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How Do You Give?
Jesus is sitting by the money box, outside the worship space of the Temple, watching the givers. I don’t imagine that stalking the givers would go over well in our church, today!
He is watching the worshipers make their offerings before they go pray. Some translations say that Jesus observed how they made their offering. He watched HOW they gave.
Was he observing their approaches? One gently laid the gift, while one dropped it from above. Did one approach the box with confidence and pride, while another hoped to be invisible?
What would Jesus think of our approaches today? Some give cash, some checks. Some lay out the bills or a check crisp and clean, while others wad and wrinkle. There are some who do nothing at all because their gift is being electronically transferred. I am one of those, and I assume we have a smug look because we use the latest technology.
I don’t think that was what Jesus was watching at all. Was Jesus looking at their hearts? If so, what was he was hoping to observe?
It seems pretty clear that he did not have much use for self-righteousness.
In all the faces of giving, could Jesus have been looking for an outpouring from the heart? Is that what Jesus hopes for today? I think so. Gratitude is one kind of outpouring. Gratitude is one sign of HOW we give. All the worship of our church is built around that. We praise God by giving thanks. We seek God’s blessing by gratefully remembering other blessings.
We are a community of thanksgiving. Each of us is grateful at different times and for different occasions. Each of us has wondered if we have anything to be thankful for from time to time. But as we gather together, we might simply be thankful for that – God has called us together and our blessings are as connected to those of others as their trials are connected to ours.
Join us in worship this week and be attentive to HOW you give yourself to God and how we care for one another.
Fr. Andrew
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Mark 12:38-44
Teaching in the temple, Jesus said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”
He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
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Wonderful Celebration With Bp. Mathes
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 The Rt. Rev. James Mathes joined members of St. Paul’s and members of the Palm Springs Community last Saturday for a celebration with 3 themes: All Saints, the Desert AIDS Walk, and the Gay Pride Weekend. His sermon will be available on this site, soon.
 The Rev. Steven and Jane Strane had a wonderful visit with St. Paul’s this last Sunday. This was only the 2nd time they have worshiped with us since the moved from Palm Springs to San Diego in 1978.
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AIDS Walk – Pride Parade – Wrap-Up
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The St. Paul’s Team walked and raised over $5,000.00 for the Desert AIDS Project in the 25th AIDS Walk. Members of our Parish have been particiipated in every walk.
The team finished the AIDS Walk and turned around to march North in our first official entry in the Palm Springs Gay Pride Parade. Fr. Andrew Green and Team Captain Rex Comer rode behind the walkers in a beautiful Ford Galaxy 500 belonging to Dennis Vasquez and Robert Perry.
Special thanks to Rex Comer, Lanny Tucker, and George Holliday. Great Job!
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Celebration Weekend – November 17-18
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Each year the Fall begins with our Stewardship Theme of the Year. This year it is Serving Christ in Others. You might recognize it from our Mission Statement.
By November 18th, we will have heard from 3 service organizations which count our members among their voulnteers and supporters. Leaders from Friends of Roy’s, The Desert AIDS Project, and Well in the Desert will tell us about their mission and how our participation affects the people they serve.
Celebration Weekend, November 17-18th is the culmination of the first phase of Stewardship for the year. Everyone is invited to return the pledges of financial support for God’s Mission at St. Paul in the Desert
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African Team Ministry Craft & Jewelry Sale
November 11 & 18
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African Team Ministries is a Christian organization working to provide funding for orphan and refugee relief missions in East Africa. The support they receive is used to provide school fees, tuition, books and uniforms for orphaned and refugee children. In addition, ATM also provides a means for selling jewelry and crafts handmade in Kenya, the proceeds from which go directly back to the artisans who made them.
Rosanna Langley will be hosting this sale on November 11th & 18th in the Parish Hall after the 10:30 service.
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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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“Sundays at 9:15”
In The Library
The Hebrew Scriptures – The Book of Genesis
11/11 In the Beginning: facilitated by Jerry Di Noto
11/18 Adam and Eve: facilitated by the Rev. Canon Victoria Hatch
11/24 Murder, Flood & Dispersion: facilitated by Canon Hatch
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“Tuesdays At 7”
In The Library
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.
11/13 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 & SOS
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You’re Invited to Roy’s Desert Resource Center for Dinner on Monday Night, November 19th @ 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 at john.westaway3@verizon.net.
ST. Paul’s SOS
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 SOS 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 SOS”
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. SOS is the ministry of St. Paul’s at Roy’s.
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Emergency Update:
Hurricane Sandy
Episcopal Relief and Development is helping to meet the need.
Your help is urgently needed.
Click here to donate.
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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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Coffee Hour
Host after the 8:00 service Is Mike Funke on behalf of the Vestry.
John Westaway and Rosa Zingg will host after the 10:30 service on behalf of the Vestry.
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 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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United Thank Offering (UTO)
Fall Ingathering Nov. 11th
United Thank Offering (UTO) is a ministry of the Episcopal Church for the mission of the whole church. Through United Thank Offering, men, women, and children nurture the habit of giving daily thanks to God.
These prayers of thanksgiving start when we recognize and name our many daily blessings. Those who participate in UTO discover that thankfulness leads to generosity. United Thank Offering is entrusted to promote thank offerings, to receive the offerings, and to distribute the UTO monies to support mission and ministry throughout the Episcopal Church and in invited Provinces of the Anglican Communion in the developing world.
Look for the Blue UTO Envelopes.
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2013 Budget
Your Input Welcome
Your Vestry would like your input on the 2013 Budget. The Draft Budget is being evaluated and a copy is available here. Share your comments here.
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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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