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“God’s Mission Has A Church”
God is at the center. God is reaching out. God is inviting all and everyone to be reconciled.
Jesus embodies that invitation and Jesus has called all of his disciples to embody that invitation.
Most of the time, my words are about the community that God is building and forming in this parish. I may not always say it, but my words always have a context that is beyond the parish. Today I want to celebrate the community we share with the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego.
St. Paul’s is a constituent part of the Diocese. We were formed in 1939 by our parent Diocese of Los Angeles. One of our 8:00 worshipers, Gillar Boyd, was a delegate to the LA Diocesan Convention that voted to form the Diocese of San Diego. He has also been a delegate involved in the election of all four of our bishops.
In this week’s Gospel Jesus is praying for his disciples, he is praying for our parish, he is praying for our Diocese – because he is praying for us. One prayer is that we would be sent into the world, just as he was. The Mission Plan of our Diocese, which we celebrate this weekend, is a courageous response to God’s prayer. This is a large and detailed plan, but this weekend get a taste of mission with the statements below.
Join us in God’s Mission and you will be working side-by-side with the Diocese of San Diego.
Fr. Andrew
Vision
Undeterred by borders or barriers, we are pilgrims with Jesus in relentlessly searching for others to befriend, know and invite to Christ’s Eucharistic table of reconciliation and sacrificial love.
Mission
The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego: a missionary community that dares to follow Jesus Christ in his life of fearless love for the world.
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John 17:6-19
Looking up to heaven, Jesus prayed, “I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.”
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UTO Ingathering Day is May 27th
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Think about your blessings and bring an offering for the special United Thankoffering baskets at Church. Through the UTO we learn to nurture the habit of giving thanks to God for special blessings by using little blue cardboard boxes to collect coins and bills. Through these offerings, the National UTO office grants requests by ministries at home and overseas for funds. A very colorful parade of UTO representatives from all the countries in the Anglican Communion will present their funds at the General Convention in Indianapolis in July.
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Funeral Announcement – Stephen Keller
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Celebration of the Life of Stephen Keller.
August 15, 1979 – May 5, 2012
On June 2, at 11 am there will be a service for Stephen.
Stephen first connected with St. Paul’s as a part of the SOS program on Friday Nights.
He was able to get into his own housing and became one who served others in need and who cared for his friends and for St. Paul’s.
He worshiped regularly and had a particular ministry of pruning and otherwise caring for the parish roses.
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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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“Sundays at 9:15”
In The Library
May
5/20 The Synoptic Gospels: St. Matthew–led by Rick Tinsley
5/27 The Synoptic Gospels: St. Luke–led by Jerry DiNoto
June
6/03 Augustine and the Classical World:
Romans and Vandals and Goths .. Oh My!
led by Craig Ewing
6/10 Augustine: The City of God:
You Want Eternity? Try Reading 1,000 Pages of Latin
led by Craig Ewing
6/17 Augustine: The Life and Death of Monica:
If It’s Not one Thing, It’s Your Mother
led by Craig Ewing
6/24 Augustine: On Time:
What do the Big and Little Hands Look Like from Inside the Clock?
led by Craig Ewing
August
Marcus Borg’s new book, Speaking Christian: Why Christian Words Have Lost Their Meaning and Power and How They Can Be Restored will be the focus of our August Sundays at 9:15 Adult Faith Formation classes led by Victoria Hatch. The book is available at http://www.amazon.com in paperback or Kindle edition. The Faith Formation Team encourages you to order it now and read it several times before the August classes begin. It’s one of Borg’s better books . . . and that’s saying a lot.”
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“Thursdays At 7”
May
5/17 Buddism: 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 Buddism: The Path to Nirvana led by the Faith Formation Tea
5/31 Buddism: The Buddhist Community, with the Dharmachakra Buddhist Center
June
6/07 Visual Journeying–led by Susan Green, this four-week course is designed to help us explore methods of prayer, listening and journaling to nourish and enhance our prayer life.
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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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A Holy Communion Service at Premier Care Center, 2990 East Ramon Road, Palm Springs 92264, will be hosted by the Nursing Home Ministry on Tuesday, May 22nd, at 11:00 am. Father Dick Merrill will preside and welcomes assistance from parishioners.
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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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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
Coffee Hour hosts at 8:00 are Eileen Upton & Don MacLean. 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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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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