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On the Right Side of Justice
Jesus healed a woman who had been disabled for 18 years. Hallelujah or not?
In this week’s Gospel, that healing is the occasion for a conflict between Jesus and the religious authorities who took exception. Jesus initiated the healing, spoke encouragement, and touched her. She stood straight, tall and joyful. The leaders turned to the crowd and informed them that healings were work that should not be performed on the sabbath. They might have said, “This is a good thing, but can’t it wait until tomorrow?”
My problem is that I understand the logic of the question. After all, she has been bound for 18 years, would one more day really be that hard? She was used to the malady, and had not even asked to be healed. If she was presented with a choice to either be healed today and upset the authorities, or be healed tomorrow and not “rock the boat,” she might have waited. If it was your choice, what would you do?
Please read the story again. It was not her choice. Jesus chose that time to heal her and I think he did it to send a message. He was reminding the authorities about God’s mission of reconciliation and justice
We too often vilify the leaders. They were probably good men who were protecting God’s holiness as they understood it. That was the problem. They correctly saw sabbath keeping as a holy discipline, but they did not remember its holy purpose. Jesus reminded them. The sabbath was the time for humanity and all creation to be renewed – to stop long enough to receive God’s re-creation.
Plain old work is one thing, but work that leads to healing and justice is another. Jesus did the work of un-binding the woman from physical oppression. He created the space for shalom, the peace that allows healing and justice.
We have many opportunities to create the space for shalom – for healing, for justice – without setting everyone’s teeth on edge. Jesus certainly did. But sometimes waiting is not the answer. Sometimes the reminder of God’s Mission is meant to put our teeth on edge. It is a reminder that we are too easily satisfied with ourselves and too ready put off healing, justice, and forgiveness to another day. One that would be just as good, but ultimately too late for God’s purpose.
It would be easy if the right timing – when to push, when to wait – was obvious to all of us. Because it is not, we need to talk and pray with each other and with those who are waiting for healing and justice. Then we can learn. Then we hear Jesus’ reminder.
Join us in worship as we reflect and pray about where and when in the world God ‘s people in need are waiting for us to act.
Fr. Andrew
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Luke 13:10-17
Now Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment.” When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, “There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day.” But the Lord answered him and said, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?” When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.
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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, October 5th 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?
Marriage Equality: Where the Episcopal Church Stands, hosted by Craig Ewing
9/1 No Class (Labor Day Weekend)
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
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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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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Peace & Justice Ministry:
The 28th of August is the 50th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Juanita Abernathy, widow of Southern Christian Leadership Conference co-founder the Rev. Ralph Abernathy, was there and recalls, “We had no idea it would be that many people–as far as you could see there were heads. . . .just a sea of heads and what jubilation. Which said to us in the civil rights movement: ‘Your work has not been in vain. We are with you. We are part of you.'”
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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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A PICTORIAL VISIT TO THE HOLY LAND
On September 7th, Time To Be Announced, Bonnie Stroock will narrate a slide show of places that pilgrims to the Holy Land visit at a fall assembly of the DOK to be held at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church located at 308 E. Acacia Ave., Hemet CA 92543. All are welcome! Please RSVP to one of the DOK Presidents: Mae Kramer (951) 765-0257, email: missyk70@roadrunner.com or Kathy McClelland (909) 205-5981, email: claddaghbutt@yahoo.com.
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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 September 11th at 10:15 am. Father Dick Merrill will preside and welcomes assistance from parishioners.
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Coffee Hour Celebration
The Coffee Hour Hosts are Robert Woods & Barry Hagenbuch for the 8 AM service and Craig Ewing for the 10:30 service.
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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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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Bullying Behavior Not Welcome Here
At St. Paul in the Desert we 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 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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