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All I Have is Yours
The Prodigal Son, the Waiting Father, and the Angry Elder Brother are the critical characters of this story Jesus tells in response to criticism by the establishment folks, grumbling because he “welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Sadly, this is the only way they describe Jesus’ ministry. They did not say what a powerful preacher he was. They did not highlight his healing or miracles. They dismissed him as someone who would welcome a sinner, one they disdained and kept out.
One aspect of the conflict at the heart of Jesus’ encounter is this: how do the legacy members of a community maintain their own faith and worth in the face of unusual change? Legacy members are “the old guard,” “the pillars of the church or community,” the people here before the ”new” pastor. They are the people who have been serving faithfully and caring for the church through good times and bad. Change threatens their guardianship. Sometimes, it is those who have served faithfully, but who have also built their definition of God’s grace and love around themselves; change brings fear of being excluded, of losing their entitled share. They angrily defend the shares they see as limited, as does the Elder Brother.
Of the three stories Jesus tells in response to the establishment (the lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost son), this week’s is the last and the longest. Its teaching is the most significant, perhaps of the entire Gospel: “You are always with me, and everything I have is yours.”
Time and again, Jesus calls us to listen to God’s definition of grace and his abundance, instead of the limited, scarce version that populates our politics, our economics, and our sense of self worth. He has a hard sell because we have a huge invested stake in wrestling for scraps of scarce grace. Jesus calls us to something much more.
If we are always with God, and if everything God has is ours, we can live without fear, care for others without counting the cost, and we can stay close to Jesus as the cross looms nearer.
Join us this weekend as we celebrate God’s abundant grace, welcome the lost and the least, and feast together at God’s table.
Fr. Andrew
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Luke 15:1-3, [11b-32]
All the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
Click here to read the full scripture.
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Click here to print and/or view a copy of this table.
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Remember: Change Your Clocks
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Daylight Savings Time
begins Sunday,
March 10th.
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Walking the Via Dolorosa in Jersualem
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 The Faith Formation Team invites you to join Bonnie Stroock on Saturday, March 23rd from 2-3:45pm in the library for a virtual tour of where the Stations of the Cross began. Follow Christ’s path to Golgotha, after he was condemned an carrying the cross, through pictures on stories. Lean the history of one of the most famous pilgrimages of Christendom as we begin Holy Week. Then stay for Holy Communion at 4pm in the church.
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The ‘Windsails‘ in the church 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)
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Episcopal Night at the San Diego Opera
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‘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.
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The Experience of Confirmation;
Accepting God’s Gift of Faith
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Are you worshiping with our community and are ready to take a further step into becoming an Episcopalian?
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Are you allready an Episcopalian and have been inactive and want to reconnect?
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Are you confirmed in another denomination and want to be received into the Episcopal Church?
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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. 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.
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“Sundays at 9:15”
In The Library
Lenten Biblical Figures:
Hosted by Victoria Hatch
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
Coptic Church/Traditions
Hosted by Rick Tinsley
4/07 Session I
4/14 Session II
4/21 NO CLASS – Confirmation with Bishop Mathes
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“Tuesdays at 7”
In the Library
The Historical Jesus:
Hosted by Jerry DiNoto,
Craig Ewing and Father David
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
The Old Testament
A study of the Hebrew Scriptures, DVD with Amy Jill Levine.
Hosted by Craig Ewing and Team
4/02 Abraham, Sarah and Hagar – Genesis 11-21
4/09 Isaac – Genesis 21-22
4/16 The Jacob Saga – Genesis 25-36
4/23 Biblical Folklore Analysis – Genesis 25-36
4/30 Moses and Exodus – Exodus 1-15
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Roy’s Desert Resource Center
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Roy’s Desert Resource Center is an outreach St. Paul that serves the homeless by providing clothing and deserts on Monday evening served by our volunteers. You can help by contributing deserts, donating to our SOS Fund, adding to our donation baskets in the Narthex or joining our volunteers on Monday evening. For more information, call Hap Blaisdell at 760.323.5726.
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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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ACT NOW!
Sign the Pledge to Break the Cycle of Violence. Click here.
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The Rev. Sidney “Herbert” Shears, who was Rector of St. Paul in the Desert from 1968-1975, celebrated his 100th birthday February 14th. Read more…
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Help Make Palm Crosses.
 The Altar Guild invites you to gather in the Parish Hall Saturday, March 23rd at 9am for a morning of ministry and fellowship to make palm crosses for Palm Sunday. They are easy to make, so don’t worry if you have not done them before. A light breakfast will be provided. The Altar Guild will also be cleaning the church in preparation for Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter. If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Kilmer, Altar Guild Director, at 760.325.0332 or kmkcc@aol.com.
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The Camp Stevens
Women’s Retreat
…will be March 8-10. The camp is in the beautiful woods near Julian CA, 80 miles south of Palm Springs. Cost is $145 for lodging, food and the program of worship, music, and reflection. Contact info@campstevens.org or phone 760.765.0028 for reservations.
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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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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.
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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.
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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 March 13 at 10:15 am. Father Dick Merrill will preside and welcomes assistance from parishioners.
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Coffee Hour Celebration
Coffee Hour is hosted after the 8:00 service by John Hampson and after the 10:30 service by the Vestry.
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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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.
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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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