April 2024
From the Rev. Canon Susan Russell
Connection & Care: Reimagining Chaplaincy for Retirees in the Diocese of Los Angeles
Dear EDLA Clergy Colleagues,
I write this message for the April edition of The Angelus on the afternoon following our annual Holy Week gathering for our Renewal of Clergy Vows service – still full of gratitude for the gift of community, communion and the common mission of making the indestructible power of God’s inexhaustible love present in our beautiful and broken world. What a blessing to be part of such a great cloud of witnesses.
“Doing the math” while driving to the service this morning, I realized that this was my 28th such gathering – and so my gratitude is not only for those who were incarnationally present at St. John’s Cathedral today but for the memories of so many colleagues whose work and witness has been inextricably woven into the tapestry that is the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles – a tapestry that continues to be created as we move into new chapters of mission and ministry in our diocese and in The Episcopal Church.
So I write this afternoon with that gratitude and with a deep awareness of so many other gatherings in that sacred space over these many years – and just how quickly those years have gone. As I said to Dean Kay Sylvester as we were waiting for the service to start, “It’s amazing how fast we went from ingenues to elders!”
What I know from my conversations with many of you over these first months of 2024 as I’ve begun this new scope of work for the bishop’s office coordinating chaplaincy for retired clergy and spouses, is that while my experience is far from unique there are as many stories and experiences of living into retirement as there are clergy and spouses living into that chapter of their journey.
And what I am learning from those conversations is that there is much good work to be done to build up a robust network of chaplaincy to provide both connection and care for clergy and spouses who are living out their retirement years here in the Diocese of Los Angeles.
What I’m learning from stories of what we’ve done in the past that worked – and what we tried in the past that didn’t – is that the needs of retirees in a diocese as large and diverse as EDLA are best served by a systemic commitment to connection and care which includes staff members and volunteers, diocesan and deanery leaders in partnership with our CPG (Church Pension Group) colleagues. It is that kind of “deep bench” of connectivity we will be working to build in the weeks and months ahead … standing on the shoulders of those who have done this work in the past and building toward a sustainable structure for the future.
I am deeply grateful to the clergy chaplain conversation partners with whom I’ve had the chance to connect for their support, encouragement and willingness to share their history, experiences and challenges – for those who are willing to continue to participate in that work going forward and for those for whom it is time for a new chapter. Those conversations and that work will continue during Eastertide, and I look forward to time with diocesan chaplains at a Province VIII gathering convened by CPG at the end of April to pick their brains and bring some best practices back to Los Angeles.
I’m hoping we might also have some conversation on one of the upcoming Clergy Zoom meetings and would love to convene some connection time at the Clergy Conference in May in Riverside. In the meantime, if you have stories of your own to tell, questions to ask or suggestions to offer, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at srussell@ladiocese.org.
I’ll close with these verses from Psalm 71 … a reminder that whoever you are and wherever you find yourself on the continuum – from ingenue to elder – there is work for all of us to do as we build up our clergy community in order to support each other for the work of proclamation of God’s love made available to absolutely everyone:
Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.
All best blessings,
Susan
— The Rev. Canon Susan Russell is Canon for Engagement of the Diocese of Los Angeles and an assisting priest at All Saints Church in Pasadena.
Angelus Links
Clergy: Office of Formation and Transitions Ministry
The next issue of Angelus will be electronically transmitted and published in May 2024.
Please email news and connections items to Angelus editor, the Rev. Canon Pat McCaughan, at: revpatmccaughan@aol.com by April 22.
Angelus is a joint project of the Office of Clergy Formation and Transition Ministry and the Office of Communication of the Diocese of Los Angeles
213.482.2040, ext. 251
The Rev. Canon Pat McCaughan, editor
revpatmccaughan@aol.com
949.892.0525
Reminders
ACTION REQUIRED
Changes to California Paid Sick Leave laws
From the State of California Department of Industrial Relations:
Starting on January 1, 2024, employers must generally provide 5 days or 40 hours of paid sick leave to their employees in California. The Labor Commissioner has updated the paid sick leave poster and 2810.5 employee notice in English, Spanish, Korean, Tagalog, Chinese Simplified, and Vietnamese. All employers should post the new poster. An employer previously providing less than 5 days or 40 hours of paid sick leave per year will need to provide employees a new copy of the notice.
Links to download the posters and FAQs are here.
SAVE THE DATE
Clergy Conference planned May 6-8 at Mission Inn
The annual diocesan clergy conference is planned for May 6-8 at the Mission Inn in Riverside.
To register, click here. To reserve a room at the Mission Inn, click here. Reservation deadline is April 19.
Guest speaker and other programming to be announced soon.
SAVE THE DATE
Congregations encouraged to join May 11 diocesan confirmation at cathedral
Bishop John Harvey Taylor will confirm congregants from churches across the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles at a service to be held at St. John’s Cathedral on Saturday, May 11. Additional information will be made available soon.
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TENS: The Episcopal Network for Stewardship
The Diocese of Los Angeles maintains a membership in TENS, so all congregations may access its stewardship resources. The log-in for 2024 is Ephesians5:2 (note: case sensitive, no spaces). The website is here.
“The theme for the year is Walk in Love, a celebration of the joy and gratitude we have for God and our community that lead us to share our stories, our journeys, and our gifts. Our resources are making a special effort to lift up diverse voices as we share the stories that inspire us to share our wealth, works, and wisdom with our ministry.” — TENS
URGENT CALL: Update Clergy Supply List with Office of Formation and Transition Ministry
We are in great need of more assistance with Sunday supply and interim positions. If you are available to assist with supply, long term supply, transition ministry, etc., please email Tom Quijada-Discavage at tdiscavage@ladiocese.org to make sure you are on our list. Please consider helping us out!
Connections
BONNIE BRANDON has begun serving as priest-in-charge of Church of the Holy Communion, Gardena.
ADAM DAWKINS has been called as the 6th rector of St. Alban’s Church in Westwood.
STACEY FORTE-DUPRE has begun serving as long-term supply clergy at Grace Church in Moreno Valley.
GREG KIMURA has been called as rector of St. James’ Church in South Pasadena.
CECELIA (CC) SCHROEDER has been called as the new rector of St. Timothy’s Church in San Diego. She concluded her ministry at St. Alban’s, Yucaipa, on March 10.
MEL SORIANO is serving at St. John’s Cathedral.
JOSHUA WONG has been called as rector of St. Michael the Archangel Church, El Segundo, beginning in March.
Requiescant in pace
The Rev. Ellen Speyer Murasaki-Wekall
Memorial service: Friday, April 5, 3 p.m. at Church of our Saviour, 535 W. Roses Road, San Gabriel 91775. (Clergy will not vest.)
The Rev. Ellen Speyer Murasaki-Wekall, Ph.D., priest of the Diocese of Los Angeles, and counselor and spiritual advisor to dozens of its clergy and lay leaders, died March 4. She was 99.
Survivors include her son, Kiyoshi Murasaki; grandchildren Christopher, Maria and Daniel Bueno, children of her daughter Erika Murasaki Bueno, who died in 2005; four stepchildren and their families; and four great-grandchildren. Murasaki-Wekall also was predeceased by her second and third husbands, Jack Murasaki and Gene Wekall.
An obituary is here.
The Rev. Norman Reid Freeman Jr.
Memorial Service: 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 6, St. John’s Cathedral
A celebration of the life of the Rev. Norman Reid Freeman Jr., a Juilliard-trained, Grammy Award-winning percussionist and timpanist who performed with the New York Pops and New York Philharmonic and with artists ranging from Barbra Streisand to Metallica and Pavarotti, and who popularized jazz vespers while serving congregations in the Connecticut and Los Angeles dioceses, will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 6, at St. John’s Cathedral with Bishop John Harvey Taylor officiating.
He died Feb. 4 in Santa Ana after a long illness. He was 71.
Survivors include his music and life partner, Katherine Cash, with whom he founded the N2K duo and with whom he served as artist-in-residence at St. John’s Cathedral, Los Angeles; St. Alban’s, Westwood; and St. James’, Newport Beach; a daughter, Bridget Anne “Brady” Freeman; a son, Christopher (Shawna); and two grandchildren, Cash and Brody.
A full obituary is here.
The Rev. Karen Sue Chavez
May 22, 1948 – February 23, 2024
A celebration of life was held for the Rev. Karen Sue Chavez, deacon, on March 16 at St. John Chrysostom Church, Rancho Santa Margarita.
The Rev. Canon John Saville sserved as the homilist. He is the retired rector of St. John’s Church, Corona, where Chavez served as a deacon for many years.A reception will follow the service. St. John’s Church is located at 30382 Vía Con Dios, Rancho Santa Margarita 92688.
Chavez, 75, died on Feb. 23 after a short illness. Survivors include her husband, Louis Chavez, and their adult children.
Congregational Openings
April 2024
Clergy are encouraged to request that their name be placed on an “interest list” if they would like to be considered for:
a) positions, regardless of the progress of the congregation in determining their process, or their readiness to receive names;
b) placement by the bishop in mission congregations or where an appointment is otherwise applicable.
Contact the Rev. Canon Tom Quijada-Discavage at tdiscavage@ladiocese.org or via phone at: 213.482.2040.
Open positions:
ACTIVE (Rectors)
Receiving names/Soon to post
Isla Vista, St. Michael’s University Mission / Vicar
For more information, please contact the Rev. Canon Thomas Quijada-Discavage directly at the email below or by phone at 323-350-7675. All interested appplicants should respond with: a letter of introduction/interest, a current CV/resume, and an updated OTM to: tdiscavage@ladiocese.org
Soon to post: Whittier, St. Matthias / Rector
ACTIVE (Associate/Curate/Other Positions)
OXNARD, All Saints’ ~ Todos los Santos / Associate Priest for Children’s and Youth Ministry (part time)
This person should be ordained or about to be ordained as a priest, conversant in Spanish and English and ready to learn and support our children’s, youth, and family ministries. Flexible scheduling is available. Please be in direct contact with the Rev. Melissa Campbell-Langdell, rector, with any questions and paperwork, if interested, at: revmelissalangdell@gmail.com. For more info, click here.
SAN CLEMENTE, St. Clement by-the-Sea. Assistant Priest, part-time.
Ministry to include preaching once per month, help with pastoral care, and faith formation. Ideal for a shared ministry with another congregation or a retired clergyperson. Please be in contact with the Rev. Patrick Crerar with any questions and paperwork if interested at: FrPatrick@scbythesea.org or 949-492-3401.
OPEN
Receiving names/developing profile
Inglewood, Holy Faith Parish
Redlands, Trinity Parish
Redondo Beach, Christ Church Parish–St. Andrew’s, Torrance / Rector
Westchester, Holy Nativity Parish
Whittier, St. Matthias / Rector
OPEN
No longer receiving names/Interviewing candidate
Lompoc, St. Mary’s Parish / Rector
MISSION & OTHER POSITION APPOINTMENTS
Mission congregation positions, some of them part time, for which the Formation and Transition Ministry office is presently receiving names for the bishop’s consideration.
Big Bear, St. Columba / Spirit of Peace Mission
Gardena, Holy Communion Mission
Isla Vista, St. Michael’s University Church Mission
La Verne, St. John’s Mission
Lake Arrowhead, St. Richard of Chichester Mission
Moreno Valley, Grace Mission
Needles, St. John’s Mission
Rancho Santa Margarita, St. John Chrysostom Mission
Rialto, St. Peter’s Mission
Wilmington, St. John’s / Holy Child (PIC) Mission
Yucca Valley, St. Joseph of Arimathea Mission
NON-ACTIVE
Parish congregations that will at some point be searching for clergy leadership, but are now working with supply clergy, a long-term interim or priest in charge:
Arcadia, Parish Church of the Transfiguration
Beverly Hills, All Saints’ Parish
Downey, St. Mark’s Parish
Fullerton, Emmanuel Parish
Fullerton, St. Andrew’s Parish
Garden Grove, St. Anselm’s
Lancaster, St. Paul’s Parish
Los Angeles, Church of Christ the Good Shepherd
Los Angeles, St. John’s Cathedral
Los Angeles, St. Philip’s Parish
Los Angeles (Melrose), Trinity Parish
Los Olivos, St. Mark’s Parish
Monterey Park, St. Gabriel’s Parish
Ojai, St. Andrew’s Parish
Ontario, Christ Church Parish
Pasadena, St. Barnabas’ Parish
Pomona, St. Paul’s Parish
San Fernando, St. Simon’s Parish
Santa Maria, St. Peter’s Parish
Van Nuys, St. Mark’s Parish
OTHER OPENINGS
WITHIN THE DIOCESE
LOS ANGELES: Episcopalian Hospital Chaplain, PIH Health Good Samaritan Hospital, 1225 Wilshire Boulevard. Full time, salaried. Reporting to one of our department supervisors or managers, this position provides spiritual support to patients, their loved ones, and staff in our hospitals. This chaplain serves people of all belief systems (religious and non-religious), and provides or arranges special rites and rituals as requested by patients and/or surrogates. Full job description and information here.https://jobs.silkroad.com/PIH/PIHHealthInternalCareerSite/jobs/21450
OUTSIDE THE DIOCESE
A list of postings from the wider Episcopal Church is here.