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News
Bishop John Harvey Taylor to visit St. Francis on Palm Sunday
The Rt. Rev. John Harvey Taylor will officiate the Blessing of the Palms, a baptism, reaffirmations of faith and receive people into the Episcopal Church from other denominations
Palos Verdes Estates, Calif. (March 28, 2025) — St. Francis Episcopal Church at 2200 Via Rosa in Palos Verdes Estates welcomes The Rt. Rev. John Harvey Taylor, Episcopal diocesan bishop of Los Angeles on Palm Sunday, April 13, 2025 at the 10:00am service. Bishop Taylor will officiate at the traditional Blessing of the Palms, a baptism and reaffirmations of faith. He will also receive people into the Episcopal church from other denominations, lay hands on the congregation and deliver the sermon. This will be the Bishop’s final visit to the St. Francis Parish before he retires in October of 2026.
For more information on the Bishop’s visit on Palm Sunday or upcoming Easter Services, please contact St. Francis Church at (310) 375-4617, or visit www.stfrancispalosverdes.org.
Lent and Easter in the South Bay
St. Francis participates in a combined Lent and Easter worship schedule with other South Bay Episcopal parishes. Below is the schedule of worship opportunities in our area.
Military Outreach Call for Donations
UPDATE: New dropoff location
Da Vinci School
201 N. Douglas St.
El Segundo, CA 90245
Saturday, April 12, 9-12 noon
Support Our Military Outreach for Camp Pendleton
St. Francis Episcopal Church is collecting donations to support service members and their families at Camp Pendleton. We are accepting gently used items, $25 gift cards from Walmart or Target, and diapers of any size. Your contributions will make a meaningful difference in the lives of these military families.
Donations can be brought to St. Francis on Sundays and placed in the office box labeled “Military.” If you need to drop off items before Saturday, April 12, please contact me to arrange a pickup. Since the church office is closed on Fridays, you may also bring donations to my home at 5008 Milne Drive, Torrance, CA 90505.
We are also looking for volunteers with vans to help transport donations on Saturday, April 12. If you can assist, please meet at St. Francis by 8:15 AM. Vans will need to depart by 8:40 AM to ensure arrival at Da Vinci School (201 N. Douglas St., El Segundo, CA 90245) by noon for the first Rotary transport.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at susiehzimmerman@gmail.com. I will also be available to provide more details in person on Sunday, March 16.
Thank you for your generosity and support of our military families at Camp Pendleton!
Help Shape the Future of Our Diocese
The search for a new Bishop of Los Angeles is underway! Listening sessions are scheduled across the diocese from March 22 to April 26, giving parishioners and clergy the opportunity to share their thoughts and hopes.
Since St. Francis is part of Deanery 8, our session will be held on:
📍 St. Cross, 1818 Monterey Blvd., Hermosa Beach
📅 April 12 at 10:00 AM
Your input will help shape the profile of our next Bishop and guide the search process. All are welcome to attend!
The Diocese is also seeking parishioners to serve on the Transitions Committee, which will introduce bishop candidates to the diocese. If you have skills in hospitality, event planning, or pastoral care, consider applying!
🔹 Application opens: March 21 on the diocesan website
🔹 Deadline: April 11
For more details, read the full announcement in The Episcopal News.
For questions, contact our Diocesan delegates:
📧 Susie Zimmerman – susiehzimmerman@gmail.com
📧 Albert Zimmerman – azimmer159@outlook.com
Let’s take part in this important process for our church community!
Lenten Devotional 2025
Now in it’s 9th year, the St. Francis community’s Lenten Devotional is now available for download here!
Lent 2025
Lent 2025 at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Palos Verdes offers a meaningful journey of reflection, prayer, and community. The season begins with a festive Shrove Tuesday celebration on March 4, featuring a Mardi Gras gathering followed by a discussion on C.S. Lewis on Joy and Suffering. Ash Wednesday services on March 5 provide opportunities for spiritual renewal with the Imposition of Ashes at 7:00 am, Ashes-to-Go from 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm in our lower parking lot, and a solemn Ash Wednesday Liturgy and Holy Eucharist at 6:00 pm. Throughout Lent, Wednesday gatherings (March 12 – April 9) include a 10:00 am Holy Eucharist in the Chapel and an evening Lenten Supper Series at 6:00 pm exploring the Theology of the Book of Common Prayer. All are welcome to participate in this season of spiritual deepening.
SHROVE TUESDAY
March 4
5:30pm Mardi Gras Celebration in the Parish Hall
7:30pm C.S. Lewis on Joy and Suffering an in Between in the Chapel
ASH WEDNESDAY
March 5
7:00 am – Imposition of Ashes and Ministry of the Word
3:00 pm to 5:30 pm – Ashes-to-Go in the lower parking lot
6:00 pm – Ash Wednesday Liturgy and Holy Eucharist
WEDNESDAYS IN LENT
March 12, 19, 26 and April 2, 9
10:00 am – Holy Eucharist in the Chapel
6:00 pm – Lenten Supper Series: Theology of the Book of Common Prayer
Seeking Nursery Staff at St. Francis
Do you love working with children? St. Francis Episcopal Church in Palos Verdes Estates is hiring two nursery workers to care for children during Sunday worship services and fellowship time.
- Hours: Sundays, 7:45 AM – 12:00 PM
- Duties: Watching children during 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM services, as well as after each service
- Requirements: Must be able to change diapers and provide attentive, nurturing care
- Background Check: Required (must have one or be willing to obtain one)
If interested, please call the church office at 310-375-4617 or email resume and cover letter to info@stfrancispalosverdes.org.
Fauré Requiem: Long Beach Camerata Singers
Toward Heaven: Harmonies of Peace and Hope
Fauré Requiem and other choral music of the French Belle Époque
The Requiem by Gabriel Fauré is one of the most beautiful and celebrated works in the world. The music contains the incredible harmonic language of this French master composer and is hopeful in its message to mankind. The “Pie Jesu” has become one of the most beloved melodies in the entire classical repertoire and evokes visions of heaven and a better world to come. Join us us for this special performance and be taken to sounds of the great cathedrals of Paris.
C.S. Lewis on Joy and Suffering and Inbetween
When: Tuesdays beginning on January 21
Time: 7:00pm – 8:15pm
Where: Board Room
Leader: Dale Westervelt
This discussion-based course explores C.S. Lewis’s insights on joy, suffering, and the human experience. we will look at works such as, Surprised by Joy, The Problem of Pain, Mere Christianity, and other essays and talks. We will explore questions of why we suffer, what joy truly is and how we can find meaning in both. We will engage with Lewis’s reflections, consider our own perspectives, and explore how joy and suffering shape our lives.
RSVP: dswestervelt@gmail.com or 310-977-3014
Military Outreach
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St. Francis Episcopal Church
2200 Via Rosa, Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274
Phone: 310-375-4617
Fax: 310-791-2740
St. Francis is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles.
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