The parish of All Saints, Beverly Hills, gathered May 3 for a festival morning Eucharist and gala dinner marking the congregation’s centennial. Among former clergy and parishioners “welcomed home” for the celebration was the Rev. Carol Anderson (in photo: seated at left), rector from 1989-2010, who preached a homily underscoring the priority of “doing God’s work rather than godly things,” and noting that “remembrance is not nostalgia.” All Saints’ longtime music director, Canon Dr. Craig Phillips, composed a soaring original “All Saints’ Mass” that made its world debut during the service, to which the Rev. Canon Andrea McMillian, priest-in-charge, welcomed all in attendance. Video of the service is here.
In a highlight of the gala dinner that evening at the Ebell of Los Angeles, lifelong parishioner Bonnie McClure (pictured with Canon Randolph Kimmler) delivered the centennial toast capping the evening’s program for which Bishop John Harvey Taylor gave the invocation, noting that the year 1925 brought the world The Great Gatsby, Louis Armstrong’s first recordings, and All Saints’, Beverly Hills (the bishop’s related blog post is here). Parish lay leader Chris Cook, centennial committee chair, joined gala dinner co-chairs Cathy Barna and Jeff Smith in offering remarks. A video presentation traced parish history from its early services held in the landmark Beverly Hills Hotel. After dinner, members of the Beverly Hills High School marching band led attendees to the dance floor in the club’s main salon.
