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What Do You Want?
I like to have it “my way.” Don’t you?
Choices are something I am used to and presume that I will have. We were thrilled when our first child came home from kindergarten and let us know what she had learned that day. “I have options,” Sarah said.
Not everyone is used to having options. One of the ways that I know that I am rich, in a global perspective, is that I usually have a choice in what I will eat. The further one moves from wealth and privilege, the fewer choices one has in most areas of life.
Bartimaeas probably expected few choices. He seemed to have few possessions, perhaps only the cloak he wore for warmth. As a blind beggar, he occupied a specific place on the outside of the local social order. He was a person whom the rest of the community had no second thoughts about “shooshing.” Someone like him should not bother someone like Jesus.
But Jesus didn’t agree. He was willing to be bothered. His movement in Mark’s Gospel is a travelogue of “bother,” by all sorts and conditions of people. When Jesus heard Bartimaeus’ cry for mercy, he stopped and paid attention. He was not bothered – he cared. He sent for Bartimaeus, who threw off his cloak and rushed over to Jesus. He was not begging or pleading. He had an option.
Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?
This question is more important to me than the answer or the healing. Jesus put the choice in Bartimaeus’ hands. Jesus gave him the power to choose. His choice – sight – was an affirmation of Jesus. Jesus was not just a man doing good deeds, but he was someone with the power to change lives. I believe it was this affirmation, that Jesus called “faith”, that made Bartimaeus whole.
Can you imagine Jesus giving you choices? “What do you want me to do for you?
Jesus invites us to know him, to see him. When we see him, even if we are blind in other ways, we will embrace the faith that makes us whole. He invites us to see others, as they are, in the same way. He invites us to build a community of faith that makes the world whole.
Join us this weekend as we take off our “cloaks” and stand before Jesus, each of us with an option. What will you ask?
Fr. Andrew
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Mark 10:46-52
Jesus and his disciples came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.
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Special Worship,
Saturday November 3rd at 4:00 PM.
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Bishop James Mathes will be present to lead a special Holy Communion service in support of the Desert AIDS Walk and the LGBT community. The Bishop will preside and preach, the Choir of St. Paul in the Desert will sing, and the Palm Springs Community will be welcomed. We will also observe our special All Saints prayers. Sunday worship will be led by Canon Victoria and the Rev. Steven Strane, Associate Rector in the late 70’s will preach.
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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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Robert V. Taylor To Visit November 15th
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Robert V. Taylor, author and Episcopal theologian, will facilitate a discussion on his new book, A New Way To Be Human, on Thursday, November 15th @ 7 PM in the Church Hall Parlor. Robert was one of our visiting theologians this past winter and is looking forward to his return visit in November. Robert’s book is available at http://www.amazon.com. For more information, contact Barbara Villani at:
bhvillani@gmail.com.
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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
10/28 DVD: Eastern Orthodox Theology, led by Jerry Lynch
11/11, 11/18/ & 11/24 The Hebrew Scriptures-The Book of Genesis, led by Jerry Dinoto (11/11) & Victoria Hatch (11/18 &11/24).
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“Tuesdays At 7”
In The Library
The Story of the Episcopal Church
10/30 The Parish Vestry / “When the Greek Chorus Gets Budget Authority,” led by Victoria Hatch & Craig Ewing
Reason and Faith-Faith Seeking Understanding
Part I: A look at philosophy of the Middle Ages and how Reason and Faith were used to address the nature of God, humanity, evil and freedom, led by Jerry DiNoto.
11/6 St. Augustine – What is the nature of God?
11/13 St. Augustine – Where does evil come from ?
11/20 Boethius – Why do bad things happen to good people?
11/27 Boethius – Does God foreknow our actions?
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Roy’s Desert Resource Center
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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”).
• 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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ECW Luncheon November 1
The Episcopal Church Women have an autumn luncheon on the calendar for Thursday, November 1.A business meeting at 11:30 a.m. will be followed by the traditional salad luncheon. All women of the parish are invited to attend this event.
The group will continue its discussion of plans for the 2012-2013 season according to Bette Knutson, the group’s president. Hostesses for the day will be Audrey Spencer and Debbie Reder. Those attending are asked to bring a favorite salad, rolls or dessert to share; beverages are provided. For additional information about the event, contact Bette at (760) 416-5739.
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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 Lanny Tucker & Rex Comer, along with the Desert AIDS Walk Team.
Ray & Cheryl Kelley, as well as David & Kay Clemons 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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