Deans' Note May 1, 2022

St. John's has the gift of being a cross-cultural community. For the past several years we have celebrated different facets of our community's cultural diversity at different times of the year. You may know that May is Asian American, Pacific Islander heritage month. We have been in partnership with our diocesan AAPI ministry group called "The Gathering," and they have held events at St. John's and we look forward to this ongoing collaboration. At the same time, we hope that our community will be supportive of their work. So this year, rather than having a separate Sunday event, as the Cathedral congregation, we encourage members of our community to participate in the diocesan-wide event held next Saturday, May 7 from 3-5 pm at St. Paul's Commons in Echo Park. It promises to be an amazing celebration on the rooftop deck. It is a wonderful coincidence that Saturday morning we welcome our diocesan community to St. John's as we host a confirmation service for many congregations with our Bishop John Taylor.

We live in a cultural climate where Asian American people experience racism and hate crimes. It is our place as Christians to raise up all the members of God's beloved community and combat fear with faith and love. We can do that by standing with our Asian American and Pacific Islander siblings and celebrate together the gifts we all bring to Christ's beautifully diverse and multi-hued body. We are hoping that we can have a good turnout to support The Gathering next Saturday and celebrate together in person. And during this month, let's continue to pray for the work of love, justice and peace among all people especially our beloved Asian American and Pacific Islander siblings:

"Almighty God, who created us in your image: Grant us

grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace

with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom,

help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our

communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy

Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with

you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen."

(A Collect for Social Justice, The Book of Common Prayer, p. 260)

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