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From The Rector
Difficult Faithfulness
The Book of Job is a dramatic exploration of faithfulness – of revering God despite challenges. The drama challenges our assumptions and leaves us with more questions – just as in our real lives.
In the portion we read this week is the author’s vision of a heavenly board meeting, where God is receiving reports from the various functionaries. The Adversary (accuser, prosecutor, satan) is questioned about one exemplary human whom God praises – Job. God says he is “a man who is honest, who is of absolute integrity, who reveres God, and avoids evil.”
The Adversary responds that Job, even with his strength of faith, only blesses God because of his privileged status. The Adversary issues a challenge: Job will curse God if his wealth and health are taken away. God believes in Job and bets on his faith, so lets the Adversary play out the challenge.
God’s belief in Job is confirmed: Job’s faith is unshakeable, and it remains the constant strength when evil supplants the good in his life. But Job and the reader want an explanation for God’s seeming absence and for the suffering he allows.
Whereas I understand this drama to be a story – not a newspaper report of real events that happened to real people, or a real “fly on the wall” in the heavenly court – it presents questions for all people of faith. Why does God seem absent when our need is great? Why do bad things happen to good people? How could a loving God allow suffering? The following 39 chapters are a massive, often poetic, response with no satisfactory answer. The questions still hang there.
The real life version of this drama is working itself out for us every day. There is often a gap between the way we want life to work out and the way it does. How does faith support us when we perceive we’ve been forsaken? What are we to understand and why does it matter, that the cross was first a lonely place of anguish?
I don’t have the answer. I have never preached a sermon that had the answer. But the dynamic of faith does not shy away from the question. I believe faith is the strongest when it lives with the questions – believing that God will be revealed.
Too often Church is the place we assume that answers are found. If we attend more, pray harder, do more or give more, we will find the answers. Yet, what if Church were the place where it is safe to have questions, where we know that we are not alone in our questioning, certainly not alone in any adversity? What if Church were a place where we celebrate that God is not offended by questioning, but invites it as a sign of real relationship and always unfolding faith?
Join in worship with a people who are full of questions, and together, know that God will find us.
Fr. Andrew
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Featured Scripture
Job 1:1, 2:1-10 Common English Bible (CEB)
A man in the land of Uz was named Job. That man was honest, a person of absolute integrity; he feared God and avoided evil. One day the divine beings came to present themselves before the Lord. The Adversary also came among them to present himself before the Lord. The Lord said to the Adversary, “Where have you come from?”
The Adversary answered the Lord, “From wandering throughout the earth.”
The Lord said to the Adversary, “Have you thought about my servant Job, for there is no one like him on earth, a man who is honest, who is of absolute integrity, who reveres God and avoids evil? He still holds on to his integrity, even though you incited me to ruin him for no reason.”
The Adversary responded to the Lord, “Skin for skin—people will give up everything they have in exchange for their lives. But stretch out your hand and strike his bones and flesh. Then he will definitely curse you to your face.”
The Lord answered the Adversary, “There he is—within your power; only preserve his life.”
The Adversary departed from the Lord’s presence and struck Job with severe sores from the sole of his foot to the top of his head. Job took a piece of broken pottery to scratch himself and sat down on a mound of ashes. Job’s wife said to him, “Are you still clinging to your integrity? Curse God, and die.”
Job said to her, “You’re talking like a foolish woman. Will we receive good from God but not also receive bad?” In all this, Job didn’t sin with his lips.
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Diocesan Day of Service
St. Paul in the Desert will participate in the Diocesan Day of Service On Saturday and Sunday, October 10 & 11, following the 4:00 pm, 8:00 & 10:30 am services. Our contribution will be to assemble “Blessing Bags” after each service for distribution to our brothers and sisters in the community who might benefit from them. Please consider donating new, travel-size only toiletries such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs, bar soap and sunblock. There is a basket in the foyer for the collection of items. If you prefer to donate by check, please make it payable to St. Paul in the Desert with “Blessings Bags” in the memo line. Thank you for your generous support of those in need.
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Welcoming Session on Membership
Welcoming Session – Many worshipers wonder how to become a member of St. Paul’s. If you’re one of them, join Fr. Andrew in the Parish Library on Sunday, October 25th at 9:15 am. In this single-session class, you will hear interesting facts about St. Paul’s, plus, learn all you need to know about becoming a member of the Parish. (Note: this is not the same as the Inquirers’ Class.) If you are already a member, this class is not for you.
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Blessing of the Animals
 St. Paul’s invites members and friends of the Parish to a special ceremony on Saturday, October 3rd, at 10:00 am. We will give thanks to God for the amazing gift of creation and especially for our Animal Companions. The special prayers will take place in the Meditation Garden. All well behaved animals are welcome and will receive a special blessing and affirmation of God’s love. (I believe the animals already know this, but the Human Companions enjoy a reminder.)
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Beat the Heat Initiative Results
The heat is off, mostly, and for the working poor, disabled, and homeless who gather for lunch once weekly at St Paul’s Hogarth Hall, bus passes worth $600 got many of them some relief. Though the primary intent was to avoid the long walk to the “Well in the Desert” cooling station east of the airport, some expressed gratitude for other needs: a way to get to and from Eisenhower hospital, Social Security, a job interview in Indio. All deeply appreciated these gifts, which may have touched them in a way three dollars could not. Thanks to all who contributedT to make this important project of St. Paul’s Social Justice team a success.
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Desert AIDS Walk
 Saturday, October 17th, St. Paul’s will sponsor a team of walkers who will participate in the Desert AIDS Walk. You are welcome to sign up for the walk and collect donations or donate directly to a team member. Checks should be made payable to the Desert AIDS Project. We will be signing up walkers and accepting donations after each worship service, beginning Saturday and Sunday, September 19th & 20th.
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Sunday Mornings at 9:15 AM
Episcopal Café in The Chapel
October
10/4 Katrina 10 – Holding the Loss and the Grace:
Ten Years Later.
Led by Craig Ewing.
10/11 Speaking to the Soul: Covering the Flaws.
Led by Alan Zimmerman.
10/18 MINISTRY FAIR – No Session.
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Tuesdays at 7:00 PM
Meets in the Library
“DeMystifying the Book of Revelation”.
October
10/6 What is a Crazy Christian?
Led by Craig Ewing.
10/13 Why Being a Crazy Christian is both Easy and Hard.
Led by Br. John Charles.
10/20 Habits of a Crazy Christian. Led by Jerry DiNoto.
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Baked Goods Donations for
“ROY’S DESERT RESOURCE CENTER”
St. Paul’s ongoing outreach to the homeless at Roy’s Desert Resource Center needs donations of cookies, cakes and other baked treats for our Monday night dessert service at the North Palm Springs facility. Homemade items are especially popular and appreciated. You can bring donations with you to church and leave them with an usher before the service. For more information, contact Chris Kelly – (760) 406-2978. Thanks for your help.
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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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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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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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Announcements
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CHURCH
OFFICE HOURS
The church office is open Tuesday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm with a lunch break from 11:30 am until 1:00 pm.
Should you call on Monday when we are closed to the public, please leave a message. In case of an emergency, a priest will return your call.
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THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY BAPTISM
. . . will be offered on All Saints’ Day, November 1, 2015.
Please contact Fr. Andrew at 760.320.7488, ext. 223 this week to make preparations.
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SUNDAY SCHOOL RESUMES
Our Sunday School sessions have resumed for the school year! We look forward to having the children attend the 10:30 Sunday School Program. We are still looking for volunteers to be a storyteller or a doorkeeper. If you are interested, please contact Ted Barajas at 760-902-1014 or email at tedbarajas1@yahoo.com.
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PARKING LOT
A small portion of St. Paul’s parking lot will be used during the evenings for valet parking for our new neighbor, Eight4Nine restaurant. Our staff will be monitoring the usage to be sure it does not cause any conflicts with the needs of our parishioners.
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ST. PAUL’S PARISH OPEN HOUSE AND MINISTRY FAIR
The event is Sunday, October 18th, between the 8:00 am and 10:30 am services, and following the 10:30 am service. This information-sharing event will feature ten parish ministries stations showcasing their respective goals and accomplishments. You will have the opportunity to speak with ministry leaders, learn more about their missions and sign up to participate. There will be incentives for those who visit all the ministries. There will be “food stations” set up throughout the campus.
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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 October 14th, at 10:15am. The Presiding Priest always welcomes assistance from parishioners.
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COFFEE HOUR
Sunday’s 8:00 coffee hour is hosted by Mary Holmes & Susan Reed. The 10:30 coffee hour is hosted by JoAnne Adair & Susan Reed.
There are several Sunday hospitality opportunities available through the end of the year. Please consider hosting 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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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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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 John Seitman, at jseitman@pacbell.net or 858-793-4426.
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