FEBRUARY Vol. 28, No 2. Holy Eucharist: Sundays Rite I: 8:00 AM Rite II: 10:00 AM Wednesdays Rite II: 12:10 PM

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1 The MUSTARD SEED FEBRUARY 2013 Vol. 28, No 2 Holy Eucharist: Sundays Rite I: 8:00 AM Rite II: 10:00 AM Wednesdays Rite II: 12:10 PM Printed copies of The Mustard Seed are available in the Narthex. If you have access to , send us your address and you will receive your copy on the web. If you have no and can t get to the Church, you may have a friend or relative who can receive it or pick up a copy and pass it on to you. Schedule of Services FEBRUARY LITURGIES AT SAINT LUKE S (Color: Note Changes) Sunday, Feb 3 rd Fourth Sunday after Epiphany 8:00 & 10:00 [green] SUNG HIGH MASS AND HEALING (10 a.m.) Wednesday, Feb 6 th The Martyrs of Japan [red] LOW MASS AND HEALING 12:10 p.m. Sunday, Feb 10 th Last Sunday after Epiphany 8:00 & 10:00 [green] Wednesday, Feb 13 th ASH WEDNESDAY [violet] LOW MASS AND ASHES 12:10 p.m. SUNG HIGH MASS AND ASHES 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb 17 th First Sunday in Lent 8:00 & 10:00 [violet throughout Lent] SOLEMN HIGH MASS AND HEALING (10 a.m.) Wednesday, Feb 20 th Ember Wednesday [violet] LOW MASS AND HEALING 12:10 p.m. Sunday, Feb 24 th Second Sunday in Lent 8:00 & 10:00

2 SUNG MASS AND HEALING (10 a.m.) Wednesday, Feb 27 th George Herbert [white] LOW MASS AND HEALING 12:10 p.m. Morning Prayer will be conducted in the chancel on specific feast days, as indicated in the daily Calendar. LENTEN WEEKDAY SERVICE SCHEDULE 2013 ST LUKE S DATE DAY SERVICE TIME COMMENTS Feb 13 Ash Wed Mass & Ashes 12:10 PM Feb 13 Ash Wed Mass & Ashes 7:30 PM Feb 20 Wed Mass & Healing 12:10 PM Lent Week 1 Feb 27 Wed Mass & Healing 12:10 PM Lent Week 2 Mar 6 Wed Mass & Healing 12:10 PM Lent Week 3 Mar 13 Wed Mass & Healing 12:10 PM Lent Week 4 Mar 20 Wed Mass & Healing 12:10 PM Lent Week 5 Mar 25 Mon Mass & Healing 7:30 PM Holy Week Mar 26 Tues Mass & Healing 7:30 PM Holy Week Mar 27 Wed Mass & Healing 12:10 PM Holy Week Mar 27 Wed Mass & Healing 7:30 PM Holy Week Mar 28 Thurs Mass & Footwashing 7:30 PM Maundy Thurs Mar 29 Friday Liturgy & Communion 12:10 PM Good Friday Mar 29 Friday Liturgy & Communion 7:30 PM Good Friday Mar 30 Saturday Stations of the Cross 12:10 PM Holy Saturday Mar 30 Saturday Easter Vigil Liturgy 7:00 PM Easter Vigil* *In planning stages now; to be concelebrated at St. Luke s with other parishes Facilities Usage The Burmese Christian Fellowship (BCF) uses our sanctuary and Swan Hall every Sunday afternoon, both for worship and fellowship.. The following Twelve-Step Recovery Groups use Church facilities on a regular basis: A.A. (Women Only) A.A. (Men and Women) Wednesdays at 7:00 PM Guild Hall Thursdays at 7:00 PM Swan Hall English Country Dancers 2 nd and 4 th Friday of each Month

3 Update on the Search Process As far as I can tell, we are now about 80 percent completed with our first draft of the profile!! The sections that remain to be finalized are: --- History - This section just needs to be knitted together from the various complete elements: Steve's narrative posted on the website, Steve & Trish's timeline, & Nadine's notes from the History Day. --- Introduction - We will complete this section last. --- Opening Statement - We will complete this section last. See that tunnel over there? There's totally a light at the end of it. Best, Kelly Lauer on behalf of the Profile Committee John s Jottings This column in The Mustard Seed is a place for me to editorialize, theologize and otherwise ruminate about pastoral/spiritual/theological matters on my mind. I always welcome your feedback. (Fr. John) Sunday Office Hours Please know that your priest is available to see you between the Masses on Sunday, from about 9:00 9:45, in the Rector s Office. You may just drop by or make an appointment with me. I usually have a fresh pot of good decaf coffee there, too. Wednesday Office Hours & Noon Mass Please remember that we celebrate a simple, short Low Mass with Laying-on-of-Hands (LOH) every Wednesday at 12:10 PM. I send out an with the biography of the saint of the day along with the readings usually on the Monday preceding. If you want to be on that mailout list, let me know. We are always done before 1:00 PM. I am available in the office pretty much all day Wednesday: before the Mass and after lunch. If you would like to see me for a chat or whatever, my best days for that are Wednesday or Thursday. Give me a call or see me at church.

4 NEW COURSE OFFERED BY FATHER JOHN From FEBRUARY 3 APRIL , I plan to give a 9-session comprehensive course on the basics of being an Episcopalian. I am calling it Episcopal 101. Section 1 will be held Sundays from 11:45 12:45, after coffee hour, in the Library. Section 2 will be held during the week in my office at a day and time mutually agreeable to those who cannot attend on Sundays. The text will be: Your Faith, Your Life by Jenifer Gamber (Church Publishing, 2009). I have 6 copies available for purchase; more are on order. Price: $ If you wish to sign up and/or purchase a text, please see me. The Cathedral Bookstore has more on order. If you regularly attend one section and need some week to attend the other, that s OK, too. Mix and match! Sign up today! We start in two weeks!!! Space limited!!! Following is the Sunday Syllabus (the same for whatever weekday we choose). DATE CLASS READING CONTENT FEB 3 #1 Intro, Chapters 1, 2 Basics FEB 10 #2 Chapter 3 Bible FEB 17 #3 Chapter 4 History MAR 3 #4 Chapter 5 Faith MAR 10 #5 Chapter 6 Church MAR 17 #6 Chapter 7 Vocation APR 7 #7 Chapter 8 Spirituality APR 14 #8 Chapter 9 Worship APR 21 #9 Chapter 10 Sacraments (final class) JUNE 23 The Sacraments of Confirmation, Reception, and Reaffirmation will be available to participants. We have been invited by the Rector of Transfiguration, The Rev. Julie Bryant, to celebrate together with our neighboring parish in Arcadia. Our regional Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Mary Glasspool, will be officiating.

5 Sermon of the Month Appearing Now: But Where? And to Whom? I I have said it before and I will say it again: We are but a sneeze away from Hollywood. Not being from Southern California (or California at all!), I guess I am still impressed with Hollywood being next door. I am still amazed that it is my light rail destination once a month and believe it or not for spiritual direction! My friends back East just shake their heads. The term appearance is a common Hollywood word. We hear of such-and-such an actor about to appear in the next blockbuster film. Or we hear that some lesser luminary just had a cameo appearance in a new film or stage production. And when we hear of a special guest appearance that tends to perk our curiosity, as well. All these appearances invite our excitement and anticipation. They are widely advertised to do just that. It pays to advertise, they say and they re right. II But there is one appearance, though well-advertised in multiple prophecies in the Hebrew Bible that nonetheless did not draw a huge audience. But it drew a significant audience. Those who came to witness the appearance of the newborn Christ were an unlikely group. Those who came to Bethlehem that night were farm animals and strangers to both mother and father. This audience simply followed a star, wherever it led. The travelers are identified as Magi, a word denoting educated people of royal or high station. They were astrologers, not soothsayers, fortune tellers or horoscope writers. No, these were the accomplished astronomers who had sufficient intellectual curiosity to follow up on tip, a hunch. They went to see what had been foretold and see if it all panned out. These innocent, wellintentioned and unsuspecting royal scholars were unaware of Herod s true motivations. They were simply traveling towards truth, going towards the light. Obedient to their scholarly curiosity, they wished to find and embrace the truth, and spared no effort in doing so. III This first Epiphany, this debut to humankind of the new light of God s Incarnate Word (Collect for last Sunday), was quite unconventional, to say the least. It did not take place in any respectable dwelling place; the only central heating was the warm breath of animals. And there was another, even more troubling inconsistency: these visitors were Gentiles, not Jews. The Christ Child, Jeshua Hamashia, Jesus the Messiah, did not have the Chosen People for his first audience. He did not make his first appearance to those he was sent to redeem. Rather, his audience was made up of a curious blend of ordinary farm animals and super-educated Gentiles. Already as an infant, Jesus was associating with the unlikely, the unpredictable, even the unmentionable. Who would ever have thought that the long-awaited Savior of the world would carry on this way? It s absolutely upside-down, inside-out and all wrong from human perspective. But from the divine perspective, it s right on. Epiphany was also a significantly different encounter between God and humankind. This was an immanent encounter between humanity and divinity. God in the person of the Baby Jesus was now up close and personal. The Magi notably Gentiles and non-jews were experiencing God for the first time face-to- face, not unreachable and up in the sky somewhere. This engagement with Divinity was for the very first time no longer a typical transcendent God encounter, perceiving God as totally other, way out there or up there somewhere. God had now

6 deliberately become Emmanuel, God-with-us, God-in-us, rather than God way-far-away-from us. And how programmatic: that Jesus would first reveal himself to the unlikely, the outsiders, foreigners, even to animals, rather than to his own so-called chosen people. Jesus first revelation, his first epiphany or showing of himself was already a prefigurement of his interfaith outreach. And so would it come to be, exactly as reported in the prolog of St John s Gospel: 10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. (NLT) The Feast of the Epiphany prefigures that Jesus would have an open door policy: open to all creation, and open to all of humankind, of whatever stripe. IV Jesus visitors brought gifts, as documented in our Matthew reading. Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar names handed down to us by Tradition, not Scripture brought gold, frankincense and myrrh. Each gift has tremendous symbolic meaning. The gold is for the royal Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The frankincense, a costly blend of aromatic spices, is for Christ the Great High Priest, to honor Christ as God, as Deity, the Godhead, to whom incense rises as prayers ascend to God. And finally, the myrrh was to honor Jesus as prophet as one who would courageously speak the mind of God and one day suffer every prophet s ultimate fate: execution. Jesus body would be anointed in death, and with myrrh, the traditional burial spice. So the highly symbolic gifts the Magi were brought to honor Jesus as prophet, priest and king, as the opening words of the Canticle A Song to the Lamb reveal. Splendor and honor and kingly power are yours by right, O Lord our God V Our entire liturgy this morning is focused on the Epiphany experience, as well as the life of Christ to follow. Isaiah 60 clearly predicts the visit of the Magi from exotic places, saying: Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you; A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD. Psalm 72 likewise continues that emphasis and predicts that 10 The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall pay tribute, * and the kings of Arabia and Saba offer gifts. 11 All kings shall bow down before him, * and all the nations do him service.

7 And in our Ephesians reading, Paul likewise harks back to that Epiphany scene with its generous Gentile guests and comments: In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that is, the Gentiles become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Way before the ministry of Paul, Gentiles first became fellow heirs at Christ s first appearance, at his Epiphany. Paul later takes up this self-same banner of full inclusion and flying in the face of centuries of tradition proclaims himself Apostle to the Gentiles. He says emphatically that This grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known.... VI Jesus first appearance in the drama of salvation history was no cameo appearance. It was an Epiphany for all time. Once Jesus had shown his sacred face to suffering humanity, he would never turn away, never abandon us, never turn a deaf ear, nor leave us comfortless. With Christ s Incarnation we were never to be without an immanent God, an Emmanuel, a God-within-us from henceforth and forever more. An interesting footnote to the Epiphany encounter is that of the three costly gifts brought to our Savior, he only kept the myrrh the burial spice. The gold he gave away to the poor and needy. The frankincense he let ascend in praise of all humanity, not in self-praise. His life was to be one of servanthood leadership, of giving away, holding nothing back. His ultimate aim was justice, never greed; peace, never war. At All Saints, Pasadena, the priest does not begin the collect with the words: The Lord be with you. Instead the celebrant greets the people saying: God dwells in you, to which they respond: And also in you. Ever since Christmas, ever since Epiphany, God is definitely and permanently within us. May Christ appear and dwell within us today and forever! AMEN+ Retreat Morning with Sister Greta Many of you met Sister Greta and Brother Dennis here at St. Luke s in September. Brother Dennis preached that Sunday. They are both Benedictine monastics who belong to our Episcopal Community of Divine Love, located at The Church of Our Savior, San Gabriel. Sister Greta gives a wonderful Quiet Day or Retreat Day. Please consider calling her up and booking some special reflection time for yourself or for a friend. Give the gift of spiritual refreshment. Believe me, you will come away centered and refreshed! Here are the remaining dates for 2013:

8 Quiet Days With Sr. Greta Ronningen, CDL 3 rd Saturday of the month 9:00 am 12:00 pm Feb 16 Breathing & Meditation Breathing practices calm the nervous system and begin to quiet the mind, assisting in mediation and leading to inner peace. Mar 16 Ignatian Imagination A guided spiritual practice of entering scripture by engaging the imagination. This contemplative practice is a beautiful way to allow God to speak to us through imagery. Apr 20 Lectio Divina An ancient Christian tradition of prayer, that nourishes and deepens one's relationship with God through reading, reflecting, and resting in the Word of God. May 18 Heart Opening We will stretch and breathe and chant as we open our hearts to experience divine love. All quiet days will include instruction and will weave contemplative practices into periods of silence. Everyone is welcome. Church of Our Saviour 535 W. Roses Rd, San Gabriel, CA For more information call or Sr. Greta cdlmonastery@aol.com Dear Vestry Colleagues in Ministry! I bring you tidings of great joy! (Luke 2:10) Saint Luke s New Deacon That joy is that our Diocesan Bishop, the Rt. Reverend J. Jon Bruno, has assigned Saint Luke s our own deacon. Her name is the Reverend Ann Dumolt, and she has been with us since January13 th 2013, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Ann s reassignment is now part of an evolving plan to move deacons from their home parish, after they have served their initial years in diaconal ministry. We are the blessed beneficiaries of the new plan, especially because in this large diocese of over 140 parishes and missions, there are not enough deacons to staff every parish. And larger parishes could effectively utilize several deacons. The Archdeacon, your pastor, and other interested clergy hope to encourage and recruit more vocations for this wonderful ministry of charity and service. Please know that Ann s coming to St. Luke s is a non-cost item as far as budget goes. She is a vocational and permanent deacon, which means she receives no salary from the church. She is employed by the State of California and therefore has her own income. Deacons offer their ministry gratis to the church. Permanent means that she is called specifically and solely as a deacon, rather than being a transitional deacon, who after six months or a year goes on to the priesthood.

9 From our Director of Music I am writing this after the Evensong in Epiphany, which was sung on January 20. This service featured some of the most phenomenal music the St. Luke s Choir has ever produced. We were fortunate to have some of our friends join us for the occasion, including a contingent from Grace Episcopal Church, Glendora, led by director David Aldrete. Mr. Aldrete offered to direct our choir for the Ralph Vaughan Williams Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, freeing me to concentrate on the organ. (It is almost impossible to do both for this composition.) Oboist Jackie Stong of Grace Church accompanied the choir in the magnificent anthem Entry of the Three Kings by John Gardner, which was written in 1950 but not published until late 2012 and then only in the U.K., at that. (We like to think that we are the first American choir to perform it, but we can t prove it.) Thanks to all who sang and all who put together the reception, which featured wonderful food and wine. I finally departed in peace after having been at church for ten hours, but as is generally the case with our receptions, there were people who showed no signs of wanting to leave. he big event for us in February is the end of Epiphany and the beginning of Lent. The Last Sunday after the Epiphany is February 10, when we will sing about the Transfiguration. Ash Wednesday is February 13. We at St. Luke s now expect a full choral service on Ash Wednesday, with imposition of ashes and anthems that reflect the lessons. During Lent, we switch to the Healy Willan service, and we sing the psalms in plainsong. By now, the choir has a large repertory of beautiful Lenten music, and we keep adding to it every year. Kent B. Jones Director of Music The ANNUAL MEETING of St Luke s Episcopal Church took place in Swan Hall on Sunday, January 27, following a single combined Eucharist at 9 AM. A continental breakfast was served. Three Vestry members were elected David Bowen, Janet Clark and Kathy Eisel. Senior Warden, Lester Eisel advised the parish that his term on Vestry was expiring and due to other commitments, would be unable to continue for another term. A brief meeting of the new Vestry was held in the Chapel immediately after conclusion of the Annual Meeting. Kelly Lauer, previously Junior Warden, was elected to as new Senior Warden. Dan Thomas, who replaced Waynn Pearson after his resignation from the Vestry last year, was elected to the role of Junior Warden. Congratulations to all! THE LUNCH BUNCH Unfortunately the Lunch Bunch will not be able to meet in February due to too many scheduling conflicts. Being the shortest month & there not being enough hours in the day hasn't helped either! Our next meeting will be on Saturday 16th March when Deacon Ann will be our guest speaker.

10 THE VESTRY The next monthly Vestry meeting will take place on Sunday, February 24, after the 10 o clock Eucharist. Some people have expressed a concern that the Vestry meetings are closed events. We remind everyone that the minutes of each Vestry meeting are posted on the bulletin board for all to refer to. In addition, everyone should be aware that the meetings are open to any parishioners who wish to attend. There are only two stipulations: first, it needs to be understood that nonmembers are observers only and may not participate in any deliberations; and second, if the Vestry declared to go into executive session, as can happen when sensitive matters are under consideration, observers will be asked to leave for the duration of that executive session. Thank you for your interest and understanding. Parish Organizations and Groups All of our parish groups and organizations rely on the voluntary participation of parishioners. In addition to our existing groups, we will be setting up more groups as we move through this transition. Please consider volunteering for one or more of these groups. You'll enrich your experience with St. Luke's, have fun and be providing much needed support to our parish family. Below is a list of our existing groups and whom to contact for more details. Ushers - TBA Pastoral Outreach - Jeannett Armstrong and Trish Gresham Altar Guild - Jeannett Armstrong Welcome Table/Coffee hour - Sarah Thomas SLUGS (St. Luke's Unorthodox Gatherings) - Parish activities and events Kelly Lauer, Sarah Thomas and Kathy Eisel Lunch Bunch - Lyn Walsh Birthdays this month: Celebrations Evan Zapata FEBRUARY 8 Tawni Zapata FEBRUARY 10 Catherine Fugitt FEBRUARY 17 Lyn Walsh FEBRUARY 23 Destiny King FEBRUARY 24 Jack Savage FEBRUARY 25 Anniversaries this month: Corky & Nancy Wilds FEBRUARY 12 Please check your bulletin insert for current prayers.

11 Deadline for next Mustard Seed: Wednesday, FEBRUARY 24. Please notify David Bowen at (626) or the information to him at Saint Luke s Episcopal Church 122 South California Avenue (at Foothill Blvd) Monrovia California (626) Saint Luke s is an inclusive church that welcomes everyone to be part of its community a safe place for skeptics and doubters as well as firm believers. The Communion Meal of God s presence among us is offered to anyone who comes with a sincere heart to receive it.

12 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday The FOURTH SUNDAY after the EPIPHANY Holy Eucharist: 8 and 10 AM Sunday School: 10 AM Coffee: Guild Hall 11:15 AM Wednesday Eucharist 12:10 PM 7 8 Happy Birthday Evan Zapata 9 10 The LAST SUNDAY After the EPIPHANY Holy Eucharist: 8 and 10 AM Sunday school: 10 AM Coffee: Guild Hall 11:15 AM Happy Birthday Tawni Zapata 17 The FIRST SUNDAY In LENT Holy Eucharist: 8 and 10 AM Sunday school: 10 AM Coffee: Guild Hall 11:15 AM Happy Anniversary Corky & Nancy Wilds ASH WEDNESDAY LOW MASS WITH IMPOSITION OF ASHES 12:10 pm SUNG HIGH MASS WITH IMPOSITION OF ASHES 7:30 pm Wednesday Eucharist 12:10 PM The SECOND SUNDAY in LENT Holy Eucharist: 8 and 10 AM Sunday school: 10 AM Coffee: Guild Hall 11:15 AM Vestry Meeting after the 10 AM Eucharist Happy Birthday Destiny King 25 Happy Birthday Jack Savage Wednesday Eucharist 12:10 PM 28