A CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY, FRIENDSHIP, AND THE MAGIC OF CHILDHOOD
ST EDMUND'S 50TH ANNIVERSAY GALA!
Friday, May 16th, 2008
Many thanks to Claire Maher for leading this effort, and to Eric & Rebecca Reed for hosting!
This Feast of Pentecost the Mandarin Language congegation joined with the English language congregation for Holy Baptism and a celebration of the diversity brought to the Church with the first coming of the Holy Spirit! Lauren Elizabeth Matinez, daughter of Brad and Vicky Martinez, was baptized, as were three adults: Limin Cao, Maggie Jun Ge, Zhen (Henry) Guo Li.
The English Choir performed some beautiful pieces, as did the Chinese Choir. Here are some shots taken by a member of the Mandarin Language congregation!
Sixty years after California's Supreme Court became the first in the nation to strike down miscegenation laws, it has become one of the first in the nation to affirm full and equal civil rights for gay and lesbian persons in relation to marriage law.
The Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bruno, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, has issued the following statement concerning today's California Supreme Court decision regarding same-gender relationships:
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Today's Supreme Court decision on same-gender relationships is important because it reflects our baptismal vow to "strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being" and our commitment to justice and mercy for all people.
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The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles has been a leader in working for the rights of all people in the State of California, and that work is honored in today's ruling. The canons of our church, under "Rights of the Laity" (Canon 1:17.5), forbid discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, disabilities or age. We affirm equal rights for all.
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We will continue to advocate for equality in the future and will do so at the General Convention of the Episcopal Church, which will meet in Anaheim in 2009.
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I celebrate and give thanks for this decision of the court and look forward with joy and excitement to a future of justice and mercy for all people in the State of California and the Episcopal Church.
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To paraphrase St. Paul, there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, gay nor straight in Jesus Christ our Lord.
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J. Jon Bruno
Bishop of Los Angeles
