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A Reflection from Canon Victoria
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“…that they may be one. As you Father, are in me and I am in you,…“
Jesus is in the midst of His farewell discourse. This Sunday, he concludes that discourse, including what is referred to as the High Priestly Prayer. It appears as one of the most convoluted, confusing pieces of scripture anywhere. However, after a more careful perusal of the passage, you discover that not only is Jesus praying for us and all succeeding generations; but, Jesus is speaking about self-giving love and unity. Not unity as denial of individuality, but a profound understanding of unity in diversity. The essence of that unity is love as expressed in Jesus’ out-pouring of self for all of creation and by way of example is this weeks reading from Acts.
Paul and Silas keep their jailer from killing himself after the earthquake happens, when the prisoners could have escaped but did not. The jailer recognizes Paul as an agent far greater than any he has known and so he asks what he must do to be saved. Paul responds, “Believe on the Lord Jesus”. Paul’s message that salvation comes through belief in Jesus is the kerygma, the story of the Good News. The story is familiar: Paul and Silas spoke the word of the Lord to the jailer and his household, and after the jailer tended the wounds of Paul and Silas, he and his family were baptized.
The promise of the coming of the Advocate has been made; and yet, we fail at times to recognize the work of the Holy Spirit at work in our midst. We are in the time between Ascension and the Coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The love of God has been given to us, are we open to its presence in our midst?
Join us this weekend as we celebrate the love of God that is in our midst.
Canon Victoria
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John 17:20-26
Jesus prayed for his disciples, and then he said. “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
“Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
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A Classical Piano Concert
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 Dr. John Granet will perform on Thursday, May 9th here at St. Paul’s in a benefit for Desert Blind and Handicapped. The Concert, narrated by John, will be preceded by a reception in the Parish Hall at 6 PM. The Concert will begin in the Sanctuary at 7 PM. There will also be a Post-Concert Reception in the Parish Hall at 8:30 PM. Tickets are $40 and are available by phoning 760.778.8552 or you may see George Holliday, Harriet Yost or Bette Knutson after the Sunday services.
Born in Portland, Oregon and totally blind at birth, John holds a Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate degrees in piano and composition from USC. He has taught piano, music theory and music appreciation at various colleges. Many of John’s classical, chamber and solo works have been performed at venues and universities across the US.
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“Sundays at 9:15”
In The Library
From Convent to Miter
The Legacy of Women in the Episcopal Church,
hosted by Victoria Hatch
5/12 The Fight for Ordination II
5/19 The Election of Katharine Jefferts Schori
5/26 NO CLASS – Memorial Day Weekend
The Lives of Great Christians
DVD with Dr. William R. Cook,
hosted by Rick Tinsley and David Caffrey
6/02 Introduction: What Make a Great Christian?
6/09 Paul and the First Christian Missionaries
6/16 The Early Martyrs
6/23 St. Anthony – The First Mjonk
6/30 The Desert Fathers and Mothers
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“Tuesdays at 7”
In the Library
The Old Testament
A study of Hebrew Scriptures, DVD with Amy-Jill Levine,
hosted by David Abernethy-Deppe and Bob Hettinger
5/14 Covenant and Law I – Exodux 19-40
5/21 Covenant and Law II – Leviticus
5/28 The Conquest – Deuteronomy 20-31 and Joshua
Great Figures of the New Testament,
DVD with Amy-Jill Levine,
hosted by Jerry Lynch and Jerry DiNoto
6/04 John and James, the Sons of Zebedee
6/11 The Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son
6/18 The Samaritan Woman
6/25 Stephen, the First Martyr
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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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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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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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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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St. Margaret’s Labyrinth Guild cordially invites you to its last public labyrinth walk of the season on Tuesday, May 14th, at 6:45pm. Featured is Brother Michael-Gregory Norrie, who will speak on “The Holy Spirit: The Breath of God.”
Please come and bring a friend! Refreshments will be served. Questions? Call Alice at 760.323.2399.
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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 June 12th at 10:15 am. Father Dick Merrill will preside and welcomes assistance from parishioners.
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Daughters of the King will meet on Tuesday, May 28th, at 1:15pm in the Condo for our monthly prayer time. Dues will be collected. Newcomers are welcome to come and hear about the spring assembly in San Diego where a report on African Ministry was presented. The fastest growing chapters of DOK are in Malawi, Africa, where women are learning that the beauty of Christian fellowship empowers them. Call Bonnie Stroock for information at 760.324.7949.
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Coffee Hour Celebration
Coffee Hour Hosts after both services today are Jim & Tammy Franklin.
Hosts are needed for many Sundays throughout 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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“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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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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