You meet the most amazing people around the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, including Kathy Hannigan O’Connor’s and my friends from our days at St John Chrysostom Church in Rancho Santa Margarita, Loreen and Andy Guilford and D.j. Gomer and Duane Gomer, for a festive dinner for six hosted by the Guilfords, followed by an exchange of Christmas gifts from which the men were cruelly excluded … the Rev. Stuart Swann, for a conversation with the Rev. Canon Thomas Quijada-Discavage, Canon Clare Zabala-Bangao, and me about his ministry at St. Columba’s Episcopal Church Big Bear-Spirit of Peace Church … the Rev. Canon Andrea McMillin, for a rich chat about hers at All Saints’ Beverly Hills … about-to-be ordained priests Mel Soriano, Joshua Wong, and Jonathan Timothy Stoner, on retreat at St. Paul’s Commons, Echo Park with the Rev. Karri Backer … colleagues on the advisory board of The Guibord Center – Religion Inside Out, for a searching conversation about interfaith ministry during the Israel-Hamas war … and friends from St. James’ Episcopal Church, South Pasadena, CA who dropped by Sahara Restaurant in Pasadena at the same time as I.
