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What Should We Do?
Can the run-up to Christmas be a life changing experience? Or is it a repetition of every other Advent experience – ordinary? The time can be fraught with anxiety about activities and shopping. Or it can be loaded with the expectation that God wants us to make a difference. Advent can be crucial.
John the Baptizer is preaching out in the boonies, and people are coming to hear him. He does not pull any punches, but paints a spiritual cliff that the seekers are facing. His vision, “even now the axe is laid to the root of the tree,” is a vision of crisis – a time demanding a decision. And the people respond. “What should we do?”
John’s answer is swift and simple – share.
Some religious leaders, like me, might wish that he had said, “read the Bible” or “worship every week,” or “pray more,” or even (especially) “pledge.” But he did not. He said that folks should share. He did not parse the demand demographically or economically. He did not say that insiders should give and outsiders should receive, but he said that across the board folks should share, based on need and ability.
Sharing is John’s answer for everybody who faces a spiritual cliff and wants to live.
John does not want us simply to live, but he wants us to be transformed for living. And sharing is the gift that transforms us. When I try a new discipline, say not eating sweets, what I long for is not desiring sweets. I want to be transformed so that my relationship with sweets is fundamentally changed. In the same way, our desire to do good conflicts with all sorts of learnings and feelings we have about ourselves and about our “stuff.” Sharing cuts through the way we feel deserving or undeserving for the things of life. It cuts to the truth that we are not alone, but participate in life with the rest of the world.
You have lots of opportunities to make sharing a priority. At Christmas you are always invited to give. In addition, I invite you to share. Share clothes with Roy’s SOS. Share food with the Well in the Desert. Share time with the person who needs your attention. Share yourself.
Join us this week as we practice the transformation of sharing, by sharing the transformed bread and wine – Christ.
Fr. Andrew
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Luke 3:7-18
John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”
As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.
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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! A heartfelt Thank You to all those who helped decorate the exterior of the church, the Christmas trees in the Parish Hall and the church office. The trees look beautiful! We still 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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“Sundays at 9:15”
In The Library
The Hebrew Scriptures – The Book of Genesis
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 Nave
Advent Taize Prayer and Song, Tuesdays at 7 in the Church
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 use.
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 January 9 at 10:15 am. Father Dick Merrill will preside and welcomes assistance from parishioners.
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Come to Convention!
All people of the Diocese of San Diego are invited to attend the 39th Annual Diocesan Convention on Friday, Feb. 8 and Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013 at St. Margaret’s, Palm Desert. Especially appropriate for all members is the Friday evening gala dinner at the Hyatt Regency featuring Reggie McNeal as our keynote speaker. Another highlight open to all is the festive Eucharist, featuring a diocesan-wide choir, on Saturday morning and the bishop’s address on Saturday afternoon. For information or to register, please visit: www.edsd.org/diocon2013.
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Volunteers Needed for Diocesan Convention Registration
February 8th from 5-6:30
8 Volunteers are needed to register guests for the Convention Banquet.
The Banquet will be held at the Hyatt Grand Champions Resort in Indian Wells.
The volunteers will assist the Diocesan Staff in registering guests.
The cost of the dinner is $55.00 and the diocese is not able to offer complementary dinners for the volunteers.
Contact Susan Jacob at 760-320-7488 x 227 or susan.jacob@stpaulsps.org to volunteer.
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Daughters of the King
The meeting schedule skips December, but we wish everyone in the parish a wonderful Christmas and a blessed New Year. We’ll continue to pray daily during the holidays. Save the date of January 29th for our next meeting. The Annual Tea and Ingathering will happen in February this year. New members are welcome to join our prayer order. Call Bonnie Stroock at 760.324.7949 for more information.
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Coffee Hour Celebration
Hosts after the 10:30 AM service are Dee Barnes and Ray & Cheryl Kelley.
Coffee Hour hosts are still needed for future Sundays. 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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