HTSB Basketball Team has perfect 5-0 record!!

I am pleased to inform you that our very own HTSB Basketball team has made it to the CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!! With a perfect record of 5-0, our basketball team played in the Jesus Way Up Ministries league along with 12 other churches of many denominations. The team would like to express their thanks to the congregation, family, and friends, and would like you all to come watch and support them in the final game!
The Championship game will take place this coming Saturday, February 27th at 2:30 p.m. Located at Santa Fe Middle School, 148 West Duarte Road Monrovia, CA 91016-4592. We would greatly appreciate everyone to come out and support as the opposing team has a very big fan base. Wear your HTSB shirts and bring your cheering voices! If you can't make the game, check back here for results.

Submitted by Karla Bacayan

Rector Search Status Update

As communicated previously, we are now in the process of looking for rector to shepherd our further spiritual growth as we journey to be one with the divine. While it is desired to speed up the process, the selection of a new rector is too important to rush through. Among other things, we have to consider the role of the diocese in getting the best candidate who can answer our need as a parish but also as a member of the worshipping diocese. We have completed the study of our church to find out what we are and what we will be in the foreseeable future. We used the result of that study to draw a sketch of who we need as rector to lead us and to grow our church. We have designed questionnaires to narrow down the number of candidates we need to interview to the most likely persons of interest who can be our rector. We have also followed the guidelines of contact inquiry prescribed for this process necessary to protect the applicant’s identity and avoid jeopardizing the candidate’s present position. All these actions and studies were done with prayer for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We ask for your prayers so that our decisions will be what God calls us to do. With God’s help, we expect to have a candidate list from which to make a selection by the first quarter of 2010. It takes that long because all potential candidates must be coordinated with to verify their continued interest and availability. Also, they must be confirmed to be in good standing per diocesan requirements. Until the final list is compiled and screened by the diocese the applications for rector of HTSB will be left open. "In keeping with the Advent season, let us keep our" hopes high and pray that God will send us a Pastor, who will" "be our friend, confessor, brother and spiritual leader in both" our sad and happy times. May God continue to bless us.

Submitted by Max Batong

HTSB TALENT SHOW 2009

As the Rector Search progresses, funds are continually being raised through monthly fundraisers hosted by different ministries of Holy Trinity & St. Benedict. On October 24th, the Youth and Sunday School ministries hosted a Talent Show consisting of 3 sections: Art & Crafts, Baking, and Performance. Much talent was exhibited not only from parishioners but a considerable amount of entries were submitted from talented family and friends of parishioners. With about 100 people in attendance, Hultgren Hall was decorated with paintings, pictures, and hand-made crafts, surrounded by the smell of fresh baked goods, and filled with the sound of beautiful music and singing voices.
The show began with the Arts & Crafts and Baking entries on display for audience view. Arts & Crafts entries ranged from beautifully crocheted blankets to acrylic painted silhouettes, from an entire hand folded origami display to neatly developed photography shots, and from still paintings to art that reflected a dream. Charlynne Adones on the left in the photo won this contest with her pastel painting that reflected a dream she had with the theme "Imagine a world".
Baking entries ranged from persimmon cake to a flour-less dark chocolate cake with dark chocolate hand crafted leaves, from cake that resembled a girls sandals on the beach to delicious peach cobbler, and from cookie cakes with homemade cream to baked pretzel sticks. Gerry Sacoy clenched the Baking title with his Peach Cobbler and ice cream, leaving the flour-less cake from Laurence Padua and the Sandals on the Beach cake by Kurt Bacayan shortly behind in second and third place.
The Performance section displayed a variety of musical talent. Friends from Cal State Long Beach's Fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega, displayed their talent through singing acts with guitar, piano and ukulele accompaniment. One performance even included a song written by the participant, Jerus Binene. Our very own HTSB choir sang the beautiful melody of "Power of Your Love" and youth member Noel Medrano and his friend Manny Alvarez played the Super Mario Bros. theme song on the Marimba. Visitor from St. Barnabas Church in Eagle Rock, Soli Ghandi, displayed his soaring skills as he performed "Sarabande" on the violin. The HTSB Seniors also performed a skit in Ilocano reflecting "A Story of the Great Supper" and also sang a medley of songs in Ilocano and English. Janice Mangangey displayed her guitar and singing skills while Jerika Malona and Katie Guldew sang "Send It On" from the Disney Channel. Magician Sebastian Del Castillo fooled the audience with his magic tricks and illusion, while the HTSB Sunday School kids sang "Jesus Love For Me". Erin Laoyan with accompanying guitar by Jocelyn Mason won the Performance Grand Prize with their rendition of "Make Me Whole" by Amel Larrieux. Soli Ghandi's performance won him second place, while Noel Medrano and Manny Alvarez won the third prize.
The show was successful in its mission to raise funds, but it also brought together friends and family from outside the parish to join our congregational family in a night of fun. Because of its success and enjoyment, we may be looking at an Annual Talent Show for years to come!

Submitted by Karla Bacayan

Search Committee Update

After the search committee completed the Parish Profile, we prepared a summary called the short profile. From that summary of what we are and what we want to be as a congregation, we prepared the parish rector profile which is a brief description of the skills and persona of the rector we are looking for as a parish.
Believe it or not, it is not like preparing a position description and a function summary as it fits into the whole business program and strategy with measureable results. This is a position with visible requirements for performance and spiritual implications which perhaps only the diocesan bishop can attempt to evaluate.
This is one of the reasons why the search process can often take a year or two to complete. One of our local partner Episcopal churchs started theirs after their rector indicated his plan to retire in 2007. They just installed their rector in April 2009. Another one of our dioscesan partner churches started their search process about the same time and they are still in the process. We have communicated with the committee search chairmen of these other churches to get some ideas on how they planned their searches. Some of the information they provided have been very helpful in developing meaningful interview questions.
We got four applications from the Phillippines. These applications were forwarded to the diocesan deployment officer for their approval before we can hold any meaningful dialogue with any of them. The deployment officer, Joanna Satorius, said she will be submitting to the Bishop the names of available clergy whom she considers fit for our congregation and when these are OK'd by the Bishop she will meet with the our committee to give us the list and to listen to any questions we may have.
We have yet to hear from the diocese on the available clergy in the Episcopal Church who are interested. A lot of the members of our congregation have asked where we are in this process and we understand the anxiety of waiting so we will do our best to keep you posted.
We have just finalized the search questionaire which we will ask all candidates to answer. We hope to learn more about these applicants and this should start some interesting conversation with them on their plans and how they see us as a congregation.
Meanwhile, keep praying for a rector who will help us learn more about Jesus, ourselves, and our neighbors as we journey to our final destination.

submitted by Max Batong
Rector Search committee chair

Thank You Father Rick

For all the things you've done during your time with us!

For the years you came to be among us Igorot Filipino at HTSB. You have tried your best to hear and appreciate our ways and culture with interest. You became a family member to us.

For your great love, mercy and compassion. For your heart for us and our parish. For your vision of all that our church could be as a shinning light to the community of Alhambra and beyond. May your vision not die with your departing. May it be birthed in God's time.

When someone in our family got sick, you devotedly prayed and visited them. You humbly offered yourself as a servant to those in need. You brought Holy communion to those who could not come to church, like Rudy Buyagawan.

God knows the mission you accomplished during your trip to the Philippines. You visited the sick people on our prayer list: Joyce Kimps, Fred Fadlen, Mary Afidchao, Fermina Arcido, and Geraldine Asiong. As you traveled up the mountain in Banaue, the Holy Spirit led you to a sick, dying man Lukas Agwat. You poured out healing prayers to him and gave words of comfort to the family.

In times of death in our family, you stood by with loving support. We bless your heart for you have presented yourself as a living sacrifice!

For the joy and laughter of our children. Every time they see you, they would be jumping for joy grabbing you and calling out Padi, Padi! Thank You for your great love for Children. Thank you for the bonds you established with our youth and young adults.

In your gentle ways, you developed friendships with all of us. You called us friends from the youngest to the oldest.

For the beautiful baptisms you performed that brought light to our babies as you presented them in the care of God's hands. For the blessings you released upon our homes. For the stories you shared of your time in Africa and your experiences with the sheriff and search and rescue teams.

For your support and leadership in our home Bible studies. For showing us God's word is truth, a lamp unto our feet and a light to our path. For teaching us to be like trees firmly planted and grounded in God's word.

For being with us during our weekend retreat in Idyllwild. For leading us on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

For the spiritual messages you shared with us in the Sunday bulletin. As we read and meditated on them with delight, they uplifted and gave us encouragement.

For being a leader in the community of Alhambra. For connecting us with so many other churches in the area. For the 2007 Alhambra Good Friday Service at HTSB which brought over 10 churches together for a beautiful and precious time together in Christ. For connecting us with the mayor of Alhambra and the Asian Pacific Women's Center. This reminds us of Jabez prayer: "Oh that you bless us and increase our territory!"

For the improvements of the building and grounds, we praise the Lord, and thank you for your leadership to get it done. All blessings will come upon us and our church through faith and obedience. Glory to God!

Fr. Rick. For all these things, we praise God, and give thanks that you were with us as God's humble and faithful servant.

May your departing not be a forever goodbye. We are all God's children, and are bound together as one in his peace. Thanks to the Lord God Almighty for sending his son Jesus Christ Who came to save us from our sinfulness. Thanks for the Blood of Jesus Christ shed on Calvary for our redemption. Lord God Our heavenly Father we Love you because you first loved us.

God is in control of everything on heaven and earth. May we lean on him our beloved saviour. To God be the glory!

We will surely miss your presence on our Sunday services and Bible studies. Fight the good fight, forget the battles, remain obedient to God, and pursue His calling for you. May the blessings, the grace and peace of God be with you forever and ever.

The HTSB prayer Chain Group

Fr. Rick's Farewell Announcement and Celebration

Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity St. Benedicts Parish,

It is my duty to inform you that Fr. Rick has accepted a position as Chaplain at the Covington Episcopal Home in Oragne County and will be leaving us. His new position begins on August 1, 2008 and therefore, this coming Sunday, July 27th, will be his final service with us. Fr. Rick announced his resignation to the Vestry on Sunday, July 20, during the Vestry meeting. While his resignation announcement to the Vestry was sudden and unexpected, we know and understand that he must listen to God’s call. Fr. Rick must go where he and our Bishop feel he is called to best serve and faithfully minister.

Following our 11AM service on July 27, the Vestry will host a Farewell Party to thank him for his service to us. We hope you can come for this special day and thank Fr. Rick personally for his work in helping us through our transition and search for a permanent rector. We encourage every parishioner and friend of the church to come celebrate Fr. Rick’s time with us and congratulate him in his new ministry.

On behalf of the Vestry of Holy Trinity and St. Benedict, I remain,

Yours in Christ,

Tim Botengan
Senior Warden

Parish Profile Survey Request

Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity & St. Benedict Parish,

As you may already know, Holy Trinity and St. Benedict Parish has entered into a Rector Search Process. An important part of this process is the development of a Parish Profile that will describe who we are as a Parish and more importantly, where we are heading. Through the process of developing a Parish Profile, we as a congregation, will be doing a self-study to know who we are so that we may call a priest who is best matched to our congregation. In a sense, the creation of a parish profile is a “roadmap” to our future and once completed, we can then begin to identify the pastor and leader to help guide us to that future.

The Parish Profile Committee has met several times to deliberate on how best to accomplish this self-study and ultimately, the development our Parish Profile. As a committee, we have discussed what our task is, what our roles are, and have discussed guidelines on how to proceed. Now that the committee has determined the general parameters of this process, we urge your assistance and your input so that you all can decide the future direction of this parish.

The link below will take you to a brief questionnaire. Please take a few minutes to read the questions carefully and answer as honestly and as specifically as you can. We have also scheduled a Congregational Meeting immediately following the Sunday Service on July 13, 2008. In this meeting, we will update you on the status of the Search Process and answer questions you may have. Please mark this date on your calendar.

Thank you so much for your input.

From the Members of the HTSB Parish Profile Committee

Karla Bacayan, Max Batong, Harry Basingat, Tim Botengan, Christine Dagan, Gayle McKinney, Charlene Ocab, and Virginia Ramos.

Click this link to complete the Questionnaire/ Survey:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=E77CfAlCIZgH7D8pUKiKKQ_3d_3d

If you or members of your household prefer to fill out the questionnaire manually, click here for MS Word format of the questionnaire.

2007 LA Diocesan Convention Report - Chris Dagan

What a busy weekend! Thank you for allowing me to represent you when you elected me as one of the delegates to the Diocesan Convention.

The event was the 2007 Los Angeles Diocesan Convention held at the Riverside Convention Center. Along with Fr. Rick, Tim, Carla, Gayle, Virginia Ramos, Manny de Castro, and I, - - - we joined hundreds of other delegates, visitors, friends from other congregations to learn more about each other congregation’s expectations through reports, resolutions, and testimonies.

Naturally, it was highly-organized. It was a smooth flow from the Registration to the sessions, to the entertainment to the dinner, up to the final event - - - the Holy Eucharist. The speakers and sessions were superb. I was taken with the convention’s attention to detail and professional presentations. The logistics moved like clockwork under Bishop Bruno’s strong direction. No time was wasted. But there was ample time go to the exhibition hall and fellowship with friends and other delegates. The agenda was followed to the T. The Exhibition Hall was filled to the capacity with many vendors - - - lots to buy, books, Christmas decorations, jewelries, church needs, etc. Lots of items to choose from.

For one to know and understand what I am saying - - - the workings of such a magnitude conference, one has to experience it. I urge you accept when nominated to be a delegate. If you cannot be delegate, be an alternate delegate, and if this still does not work for you, be a guest. As a delegate you will have voice and be able to vote on all the resolutions, delegates, proposals, etc. Being an alternate delegate and visitor will not give you voice therefore will not be able to vote but just being there with everyone, experiencing the aura of the moment and seeing the Diocese in action will be very rewarding. Being there allows one to listen to the different speakers share their personal experience/s on their journey as Christians. Being there also, will give us the chance to hear and listen to the Being there also, will make one aware and give understanding of the many processes to be worked through to make the L. A. Diocese that it is today. The one who will continue to work with us, support us especially in times of struggle so that we will be able to continue to move forward as we realize our dreams of becoming a fulfilled HTSB.

Thanks for giving me this opportunity to share. Again, thanks too for electing me as one of your delegates. What a learning experience! It was a pleasure representing you and be in the midst of where the action is. Getting to see once again some of the ECW board was such a pleasant surprise. Being in the company of the other HTSB delegates, dining with them and going out for a special break was added bonus to the whole event. All in all, it was an experience I will always treasure.

Thank you.
Chris Dagan

HTSB Enters into Rector Search Process

An Important Announcement from your Vestry

December 2, 2007

Dear Fellow Parishioners and Friends:

On behalf of your Vestry, it is with great pleasure that I inform you of our unanimous decision to enter into the rector search process. After much deliberation and with the great help and spiritual leadership from the Rev. Rick Byrum, we feel called into initiating the steps toward calling our Rector, which is the right and duty of every mature parish, in consultation with their Bishop.

Several weeks ago, the Vestry met with the Reverend Canon Joanna Satorious, from the diocesan Office of Clergy Formation and Development, to discuss our intent to move forward with the search process. We will continue to work with her to make sure that we are in keeping with Diocesan procedures.

As you may know, our congregation has been through many challenges these past few years and much of it has meant a time of introspection. We feel this time has been well spent in the development of lay leadership and growth. As I stated in my letter to the Diocese, we, the Congregation of Holy Trinity and St. Benedict have grown and are now ready to seek stability in our spiritual life by taking that next step in the life of every parish by choosing a priest whom God calls to be rector of this parish.

Some of you may immediately wonder, “Is Fr. Rick leaving us? Are we asking him to leave?” That is not the case. Fr. Rick is committed to our Parish and will remain the Priest-In-Charge until we call our rector. He has also expressed his deep desire to continue his pastoral role here at Holy Trinity and St. Benedict and will be a candidate for that search process. But before we call a person to serve, we must first understand who we are. We must first figure out who we are and where we want to go before anyone can listen to the call to serve as this parish’s next rector.

This search process will be a challenging journey for all of us, a journey that will take many, many months of self discovery and soul searching. The important thing to know, however, is that we will be taking this journey together as a congregation. This search process will be an open one where all of us will be involved. For the next several months, we will be working to develop a Parish Profile that will state in words who we are, what we want to do, where we want to go, what our goals are, what programs we will pursue, and so on. We will be having many town hall meetings, small group discussions, and home visits, until we have completed a Parish Profile.
As I mentioned, this is an open process and I encourage all of you to participate and voice out your opinions. I also encourage all of us to be open to all possibilities of what is right and good and not what one necessarily wants. God works in mysterious ways and God will call the one who should be here with us, as rector of this parish, and this process is meant to facilitate that.

With great joy and expectation, I remain,

Yours in Christ,

Tim Botengan
Senior Warden
The Parish of Holy Trinity and St. Benedict
Email: tbotengan@earthlink .net
Cell: (626) 482-3911

PS
On Sunday, December 2, 2007, this announcement was distributed at the 11:00 AM service. In addition, those who had questions or concerns were invited to stay immediately after the service so that they can ask the members of the Vestry. As the letter mentioned, this is an open process and the Vestry will try to keep it as transparent as allowed. We will continue to hold question and answer sessions immediately after church services whenever possible. We will also continue to inform you of any new developments as they come up. Thank you.

ECW Retreat Report 11-10-07 by Chris Dagan

What is in a name? Call it a retreat, conference, workshop, whatever, etc., you would have been and should be proud of a bunch of our ECW members for a successful Retreat. It was a full day event for seventeen members, namely; Fidela, Nora, Amy, Betty, Doris, Muriel, Anne, Bing, Jane B., Evelyn, Trini, Ely, Linda, Myrna, Semina, Gail, and Chris when they gathered at Hultgren’s Hall on Saturday, 11/10/07. The day was an open invitation to participate in an open forum, in the hopes of shading light to a controversial issue, RELIGION - - not so much with our own group’s beliefs but also to understand the beliefs of that of the larger community.

As one big group, the day started with Order for Morning Prayer led by Fr. Rick Byrum. The lecture which followed was intended for the participant’s examination of oneself as it relates to everyday living with ones interaction to the community and GOD. Additionally, it served also as an introduction to the theme/day’s discussion – Diversity in Religious Beliefs. Recognizing the myriad of opinion relating to religion, we learned that no religion is without value. Knowing our GOD and his unconditional love for mankind was reinforced in our small group discussions especially as each one was encouraged to share her story. Listening to co-members of the congregation relate their stories and to hear the joys, the sadness experienced because of that certain belief added special meaning to the day.

Did we have a successful Retreat? To me, my presence was blessed with the opportunity to be in the company of good friends whom I learned much from. I have greater respect for each of them - - - for their passion in their beliefs of which I would not have known otherwise. Kudos to all 17 members for pulling it off, thereby as a result a successful Retreat. Special thanks to Myrna for providing the baked goods and coffee, to Muriel for providing the lunch sandwiches, to Fr. Byrum for the chocolate candies, and to Jane for providing the dinner. We were well nourished throughout the day - - thanks to them.

Much thanks to Fr. Byrum for facilitating the meeting and leading us to a good discussion despite our different moods and feelings. For re-directing us to the issue, especially when the discussion/s would get out of line, for reminding us to focus our thoughts because no matter the difference/s in opinion and other things, that only one thing is constant and that is GOD’s love for all of us. Truly, the “ECW DAY of PRAYER and REFLECTION” aptly named, also thanks to Fr. Byrum was certainly that. Hopefully, some, if not all felt recharged after the Retreat about what family congregation we have at HTSB. I did!

Respectfully submitted, ….chris

p.s. As a child growing up, do you remember the table where you ate, the shape, the people at that table? Where were you seated at that table? Something for you to think about. Happy recollecting.