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Good and Better!
Sometimes our conversations about religion simply moralize. That is, there is a good way to live which will get you a heavenly reward, and a bad way to live that will lead to some eternal punishment. However, the experiences of our lives can’t be restricted like this. There is more.
In this week’s healing story from Luke’s Gospel, Jesus cures ten lepers who respectfully ask for some help. (It is unlikely they expected a cure, probably just some assistance.) He sent them to see the religious leaders (who were the arbiters of disease and cures), and on the way the ten were made clean. At least one of them noticed. He turned back to thank Jesus, who praised him. The cured leper got the message: Jesus had changed his life and restored him to his community. Jesus healed him!
This passage illustrates a case, not of simple good versus bad, but good deepening to better. It is a reminder that there is more.
This Saturday evening the Church of St. Paul in the Desert kicks off a year of celebration for our 75th Anniversary with a delightful dinner. We were organized as a mission of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles in January of 1939. This was a significant year for all things Palm Springs, and we were a part of it. Our kick-off dinner is a significant event, but there is more.
The mission of this celebratory year is to attend lovingly to our past, present and future. We will share stories of our leaders, our activities, and our mission over the years. There is a mixture of joy and sadness when we remember the past. There are initiatives that have been seized when we listened to God’s Spirit, some that were missed. We have succeeded in some things and failed at others. But most importantly, we are a congregation that God has used to heal, restore, and build up people, in the name of Jesus.
This is the mission that has been going on for at least 75 years, and there is more. God has done good things for and with us. What makes it better is when we notice and thank God. The “more” happens when grateful hearts praise God and reach out to others – for Jesus’ sake.
More to come, join us.
Fr. Andrew
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Luke 17:11-19
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”
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 Special Worship, Saturday, November 2nd, at 4pm. The Rt. Rev. Mary Glasspool, Suffragan Bishop of Los Angeles, will lead a special Holy Communion service in support of Pride Weekend and the LGBT community. At the invitation of Bishop Mathes, Bishop Glasspool will preside and preach, the Choir of St. Paul in the Desert will sing, and the entire Palm Springs Community will be welcomed. We will also observe our special All Saints prayers. Sunday worship will be led by Canons Victoria Hatch and David Caffrey. Fr. Andrew will be in Chicago this weekend to help celebrate the 100th birthday of Miriam Hoover, whose late husband, H. Earl Hoover was a founding member of this Parish. We are grateful to Bishop Mathes and to Bishop Glasspool for helping us make this special service happen.
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 Taize services will be offered at St Paul’s on the first Thursday of the month at 7pm; next on November 5th. In a quiet, peaceful setting, short songs are repeated again and again with just a few words to express a basic reality of faith. As these words are sung multiple times, our whole being is gradually permeated by this reality. Meditative singing thus becomes a way of listening to God and it allows everyone to take part in a time of prayer together. All are invited to come and experience this calming, prayerful moment in our hectic, daily lives.
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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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The Screwtape Letters – Theater Presentation
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The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis is produced by Fellowship for the Performing Arts, whose mission is to produce theater from a Christian worldview that engages a diverse audience. The Screwtape Letters is a provocative and wickedly funny theatrical adaptation of the C. S. Lewis novel about spiritual warfare from a demon’s point of view. It will run at the Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave @ E Street, San Diego, on Saturday, October 19th at 4pm and 8pm. For tickets visit www.screwtapeonstage.com or call 619.570.1100.
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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!!
Your Invitation is here-NOW!
Click on the image below to view and/or print.
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“Sundays at 9:15”
In The Library
Hebrew Scriptures with DVD
facilitated by Jerry DiNoto
10/13 Judges (2) – political instability, moral/political chaos
10/20 Samuel & Saul – charismatic leadership and monarchy
10/27 King David – his charm, ruthlessness and faith
Year of St. Matthew, DVD series –
“Jesus and the Gospels” by Prof. Timothy Johnson.
Facilitated by Jerry Lynch 11/3 & 11/10 and
Craig Ewing 11/17 & 11/16
11/3 Gospel of Matthew-Synagogue Down the Street
11/10 Gospel of Matthew-The Messiah of Israel
11/17 Gospel of Matthew-Jesus and the Torah
11/26 Gospel of Matthew-Teacher and Lord
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“Tuesdays at 7”
In the Library
Contemplative Prayer … Prayer of the Heart,
led by David Caffrey
10/15 Lectio Divina: Sacred Reading and Praying the Bible
10/22 Desert Spirituality
10/29 Contemplation and the Eastern Christian Tradition
Peace & Justice Issues. (Led by Bob Hettinger)
11/5 In Various Religious Traditions:
Roman Catholic, Protestant & Evangelical”
11/12 War and Peace
11/19 The Affluent Society
11/26 The Civil Rights Movement
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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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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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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.
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Well in the Desert
. . . is seeking volunteers to help prepare and/or serve dinners for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Volunteer applications are in the church hall. Please fill them out if you are interested and we will group FAX them. Thereafter you will be called with the particulars.
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The All Saints Remembrance
. . . will be published again for All Saints Sunday, November 3. Those names which have already been submitted will remain on the list, but if there are additional loved ones you wish to include, please submit them to susan.jacob@stpaulsps.org no later than Monday, October 28.
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Family & Children’s Ministry
A fun afternoon in beautiful Oak Glen is planned for the Family & Children’s Ministry on November 3rd. We invite kids and adults to enjoy fall in the foothills near Yucaipa with a picnic, visiting the museum, petting zoo and apple orchards of Oak Glen. We leave church @ 12:30 and will return by 4 PM. Call Bonnie Stroock at 760.324.7949 to reserve a ride and join the group.
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WATER!
 What are the water challenges of living in the desert? How may we as thoughtful stewards of God’s creation make a difference? Please join the Social Justice Team on Thursday, October 10th, at 7pm. in the church library. Craig Ewing, parish member and Board Member of the Desert Water Agency, has offered to share with us regarding these issues at this meeting.
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The Order of the
Daughters of the King
. . . next meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 22, at 1:15 pm in the condo behind the church office. So that we may have a closer bond with all ladies of the congregation, we invite you to attend the meeting in order to see what DOK is about. We are a Prayer, Service, and Evangelism Order. Please take a look at the bulletin board just to the right as you enter the Parish Hall. Any questions, please call Val Ferguson at 760-799-5927 or 760-671-5372.
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THE CHILDREN’S CHOIR
. . .every Wednesday at 6pm in the Choir Room. All children age 4 and above are invited to participate in this activity learning musical skills while having fun and assisting in the congregation’s worship. For more information please contact Nathan Ensign at 760.320.7488 ext 225.
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 Godly Play
This Bible story-centered children’s curriculum aims at ages 4-9. It is held during the 10:30 Sunday service in the corner room of the parish hall. Nursery care is also available. A short parent and staff meeting will take place in the Godly Play room after church on Sunday. Bring your young children to church or invite friends who have grandkids of this age to join us. Call Bonnie Stroock for more information at 760.324.7949.
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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 November 15th 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: after the 8:00 service Lucinda Hampson.
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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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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