.m.

Movie Nights in the Sacred Garden

Church of Our Saviour (Cleaver Hall)

535 W. Roses Road, San Gabriel 91775

Bring a chair or blanket and your favorite treat to watch a family-friendly movie in our the Sacred Garden (located behind the small staff parking lot). Admission is free.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 7 – 8 p.m.

Taizé Prayer Service

Sacred Heart Chapel

480 S. Batavia Street, Orange 92868-3907

Information: 714.744.3172 or thecsd@csjorange.org

Offered in prayerful collaboration between Stillpoint (a diocesan institution) and Center for Spiritual Development (Sisters of St. Joseph, Orange). Slow down and unplug at this hour-long service designed in the style that began in Taizé, Saône-et-Loire, Burgundy, France. This service includes prayer, simple beautiful music, a time for silence and sacred readings. Chants are sung many times over as a prayer of the heart. All faith traditions are welcome. Third Sunday of each month. Covid requirements: proof of vaccination (including booster) and masks.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 7:10 p.m.

Episcopal Night at Dodger Stadium

Dodger Stadium

1000 Vin Scully Avenue, Los Angeles 90012

After a two-year Covid pandemic-imposed hiatus, Episcopal Night at Dodger Stadium will be back on Friday, Sept. 23. Game time is 7:10 p.m. The home team will play the St. Louis Cardinals, and the game, win or lose, will be followed by fireworks. Ticket sales will be handled by congregational representatives.

Churches continue blood drives

Blood supplies are critically low in California, and congregations in the Diocese of Los Angeles have stepped up to help replenish them by hosting blood drives. Currently scheduled events are listed below.

Additional helpful resources from the American Red Cross:

American Red Cross Donor App information

How to prepare for a great donor experience

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Blood Donation/Drive Fact Sheet

Donors may save up to 15 minutes by completing pre-donation reading and answering health history questions here, rather than filling out forms on the day of donation.

Reservations are required. All donors and staff will be screened before entering the facilities.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

St. John Chrysostom Episcopal Church

30382 Via Con Dios, Rancho Santa Margarita 92688

Reservations here or call 1.800.RED.CROSS (1.800.733.2767)

Sponsor code: STJOHN (note, no "s")

Questions? Contact Gary and Dena Graves, capgary@cox.net or drdenagraves@yahoo.com

Will your church host blood drives in coming months? Send the information to news@ladiocese.org for inclusion in the calendar. Please include the date, times, location and sponsor code.

EMPLOYMENT

Listings may be sent to news@ladiocese.org. There is no charge.

NEW LISTING

ALTADENA: Interim Preschool Director. Saint Mark’s School seeks an inspiring and innovative Interim Preschool Director for the 22/23 school year who will ensure the continued excellence and distinction of our program for children ages 2 year, 9 months through 5 years old. The Interim Preschool Director will take a leadership role in all areas that support the school’s core mission, including managing the day-to-day operations of the preschool, providing mentorship to the preschool faculty and staff, and ensuring the preschool program provides the highest quality learning experience and environment for the growth and development of children. Full job description here. Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter and current resume to Kelly Mancuso, assistant head of school, at kellym@saint-marks.org. Date posted: Aug. 20, 2022. Date available: immediately.

LOS ANGELES: Administrative Assistant, St. Philip's Episcopal Church. Part time (no more than 15 hours/week). On site as much as possible. Wage: $18/hour. Requires English and Spanish. Full job description here. Contact: Marc Nesbit, senior warden, at bx94860@yahoo.com or the Rev. Thomas Quijada-Discavage at tdiscavage@ladiocese.org.

CONTINUING LISTINGS

BUENA PARK: Administrative Assistant, St. Joseph's Episcopal Church. 15 hours/week. Small parish seeks experienced and cheerful person to handle customary reception and business office tasks. Send resume and letter of interest to stjosephs8300@gmail.com

FILLMORE/VENTURA: Community Engagement and Development Coordinator, The Abundant Table, a non-profit, organic certified farm and BIPOC- and women-led worker collective in Ventura County, California that seeks to transform our food system towards justice, liberation, and increased health for all people, while caring for the land and all who tend the land. Community Engagement and Development Coordinator will be responsible to oversee and coordinate the TAT community engagement and development processes, including management; fundraising; community engagement, coordination and development. 30 hours/week; salary and benefits $32,864.Full job description here.

GLENDORA: Organist. Grace Episcopal Church is seeking a professionally trained church organist to be a part of our strong and vital music ministry. The organist will be expected to play for one Sunday service and one choir rehearsal per week, feast days, and for festive concerts. We offer a traditional Rite II service at 10 a.m. on Sundays. The preferred style of music is classical sacred music, ranging from Palestrina to Rutter. The pipe organ is by Manuel Rosales, built in 1977, with a new console in 1980, and substantial reconditioning work in 2016. The organ has two manuals and 26 ranks. The organist will work directly under our choirmaster/director of music in a collaborative manner. Salary: $18,000. Weddings and funerals will provide additional compensation. A full job description is here. Send resume to the Rev. Susan Scranton via email at grace@graceglendora.org or by postal mail at 555 E. Mountain View Avenue, Glendora 91741.

HUNTINGTON BEACH: Parish Administrator, St. Wilfrid of York Episcopal Church. St. Wilfrid’s is an inclusive and welcoming church located in beautiful “Surf City” Huntington Beach, California. The parish administrator is the primary point of contact with the public and manages: office administration, parish record keeping, print and digital communication, social media, tenants and use of space, and provides support to the various ministries. The position reports directly to the rector, and works collaboratively with the staff, vestry, and lay volunteers. To be successful at this position the person must enjoy working independently, anticipate needs, deal with frequent interruptions, and handle confidential information with discretion. A full job description and application instructions are here.

LONG BEACH: Operations Manager, St. Luke’s / San Lucas Episcopal Church. The operations manager is the primary point of contact with the public, manages office administration, parish record keeping, print and digital communication, social media, tenants, and use of space, and provide support with worship. The operations manager reports to the rector, and works collaboratively with the staff, lay volunteers, and wardens. To be successful at this position the person must be able to work independently, anticipate needs, deal with frequent interruptions, be open to grow into the position, and handle confidential information with discretion. Job description is here. To apply, send a cover letter and resume to office@stlukeslb.org.

LOS ANGELES: Coordinator for Refugee Housing, Interfaith Refugee & Immigration Service (IRIS). Identify and secure safe, affordable, appropriately furnished housing that meets the Cooperative Agreement for refugee clients. Conduct home visits for safety evaluation and housing orientation with newly arrived refugee clients. This position manages home furnishing donations and coordinates donation drives and deliveries. This position reports to the Resettlement Supervisor. Position will be based out of the IRIS office located at 3621 Brunswick Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90039. The job also entails traveling to and from client appointments, airport pick-up, home visits and other community events, trainings and meetings. Full job description / application instructions here.

LOS ANGELES: Spanish-Speaking Refugee Case Manager, Interfaith Refugee & Immigration Service (IRIS). Manage the newly arrived Refugee, SIV and Parolee arrivals in accordance with the Reception and Placement Cooperative Agreement with Episcopal Migration Ministries and the United States Dept of State. This position will work primarily with refugees from Central America as well as other countries. Candidate must be fluent in English and Spanish. This position reports to the Resettlement Supervisor. Position will be based out of the IRIS office located at 3621 Brunswick Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90039. The job also entails traveling to and from client appointments, airport pick-up, home visits and other community events, trainings and meetings. Full job description / application instructions here.

LOS ANGELES: Reception and Placement Refugee Case Manager, Interfaith Refugee & Immigration Service (IRIS). Manage the newly arrived Refugee, SIV and Parolee arrivals in accordance with the Reception and Placement Cooperative Agreement with Episcopal Migration Ministries and the United States Dept. of State. This position will work primarily with refugees from Central America as well as other countries. Candidate must speak English and be fluent in Arabic, Armenian, Farsi, and/or Spanish. This position reports to the Resettlement Supervisor. Position will be based out of the IRIS office located at 3621 Brunswick Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90039. The job also entails traveling to and from client appointments, airport pick-up, home visits and other community events, trainings and meetings. Full job description / application instructions here.

LOS ANGELES (ECHO PARK): Credit Union CEO/Manager, Episcopal Community Federal Credit Union. To provide strategic, vision, leadership, and management in all functional areas. Plan, direct and control credit union activities in accordance with credit union plans, policies, directives and activities as established by the Board of Directors. Responsible for ensuring financial stability and member satisfaction commensurate with the best interest of members, staff and credit union. A full job description is here. For more information and to apply, click here.

LOS ANGELES: Preferred Communities Afghan Intensive Refugee Case Manager, IRIS (Interfaith Refugee & Immigration Service). IRIS offers refugee resettlement assistance, intensive case management and immigration legal services to the low-income refugee and immigrant community of the greater Los Angeles region. Responsible for coordinating medical and/or mental health services and provide case management to individuals with refugee and asylum status who have significant physical and/or mental health conditions. The PC Afghan Intensive Case Manager will be part of a specialized team within IRIS that focuses on intensive case manager for the agency’s most vulnerable clients. The position will work to promote self-sufficiency and goal attainment for clients, through connections to ongoing programming and mainstream supports, in compliance with IRIS programs and contract guidelines. This position reports to the Refugee Program Supervisor and IRIS executive director. Full job description and application instructions here.

LOS ANGELES: Preschool Director, St. James' Episcopal School. The preschool director oversees the Grammercy Place Preschool and is the supervisor for the St. Andrew’s Place preschool site director. The preschool director is responsible for curriculum, evaluation, professional development and parent and family engagement and communications for both preschool campuses. Website is here. Full job description here.

PACIFIC PALISADES: General Maintenance Worker, St. Matthew's Church and School. St. Matthew's is a vibrant community that includes both a Church and a School situated in beautiful Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles. The Director of Facilities and Operations seeks a full time maintenance staff member with maintenance experience. This is a "hands-on" position and the ideal candidate will have repair maintenance and event setup experience, great people skills and a history of providing the highest level of customer service. A full job description is here. Please email resume to HR@stmatthews.com.

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA: Youth Minister, St. John’s Episcopal Church and School. St. John’s is a community that lives in gratitude for the love and generosity of God. The Youth Minister will have a living commitment to the Gospel of Christ and will value the ethos of the Episcopal Church. From this vantage, the person we seek will share with the youth the transforming love of Christ in real and meaningful ways. The Youth Minister will lead in the creation, development, and delivery of programs that support the spiritual formation and well-being of youths, grades 6 through college, in and from the parish. The minister will model for the youth spiritual growth, ethical insight, age-appropriate theological and interfaith awareness, and engagement in the community with the living Gospel. This minister will also assist greatly in the pastoral care of the youth and their families. This is a part-time position. Request a full job description via email, ca@stjohns-es.org. Submit resume and cover letter to Rev. Christopher Potter via email at cpotter@stjohns-es.org

SOUTH PASADENA: Soprano and Tenor Choir Section Leaders, St. James’ Episcopal Church. To begin September 2022. Section leaders are compensated $32/hr (usually $80 per service) with extra fees for weddings/funerals as required through the year. Music is a vital and celebrated part of the worship at St. James’, a warm, welcoming parish in the heart of South Pasadena. Joined by the volunteer choir of approximately 22 able singers, section leaders are at the foundation of the music program, often featured in solos, motets, and anthems. More about Music at St. James’ is here. A full job description and application instructions are here.

THOUSAND OAKS: Assistant Principal, St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School. Duties include helping with admissions, development, parent relations, student supervision, and program development. Candidate must have a college degree, a teaching credential, and a minimum of five years working in a school. Administrative experience is desirable. If interested, please send resume to nwhitson@stpatricksdayschool.org.

WOODLAND HILLS: Receiving Supervisor, West Valley Food Pantry. The Receiving Supervisor is responsible for coordinating the daily staging and oversight of a drive-through food delivery operation. Empathy and kindness to the clients should be part of this individual’s makeup. The Receiving Supervisor is the Food Pantry’s liaison with donating markets, and should cultivate excellent communication with the market's managers. Relationships with our volunteers is paramount, and a positive demeanor is a necessity. The Receiving Supervisor is responsible for accepting, tracking and inventory of all incoming deliveries and donations, in cooperation with the Warehouse Assistant. Full job description here.