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Treasure/Heart?
So much of the energy around “religion” seems performance based. “If you are good, you will go to heaven.” Or something like that. In my own life, I often heard people let me know they would love me if I did the right thing, that I came to believe the same thing about God – that God would love me if I followed all the rules.
The selection from Luke’s Gospel we will read this week is a correction to this belief about God’s love and a tender loving surprise. “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Heaven, the Kingdom, or Salvation, whatever you call it, is a gift from God – God delights in us. That gift is the starting place. Read everything else from that place.
“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” My old way of hearing this would tell me that I had to give more to get my heart to the place of salvation. When I understand that salvation is God’s gift to me, what is the connection between treasure and heart?
The rest of our passage tells of the master who returns late, finds the servants to be ready, and gives himself to them in service. I believe that we are the people who have been made part of God’s household. When we put our resources (treasure) to work, when we give as God gave to us, we find that God’s connection to us deepens.
We are invited into the spiritual practice of imitating God. The servants who attend to their serving, experience God leading them through service. The merger of treasure and heart as a response to God’s good pleasure, means that our service is authentically offered as a gift.
Every thing we have and do, is transformed by “God’s good pleasure.” In worship we rehearse this week by week. We offer signs of our lives, our hopes, anxieties, our abilities, our intentions, all of our treasures, and our hearts at the table – as a community we say “Thank You.” God responds with the gift of Christ’s Life in bread and wine.
Join the offering of our treasures and hearts this week.
Fr. Andrew
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Luke 12:32-40
Jesus said to his disciples, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
“Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.
“But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”
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F. Gillar Boyd, Jr.
3/15/28 -8/4/13
Gillar Boyd was a long time member of St. Paul’s who began attending when he was in Palm Springs High School.
He has served in almost every position possible in the parish and has been a leader for may years.
Gillar’s funeral will be on Saturday, September 7th at 10:00 am.
It will be a wonderful celebration of his life.
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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
Marriage Equality: Where the Episcopal Church Stands, hosted by Craig Ewing
9/08 The Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant
9/15 US Supreme Court Decisions on DOMA and Proposition 8
9/22 Bishop Mathes: “Same Sex Blessings and Marriages”
9/29 The Rector’s Reply: “The Blessing Ministry”
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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
American Religious History—A Struggle for Peace & Justice, audio CD by Patrick N. Allitt, hosted by Victoria Hatch and Robert Hettinger
9/03 Major Features of American Religious History–
Diversity and Vitality
9/10 European Background–Reformation and Religious Separatists
9/17 Natives and New Comers–Similarities/Differences of Religious
Identities
9/24 Puritans–Struggles with Religious & Political Way of Life
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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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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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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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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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Desert Blind and
Handicapped
. . .has had a long relationship with St. Paul’s. This grassroots organization has been around for 40 years helping people stay in their homes when they no longer are able to drive. Recently one of our vehicles had to be replaced, and a donor lent $15,000 for a “new” vehicle, a silver Corolla often seen in the St. Paul’s parking lot. DBH needs your help to retire this loan ASAP. Any tax-deductible amount is welcome. Go to www.desertblind.org and click the “Donate” button on the left, call 760.778.8552 or see board members George Holliday, Bette Knutson, Harriet Yost or Mike Carson. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
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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. 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 are members of the Vestry.
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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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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