April 13
THE
Episcopal News Weekly WWW.EPISCOPALNEWS.COM
SERVING THE SIX-COUNTY DIOCESE OF LOS ANGELES
Scan to subscribe to
The Episcopal News
APRIL 13, 2014
Interfaith leaders call for comprehensive immigration reform
PHOTOS / JANET KAWAMOTO
Speaking with the voices of their traditions and their scriptures, eight Los Angeles religious leaders — Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Jewish, Protestant, Muslim and Episcopal — stood shoulder to shoulder on April 4 and called on President Barack Obama and the U.S. Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform. Bishop Diocesan J. Jon Bruno and Bishop Suffragan Mary D. Glasspool represented the Diocese of Los Angeles at the vigil of prayer and solidarity, which was held at Our Lady of the Angels Roman Catholic Cathedral in downtown Los Angeles and sponsored by the Los Angeles Council of Religious Leaders. Bruno, as council president, read an open letter that asked President Obama and Congress “to enact humane bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform legislation that is consistent with not only our values as people of faith, but also our values as Americans. We recognize that family
reunification is a core national value and interest, and we must continue our historic commitment to bringing families together.” Bruno added, “None have justice if we don’t all have justice. None have mercy if we don’t all have mercy. None are touched by grace if we allow one person to suffer this degradation.” Pictured above are Shakeel Syed, Islamic Shura Council; Bishop Minerva Carcaño, United Methodist Church; Bishop Glasspool; Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Armenian Church; Archbishop José Gómez, Archdiocese of Los Angeles; Rabbi Mark Diamond, American Jewish Committee; Bishop Guy Erwin, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America; and Bishop Bruno. At the microphone is Fr. Alexei Smith, ecumenical/ interfaith officer of the Archdiocese; at right is the Pérez family, who spoke of their experiences as undocumented immigrants.
Spring is time to sign up for summer camp
S
pringtime is here, and that means it’s time to register for summer sessions for children, teens, adults and families at Camp Stevens, located near Julian, in the mountains east of San Diego. Camp Stevens offers four Adventure Sessions this summer for campers age 8 to 15: July 6 - 12, July 13 - 19, July 20 - 26 and July 27 - Aug. 2. These sessions feature feeding chickens, face painting, hiking, team-building games, baking cookies, swimming, pond exploration, archery, lawn gamesand countless other activities focused on entertaining, educating and empowering kids. The camp also has on- and off-site specialty
sessions geared to teens, including the International Odyssey camp with students from Japan for campers age 11 - 16 (Aug. 3 - 9); Rock Climbing Camp (July 6 - 11); Backpacking Basics for ages 12 - 17 (July 20 - 25); and 10-Day Backpacking Trek for ages 13-18 (July 27 - August 5). Counselor Training, for ages 16 and up, is June 22 - July 1. Summer camps for all ages include Memorial Day Family Camp at Camp Stevens (May 24 - 26), Sequoia Family Camp at Camp San Joaquin near Sequoia and King’s Canyon national parks (July 6 - 12), as well as women’s, men’s and family backpacking sessions. For information, visit www.campstevens.org or call the camp at 760.765.0028. ?
Episcopal News Spring 2014 issue is online: theme is ‘water’
T
he Spring 2014 issue of The Episcopal News magazine is available online at www.episcopalnews.com. This issue explores the subject of water and how parishioners, congregations and ministries of the Diocese of Los Angeles work to conserve it, channel it, use it and share it in the Southland and throughout the world. ?
AROUND THE DIOCESE SUNDAY, APRIL 13, 4 p.m.
The Great Palm Sunday Vespers
St. George’s Episcopal Church & Academy 23802 Avenida de la Carlota, Laguna Hills Information: 949.837.4530 SUNDAY, APRIL 13, 4 p.m.
‘For Us the Living - A Requiem’ by A. Fedak St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church 6201 E. Willow Street, Long Beach Information: 562.420.1311 SUNDAY, APRIL 13, 4:30 p.m.
Solemn Evensong
St. James’ Episcopal Church 3903 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles Information: 213.388.3015 SUNDAY, APRIL 13, 5 p.m.
‘Jesus, His Life in Art’ by Gregorio Luke
St. James’ Episcopal Church 1325 Monterey Road, South Pasadena Information: www.sjcsp.org or 626.799.9194 SUNDAY, APRIL 13, 6 p.m.
Recital: Rupert Gough and Rachel Gough St. James’ Episcopal Church 3903 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles Information: 213.388.3015 MONDAY, APRIL 14, 7:30 p.m.
‘Reflections on Women of the Cross’
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Seventh Stree t& Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach Information: 562.436.4047 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 7 - 9 p.m.
Tenebrae
St. John’s ProCathedral 514 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles Information/Reservations: theguibordcenter.org WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 7 p.m.
Film Series: ‘Bless Me, Ultima’
The Church of the Messiah 614 N. Bush Street, Santa Ana Information: 714.543.9389 More listings at www.ladiocese.org (Calendars). THE
VOLUME 3, NUMBER 15
Episcopal News Weekly Editor: Janet Kawamoto, [email protected] Correspondent: The Rev. Patricia McCaughan, [email protected] Art Director: Molly Ruttan-Moffat, www.mollyruttan.com Advertising: Bob Williams, [email protected]
FROM THE BISHOPS
Suffering By Mary D. Glasspool
W
hy is there still suffering and evil in the world? Attempts to answer this question have brought out both the best and the worst among Christians. Pat answers such as “There is still suffering and evil in this world because not everyone has accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior” manifest the worst kind of arrogance, the kind that Jesus himself would have condemned. The young adults of our diocese who have participated in this Lent’s “Versed” program have been studying the book of Job. I believe they can tell you some inappropriate responses to suffering, as well as some appropriate ones. Job’s friends weren’t called by God to stand around and figure out why Job was suffering, or what he could do to better his situation or his relationship with God. A more useful, comforting response would have been simply to be with Job, to sit with him in solidarity in the face of suffering for which there was no apparent reason and to which there was no rational answer. We say that Jesus suffered, died, and rose again for us and for all the world. Why is there still suffering and evil in the world? We cannot fully, rationally or otherwise, answer that question. The question itself may be the Achilles’ heel of the Christian faith — that part of our faith where we are most deeply vulnerable precisely because in the face of massive suffering we Christians have no adequate answer. What we do have in Jesus the Christ is a model for confronting suffering. Scripture teaches us two things that suffering is not. Suffering is not God’s punishment for sin. Jesus makes this clear in the story of the man born blind told in John’s Gospel, chapter 9. Suffering is also not God’s testing us for the purpose of building endurance,
faith or character. Endurance, faith and character may come as the result of dealing with suffering, but that is the meaning we make out of suffering. That is what Paul writes about in Romans. But God doesn’t will suffering on us, and there seems to be much suffering in the world that has no moral or educative value in it whatsoever, and can only be attributed to the existence of evil. The readings for Palm Sunday help us to look at Jesus’ suffering with a particular focus. It is not the result of a natural cause such as illness or accident; it is a consequence of his mission. Jesus came to preach the good news and to establish the reign of God. He invited listeners to reform their lives. His passion and death are not a random price arbitrarily demanded by God or a punishment imposed for our sins. Rather, the woundedness and sinfulness of those who heard Jesus’ message and would not respond to his call to a just and loving way of life for all people were the cause of Jesus’ suffering. In a sense, Jesus became the target, a kind of scapegoat, for people’s unwillingness to change, to battle suffering and evil. As we commemorate Jesus’ passion and death, we remember the cost of change. We will experience the Easter life only when we are willing, as individuals and as a society, to face suffering and battle evil, to endure the pain and discomfort of radical change in our own lives. On Palm Sunday we are not meant to address the total experience of suffering and evil. But it does speak to the suffering we are sure to know as we try to live out our Christian commitment following Jesus the Christ, who is with us in this mission, even to the end of the age. ?
Did you know?
FEATURED ITEM:
The Diocese of Los Angeles has a full-service Credit Union. The Episcopal Community Federal Credit Union has been in existence since 1994, and any Episcopalian in the diocese can join.
Bill Pay Auto Loans Signature Loans Business Loans Wire Transfers Financial Education
THE 1979 BCP AND NRSV BIBLE
Religious Jewelry
Prayer Books/Bibles
ECFCU offers a full line of financial products: Saving and Checking Accounts Free Income Tax Preparation Holiday Club Accounts Debit/ATM Cards Individual Credit Counseling 24-Hour Telephone Information On-Line Banking
Gifts
800-366-1536 ext. 254 www.efcula.org
840 ECHO PARK AVENUE, LOS ANGELES, CA 90026 PLEASE CALL AT 213.482.2040, EXT. 228 MONDAY – FRIDAY: 9AM – 4PM • SATURDAY: 10AM – 2PM
Episcopal News Weekly WWW.EPISCOPALNEWS.COM
SERVING THE SIX-COUNTY DIOCESE OF LOS ANGELES
Scan to subscribe to
The Episcopal News
APRIL 13, 2014
Interfaith leaders call for comprehensive immigration reform
PHOTOS / JANET KAWAMOTO
Speaking with the voices of their traditions and their scriptures, eight Los Angeles religious leaders — Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Jewish, Protestant, Muslim and Episcopal — stood shoulder to shoulder on April 4 and called on President Barack Obama and the U.S. Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform. Bishop Diocesan J. Jon Bruno and Bishop Suffragan Mary D. Glasspool represented the Diocese of Los Angeles at the vigil of prayer and solidarity, which was held at Our Lady of the Angels Roman Catholic Cathedral in downtown Los Angeles and sponsored by the Los Angeles Council of Religious Leaders. Bruno, as council president, read an open letter that asked President Obama and Congress “to enact humane bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform legislation that is consistent with not only our values as people of faith, but also our values as Americans. We recognize that family
reunification is a core national value and interest, and we must continue our historic commitment to bringing families together.” Bruno added, “None have justice if we don’t all have justice. None have mercy if we don’t all have mercy. None are touched by grace if we allow one person to suffer this degradation.” Pictured above are Shakeel Syed, Islamic Shura Council; Bishop Minerva Carcaño, United Methodist Church; Bishop Glasspool; Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Armenian Church; Archbishop José Gómez, Archdiocese of Los Angeles; Rabbi Mark Diamond, American Jewish Committee; Bishop Guy Erwin, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America; and Bishop Bruno. At the microphone is Fr. Alexei Smith, ecumenical/ interfaith officer of the Archdiocese; at right is the Pérez family, who spoke of their experiences as undocumented immigrants.
Spring is time to sign up for summer camp
S
pringtime is here, and that means it’s time to register for summer sessions for children, teens, adults and families at Camp Stevens, located near Julian, in the mountains east of San Diego. Camp Stevens offers four Adventure Sessions this summer for campers age 8 to 15: July 6 - 12, July 13 - 19, July 20 - 26 and July 27 - Aug. 2. These sessions feature feeding chickens, face painting, hiking, team-building games, baking cookies, swimming, pond exploration, archery, lawn gamesand countless other activities focused on entertaining, educating and empowering kids. The camp also has on- and off-site specialty
sessions geared to teens, including the International Odyssey camp with students from Japan for campers age 11 - 16 (Aug. 3 - 9); Rock Climbing Camp (July 6 - 11); Backpacking Basics for ages 12 - 17 (July 20 - 25); and 10-Day Backpacking Trek for ages 13-18 (July 27 - August 5). Counselor Training, for ages 16 and up, is June 22 - July 1. Summer camps for all ages include Memorial Day Family Camp at Camp Stevens (May 24 - 26), Sequoia Family Camp at Camp San Joaquin near Sequoia and King’s Canyon national parks (July 6 - 12), as well as women’s, men’s and family backpacking sessions. For information, visit www.campstevens.org or call the camp at 760.765.0028. ?
Episcopal News Spring 2014 issue is online: theme is ‘water’
T
he Spring 2014 issue of The Episcopal News magazine is available online at www.episcopalnews.com. This issue explores the subject of water and how parishioners, congregations and ministries of the Diocese of Los Angeles work to conserve it, channel it, use it and share it in the Southland and throughout the world. ?
AROUND THE DIOCESE SUNDAY, APRIL 13, 4 p.m.
The Great Palm Sunday Vespers
St. George’s Episcopal Church & Academy 23802 Avenida de la Carlota, Laguna Hills Information: 949.837.4530 SUNDAY, APRIL 13, 4 p.m.
‘For Us the Living - A Requiem’ by A. Fedak St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church 6201 E. Willow Street, Long Beach Information: 562.420.1311 SUNDAY, APRIL 13, 4:30 p.m.
Solemn Evensong
St. James’ Episcopal Church 3903 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles Information: 213.388.3015 SUNDAY, APRIL 13, 5 p.m.
‘Jesus, His Life in Art’ by Gregorio Luke
St. James’ Episcopal Church 1325 Monterey Road, South Pasadena Information: www.sjcsp.org or 626.799.9194 SUNDAY, APRIL 13, 6 p.m.
Recital: Rupert Gough and Rachel Gough St. James’ Episcopal Church 3903 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles Information: 213.388.3015 MONDAY, APRIL 14, 7:30 p.m.
‘Reflections on Women of the Cross’
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Seventh Stree t& Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach Information: 562.436.4047 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 7 - 9 p.m.
Tenebrae
St. John’s ProCathedral 514 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles Information/Reservations: theguibordcenter.org WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 7 p.m.
Film Series: ‘Bless Me, Ultima’
The Church of the Messiah 614 N. Bush Street, Santa Ana Information: 714.543.9389 More listings at www.ladiocese.org (Calendars). THE
VOLUME 3, NUMBER 15
Episcopal News Weekly Editor: Janet Kawamoto, [email protected] Correspondent: The Rev. Patricia McCaughan, [email protected] Art Director: Molly Ruttan-Moffat, www.mollyruttan.com Advertising: Bob Williams, [email protected]
FROM THE BISHOPS
Suffering By Mary D. Glasspool
W
hy is there still suffering and evil in the world? Attempts to answer this question have brought out both the best and the worst among Christians. Pat answers such as “There is still suffering and evil in this world because not everyone has accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior” manifest the worst kind of arrogance, the kind that Jesus himself would have condemned. The young adults of our diocese who have participated in this Lent’s “Versed” program have been studying the book of Job. I believe they can tell you some inappropriate responses to suffering, as well as some appropriate ones. Job’s friends weren’t called by God to stand around and figure out why Job was suffering, or what he could do to better his situation or his relationship with God. A more useful, comforting response would have been simply to be with Job, to sit with him in solidarity in the face of suffering for which there was no apparent reason and to which there was no rational answer. We say that Jesus suffered, died, and rose again for us and for all the world. Why is there still suffering and evil in the world? We cannot fully, rationally or otherwise, answer that question. The question itself may be the Achilles’ heel of the Christian faith — that part of our faith where we are most deeply vulnerable precisely because in the face of massive suffering we Christians have no adequate answer. What we do have in Jesus the Christ is a model for confronting suffering. Scripture teaches us two things that suffering is not. Suffering is not God’s punishment for sin. Jesus makes this clear in the story of the man born blind told in John’s Gospel, chapter 9. Suffering is also not God’s testing us for the purpose of building endurance,
faith or character. Endurance, faith and character may come as the result of dealing with suffering, but that is the meaning we make out of suffering. That is what Paul writes about in Romans. But God doesn’t will suffering on us, and there seems to be much suffering in the world that has no moral or educative value in it whatsoever, and can only be attributed to the existence of evil. The readings for Palm Sunday help us to look at Jesus’ suffering with a particular focus. It is not the result of a natural cause such as illness or accident; it is a consequence of his mission. Jesus came to preach the good news and to establish the reign of God. He invited listeners to reform their lives. His passion and death are not a random price arbitrarily demanded by God or a punishment imposed for our sins. Rather, the woundedness and sinfulness of those who heard Jesus’ message and would not respond to his call to a just and loving way of life for all people were the cause of Jesus’ suffering. In a sense, Jesus became the target, a kind of scapegoat, for people’s unwillingness to change, to battle suffering and evil. As we commemorate Jesus’ passion and death, we remember the cost of change. We will experience the Easter life only when we are willing, as individuals and as a society, to face suffering and battle evil, to endure the pain and discomfort of radical change in our own lives. On Palm Sunday we are not meant to address the total experience of suffering and evil. But it does speak to the suffering we are sure to know as we try to live out our Christian commitment following Jesus the Christ, who is with us in this mission, even to the end of the age. ?
Did you know?
FEATURED ITEM:
The Diocese of Los Angeles has a full-service Credit Union. The Episcopal Community Federal Credit Union has been in existence since 1994, and any Episcopalian in the diocese can join.
Bill Pay Auto Loans Signature Loans Business Loans Wire Transfers Financial Education
THE 1979 BCP AND NRSV BIBLE
Religious Jewelry
Prayer Books/Bibles
ECFCU offers a full line of financial products: Saving and Checking Accounts Free Income Tax Preparation Holiday Club Accounts Debit/ATM Cards Individual Credit Counseling 24-Hour Telephone Information On-Line Banking
Gifts
800-366-1536 ext. 254 www.efcula.org
840 ECHO PARK AVENUE, LOS ANGELES, CA 90026 PLEASE CALL AT 213.482.2040, EXT. 228 MONDAY – FRIDAY: 9AM – 4PM • SATURDAY: 10AM – 2PM
