Upcoming events.
Blessing of the Animals
All creatures great and small – and their human family members – are invited to our annual Blessing of the Animals on Saturday, October 7 at 10:00am. All well-behaved animals are welcome to attend. If your animal is shy, or if you would like to remember a pet who has died, you welcome to bring a picture. See you on the front plaza on October 7.
Music Fundraiser
Please join us on Saturday, September 16 at 4:00pm for our “Piano Man” fundraiser! Kevin Wood, Long Beach singer-songwriter, will entertain us with old favorites and original compositions. There may also be some surprise guest artists! A reception will follow the concert, and Kevin’s CDs will be available for sale. Tickets are $20 at the door, and all proceeds go to our “Raise the Roof” capital campaign.
Welcome Back Sunday
Our “Welcome Back Sunday” is scheduled for September 10. We will kick off our fall programming and have opportunities to sign up for upcoming events and ministry areas. We hope you’ll make a special effort to come to church and hear about what’s planned for the rest of the year.
Episcopal Night at Dodger Stadium
Our annual baseball event is Friday, September 1, when the Dodgers host the Braves starting at 7:10pm. If you are interested in attending the game, you MUST sign up NO LATER THAN July 16, as all ticket orders must be turned in by July 18. Tickets are $30 and do not include parking. Please put your name, your email, and the number of tickets you want on the signup sheet in the narthex, or send that same information to stlb47@verizon.net. Your email address is very important; as all Dodgers tickets are now electronic, tickets will be emailed to you and you will need to show them on your phone at the stadium. If you have any questions, please see Mother Sharon. Thanks for your help in making EPISCOPAL NIGHT AT DODGER STADIUM a success
BBQ
Members Dave and Rosemary are hosting a late summer BBQ in their backyard at 6:00pm on Saturday. August 19, 2023. Hot dogs, hamburgers, and all the sides will be provided. The cost is $20/person. Please sign up for the BBQ at the church. This is a Raise the Roof Fundraiser event.
The Feast of the Transfiguration
The Transfiguration is one of the few days in the church calendar that takes precedence of the regular cycle of lessons. This year the feast falls on August 6, a Sunday, so we’ll be celebrating in style! Please come to church and enjoy one of the feasts we don’t usually get to celebrate.
Pulpit Swap
Even though St. Thomas of Canterbury and St. Gregory’s been sharing services for over a year, it’s been suggested that it would be a good idea to have Father Michael and Mother Sharon preach and celebrate across town, so that folks in both communities learn more about both clergy and are more comfortable calling on them for pastoral emergencies. Our first pulpit swap will be Sunday, July 16. Father Michael will preach and preside at St. Thomas, and Mother Sharon will preach and preside at St. Gregory’s. We hope you will take advantage of the opportunity to get to know our clergy better.
Backpack Drive
Our annual backpack and school supply drive for Long Beach students begins July 2 and runs through the month of July. Long Beach Family Services greatly appreciates our donations of new backpacks and school supplies to help local children who can’t afford everything they need for a successful school year. Keep an eye out for local and online sales of school supplies, and then bring them on August 6 for our annual Blessing of the Backpacks.
Father's Day
As is our custom, we will have a special prayer in honor of the day, and small treats for all men who come to church in person. This is a great day to invite a friend or relative who might be looking for a church community.
Mass in the Grass and Picnic
The annual Mass in the Grass and Picnic will be Sunday, June 4th at 10:15. We will be in our usual spot at El Dorado Park (El Dorado West Picnic Areas A and B). As always, be sure to bring your own chairs or blankets for seating. This will be a shared event with St. Gregory’s, and all the food will be prepared by Diane Kela and the St. Gregory’s Hospitality Committee. To ensure that we have plenty of food, please RSVP to Kevin Wood in the St. Gregory’s office (562-420-1311, info@stgregoryschurch.com). For those who may not be interested in or able to attend the Mass in the Grass, we will have our usual 8:00 service at St. Thomas for both communities.
Joint Ascension Day Service
St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church, St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church, and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church will all join together at St. Luke’s on Thursday, May 18 at 7pm for our second annual Ascension Day service. Please come out and celebrate the feast of the Ascension and help welcome Father Antonio Gallardo as rector of St. Luke’s.
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church - 525 E 7th St, Long Beach, CA 90813
Coronation Tea
Help us celebrate the beginning of a new Royal Era at our coronation tea on Saturday, May 13 from 11:00 am-2:00 pm. Elegance and fun will be the order of the day. $40.00 per person. Please reserve by Wednesday, May 3rd. RSVP to Jane Gordon-Topper at jngt@verizon.net.