Vicar The Rev. Sharon Sheffield

Bishop’s Committee Allen Stout, Bishop’s Warden Joanne Jovanovic, People’s Warden Andrea Utzman, Clerk Lynne Richmond, Minutes Secretary Lillian Bennerr Paul Ivory Sue Williams

Minister of Music & Organist Editor of Canterbury Tales AUGUST - 2019 William Henderson

Associate Organist & Webmaster Marc Skuster

St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church 5306 East Arbor Road Long Beach, CA 90808 (562) 425-4457

Vicar’s church email: [email protected] HE EAST OF THE RANSFIGURATION T F T Vicar’s home email: [email protected] August 6

Vicar’s Cell: 562-833-3393

Web homepage http://saintthomas.ladiocese.org Vacation Time

I will be away from August 9 through August 23. The Rev. Laurel Coote will lead services on August 11, and the Rev. Roberta Morris will lead services on August 18. We are still coordinating pastoral care; we will let you know via the announcements and the Tidings when we know who will cover pastoral care for those two weeks.

While Mike and I are on vacation, Allen Stout and Joanne Jovanovic, the St. Thomas Wardens, are the go-to people for any general questions or concerns. If they can’t deal with an issue, they know who can. See you on August 25! Blessings, Mother Sharon

2019 Bishop’s Concert will feature

DEBBY BOONE

Bishop John Harvey Taylor and Canon Kathy O'Connor are pleased to invite you, as a member of the diocesan community, to the second annual Bishop's Concert, featuring Grammy Award-winning singer, actor and author , on Friday, October 11 at the episcopal residence, located at 3435 E. California Boulevard in Pasadena.

Debby Boone is known for the 1977 hit “You Light Up My Life,” her 1980 country song “Are You On the Road to Lovin’ Me Again,” and albums of country music, contemporary Christian songs, and songs for children. In 2005 she released Reflections Of Rosemary, an album featuring music that her mother-in-law, Rosemary Clooney, performed as well as other songs that Boone felt reflected the woman her family knew. Boone also has appeared in many musical theater productions, television series and movies, and has written several children’s books illustrated by her husband, the Rev. Gabriel Ferrer, vicar of St. Martin’s Church, Winnetka.

Gates will be opened at 6 p.m. and refreshments will be served before the performance, which will begin at 7:30 p.m. Valet parking will be available. Tickets are $75, but yours will be $60 if you make your reservations before August 1. To reserve your tickets, visit https://www.edlaclergy.org/clergy- conf/bishops-concert. Proceeds will support diocesan ministries. UPCOMING EVENING SERVICES Our Taize services in the spring were quite successful, and we will continue them in the fall and into next year. I’ve also had feedback that a number of parishioners would like a regular evening Eucharistic service to supplement our Sunday services. We are working on the schedule, and will let you know the final plan in the September Canterbury Tales. In the meantime, watch this space and the St. Thomas Tidings for more information.

ONGOING STEWARDSHIP OF OUR RESOURCES

You may have noticed a lot of work happening on our campus recently. We have done major cleanup work in the Memorial Garden, including removing a tree that was threatening to bring down the retaining wall. We’ve also trimmed all the trees in the play area for the preschool. Inside the church, we’ve installed a new thermostat and serviced the HVAC system. The new programmable thermostat will help prevent wasting energy, as we can set the timer for our usual service times.

Does all this work cost money? Yes, of course. But we need to keep our plant safe and inviting. It’s part of good stewardship, and thankfully, we have the reserves to do the work. Thanks go to everyone who pitched in with time, talent, and treasure for these projects. Look for more information during the fall on upcoming projects.

SAVE THE FOLLOWING DATES!

Blessing of the Backpacks & Briefcases AUGUST 25 at both services.

Bring your school backpack, your work briefcase, your laptop… anything that you use at work or school. We will bless them and you as a new school year starts.

Welcome Back Sunday September 8 during and after both services.

Bring something to share for a post-service potluck, and we’ll spend some time talking about our ministries and what’s happening in the months to come.

Holiday Faire with St. Gregory’s October 26 at St. Gregory’s, 9:00am-3:00pm.

Last year we had a table at St. Gregory’s holiday faire. We spent time in fellowship, got to meet some wonderful artisans, and had the work of our own people up for sale. The event was so successful that we are participating again this year. We already have several craftspeople lined up to sell their handmade items, but there’s room for you, too. There’s a signup sheet in the narthex where you can indicate what you want to contribute to the sale, or you can contact the church office. Knitted and crocheted items, homemade baked goods, jams and jellies, wooden crafts… anything that is handmade is welcome. If you don’t craft, but you love to support St. Thomas, please come to the Holiday Faire on Saturday, October 26, and support both St. Thomas and St. Gregory’s by buying something for yourself or a friend. Thank you for your support! THE FEAST OF ST. THOMAS OF CANTERBURY

Our patronal feast is December 29, the date of Thomas Becket’s martyrdom. Because it’s between Christmas and New Year’s Day, it’s not often celebrated. But this year the feast is a Sunday… and this year it’s also a very special day for our community.

The Rt. Rev. John Harvey Taylor, Bishop Diocesan, has graciously consented to install me as your vicar on our feast day. I cannot tell you how much this thrills me, and how pleased I am that we can celebrate the feast in such a special way.

The installation and celebration of a new ministry will be held at 3:00pm on December 29, with a reception afterward. Because of this, there will be only one service in the morning, at 8:00am. I don’t want to exhaust the choir and the other service leaders by having three services in one day, especially when it’s right after Christmas! Please mark your calendars and get ready to have a grand, solemn service and a big party on December 29. More info to come as we plan the service. There’ll be a part for everyone to play!

Birthdays

Kristen Simmer 8/2 Cheri La Pante 8/4 Larry Shaw 8/10 Alberto Ossa 8/12 Tim Garvin 8/15 Lillian Bennett 8/19 John Mitchell 8/22

ANNIVERSARIES Michael & Stacey Bergman 8/8/09 Ken & Sue Williams 8/22/70

We pray especially for Our Presiding Bishop Michael, our Bishops John & Diane and our Priest Sharon.

The world, especially the people of the United States, and for peace all over the world and wherever there is oppression or trouble.

Serving in the Armed Forces at home and around the world: members of the U. S. Army: Adam and Michael; the U.S. Marine Corps: Sean, Edelangel and Bernal; the U.S. Air Force: Jordan, Joshua, and Carlos; the U. S. Navy: Jonathan and Charity; and the U.S. Coast Guard: Jennifer and Corey. The protection and guidance of Parishioners and Friends: Ashley, Jason, Jacob, Amanda, Angelina, Liz, Cheri, Michael, Ashley, Rachel, Margaux, Evan, Christian, Mary, Sheryl, Harim, Ana, Bertha, Ariana, Alyssa, Paul, Joe, Deb, Mary, Raul, Mindy, Anthony, Stanley, Nathan, Eddie, Cyndi, Zitalli, Ruth, Caleb and Island. The healing of Parishioners and friends: Rachel, Linda, Diana, Richard, Susanne, Ana, Brenda, Joe, Jeanne, Ed, Kathie, Karen, Paula, Liz, Lynn, Ellen, Carlene, Samantha, Patrick, Patricia, Steven, Dennis, Doug, Paul, Harim, Jesse, Sue, Doreen, Wendy, Sue, Patty, Michael, John, Raul, Mindy, Anthony, Ed, Eddie, Cindy, Dino, Dina, Dorothy, Nathan, Altair, Calvin, Bob and all parishioners with health problems. Homebound and Special Needs: Gerry, Ellen, Karen, Paula, Samantha and the homeless, the poor and the unemployed, affordable housing for families, the end of Ebola, AIDS, and Cancer in the world, and for those suffering from mental illness.

St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church 5306 East Arbor RoadLong Beach, CA 90808-1109 Phone: (562) 425-4457Fax: (562) 425-8317 E-mail: [email protected] Web page: www.saintthomas.ladiocese.org