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You Are Friends
In the Gospel this week, Jesus tells us that we are his friends – no longer servants. His words are a continuation of his description of the loving relationship he desires with us, that he expects of us, and that promises to be a foundation of joy in our lives.
Like so many things in John’s Gospel, it is about relationship.
Our hope for real life and eternal life is not based on our status, our origins, or our bank account, but on our relationships. The primary relationship is our connection with Christ and secondarily, how that relationship is lived out in our connections with others. Jesus is not simply training followers, he is forming a community.
As a parish we are forming that same community in this time and place. We are centered on God and building connections to one another and to the world “that God so loved.”
I saw two movies yesterday that focused my understanding of our work as “friends” of Jesus. “Gen Silent” is about LGBT seniors and the significant isolation they may experience. “Bully” follows several young people who are the victims of sustained bullying, and the families of two boys who took their own lives to escape being bullied.
I am mentioning these today because I believe that part of our call as members of St. Paul in the Desert is to respond to these two needs. I believe we are called to stand up against bullying of all kinds and I believe that we are called to attend to the needs of our Seniors of all kinds. In the weeks and months ahead more will be shared about ways that we can respond.
Join us in worship this weekend as we explore how friendship with God invites us to expand the circle of friendship to those most at risk.
Fr. Andrew
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John 15:9-17
Jesus said to his disciples, “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.”
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Welcome David Peronal – Our New Sexton
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David has lived in Palm Springs 1½ years by way of Orange County. He traveled and performed 2 years with Christian musical/theater company “Jeremiah People,” which led him to live in Dallas for 6 years. He enjoys music, digital photography, his dog Buster, and riding his motorcycle. He is sole proprietor of a residential cleaning business, Mr. Clean & Green, and produces tribute videos memorializing passed loved ones. David is very happy to become a part of the St. Paul in the Desert community!
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Robert Taylor will be back to read from and promote his new book on May 13.
We will have the reading, conversation and signing at 9:15 in the Library.
He will be available to greet and sign books after the 10:30 service also.
Visit Robert’s website by clicking here.
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“Sundays at 9:15”
In The Library
May 13, & 20 No Class May 27
5/13 St. Matthew, led by Victoria Hatch
5/20 St. Luke, led by Jerry DiNoto
5/27 No class
June 2012
Led by Craig Ewing. We will look at the life, teachings, and doctrine of St. Augustine, a remarkable philosopher and Saint, whose own search for God profoundly shaped all of Western Christianity.
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“Thursdays At 7”
May 10, 17, 24, & 31
5/10 The Life of the Buddha
5/17 All Is Suffering
Saundra Young, Resident Teacher at the Dharmachakra Buddhist Center, Palm Springs, will be our guest on Thursday, May 17th , at 7:00 pm. After we view the DVD, “Buddhism: All Is Suffering”, she will engage us in conversation on this important Buddhist concept. She is a student of the Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, internationally renowned teacher of Buddhism. A sincere and dedicated practitioner, Saundra is known for her loving concern for others, her humor, and her clear and practical teachings.
5/24 The Path to Nirvana led by the Faith Formation Team
5/31 The Buddhist Community, with the Dharmachakra Buddhist Center
June 2012
Guided by Susan Green. Visual Journeying is a course designed to help us explore methods of prayer, listening and journaling as a way of nourishing and enhancing our prayer life.
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Rebuild Our Church in Haiti
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The Episcopal Diocese of Haiti—the largest Diocese in the Episcopal Church is in ruins. While the people of Haiti struggle to rebuild their nation, Episcopalians are uniting to rebuild our Church in Haiti.
Click the image above to learn more.
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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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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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Prayer Shawl Ministry
. . . meets every Wednesday from 10 am – 1 pm in the Parish Hall. This peace-filled stitching circle gives members fulfillment and spiritual sustenance in creating prayer shawls to comfort those in need of prayer. For more details contact Valerie Ferguson at 760.799.5927, Barbara Hawkins Villani at 760.322.3987, or Audrey Spencermorris at 760.835.5506.
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New Members
. . . were welcomed to the Church of St. Paul in the Desert last Sunday. These new members are: Joan Dawson, Mick Dawson, Carolyn Etheridge, Clarence (Mick) Garzoli, John Granet, Lena Granet, Diane Landcaster, Bill LaVoie, Rosalie Markley, Karen Nelson, Jeff Peck, George Peek, Bob Poehling, Jim Simms, Gerald Wood.
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Well in the Desert
. . .is looking for a couple of additional servers for the hot lunch they serve on Wednesdays at our church. They serve from 11 am – 1 pm. If you are interested please contact Jonathan Abernethy-Deppe at 760.320.7488 ext 224 or jonathan@stpaulsps.org
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Coffee Hour
Hosts are members of the Vestry: Mary Lou Feenstra at 8:00 and Glen Calvin and George Holliday at 10:30.
To sign up to host a Coffee Hour, please use the binder on the entrance table in the Parish Hall. If you have questions, please contact Ray or Cheryl Kelley at 760.778.1725.
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Volunteers from St. Paul’s continue to serve dessert to between 70 and 100 homeless men, women and children at Roy’s every Monday evening. The desserts consist of baked goods and other goodies (store-bought or homemade) from our parishioners. As well, we deliver each month sox and undies purchased from our SOS Fund or placed in the SOS basket on Sunday. which is funded by special donations from parishioners. All of these efforts are deeply appreciated by these people who are earnestly striving to get back into the main stream.
If you would like to participate in this program, you can:
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Sign up to Volunteer
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Write a check to St. Pauls (marked for SOS Fund)
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Bring new white socks and/or large underwear for the Basket
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Place baked goods in the center section of the Fridge (again, marked For SOS)
Please call Hap Blaisdell at 760-323-5726 for additional information and ideas.
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 Do-It-Yourself Mosaic for Home & Garden
On May 19, June 2 from 10am-2pm. Cost is $25. Location is Camp Stevens. The art of assembling pieces of glass or stone into images, mosaics are a beautiful addition to a home or garden–and it’s simpler to do than you may think! In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn the steps to creating your own mosaic, including supplies and design considerations, and practice on an installation at Camp Stevens.
For more information and to register, go to www.campstevens.org/garden.
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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 Desert SOS Dessert Ministry, the sign-up sheets are in binders that are on the entrance table in the Parish Hall. The 2012 binders are filling fast, so if you have a special date that you want to commemorate, be sure to sign up early.
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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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