Update from The Episcopal Church in Haiti

Here's what's left of Trinity Cathedral ...


... and the Convent of St. Mary.

And in the shadow of unimaginable devastation, the Episcopal Church is there on the ground ...

... bringing aid, comfort and hope to "the least of these" -- those who have been the victims of systemic poverty and are now the victims of this natural disaster as well.


Here's what the Wall Street Journal reported about the work of the Episcopal Church in Haiti:

"In a ruined country whose government has all but stopped functioning in a city whose crowded shanties remain far from the cargoes of aid that are flying into the airport, someone has to fill the gap. In this part of the captial city, it falls to the church."

Watch the four minute report here ... and then donate below to the Episcopal Relief & Development Haiti Fund. Be part of making God's love tangible to our human family siblings in Haiti!

Click here to donate to the Episcopal Relief & Development Haiti Crisis Fund -- or visit the Action Table on the lawn on Sunday!
.

All Saints Rector on KPFK Radio for MLK Day

All Saints Church rector Ed Bacon will guest on the Eisha Mason program on KPFK 90.7 today -- Martin Luther King Day at 2pmPacific.

Tune in (in the Los Angeles radio market @ 90.7FM) or log on here to listen live.

All Saints part of local relief efforts for Haitian earthquake

Aftermath of Haiti quakes hits San Gabriel Valley
By Brian Charles, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/13/2010 05:57:48 PM PST

Haitians pass destroyed buildings on January 13, 2010 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Planeloads of rescuers and relief supplies headed to Haiti as governments and aid agencies launched a massive relief operation after a powerful earthquake that may have killed thousands.

The first cargo planes with food, water, medical supplies, shelter and sniffer dogs headed to the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation a day after the quake flattened much of the capital of 2 million people.

Relief efforts are ramping across Southern California. All Saints Church in Pasadena will work through the Episcopal Relief and Development foundation to funnel aid to the country, said Keith Holeman, All Saints church spokesman.

"We'll be sending out an e-mail blast to all parishioners today, urging them to donate online today to our partner on the ground in Haiti, Episcopal Relief and Development -- or to bring a donation on Sunday," he said.

Holeman said cash donations are preferred in this case since the Episcopal Relief and Development foundation is on the ground ready to assist people in Haiti.

Donations to the Episcopal Relief and Development fund is is online at http://www.er-d.org/donate-select.php

Read the rest here.

KPFK with Sonali Kolhatkar: Implications of Landmark Proposition 8 Trial

On Tuesday, January 12, Susan Russell (All Saints Church) and Rick Jacobs (Courage Campaign) were interviewed by KPFK radio's Sonali Kolhatkar about the landmark trial challenging the constitutionality of Proposition 8.

Listen here for a wide-ranging discussion on the political and theological implications of this important case ... and stay tuned to the All Saints Church News Blog for updates as the case proceeds through the courts!

All Saints speaks out on landmark Prop 8 trial

Disappointed in today’s decision by the United States Supreme Court to block the broadcast of opening arguments in the Prop 8 trial, we are nevertheless convinced that the landmark case will help move California to the right side of history on the issue of marriage equality.

The Reverend Susan Russell -- a Senior Associate at All Saints Church and a spokesperson for California Faith for Equality -- was at the Pasadena Federal Court building this morning, hoping to hear opening arguments from the San Francisco trial.

When word that the Supreme Court had temporarily ruled in favor of the argument that witnesses opposed to marriage equality could be victims of harassment and intimidation, Russell had these comments:

“The only potential victims here are fair minded Californians who deserved to have the important issue of marriage equality tried on its merits – not tried in the court of public opinion in political campaigns designed to tell lies, distort facts and distract the voters from the real issue at hand. And that issue is whether or not we are going to continue to strive to be a nation of liberty and justice for all – not just some – Americans.”

“This last ditch effort by supporters of discrimination against gay and lesbian families is nothing less than another smokescreen fueled by the flames of homophobia.”

“As a person of faith, one of the core biblical values I claim is ‘the truth will set you free’ (John 8:32). Those who argue against marriage equality should have nothing to fear from the truth – and if their arguments do not stand up to the scrutiny of our legal system then the people of California deserve to know that.”

“As a member of California Faith for Equality I stand with over 6000 faith leaders across the state who ask our courts to do the job our constitution expects them to do, and that is to preserve equal protection for all Americans.”

Reverend Russell can be reached for further comment at srussell@allsaints-pas.org or 714.356.5718

For further information contact Keith Holeman, Director of Communication at kholeman@allsaints-pas.org or 626.583.2739

Baptism of Our Lord Sunday 2010

Pasadena woman celebrates 106th birthday

With the Rev. Ed Bacon by her side Lydia Wilkins blows out a candle as the congregation of All Saints Episcopal Church celebrates her 106th birthday Friday night, January 8, 2010 in Pasadena. Wilkins has a party at the church every year since she turned 100. (SGVN/Staff Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz)
.
PASADENA [source link] - Lydia Wilkins was the life of the party at her 106th birthday celebration.

Dozens of friends, family members and fellow church members gathered around her to celebrate Friday at the All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, where she has been an active member for decades.

"I feel great to have even lived this long," Wilkins said with a smile. The church celebrated her birthday Friday, although Wilkins turns 106 on Tuesday.

Wilkins' daughter, 76-year-old Marjorie Jones, said she and other family members were not surprised to see the energetic matriarch live well past 100.

"I call her the Energizer Bunny," she said.

When asked how she managed to live to 106, Wilkins said, "I have no secret."

Wilkins, who was born and raised in East Orange, N.J., moved to Pasadena with her late husband, William Wilkins, in the 1930s when he became a priest at the St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, family members said.

She previously studied education at Temple University in Philadelphia before working as a school teacher.

Wilkins' grandson, Wendell Jones, said his grandmother has seen a lot in her long lifetime.

"It's amazing, at 106, when you think about what history she's been witness to," he said. "A man on the moon, two world wars."

"She learned to drive on a Model T," Jones added. "She was driving until she was 100. We had to talk her out of buying a new car."

Jones said Wilkins broke her hip 18 months ago and astonished the family with her quick recovery.

"Literally, the next week, she was up walking," the grandson said.

She still enjoys her sherry, he added.

Wilkins spent the evening chatting and taking pictures with friends before blowing out the candle on her birthday cake to loud applause.

Church member Jane Karageorge said she joined the church in 1979, when Wilkins was working as an usher at 86 years old.

"She's just wonderfully engaging to all of us," Karageorge said. "Everyone in the church knows Lydia. She knows a little story about all of us."

All Saints Church's Amy Cox ordained priest today at St. John's Cathedral, Los Angeles

Slide show of today's ordination service: