St. Cross Episcopal Church in Hermosa Beach makes a special point of service to the wider Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles community. Its rector of 15 years, the Rev. Dr. Rachel Nyback, is a fabled mentor to deacons and priests. With her St. Cross lay leader colleague Mary Pierson, Rachel serves as a director of the Corporation of the Diocese, helping keep us on a firm financial foundation. Canon Annette VanOrden Graw is, also with Mary, a member of our real estate task force.
Canon Patsy McMullin Brierley is a stalwart of Camp Stevens. Sean Coburn O’Neall, organist and music director, offered the same ministry at my consecration service in July 2017. Cameron Moorhead Johnson is cochair of the Commission on Ministry. A dozen of the parish’s young people had stood in the rain early Saturday, helping serve food at St. John’s Cathedral, near downtown.
Most from this extraordinary corps of diocesan servants were among about 300 who worshipped Sunday at two services at St. Cross, where I had the privilege of presiding and preaching. As always, it was a joy to see the associate rector, the Rev. Dr. Michelle Baker-Wright, and the Rev. Patti Angelo, the devoted, gracious parish deacon. Rachel’s spouse, Chad Druten, was my patient chaplain at both services. The Rev. Canon Robert Cornner, retired rector of Christ Church in Redondo Beach and friend of St. Cross forever, was also aboard, along with the distinguished rector emerita of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in El Segundo, the Rev. Dina McMullin Ferguson.
Sixteen stood before the altar to be confirmed, received, or reaffirmed in The Episcopal Church. Between services, the candidates and I had a spirited conversation about what it means in our selfish, secularizing age to devote one’s life to glorifying God and caring for God’s people in the spirit of the self-sacrificial love of our Lord Jesus Christ. An adult candidate asked how Christian disciples can help others heal. A high school-age candidate told us how personal and corporate prayer feel different. It’s always good to pray in community, using words from “The Book of Common Prayer,” she said, but somehow, when she talks to Jesus in her own words, she feels touched more profoundly.
I felt touched just that way when I saw that St. Cross had hung a banner showing the slogan I’ve used during my episcopacy, “feeding hungry hearts.” “We have been fed,” it kindly said. Rachel had congregants pose with it and me at both 8 and 10 a.m. At coffee hour, amid conversations with thoughtful St. Cross folks about church and politics, I was invited to join in the parish’s TikTok video ministry. Watch for it on an iPad near you. I even got to bless a flock of knitted chickens, souvenirs from a recent parish pilgrimage to an alpaca ranch. We prayed they would all stay away from El Pollo Loco.
Even as the rafters echoed with our joyful worship, St. Cross readied itself for a celebration of life Sunday afternoon for an 11-year-old member who died recently after a long illness. That very morning, his 17-year-old brother has stood to be confirmed. Talk about an emotionally powerful day for a grieving family. The preciousness of that young man’s trust in Providence cannot be overestimated nor, if the church is wise, should it ever be taken for granted. At St. Cross, indeed it is not.
