May 15, Pentecost

 Daily Scripture Readings;  bookofcommonprayer.net/daily_office.php

See the different options.  There is full morning and evening prayer.  There is also the option of the readings only.  There is also an app for receiving the daily readings by email, or on a mobile device

Sunday Scripture Readings:  bookofcommonprayer.net/lectionary.php

Set it for 1979 Contemporary, and the Bible version used in Church is Revised Standard Version

The Day of Pentecost

Pentecost completes the 50 days of the Easter Season.   We celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples confirming their faith in the resurrection and empowering them to bear witness to it to the ends of the earth. 

 The Holy Spirit gives gifts that enable disciples to tell the whole world about Jesus, such that all people can hear the Gospel in their own language.  Pentecost reverses the curse of Babel where humans were separated from each other by individual languages known only to one’s own exclusive group.  Pentecost celebrates the promise of unity and diversity at the same time, that God will be all in all without doing violence to any.  A cursory glance at each day’s news reveals how desperate the world is for such a miracle. 

 Disciples are now the presence of the Risen Christ in the world.  The Holy Spirit pours out gifts to enable us to be this and tell the world what we know.

1. Counsel:  The gift of helpful words of advice to others.

2. Fear of the Lord:  This does not mean being afraid it means, respect, awe, and wonder in the presence of God.

3. Knowledge: The gift of knowing more and more about God.

4. Understanding:  The gift to realize how God is at work in everything.

5. Wisdom:  The gift of knowing how to use your knowledge.

6 Fortitude:  The gift of strength to love God with your whole self and to not be afraid of anything.

7. Piety:  The gift of knowing how much greater than all things is God.

Be thinking about this in the next week and a half.  What gift would you like on Pentecost this year?

Emmaus Road   

Time to Pick a New Book

Emmaus Road concludes its reading of Marilynn Robinson’s book The Givenness of Things.  We’ve had a great time, but now it is time to pick our next book. 

 We’re looking for people to join us.  

 So, Monday, May 16  7:00 p.m.  Emmaus Road will meet to discuss the last chapters of Robinson’s book and discuss what we do next.   Everyone is welcome to participate.  You don’t have to have read the chapter because the discussion is both wide ranging and inclusive.  

 So if you’ve been thinking of joining in with Emmaus Road, please come this Monday.  Bring your ideas for what to read next.  We’ll discuss our choices and go from there. 

Love and Wealth Management: 

Sunday, May 22, 4:30 p.m. at the Parish Hall

 According to Money Magazine, "Seventy percent of couples argue about money more than household chores, togetherness, sex, snoring and what’s for dinner."

If that wasn’t enough, this month’s Atlantic had an article entitled, “The Secret Shame of the Middle Class,” which was about how 47% of people in the United States could not meet an emergency expense of $400.00 without having to beg, borrow, sell, or steal something.  

 On May 22, at 4:30 in the parish hall,  Fr. Bob will host a barbecue at the Parish Hall for young adults, couples preparing for marriage, and Love and Wealth Management alumnae, and other interested people.  He’ll make Tracy’s world famous barbecue pork loin and his own world famous potato salad.  Participants are asked to fill in with Appetizers, Salads, Desserts, and Drinks.

 Bill and Rebecca Woods will talk with about how to control your money so it doesn't control you and your relationship.   Bill will show how think about, then organize and track your finances so as to meet your needs and goals.  Rebecca will talk about “talking about this subject,” which most people find difficult. 

 It is going to be great fun.  Fr. Bob has emailed out to people.  Please respond by hitting Reply All on your email so everyone can see who is coming and what people are bringing. 

 For information contact Fr. Bob at coa@lafn.org  or Rebecca Woods at coaweddings@gmail.com

Food For Thought

On the Food for Thought Table this Sunday for Pentecost there will be an article from the newest edition of The Anglican Theological Review.  The article is titled:  Theology: The Lifeline of Prayer.  It is by The Rev. Dr. Marilyn McCord Adams who is a priest of the Diocese of Los Angeles, but who has also been Regius Professor of Divinity at Oxford University.  Dr. Adams is renowned theologian in the Anglican Communion.   In this article she talks in a very down-to-earth way about what prayer is, how to go about it, and how it is essential for helping any Christian think deeply about God.   It is wonderfully written, accessible to all, enormously helpful. 

Music with the Angels:

Sunday, May 29, 4:00 p.m. Harpsichord Music by Louis Couperin

Professor Robert Zappulla of Claremont Graduate University will perform a harpsichord recital of music by the French Baroque master, Louis Couperin in Pasadena's historic Church of the Angels, constructed in 1889. Zappulla, a former pupil of the late, world-renowned harpsichordist Gustav Leonhardt, will play on a fine replica of a 17th-century Flemish instrument by Edward Turner.

The concert is free -

Things That Are Coming Up

A Parish Lunch on Estate Planning and Legacy Giving

This will take place after the 10:15 Liturgy on Sunday June 5  Ellen Farewell, an estate planning attorney, and member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Glendale will talk about how you prepare a will and make a legacy gift to your church or other organizations in order that you may continue to support them beyond your lifetime. 

A Barbecue for Parents and Children

We do this at the beginning and the end of the summer.  Parents and children gather at the Rectory for a barbecue and lots of fun.   Sunday June 12:  4:30 p.m.  More as we get closer.