Community of Choirs
(SAN MARINO, CA, March 28, 2008)–St. Edmund’s Episcopal Church in San Marino hosted its third annual San Marino Community of Choirs on Sunday, March 16. The event led by children’s choir director, Richard Seymour, featured Valentine Children’s Chorus, Valentine Voices, Carver Children’s Chorus, Carver 4th and 5th Grade Chorus, and St. Edmund’s Children’s Choir.
Pianist Lisa Edwards and percussionist Michael Solomon provided the music accompaniment for the choirs. The Pasadena Boys Choir, led by director John Barron and accompanied by pianist Byron Espina, also participated in this chorale extravaganza.
St. Edmund’s successfully sponsors this event every year,” said Seymour. “The event is not only a celebration of music, but also an opportunity for members of the community to gather and enjoy the pure voices of children in an acoustical dreamland.”
Musical pieces performed were Disney Classics (arr. Alan Billingsley) by Carver Children’s Chorus;
Swinging On A Star (Johnny Burke & Jimmy Van Heusen) by Valentine Children’s Chorus;
Lilo & Stitch Medley (arr. Ed Lojeski) by Carver 4th & 5th Grade Chorus;
Wade In The Water (arr. Patsy Ford Simms & Andy Beck) by St. Edmund’s Children Choir;
Beatlesongs (arr. Mac Huff) by Valentine Voices;
Over The Rainbow (Harold Arlen, E.Y. Harburg), Cantique de Jean Racine (Fauré), and
Go The Distance (Alan Menken, David Zippel, arr. Ed Lojeski) by Pasadena Boys Choir; and
Let There Be Peace On Earth (Miller & Jackson, arr. Mark Hayes) by all choirs.
Founded in 1942, St. Edmund's Episcopal Church in San Marino is a mid-size church serving the West San Gabriel Valley with a mission to receive and share God's accepting grace, challenging wisdom, and transforming love. St. Edmund's is a progressive community, striving to build bridges and further understanding among the diverse populations of our area.
SAN MARINO NURSERY
SCHOOL OPENS DOORS TO
NEW STUDENTS
St. Edmund’s Preschool
Welcomes Toddlers and their
Families
(LOS ANGELES, CA, March 13, 2008)–Finding a nursery school for preschool children is one of the most important decisions parents will make. Enrolling a child at his first school is a significant step towards teaching independence, developing social skills, and engaging an interest in academics. Offering new student registrations until March 31, St. Edmund’s Nursery School is a distinguished preschool that offers a welcoming, nurturing, and enriching environment for children.
“St. Edmund’s very effectively addresses the challenges of young children as they start their educational career by creating a program both developmentally, academically and spiritually age appropriate,” said St. Edmund’s Head of School Darlene Porter. “We strive to have all children entrusted to our care feel good about themselves, to truly know that they are valuable, capable individuals who care deeply for themselves and others.”
Creating a positive atmosphere, where the individual and group needs of young preschoolers come first, St. Edmund’s Nursery School increases each child’s understanding and acceptance of self and others. Important to the development of early childhood is the awareness and knowledge of the world around them of which nursery staff give each child the freedom to discover.
“The entire staff is committed to providing each child with a positive preschool experience. Our primary goal is to provide physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual growth to each child by presenting a program rich in both developmental and academic experiences,” added Porter.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary, St. Edmund’s Nursery School is a California State licensed, non-profit school, sponsored by St. Edmund’s Episcopal Church. Emphasizing basic skills, values, manner, and an inclusive religious curriculum, St. Edmund's Nursery School strives to nurture knowledgeable, responsible, and caring children well-prepared to meet the challenges of family, school, and community life. The nursery school meets the requirements of the Episcopal Diocesan Commission on Schools and holds memberships in National Association for the Education of Young Children and Church-Related Early Childhood Education Fellowship.
Admission is open to preschool children without regard to race, religion or national ancestry. Tours are available Monday, Wednesday, and Friday between 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. The nursery school is located at 1175 San Gabriel Blvd. in San Marino. To find out more about St. Edmund’s Nursery School program and enrollment information, contact Porter at (626) 792-7742 and visit
www.saintedmunds.org.
ABOUT ST. EDMUND'S EPISCOPAL
CHURCH
Established in 1957, St. Edmund’s Nursery School is a California State licensed, non-profit school, sponsored by St. Edmund’s Episcopal Church. The Mission of St. Edmund's Nursery School is to offer young children an outstanding learning environment and an excellent foundation for future academic, social, and spiritual development. Emphasizing basic skills, values, manners and an inclusive religious curriculum, St. Edmund's Nursery School strives to nurture knowledgeable, responsible, and caring children well-prepared to meet the challenges of family, school, and community life.
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St. Edmund’s Welcomes
New Vestry at
Installation
(SAN MARINO CA, February 14, 2008)– Parishioners of St. Edmund’s Episcopal Church in San Marino welcomed the newly appointed Senior Warden and Vestry at their annual installation.
The Reverend George Woodward, rector, appointed the new Senior Warden, Dave Ford, who begins serving as the senior lay leader of the parish and manages the work of the Vestry.
The parish Vestry, the lay governing body of St. Edmund’s, convenes monthly to oversee the fiscal oversight and operations of the parish, the school, its employees, and its properties. Serving a three-year term, new Vestry members are Pasadena residents Ann Athey, Becky Bailey, and Robert Higgins, and Temple City resident Peter Yan. Other Vestry members include San Gabriel resident, Dave Ford, San Marino resident Brian Spaulding, Sierra Madre resident Kathy Sweeney, and Pasadena residents Nancy Kennerly-Miller, Robert Dini, Christopher Dusseault, Suzanne Holder, and Cynthia Woodman.
Woodward and parishioners also acknowledged outgoing Vestry members, Pasadena residents Margaret Campbell and Dale Harvey, San Marino resident Michael Harrigian, and San Marino resident Robert Packer.
“We have enjoyed a vital and dedicated Vestry in 2007, given strong leadership by Senior Warden Michael Harrigian and Junior Warden Bob Dini. The departing Vestry members have served with distinction,” said Woodward.
Founded in 1942, St. Edmund's Episcopal Church is a mid-size church serving the West San Gabriel Valley with a mission to receive and share God's accepting grace, challenging wisdom, and transforming love. St. Edmund's is a progressive community, striving to build bridges and further understanding among the diverse populations of our area.
Besides traditional Sunday services, parishioners participate in and support international efforts as well as local charities, such as Hillsides, a foster care children's nonprofit, Union Station, a homeless shelter in Pasadena providing short-term care for the homeless, and the Pasadena Bad Weather Shelter, offering shelter and dinner to homeless families and singles throughout the Winter months.
Parishioners also support The Kensington Home, Foothill Family Service, CristoSal, and a quarterly medical ministry to Tijuana called Healing Hearts Across Borders, serving 700 persons per quarter.
To learn more about St. Edmund’s Episcopal Church, visit
www.saintedmunds.org.
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St. Edmund’s Episcopal Church Honors San Marino Residents with Rector’s Cross Award
(SAN MARINO CA, February 21, 2008)– St. Edmund’s Episcopal Church honored San Marino residents Robert and Donna Packer with the Rector’s Cross Award, given each year to a person(s) who has served the parish in a particular distinction throughout the year. The lapel pin cross given to Mr. Packer, managing shareholder at LaFollette, Johnson, DeHaas, Fesler & Ames in downtown Los Angeles, and the pendant given to Mrs. Packer were adorned with a white gold crown set against a golden Maltese cross, one of St. Edmund’s parish symbols.
“Bob and Donna have given themselves indefatigably in service to St. Edmund’s in a variety of capacities. Both have served on the Vestry, and Donna seems always to be one of the center-field players in the organization of fund-raising events and parish celebrations. She is an active member of the Altar Guild and seems always and everywhere engaged,” said The Reverend George Woodward, rector of St. Edmund’s. “Bob Packer has for years worked for the renovation of our Aeolian-Skinner Organ and has nearly single-handedly shepherd that dream to the reality it is now becoming. They are both such essential members of our parish, and cherished by all.”
Taking the reins on St. Edmund’s restoration of its Aeolian-Skinner Opus Number 1323, or a pipe organ, Packer’s mission is to restore significant musical and historical value to an instrument that can serve San Gabriel Valley and Greater Los Angeles residents well into the 21st century. He continues to oversee the capital campaign, “Restoring the Heart of Music,” which is in need of $300,000 for the restoration.
“Since the completion of the renovation of the church and the realization of the dramatically improved acoustics, an entirely new conception of a serious organ restoration and enhancement project began to develop so as to fully reveal the unexploited potential of what we already had in place–that is, possibly the finest pipe organ in the San Gabriel Valley,” said Packer, who expects the church to be a significant intimate venue for the performance of organ, chamber, choral, and orchestral music.
As a member of the Altar Guild, Mrs. Packer assists in the preparation of the chapel and church for all services, which includes procuring and maintaining the necessary linens, vessels, vestments, and others items used for worship.
Founded in 1942, St. Edmund's Episcopal Church in San Marino is a mid-size church serving the West San Gabriel Valley with a mission to receive and share God's accepting grace, challenging wisdom, and transforming love. St. Edmund's is a progressive community, striving to build bridges and further understanding among the diverse populations of our area.
To learn more about St. Edmund’s Episcopal Church and the restoration capital campaign, visit
www.saintedmunds.org.
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FIRST PRIEST FROM MAINLAND CHINA IN
LOS ANGELES ORDAINED IN EPISCOPAL CHURCH
The Rev. Hui Liang Ni of St. Edmund’s Gives First Blessing
(LOS ANGELES, CA, January 13, 2008)– The Rev. Hui Liang “Thomas” Ni, 45, first priest from mainland China to serve Los Angeles in the Episcopal Diocese, was ordained by Bishop J. Jon Bruno at St. John’s Cathedral on Saturday, January 12.
Ni was one of nine candidates ordained. Others were Bonnie Patricia Brandon, Jason Lynn Cox, Giovan Venable King, Lester Vivian Mackenzie, David Stuart Maurer, Karen Diane Maurer, Daniel Ross Morrow, and Ada Yuk-Ying Nagata. In addition, Ni offered a customary First Blessing on Sunday to parishioners who attended services at St. Edmund’s Episcopal Church in San Marino of which Ni is the curate.
In the past few decades, the Chinese population in California has grown rapidly, and more people from mainland China are living and working in Los Angeles. “It is a great opportunity and responsibility for me to build a bridge between the Episcopal Church and Chinese community, to bring Christ’s love and Good News to the Chinese, to serve the needs of the surrounding Chinese community, and to welcome them into the Episcopal Church,” said Ni, adding his certainty that the Chinese community will rejoice in his ordination. “They will be proud that one of their fellow people is an Episcopal priest and feel Christ’s inclusive love in the Episcopal Church.”
In response to Ni’s ordination, The Rev. Dr. Winfred B. Vergara, National Missioner for Asiamerica Ministries and Director of Ethnic Congregational Development of the Episcopal Church in New York, said this ordination is significant because “it will continue to make our relationship with the China Christian Council even closer. Chinese from mainland China are some of the new and emerging immigrant groups in the United States and especially in the West Coast and we are happy that we are able to raise clergy from that community.”
Symbolizing the gift of wisdom and hopes for blessing, joy and happiness, the ordination began with a lion procession from the San Gabriel Valley Chinese Cultural Association. After the laying of the hands on the ordinands by Bishop Bruno and clergy, they were vested according to the order of priests. At that time, Ni was presented with his stole and chasuble. Designed by WATTS and Co. in London, England, Ni’s chasuble is made of red Durbar dupion silk, with orphreys in antique gold Durbar dupion silk, edged with black cord, lined with jade green Durbar dupion silk, with an embroidered Chinese character for the word “love” on the front. A stole to match is trimmed with tassels.
Born in Shanghai, China, Ni's formative years in Christianity are credited to his grandmother and aunts who were Christians during China’s Cultural Revolution when religious activities were forbidden, according to Ni. By the time he was eleven years old, Ni had seen people sacrifice everything for the belief in Christ.
“These faithful believers planted a seed deep in my heart, inspiring me to follow their example and devote my life to Christ and His Church,” said Ni. “However, I did not clearly realize this until later when I was in England.” Worshiping in China after churches were reopened in Shanghai, then later in London,
First Priest Ordained
January 13, 2008
England, Ni was baptized when he was a lecturer at a university. “After I came to the United States, the door for me to devote my life to the church opened and the Episcopal Church welcomed me and later encouraged me to go through the process of ordination.”
His response to God’s calling was due to “the fruit of the seed many saints planted in my life that enabled me to become a priest today.” Ni has begun to formulate ministries that integrate the Chinese community.
“St. Edmund's is pleased to offer one of the few Mandarin language worship services in the Episcopal Church. We believe this will fill a real need in the San Gabriel Valley, and indeed, many of our Mandarin speakers drive from other areas in greater Los Angeles in order to worship in their native language,” said The Rev. George F. Woodward III, rector of St. Edmund's.
Striving for inclusiveness, balance and compassion, Ni provides a place for Chinese parishioners to fulfill personal spirituality while blending social responsibility and awareness for not only the Chinese community, but nearby communities. He offers a Mandarin service, a bible study, and an English conversation class in addition to the local charities and international efforts that St. Edmund's encourages its parishioners to participate in.
“We offer the Chinese community tolerance, inclusiveness of many lifestyles, language and viewpoints, along with the spiritual benefit,” said Ni of the St. Edmund's community. Ni’s inspiration to do God’s work includes spreading God’s love, an endless pursuit after truth, and a heartfelt sympathy for human suffering.
“The Reverend Hui Liang Ni is an exceptional individual and has developed an impressive ministry to both English and Mandarin speakers, bridging cultures and serving with distinction,” said Woodward.
With Ni nurturing the Chinese community at St. Edmund's Episcopal Church, Chinese parishioners will continue to find spiritual fulfillment while preserving the Chinese culture.
ABOUT ST. EDMUND'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Founded in 1942, St. Edmund's Episcopal Church in San Marino, California is a mid-size church serving the West San Gabriel Valley with a mission to receive and share God's accepting grace, challenging wisdom, and transforming love. St. Edmund's is a progressive community, striving to build bridges and further understanding among the diverse populations of our area. Besides traditional Sunday services, parishioners participate in and support international efforts as well as local charities, such as Hillsides, a foster care children's organization, Union Station, a homeless shelter in Pasadena providing short-term care for the homeless, and the Pasadena Bad Weather Shelter, offering shelter and dinner to homeless families and singles throughout the Winter months. Parishioners also support The Kensington Home, Foothill Family Service, CristoSal, and a quarterly medical ministry to Tijuana called Healing Hearts Across Borders, serving 700 persons per quarter.
ABOUT THE REV. HUI LIANG “THOMAS” NI
A doctoral student at the School of Religion at Claremont Graduate University, The Rev. Hui Liang "Thomas" Ni, 45, continues to pursue understanding of the history of Chinese Christianity. Born in Shanghai, China, The Rev. Ni's formative years in Christianity are credited to his grandmother and aunts who were Christians. In 1972, he participated in his first Christian bible study, formed by his aunt. In 1990 he studied theology at the Anglican Theological College in England. Thereafter, he returned to China where he was invited by the Committee of The Sea of Words to revise the Christian Protestant theological articles in the dictionary, which was published in 1999. In 1997, he came to the United States to continue his studies while pursuing priesthood in the Episcopal Church.
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