St Edmund's Episcopal Church San Marino

STEDY, September 12, 2018

There is so much I love about challah, the bread Jewish people eat during the Sabbath. First of all there is the taste, which I think is best with a healthy dose of sugar on top. Then there is the smell, which alone will make your mouth water. I love knowing this is smell Jesus grew up with, one that probably caused him to stop and take a big beautiful inhale. Making challah is no simple feat, there is no bake- at- home version but instead it is a slow, meditative process where hours are required for rising, braiding, rising again and then baking. Every step is intended to connect us to our past, each other and to God’s miracles.

Braided challah, the Jewish Sabbath-and-holiday bread, is surrounded by folklore and tradition and loaded with symbolism. On festive occasions a blessing is said over two loaves, symbolizing the two portions of the manna that was distributed on Fridays to the children of Israel during their Exodus from Egypt. The breads are covered on the table by a decorative challah cover or a white napkin, which represents the dew that collected on the manna in the morning. Poppy and sesame seeds sprinkled on the bread also symbolize the manna that fell from heaven.

Challah is made in various sizes and shapes, all of which have a meaning. Braided ones, which may have three, four, or six strands, are the most common, and because they look like arms intertwined, symbolize love. Three braids symbolize truth, peace, and justice. Twelve humps from two small or one large braided bread recall the miracle of the 12 loaves for the 12 tribes of Israel. Round loaves, where there is no beginning and no end, are baked for Rosh Hashanah to symbolize continuity. Ladder and hand shapes are served at the meal before the fast of Yom Kippur, the ladder signifying that we should ascend to great heights, the hand that we may be inscribed for a good year. On Purim, small triangular loaves symbolize Haman’s ears; at Shavuot, two oblongs side by side represent the Tablets of the Law (the 10 commandments). Sweet challahs with honey, chocolate chips or raisins are baked during the festive season to bring joy and happiness.

This coming Sunday you may catch yourself stopping and taking a big inhale as we will be baking challah in Sunday school. As we continue to seek out ways to slow down, step away from the chaos of regular life and be present in the moment, we will do so with mindful baking, a wonderful practice we will share with others on the Close.
~ Small Group Meetings ~

The last small group meetings will be held at 9:00 and 11:15 on September 16th and 23rd. Signup sheets will be available at the 8:00 am service and in the Narthex each Sunday, and walk-ins are welcome.

If you haven’t been able to attend yet, please sign up, attend one of the meetings and complete the survey. If you would like to reserve a spot in a small group meeting and cannot make it to church to sign up, contact Michael Harrigian at (626) 441-0787 or mharrigian@sbcglobal.net

The survey provides an opportunity to express your view of
St. Edmund’s as it is today and your hopes for its future and it is vital that everyone participate in order to ensure a complete and accurate description of our parish for new rector candidates. The results of the survey will be compiled, presented to the parish and used by the Search Committee in identifying the permanent rector best suited to our needs.

~ Upcoming Events ~

Thursday, September 13
The Truth About Vaping: What Parents Need to Know
Presented by Dr. Adupa P. Rao
9 am & 7 pm | Huntington Middle School Auditorium
For more information click here

Until recently, electronic cigarettes were uncommon, hard to find, and a mystery to most people. Now they’re everywhere. Though the public hears a lot about e-cigarettes and vaping in the media, they don’t know much about them. Government statistics found millions of teens have tried it-nearly 36 percent of 12th graders had tried some form of vaping in 2017. Studies show that some teens who likely would not have smoked regular cigarettes are using e-cigarettes. It also found teens who do vape are six times more likely as those who never vaped to later begin smoking. Come learn what you need to know about vaping and its impact. Why do teenagers act the way they do? Discover the latest cutting-edge science that uncovers take-home tips and strategies to better understand, support, and help the teenage brain. Learn the surprising science of what happens in the developing teenage brain and why the teenage years are a critical time in brain development. Understand the impact of stress and trauma, why certain types of stress should be embraced, and science-based strategies parents and educators can utilize to teach teenagers effective stress management and resilience. Research has shown that when core emotional needs are not met during the formative years of a child, schemas (life traps) will develop. While no one’s parenting can ever be perfect, hear from authors John Philip Louis and Karen McDonald Louis of “Good Enough Parenting: Raising Emotionally Healthy Children” step-by-step ways parents can learn to meet these core emotional needs and provide parenting advice that is “good enough” to prevent exasperation and schemas from developing in their children.

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Sunday, September 16
SENS SUNDAE
Welcome new and returning SENS Families
with an ice cream feast after worship.
Team 3 Acolyting

Children’s Liturgy
10 am | Chapel

Sunday School
10:30 am | Sunday School Classrooms

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Wednesday, September 19
A Conversation with Noah Bullock
Executive Director, Cristosal
7 pm | Parish Hall
Join a conversation with Noah Bullock, Executive Director of Cristosal, the leading NGO working on forced displacement due to violence in the Northern Triangle countries of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras-countries from which the majority of families at our border are fleeing. Cristosal takes a holistic, human rights-based approach that ranges from emergency humanitarian assistance for victims of forced displacement to strategic litigation that brings
structural change so victims can count on protection and assistance from their own governments.

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Sunday, September 23
Team 4 Acolyting

Children’s Liturgy
10 am | Chapel

Sunday School
10:30 am | Sunday School Classrooms

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Sunday, September 30
Mass on the Grass
The Angeloff’s

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Thursday, October 4
Managing Stress in the Teenage Brain
Presented by Dr. Marc Milstein
11 am | Carver Scrim Auditorium
7 pm | HMS Auditorium

Why do teenagers act the way they do? Discover the latest cutting-edge science that uncovers take-home tips and strategies to better understand, support, and help the teenage brain. Learn the surprising science of what happens in the developing teenage brain and why the teenage years are a critical time in brain development. Understand the impact of stress and trauma, why certain types of stress should be embraced, and science-based strategies parents and educators can utilize to teach teenagers effective stress management and resilience.

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Sunday, October 7
Blessing of the Animals
Team 1 Acolyting
Bring your pet to the close for a special blessing.

Youth Group
Haunted Hayride
7 pm | LA Zoo
$35 for hayride or $45 for entrance to all of the activities
For more information please visit their website here
Please RSVP by Friday, September 21

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Sunday, October 14
Team 2 Acolyting

Children’s Liturgy
10 am | Chapel

Sunday School
10:30 am | Sunday School Classrooms

~ Upcoming Events to Put on Your Calendar ~

Sunday, October 28
Nightmare Before Christmas
El Capitan Theater

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Sunday, December 2
Wicked
The Pantages

Please feel free to contact Heather if you have questions.