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Remembering
For several years, during our celebration of All Saints, we would remember a long list of those who had died as well as those who were current members of the Parish. While those lists were being read by at least 50 voices, I would read 1st Thessalonians 4:12-18: the idea was to wrap our remembrance and our prayers in a mantle of hope.
This past week, before and after All Saints, I have spent time wandering in our Parish Columbarium, looking at the names inscribed on granite, sometimes touching the letters, and remembering. Those who were laid to rest in the Columbarium represent only a portion of our members who have died since 1994, but they are important. They represent “pillars” of the church. They represent less frequent participants. And they include a few guests who were primarily part of the community who were hosted to meals in our Parish Hall.
We read that same passage from 1st Thessalonians this week and it has added hope and the promise of joy to my remembering.
The mantle of hope is about connection. In this letter to the church in Thessalonica, Paul assures these new Christians that they won’t be left behind, but will remain in relationship. To me this is not a technical blueprint of the end of the world, but a poetic and joyous image of our continuing connection to God and one another in the faith.
As I read the names, memories trigger a stories, and connections renew in me. I am not alone in this type of remembering. We clergy greet people before services and watch as they remember and renew their connections under the mantle of hope and promise. When we clergy and others observe this blessing, we reinforce the connection.
Our time in worship is for connection. Though worship we connect with God, and through our prayers and presence we connect with one another. That connection does not begin or end at the door of the Sanctuary. We are getting ready “to be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air.” In my remembering, I have been there – caught up with them and the Lord in the air – and experienced that hope and joy.
This is what we practice in worship. Join us.
Fr. Andrew
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1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord for ever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
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NOTICE REGARDING PALM SPRINGS PRIDE WEEKEND
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Due to the new Parade Route now starting on Tacheva Drive and the difficulty in reaching the church on Sunday morning our Principal Service will be held on Saturday, Nov. 8th at 4:00 PM. The Rev. Susan Russell from All Saints Pasadena will be our guest preacher. There will not be a 10:30 AM service on Sunday November, 9th. There will be a said service with no music at 8:00 AM.
Demonstrate your Pride in our Diverse Spiritual Community and march with St. Paul’s Pride Parade Contingent on Sunday, November 9th at 10 AM. All members of the Parish LGBTQ Community and their allies are welcome. If interested, call the Parish Office, 760.320.7288 to leave your name and contact information.
Click here to learn more about this year’s Palm Springs Pride Festival & Parade.
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BENEFITTING ROY’S DESERT RESOURCE CENTER
On November 6th, from 7 AM to 6 PM, help fill the Sunline bus bringing non-perishable food, canned goods and toiletry items to Ralph’s Market at Smoke Tree Shopping Center at E. Palm Canyon and Sunrise Way in Palm Springs.
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The Stewardship Appreciation Brunch
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The Stewardship Committee invites you to The Stewardship Appreciation Brunch to celebrate your generous contributions of time, talent and financial support on Sunday, November 23, 2014, immediately following the 10:30 am service in Hogarth Hall. The brunch is free but you must have a ticket to attend and seating is limited. Tickets will be available after each worship service or in the Parish Office beginning November 8.
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“Sundays at 9:15”
In The Library
Welcome to The Episcopal Café Discussion Group! Sessions will be held in the Chapel Room in the Parish Hall. These discussion/sharing sessions are based on online topics from Episcopal websites,
November
11/9 No Session – Pride Weekend
11/16 &23 Church Hall. 2 sessions-the Ministries of St. Paul’s will make presentations on how stewardship is demonstrated. Facilitated by Craig Ewing
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“Tuesdays at 7” In The Library
November
Spirituality for the 2nd Half of Life-The Best is Yet to Come!
Led by Rev. Canon David Caffrey
11/11 Making the Transition & Issues of Spiritual Direction.
11/18 The Seven Life Tasks that must be Negotiated.
11/25 Signpost of healthy & mature spirituality.
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Volunteers Needed – Roy’s Desert Resource Center!
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Our Outreach Ministry to the homeless at Roy’s Desert Resource Center needs your support. There are various ways you can help. Donations of homemade desserts (cakes, pies, cookies, etc.) are especially welcome, but so are “store-bought” items and fruit. In addition, our Roy’s Fund is always in need of your tax deductible donations which enable us to deliver about $400 worth of new underwear and socks to Roy’s residents every month. Simply bring dessert items to the Church kitchen (leave perishables in the refrigerator space reserved for Roy’s). They will be taken to Roy’s for Monday dinner by one of our teams of volunteers. If you have any questions, just call our ministry leader, Chris Kelly, at 760.406.2978.
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A WELCOMING, EMPOWERING, SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY
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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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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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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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 John Seitman, at jseitman@pacbell.net or 858-793-4426.
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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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The Social Justice Committee
. . . will meet this Thursday, November 13th at 7 PM in the Library.
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A Death in the Parish
Louise Packham died at home in hospice care.
May she rest in peace.
Her funeral will be at St. Margaret’s, San Juan Capistrano – tentatively Nov. 15. Her remains will be placed in our Columbarium sometime thereafter.
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IN REMEMBRANCE
A celebration of the life of Bev Zwack will be held on Friday, November 7th at 1:00 PM.
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SUNDAY SCHOOL
(FORMERLY “GODLY PLAY”)
NEEDS –-> YOU
We are looking for volunteers to be Story Tellers and/or Doorkeepers (observers) for our Sunday School program during the 10:30 service. This is an opportunity to teach children through biblical readings and activities selected by the Sunday School Team from an Episcopal curriculum. If you are interested in volunteering or want more information, please contact Ted Barjas at 760.902.1014.
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Our Taize style meditation service is returning for 3 Tuesdays in Advent. Our next Taize service will be held on Tuesday, December 2nd at 7:00 PM.
In a setting of icons, candles and low light, and, using short songs repeated again and again with a few words to express a basic reality of faith, this service of prayer and meditation becomes a way of listening to God. All are invited. To learn more, contact Nathan Ensign at: 760.320.7488 Ext. 225. We are also looking for a few volunteers to assist in setting up for the service.
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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 November 12, at 10:15am. The Presiding Priest always welcomes assistance from parishioners.
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COFFEE HOUR CELEBRATION
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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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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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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