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Reflections: From Jerry Di Noto
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Use caution with ladders!
Have you ever been in a position of wishing for a miraculous ladder to climb out of a challenging time in your life? Jacob, whose conniving ways took his brother’s birthright, finds himself on the run and certainly needing a quick escape. Exhausted, he chooses a desolate spot to rest and sleep. It would be nice to say in that moment he found God; but rather he simply lost himself in dreams. Yet, when he did, God reached him.
Many of us have been in that position at one time or another, perhaps right now. It’s that place we come to when we’ve worked eagerly for something, gotten it, and found that it’s not what we anticipated it to be. It’s that place where we find that the grass really is not greener on the other side. It’s that completely alone moment of exhaustion, when we’ve tried everything and have nowhere else to turn.
As I reflect on Jacob’s dream of a ladder, it becomes apparent to me that the ladder was not placed there so that Jacob could climb out of harm’s way to heaven. Rather we read of heavenly beings moving in a steady up and down stream, as if carrying up news of troubles to the divine ear and returning down with God’s plan of action. The lesson for me is that we can never be hidden from God and that the divine presence can lead us out of the darkest places. God’s presence is an uplifting force for change in our lives and in the world.
In the desolate places of life, Christ provides us with the enlightened “ladder visions” of redemptive hope. We can move forward and, like Jacob, wake from our dark slumber to know the comfort, forgiveness, assurance and presence of God.
May your week be spiritually uplifting,
Jerry Dinoto
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Genesis 28:10-19a
Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place. And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And the LORD stood beside him and said, “I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring. Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place– and I did not know it!” And he was afraid, and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”
So Jacob rose early in the morning, and he took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. He called that place Bethel.
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 With the piano in Pasadena beginning to get its much needed make-over and the choir on vacation, the choir room seems somewhat empty.
To date, the Church has received 52 donations totaling $6,295. Donations are still needed and remember that no gift is too large or too small!
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As you know, Fr. Andrew has left on a well-earned annual vacation and three month sabbatical. It is a part of Episcopal tradition to give the members and friends of the parish an opportunity to contribute to a Sabbatical Fund to assist in an extended and meaningful time away. It’s still not too late to be a part of this effort and we invite you to write a tax-deductible check payable to “St. Paul in the Desert” noted for the Sabbatical Fund and either place it in the offering plate or send it to the Parish Office.
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“Sundays at 9:15”
In The Library
Welcome to The Episcopal Café’ Discussion Group! Sessions held in Parish Hall Chapel.
These discussion-sharing sessions are based on online topics from Episcopal websites.
Participants can pre-read discussion articles on the sites indicated. The Episcopal Café discussion group topics and websites are:
July 20 Is the internet really killing religion in the US?
Facilitator: Craig Ewing
Click to read
July 27 What Needs to Die in the Church.
Facilitator: Victoria Hatch
Click to read
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August 3 “Is Christian Unity Anything More Than a Pious Aspiration?”
Click to read
August 10 “Spreading the word – A Liberal Response”
Click to read
August 17 “So Am I A Christian or Not?”
Click to read
August 24 “There’s No Such Thing As An Atheist Baby”
Click to read
August 31 NO SESSION Labor Day Weekend Holiday
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“Tuesdays at 7”
In The Library
July is movie month on Tuesdays at 7 PM in the Library!
The theme for the month of July is “Care/Caregiving”.
7/22 Movie: Mask Facillitator: Craig Ewing
7/29 Movie: Secret Life of Bees Facillitator: Audry Spencer
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8/5 Movie: Tuesday with Morrie Facillitator: Jerry DiNoto
8/12 Movie: Driving Miss Daisy Facillitator: Audry Spencer
8/19 Movie: Rain Man Facillitator: Craig Ewing
8/26 Movie: Nebraska Facillitator: Jerry DiNoto
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Volunteers Needed – Roy’s Desert Resource Center!
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St. Paul’s is expanding its outreach to the men, women and children of Roy’s Desert Resource Center, 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 “S.O.S” fund. We are also looking for new volunteers willing to assist residents as they visit the on-site “God’s Closet” used clothing repository. We encourage everyone with a little time to spare to join us in this opportunity for service and fellowship. For more information, please 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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A WELCOMING, EMPOWERING, SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY
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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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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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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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Bishop Mathes has posted an editorial in the San Diego Union-Tribune regarding the border protests. You can read it here.
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Thanks to St Paul’s parishioners,
. . . $120 was raised on Camp Stevens Donation Sunday. The camp is in need of funds for a new well and for camper scholarships. If you missed donation Sunday and would like to help, donations may be sent to the camp director, Beth Bojarski, P.O. Box 2320, Julian, CA 92036
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Taizé Services
will be on
vacation until
October 2, 2014
See You Then!
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St. Paul’s Campers are going up to Idyllwild County Campground on August 15 through the 17th! Come and enjoy the cool mountain air and tall pine trees. Sign up in the Godly Play Room or call Bonnie Stroock at 760-324-7949.
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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 August 13, at 10:15am. The Presiding Priest always welcomes assistance from parishioners.
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COFFEE HOUR CELEBRATION
Rosanna Langley will host coffee hour following the 8:00 AM service and Ron & Karen Shepherd will host coffee hour in celebration of their fifteenth wedding anniversary following the 10:30 AM service.
Please consider signing up to host a Coffee Hour in 2014. A binder at the entrance to the Parish Hall indicates available Sundays throughout the year. There are several Sundays available through the end of the year. 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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THE CHILDREN’S CHOIR
Is on vacation for the Summer! Check back with us in September!
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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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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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