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Bigger Barns or Bigger Hearts?
Jesus has just told his disciples and the crowd that the Holy Spirit will give them the words to say when needed. One of the crowd responds by asking Jesus to settle an inheritance dispute. It was as if the questioner did not have a clue. Jesus is about making a greater connection between people and God, and his acts of power support that connection.
Jesus uses the exchange as an occasion to teach about money. In the church, this is usually understood as asking for money, but we, too, often miss the point. Jesus is teaching about peoples’ relationship with money. He warns against any kind of greed – a desire for more than one needs, or holding on to excess.
Christians commonly mistake warnings about greed for antagonism against money. The world’s view of the Bible, and its assumptions about wealth differ widely. Rather than compare and contrast all those assumptions and the impact of Jesus’ words, I want to focus on the response of the rich man to his abundance.
When faced with a record harvest, he plans to build more barns. In response to a harvest that he did not control, he planned to take control of the abundance and store it. Build more barns. It is as if his stored abundance will assure him of security in the face of life’s challenges. Jesus teaches that it is not so. In the story, this question was life’s last challenge for him.
This is not a criticism of prudent savings or of participation in a retirement plan or 401K, but of the rich man’s belief in ownership and control taken to excess.
If one reads all of Jesus’ teaching about our attitude towards money, it is clear that the context is the well being of the whole community. Excess should not be stored, but shared.
In fact, Jesus might push beyond excess in sharing, to sharing all.
Jesus invites the crowd and us not to build bigger barns. He invites the church to change the way we see God’s abundance. Rather than building bigger barns, he invites us to enlarge our hearts by sharing our excess/God’s abundance. We are invited to share in service to those in need. We are invited to share our treasure where it can make a difference. We are invited to share our lives with others in prayer and worship.
Join in worship this week as we practice being a people who serve, in a community of faith that makes a difference.
Fr. Andrew
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Luke 12:13-21
Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” Then he told them a parable: “The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, `What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?’ Then he said, `I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, `Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, `You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.”
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SATURDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 12, 2013 – 5:00 PM!
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SAVE THIS VERY IMPORTANT DATE!
You won’t want to miss this wonderful event.
We will kick off St. Paul’s 75th Anniversary
in a grand way!
Remember – SAVE THIS DATE: 10/12/13!!
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“Sundays at 9:15”
In The Library
Why Did Jesus, Moses, The Buddha and Mohammed Cross the Road?
During August Victoria Hatch will lead us in a discussion of this new book by Brian McLaren that addresses the issue of Christian identity in a multi-faith world and focuses on how Christians are to engage with those of other faiths.
8/04 The Crisis of Christian Identity
8/11 The Doctrinal Challenge: Promoting Harmony and Unity
8/18 The Liturgical Challenge: Baptism and/or
Sitting on Santa’s Knee
8/25 The Missional Challenge: Who We Are in a Multi-Faith World
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“Tuesdays at 7”
In the Library
Movie Night on Tuesdays at 7pm in the Library
August Movie Nights’ theme is Royals or Royalty:
Kings and Queens
8/06 Private Lives of Henry VIII (1933) – Craig Ewing, host
8/13 Elizabeth (1998) – Jerry Di Noto, host
8/20 Henry V (1989) – Jerry Di Noto, host
8/27 The Queen (2006) – Jerry Di Noto, host
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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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“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 Misconduct.
Report Misconduct. As part of our ongoing commitment to creating a safe haven for everyone, our diocese trains people in the prevention of misconduct and encourages all to report misconduct. All reported incidents are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly and confidentially. If you believe you have experienced misconduct of any kind, please contact the Rev. Thomas Wilson at twilssdca@gmail.com or 619.518.4713.
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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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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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At the
Church of St. Paul
in the Desert
. . . we welcome all worshipers to a place free of violence, bullying, and abuse. Physical, verbal or emotional violence against others or against oneself is not acceptable because of our understanding of what it means to follow Jesus. Please let Jesus’ command to love your neighbor as yourself be your guide.
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The Peace and Justice Team will meet for a discussion of National and Global issues, Thursday, August 8th, at 7pm in the library. Join us for chocolate, crunchy’s, and a lively dialogue.
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Children’s Sunday School continues through the summer (although not the Godly Play program) with stories, artwork, and music during the 10:30 service.
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Come camping in August
Camperships for Camp Stevens raised $341.45 last Sunday. A big thanks for helping out kids who can’t afford a week of camp. You may still send a check to St. Paul”s noting Camp Stevens Camperships on the bottom. Also our parishioner, Noah Baker Aidukus is attending camp this summer. Yeah for Noah!
Donors are invited to visit camp in the fall for a picnic. Also see pictures from our St. Paul’s Campers trips. A few spots are still open for August 23-25 reservations at Idyllwild County Park. Call Ron Shepherd at 760.832.4709 to reserve.
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Movie Night!
Tuesday Nights in
July and August
See the schedule in the Faith Building section
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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 August 14th at 10:15 am. Father Dick Merrill will preside and welcomes assistance from parishioners.
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Coffee Hour Celebration
Coffee Hour Hosts today: following the 8:00 service Rose Sanguillen Ross and Jerry DiNoto and following the 10:30 service Hap Blaisdell and Jon Keller.
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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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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