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Since You Asked
Imagine being with someone who was important, or powerful, or rich; someone you would generally find admirable, but unapproachable. To your surprise they invite your input. You are not sure if they are serious or if the invitation is rhetorical. But you launch a reply: “Since you asked…”
I don’t think Jesus had an agenda for every person he met. In my reading of the gospels, I don’t see him seeking out folks for a particular purpose. Jesus did not seek out the man who knelt before him in this week’s portion of the Gospel. In fact, it seems like the fellow intruded on Jesus as he was getting ready to leave. Jesus was not standing on the corner railing at all passers-by about selling their possessions to give to the poor.
This fellow seems to have wanted Jesus to bless him by acknowledging his faithfulness and character. He asks, “What must I do…?” Jesus says that he should do the obvious, follow the Law. The man replies, “I’ve been there, done that, and have the T-Shirt to prove it.”
This is when Jesus goes deeper, “Since you asked, you lack one thing.”
Our ability to hear or read this story is compromised by a rigid mind set that assumes only two choices. There is the right way and the wrong way. There is the good choice or the bad choice. Truth is black or white. Jesus, at least in this encounter, works in gray.
The fellow with the question is a good man, a faithful man, and he knows it. Jesus offers him the opportunity to take the good that he embraces and make it better.
Jesus invites him to move off of his vertical relationship with God and take it horizontal. Jesus invites him to take the righteousness he believes he has earned and to spend it on compassion. Jesus encourages him to move out of the isolation of his religion and embrace the whole people of God: By releasing his hold on his property and giving it to the poor, so his property can release its hold on him.
The man arrived good, he left good; sad but still good. He has postponed the possibility of being better, having a more complex relationship with God and with his property.
Join us in worship this weekend. We are a community of very mixed people, most doing good on a daily basis, but trying to take another step towards God and each other so that we might do even better.
Fr. Andrew
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Mark 10:17-27
As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.'” He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.” Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.
Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” They were greatly astounded and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.”
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25th Annual Palm Springs AIDS Walk
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Join the St. Paul’s walkers as we participate in the Palm Springs AIDS Walk on Sunday, November 4th. Join us as we walk to end the AIDS pandemic. There is a table to sign up after the Sunday services on the walk between the Church and the Parish Hall. You are also welcome to make donations for a specific walker or you may “adopt” a walker at the table.
Sunday, NOVEMBER 4TH
Click the heart above to go to the St. Pauls AIDS WALK page!
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PMS: THE RECITAL
(A Benefit for the Music Program at St. Paul’s)
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Our soprano section-leader, Patricia Minton Sivcovich, along with special guest musicians, will present a concert on Sunday, October 21st, at 4 PM. Serious songs, sacred songs and silly songs will be included in the program. There will be a reception following in the Parish Hall hosted by the choir. For more information contact Patti at: 760.778.6016 or Nathan at 760.320.7488, ext. 225. Donations are graciously expected at the door.
Click Patricia’s picture to view her bio.
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Wanted!
Your Photos, Messages, & Announcements
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. . .to be put up on the new monitors in the Parish Hall. Please give your JPEG images to Roger Allen (or place them in his mail box in the Parish Office) on a flash drive (thumb drive) or SD card at least a week before you would like them shown. We can also show Power Point presentations.
ALSO NEEDED: Experts in Power Point and video editing. Please talk to Roger Allen for details.
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New Program at St. Paul’s by the
Older Adult Forum…
“Building Community & Socialization”
3rd Friday Breakfast 9am-10am
Come join us the 3rd Friday of each month to enjoy a great program and have a bite to eat. Our next event will be Friday, October 19th at 9am in the Parish Hall.
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“Sundays at 9:15”
In The Library
The Orthodox Church
10/14 DVD: Catholic-Orthodox-Protestant, led by Rick Tinsley
10/21 Interview with John Granet, led by Rick Tinsley
10/28 DVD: Eastern Orthodox Theology, led by Jerry Lynch
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“Tuesdays At 7”
In The Library
The Story of the Episcopal Church
10/16—The Parish, the Diocese and the Episcopate / “The Parish, the What and the What?”, led by Victoria Hatch
10/23—General Convention / “Next Stop on the Via Media: Grand Central Station”, led by Victoria Hatch
10/30—The Parish Vestry / “When the Greek Chorus Gets Budget Authority,” led by Victoria Hatch & Craig Ewing
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Roy’s Desert Resource Center
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You’re Invited to Roy’s Desert Resource Center for Dinner on Monday night, October 15 @ 5:30 PM. The evening will start with an introductory DVD, followed by a tour of the facility, dinner with Roy’s clients, and a Q&A at the end of the evening. Reservations are required, so please RSVP to John Westaway. Volunteers from St. Paul in the Desert serve dessert to 70-100 homeless men, women and children at Roy’s every Monday evening. We also deliver socks and underwear purchased and placed in the “ROY’S” basket. Roy’s clients, who are striving to get back into the main stream, deeply appreciate your efforts.
If you would like to participate in this program:
• Sign up to Volunteer.
• Write a check to St. Paul’s (marked: “Roy’s Fund”). This fund is
currently operating on empty.
• Bring new white socks and/or large underwear for the
“ROY’S” basket.
• When you are baking, make an extra cake, muffins,
cupcakes or dessert loaf. Mark them for “ROY’S”
and put them in the right-hand section of the Parish Hall fridge.
Please call Hap Blaisdell at 760.323.5726 for additional information and ideas.
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Holy Communion Service for
Local Care Facilities
Holy Communion will be hosted by the Nursing Home Ministry on the second Wednesday of each month at Windsor Court. The next service will be November 14th at 10:15 am. Father Dick Merrill will preside and welcomes assistance from parishioners.
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The Children’s Choir has regular rehearsals on Wednesdays, at 6:00 in the choir room. New members are always welcome! All children age 4 and up are invited to participate in this activity learning musical life skills and working together as a team. For more information contact Nathan Ensign at:
760-320-7488 Ext. 225
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Coffee Hour
Hosts after the 8:00 service are Barry Hagenbuch & Robert Woods.
Bette & Art Knutsen, Beverly Zwach, Harriet Yost & Susan Reed will host after the 10:30 service.
Coffee Hour hosts are still needed for several services the rest of the year. 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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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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Sign Up for Flowers,
Coffee Hour and
Roy’s Desert Resource Center
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 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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