The All Saints vestry and staff just completed the annual vestry/staff conference focused implications of "the new normal" for All Saints Church and our work and witness. Due to a last minute schedule change postponing Maria Elena Durazo's appearance in the Rector's Forum, parish members will get so share some of what the the vestry & staff experienced when Junior Warden Charlie Rahilly reprises his presentation at tomorrow's Rector's Forum.
Here's a look at your vestry and staff at work ... on the grounds of the beautiful Huntington Library:
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
All Saints in the Marriage News: NPR, USA Today & KNBC-4
from Susan Russell
The announcement last week that the White House has instructed the Department to stop defending the "Defence of Marriage Act" (DOMA) was received as very good news by those who work for marriage equality. Here are a few places where we had the chance to get the All Saints message out:
I was delighted to have had the chance to talk about marriage equality on NPR's "All Things Considered" with the always-fabulous Barbara Bradley Hagerty ... especially interested to hear that Al Mohler appears to have "thrown in the towel" on the marriage equality issue. Listen in.
And the local news -- KNBC-4's Cary Berglund -- stopped by for comment, which ended up in this report aired on Thursday, February 24:
Elsewhere, the USA Today online report included this quote ...
Finally, I ended up writing a blog about the questions I was getting from reporters, which began:
The announcement last week that the White House has instructed the Department to stop defending the "Defence of Marriage Act" (DOMA) was received as very good news by those who work for marriage equality. Here are a few places where we had the chance to get the All Saints message out:
I was delighted to have had the chance to talk about marriage equality on NPR's "All Things Considered" with the always-fabulous Barbara Bradley Hagerty ... especially interested to hear that Al Mohler appears to have "thrown in the towel" on the marriage equality issue. Listen in.And the local news -- KNBC-4's Cary Berglund -- stopped by for comment, which ended up in this report aired on Thursday, February 24:
Elsewhere, the USA Today online report included this quote ...
"It is good news for those who support Family Values that Value All Families. And it is great news for those who are part of a growing Protect Marriage Movement committed to Protecting All Marriages ... What the White House said today is that it is unconstitutional to defend some marriages and not others." -- the Reverend Susan Russell, a Senior Associate at All Saints Church in Pasadena...... followed by this question from the reporter:
THINK ABOUT IT: What difference does your neighbor's marriage make in your life? Are your marriage -- or divorce or live-together -- choices up for scrutiny?(You can follow the link above to add your own answer to that question if you're so inclined.
Finally, I ended up writing a blog about the questions I was getting from reporters, which began:
I just got a call from a reporter who "was confused." "Do you guys DO weddings or not?" he asked. And there it was ... a great, on-a-silver-platter chance to set the record straight (so to speak!) So here you go ... direct from our ASC website:
WEDDINGS
At All Saints Church we understand Holy Matrimony to be a physical and spiritual union, entered into within the community of faith, by mutual consent of heart, mind and will, and with intent that it be life-long. Our commitment to the sacrament of marriage being celebrated within the community of faith informs our policy of offering weddings for members of the parish.
We are committed to treating equally all couples presenting themselves for the rite of Marriage. Effective June 2, 2009, the Vestry of All Saints Church unanimously passed a marriage resolution stating that All Saints is called to make the sacrament of marriage equally available to all couples, and that All Saints clergy will not sign civil marriage certificates for any couples, until the right to civil marriage is available to all couples. Read the resolution.
And then I added this note:
We have not been serving as “agents of the state” on civil marriage since 2009. We still do weddings … lots of them … but we only do the sacramental part of the marriage blessing … we leave the civil part of the marriage contract to a judge or justice of the peace. We’re looking forward to getting back to being able to offer both equal blessing AND equal protection to all our couples … and yesterday’s DOMA decision takes us another step closer to that.Stay tuned for further developments!
I think it’s a really important distinction to separate the civil marriage struggle from the sanctity of marriage debate. The First Amendment gives us the freedom to make decisions within our own faith communities which marriages we will or will not bless. And nothing that happens in the civil marriage equality arena impacts that one way or the other. Hope that clears it up. If not, give me a call …
City Council and School Board Candidates Forum at All Saints Church
Dreier's report documents the wide disparity between rich and poor in Pasadena, and the questions facilitated by the City Conversations Strategic Planning Members will center around how candidates will address our city’s need for more jobs, affordable housing, and a better educational system. All candidates have been invited to participate.
The School Board Candidate Forum begins at 6:30 p.m. and the City Council Candidate Forum begins at 7:45 p.m. The event is sponsored by City Conversations, a group of community leaders formed by the Office for Creative Connections at All Saints Church to promote policies and practices that create a just and peaceful community, and to identify and eradicate policies and practices that perpetuate racial and ethnic inequities.
For more information contact Catherine Swanson at 626.583.2750 or cswanson@allsaints-pas.org. All Saints Church is located at 132 N. Euclid Avenue, Pasadena, 91101.
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Wednesday, February 23, 2011
"Fresh From the Front Lines in Wisconsin:" Maria Elena Durazo in the Rector's Forum
Ms. Durazo will share her experiences this past week on the front lines in Wisconsin where she and 160 Southern California workers went to support the people of Wisconsin and to fight to preserve the fundamental rights of working people. Don't miss this timely and important conversation with a true giant of economic justice!
Join us here at All Saints in the Forum on Sunday morning at 10:15am [132 North Euclid Ave, Pasadena] or online for the live-stream of the Rector's Forum. For more information call 626.583.2711
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Lenten Small Groups Schedules
Lenten groups, offering both fellowship and a time for reflection, begin in March. Childcare is provided for all groups by calling 626.583.2781 to reserve at least 24 hours in advance.
Sundays:
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6:30 p.m…A History of Christianity with Jim Prendergast | Viewing the BBC presentation of Diarmaid MacCulloch’s “A History of Christianity – the First Three Thousand Years.” The episodes are The First Christianity; Catholicism: The Unpredictable Rise of Rome; Orthodoxy: From Empire to Empire; Reformation: The Individual before God; Protestantism: The Evangelical Explosion; and God in the Dock. Our faith tradition is more complex than we realize, and MacCulloch is a great tour guide, making for lively discussion.
Tuesdays:
6:30 p.m…Forgiveness for Lent with Martin McIlvenna & Candace Elliott | Connie Domino asserts, “There are some wrongs that people will never agree with or accept, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t be forgiven. It also doesn’t mean that people should forget or accept any sort of similar mistreatment in the future.” She advises “we should forgive the ones who have hurt or angered us, which then allows us to unblock our energy, feel more peaceful and fulfill our desires. Forgiveness is done more to benefit the individual rather than the one being forgiven.” Join Martin McIlvenna & Candace Elliott for a small group on the Law of Forgiveness by Connie Domino that will explore the basis and basics of the book.
March 22 – April 12 in Learning Center 5.
7:00 p.m…Historical Jesus with Dan Stracner | Over the past three decades, scholarship and debate about the historical Jesus have grown exponentially, driven in part by the work of the Jesus Seminar and its supporters and detractors and the proliferation of internet sites devoted to the topic. Viewpoints range from those who support orthodox Christian doctrines to those whom claim Jesus never existed, with many variations between. Dan Stracner will survey this fascinating field, exploring the various stages of the quest for the historical Jesus and touching on the work of thinkers who have visited All Saints, and a host of others. Reading materials and detailed bibliographies will be supplied.
Six Tuesdays, starting March 8. The first meeting will be held in Learning Center 1.
Wednesdays:
11:00 a.m…Experiencing the Scriptures with Richard Wingell | Each week this group will read and discuss the readings for the coming Sunday. We will look at the Old Testament selection, the Psalm, the Epistle, and the Gospel to see how they work together to illuminate the same theme or message, how they relate to the changing seasons of the liturgical year, and how we can apply them to our lives. Bring your Bible. This group is ongoing,
Wednesdays at 11 a.m., in the Guild Room.
6:30 p.m…The New Monasticism with Carissa Baldwin | Come explore a new movement of contemporary monasticism that seeks to live life close to God,
whether married or single, healthy or not.
Five weeks, March 16 – April 13, in Scott Hall 2.
7:00 p.m…The Lemon Tree with Erica Hahn & Randy Heyn-Lamb | The Lemon Tree, by USC Professor Sandy Tolan, tells the story of the unlikely relationship between a Palestinian activist and an Israeli Jew, and the home and lemon tree they each owned and cherished at different times. Their 40 year relationship of friendship and pain is shaped by the events of the ongoing conflict. The book was named as the 2011 "One Diocese, One Book" selection by the Bishop Jon Bruno's Commission on the Middle East.
Wednesdays, March 16 – April 13, in Scott Hall 4.
Thursdays:
7:15 a.m…Managing One’s Self in a Sea of Uncertainty with Anne Peterson | Whatever you believe or disbelieve about Jesus, you have to admire his nerve. He challenged the way-we’ve-always-done-it thinking of his age, while operating out of the House of Love—never appearing to even visit the House of Fear. What kept him going? Using Edwin Friedman’s book, A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix, we will explore ways to live out of the House of Love and remain centered in this era of uncertainty. Bring your life experiences, a copy of the book, and a journal.
March 10, 17, 24, April 7 + 14 [no meeting on Cesar Chavez Day, March 31] in the Learning Center.
6:30 p.m…Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life with Jeremy Langill | Based on Karen Armstrong’s new book, Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life, in which she explores
ways to bring more compassion into your life.
Five weeks, March 10 – April 14 [no meeting Cesar Chavez Day, March 31] in Learning Center 5.
7:00 p.m…RECALCULATING: Aligning your spiritual GPS with God’s Love, Justice and Compassion with Susan Russell | From the beginning of time human beings have faced the challenge of choosing between right and wrong – of making ethical decisions – of staying on course. For some Christians the answer is simple: “The Bible said it, I believe it, that settles it.” For others it is less about following a set of rules than it is about following Jesus – about incarnating God’s self-giving love as we journey into God’s future. For Episcopalians the guideposts for that journey are our baptismal promises. This Lent,spend five weeks reprogramming your spiritual GPS to move toward God’s values. March 10, 17, 24, April 7, 14 [no meeting Cesar Chavez Day, March 31] in the Guild Room.
Sign up at the Small Group table on the Lawn or email amccormick@allsaints-pas.org.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Today was "Archbishop Desmond Tutu Day" @ All Saints Church
It was a delight and an honor to welcome back Archbishop Desmond Tutu to All Saints Church this morning. You can click here to watch his sermon on the ASC website ... and here to read the feature in the Pasadena Star News. There'll be more photos to come, but for the moment, here are a few snaps from a Five Alarm Glory Attack Sunday @ All Saints Church!
Friday, February 18, 2011
BREAKING NEWS: First-ever "live streaming' the 11:15 service on Sunday, February 20!
We've been blessed at All Saints Church to have Archbishop Desmond Tutu with us a number of times over the years, but THIS Sunday -- February 20th -- for the first time ever we'll be "live streaming" a service from Pasadena at 11:15am (PST).God willing -- and the internet cooperating -- you'll be able to click here and join us for Sunday's service where the preacher will be +Desmond Tutu and the Offertory anthem is a tribute to Tutu by parishioner Bruce Babcock. (We'll be streaming through the Eucharistic Prayer.)
So join us -- online or on campus @ All Saints Church -- turning the human race into the human family one "live stream" at a time!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
FEBRUARY 20 -- Jazz Vespers with Alan Broadbent
Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Broadbent began performing professionally at the age of 15, following classical studies. In 1997 he won a Grammy for his arrangement of When I Fall in Love for Natalie Cole. In 2000 he earned his second Grammy Award for best arrangement accompanying a vocal for Lonely Town, which he wrote for Charlie Haden’s Quartet West featuring Shirley Horn and strings. He is currently the musical director for Diana Krall.
Childcare is provided. All are welcome. Admission is free; no reservations required. A goodwill offering is accepted. For more information contact Melissa Hayes at 626.583.2725 or jazz@allsaints-pas.org
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Awards and Rewards in Movies: Kenneth Turan in the Rector's Forum this Sunday!
Will “The King’s Speech” duke it out with “The Fighter” to win best picture? Will directors who shepherd good films be rewarded as well? Will any of the elaborate gowns be outrageous enough to fill gossip blogs for weeks to come?
Answers to all these questions and more will be answered this Sunday when our film-critic-in-residence Ken Turan returns to the Rector’s Forum for another award winning presentation of what’s hot and what’s not in the movie business – at recent film festivals and in the Oscar race. Turan says he loves coming here because of the questions from the audience, as well as the push-back he gets from some of the opinions he offers. His presentation will not only prepare you to watch the Academy Awards next Sunday night, it will be award-winningly fun to experience. Turan has been with us for important discussions of movies and meaning at our Lent Event and our conversations about religion and values in panels over the years. We are grateful and honored to welcome him back.
A Visit from +Desmond Tutu: Sunday, February 20th!
We send out an email to the parish from All Saints just about every week, announcing who's going to be in the Rector's Forum and any other "breaking news" that folks should know about. Last week's email -- about our Annual Meeting this Sunday included this "PS."
Sunday, February 20, our long-time friend Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu will be with us for the 11:15 a.m. service. For those of you who would prefer a more relaxed worship experience, I recommend the 9 a.m. service where I will be preaching.Peace,
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Ed Bacon, Rector
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
An Invitation to Pray for Peace with John Philip Newell
“God is seen as the Life within all life, not just as the Creator who set life in motion from afar.“Join us on Wednesday, February 16th at 7:30 pm for a never-to-be forgotten evening of inspiration, music and prayer with the Rev. Dr. John Philip Newell!
The evening will offer Prayers for Peace through the amazing and enriching experience of chant, scripture, reflection and silence as found in the Abrahamic traditions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Join us on February 16 at 7:30 p.m. in the All Saints Forum to learn something very new and experience something very old.
For further information contact Amanda McCormick at 626.583.2765 or amccormick@allsaints-pas.org
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
"NEW HOPE IN EGYPT" with Dr. Maher Hathout February 6th in the Rector's Forum
Hathout is a leading spokesperson for the American Muslim community, an international figure highly regarded as a positive voice with a valuable perspective on national and international issues involving Muslims. He has been invited more than once by the State Department to address critical international issues and is the Senior Advisor of the Muslim Public Affairs Council.
Come be inspired and informed on the "Breaking News" from Egypt by one of our great friends and interfaith colleagues. (If you can't we with us in the Forum on Sunday at 10:15 then visit the ASC website and watch the Forum "live stream" from 10:15-11:00 a.m.)
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