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“Who Are these like Stars Appearing?”
When I began thinking about All Saints Day, I started thinking about the wonderful hymns and lessons we have and have used over the years, whether from the 1928 Prayer Book or the 1979 Prayer Book three year lectionary cycle or the new Revised Common lectionary. I realized a common theme in lessons and hymns is that those whom we recognize or lift up as saints are those who have faced trials, endured hardships and thrived in spite of what may have befallen them; and, they remained faithful.
In the gospel this year from Luke, what is also clear is that reversal is also a constant. It is one of those things that throughout the gospel of Luke one sees again and again. Those who claim their position as high up will be brought down, those who are poor will be blessed. Things are not always as they appear.
But then who are the Saints? The Saints of God according to the New Testament epistles were the community of baptized who remained faithful in spite of what may happen or did happen. We are called to be the Saints of God through our baptism, to be the Body of Christ in the world. The analogy I like best is that of stained glass windows. Does the light of Christ shine through us? It is really that simple, do we let the light of Christ shine through us?
So the Saints of God are folk like you and me, and as my favorite hymn of my youth says, “They lived not only in ages past, there are hundreds of thousands still, the world is bright with the joyous saints who love to do Jesus will. You can meet them in schools, or in school, or in lanes, or at sea, in church, or in trains or in shops or at tea, for the saints of God are just folk like me , and I mean to be one too.” (Hymnal 1982, #293, v.3).
In many countries in Europe, All Saints Day is a national holiday, and people take flowers to the cemetery to decorate the grave sites. This wonderful Holi-day, is a time to remember all those who have gone before us and inspired us to be faithful to our calling as the Saints of God in this generation.
Canon Victoria
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Luke 19:1-10
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.” Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”
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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. The Bishop will preside and preach, the Choir of St. Paul in the Desert will sing, and the Palm Springs Community will be welcomed. We will also observe our special All Saints prayers. There will be a special reception for Bishop Glasspool following the Saturday evening service. Sunday worship will be led by Canons Victoria Hatch and David Caffrey.
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March in the Pride Parade! November 3rd
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 St. Paul’s invites you to march in the Pride Parade on November 3rd! All members of the LGBTQ Community, their friends and supporters are invited to march with St. Paul’s contingent in the Pride Parade on Sunday November 3rd in the morning. All parishioners and their friends who march with the contingent will get a free commemorative 75th Anniversary T-shirt! The parade starts at Palm Canyon and Baristo at 10 AM. Gathering and formation of the Contingents starts @ 8:30. Please sign up in the Parish Hall during Coffee Hour. For more information, please call the Parish Office @ 760.320.7488, ext. 0.
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African Team Ministry (ATM) Craft & Jewelry Sale
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African Team Ministry (ATM) Craft & Jewelry Sale November 3rd and Nov. 10th hosted by Roseanna Langley after both Sunday services. African Team Ministries is a Christian organization working to provide funding for orphan and refugee relief missions in East Africa. The support they receive is used to provide school fees, tuition, books and uniforms for orphaned and refugee children. In addition, ATM also provides a means for selling jewelry and crafts handmade in Kenya, the proceeds from which go directly back to the artisans who made them.
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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 7th. 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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Episcopal Church Women Meeting
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The Episcopal Church Women will welcome Melisse Banwer, Director of Operations for the Tolerance Education Center in Rancho Mirage, as guest speaker at their November 7th meeting and luncheon. Slides will accompany her talk, to emphasize the Center’s purpose which is helping young people understand the harm done by intolerance and bigotry. The event begins at 11:30 a.m. in the parish hall with a brief meeting, to be followed by the traditional salad lunch and program. All women of the parish are invited, and those attending (except newcomers) should bring a salad to serve 6 to 8, rolls, or dessert to share; beverages are provided. For additional information, contact Kathy Briski (760) 864-7145. Hostesses are Barbara Villani and Kathy Briski.
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“Sundays at 9:15”
In The Library
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
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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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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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 Social Justice Team
will meet on Nov 14th at 7 PM in St. Paul’s library. Linda Barrack, Director of Roy’s Desert Resource Center for Jewish Family Services will share issues with respect to “Transitional Housing” and what it means for our homeless brothers and sisters. Please join us for discussion, learning and tasty treats.
Thought for the week: “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” – Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
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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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Family & Children’s Ministry
Family & Children’s Ministry is planning a fun afternoon in Oak Glen on Nov. 3rd. We invite kids & adults to enjoy fun in the foothills near Yucaipa with a picnic, visiting the museum, petting zoo and apple orchards of Oak Glen. We leave church at 12:30 pm and return by 4. Call Bonnie Stroock to reserve a ride or join the group.
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75th Anniversary T-shirts are now in! For those people who received IOU’s for the T-shirts at the Anniversary Kickoff Dinner, you may pick them up in the Parish Office or please see Br. John Westaway at Coffee Hour after the 8 AM and 10:30 services.
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Altar Guild
Altar Guild Meeting Sunday, November 3rd, 9:15 am in the Parish Hall. We invite anyone interested in joining the Altar Guild to attend this meeting. If further information is desired, please contact Rick Tinsley, Altar Guild Director, at (760)992-3459.
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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 13th 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 the Daughters of the King after the 8:00 and 10:30 services.
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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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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