Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles

#dailyprayer Almighty God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy ...favor and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. #bcp (Photo: A year ago today at the U.S. Capitol) See more

#DailyInvitation Connect: Fabian (d.250), bishop and martyr of Rome, is honored today on the Episcopal Church's Liturgical Calendar while the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer remembers the Rev. Huston Horn on the anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood in 1970. Reflect: "In 236, a virtually unknown Christian layman was elected Bishop of Rome. Countless legends have arisen to explain his surprising election. Besides being simply a layman and not a native of Rome, he seems to h...ave carried no outstanding distinction as a scholar or leader. He turned out to be a first-rate bishop in this important diocese. He is reported to have been an efficient organizer and administrator. Not being particularly well-trained himself, he corresponded with Origen, Cyprian, and other knowledgeable Christians of Eastern Europe. "For 14 years he faithfully and effectively guided the church in Rome. He dispatched some of the first missionaries to Gaul. Things seemed to be progressing remarkably for the Roman Church. Then, without warning, a severe persecution of Christians was initiated by a new emperor, Decius. Bishop Fabian was one of the first to die. "Fabian"s life is a bold reminder of how the calls of God and man come upon us unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. Fabian recognized his call and responded faithfully in his living and in his dying." --Forward Movement Act: Let us pray today's collect, "Grant, Almighty God, that in all times of trial and persecution, we might remain steadfast in faith and endurance, according to the example of your servant Fabian, who was faithful even unto death. We ask this for the sake of him who laid down his life for us all, Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen." Image: Pope Fabian, painting by Giovanni di Paolo (c. 1450) #feedinghungryhearts #ConnectReflectAct #Episcopal

#feedinghungryhearts #housingjusticeEDLA Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles people are amazing, including Lori Kizzia of All Saints Church in Pasadena, clinical m...anager of Homeless Health Care Los Angeles, which will provide support services for residents in these 38 new units of affordable housing for veterans in Hollywood. Churches with real estate take note: In this video, in which Lori vies for screen time with none other than Mayor Eric Garcetti, we learn that the toughest nut to crack when it comes to affordable housing projects is the availability of land. These units are build on just a quarter-acre. h/t to Lori's spouse, the Rev. Canon Susan Russell See more

Diocese celebrates Dr. King: ‘Dream, dare, do God has work for us’ / 'Rediscovering mission, optimism, responsibility' is diocese's task, bishop tells Diocesa...n Council / Episcopal Church’s Province VIII bishops meet in Los Angeles / Diocese's Chinese congregations invite all to Lunar New Year celebration Feb. 12 / and more in the Episcopal News Update for January 23, 2022. https://conta.cc/3IkGYxX See more

#DailyInvitation Connect: English Bishop Wulfstan of Worcester (1008-1095) is remembered today on the Episcopal Church's Liturgical Calendar. Reflect: "Most students of history are aware of the cruel treatment the native English (Anglo-Saxons) received from their Norman conquerors after 1066. Few know that their only effective defender was the English bishop, Wulfstan of Worcester. "Wulfstan was reared by devoted Christian parents and was educated in the church. He entered... the priesthood and was soon elected Bishop of Worcester, a position which he declined, preferring to enter a monastery. Some 25 years later, in the troubled years just prior to the Norman Conquest, he was again elected to the same bishopric and then accepted the call. "Wulfstan continued to live in virtual poverty. He encouraged laymen to exercise their rights and responsibilities in governing the church. After the Conquest, he did not hesitate to confront the Norman king and the Norman archbishop, appealing to their consciences as Christians and speaking at great personal risk.... With the help of Archbishop Lanfranc, he succeeded in ending the loathsome practice of selling Englishmen as slaves in Ireland. Wulfstan spent most of his ministry taking the gospel and the sacraments to the poor and the oppressed, the English people whom he loved so much." --Forward Movement Act: Let us pray today's collect, "Almighty God, whose only-begotten Son led captivity captive and gave gifts to your people: Multiply among us faithful pastors, who, like your holy bishop Wulfstan, will give courage to those who are oppressed and held in bondage; and bring us all, we pray, into the true freedom of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen." Image: Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music #feedinghungryhearts #ConnectReflectAct #Episcopal

#DailyInvitation Connect: St. Peter's San Pedro (est 1885); St. Peter's Episcopal Church (1915); and St. Peter's Episcopal Church - Rialto, CA (1957) are remembered today in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer on this Feast of the Confession of St. Peter, also the opening of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The Prayer Cycle also remembers, on the anniversary of their ordination to the priesthood, Larry Brown, John Conrad, Margaret Cunningham, Steve Dean, Faye Hogan, and M...arilyn Mason (1997); and Carol Ann Locke (Deacon, 2003). Reflect: "The confession of the disciple Simon Peter, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,' is a milestone in the Lord’s ministry, in the founding of the church, and in the history of humankind. On Peter’s confession of faith lay the foundation of a new world order.... "Following the Resurrection, Peter emerged as leader of the more conservative disciples, strenuously opposing the baptism of Gentiles. However, after a very dramatic dream, he had a real change of heart. "Peter eventually went to Rome where, with Paul, he founded the mother church of Western Europe. There, during the Neronian persecutions, he was crucified with his head down. The peculiar position was at his own request, for he did not feel worthy to suffer in the same manner as his Lord. Act: Let us pray today's collect, "Almighty Father, who inspired Simon Peter, first among the apostles, to confess Jesus as Messiah and Son of the living God: Keep your Church steadfast upon the rock of this faith, so that in unity and peace we may proclaim the one truth and follow the one Lord, our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen." Images: Parish photos #feedinghungryhearts #ConnectReflectAct #Episcopal

#dailyprayer #MLK2022 Almighty God, by the hand of Moses your servant you led your people out of slavery, and made them free at last: Grant that your church, fo...llowing the example of your prophet Martin Luther King, may resist oppression in the name of your love, and may strive to secure for all your children the blessed liberty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. #bcp (Photo: A Mississippi patrolman shoving Dr. King during a 1966 civil rights march; Underwood Archives/Getty Images) See more

#dailyprayer Heavenly God, in your Word you have given us a vision of that holy City to which the nations of the world bring their glory: Behold and visit, we p...ray, the cities of the earth. Renew the ties of mutual regard which form our civic life. Send us honest and able leaders. Enable us to eliminate poverty, prejudice, and oppression, that peace may prevail with righteousness, and justice with order, and that people from different cultures and with differing talents may find with one another the fulfillment of their humanity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Photo: Off Echo Park Ave. near Sunset) See more

From Bishop John Harvey Taylor: Prayers ascending for members of Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles churches and their neighbors affected by the Silverado fire.

#feedinghungryhearts Summing up St. Peter's Episcopal Church - Rialto, CA yesterday, bishop's warden Stan Hobbs might have been talking about The Episcopal Chur...ch. "We're small, he said, "but lively." Stan had just helped the church's bishop in charge, the Rt. Rev. Samuel Azariah (former primate of Pakistan and a renowned figure in the ecumenical and interfaith movement), lead worship from the church sanctuary. Most of the rest of us participated by Zoom. It was a beautiful service, mixing praise music, songs like "In Christ Alone" and "Your Grace Is Enough," with more traditional hymns and anthems (Lacy Mason's offering was magnificent). Church leaders presented a video about life at St. Peter's. I was along to preach -- on 1 Thessalonians, one of my favorites, since it's probably the oldest text in the New Testament. At coffee hour after, I met Angie, proud to be be the church's oldest member, who joined St. Peter's in 1965. These days venerable organizations such as the Daughters of the King and Brotherhood of St. Andrew thrive along with Laundry Love and other outreach ministries. Some of the church's beautiful grounds may soon be available for a development project, in keeping with the church's mission of glorifying God and caring for God's people. Stan and other church leaders talked about their vision of St. Peter's as a multicultural, polylingual church in their diverse city of 100,000, a bridge between California's coast and heartland. Their vision is our regional and national vision. If Paul were here today, gentle among us, he would say as graciously as possible that this is our work in these days. And we can do it. Because Christ is risen and alive, and we are his apostles. We are the Thessalonians. In two thousand years, may the faithful read of us and take delight.

#DailyInvitation Connect: Alfred the Great (849-899), King of the West Saxons, is remembered today on the Episcopal Church's Liturgical Calendar while prayers of the diocesan community continue for all affected by the COVID-19 crisis, and for justice advocates locally, nationally, and globally. Reflect: "In the Dark Ages, when much of Britain was yet un-Christianized and uncivilized, there arose among the West Saxons in Southern England a great king... Alfred the Great was wi...se and courageous and used his temporal power for the spiritual, intellectual, and economic advancement of his people. "In his youth, Alfred knew the terror of mortal illness, of invasion, and of the death of loved ones. In the savage warfare of his day he was brave, strong, and cunning. He was acquainted with grief, hardship, and harsh realities of life. From the monks of Wessex and from his teachers in Rome, he learned a kinder and gentler way of life... When, in his maturity, he became the most powerful of the Anglo-Saxon kings, he administered justice with insight and fairness, laying the foundation for much of the best in English law. He founded a palace school which was unequaled in Northern Europe. "He is well-remembered in stone at his capital city, Winchester, and well commemorated in modern leaders who seek the moral, physical, and intellectual betterment of their people." --Forward Movement Act: Let us pray today's collect, "O God, who called your servant Alfred to an earthly throne that he might advance your heavenly kingdom, and gave him zeal for your Church and love for your people: Grant that we, inspired by his example and prayers, may remain steadfast in the work you have given us to do for the building up of your reign of love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen." Image: Alfred the Great, statue in Winchester, his capital city. (Wikipedia) #feedinghungryhearts #ConnectReflectAct

#feedinghungryhearts #turnoutchangeseverything #150000000voters #ihearAmericasinging In my lifetime, which will have been a span of 66 years by sometime tomorro...w, I don’t think so many people have ever been so anxious about the reliability of our political system, especially our elections. This morning’s Washington Post carried an article about the polarization in our politics and the tendency of each side to regard the other as evil. A political scientist in Syracuse quoted by the Post reporter said this: This idea that the other side winning the election will produce a precipitous decline and the disintegration of institutions is completely at variance with American history. That’s not entirely true. Civil war followed the election of 1860. And yet that helps make the professor’s point. If it happened once, it could happen again if not the secession of states from the Union, then the determination of blocs of Americans to secede from an election result that doesn’t go their way. It may be that they will assert that the outcome is rigged. Or they may just disagree with the outcome and decide they don’t want to play by the rules anymore. The people of St. Thomas’ and I are together this evening because your vicar, the Rev. Sharon Sheffield, was gracious about letting me bend the rules. I was scheduled to be with you Sunday morning, Sept. 20. Sharon gave me the date back so my spouse, Kathy Hannigan O'Connor, and I could offer an all-diocese service of Holy Eucharist. Here we are instead. Some of you were in church already this morning, as indeed I was, at St. Peter's Episcopal Church - Rialto, CA, albeit from the comfort of my family room in Pasadena. So for your sake, I’ll keep this relatively short. It’s a beautiful autumn evening in southern California, the second to the last Saturday before we fall back, auguring the long season of darkness before five. After evening prayer, perhaps a walk around the block or supper awaits you. For the Dodgers fans, I hope we’ll be done by the bottom of the third. And yet, as I said, here we are, nine days, as it turns out, before the election. You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices, we said together of our God in this lovely liturgy. Such a contrast with our angry political voices. In a few moments, in one of our collects, we’ll pray for the peace that the world cannot give. Perhaps this is our solution to the seemingly irresolvable dissonance between the timbres of our worship and world. What we do here is of God; what they do there is not. Alas, I don’t think the gospel give us that easy an out. We heard the story from chapter four of Luke on a Sunday morning not long ago. In the synagogue in Nazareth, after he had read from Isaiah, Jesus said that, among other things, he had come to bring good news to the poor, release the captives, and let the oppressed go free. But his saying it then hasn’t made it happen today. Jesus doesn’t operate an economy, prisons and detention centers, or oppressive governments. We do those things, or rather, in fairness to the members of this gracious congregation, our fellow denizens of humanity do them. For good or ill, some of these things are done in our name, by our government, with our sufferance and taxes. So Jesus’s proclamation of a kingdom of justice and healing requires more of us than thoughts and prayers. First of all, it requires us to vote, and to advocate for voter empowerment. A couple of weeks ago, I was waiting in a parking lot in Brea while Kathy shopped at Goodwill, her favorite recreational activity. I used the time to order a new computer on my telephone. It took six minutes. All I had to do was push a button. The cloud has all my financial information. People who care about money made sure the transaction was secure. If the government really cared about everyone voting, it would make voting that easy. Some still insist that voting is a privilege. It’s the opposite of a privilege. It’s a hard-won, inalienable human right. Everyone has the government coming down on them one way or another. Everyone is an expert about the lives they’re leading. Whether the police treat us fairly. Whether our taxes and our wars are just. Whether our streets are clean and safe. I don’t think Jesus’s expectations could possibly be clearer. Everyone should be able to express their hopes and fears to those in power, especially the poor, the captives, and the oppressed. I’ll close with one more thought. I derive another of our obligations as Christians engaged in politics from the passage we heard this evening from Matthew. When his gospel was set down, in the last quarter of the first century, the church was up and running and already arguing. Maybe somebody forgot to polish the silver or dressed the altar in green instead of white. The New Testament discloses the proliferation of false teachers and heresies. Whatever the beef was, the compilers of the gospel no doubt remembered Jesus’s teaching about how to behave in the midst of conflict and decided to apply it to the church. Jesus said, If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. Think about the person with whom you disagree most about politics. Notice that the gospel doesn’t say to write an email or a Tweet or to engage in emotional cutoff. It says to go, talk, listen, and be heard. I don’t think there’s anyone we can’t learn from. They may not change our minds. We may still find their views objectionable. But we’ll strengthen our own understanding. And a relationship will be stronger as well. By grace, we’ll regain that one. So will they. That is how we build the kingdom, regaining ourselves one by one. [My homily tonight at Saint Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church of Long Beach CA]

#DailyInvitation "Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked, nor lingered in the way of sinners, nor sat in the seats of the scornful! Their delight is in the law of the Lord, and they meditate on his law day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water, bearing fruit in due season, with leaves that do not wither; everything they do shall prosper. It is not so with the wicked; they are like chaff which the wind blows away. Therefore the wic...ked shall not stand upright when judgment comes, nor the sinner in the council of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked is doomed. -- Psalm 1, appointed for today, the 21st Sunday after Pentecost Let us pray today's collect: "Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Image: "Tree Planting," 1982 serigraph by John August Swanson #feedinghungryhearts #ConnectReflectAct

This Sunday, Oct. 25, Bishop John Harvey Taylor visits St. Peter's, Rialto, via Zoom at 11am, and Saint Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church of Long Beach CA via Zoom at 5pm; and Bishop Suffragan Diane Jardine Bruce visits the online service of St Augustine by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, Santa Monica, at 10:30am. #feedinghungryhearts Sunday worship services streaming from congregations across the diocese are found in this directory, arranged alphabetically by cities from Altadena to Woodland Hills, in settings from soaring St. John's Cathedral to intimate home chapels. Click through and scroll down to find liturgies, study groups, Sunday school, prayer gatherings, and weekday services from Southland congregations welcoming you. Also, to add new listings, please email information to [email protected]. #holydistancing #episcopal

En #espanol, nuevo directorio: servicios de adoración en línea. Bienvenidos a todos. #AlimentandoCorazonesHambrientos #Episcopal

From St Augustine by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, Santa Monica: Don't miss worship this Sunday at 10:30am, with Bishop Bruce leading the service and joining us afterwards for Coffee Hour! #feedinghungryhearts

#dailyprayer Almighty God who has reconciled the world to yourself through Christ: Entrust to your church the ministry of reconciliation as you did to your serv...ant Hiram Hisanori Kano, and raise up ambassadors for Christ to proclaim your love and peace wherever conflict and hatred divide; through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen. #bcp (Read more in this 2015 article by our own the Rev. Canon Pat McCaughan: https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org//a-sainted-life-hira/) See more

#DailyInvitation Prayers of the diocesan community continue for all affected by the medical and economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis, and for justice advocates locally, nationally, and globally. Locally, to assist individuals and congregations hardest hit by the crisis, please consider a gift in any amount to the "One Body & One Spirit" Emergency Appeal, All support is greatly appreciated, and gifts may be made online here: diocesela.org/emergency-appeal. Let us pray using ..."A Prayer in Time of Great Sickness and Mortality" from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer: "O most mighty and merciful God, in this time of grievous sickness, we flee unto thee for succour. Deliver us, we beseech thee, from our peril; give strength and skill to all those who minister to the sick; prosper the means made use of for their cure; and grant that, perceiving how frail and uncertain our life is, we may apply our hearts unto that heavenly wisdom which leadeth to eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." #feedinghungryhearts #ConnectReflectAct

#FaithfulFridays From the Choristers of Saint Mark's Episcopal Church - Altadena CA comes today's post Allen Pote's anthem "Praise, Rejoice and Sing" a cheerful reminder God's powerful presence at all times, including amid the medical and economic adversity of the current COVID-19 crisis. The FaithfulFridays series also is an opportunity to remember the work of the diocesan #OneBodyOneSpirit #EmergencyAppeal. Gifts in any amount are welcomed and greatly appreciated. Learn... more and contribute here: www.diocesela.org/emergency-appeal/ Thank you, choristers and St. Mark's Church & School, for this inspiration, and godspeed in all your ministries! #feedinghungryhearts #holydistancing

From Bishop John Harvey Taylor: #dailyprayer Grant, O God, that, following the example of your servant James the Just, brother of our Lord, your Church may give itself continually to prayer and to the reconciliation of all who are at variance and enmity; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. #bcp

#DailyInvitation Bishop John Harvey Taylor invites all in the diocese and beyond to log in to the Bishop’s Gala, a virtual fundraising event set for Saturday, Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. and featuring the Most Rev. Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church as keynoter. Log-in is complimentary; register and learn more here: www.bishopsgala.org. All are welcome, and while there is no charge to view and share in the live event, generous online contributions are requested to b...enefit diocesan programs including Bloy House, The Episcopal Theological School at Los Angeles. The gala will be available for viewing via the diocesan YouTube channel and Facebook page. "Bishop Curry will be the guest of the whole Diocese of Los Angeles, inviting his listeners along the way of love just four days after the historic 2020 elections," Bishop Taylor said, referencing Bishop Curry's initiative for prayer and service. Donors of $200 or more will receive an autographed copy of Curry’s new book, "Love Is the Way: Holding on to Hope in Troubling Times." Let us pray a collect offered by Episcopal Relief & Development and shared on the Presiding Bishop's Facebook page: "God of the present moment, God who in Jesus stills the storm and soothes the frantic heart; bring hope and courage to all who wait and work in uncertainty. Bring hope that you will make them the equal of whatever lies ahead. Bring them courage to endure what cannot be avoided, for your will is health and wholeness; you are God, and we need you. This we pray in Christ our Lord. Amen." #feedinghungryhearts #ConnectReflectAct