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Are You Crazy Enough to
Be in the Family of Jesus?
Jesus began to act. He healed the sick. He restored those oppressed by demons. He gave his authority to do the same to an unremarkable group of students. In short, he squandered the power that God had given him on the people of the land who were least able to be of use to him. The very people he focused his ministry on were the people who, because of disease or “possession” were cut off from society. It would be the equivalent of a candidate for elected office today spending 90% of her time with unregistered, dirt-poor people. No candidate campaigns on Skid-Row instead of Beverley Hills.
Is it any wonder that the “word” on Jesus was that he was out of his head? Is it any wonder his family sought to limit the damage? “Family” at that time was the definition of who a person was. If your family was honored, you were honored. If your family was shamed, you were shamed. And whatever you did, for shame or honor, would reflect on your family.
When challenged to accept his family’s intervention, Jesus redefined family.
Jesus did not so much remove the whole “honor/shame” axis of the family as change the criteria that would bring honor. Jesus proclaimed that God was honored when the last, the lost, and the least were welcomed at the table. His birth family (note irony) wanted to rescue him from his “delusion.” His response was to declare that those who were deluded enough to follow him were his new family.
How might we be crazy enough to be counted as Jesus “Family” today? I think that the “craziest” thing we can do is to care for those who won’t benefit us, to love those who insult us, and to really forgive those who have harmed us. – Nor is this the exhaustive list.
Join us this weekend as we practice being the “crazy” community Jesus would be proud to call his family.
Fr. Andrew
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Mark 3:20-21, 31-35
The crowd came together again, so that Jesus and his disciples could not even eat. When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, “He has gone out of his mind.” … Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.” And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”
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Your St. Paul’s Library is Now Open!
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Come and visit your reorganized library. The collection has been streamlined, catalogued and classified, and is ready for use. Its strong reference collection includes Bible dictionaries and encyclopedias, commentaries, concordances, and 13 versions of the Bible.Of special interest in the circulating collection are devotional books, books on the sacraments, liturgy, alcoholism and other topics of interest, biographies, and fiction.
The library is user-friendly, thanks to using the Dewey Decimal system. The reference collection is for use in the library. There is easy check-out for the circulating collection – using the clipboard honor system – and the shelves are labeled for quick access to books of interest. The library is open during church office hours.
Come and visit. Come and use!
Scott Bunn and Sharon Strong have spent many hours culling and organizing our collection. It is a major accomplishment and our whole Parish is grateful.
Fr. Andrew
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From the Rev. Canon Victoria Hatch
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Just a note to all who have called, sent cards and offered their prayers for my speedy recovery. I am doing well and see my surgeon for my post Op on Tues. June 5th and hopefully get my staples removed. Thank you, thank you thank you for your prayers and concerns, I am doing well and look forward to being with you all shortly!
Blessings and God’s Peace to you all!
Victoria+
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“Sundays at 9:15”
In The Library
June
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
7/01 Characters in the Bible: St. Peter
by Jerry DiNoto
7/08 Characters in the Bible: Martha, Mary & Lazarus
by Jerry DiNoto
7/15 Characters in the Bible: John the Baptist
by David Abernethy-Deppe
7/22 Characters in the Bible: The Gentile Mother
by David Abernethy-Deppe
7/29 Characters in the Bible: St. James
by David Abernethy-Deppe
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”
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.
6/14 Visual Journeying–led by Susan Green, this four-week course began last week and is designed to help us explore methods of prayer, listening and journaling to nourish and enhance our prayer life.
7/05 No Class
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“Tuesdays at 7”
Movie Nights in July & August
On Tuesdays at 7 in the Library, the Faith Formation Team thought it would be fun to watch a movie together, enjoy popcorn, chocolates, or …, then share thoughts about the film, and discuss its ethical or life implications, if any. Here are three selections for July. We would like your suggestions for August!
7/10 “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” hosted by Jerry DiNoto
7/17 “Priest” hosted by Jerry DiNoto
7/24 “Chocolat” hosted by David Abernethy-Deppe
7/31 To be determined
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Keeping the Doors Open at Ahli Hospital in Gaza
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Ahli Hospital has operated since 1882 and continues caring for desperately poor Gazans, even though the United Nations Relief and Works Agency has halted funding. Ahli is operated by the American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, an independent, non-political 501c3 which helps sustain the diocese’s many humanitarian programs. Contributions are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. Visit http://www.afedj.org to learn about or contribute to their important work which sustains the Christian community.
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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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Children’s
Recognition
Sunday
is
June 10th at the
10:30 Service.
The children who attend the Godly Play program, as well as the Nursery, are asked to attend. They will also receive a certificate and a gift. A special lesson is planned which will let everyone participate in a parable message. Don’t miss it!
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Holy Communion at Windsor Court, 201 South Sunrise Way, Palm Springs, will be hosted by the Nursing Home Ministry on Wednesday, June 13th, at 10:15 am. Father Dick Merrill will preside and welcomes assistance from parishioners.
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St. Paul ‘s Campers
are reserving campsites in Idyllwild County Park for August 16th-17th for our 8th annual trip. Individuals, as well as families, are invited to join us. Dogs are permitted. We’ll do our spectacular BBQ dinner by sharing salads, deserts, etc., on Friday, the 17th. Call Bonnie Stroock at 760.324.7949 to make a reservation. Come and enjoy the cool mountain air!
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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
Coffee Hour hosts at both services are the members of the Children’s Ministry. 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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Report Sexual Misconduct.
As part of our ongoing commitment to creating a safe haven for everyone, please remember 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 and to encourage all to report any misconduct. All reported incidents are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly and confidentially. If you believe you have experienced sexual misconduct of any kind, please contact the Rev. Canon Suzann V. Holding immediately: sholding@edsd.org
or 619-481-5452.
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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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