|
If God Can Repent, Can We?
The reading this week is a portion of the Book of Jonah. Most people are aware of Jonah being swallowed by a great fish, but that is not the main point of the story. The portion we are reading is the main point of the story. God is so upset about the city of Nineveh’s people that Jonah is sent to give them 40 days notice before they are destroyed – no ifs, ands, or buts. Before Jonah has even crossed the city with his message of doom, the entire city – from the King to the farm animals – has decided to change their lives. When God sees the sincere change of heart, the King James translation says, “God repented of the evil he said that he would do to them, and he did not do it.”
God repented. That is, God changed direction and responded to a changed situation. The people who were so evil that they deserved destruction took God seriously and changed, so God changed.
If even God can repent, can we?
What did God repent of? In the story, the people of Nineveh were a thoroughly evil and unjust people who had oppressed the people of God, the family of Jacob. God had had enough and had drawn a line in the sand. God had given them time to contemplate their end and was about to destroy them.
What they did next surprised everyone!
They changed. They engaged in sincere corporate and individual acts of repentance. And God trusted them.
When I think of repentance, it is hard for me to get past thinking that I am not “bad enough” to need repentance. I am not Nineveh. As Delmer Chllton reflected, I am more likely to think that “I am Jonah.” Jonah was the one who let the Ninevites know that their end was near, and he was looking forward to it. I am more likely to be the one who keeps track of what others need to change or repent of, rather than myself.
I believe that I can change – that I can repent, but it is difficult and impacts every aspect of my life. It requires me to take an action that represents my intention. It requires me to adopt a new behavior and to trust God as God trusts me.
Join us as we worship the God in whom we can trust, and who trusts us to change and grow.
Fr. Andrew
|
|
Mark 1:14-20
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”
As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea– for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.
|
|
Parish Annual Meeting – January 25th!
|
|
THE PARISH ANNUAL MEETING
WILL BE HELD ON
SUNDAY, JANUARY 25TH
AT 9:15 am
in the
Church Hall
|
|
MESSAGE FROM FATHER ANDREW
|
|
I will be making a pilgrimage to the
Holy Land, November 6 – 16, 2015.
The Pilgrimage will be organized by the Rev. Earle King of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Grand Island, NY. This will be Fr. King’s sixth pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Our families have been friends since 1982 and I continue to work with Fr. King as a part of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church.
There are several spaces available to join this pilgrimage. A $300 non-refundable deposit is required by the end of January to reserve a place.
See Fr. Green’s Flyer here. Full Details here. Contact Fr. Earl King at 716-773-3335 or at padreking@aol.com
|
|
Honoring Nathan Ensign and our 75th Anniversary
|
|
Sunday morning, January 25th, at the 10:30 Service, you are hearing something that few people have the opportunity to hear – the world premiere of a choral anthem by a living composer, Alice Parker, setting the text of a living writer, Richard Leach.
And it’s all to mark Nathan Ensign’s 14th year as St. Paul’s music director and the 75th anniversary of our church. This piece is one in a set of three anthems commissioned by Nathan’s husband Jerry Lynch.
Read the full article here.
|
|
“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,
1/25 Annual Meeting: No Café session
2/1 Historical Penance.
Led by Rev. Canon David Caffrey
2/8 Penance a Modern Perspective.
Led by Br. John Charles & Audrey Spencer
2/15 Prelude to Lent.
Led by Rev. Canon David Caffrey
Toward an Earthly Spirituality – Guest presenter Rev. Dean Lueking: a five week Lenten series from biblical King David that speaks uniquely to our time.
2/22 David, his Story; (1 Samuel 16- 1 Kings 2);
David and Samuel: Names (1 Samuel 16: 1-13)
3/1 David and Saul: Work (I Samuel 16:14-23);
David and Goliath: Imagination (I Samuel 17)
3/8 David and Jonathan: Friendship;
David and Doeg: Sanctuary (I Samuel 21-22)
3/15 David and Generosity: (I Samuel 30);
David and Sovereign Grace (2 Samuel 7)
3/22 David and Bathsheba: Sin (2 Samuel 11-12);
David and Absalom; Suffering (2 Sam. 16-18)
|
|
“Tuesdays at 7:00 PM in the Library”
Christian Mysticism & Mystics
1/20 Teilhard de Chardin, led by Craig Ewing
1/27 de Caussade / Evelyn Underhill. Led by Rev. Andrew Green
Episcopal Café Moves to
Tuesday at 7:00 PM in the Library
2/3 Let’s Drop 3 Labels in 2015, Facilitator to be announced.
2/10 Animals in the new creation, Facilitator to be announced.
2/17 Shrove Tuesday: Evening Prayer and Pancake Supper
6:00 PM in Church Hall.
|
|
“Christmas at Roy’s Desert Resource Center”
|
|
Our Homeless Brothers and Sisters Still Need Your Help – Thanks to everyone who gave generously this Christmas, we were able to deliver 85 gift cards worth $25 to each of the homeless men, women and children at Roy’s Desert Resource Center. Our goal now is to resume monthly deliveries of new underwear and socks to Roy’s residents – a gift that is both urgently needed and much appreciated. Please help feed the hungry and clothe the naked with a financial contribution this month. Simply drop your check, payable to “St. Paul in the Desert,” in the collection plate or hand it to an usher with a notation on the “memo” line that it is for the “Roy’s Fund.” For more information contact Chris Kelly at 760-406-2978. Both the Roy’s team and residents are truly grateful for your support.
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
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!
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
A Celebration of Life will be held for Patti Minton-Sivcovich on Saturday, February 28, 2015 at 11:00 AM here at the Church of St Paul in the Desert.
|
|
A new opportunity for rewarding service begins next month:
St. Paul’s Adult Literacy Ministry
is open to all interested volunteers. No teaching experience is needed to participate. The first training session will be held Saturday, February 7, 2015 at 9:00 AM in the St. Paul’s small conference room. Please watch for further information in upcoming Sunday bulletins.
|
|
The Order of the
Daughters of the King
. . . will have their next meeting on Tuesday, January 27th at 1:15 PM in the parish hall chapel. We welcome all ladies of the parish to join us to learn more about DOK. Our mission is prayer and service work. On the agenda will be the planning of our annual tea coming up shortly. Please join us in helping to plan for this very special event. For further information please call Val Ferguson at home, 760-671-5372 or 760-799-5927.
|
|
Save the Date
Sunday,
February 8, 2015
at 4:00PM.
The Church of St. Paul presents a concert with Mark Thallander on organ and Peter Green on piano. The program features piano and organ duets based on familiar hymn tunes. For more information contact Director of Music, Nathan Ensign at 760-320-7488 X 225.
|
|
Taizé
Prayer Services
for Lent
. . . led by Nathan Ensign, will be held on Tuesday evenings throughout Lent at 7:00 PM in the church: 2/24, 3/3, 3/10, 3/17, 3/24.
(NOTE: There will be no sessions on Palm Sunday 3/29, Tuesday of Holy Week 3/31 and Easter 4/5)
— — —
The next scheduled Taizé Service is Thursday, February 5th at 7 pm.
|
|
A BENEFIT
FOR THE
FRIENDS OF ROY’S
FOUNDATION
Friday,
January 16th at
7:30 PM
The Church of St. Paul will present the Plymouth State University Chamber Singers from New Hampshire. Under the direction of Dr. Dan Perkins, this 21 voice choir will sing a program with works by such known composers as Whitacre, Bernstein, The Beatles, Part and others. Donations are graciously received at the door and a reception will follow to welcome singers and community guests.
|
|
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.
|
|
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 February 11, at 10:15am. The Presiding Priest always welcomes assistance from parishioners.
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
|
Write a comment: