|
Call Me When You’re Famished
I have never really pictured Jesus famished; he was – after 40 days of no food. I never considered Jesus being weakened this way – this very human aspect, one that directly connects with humanity and especially suffering. He was famished.
It is when he was famished, when he was at his weakest, that he was tested. I have watched enough crime dramas and spy movies to know that the hero is interrogated when he/she is most vulnerable. I want to keep Jesus’ condition in mind as I reflect on his testing, his temptations.
Despite his weakened state he was able to navigate an enticing set of tests. Each of them would have allowed him to escape or relieve some of the suffering that he would face in his ministry. The easy one was the suffering of hunger: Turn stones to bread. The next was power over the world: The kind of power that would betray his mission and ministry. Think – no healing, no Sermon on the Mount, no parables, no teaching. His power would be over the world, not for the world. The final one was the promise of no risk: He could fall off the Temple’s peak without danger; he could certainly bypass the cross, at the loss of the reconciliation of the world to God.
If he weren’t famished, I could read this as an intellectual exercise. It would be like “how many angels can dance on the head of a pin?” But because he was hurting, I think he was answering from his heart, from his true self. He was still faithful to his understanding of God’s purpose for him and for the world.
I don’t look forward to being famished, but I want to be hungry enough that I can pay attention to Jesus’ resolve to minister to the people who are powerless, are broken and famished as Jesus was. So that I can be faithful, too. All my Lenten discipline will be aimed in this direction: hunger for the joy and peace that Jesus offers, hunger enough to understand that the path goes through, not around the cross.
Join us in worship as we walk with the vulnerable but faithful Jesus and with one another.
Fr. Andrew
|
|
Luke 4:1-13
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.'”
Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered him, “It is written,
‘Worship the Lord your God,
and serve only him.'”
Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written,
‘He will command his angels concerning you,
to protect you,’
and
‘On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'”
Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'” When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.
|
|
Ashes-to-Go: Taking Our Faith Downtown.
|
|
Ashes-to-Go is a stretching of the Ash Wednesday liturgy by taking a part of it to the generally unsuspecting surrounding world. I first heard of it when my friend, and Rector of St. Margaret’s, offered this at El stops (think elevated trains or subways) in the Chicago area to commuters who were unlikely to get to church for Ash Wednesday. Last year Lane and a pastor from Hope Lutheran offered Ashes-to-Go on El Paseo.
With the assistance of Sr. Warden, John Westaway, I offered Ashes to people in downtown Palm Springs between 9 and 10:30 on Ash Wednesday. The routine was simple. We had a sign. I was vested in an alb (white robe) and a purple stole. I had a brief meditation on the significance of Ash Wednesday by Marcus Borg to give to interested people. And I had Ashes. We stationed ourselves on the Palm Canyon sidewalk about 75 feet from the base of Marilyn Monroe. (I thought we would get good foot traffic.
About 30 people requested Ashes. About 20 people took pictures of us. Several had come from their church with ashes and said hello. The reactions ranged from giggles to tears.
This is not a substitute for our in Church liturgies and worship. We took a powerful symbol of repentance, reconciliation, and mortality out to the place where people aren’t thinking about Church. We offered the symbol as a sign that points to God, willing to see what God might do with it. Now we wait.
|
|
 The ‘Windsails‘ in the narthex were inspired by a visit to Lindisfarne, also known as Holy Island, off the north east coast of Britain where St Aidan founded a monastery in 635 AD in the Celtic pattern of Iona. As we progress through Lent, so the Windsails will be moved each week, getting closer to the altar for Easter. Wendy Rudd is an amateur British artist who worships in an Anglican Church and a friend of Gordon Etheridge who arranged for them to come to St. Paul’s. As they are moved into the main body of the building, we hope to have curated times when we can invite people to come and enjoy the quiet space for inspired reflection. If you are willing to offer an hour, probably in the weeks following February 24th, please email:
gordonetheridge@gmail.com
or telephone the church office.
(Gordon usually worships at the 1030 Sunday service)
|
|
Episcopal Night at the San Diego Opera
|
|
‘Murder in the Cathedral’
Friday, April 5, at 7pm
Join Bishop Mathes and members from churches of the diocese for an evening of world-class opera and experience a 900-year old story of politics, intrigue, temptation and murder. Tickets purchased at a 20% discount include a backstage tour and a glamorous pre-opera reception. Visit the webpage www.sdopera.com/promo/offeredsd. For more information, pick up a flyer in the church office or contact Vanessa Dinning at 619.533.8047 or Vanessa.Dinning@sdopera.com.
|
|
The Funeral for Jane Thompson will be held at St. Pauls on Saturday, February 16 at 1:00 pm.
|
|
The Desert Convocation:
Building a Community of Conversation
|
|
 Alice Parker (teacher, composer, conductor and long-time collaborator of Robert Shaw) is our next Desert Convocation guest. Next Saturday, February 23rd she will lead an all-day workshop entitled “Finding the Heart of the Song”. The afternoon will end with a service of Psalms and Songs at 4:30 in the Church. Reservations are required for the workshop, but anyone interested is invited to join us for the closing service at the end of the workshop. Sunday, February 24th, she will give the “Sermon in Song” at our 10:30 service and that afternoon, from 2 – 4, we will have an informal Question and Answer session in the Parish Hall open to the public. For more information about these events, please contact our Director of Music Nathan Ensign after service Sunday or at: 760.320.7488 Ext. 225.
|
|
Episcopalians Against Gun Violence
|
|
Episcopalians Against Gun Violence is an ad-hoc group of bishops, clergy and lay people disseminating information about Episcopalians who are working, collectively and individually, to curb gun violence. For further information, go to www.facebook.com/EpiscopaliansAgainstGunViolence.
|
|
The Experience of Confirmation;
Accepting God’s Gift of Faith
|
-
Are you worshiping with our community and are ready to take a further step into becoming an Episcopalian?
-
Are you allready an Episcopalian and have been inactive and want to reconnect?
-
Are you confirmed in another denomination and want to be received into the Episcopal Church?
-
Are you interested in exploring your faith in the context of St. Paul’s community?
Then our Confirmation Program is for you!
This journey will lead you through your own spiritual life story as well as through the history, theology and worship of the Episcopal Church. It is an opportunity for you to grow spiritually in and through the community of faith at St. Paul’s. Following an orientation meeting on Thursday, February 21st, at 6:30pm in the Library, there will be weekly sessions on the Thursdays throughout Lent in preparation for Confirmation/Reception by Bishop Mathes on Sunday, April 21st. Please RSVP your interest in attending by calling Susan at 760.320.7488 ext 227.
|
|
“Sundays at 9:15”
In The Library
Lenten Biblical Figures: hosted by Victoria Hatch
2/17 Peter: Putting Your Foot into Your Mouth
2/24 Judas: Revolutionary, Friend, Betrayer, or Dupe
3/03 Pharisees & Sadducees: Good Guys or Bad Guys
3/10 Pontius Pilate: Hand Washing? Please Pass the Soap
3/17 The Centurion(s): Pax Romana or Convert?
3/24 & 31 NO CLASS – Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday
|
|
“Tuesdays at 7”
In the Library
The Historical Jesus: hosted by Jerry DiNoto, Craig Ewing
and Father David
2/19 Who Do You Say That I Am? – The Many Faces of Jesus
2/26 Who Do You Say That I Am? – One Remarkable Life
3/05 Who Do You Say That I Am? – The Last Days
3/10 Who Do You Say That I Am? – The Last Hours
3/19 Who Do You Say That I Am? – Death and Resurrection
3/26 NO CLASS – Holy Week
|
|
Roy’s Desert Resource Center
|
|
Roy’s Desert Resource Center is a very active outreach mission of St. Paul in the Desert that serves the homeless by providing basic clothing as well as Monday evening deserts served by our caring volunteers. You can help by contributing deserts, donating to our SOS Fund, adding to our donation baskets in the Narthex on Sunday morning or joining our volunteers on Monday evening. For more information, see our weekly newsletter on the internet or call Hap Blaisdell at 760.323.5726.
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Flowers in the church
Sign up in the binder on the entrance table in the Parish Hall for altar or narthex flowers for 2013.
|
|
St Paul’s at The Follies
Saturday, March 2, 2013, 1:30 p.m.
$49 per person cash or check. (Regularly $85 seats.) Call Mike Carson ASAP for tickets. (760) 318-6377.
Why not make it a show & dinner?
Also get your tickets for the Annual Spaghetti Supper after the Follies!
|
|
All Parish
Spaghetti Dinner
. . . is on Saturday, March 2nd, 5-7pm in the Parish Hall. This event features delicious food, irresistible goodies, and valuable door prizes, and is not to be missed! On the menu are two types of pasta sauce – marinara (vegetarian) & meat, spaghetti, tossed salad, and garlic bread. The ECW will hold their annual bake sale of homemade goodies for dessert or to take home. Tickets ($8 for adults, $3 for children ages 3-12) are on sale after each service or call the church office at 760.320.7488, ext. 0, for tickets or more information on how you can help!
|
|
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.
|
|
Annual
Daughters of the King
Tea
. . .is Sunday, Feb. 17 from 2-4pm at a home in Mission Hills. It is not too late to RSVP and call for directions at 760.324.7949. The Daughters are attending a Lenten Quiet Day at St. David’s, San Diego, next Saturday. We have space available to drive with us. We will leave at 6:30am and return at 5pm. Come and experience this uplifting and spiritual day with the DOK-a women’s prayer order.
|
|
Sponsors are needed
. . . for those who will begin our Confirmation / Reception / Reaffirmation preparation series. A sponsor is someone who encourages candidates with prayer, presence, and contact. If you would like to be a sponsor, please contact the office at 760.320.7488. We will hold a special brief sponsor meeting on Sunday, February 17th, at 6:30pm to outline duties and responsibilities of this vital role in the community.
|
|
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 March 13 at 10:15 am. Father Dick Merrill will preside and welcomes assistance from parishioners.
|
|
Coffee Hour Celebration
Coffee Hour Hosts after the 8:00 service are Barry Hagenbuch & Robert Woods and after the 10:30 service are Diane McClockin and Lynette Wright.
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.
|
|
“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!
|
|
|
Write a comment: