The Bishop's Blog
Thoughts and reflections from Bishop John Harvey Taylor
Daily prayer: Henry Lewis
Feb 15, 2025
Gracious God, the great orchestrator, we give you thanks for the pioneering artistry of Henry Lewis, born in Los Angeles in 1932, who, as a 16-year-old double bass virtuoso, joined the LA Phil and...
Daily prayer: Gregory Hines
Feb 14, 2025
God of light, light hearts, and light feet, on the 79th anniversary of his birth, we remember the late Gregory Hines, dancer, actor, singer, and choreographer, who began to tap his way into our...
Absalom Jones Day service
Feb 13, 2025
In a bracing sermon at St. Paul's Commons, Echo Park today, as we marked the feast day of Absalom Jones, the first African-American ordained in The Episcopal Church, the Very Rev. Paul Anthony...
Daily prayer: Absalom Jones
Feb 13, 2025
Set us free, heavenly God, from every bond of prejudice and fear; that, honoring the steadfast courage of your servant Absalom Jones, we may show forth in our lives the reconciling love and true...
Daily prayer: To thirst for righteousness
Feb 12, 2025
Gracious God, sitting with his friends on the mountaintop in Galilee, your Son said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” By your grace, may your...
Daily prayer: Nelson Mandela
Feb 11, 2025
Gracious God, your Son promised that everything freed on earth would be freed in heaven and warned that things bound on earth might be bound in heaven: On this day 35 years ago, after 27 years of...
Daily Prayer: Grace Towns Hamilton
Feb 10, 2025
Gracious God, on this, the 118th anniversary of her birth, we give you thanks for the life and witness of Grace Towns Hamilton, who in 1966 became the first women of African descent elected to the...
Lunar New Year at St. Thomas’, Hacienda Heights
Feb 9, 2025
After COVID, I resolved never to take for granted the simple pleasure of being together in community -- to worship, break bread, and share fellowship. Whenever we are, we change. If we ask questions...
Daily prayer: Satchel Paige
Feb 9, 2025
Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in...
Daily prayer: Sam Hammond, Henry Smith, and Delano Middleton
Feb 8, 2025
Gracious God, we pray in remembrance and thanksgiving for the witness of Sam Hammond, Henry Smith, and Delano Middleton, unarmed students of African descent who were shot and killed by police on...
Welcoming Silas Harvey Passarella
Feb 7, 2025
Silas Harvey Passarella, my daughter Valerie and Mark’s son and five-year-old Harriet’s little brother, arrived on our side of the veil on Tuesday morning at 9:30 a.m., right on schedule. The family...
Daily prayer: Carter G. Woodson
Feb 7, 2025
Gracious God in Christ, who shepherds your people through the wilderness, lighting us forward to the realm of freedom and truth even when sin tries to block our way: We give you thanks for the...