In The Spirit

-- Michele Marr

* Church name: Saint Michael and All Angels

* Address: 3233 Pacific View Drive, Corona del Mar

* Telephone: (949) 644-0463

* Denomination: Episcopal

* Year church established: 1959

* Service times: On Sunday, Holy Eucharist is at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. At

9 a.m. “Christian Foundations: An Introduction to the Faith” is led by

the Rev. Jaime Edwards-Acton in the Parish Center Library. Children meet

for Sunday school at 10 a.m. before joining their families in church just

before the Eucharist service.

* Senior pastor: The Rev. Peter D. Haynes

* Assistant pastors: The Rev. Jaime Edwards-Acton is missioner for the

parish youth and family ministry; the Rev. Judy Turberg is missioner for

the parish seniors ministry.

* Pastoral staff: Burton Karson, minister of music; Peggy Strong,

minister of religious education; Barbara Johnson, Donnie Lewis and Sonia

Scarlett, ministers of administration.

* Size of congregation: Approximately 200 people attend weekly Sunday

services.

* Makeup of congregation: All ages, primarily from Corona del Mar,

Newport Beach, Costa Mesa and Irvine.

* Child care: Provided for all services and most other activities

* Type of worship: The worship is Eucharistically centered, using the

traditional and contemporary books of common prayer. It reflects the rich

liturgical heritage of the Anglican Church. The 8 a.m. service does not

regularly have music, but it does have music several times a year. A full

choir and organ accompaniment provide hymns and anthems at the 10 a.m.

service.

* Type of homily: Teaching or commentary on contemporary challenges,

drawing on resources from Scripture, tradition, experience and current

events.

* Upcoming homily: On April 18, Haynes will relate the story told in

the Gospel according to Luke, Chapter 24, in honor of the upcoming parish

pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The Gospel story tells of Jesus and the “two

beloveds” on the road to Emmaus; the theme of Haynes’ message will be

“Holy People Move.”

Those participating in the pilgrimage will depart for the Holy Land on

April 20.

* Welcome wagon: If visitors leave their name and phone number they

are sent a letter along with the current church newsletter. If visitors

ask for specific information, someone from the church calls them to

answer their questions. A four-week series of basic Christianity classes

is offered quarterly for newcomers to the church.

* Outreach programs: Haynes chairs the Diocesan World Mission

Commission. The parish participates in both the Anglican and Diocesan

Cycle of Prayer to pray for needs around the world. It also supports the

Interfaith Shelter Project, the Interfaith Peace Project and the

Canterbury Chaplaincy at the Interfaith Center at UC Irvine. Recently, 12

parishioners, led by Frances Haynes, took a “ton of food” collected

during Lent to four Tijuana orphanages administered by Children of the

Americas.

* Dress: Haynes says dress tends to be “come-as-you-are, California

eclectic,” and offers this guideline, “How would you dress to have dinner

with Jesus?”

* Church design: It’s a blend of contemporary and traditional. The

sanctuary houses eight extraordinarily beautiful stained-glass windows

depicting eight Christian saints. The parish is currently constructing a

large, new parish center to house offices, classrooms and a multipurpose

room. The addition is needed to accommodate the parish’s growing

membership, which includes many families with young children. The project

is scheduled for completion in time for Easter.

* Mission statement: Our mission is to seek and share Jesus Christ as

spiritual food for life’s journey.

* Interesting note: Christian education opportunities this spring

include “Journey: An Exploration of Scripture,” which will meet on

Tuesday evenings and “Praying God’s Stories: Breaking Open Scripture with

Contemplative Prayer,” which will meet on Wednesday evenings. Both meet

in the north wing of the sanctuary from 7 to 8:30 p.m.