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Christianity And An Inconvenient Truth
As someone who spends lots of energy “welcoming” people and inviting them to worship with our community of faith, you can bet I was not thrilled with the Gospel selection this week. It is difficult to invite someone to church and then say, “Oh, and by the way, Leave everything you love at the door.”
My choice would seem to be between explaining away the unpleasantness – hate family, carry your cross, give up possessions – or inspiring the congregation to meet those incredible demands. Over the years, I’m sure that I have attempted each at least once. One thing is inescapable: Jesus wants the crowd to know how difficult it will be to follow him.
Sometimes difficult demands from Jesus can be moderated by appealing to the different understanding common to a 1st Century audience. That is, if we could understand Jesus as they did, his demands would not seem so impossible.
Not this time! If we find these demands an affront, a 1st Century audience would find them a reason for getting rid of Jesus. Matt Skinner from Luther Seminary suggests that this is exactly the point. The opposition to Jesus’ teaching does not just pop up during Holy Week. It has been developing throughout Jesus’ ministry and teaching. Jesus’ teaching challenges the allegiances his listeners hold most dear – family, honor, position. He turns their world upside down.
This is the inconvenient truth of Christianity – of following Jesus. He calls us to let our world be turned upside down.
Does that mean no family, no friends, no way to care for ourselves if we follow? I don’t think so. It would be impossible. It was impossible for Jesus. Rather, Jesus invites us to imagine a world that is upside down, but for a specific purpose – to enlarge the pool of people who receive God’s grace.
That is welcome news to those on the margins. An upside-down world means they are brought to the center by the grace of God. However, if I am one who has all the family, honor and possessions one could want, I might not realize the one thing I am missing is God’s grace.
Imagine a world where both rich and poor lean on God’s grace, where both face the impossible with a God who makes all possible, and where both turn the world upside-down by turning to each other in service. That would be God’s grace at work.
Join in worship as the seismic tremors of God’s grace begin turning us – upside-down and toward each other.
Fr. Andrew
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Luke 14:25-33
Now large crowds were traveling with Jesus; and he turned and said to them, “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, `This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.”
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Get Tested Coachella Valley!
Dear Parishioner:
On Saturday, October 19, Saint Paul in the Desert will be participating in the 26th Desert AIDS Walk to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS in our community. We’d love for you to join us that day in spreading the message that AIDS is not over, and that everyone should be tested as part of our ‘Get Tested Coachella Valley’ initiative. Please consider walking with us!
What is ŒGet Tested Coachella Valley‚? It is a 3-year region-wide campaign dedicated to dramatically reducing transmission of HIV . Why ŒGet Tested Coachella Valley?‚
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53.3% of Coachella Valley residents have never been tested for HIV
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The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that approximately one in five people living with HIV do not know they are infected
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In parts of our valley, the prevalence of HIV is estimated at three times the national average˜putting everyone at greater risk.
An international study, hailed by Science Magazine as the „2011 Breakthrough of the Year,‰ has proven it: If an individual who is HIV positive takes the right medications, he or she is 96% less likely to pass the virus to others.
Follow This Link to visit my team web page and help me in my efforts to support Desert AIDS Project.
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Boyd Funeral Re-Scheduled
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F. Gillar Boyd, Jr.
3/15/28 -8/4/13
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
9/08 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
9/10 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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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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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:
Thought for the week: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” – The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The next meeting will be Thursday, September 12 @ 7 PM in the Library.
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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 at 11:00 am, 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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Hungry for Italian Food?
Join Desert Blind & Handicapped on September 18th between 5 & 8 PM . The tickets are $25 and include salad, garlic bread, beverage, entree’ and dessert. Tickets available from George Holliday, Bette Knutson or Mike Carson; by calling 760.440.7720 or by visiting the web at www.desertblind.org.
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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
Coffee Hour Hosts today are David Perona following the 8:00 service and the Secrists and the Trackmans following 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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“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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