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The House Was Filled
With the Fragrance
There is an earthiness about the story of Jesus that we often ignore. It is hard to ignore it, however, in this week’s Gospel reading. Our human senses will be engaged if we give them permission. Sight, touch, and smell call to mind our real experiences with people and remind us of the reality of Jesus’ human interactions.
Lazarus hosted a fancy dinner for Jesus. Martha serves the guests. As Jesus reclines at the table, Mary takes a large dollop of expensive essential oil and massages it into his exposed feet, finally wiping them with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance.
I wonder if any of Mary and Martha’s family could ever smell that perfume and not think of Jesus. Once the memory is triggered, all of Jesus comes to mind or heart. Although I was not there, I can imagine the experience. I can imagine the worn and hurting feet being softened and civilized by the application of oil and caring hands. I can imagine a fragrance filling that house.
I can imagine a fragrance filling this community of faith. The name of that fragrance is compassion. In her gesture, Mary had compassion. In her gesture, Mary served Jesus and gave an example for the disciples. In her gesture, Mary prepared Jesus for death and modeled for him a gift he would ask of all his followers: wash each other’s feet – serve one another. Read chapter 13 of John’s Gospel and wonder with me whether Mary’s gesture helped him prepare for the last supper he would host.
I hope that the sights, sounds, feel and even smells of my interactions with each person remind me of the earthly Jesus. He had feet that were soothed by perfume, oil, and touch. I hope the fragrance that fills my heart and our parish guides us to compassion and service for the very real and earthly world – the world Jesus gave himself for.
Join us this weekend as we inhale the fragrance of service and compassion.
Fr. Andrew
Special thanks to Susan Hylen of Emory University for her Working Preacher commentary. Read it here.
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John 12:1-8
Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”
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Click here to print and/or view a copy of this table.
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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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Have you appreciated or been inspired by the Windsails? Then, please write in the blue and silver book on the table in the narthex. The book will be returned to Wendy, their creator, after Easter. Sunday, 3/17 at 12:15pm in the Library, there will be a 20-minute presentation describing how the Windsails came to be created.
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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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“Sundays at 9:15”
In The Library
Lenten Biblical Figures:
Hosted by Victoria Hatch
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
3/19 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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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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ACT NOW!
Sign the Pledge to Break the Cycle of Violence. Click here.
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Bishops Speak on Violence
The Bishops of the Episcopal Church just ended a four-day meeting in North Carolina with a Pastoral Statement.
It is called:
A Word to the Church:
Godly Leadership in the Face of Violence.
You may read the statement here.
They encourage all members to pray and work for an end to gun violence.
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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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Easter Flowers
Your contributions for our Easter Flowers are welcome. There are special envelopes in the pews or simply write Easter Flowers on your check memo.
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The Good Friday Offering
…at St. Paul’s provides essential funding to strengthen the visibility of the Christian presence throughout the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East. That funding is critical to the ongoing ministry in the region. Make your check out to St. Paul’s with Good Friday Offering on the memo line. For more information, click here.
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Needed: Librarian
A librarian is needed for St. Paul’s. Scott Bunn, who for the past two years has worked to modernize and catalog our library, is moving shortly. His work and talent are apparent to those now taking advantage of our collection, and we owe Scott a heartfelt “Thank you!” He has prepared detailed instructions to the special person who will follow him. Please prayerfully consider if that person is you. Call or e-mail jonathan@stpaulsps.org.
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Daughters of the King meets Tuesday, March 26th at 1:15pm in St. Paul’s Condo. Please bring what you’ve been reading for Lent for our discussion and any prayer needs. Call Bonnie Stroock at 760.324.7949 for information on this National Women’s Prayer Order.
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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 April 10th 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 Barry Hagenbuch & Robert Woods and after the 10:30 service by Nathan Ensign.
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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