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You Have An Advocate
As the Easter Season builds to the Day of Pentecost, our Gospel Reading returns to Jesus’ farewell with his disciples. He is going away. When he goes, the Father will send an Advocate to be with the disciples and to lead them in the way of Jesus.
The word we translate as Advocate is one of several terms that come from legal language. It refers to someone who will speak out for or defend another. This is a description of the work of God’s Holy Spirit. Jesus’ departure is not abandonment. They will not be orphans. The difference is that this advocate whom God sends will be within them.
The relationship they have experienced with Jesus is just the beginning. It will continue and grow. The fullness of the relationship of Jesus and the Father includes them as well. They are expected to live it out in the relationships they have with one another.
Being a Christian is not primarily about a set of propositions to which we agree. It is primarily about accepting God’s invitation to a relationship through Jesus Christ. It is the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who invites us into relationship.
You might not always recognize the Advocate. Because God’s Spirit is within the faithful, what we usually experience is a person welcoming or inviting us. That person is empowered by God and doing the work of the Spirit.
Have you felt the Spirit’s power lead you to welcome, invite, encourage, or defend another? God’s abundant life is all about relationship and caring for one another, for the stranger, and for the world. We are involved because God sent the Advocate to speak up for us and to speak to us. Once the relationship begins, we find that God has begun to work through us for the work of relationship building.
God has made you an Advocate.
Join us this weekend as we build relationships and learn the work of God’s Advocacy.
Fr. Andrew
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John 14:15-21
Jesus said to his disciples, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.
“I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”
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Camp Stevens Programs for
Families and Adults
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This summer, Camp Stevens is offering: Women’s Eastern Sierra Basecamp Backpacking; Sequoia Family Camping; High Sierra Basecamp Backpacking for Families & Adults; Memorial Day Family Camp; Young Adventurers Family Weekend; Thanksgiving Family Camp, and much, much more. Explore the natural environment with a new sense of adventure and self-confidence. Contact http://www.campstevens.org.
See Bonnie Stroock for additional information.
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United Thank Offering – Spring In-Gathering
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During our Fall In-Gathering we collected $2,312 for UTO. We have collected a little over $1,264.71, to date, for the spring campaign. This year St. Paul’s is focused on Grace, Gratitude, Generosity: Love for what we have, Love for what we have been given, and Love for the God that gives it.
Please remember the women, who had a dream, so long ago, and started this outreach ministry and gave us ALL a challenge…one that we must answer every day. What are you thankful for?
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 “Sundays at 9:15”
Continuing through June 5th, we shall explore our “Anglican/Episcopal Tradition”.What does it mean and from whence did we come? We shall explore our origins and our history. We will use a series of video presentations followed by discussion, which will help us discover where this denomination of ours began and developed as an on-going, growing community of faith. We may not answer all the questions; however, we may increase our ability to live comfortably with ambiguity, led by the Rev’d Canon Victoria Hatch.
There is no need to sign-up for these classes, show up and discover.
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ATTENTION!!!
No “Sunday’s at 9:15” class on June 12th!
Instead we’ll join the Church’s Pentecost Birthday Party!
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 Continuing “Sundays at 9:15”
On June 19th, we’ll explore “The Story of St. Thomas.” Class begins with a DVD presentation led by Professor Amy-Jill Levine, of Vanderbilt University Divinity School. She points out that the “doubting Thomas” label is an unfortunate misnomer. She will also explore with us three ancient texts attributed to St. Thomas which are receiving lots of attention today. Following the DVD, the Rev. Dr. David E. Abernethy-Deppe will lead us in discussion.
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 Continuing “Sundays at 9:15”
On June 26th, the Rev. Canon Victoria Hatch will help us explore “The Story of Mary Magdalene.” Again, we begin with a DVD presentation by Professor Amy-Jill Levine, of Vanderbilt University Divinity School. There are many myths and legends about this interesting woman, including that she may have been Jesus’ lover or wife. We will also want to explore her extended conversation with the resurrected Jesus in which, according to the Gospel of John, she is commissioned to be the “apostle to the apostles.” Come and see!
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“Thursdays at 7”
is currently looking at “Paul, The Man and His Mission.” Each Thursday evening beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Library, we will watch a half hour DVD presentation by Prof. Bart D. Ehrman, Chair of Religious Studies Dept, University of North Carolina, followed by a guided discussion.
May 26 Paul and the Crises of His Churches
June 2 Pauline Ethics.
It is not too late to join us – Bring a friend! This series will be facilitated by Dr. Jerry DiNoto.
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 Continuing “Thursdays at 7”
The Heartbeat of God: Finding the Sacred in the Middle of Everything – this book written by The Most Reverend Katherine Jefferts Schori’s will be the topic of discussion offered Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. on June 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th. This series will be facilitated by The Rev’d Canon Victoria Hatch. The book is available from Amazon, both in hard copy and as a downloadable to your Kindle or Nook.
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Episcopal Relief and Development
Responds to Severe Storms and Tornadoes
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The severe storms and tornadoes that overwhelmed over seven mid-western states from Canada to Texas this week, continue to disrupt the lives of all in the region. In Joplin alone, over 115 people have died, thousands have been injured and most of the population now is homeless.
Episcopal Relief and Development has appealed for our support of the growing number of dioceses responding to those in distress. Help storm victims by donating to St. Paul’s , indicating “storm relief” in the comments space.
Pray for those who are at risk or who have suffered losses, for the families of those who have died, and for the rescue and relief teams who are working to save lives and address immediate needs.
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Desert SOS Dessert Ministry
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 St. Paul’s SOS Dessert Ministry
NEEDS YOUR HELP!
We encourage our parishioners to get in the habit of buying an extra box of cookies, doughnuts, fruit, cheese or any other special treat when they do their weekly grocery shopping-and then donating it to Roy’s through our Dessert Ministry. This would assist us in providing dessert for the 90+ clients, many of them children, of Roy’s Desert Resource Center, every Monday evening. Parishioners can bring items to church on the weekend or deliver desserts before 4:00 p.m. on Monday. Place the parishable desserts in the Parish Hall refrigerator (labeled clearly “SOS”). Special thanks to this week’s servers: Ron Shepherd, Fred Crawford, Michael Howard, Paul Thompson, Mark Legett and James Kyle, Steve Keller, Chuck Marx and Hap Blaisdell. Several parishioners are regular dessert providers; please become one too! This week’s providers were many of the servers, along with Mary Lou Feenstra and Valerie Winters. Contact Hap for more information at 760.323.5726.
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Well In The Desert
Now Serves Lunch at St. Paul’s on Wednesdays
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The Well in the Desert has moved its meal service at St. Paul’s from Fridays to Wednesdays. In order to support the retail businesses in our neighborhood, we requested a change in the day of our meal service. Now a hot meal is served at St. Paul’s from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. every Wednesday.
The Well needs volunteers to carry out their services and they need financial support to provide them. You can call (760) 327-8577 to volunteer. If you want to contribute to the Well, just write “Well” in the memo portion of your check.
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The population of men, women and children being cared for at Roy’s Resource Center has increased 30% this year. These clients are in need of the basic necessities of life. The SOS Fund needs YOUR support to continue to help our homeless friends who are trying to break the cycle of homelessness. Each month $300.00 comes from the fund to provide undergarments, socks and other necessities. If you are interested in supporting this outreach ministry, drop a check in the collection plate. Make the check payable to: St. Paul’s, and in the memo area, write: SOS Fund.
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The Feast of the Ascension
June 2, 2011
12:15 p.m.
Holy Communion in the Church.
This feast commemorates the day, 40 days after Easter when Jesus went up to heaven.
(Luke 24:50 or Acts 1:9)
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Notice – The Wednesday 6:00 p.m. Holy Communion service, held in the Library, has been closed for the summer.
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Coffee Hour
 The hosts for the 8:00 a.m. Coffee Hour are Jessica and Marcus Scott; and Jeffrey and Marie Ratnam, with their Sri Lankan feast in honor of Kyara. Richard Cadarette and Joe Noble are hosting the 10:30 a.m. Coffee Hour.
The 2011 coffee hour sign-up sheets are posted on the north wall at Hogarth Hall. Find an empty slot and fill it with your name. For more information, call Ray Kelley at 760.778.1725.
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Ride Needed
We have had a request from one of our most long-term members at the Church of St Paul in Desert for a ride to the 10:30 am service on Sundays. She lives just northeast of the intersection of Indian Canyon and Racquet Club. If this is a ministry you feel called to, please contact Jonathan Abernethy-Deppe, Parish Administrator, at 760.320.7488 ext 224.
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The Bishop’s Appeal
The Bishop’s Appeal supports the mission of the diocese through gifts that are used for support of our ongoing programs and ministries: congregational support and development, leadership development, pastoral care, ministry development, and Christian formation. 100% of your gift goes to supporting our ministries. To make a gift, to the secure website at http://www.edsd.org or mail to: Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, 2728 Sixth Ave., San Diego, CA 92103.
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Report Sexual Misconduct
As part of our ongoing commitment to creating a safe haven for everyone, please be reminded that our diocese values the tenet of our baptismal covenant to “respect the dignity of every human being.” Part of the way we live into that is to train people in the prevention of sexual misconduct. Another part that goes hand-in-hand with training is reporting incidences of sexual misconduct. Our bishop, the Rt. Rev. James R. Mathes, takes reports seriously and investigates them thoroughly and confidentially. If you believe you have experienced sexual misconduct of any kind, please contact Bishop Mathes immediately: bishopmathes@edsd.org, 619-481-5450.
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NEWCOMERS
Are you receiving the latest mailings and the Abundant Lite weekly newsletter? If not, then we probably don’t have your correct mailing and/or email addresses. We want to make sure that you receive the invites to join us in a series of Newcomer events that we believe you will find to be informative and enjoyable. Please fill out the form in the pew pocket and place it in the plate, give it to an usher, or send your contact information by email to valerie.winters@stpaulsps.org.
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Bullies Not Welcome Here
At St. Paul in the Desert we want to welcome all worshipers to a place that is free of violence and bullying.
Physical, verbal or emotional violence against others or against oneself is not acceptable.
“It Gets Better” is a series of video messages to encourage Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, or Transgender youth and let them know that they are loved as they are.
“A Blessing for Those Who Are Bullied” was written by the Rt. Rev. Steven Charleston, a Bishop of the Episcopal Church.
It is not enough to say “NO” to bullies. It is important to stand up for people and to provide resources for those who have been the targets.
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