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The Heart of Trust
I find reading the 23rd Psalm gives me peace. Like me, many people know it and hear God speaking to them through it. In times of stress, I like to “keep it simple,” and the message of this scripture is rich but accessible – simple.
I think about God’s presence with me as the shepherd who stands guard. That is the invitation of this psalm: to trust that God is with me and I am not alone. It is not a promise that evil won’t touch my life, but that even while walking through the valley of the shadow of death, God is with me. I don’t walk alone, and there is no need to fear.
Often, that presence of God is made real by other people who reach out to me and stand vigil. I have seen caring vigils this past week with members of the parish who have family or friends with them in the hospital. Sometimes it is my role to be that presence with people whom God is guarding.
We who follow Jesus are invited to partner with God as witnesses to that divine presence. When we see someone who may be walking the valley of death, or something close, we reach out and let them know that we see, we care, and they are not alone. God is there.
Join in worship this weekend with our community, practicing being present to one another and to the world – as a sign of God’s faithful presence.
Fr. Andrew
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Psalm 23
1
The LORD is my shepherd; *
I shall not be in want.
2
He makes me lie down in green pastures *
and leads me beside still waters.
3
He revives my soul *
and guides me along right pathways for his Name’s sake.
4
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I shall fear no evil; *
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5
You spread a table before me in the presence of those
who trouble me; *
you have anointed my head with oil,
and my cup is running over.
6
Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days
of my life, *
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
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Albert Francis Warman
April 27, 1938 – March 30, 2014
Friends,
I am very sad to inform you that Al Warman died on Sunday at his home.
He worked at St. Paul’s for 20 years and lived on the property. Being a part of this community was one of the joys of his life.
May he rest in peace, and may light perpetual shine upon him.
Funeral information will be provided soon.
Blessings,
Andrew
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Lenten Well Water Project
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 ‘WATER IS LIFE’S MATTER AND MATRIX, MOTHER AND MEDIUM, THERE IS NO LIFE WITHOUT WATER’ -Albert Szent-Gyorqyi 1937 Nobel Prize Winner
“WHOSOEVER DRINKETH OF THE WATER I SHALL GIVE HIM SHALL NEVER THIRST” -John 4:14.
Bishop Mathis invites us to join the Lenten Well Water Project. Around the globe, 800 million people live without access to potable water. Meeting basic human needs for water is a huge challenge. $5000 builds a well, providing potable water and increases sanitation. Can you conceive of not being able to wash your hands? Please consider donating to our diocesan water well project which will provide potable water to a community in Central America. Donations will be accepted starting March 30th. Thank you. For questions please contact Audrey Spencer 760.835.5506 or Michael Howard 760.323.1050.
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Desert Convocation: Building a Community of Conversation
Bp. Sue Moxley
April 10-30, 2014
 Our next visitor in the Desert Convocation will be the Rt. Rev. Sue Moxley. At the end of March, Bp. Sue will retire after 10 years as bishop in the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Bp. Sue has been married to her husband, Bruce, for 47 years. The Moxleys will be with us for about three weeks, including during Holy Week and Easter
There are already connections with St. Paul in the Desert. Mel and Beryl Parsons, in St. Paul’s Choir, are friends from Nova Scotia. I am told that they love to share a good Curry. Bp. Chilton Knutson, our first Desert Convocation guest, was the Bishop of Maine and preached at Bp. Sue’s consecration. I met Bp. Sue in Salt Lake City last July at the Stewardship Conference of the Episcopal Stewardship Network.
Bruce Moxley is a golfer and would love to be invited to play.
All invitation should be routed through the Rector rector@stpaulsps.org so that our guests are not overburdened and their personal time is respected.
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Help Us Make Palm Crosses
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 Palm Crosses will be made the Saturday before Palm Sunday. On Saturday, April 12, we would love you to join in helping to make palm crosses for Palm Sunday. We will be meeting in the parish hall starting at 9:00 AM and work until we get all the crosses made that we need. This usually takes us a couple of hours. A light breakfast will be provided. Experience is not at all necessary, and even if you are not “crafty” at all we have a variety of jobs that need to be done from very simple to a tiny bit more difficult in folding the crosses themselves. It is a wonderful time of fellowship as we enter into Holy Week remembering’ Jesus triumphant but humble ride into Jerusalem on a donkey on his way to his suffering and death.
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“Sundays at 9:15”
In The Library
Thinking Globally, Acting Locally:
Dramatic Changes in Global Christianity.
We are pleased that the Rev. F. Dean Lueking will lead our Sunday morning program March 30. Pastor Lueking and his wife, Beverly, have engaged Christians from many countries around the world to learn about the state of Global Christianity. The result is his twelfth book, Through Their Eyes, A People’s View of the Global Church, which will be the basis of the class.
4/6 No Class, Bishop’s Visit
4/13 No Class, Palm Sunday
4/20 No Class, Easter Sunday
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“Tuesdays at 7”
In The Library
Jesus and the Gospels – a continuation of the DVD series by Luke Timothy Johnson.
4/01 Parallels – Stories of Greek and Jewish Heroes
4/08 The Context – Jesus in the Memory of the Church
Hosted by Jerry DiNoto
4/15 No Class – Holy Week
A Call to Stewardship
4/22 Part I
4/29 Part II
Led by George Holiday & Bishop Sue Moxley.
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Roy’s Desert Resource Center
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Volunteers needed for Roy’s Desert Resource Center! St. Paul’s is expanding its outreach to the men, women and children of Roy’s, one of the Coachella Valley’s largest transitional living facilities for the homeless. New volunteers are needed to assist in our continuing Monday night dessert service to Roy’s residents, as are baked goods, used clothing, and donations to our Roy’s “SOS” fund. We are also looking for new volunteers willing to assist residents as they visit the on-site “God’s Closet” clothing repository. We are hoping to a have “team” together for this new program by early April. We expect to have additional volunteer needs as we expand our ministry over the next few months, and encourage everyone with a little time to spare to join us in this opportunity for service and fellowship. For more information, contact Chris Kelly at 760.406.2978. We would love to hear from you!
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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 John Seitman, at jseitman@pacbell.net or 858-793-4426.
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Bullying Behavior Not Welcome Here
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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!
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Our mission statement calls us to be “a welcoming, empowering and supportive community.” We are currently forming a new ministry at St Paul’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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Our Partnership
with
Katherine Finchy
Elementary School
. . . continues through our donations of classroom supplies. Please take a blue classroom supply wish list, available from the ushers, (or view and print), to use when you go shopping. Please place your donations in the basket marked “Katherine Finchy Elementary” located in the Narthex. You may also bring your purchased supplies to the Church Office during business hours. If you are unable to shop, but would like to help financially, please make your check out to “St. Paul in the Desert” and write “Katherine Finchy” on the memo line.
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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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CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
Please observe that the office is not open for walk-ins on Mondays. If you call, please leave a message. In case of emergencies, a priest will return your call.
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SOCIAL JUSTICE WISDOM
“The Roots of Violence: Wealth without work, Pleasure without conscience, Knowledge without character, Commerce without morality, Science without
humanity, Worship without sacrifice, Politics without principles.” Mahatma Ghandi
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PLEDGE UPDATE
As of March 17th, there are 172 pledges, for a projected income of $332,564, that have been received for the ministry of St Paul in the Desert in 2014. Offering envelopes can be picked up in the parish office.
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ALTAR GUILD MEETING
. . . on Sunday April 6th. The Altar Guild will be gathering for our regularly scheduled monthly meeting on April 6th at 9:15, in the Parish Hall. If you are interested in helping to serve in this ministry, please know that you are welcome to join us.
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LUNCH WITH
BISHOP MATHES
A Lunch with our Bishop will take place at 12:30 PM on Sunday, April 6th at Temple Isaiah, 332 W Alejo, Palm Springs. Tickets are $10 and will be sold only after this weekend’s services. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from our Bishop, James Mathes in a casual setting..
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A Taizé Service
. . . is held on the first Thursday of the month. Currently the service schedule is April 3rd at 7:00 pm.
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VERY SWEET!!!
The Bake Sale at Saturday’s All Parish Spaghetti Dinner, was a “sweet” success. Thanks to all those who contributed the delicious baked goods, and to those who purchased them! The ECW raised $400.00 for the Desert Blind and Handicapped reports Marilyn Johnson, this year’s chairperson! You Go Girls!
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NOW THAT’S ITALIAN!!!
A Big THANK YOU to all those who came to St. Paul’s Italian Trattoria on Saturday night and enjoyed an evening of wonderful food and fellowship to benefit the Desert Blind and Handicapped! Kudos go to Rick Tinsley and his team for creating such outrageously delicious Italian food. And all those who helped set-up, decorate, serve and restore our Parish Hall to its original integrity deserve a big round of applause! You know who you are and to you we say “Multo Grazie”!
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ECW Destination:
The Holy Land
A visit to many of the favorite pilgrim sites in the Holy Land, via photographs and personal recollection, will highlight the ECW Spring luncheon on Thursday, April 3rd. A brief business meeting, to be followed by luncheon at noon, will preface the program.
Tour guide will be Bonnie Stroock, who will discuss her recent trip to the Holy Land where she visited Jerusalem, Galilee, Bethlehem, and the site of the Sermon on the Mount. This is a not to be missed Lenten season event, and all women of the Parish are encouraged to attend.
Please, (except for newcomers) bring a salad to serve 6 to 8, rolls, or a dessert. Beverages will be provided. Hostesses for the luncheon will be Bonnie Stroock and Kathy Briski. For additional information, contact Kathy Briski, (760) 864-7145.
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THE DAUGHTERS
OF THE
KING
. . . will be training prospective members during the next two months. We are meeting in Palm Springs on Monday afternoons. Join us to see how the DOK Rule of Prayer and Service can work in your life. Call Bonnie Stroock at 760.324.7949 for more information.
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HOLY COMMUNION
SERVICE
FOR
LOCAL CARE FACILITIES
Holy Communion at Windsor Court, 201 South Sunrise Way, Palm Springs, is hosted by the Nursing Home Ministry on the second Wednesday of the month, next, on April 9th, at 10:15am. The Presiding Priest always welcomes assistance from parishioners.
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SPIRITUAL REFLECTION RETREATS AT
CAMP STEVENS
Camp Stevens offers two retreats during Lent. March 29-30 is a Women’s Weekend led by Mother Kelli Grace Kurtz with a pilgrimage theme. The Gary Hall retreat will be April 11-13; a popular retreat leader, The Very Rev. Gary Hall is presently Dean of Washington National Cathedral. The DOK is planning carpooling to the women’s event. Register with info@campstevens.org.
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COFFEE HOUR CELEBRATION
The host after the 8:00 service is Jack Moore. The hosts after the 10:30 service are John Alex Houlton and Hank Smith. Please consider signing up to host a Coffee Hour. There is a binder at the entrance to the Parish Hall which indicates available Sundays in 2014. If you have questions, call Ray or Cheryl Kelley at 760.778.1725.
You may sign up to host a Coffee Hour by using the binder at the entrance to the Parish Hall. There are lots of opportunities in 2014. If you have questions, call Ray or Cheryl Kelley at 760.778.1725.
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PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY
The Prayer Shawl Ministry invites you to join our circle on Wednesday’s from 10am -1pm in Hogarth Hall. Whether you wish to learn to knit or crochet or are an expert needleworker, we welcome you. Needles, hooks and yarn are provided. Please drop in to create and enjoy our prayerfully made creations.
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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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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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