The Abundant Lite – January 17, 2013

From the Rector

To The Brim

This week, we read about the first of Jesus’ signs; the first of the amazing things that Jesus did that shed light on who he was. He got virtually no credit for his first miracle, changing water into really good wine. In fact, the unsuspecting bridegroom and the host family collected all the honor and recognition for Jesus’ work.

It is a common theme in this Gospel that the “important” people don’t see what Jesus does. It is the people one would not expect who really see. The steward of the banquet does not see, but the servants do. Later, religious leaders don’t see, but the blind man “sees.”

What then was the sign? Was it the changing of water to wine? If so, what did that point to about Jesus? Typically, changing the water to wine shows Jesus’s attention to meeting the needs of the guests – almost making Jesus the host. Does it point do Jesus offering himself in the substance of the wine at Communion? While this is important and worth reflection later, it is not the sign that I think came first.

What if the sign was all about the abundance of God’s grace and love?

When I am pouring a beverage for friends and family, I am usually concerned about making sure that there is enough and that it is shared fairly. So I always hold back. I generally feel better if there is more for later rather than if everybody’s cup is full. This is not the sign of Jesus we are directed to.

Jesus told the servant to fills the large jars “to the brim.” He did not seek credit, but he wanted to make sure that there was plenty. Karoline Lewis sees this sign as living out the description of Jesus from the 1st chapter of John. “From his fulness we have all received grace upon grace.”(1:16)

This will be the third week in a row that we have reflected on this abundance theme. Are we listening? How am I being called to live differently to reflect abundance and “grace upon grace?”

Join us this week as we worship “to the brim,” holding nothing back and receiving all – everything God has in store for us.

Fr. Andrew
 

Featured Scripture

     John 2:1-11

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

The Desert Convocation:

Building a Community of Conversation

Alice Parker:

February 22-24, 2013

Composer, conductor and teacher Alice Parker was born in Boston, MA in 1925. She graduated from Smith College with a major in music performance and composition, then receiving her master’s degree from the Juilliard School where she studied choral conducting with Robert Shaw. Her life-work has been in choral and vocal music, combining composing, conducting and teaching in a creative balance. 

Ms. Parker will offer a workshop on the 23rd and a Sermon in Song on the 24th.

CONFIRMATION! Are you…?

• Worshiping with our community and are ready to take a further step into becoming an Episcopalian?
• Already an Episcopalian and have been inactive and want to reconnect?
• Confirmed in another denomination and want to be received into the Episcopal Church?
• 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 21st. 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.

The Experience of Confirmation: Accepting God’s Gift of Faith

We will have an orientation meeting on Thursday, February 21th 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
 

A Death in the Parish

Funerals:

Jane Thompson

Funeral has been postponed due to family circumstances.

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.

Faith Building

“Sundays at 9:15”

In The Library

The Hebrew Scriptures – The Book of Genesis

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

“Tuesdays at 7”

In the Library

Faith & Reason Series: Anselm and Abelard, hosted by Jerry Di Noto & Craig Ewing
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

Roy’s Desert Resource Center

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.

– – –

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.

“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!

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.

Announcements

Need to Print a Copy of

The Abundant Lite?

Click here to receive a Printer Friendly (text only) version.

ACT NOW!

Sign the Pledge to Break the Cycle of Violence. Click here.

Emergency Update:

Hurricane Sandy

Episcopal Relief and Development is helping to meet the need.

Your help is urgently needed.

Click here to donate.

ANNUAL MEETING

Sunday, January 27

at 9:15 am

• Brief Ministry reports
• Election of Vestry Members

A Newcomer’s Class

. . . is scheduled for Sunday, February 3rd, at 7pm. This is your opportunity to discover more about St. Paul’s Church. Please contact Susan Jacob at 760.320.7488 ext 227 or susan.jacob@stpaulsps.org to register.

The Episcopal Church Women’s Valentine’s Luncheon

. . . will take place on Thursday, February 7th, at 11:30am in the parish hall. Please bring something special to you, be it a favorite artifact, a picture, or a special food. After lunch we will share personal memories about what we have brought. We will also discuss plans for the Annual Spaghetti Dinner on Saturday, March 2nd. Hostesses will beGini Bottomley, Ruth Kraus, Anna Secrist, and Barbara Villani. Please bring (except newcomers) a salad to serve 6 – 8, rolls, or dessert to share. Beverages are provided. For information, contact Barbara Villani at 760.322.3987.

Flowers in the church

Sign up in the binder on the entrance table in the Parish Hall for altar or narthex flowers for 2013.

We Need Volunteers

to assist with Name Badge organization.  Please contact Mike Funke at 760-409-0986 or: mike.funke@yahoo.com if you can help.

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.

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.
 

(Convention Volunteers Needed!  Help register guests for thje Gala Dinner from 5 – 6:30pm.  Call Susan at 760-320-7488 ext 227 to volunteer)

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.

Daughters of the King

Daughters of the King will meet Tuesday, January 29th at 1:15pm in the “Condo”. Women who enjoy praying in a shared community of friendship in
Christ are invited to join us.

The DOK Annual Winter Tea is Sunday, February 17th, from 2- 4pm in Mission Hills. We ask for a donation of warm clothing for the Well in the Desert. Please join us to plan the tea and pray for our parish. Call Bonnie Stroock at 760.324.7949 for information.

Coffee Hour Celebration

Coffee Hour hosts after the 10:30 service are John and Lena Granet.

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.

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.
 

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.

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.