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A Spirit of Adoption
I don’t know any published statistics, but what I see leads me to believe that adoptions are up in Palm Springs and at St. Paul’s. It is amazing to see the parish rally around the new families that are being created in our midst.
I did not know it until I was about 12, but I was part of a blended and adopted family. My father had fallen in love with a divorced woman and rescued her 2 children. He chose to adopt them as a sign of their new life and community. My siblings and I look back and see that God was at work. The children were taken from a life of fear from an abusive parent to a life that held hope.
We celebrate Trinity Sunday this week and this reading from Romans does not say much in a Trinitarian way, beyond a rudimentary cast of Father, Son and Spirit. St. Paul, the author, could not foresee the kinds of descriptions and arguments that would be common 200 years later. So why this lesson on Trinity Sunday?
I think it is all about community – adoptive community.
The line from John’s Gospel – “You must be born from above ” – is in the same spirit of this adoptive community. Being “born in a new way” and receiving a “spirit of inclusion” are different perspectives on the new community that God is building.
The witness of the Trinity is that God exists in community. The witness of the scriptures is that God has continually worked to build a community of faith, a people. That community is often seen as exclusive in the Hebrew Scriptures, but there are several examples of the breadth of God’s community.
Jesus tells Nicodemas that he or anyone who would really know what Jesus is about must be born from above. Paul tells the Romans that the birth they received at baptism was their adoption into God’s community. I would like to invite those who have been adopted into God’s Community of abundant life, to think about it this weekend – rejoice!
Join us as our community, by faith, celebrates God’s Community of Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer.
Fr. Andrew
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Romans 8:12-17
So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh– for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ– if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
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UTO – United Thank Offering
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At last Sunday’s Ingathering for UTO we received $653 in offerings. If you missed the drive or, if you forgot your little blue box last week, please make your donation Sunday. There are still blue UTO envelopes in the pew pockets. UTO is a semi-annual campaign of the Episcopal Church which supports needy ministries throughout the world. Thanks for your generous support.
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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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“Sundays at 9:15”
In The Library
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
5/31 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 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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We will celebrate
Children’s
Recognition Sunday
June 10 at the 10:30 Service.
The children who attend the Godly Play program, as well as the Nursery, are asked to attend. The will also receive the certificate and a gift. A special lesson is planned which will allow everyone to participate in a parable message. Don’t miss it!!
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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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Coffee Hour
Hosts at 10:30 are John Alex Houlton & Hank Smith. Coffee Hour hosts are still needed for several services this summer.
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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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 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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