Parish UPDATE: January 12

Beloved of God and of this parish:

Here is what is making news in our parish:

1. THIS WEEK AT ST. MARY - SUNDAY, JANUARY 12

• The Baptism of our Lord. 
• Christian Education Time [11:15 am]: Beginning a three-part class in Christian Meditation  led by Julia Bergstrom. Classes will meet on Sunday, January 12, 19 and for about 20 minutes on January 26. Meet in the chapel.
• Thank you for your pledge and for making the ministries and mission of this parish possible.  

2.  ANNUAL PARISH GENERAL MEETING:

•  Sunday, January 26 beginning with Mass at 10 am. Rector's report will be presented during Mass.
• At 11:15 am, a short meditation will precede the business portion of the AGM
• As in the past, this is a potluck event. Please, bring your favorite dish and if you can, provide some vegetarian dish as well.                

3.  CHRISTIAN EDUCATION AT ST. MARY:

• Except as noted, Sunday classes begin at 11:15 am
• January 12, 19, 26: Christian Meditation
• February 2, 9, 16, 23: The Christian Faith.
• March 2 to April 6: The Screwtape Letters, C. S. Lewis.
• April 20: Performance of the play: "The Harrowing of Hell" at the 10 am Mass
• May 4, 11, 18, 25:  Anglo-Catholicism
• June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29:  Hymnody in worship
• July: on vacation.
• August: visits to holy sites in Los Angeles.

4.  NEW STAFF AT ST. MARY

• Vestry has approved the hiring of Ms. Rebecca Merwin as Parish Administrator to replace Phyllis Thomas who retired at the end of December 2013. Please, plan on meeting and greeting Rebecca at our Parish's Annual General Meeting on Sunday, January 26. 
• Vestry has approved the hiring of Ms. Ledy Hernandez, an independent contractor, as our Parish Book-keeper to replace Ms. Marsha Vargas. Ledy began work on Saturday, January 4.   

5. PAINTING OF ST. JOSEPH HALL

• With funds made possible by a donor and labor provided by members of the TRY GOD GROUP of AA, we will begin re-painting St. Joseph Hall from Monday, January 13. We expect work to be finished by January 17.

6.  UPCOMING EVENTS: Mark your calendars

• Saturday, January 18 at 4 pm: Martin Luther King celebration. Venue: Cathedral Center of St. Paul, 840 Echo Park. Bishop Michael Curry, North Carolina will be guest preacher.
• Sunday, February 2: Feast of the Presentation/Candlemas. End of the Christmas season. Come, celebrate with us.
• March 5: Ash Wednesday - services at 8 am; 12 pm and 7 pm. Ashes will also be imposed on foreheads near the Trader Joes in Culver City.
• April 13: Palm Sunday.
• April 17 - 19: Great Triduum: 
• April 19: Easter Vigil beginning at 8 pm
• April 20: Easter Day. 

7.  OF YOUR CHARITY, PLEASE, PRAY FOR

• Healing for Bianca, Gerda, Anthony,  Ben Shamo, Kate, Betty Moreno, Arlene.
• Our youth: Larry Jr, Simone, Jeffrey, Natasha, Yasmine, Obed, Audrey and Michelle.
• God's blessings on preparations for our Reggae Gospel Worship Service. More details soon.

8. For news about:

• the Diocese of Los Angeles, please click on www.ladiocese.org
• the Expo Line construction, please, click on www.buildexpo.org
• the Palms Neighborhood Council, click on www.palmsla.org

 See you at Mass. Bring a friend and your family to church.

Fr. Vincent

www.stmarypalms.org