Brushes Wielded, Plants Moved
By PHIL SCHWARTZ, Buildings and Grounds Chair
As you have been able
to see, the efforts to present a better image, "to look good," have begun. This
is entirely due to the volunteerism of the stalwart crews of the Garden Guild and the Work
Day Force.
‘How
Can I Serve You?’
By DEBBIE CALKINS, Welcoming Chair
The April issue of The
Net contained a wonderful article written by our People’s Warden, Phil Schwartz.
In his article, Phil discussed two of the goals that the Bishop’s Committee adopted
at its annual retreat. One of those goals is to clean up our buildings and grounds—to
make Saint Andrew’s a special place that is peaceful and inviting to newcomers. The
second goal that he discussed was our desire to, in Phil’s words, "welcome the
newcomer and nurture the existing congregation."
North
Room: A More Pleasant Escape
By CANDICE CROCKER, Worship Committee Liaison
The updating of the
North Room continues. The North Room, for those who are not sure, is the room with the
windows to the right side of the nave when you are facing the altar. There is now an area
rug in place on Sunday morning and a diaper deck on the wall. We are looking to stock the
room with baby changing supplies and would be grateful for any donations.
Financial Summary, 1st Quarter 1999
A table showing income and expenses for the first three months of 1999.
Lessons
Learned at March Ministry Fair
By MILEVA SAULO, Bishop's Warden
The Bishop’s
Committee, along with about 800 other Episcopalians, gathered on March 13 for the fourth
annual Diocese of Los Angeles Ministry Fair. It was a joyous and rich day, full of
culturally diverse, creative liturgy and meaningful workshops on stewardship, planned
giving, congregational administration, development, formation and education, worship,
children and youth ministries, congregational leadership, spirituality, and making the
church a safe place.
D.C.
Bishop Seeks Change in Hate Crimes Law
The following are remarks made at
the White House on April 6 by the Rt. Rev. Jane Holmes Dixon, Bishop Suffragan of the
Episcopal Diocese of Washington, prior to President Clinton’s remarks regarding the
Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
Good morning Mr. President and distinguished guests. I am
pleased to speak with you today, but saddened almost beyond speaking by the cause that
brings me here. However, the depth of my sadness at the atrocities that make the Federal
Hate Crimes Prevention Act necessary compels me to speak. I begin from the principle that
all life is sacred, because I follow a God who created all humans in the image of God.
Because we are all created in God’s image, violence against any one of us is a
sacrilege and blasphemy against the Creator. For these reasons, I dare not stand silent.
Saint
Andrew's Considers Expansion of Ministry to Children
By MILEVA SAULO, Bishop's Warden
A terrible tragedy occurred in March. Selene
Segura Ríos, an 18-month-old girl, died in Santa Ana, due to lack of health
care—health care that was probably available had her parents known about the
two-federal/state government plans available to provide proper coverage for children from
one to 19 years of age.
Affirming Lay Ministry in Different Ways
By LEE HARRIS, Diocesan Commission on Lay Ministry
I recently heard two rather
contrasting stories about lay ministry that got my attention.
Saint Andrew’s
Looking for a Few Good LEMs
By RICK WHITTAKER, LEM
Coördinator
Have you ever sat in the Sunday worship and wondered who those people are in the funny
robes with the odd purple sashes around their necks? They are Lay Eucharistic Ministers or
LEMs. The robes they wear are called “albs” and the purple sashes are indeed
odd, but no odder than many articles of liturgical vestment (take for example, the hats
bishops wear (they’re called mitres)—who thought those up?).
Good Friday Offering Supports Church in
Jerusalem, Middle East
In his
annual Epiphany letter to all congregations, Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold asked that
Episcopalians continue to pray for their sisters and brothers in the Holy Land and to
support the Good Friday offering.
Nishibayashi Elected Chair of Bishop-Coadjutor
Search Committee
The Bishop Coadjutor Search Committee (BCSC) has
elected Steven Nishibayashi as its chairperson. He is a parishioner at St. Mary’s
Church in Los Angeles. Information about committee members was available at the recent
Ministry Fair.
Spring Clergy Conference Set for May 3–5
From the Angelus
The 1999 Spring Clergy Conference is planned for Monday–Wednesday, May 3–5,
at the West Coast Long Beach Hotel. The conference theme is Poems of Faith—Songs
of Inspiration: The Music and Words of Congregational Song.
Come to Belize This Summer!
Where? St. Mary's Summer Program in Belize City.
Church
Responds to Kosovo Crisis
From Episcopal News Service
In a statement issued March 26,
Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold of the Episcopal Church deplored the "terrible
spectacle of violence and civil strife being visited upon the people in the state of
Kosovo and wider Yugoslavia" and expressed the hope that the United Nations Security
Council would exercise its primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and
security by playing a leadership role in resolving the tragedy unfolding in Kosovo and
neighboring countries. As the violence continues and the number of refugees increases to
nearly 800,000, the Presiding Bishop has reiterated his plea to all parties to pursue the
path of negotiation and for the church and all people of good will to pray fervently for
peace.
May 8 Is Confirmation Date
NETLINEOn Saturday, May 8 at 10 a.m., our Deanery 10 confirmation will be held at St. John Chrysostom in Rancho Santa Margarita. This is a wonderful opportunity for the Episcopal family to gather, celebrate, greet our bishop, and join in the festivities with our confirmands. On Sunday, May 9, we at Saint Andrew’s will honor our confirmands and have a reception following the 10 a.m. service. Please join us for this great occasion when we will have the opportunity to join with those being confirmed and renew our own baptismal vows.
VBS: Day Camp for the SoulVolunteers and participants are needed for this year’s Vacation Bible School (VBS), based on the life of Jesus. The school is tentatively scheduled for a week in July. The format is full-day, with the morning being focused on the spiritual and the afternoon involving more secular activities. The week-long course is intended for children in kindergarten through those who’ve finished sixth grade. Youth in grades 7 and above are also needed as group leaders. Adult volunteers are needed to help as well. Time commitments range from one hour on one day to day-long (for one-to-five days). If you have an interest in this program either for a child or as a volunteer activity please let Fr. Leland, Fr. Gordon, or Candice Crocker know. Alternatively, a note can be left on the whiteboard in the Christian Education office.
—Candice Crocker
THE BISHOP’S WARDEN'S WATCH / Mileva Saulo
The
Ministry of the Laity
When I first joined the Episcopal
Church in San Francisco in the ’70s, I was immediately struck by the involvement of
people in all kinds of service. I can still hear the words of the Rev. Fordyce Eastburn, a
parish sage, emphasizing the importance of not what we do on Sunday, but the importance of
what happens on Monday. It was in these classes that I also became aware of the Catechism
(yes, Virginia, the Episcopal Church has a Catechism), or an Outline of our Faith, in the
Book of Common Prayer (BCP, p. 845-862). One of the questions raised is "Who are the
ministers of the Church?" (BCP, p. 855). I was amazed at the answer! The ministers
are the laity, the clergy, and the bishops. Think about that! The laity is
first.
THE VICAR'S VOICE / Leland Jones
Living
in God’s Time
In 1984 I was called as rector of
a large congregation in Santa Clara and was asked to visit with the bishop of the diocese
as a necessary part of the process. He asked me a question that made me take a long hard
look at the situation and decide to decline the call. By that time I had been curate for
three years at Christ Church of the Ascension in Paradise Valley, Ariz. (Barry
Goldwater’s church!), rector for five years at St. Stephen’s in Phoenix and
rector for four years at Church of the Good Shepherd in Hemet. What the Bishop asked was
simply, "Do you have resources for more than three to five years worth of ministry
?" He stated that lots of clergy could (and did) do ministry for 3+ years and then
move to another venue and do the same again. His premise was that one needed to stay
longer in order to allow God to stretch (and tug and pull) one toward more growth and
development.
ON PILGRIMAGE / Gordon B. Yeaton
Called
to Be an ‘After’ People
As we reflect on Easter and
join in the observance of this greatest of seasons, I am tempted, as I suspect many of you
may be, to fall into the ame old ruts. The resurrection has happened, we have celebrated
the holiest of holy days, preceded by the darkest of dark hours, and somehow, within a
week or so, it seems in the distant past.