On Sunday we will celebrate Advent IV in the morning and Christmas Eve at night! In one day we move from darkness to the light of Christ born in Jesus. The act of receiving the light of love and carrying it forward into the world requires all of us. On the isle of Iona in Scotland, poet Jan Sutch Pickard describes this act of love.

A courageous wise soul posted a few weeks ago that Christmas is not the easiest time for everyone for numerous reasons. Some of us are far from family and friends. Some are missing loved ones now in the nearer presence of God. Some hold memories of Christmas’ past. Some yearn for their lives to be different or for the world to be different – for violence and war to end. Some are living with uncertainty of life and hardships. The economic stress of it all is too much for many. For others the holidays intensify everything. Some simply feel alone.

Christmas (in old English, Cristes maesse) is a festival celebrated on Dec. 25, commemorating the Incarnation of the Word of God in the birth of Jesus Christ. In the BCP it is also called The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Season of Advent arrives on Sunday, 3 December as we light the first candle. This time of waiting, anticipation, preparation and hope will be filled with opportunities to gather for prayer and reflection.

I am thankful for each and every one of you and for the opportunity to journey with you, the people of St. John’s Cathedral, during this time of transition. I am excited and filled with hope for this beloved community of God.

Let us give heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank (LARFB) for making it possible to provide our neighbors with an abundance of food for their families; and we give thanks to our church and community volunteers for your labor of love. Jeffrey McLellan, Co-chair of the St. John’s Food Pantry, oversees ordering and delivery from the LARFB, drawing on professional knowledge and expertise. Then, the hands and hearts of our volunteers make everything possible through our Food Pantry ministry.

Last week during our wonderful gathering with The Rev. Eric Law, we heard members share stories and feelings, and we listened so that we could learn. Thank you for showing up, your active participation, your courage and voice, your open mind, open heart, and willingness to hold the fullness of experiences by generations of members over many years of worship, prayer, music, service, community and love.

Happy Fall! Autumn is a season that is all about transitions from long days of light to shorter days, warm weather to cooler temps, green leaves to beautiful yellow, orange, and red ones; from baseball to football, from one season to the next. I suspect that some of us love the fall, while others long for the past season. Yet, we know that each season is essential for the cycles of life and rebirth. Our faith teaches us this too.

A week ago it was a visit to Carter House, which is affordable housing for 20 people with disabilities and a resident property manager. This week Canon Lurelean Gaines and I visited the first St. John’s Well Child and Family Center, or St. John’s Community Health (SJCH) located at 58th Street in South LA, after the clinic moved from St. John’s Cathedral years ago. We met with CEO, Jim Mangia – a visit that filled our hearts with joy.

It is with great sadness that I share that Ada and her team are leaving St. John’s Cathedral. While Ada made this decision last week, she let us know that last Sunday was her last. I’m told that goodbyes are hard. .

We write to you in the spirit of gratitude for your presence, gifts of time and talent, and for blessing us at St. John’s simply by participating in church services on-line or in person. Whether you have attended St. John’s for 40+ years, are a recent congregant, or find yourself somewhere in between, you are loved with equal fervor by Christ.

God of peace, we pray for the people of Palestine and Israel in these perilous and dangerous times.

This time of year is one of transition liturgically without knowing fully what is happening.

Beginning last week with the parish wide gathering of “Celebrating Our Past, and Imagining Our Future Together,” as the choir and compline return on Sunday after their summer rest, and with the Blessing of Animals on Sunday, one can feel excitement and enthusiasm in the air! On Saturday, acolytes new and old are meeting at 9am for training and practice.

Celebrating Our Past and Imagining Our Future Together

On the horizon is a very special gathering on September 24th at St. John’s Cathedral. On this Sunday, there will one service at 9am!

You are cordially invited to a brunch and conversation on Sept 24, Oct 22, Nov 5, from 10am to 12:30pm, where we will take the opportunity to celebrate, examine, and learn from our past and the present as we look to the future of our St. John's congregation.

Dear Friends In Christ,Nearly every Sunday, our Bishop, The Rt. Rev. John H. Taylor, is on the road visiting a different church community in the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles to preach and celebrate with parishioners near and far. This Sunday, Bishop Taylor will be with us!

During the month of September, St. John’s Cathedral will celebrate the Season of Creation beginning on Labor Day Weekend and ending on October 1st, with the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi.