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God Will Wipe Away Every Tear
The people of Boston are coming through a great and terrible ordeal. It is impossible to watch or read the news without being joined to them. The news I read is mostly about the search for a perpetrator and the human toll of the explosions. I believe that the bomber will be caught, but we have only begun to appreciate the cost to people’s lives. Many tears have been shed and there are more to come.
Those of us who are far from the devastation are invited to harness our compassion with prayer. Through prayer, we can open our hearts to share in the burdens of the injured, their families, the witnesses, and those who stepped forward to serve. Through prayer we can honor the three who died and trust in God’s strength for those who mourn. Through prayer we can turn our anger that would seek revenge into a hunger for justice. Our scriptures are no stranger to people who suffer, and tell the ordeal of shed blood and pain Jesus suffered through – before God’s gift of new life.
This week’s reading from the Revelation to John concerns a group of people assembled very close to the throne of God in heaven. They form the choir of praise for God and occupy the place of honor. They are identified as people who have come through the great ordeal.
The people in the place of honor before God are the people who have come through a great ordeal.
I highlight this because it is a reminder that God does not promise protection from all harm or suffering. God promises to be with us and to “wipe away every tear” from our eyes. Our Christian vision of salvation is not an escape from suffering, but a promise of God’s presence in the midst of suffering and a promise that, one day, the tears will be wiped away for good.
In our worship this weekend, we will begin with a Litany for the People of Boston. Join us as we serve the people who are hurting, with our prayers.
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Revelation 7:9-17
After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying,
“Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, singing,
“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom
and thanksgiving and honor
and power and might
be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” I said to him, “Sir, you are the one that knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
For this reason they are before the throne of God,
and worship him day and night within his temple,
and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.
They will hunger no more, and thirst no more;
the sun will not strike them,
nor any scorching heat;
for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of the water of life,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
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Bp. Mathes to Preside This Weekend
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The Rt. Rev. James Mathes makes his semi-annual visitation to St. Paul’s this weekend.
The bishop of a diocese is required to visit each congregation to preach and teach, Baptize and Confirm members of the congregation. He or she is also expected to engage in the ministry of oversight by meeting with leaders, clergy, and examining church records. This is an important part of being in the Episcopal Church. The bishop links congregations to one another, to the larger denomination, and to the universal Christian tradition.
We welcome Bp. Mathes this weekend. He is certainly no stranger St. Paul’s. Several members assist the bishop and our diocese as leaders in our common mission. Although this is his official visitation, he is present with us at important time though out the year. He made a special trip to Palm Springs to teach a part of our Confirmation Class and have substantial time to teach the faith.
 Just as we understand this visit as a part of our common work as a diocese, Bp. Mathes is our Chief Pastor and is vitally connected to our service and worship here in the desert.
Bp. Mathes and Fr. Andrew participated in the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) at the Mexican Border during Holy Week. This was a pilgrimage to advocate for immigration reform and for compassion.
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Rod B.Burke
12/23/1942 – 4/10/2013
Funeral plans are pending.
May he rest in peace.
Keep Rod’s partner of 35 years,
Kirk Storm in your prayers.
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“Sundays at 9:15”
In The Library
Coptic Church/Traditions
Hosted by Rick Tinsley
4/21 NO CLASS – Confirmation with Bishop Mathes
From Convent to Miter:
The Legacy of Women in the Episcopal Church
Hosted by Victoria Hatch
4/28 Religious Orders and Religious Education
5/05 The Fight for Ordination I
5/12 The Fight for Ordination II
5/19 The Election of Katharine Jefferts Schori
5/26 NO CLASS – Memorial Day Weekend
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“Tuesdays at 7”
In the Library
The Old Testament
A study of the Hebrew Scriptures, DVD with Amy Jill Levine.
Hosted by Craig Ewing and Team
4/23 Biblical Folklore Analysis – Genesis 25-36
4/30 Moses and Exodus – Exodus 1-15
5/07 The God of Israel – Exodus 1-15
5/14 Covenant and Law, Part I – Exodux 19-40
5/21 Covenant and Law, Part II – Exodus 20-35 and Leviticus
5/28 The Conquest – Deuteronomy 20-21, 27-31, and the Book of Joshua
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Roy’s Desert Resource Center is an outreach of St. Paul’s that serves the homeless by providing clothing and desserts on Monday evening served by our volunteers. You can help by contributing desserts, 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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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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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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Daughters of the King
. . . will meet on April 23rd at 1:15 PM in the Condo behind the Parish Office. Interested ladies are welcome to visit this meeting. Please bring your prayer needs and we will also complete our Lenten reading discussion. Contact Bonnie Stroock @ 760.324.7949 with questions.
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Special Offering Sunday
. . . for the Bishop’s Discretionary Fund. Our special offering goes to the Bishop’s Discretionary Fund for support of emergencies and non-budgeted ministries that arise in the course of the year. Please be as generous as you can.
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Desert Blind and Handicapped
Breakfast at Coco’s
. . . to support transportation for people with disabilities. Takes place at Coco’s, Smoke Tree Village, 1901 E Palm Canyon, Drive on Saturday April 20th from 8 AM -11 AM. Tickets are $20 and are available by calling 760-778-8552 or see George Holliday.
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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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Celebrate May with ECW!
A luncheon and special program are planned for the Episcopal Church Women’s gathering on May 2nd, the last of this year’s gatherings. The program will feature parishioner and artist Charlene Faris, who will be displaying and talking about some of her paintings. There will also be time to reminisce and share memories of “Mother’s Artistic Yarns” to celebrate Mother’s Day. A business meeting, open to all, begins at 11:30 a.m. and will be followed by the noon luncheon and program. Newcomers to the parish are especially welcome. Those attending (except for newcomers) are asked to bring a salad to serve 6 to 8, rolls, or a dessert. Beverages are provided. Hostesses will be Beverly Zwach and Victoria Pineda. For additional information, contact Kathy Briski @ (760) 864-7145.
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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 May 8th at 10:15 am. Father Dick Merrill will preside and welcomes assistance from parishioners.
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Coffee Hour Celebration
The Coffee Hours today are being sponsored in honor of our Bishop, James Mathes, and all those being Baptized, Confirmed, Received & Reaffirmed. The hosts for the 8:00 service are Barry Hagenbuch & Robert Woods. Hosts for the 10:30 service are Hap Blaisdell, Sharon Strong, & Claire McCleery.
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, click here.
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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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