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A Question And an Answer
I can identify with the people in this week’s Gospel reading who were filled with expectation. Their expectation led to questions and their questions led them to hope. Various occasions can lead us to a sense of heightened expectancy.
I need to point out how ordinary the occasion for expectations was in this Gospel account. John was preaching and baptizing. He was “comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable.” It was what John did. He was in the tradition of prophets who spoke to specific communities at specific times. The prophets got people ready to pay attention!
The expectations that boiled up had the people wondering if John were the one. Was this occasion of preaching and renewal a sign that John was the “one?” Was he the messiah?
John strongly said “No!”
Among all those who were being baptized that day was the answer they waited for, the hope they were expecting – Jesus.
It was in the routine and anonymous baptism that Jesus came to the water. It was unexceptional. But afterwards, something happened. The answer the people had been so long looking for was revealed as Jesus rose from the water, wet and dripping. The Spirit embraced him and the heavenly voice affirmed: “You are my Son, whom I dearly love; in you I find happiness.” (Common English Bible)
The messiah they were expecting had come, but he was not what they expected.
Every week, we who worship come with expectation and questioning – every week. And every week the Spirit embraces and God affirms us. We are beloved. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I am so focused on my expectation, I can miss what God is doing in and through the very ordinary acts of worship which we share.
Join us this weekend as we practice in worship, sharing the expectation of our hearts and receiving the deepening affirmation of a God who loves us as he does his only Son.
Fr. Andrew
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Luke 3:15-17,21-22
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.”
Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
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The Desert Convocation:
Building a Community of Conversation
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The Right Reverend V. Gene Robinson
January 6-19, 2013
The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson is our second guest in this series. Bp Robinson retired from his responsibilities in the Diocese of New Hampshire on January 5th. We welcome him as our Presider and Preacher this weekend. He will be at each Coffee Hour and will be the leader for Sunday at 9:15 today. This will be an opportunity for conversation. The conversation continues with “An Evening with Gene Robinson” on Thursday, January 17th, at 7pm, in the Church. There is no cost, and it is open to everyone. On Saturday, January 19th, at 9:30am, the Palm Springs Cultural Center and St. Paul’s will offer a screening of his movie, “Love Free or Die” at the Camelot Theater. Tickets are available through St. Paul’s for $10 and online for $12.Tickets purchased through the church must be by cash or check and will close at 4 pm on the 17th. Tickets may be picked up at the “Will Call” at the Theater.
Click here to view a video on one of Bp. Robinson’s speciql projects, endowing the Chaplaincy of a Women’s Prison in NH.
We want to thank the sponsors of the Desert Convocation, including Bp. Robinson’s visit: Michael Carson and Ron Steigerwalt, Thomas Clarke and John Hampton, Miriam Hoover and Michael Leppen, Gregg Seller and Pasquale Bettino , Roger Allen and Taylor Baird, Jerry and Clair McCleery, Orin Ellingson, and Andrew Green.
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Worshiping with our community and are ready to take a further step into becoming an Episcopalian?
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Already an Episcopalian and have been inactive and want to reconnect?
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Confirmed in another denomination and want to be received into the Episcopal Church?
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Interested in exploring your faith in the context of St. Paul’s community?
Then our Confirmation Program is for you!
The program will consist of at least six weekly sessions in preparation for Confirmation/Reception by Bishop Mathes on April 7th. This group journey will lead participants through their own spiritual life story as well as through the history, theology and worship of the Episcopal Church. It is an opportunity to spiritually grow in and through the community of faith at St. Paul’s.
We will have an orientation meeting on Thursday, February 7th at 7PM in the Library. Please RSVP your interest in attending by calling the Office at 760 320-7488, x227 or email at: faith-journey@stpaulsps.org
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Funerals:
Jane Thompson
Funeral
January 25th at 11:00 am at St. Paul’s.
Ron Crudo
Memorial Service
January 12th at 1:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s.
Richard Mitchell
Memorial Service
January 14th at 2:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s.
Ray Cross
Memorial Service
January 19th at 2:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s.
Don MacLean
Memorial Service
January 26th at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s
O Lord, may they rest in peace and rise in glory. Amen.
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“Sundays at 9:15”
In The Library
The Hebrew Scriptures – The Book of Genesis
01/13 Parables, Stories, Sermons: Interview with Fr. Jonathan
by Fr. David
01/20 Year of Luke: Parables Unique to Luke, by Fr. David
01/27 NO CLASS – Annual Parish Meeting
02/03 Celtic Church/Tradition I, led by Rick Tinsley
02/10 Celtic Church/Tradition II, led by Rick Tinsley
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“Tuesdays at 7”
In the Library
Faith & Reason Series: Anselm and Abelard, hosted by Jerry Di Noto & Craig Ewing
01/15 Anselm on Freedom and the Fall: When Lucifer fell,
was he pushed?
01/22 Abelard on Understanding the Trinity:
Hints from Heloise’s Lover
01/29 Abelard on Understanding Redemption:
“There, but for the Grace of ..
02/05 Aristotle Re-Discovered: Attractive or dangerous
for the Church
02/12 Bonaventure: A wild journey of the mind—
thinking God-like
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Roy’s Desert Resource Center
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Thanks For SOS Support
Parishioners at St. Paul in the Desert donated (through our SOS Fund) $2,000 for gift cards forChristmas and emergency needs of the homeless at Roy’s Desert Resource Center. In addition, on-going donations to our SOS Fund for “sox and underwear” supported a $516 contribution for January needs. That bought 116 pairs of sox, 82 T-shirts and 89 pairs of underwear! All of this is in addition to donated items taken to the altar during Sunday services and deserts provided for our Monday desert program.
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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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ACT NOW!
Sign the Pledge to Break the Cycle of Violence. Click here.
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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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Flowers in the church
Sign up in the binder on the entrance table in the Parish Hall for altar or narthex flowers for 2013.
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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 February 13 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, February 8th, and Saturday, February 9th, at St. Margaret’s, Palm Desert. For information or to register, please visit:
www.edsd.org/diocon2013.
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Ice Skating
. . . with the Family and Children’s Ministry on Sunday, January 27th, at 2:30pm at Cathedral City’s Ice Rink on Perez Avenue just east of Cathedral Canyon Boulevard. Cost including rentals is $9 a person. Wear warm clothes. Adults are invited to come and be a kid again. Call Bonnie at 760.324.7949.
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Daughters of the King
Daughters of the King will meet Tuesday, January 29th. 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 both services are the Children’s and Family Ministry.
Coffee Hour hosts are needed for the rest of 2013. To sign up to host a Coffee Hour, please use the binder on the entrance table in the Parish Hall. If you have questions, 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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The 2013 Budget has been revised. Please read and reflect upon it.
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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“A Welcoming, Empowering, Supportive”
Ministry!
Our mission statement calls us to be “a welcoming, empowering and supportive community.” We are currently forming a new ministry at St Pau’s to support that mission. Volunteers are needed from all three services to donate approximately 90 minutes of their time per month. That time is split into 3-30 minute segments: 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after the service you attend, once per month, to support the Welcoming Table located in the Narthex and another 30 minutes a month assisting with name badge organization. If you are able to lend a hand, please contact Mike Funke at 760.-409.0986 or mike.funke@yahoo.com!
Help us live our mission statement!
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