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A Message from Jerry DiNoto
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David failed Big time!
The story of David and Bathsheba is not just an account about the consequences of only breaking the 6th commandment (“You shall not commit adultery”). It can be seen as a story that shows that one commandment is linked to another. As we fail in one, we can easily find ourselves falling into a pit covered by the broken pieces of other commandments. So it was with David with the first commandment, “You shall have no other gods.” Power and glory became gods for David. In the very first verse we learn that David sends the army, not to meet a threat, but rather to engage in a power show because it is the season when “the kings go out to battle” and there they ravage the Ammonites. Power continues to take hold as he feels he can have anything he desires. In short, David failed big time!
In reflection, I like to look at this story in another way. Who in the story can we identify with? Where in our world do we see this story replayed? David, who is totally self-focused and uses his power to victimize others; Bathsheba who is victimized and whose life is shattered and filled with fear; Uriah who is deceived by the King and officers he dedicated his life to serving; Joab and the servants who are “just following orders” but in so doing are complicit in the wrong doing? We are, all of us, somewhere in this story!
Somewhere along our journey we, too, miss the mark but that should not be the end of our story. In our Baptismal Covenant we commit to whenever falling into sin, repenting and returning to the Lord. God offers to us forgiveness and healing. As we prayerfully consider this biblical story, the events described and the characters, let us remember that Christ offers to us the gifts of unconditional grace, forgiveness, healing and wholeness.
The “basket” of Christ’s gifts will never go empty; all we need do is reach out and accept the Lord’s bounty. In our Eucharistic gathering God continues to offer these gifts, through Jesus, the Christ – the son of David.
The David and Bathsheba account is not just some ancient story of wrongdoing. It is an opportunity for us to look within at our own failings and reach out to accept the healing gifts God offers to us and to the world.
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2 Samuel 11:1-15
In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab with his officers and all Israel with him; they ravaged the Ammonites, and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.
It happened, late one afternoon, when David rose from his couch and was walking about on the roof of the king’s house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; the woman was very beautiful. David sent someone to inquire about the woman. It was reported, “This is Bathsheba daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” So David sent messengers to get her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she was purifying herself after her period.) Then she returned to her house. The woman conceived; and she sent and told David, “I am pregnant.”
So David sent word to Joab, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent Uriah to David. When Uriah came to him, David asked how Joab and the people fared, and how the war was going. Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house, and wash your feet.” Uriah went out of the king’s house, and there followed him a present from the king. But Uriah slept at the entrance of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house. When they told David, “Uriah did not go down to his house,” David said to Uriah, “You have just come from a journey. Why did you not go down to your house?” Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah remain in booths; and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are camping in the open field; shall I then go to my house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do such a thing.” Then David said to Uriah, “Remain here today also, and tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day. On the next day, David invited him to eat and drink in his presence and made him drunk; and in the evening he went out to lie on his couch with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house.
In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. In the letter he wrote, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, so that he may be struck down and die.”
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Mark Your Calendar for a COOL Treat
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CHILL OUT FOR DESERT BLIND at Ben & Jerry’s at The River in Rancho Mirage. Enjoy your favorite ice cream delight TODAY, Thursday, July 23rd from 6 TO 8PM and Ben & Jerry’s will donate 25% of all sales to Desert Blind & Handicapped. No hoops to jump through, just show up! See Diane Stielstra, George Holliday or Mike Carson for any questions.
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New Ways to Manage Your Support
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 Beginning in August, donations to St. Paul in the Desert can be made online through PayPal. In the Column to the right of this newsletter, there is a button labeled “DONATE ONLINE” (See photo insert). Follow the instructions and make your donation using either your PayPal account or a credit card. You can make a single donation, or set up recurrent donations on a monthly basis. You can also manage your pledge using the “MY PLEDGE CARD” button.
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Help Others Beat the Heat
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Help Others Beat the Heat – St. Paul’s is sponsoring a ministry this summer to help our brothers and sisters in need find relief from the heat. Through the Social Justice Team, St. Paul’s will purchase and distribute free bus passes to clients of Well in the Desert, and others, so they can have access to the cooling center, showers, bingo and crafts workshops. If you would like to contribute, please make checks payable to Church of St. Paul in the Desert, with “bus passes/Social Justice” in the memo line. Or, place cash in an envelope identified in the same way.
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“Sunday Mornings at 9:15 AM
Episcopal Café returns in The Chapel”
7/26 Speaking to the Soul: Jesus calms the storm.
8/2 Migration – Choosing Freedom over Xenophobia.
Led by Br. John Charles Westaway.
8/9 One cannot have too large a party – Jesus turns things over.
Led by Audrey Spencer.
8/16 The enemy today looks like you and me.
Led by Br. John Charles.
8/23 When you say you ‘don’t see race,’ you’re ignoring racism,
not helping to solve it!
Led by Craig Ewing
8/30 If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.
Led by Louisa Young-Caffrey.
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“Tuesdays at 7:00 PM in the Library”
THERE WILL BE NO TUESDAY NIGHT SESSIONS
DURING JULY AND AUGUST
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Baked Goods Donations for
ROY’S DESERT RESOURCE CENTER
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St. Paul’s ongoing outreach to the homeless men, women and children at Roy’s Desert Resource Center needs renewed donations of cookies, cakes and other baked treats for our Monday night dessert service at the North Pam Springs facility. Homemade items are especially popular and appreciated. You can simply bring donations with you to church and leave them with an usher before the service. Or you can feel free to contact Chris Kelly – (760) 406-2978 – for further information. Thanks for your help.
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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
The church office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm with a lunch break from 11:30 am until 1:00 pm.
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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Copies of . . .
A CHURCH GROWS
IN THE DESERT,
Rev. Robert Semes’ history of the first 75 years of St. Paul in the Desert, are available at the Church Office during regular business hours. Rev. Semes is an accomplished historian and his richly illustrated book chronicles the life and times of the people and events that shaped the Church we are today. Cost of the book is $20.00.
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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 12th, at 10:15am. The Presiding Priest always welcomes assistance from parishioners.
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COFFEE HOUR CELEBRATION
Sunday’s coffee hour following the 10:30 am service is hosted by Barbara Hawkins Villani, Lena Granet & Aaron Riviers who plan an ice cream social to celebrate their birthdays.
There are several Sunday hospitality opportunities available through the end of the year. Please consider sponsoring a Coffee Hour after the 8:00 or 10:30 services with family or friends. Sign-up binders are on the large table on the right as you enter the Parish Hall.
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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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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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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