Parish UPDATE: Sunday, January 17

Beloved of God and of this parish:

Greetings. Here's what's making news THIS WEEKEND  AT ST. MARY:  

• SUNDAY, JANUARY 17:  THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
•  Invite your friends and buddies to church this Sunday and every Sunday.

2.  BIBLE STUDY: (English edition) Every Tuesday from 6:30 to 7: 30 pm. 

• We meet in the Sacristy.

• We are just about finishing the Book of the Acts of the Apostles 

• No experience necessary. 

• Bring your Bible and your friends 
• Spanish Edition: We meet on Tuesday from about 7 pm either in the Chapel at St. Mary or in a parishioner's home. Please, call Fr. Juan (213-434-0476) for more details. 

3.  UPCOMING EVENTS: 

• Final meeting of the current Vestry: Sunday, January 24
• Annual Parish Meeting: Sunday, January 31. 
• We will elect two members for a three year term to the Vestry to replace members who have been termed out. If interested, please let Fr. Vincent know asap.
• we will elect two regular members to serve as Delegates to Diocesan Convention and two Alternates for a term of two years. If interested, please, let Fr. Vincent know asap.

4.  ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICES, FEBRUARY 10.

• First service at 8 am
• Second service at 12  pm (Noon)
• Third service at 7 pm

5.  FAITH FORMATION classes will resume on Sunday, February 7

6.  THANK YOU

• for making the mission and ministries of our parish possible.
• for helping us raise the needed money to install the new ceiling fans.
• Benefactors: You can also make DONATIONS (Paypal) at our website or include our parish in your WILL.

7.  OF YOUR CHARITY, PLEASE, PRAY FOR

• all who are currently discerning vocations to ministries in the church especially the Sacred Order of Priesthood, Youth Ministry and,  Eremitic Monasticism
• continued healing for Gerda, Anthony Joseph, Patrice Gonzales, Nora, Ben, Roberta, Mary Jane. 
• Natasha, Vincent, Larry Jr, Jeffrey, Simone, Obed, Audrey, Michelle, Yasmine, Jason,  Annabelle, Biko Lisustha, Amani Lisustha  

8.    FOR NEWS ABOUT

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

9.    Like us on Facebook follow us on Twitter @stmaryinpalms

Fr. Vincent

www.stmarypalms.org

The Episcopal Church suspended

Statement from Primates 2016

14 Jan 2016

Today the Primates agreed how they would walk together in the grace and love of Christ. This agreement acknowledges the significant distance that remains but confirms their unanimous commitment to walk together.

The Primates regret that it appears that this document has been leaked in advance of their communiqué tomorrow. In order to avoid speculation the document is being released in full. This agreement demonstrates the commitment of all the Primates to continue the life of the Communion with neither victor nor vanquished.

Questions and further comments will be responded to at a press conference tomorrow at 1500. Full details are available here.

The full text is as follows:

1. We gathered as Anglican Primates to pray and consider how we may preserve our unity in Christ given the ongoing deep differences that exist among us concerning our understanding of marriage.

2. Recent developments in The Episcopal Church with respect to a change in their Canon on marriage represent a fundamental departure from the faith and teaching held by the majority of our Provinces on the doctrine of marriage. Possible developments in other Provinces could further exacerbate this situation.

3. All of us acknowledge that these developments have caused further deep pain throughout our Communion.

4. The traditional doctrine of the church in view of the teaching of Scripture, upholds marriage as between a man and a woman in faithful, lifelong union. The majority of those gathered reaffirm this teaching.

5. In keeping with the consistent position of previous Primates’ meetings such unilateral actions on a matter of doctrine without Catholic unity is considered by many of us as a departure from the mutual accountability and interdependence implied through being in relationship with each other in the Anglican Communion.

6. Such actions further impair our communion and create a deeper mistrust between us. This results in significant distance between us and places huge strains on the functioning of the Instruments of Communion and the ways in which we express our historic and ongoing relationships.

7. It is our unanimous desire to walk together. However given the seriousness of these matters we formally acknowledge this distance by requiring that for a period of three years The Episcopal Church no longer represent us on ecumenical and interfaith bodies, should not be appointed or elected to an internal standing committee and that while participating in the internal bodies of the Anglican Communion, they will not take part in decision making on any issues pertaining to doctrine or polity.

8. We have asked the Archbishop of Canterbury to appoint a Task Group to maintain conversation among ourselves with the intention of restoration of relationship, the rebuilding of mutual trust, healing the legacy of hurt, recognising the extent of our commonality and exploring our deep differences, ensuring they are held between us in the love and grace of Christ.

http://www.episcopalcafe.com/primates2016-releases-official-statement/

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's (TEC) response:

http://news.yahoo.com/episcopal-leader-church-not-reverse-gay-marriage-stand-190806422.html