The Bishop's Blog

Thoughts and reflections from Bishop John Harvey Taylor

Daily prayer: Vida Dutton Scudder

Daily prayer: Vida Dutton Scudder

Most gracious God, you sent your beloved Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Raise up in your church witnesses who, after the example of your servant Vida Dutton...

The Episcopal Chorale celebrates 40 years of music

The Episcopal Chorale celebrates 40 years of music

When he was 11, native Angeleno Canon Dr. Chas Cheatham asked to join the youth choir at the Presbyterian church his grandmother attended. It was obviously in his blood. He'd actually conducted a...

Visiting St. Cross Church, Hermosa Beach

Visiting St. Cross Church, Hermosa Beach

At St. Cross Episcopal Church in Hermosa Beach on Sunday, where I visited to celebrate and preach, attendance was about 200 at two services. The Holy Spirit came along with the morning fog and...

A time to lower our voices and pray

A time to lower our voices and pray

For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the people of Judah are his pleasant planting; he expected justice, but saw bloodshed; righteousness, but heard a cry!  — Isaiah 5:7...

Daily prayer: Indigenous Peoples Day

Daily prayer: Indigenous Peoples Day

Creator, you bent the earth like a bow until was one, round, shining planet. At your word the land was drawn into mountains and deserts, forests, and plains; the waters were gathered together into...

Daily prayer: 17th Sunday after Pentecost

Daily prayer: 17th Sunday after Pentecost

Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve: Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those...

Remembering Canon Julie Dean Larsen

Remembering Canon Julie Dean Larsen

My scrapbook from today’s celebration of life for Canon Julie Dean Larsen, who died last month after a brave and graceful struggle against a long, debilitating illness. Her home parish, St Margaret...

Daily prayer: For the people of Israel and Palestine

Daily prayer: For the people of Israel and Palestine

God of peace and lover of justice, we lament Hamas' brutal surprise attack on Israel and all the lives that have been lost; and we lament every lost opportunity for peace with justice, year after...

Daily Prayer: Walking the Way of the Cross

Daily Prayer: Walking the Way of the Cross

Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may...

Daily Prayer: Feast Day of St. Francis

Daily Prayer: Feast Day of St. Francis

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair,...

Daily Prayer: John Raleigh Mott

Daily Prayer: John Raleigh Mott

Everlasting God, who leads your people’s feet into the ways of peace; Raise up heralds and evangelists of your kingdom like your servant John Mott, that your church may make known to all the world...