Ed Bacon on Marriage Equality

Statement from All Saints' rector Ed Bacon on Supreme Court Marriage Equality cases:

I have been blessing same-sex unions for almost 18 years and during the weeks we in California could marry same-sex couples I enthusiastically and joyfully officiated over many. These experiences with same-sex families have been filled with God’s blessings and an inspiring incident of seeing the fruit of the Spirit present in these families.

I’ll never forget two men I married after they had been living in fidelity and mutual love for more than 26 years. I asked them why they wanted after all these years to get married in the church. One said, “After all these years we have seen our love for one another grow not diminish. We came to the conclusion that the two of us could not manufacture that love that brims over every day. We concluded that our love had to be coming from God.”

I’m praying that the Supreme Court declares bigoted anti-gay marriage laws unconstitutional.

Standing for Marriage Equality: Faith in Action 3/24/2013

All Saints Church is proud to have been in the forefront of the struggle for marriage equality in the State of California just as we have been in the forefront of LGBT equality in the Episcopal Church. From the first blessing of a same-sex union in 1992 to the formation of the Beyond Inclusion ministry in 1997 to the work of Claiming the Blessing beginning in 2002, All Saints Church has been committed to both equal protection and equal blessing for LGBT children of God.

As we look ahead with a hopeful spirit to the Supreme Court oral arguments on two marriage equality cases this week -- and to a decision coming in the weeks ahead -- we are deeply aware of the powerful shift in public opinion on marriage equality and of the critically important role voices of faith have had in changing hearts and minds.

And we are proud to be part of an Episcopal Church taking a strong stand against DOMA at our last General Convention and grateful for the work and witness for inclusion across the church and country.

On Sunday, March 24th parish members and visitors will be invited to add their signatures to letters of appreciation from the rector to the twenty-nine Episcopal bishops who filed amicus curiae briefs with the Supreme Court in support of marriage equality.

Read more about those briefs here. And then visit the Action Table following the 7:30, 9:00, 11:15a.m. or 1:00 p.m. services to add your name!

Find out more about All Saints stand for marriage equality
First time visitor? Click here visitor info.

April @ All Saints ... Mark Your Calendars!

 

"The Great Easter Truth"

from the Easter 2013 "Saints Alive" Newsletter of All Saints Church in Pasadena | by the Reverend Susan Russell, Senior Associate for Communication, Incorporation and Inclusion

The words came to me in an Easter card I received now over twenty years ago: "The great Easter truth is not that we will be born again someday -- but that we are to be alive here and now by the power of the resurrection.” And they resulted in what Ed Bacon would call “an epiph.” An “aha!” A moment of deep knowing in the core of my being that these words were true – that they were talking to me – and that I was going to be changed by them.

And what those words continue to say to me – all these years later -- is that the great Easter truth we celebrate doesn’t end when the Easter lilies wilt and the Alleluias fade. What they say to me is that the great Easter truth enables us to be alive – here and now – each and every day – claiming the power of the resurrection – often in very unexpected ways. The great Easter truth is that the great gospel stories of Easter Season tell us again and again that the Risen Lord isn’t always announced with alleluias and Easter lilies. In fact, they will tell us exactly the opposite.

Mary Magdalene, the first to encounter Jesus in the garden at first thought he was the gardener – until he spoke her name. Running to tell the other disciples they thought she was hallucinating – until he appeared to them in the upper room. Thomas, out of the room when Jesus showed up, thought they had ALL gone over the edge – until Jesus showed up again and said, “Here, Thomas – if what you need to believe is to see my hands and my side then check it out.” Over and over we hear the stories of those who had resurrection right in front of them and they couldn’t see it. Not because they lacked faith -- but because they lacked the vision to see the unexpected right before their eyes.

The great Easter truth is that resurrection was not a one-size-fits-all experience for the disciples. If it had been, we would have fewer resurrection narratives in scripture – and fewer clueless disciples in the narratives! And yet I believe that in these stories of first century Christians there are truths that speak in a very particular way as we continue to build a 21st century church that isn’t “one-size-fits-all” either — as we continue to claim our legacy as a community of faith where whoever you are and wherever you find yourself on your journey of faith you are welcome here!

For it is in that community – in communion with God and with each other – that we are given the grace to recognize the resurrection that so very often doesn’t look at all like we expected it to. The Good News we have to share – the lived experience we testify to – is about exercising diverse and prophetic ministries in every part of this broken world: working to end gun violence, fostering a culture of nonviolence, championing economic justice, dancing to end global violence against women, demonstrating to achieve marriage equality, offering comfort in food offered to a hungry neighbor and knitting a prayer shawl given to a grieving mother.

Around the world and around the corner we have Good News to tell – resurrection to proclaim – work to do. Being alive here and now — by the power of the resurrection — is who we are at All Saints Church. And it is that Easter Truth that empowers us to make a difference not just someday but everyday – as we work together to make God’s love tangible 24/7. Alleluia, Alleluia!

All Saints Church Pasadena Joins Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath

On Sunday, March 17, All Saints Church in Pasadena will join religious congregations across the country for Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath, a proactive movement by people of faith to reflect, unite and act on the issue of gun violence.

“Today, 85 Americans will die because of firearms, because we have not found the political will and organization to put a stop to our idolatrous worship of the gun,” said All Saints’ rector Ed Bacon. “As people of faith we are called upon to be healers who know how to grieve and to mourn, but also know how to take effective prayerful, persistent, political action. We have a responsibility to work for better gun safety measures, including mandatory background checks, a ban on high capacity clips, and semi automatic weapons.”

Bacon will address gun violence in his sermon “A New Script of Grace” at the 7:30, 9:00 and 11:15 a.m. services. Between services an "Action Table" will provide the opportunity for church members and visitors to sign letters to California State Senators in support of several gun control bills that have been introduced in the Legislature – and members of the All Saints Gun Violence Prevention Task Force will also be available to answer questions about their work.

Also available will be "Save the date" information on upcoming events/actions in April and May along with resources for ongoing education and advocacy.

For more information on the All Saints event, contact Keith Holeman, All Saints Church Director of Communications, at or 626.583.2739.

For more information on National Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath visit their website. 

HOLY WEEK and EASTER at ALL SAINTS CHURCH

Commit yourself to walk with Jesus this week. The services of Holy Week commemorate Jesus’ descent into death before the great miracle of Easter. The crowds’ cheers at Jesus’ triumphal parade into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday turn to jeers and the demand for his blood on Good Friday. If you allow yourself to descend to the depths of despair in what seem to be Jesus’ final hours, you will experience in new ways the incomparable power of the resurrection of Easter. Daily Eucharist traces the journey, building through Maundy Thursday and Good Friday to the triumph of Easter.

PALM SUNDAY, March 24

Begin your Holy Week with the waving of palms during the grand procession followed by a dramatic retelling of the Gospel.

• 7:30 a.m. Eucharist is held in the Chapel; at 9 & 11:15 a.m. Coventry Choir offer music of Casals and Bach; Ed Bacon preaches.
• 9 a.m. Childrens' Choirs offer music followed by a special Family Eucharist upstairs in the Learning Center.
• 11:15 a.m. Youth Choir members join Coventry Choir to sing Hosanna by Gregor.
• 1 p.m. Spanish Language liturgy, Dan Cole leads music; Ed Bacon preaches.

HOLY WEEK DAILY EUCHARISTS:

• Monday March 25 - Wednesday, March 27 | 7:00 a.m., 12:10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
• Thursday, March 28 --Eucharist: 7:00 a.m. and 12:10 p.m.

MAUNDY THURSDAY, March 28

At 7:30 p.m. in the Church a beautiful evening service recalls the last supper Jesus shared with his disciples. The congregation is invited to participate in the washing of the feet, symbolic of the servant ministry Jesus instituted with the disciples. The Trouvères offer music. This is a Spanish/English liturgy. All are welcome. Parking is available at Plaza Las Fuentes.

GOOD FRIDAY, March 29

Good Friday Three-Hour Service: Noon to 3 p.m. (Church). This service commemorating the passion and death of Jesus is a major moment in Holy Week. The rector and members of the clergy staff offer five meditations on the meaning of the crucifixion in our own time. Canterbury and Coventry choirs offer spirituals and music of Connor, Greene, Hairston,Howells, Barber, Deering, Bach, Casals and Hogan. Parking is available at Plaza Las Fuentes. Signs and parking attendants will direct you.

Tenebrae (God in the Darkness): 7:30 p.m. (Church). This ancient candlelight service commemorates the somber in-between-time of waiting, offering an opportunity to grieve Jesus’ death and sense a glimmer of hope of the resurrection. Coventry Choir Renaissance Singers offer music. Susan Russell offers the meditation. Parking is available at Plaza Las Fuentes.

HOLY SATURDAY, March 30

Children’s Easter Vigil: 4 p.m. (Church). Celebrate the conclusion of Holy Week and beginning of Easter with children leading this service through reading and music with infant and child baptisms. Mastersingers and Troubadours offer music. Bring a bell to ring at the Easter proclamation!

The Great Vigil of Easter: The service begins at 7:30 p.m. in the street with the kindling of the fire and lighting of the Paschal candle, then proceeds into the Church to experience the stories of our faith and to baptize adults by candlelight. You’re invited to bring bells to ring during the Gloria. Parking is available in the Plaza Las Fuentes.

EASTER SUNDAY, March 31

Festive Eucharist: 7:00, 9:00 and 11:15 a.m.; 1:00 p.m. Spanish-language Eucharist
The rector preaches in the midst of a blaze of candles, lilies and trumpets.

At 7:00, 9:00; 11:15 a.m. Coventry and Canterbury choirs and Trouvères, brass and percussion ensemble, and soloists offering music of Gabrieli, Hancock, Curry, Brahms and Marshall;
At 1 p.m. Dan Cole leads music. Normal Sunday parking is available in Kaiser and Plaza Las Fuentes. (Remember, the Plaza is free only until 1 p.m.)

Child care: Child care is available for 7:30 p.m. weekday Eucharists, Maundy Thursday evening, Good Friday noon and evening, the Children’s Vigil, the Great Vigil, and all services on Easter Sunday.

The Power and Healing of the Flower: Many members of our faith community are unable to attend our Easter services – and what a joyous way to share the good news of the resurrection through having them receive a flower from the Easter service. Please let us know if you are available to carry an Easter flower to those members of our community who are unable to be with us. We will have a table available on the lawn for distribution following the 9:00 am, 11:15 am and 1:00pm services. Please call 626-583-2737 or email acamacho@allsaints-pas.org to indicate your preference.

For more information on any of the above, visit the All Saints website or contact Liturgy Director Melissa Hayes