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Bring it to completion
Deadlines are a reality, like them or not.
As we journey through Advent toward the comings of Christ – his birth in Bethlehem, his coming in judgement, and his coming in our hearts – deadlines loom. Things need to get done. St. Paul, writing to the Philippians, said: “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.”
Our making it to the most spiritually significant deadlines, is not all about us. It is God who has begun a good work in each of us, and God will bring it to completion. This means that not one of us need face a deadline alone. As we work, we work as partners with the same one who begins good works, the same one who assists us on the way, and the same one who assures us of our place in this divine/human partnership.
Our Advent path to completion is God’s path. And we don’t walk it alone.
We have a Men’s Bible Study that meets weekly on Wednesdays at 7 am. The members of this group have regularly walked with one another in difficult times and in joyful times. When one could not attend, he was called on the phone and included in our prayers. This morning, I sat in a Denver Denny’s and connected with these friends in a Palm Springs Denny’s, through whom God was walking with me, and was assured of their love and support.
God is using each of us to bring the Good Work God has begun among us and in the world to completion. Come, Lord Jesus.
Join us this week as we worship God and support one another as God’s partners – in time for Christ and for Christmas.
Fr. Andrew
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Luke 3:1-6
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,
“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight,
and the rough ways made smooth;
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'”
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The Desert Convocation:
Building a Community of Conversation
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The Right Reverend V. Gene Robinson
January 6-22, 2013
V. Gene Robinson was elected Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire on June 7, 2003. He was consecrated a Bishop on All Saints Sunday, November 2, 2003, and was invested as the Ninth Bishop of New Hampshire on March 7, 2004. A variety of activities are planned. Bp. Robinison will preach and preside. He will have an evening presentation and possibly a film screening.
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Caballeros Holiday/Christmas Concert
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Come enjoy the warmth of the Holidays with the Caballeros, the Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus, at their Holiday/Christmas Concert: “Comfort and Joy” on Saturday and Sunday, December 15th and 16th, at Temple Isaiah, 332 West Alejo Rd in Palm Springs. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at the door, online at www.caballerosps.com or from Chuck Marx after both Sunday Services. For more information, contact Chuck @ 760-567-6858.
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Give the Gift of Social Change
Cristosal for Christmas!
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Foundation Cristosal are hands at work in our companion diocese of El Salvador. Help us walk together with our brothers and sisters there. This Christmas, you can give a gift of social justice and social change in honor of someone you care about. The best gift of all is the gift of a better life to those who need it the most. You can give a Christmas gift of lasting impact and meaning by making a contribution to Foundation Cristosal in honor of someone special to you. Cristosal will send a beautiful electronic Christmas card to all you honor indicating that a gift to the Salvadoran people has been made in their name. To donate or for more info: www.cristosal.org/index.php/give-now.
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Help Needed – Decorating for Christmas
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Christmas is upon us! It’s time to decorate the church and the Christmas trees in the Parish Hall and the church office. We need your help! On Sunday, December 23rd at 1:00 PM, we will decorate the inside of the church. To volunteer, please contact Rosa Zing at 760.408.7796 or rozingg@yahoo.com.
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Emile E. Duvernay
6/19/1918 – 11/28/2012
Emile and wife, Ruth, have been members of St. Paul’s for many years.
He had served in virtually every position possible in our Parish and was a founding member of our Men’s Bible Study.
Emile died Wednesday morning in their apartment at Windsor Court.
May he rest in Peace. Please remember Ruth in your prayers.
The funeral will take place at St. Paul’s, Saturday, December 8 at 11:00 am.
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“Sundays at 9:15”
In The Library
The Hebrew Scriptures – The Book of Genesis
12/09 “Luke’s Christmas” led by David Abernethy-Deppe
12/16 “John, the Baptist” led by David Abernethy-Deppe
12/23 “Luke’s Canticles” led by David Abernethy-Deppe
12/30 NO CLASS
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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.
Advent Taize Prayer and Song, Tuesdays at 7 in the Church
12/11, 12/18 led by Nathan Ensign. Bring a Cross and/or Candle!
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Diocesan Executive Council is Planning Ahead
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The diocesan executive council has endorsed the findings of our recent feasibility study and voted to move ahead with initial planning for an eventual capital campaign to provide mentorships for new clergy, to fund congregational loans and grants and to renovate the Episcopal Church Center. This is an exciting and challenging time for the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, but many hands make light work. We want everyone to feel involved and have the opportunity to participate. So when someone asks you to help out, please say yes.
To learn more about the campaign initiatives, visit the diocesan website: www.edsd.org/feasibility and watch this space for future updates.
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Roy’s Desert Resource Center & SOS
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Christmas for the Homeless.
St. Paul in the Desert is planning a repeat of the very successful Christmas in-gathering we had for the men, women, and children at Roy’s Desert Resource Center last year. Our parishioners made Christmas so much merrier for those less fortunate through their donations to Roy’s SOS Fund. We were able to provide $25 gift certificates for most of the homeless at Roy’s, and the staff facilitated their being able to use the certificates for their special needs at designated retailers.
YOU can be a part of this Christmastide happiness for the homeless by donating to our Roy’s SOS Fund. Make your check out to St. Paul’s and designate it for “SOS Christmas.” For more information about this program, call Hap at 760.323.5726.
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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Lessons and Carols
will be presented by the Choirs of St. Paul in the Desert on Sunday, December 16th during the 10:30 worship service. Be sure to make this program a part of your Advent preparation.
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Christmas Worship Schedule
December 24
Carols – 5:45 PM
Family Service – 6:00 PM
Carols – 10:45 PM
Midnight Mass – 11:00 PM
Christmas Day
Holy Communion
with Carols – 10:30 AM
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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 December 12 at 10:15 am. Father Dick Merrill will preside and welcomes assistance from parishioners.
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ECW Welcomes the Holidays!
The Episcopal Church Women will gather on Thursday, December 6th for their annual Christmas luncheon. The event begins with a business meeting, followed by a festive meal. As is our tradition, there will be caroling and a “special guest” to help “desk the halls”. The salad luncheon is a noon and those attending are asked to bring a salad that serves 6-8, rolls/bread or a dessert. Beverages will be provided. Questions? Please contact Bette Knutson, 760.416.5739. Hostesses for the luncheon are Marilyn Johnson and Ruth Kraus.
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Dining in the Dark
Desert Blind & Handicapped Association’s 40th Anniversary Event: Dining in the Dark! Saturday, December 8th, 5 PM at the Annenberg Rotunda at Eisenhower Medical Center, Rancho Mirage. $150 ($75 tax deductible) per person . Experience the nation-wide phenomena – A Gourmet dinner experience served in total darkness by blind professional wait staff! No-host bar, limited seats available. Call 760.422.3002 for tickets or www.desertblind.org.
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Coffee Hour Celebration
Coffee Hour hosts after the 8 AM service are Ana Mercado & Kevin Kirkpatrick.
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 call 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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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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