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Now It Begins
On the 2nd Sunday of Advent, we always think about John the Baptist. Then in January, we read virtually the same passage, with the emphasis on John baptizing Jesus.
Today, rather than think about the Baptist, I would like to reflect on beginnings.
The opening words of the Gospel According to Mark are: “The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” The good news begins. My thoughts are not about how Mark begins versus how John begins telling the story, but they are about beginning.
Sometimes we connect with our faith as a series of propositions we agree with if we are Christian, and disagree with if we are not. I had a visitor this week who wanted to hear the propositions I thought were important. He came from a place of believing and wanted to make a decision on my beliefs. He left disappointed when I did not respond as he expected.
I am more interested in being a kind of spiritual travel agent rather calculating propositions or prerequisites. Christianity is for people who want to begin a journey to Jesus or with Jesus and I want to help them make connections. My practice is pretty limited as I am only licensed to work as a Christian and more specifically as an Episcopalian.
The first invitation is to “Come and see.” People are invited to come and see Jesus in the midst of our Parish community. They will hear the Word of God in Scripture. They will see and hear God be praised. They will watch (and maybe experience) as we pray for one another and the world. They will observe our sacred meal and hear another invitation.
They will see us practicing as Jesus’ disciples. I hope they see that we are people on a journey, and that we are all at different places on that journey. All the content of our faith gets discussed, but never as a prerequisite for starting the journey.
Join us this weekend as we, once again, begin our journey with the good news of Jesus Christ. And bring your friends.
Fr. Andrew
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Mark 1:1-8
The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way;
the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
`Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,'”
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
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The John Jacobsen funeral is Saturday, December 3rd at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul in the Desert. Reception immediately to follow in Hogarth Hall.
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Saturday, December 3rd, 7 am – 2 pm
United Methodist Church of Palm Springs
1555 E. Alejo Road
Palm Springs
 The Spirit of Christ MCC (Metropolitan Community Church) and the Unity Church in Joplin, MO, were devastated by this summer’s tornadoes. The two congregations share a building and a witness to full inclusion in Joplin.
Spirit of Christ Church thought they had insurance. The insurance company had the check in it’s possession but had not deposited it when the tornado struck. They returned the check and canceled the policy.
Many churches were destroyed or damaged in Joplin, but these two have smaller networks to assist them. Desert Oasis Chapel has organized a rummage sale to help these two congregations. St. Paul’s and three other congregations are offering support.
• Donations can be dropped of at the fellowship hall of the church between 12 noon and 6pm on Friday Dec. 2nd.
• Volunteers are needed to help with pricing and sorting on the 2nd. Anyone, for any amount of time, will be a help. Also needed are volunteers to help with the actual sale on Dec. 3rd. Organizers are asking volunteers to sign up for a two hour shift.
• Monetary contributions to the event are welcome. Go to desertoasischapel.com and click on “donations”; the Pay Pal screen will appear. Place Joplin in the section that says “purpose”. A tax receipt for the contribution will be mailed. Anyone making donations of sale items can also get a receipt for their tax records by asking for it when they drop the item off.
Please help four churches in Palm Springs help two churches in Joplin.
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“Sundays at 9:15”
In The Library
Dec. 4, 11 & 18
Living the Hope of Advent
Based on the Sunday readings, we’ll learn to use three different forms of prayer to open up the scriptures for our understanding and spiritual growth: “The Basics of Meditation and Mantra as prayer with Scriptures,” “The Basics of Meditative Reading: Centering Prayer;” and “The Basics of Contemplation.”
•with Jerry Lynch
Jan. 1
No Class
Jan. 8, 15, 22, & 29
Enriching our Prayer Life
We welcome back, The Rev. John Harper, Deacon, from the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa. John continues what we began last month, and will explore with us a broad spectrum of types and traditions of prayer—spoken and non-verbal, traditional and contemporary, from Christian and other faith practices. The final project will be for us to create our own distinctive versions of the Prayers of the People.
•with John Harper
Feb. 5, 12 & 19
The Pastoral Epistles
•with Jerry DiNoto
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“Thursdays At 7”
Dec. 1, 8 & 15
Taize Service
Thursday evenings, during Advent, you’re invited to put into practice “Living The Hope of Advent” by praying Evensong (choral Evening Prayer). We’ll follow the practice of the Taizé Community, engaging in meditative singing and prayer.
•with Nathan Ensign & Victoria Hatch
In the Church
Dec. 22, 29 & Jan. 5
No Class
Jan. 12
Nimble Believing,
Dr. Ferlo will use poetry (Herbert, Dickinson and Auden) and works of art to explore the challenge of believing in an unbelieving time and place.
•with The Rev. Dr. Roger Ferlo,Theologian in Residence
In the Church
Jan. 19 & 26
The Historical Jesus
These two presentations by Dr. Bart D. Ehrman (DVD) attempt to reconstruct the life of the historical Jesus: Who was he and what did he actually say and do? In other words: “Will the real Jesus please stand up!” Marcus Borg’s book, Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time, provides a helpful background.
•with David Abernethy-Deppe
In the Parish Hall Parlor
Feb. 2, 9, 16 & 23
21st Century Christian Response to the World
•with Craig Ewing
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The Daughters of the King invite all women parishioners to join in planning the Annual Winter Tea. The meeting will be held Tuesday, November 29th at 1:00 p.m. in the condo at St. Paul’s. Women who want to deepen their spiritual life, who want to dedicate to praying each day, and are able to meet once a month are invited.
Our Tea date is January 22nd, 2012. Watch for details. Have a blessed Advent. For additional information contact Bonnie Stroock at 760.324.7949.
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Christmas Flowers of Remembrance
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 Christmas Flowers of Remembrance – Beginning Sunday, December 4th, the annual Christmas Remembrance Flower envelopes are available in the pew pocket. Complete the envelope and return by Sunday, December 18th. Place the envelope in the plate or mail it to the parish office. You may also place your remembrance on-line at valerie.winters@stpaulsps.org.
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 2012 Giving Envelopes are NOW AVAILABLE in the narthex. They will only be available in the narthex December 3rd and 10th weekends. After Sunday, December 11th they will need to be picked up in the parish offices. If you do not need giving envelopes, and have some assigned, please place them in the side box that is marked, “giving envelopes not needed”. If you have any questions, contact Valerie at 760.320.7488 ext. 227 or valerie.winters@stpaulsps.org.
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Taize Style Service Comes to St. Paul’s
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In having used Taize chants in our Sunday worship, many have asked when a Taize style service would be held here.
To go along with Jerry Lynch’s meditation classes on the Sundays in Advent, Nathan Ensign, Director of Music, will be offering a 30 minute Taize style service of songs, scripture and silence on Thursday nights (continuing Dec. 8th, and 15th) in the Church at 7:00 p.m.
Participants will be sitting on the carpet, so please bring a small stool or a cushion to sit on and wear comfortable clothes. If you have any questions, please contact Nathan through the church office at 760.320.7488 ext. 225. We hope that this opportunity will add a new dimension to your Advent preparations.
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United Thank Offering Sunday is December 4th
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United Thank Offering Sunday is THIS SUNDAY, Dec. 4th. – Please give generously to the UTO as you ponder all the things for which you can give thanks. The UTO is a ministry of The Episcopal Church that values thanksgiving, generosity, mission, and ministry. Since 1889, the UTO has helped alleviate human suffering by distributing money through grants. Last year the UTO received 120 grant applications from which 69 were chosen to receive grants of a total of $2 million to support projects locally and worldwide. Domestic needs received 43 grants, companion dioceses received 11, and international projects 15. Domestic needs received 43 grants, companion dioceses received 11, and international projects 15. In Phoenix, St. Jude’s Mission received $24,000 to buy a van to transport children from elementary to college age to church functions. In Los Angeles, $5,000 was awarded to a church to provide African immigrants with a storage unit for distributing goods.
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ECW Welcomes the Holidays
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Getting an early start on the holiday season, The Episcopal Church Women will gather on December 1st for their Christmas luncheon. The event begins at 11:30 a.m. with the business meeting.
A festive meal is planned for the occasion, and as is traditional, there will be caroling, featuring Jeannette Debonne playing the harp. Newcomers to the parish will be especially welcomed at this event.
The salad luncheon is at noon, and those attending are asked to bring a salad to serve six, rolls/bread, or a dessert. Beverages will be provided. For questions about the luncheon, please contact Bette Knutson, (760) 416-5739. Hostess for the luncheon is Kathy Briski.
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Roy’s Desert Resource Center & Desert SOS
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Hap Blaisdell, strongly encourages volunteers to use the sign-up sheets in the Parish Hall to help him manage the number of volunteers he would like to see each week for Desert SOS. Hap says a minimum of 6 volunteers at Roy’s each Monday night is ideal. If fewer than six volunteers sign up, the workload is overly burdensome. The sign-up sheets are in the binder on the entrance table to the Parish Hall. Contact Hap for more information at 760.323.5726.
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Please give to Christmas at Desert SOS – Yes, Christmas is less than a month away and it’ll be a “hard candy Christmas” for the 90 homeless men, women and children at Desert SOS. Even though St. Paul in the Desert will continue to provide and serve Monday desserts and the monthly supply of undergarments and socks to Roy’s Resource Center, Christmas can be a lonely time when you’re without a home and the ability to provide or receive gifts.
Our SOS team has again worked with Roy’s management to bring Yuletide cheer to the children and the neediest at Roy’s! We will purchase Walmart gift cards from our St. Paul’s SOS Fund. But, that money is very limited. We need HELP. The children and the neediest will be taken on shopping trips to Walmart for the perfect-fit in clothing, shoes, and if enough money is raised…a toy.
YOU can be a part of happiness to the homeless, by donating. Please mark your check with“SOS Christmas” on it and place in the plate. We will do the rest.
Thank you to all the parishioners who donated last weekend to this Ministry. You have made Christmas brighter for several. For more information about this program call Hap at 760.323.5726.
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 ONE Extra Item…Brings Smiles to the Homeless – Purchase one extra item during your weekly shopping to donate to the Desert SOS Dessert Ministry of St. Pauls. Dessert is provided every Monday evening. A box of cookies, doughnuts, fruit, cheese or other special treat would be so appreciated by people who ask for so little. Place the dessert in the Parish Hall refrigerator, (labeled clearly “SOS”), or bring it to the parish office (ring doorbell) before 4:00 p.m. Monday. Contact Hap for more information at 760.323.5726.
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Christmas Worship Schedule
December 24th
Saturday, 6:00 p.m.
Christmas Eve
Family Service
(Carols 5:45)
Blessing of the Creche
December 24th
Saturday, 11:00 p.m.
Christmas Eve
Midnight Mass
(Carols 10:45)
Choir of
St. Paul in the Desert
December 25th
Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
Christmas Day
Holy Communion
with Carols
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A Holy Communion Service
. . . is scheduled for Wednesday, December 7th, at 10:00 a.m. at Windsor Court. The Rev. Dick Merrill will preside and welcomes assistance.
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Deck The Halls
Deck the Halls – The Christmas Decoration Committee decorated the outside of the church on Monday, November 28th. They will be decorating the inside of the church on Monday, December 19th. They welcome volunteers to come assist. Contact Rosa Zingg for further information at rozingg@yahoo.com or 760.904.5080.
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Coffee Hour
 To sign-up to host a Coffee Hour, please use the binder located on the entrance table in the Parish Hall. If you have any questions, please contact, Ray or Cheryl Kelley at 760.778.1725.
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The Children’s Choir
. . . continues on Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. in the Choir Room. All children ages 4 and above are encouraged to participate in this dynamic musical ministry where they not only learn musical skills but also how to work together as a team. They will be singing about once a month for the 10:30 service. Call Nathan at 760-320-7488 ext. 225 for more details.
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Scam Alert!
 An impersonator pretends to be a relative in urgent need of money.
You receive a phone call from someone pretending to be your son, daughter, grandchild, etc. requesting money to get out of a predicament. Your emotions run high and you cave in to sending a money gram to assist. You have been scammed. It is happening frequently.
If you should receive such a call, verify the identity of the caller by asking a question only the true individual could answer. If the caller is unable to answer correctly, you can be assured you have interrupted a scam.
For a thorough discussion on this subject, Click Here.
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Sign Up for Flowers,
Coffee Hour and
Desert SOS
To make is easier for parishioners to sign-up for Flowers, Coffee Hours, and the Dessert Ministry, we have integrated the sign-up sheets into a three-ring binder format. These sheets are in binders that are on the entrance table in the Parish Hall. Instead of writing parallel onto a bulletin board, you will now be able to write at table height. Please note that there are binders for the rest of 2011 and for 2012. If you have a special date that you want to commemorate, be sure to save it as soon as possible.
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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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Parishioners: Are you sure we have your contact information? In our quest to keep our directory current, we ask you to give us your updated address, telephone, and email if it has changed in the past year. Too often we get the message “Return to Sender” and “Telephone no longer in service.” Please fill out the form in the pew pocket and place it in the plate or email: valerie.winters@stpaulsps.org.
Better twice than not at all. Thank you!
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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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The St. Paul Columbarium Niches are over 60% sold out. If you are interested in a specific niche, please do not wait to purchase it or reserve it. Deposits are required for all niche reservations. Please contact Jonathan Abernethy-Deppe, at 760.320.7488, ext. 224 for further information.
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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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