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From The Rector
Don’t Be Distracted by the Glowing Skin
This week we finish the season after Epiphany with the Transfiguration of Jesus. All three lessons we will read focus on the unnatural glowing skin that results from divine encounters. With Moses and with Jesus, the numinous cloud descends and a divine conversation takes place. Each of them, Moses and Jesus, glow from the divine encounter, and those who then encounter them are fearful and distracted by awe and uncertainty. Moses and Jesus must overcome the distraction to get to their purpose.
Consider Moses with me in this reflection on scripture.
This is the second time Moses has received the covenant of the ten words, which is the sign of mutual expectation between the children of Jacob and their God. God will be their God and will guide and protect them. They will honor God and one another by living according to the ten words – the Ten Commandments. These words are a sign of the covenant, which has much more content that will define this mutual relationship. These are the Ten Commandments 2.0, as the first version was destroyed by Moses as he returned from the encounter with God to find the people dishonoring God and one another.
When Moses descends this second time with the new “words,” the people see his glowing face, and they are then distracted by awe and fear. Moses must work past their fearful distraction to have them concentrate on the covenant relationship that God has established. God’s covenant demands the people honor God and each other.
First Moses, speaks to the leaders, then to all the people. They are being invited again to be faithful to the Lord, to live out the covenant. The glow that marked Moses in his intimate encounter with God remained with him and was another sign to the people of their renewed relationship with God and one another.
We, like the people whom Moses led, are a covenant people. The responsibilities and blessings we share are mutual: between us as the beloved of God, with the world of God’s creation, and as people who believe Jesus’ transfiguration and long to be changed into his likeness of love, justice and peace.
The “glowing skin” can distract us from our calling to be the face, hands, and heart of Jesus in changing the world. Join us as we get past distractions and become covenant people.
Fr. Andrew
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Featured Scripture
Exodus 34:28-35Common English Bible (CEB)
Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights. He didn’t eat any bread or drink any water. He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the ten words.
Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two covenant tablets in his hand, Moses didn’t realize that the skin of his face shone brightly because he had been talking with God. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw the skin of Moses’ face shining brightly, they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called them closer. So Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and Moses spoke with them. After that, all the Israelites came near as well, and Moses commanded them everything that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. When Moses finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. Whenever Moses went into the Lord’s presence to speak with him, Moses would take the veil off until he came out again. When Moses came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, the Israelites would see that the skin of Moses’ face was shining brightly. So Moses would put the veil on his face again until the next time he went in to speak with the Lord.
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ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICES
Ash Wednesday services, with imposition of ashes, are scheduled for Wednesday, February 10th, at noon and 6 pm.
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Donate Winter Coats
for the Needy
The target date for our coat collection is February 14, 2016. Bring your own used warm-weather gear or purchase a used outer garment at Goodwill, Angel View or Revivals – leave your items with the church ushers on Sunday or contact Chris Kelly at (760) 406-2978 to arrange a drop-off. Your generosity will help many.
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Ushers, Altar Ministers and Altar Guild Member Training:
PLEASE NOTE DATE CHANGE
There will be hands-on training for Ushers, Altar Ministers (Acolytes, Chalice Bearers and Worship Coordinators) and Altar Guild members, on SATURDAY, MARCH 5TH, 2016. The training will be delivered separately for each ministry: 9:00 am – Worship Coordinators; 10:30 am – Altar Ministers and Ushers; 1:30 pm – Altar Guild. We ask that all current and prospective members of theses ministries attend – even those who have extensive experience serving. And we also invite participation by those who simply want to learn more about these ministries. You may find one is just right for you! Please RSVP to the parish office (760.320.7488).
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Sunday Mornings at 9:15 AM
Episcopal Café in The Chapel
Check it out
February:
The Prophets: Then & Now.
Led by guest presenter Rev. Dean Lueking.
2/7 Then and Now – Perceiving the authentic from counterfeit.
2/14 Amos – Prophet to Society and contemporary examples.
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Tuesday Evenings at 7:00 PM
Faith Building – In the Library
February
2/9 Shrove Tuesday: Evening Prayer & Pancake Supper.
See LENT announcement for details.
2/16 & 2/23 Lenten Taize in the Church at 7:00 pm.
Lenten Taize continues on 3/1, 3/8 & 3/15.
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Thank You From Roy’s
We’ve been asked to pass along the gratitude of our homeless brothers and sisters and their children at Roy’s Desert Resource Center for your generous support of St. Paul’s annual Christmas gift card drive, which raised enough money to provide 80 Walmart gift cards of $25 for Roy’s residents this year. We hope everyone will help continue this good work in 2016 by donating baked goods and funds for new underwear, and by watching this space for other ways you can become engaged with those in need at Roy’s. Your help makes a real difference, and is genuinely appreciated. For more information, contact Chris Kelly – 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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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 because of our understanding of what it means to follow Jesus. Please let Jesus’ command to love your neighbor as yourself be your guide.
“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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Year-end statements will be mailed by next Friday February 12th.
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LENT
Lent begins this Wednesday. Join us in the Parish Hall on Shrove Tuesday, February 9th @ 6:00 pm for Evening Prayer and our annual Pancake Supper. Tickets for the supper are $5.00 each and are available for purchase following each worship service or at the parish office.
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Bishop’s Visitation
Bishop Mathes will visit St. Paul’s on December 3-4, 2016.
He will Preside and Preach at our worship and will offer Baptism and Confirmation.
The Inquirer’s Class will begin in early October.
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Giving Made Easier
St. Paul’s has a new system for online giving and we encourage you to use it (see the right hand column on this web page.)
If you have any questions, please contact the office. Our online system makes it easy to direct your donation to a specific fund.
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Next Taizè Services
There will be no Taizé service this week. Our next Taizé service is Tuesday, February 16th at 7:00 p.m. All are welcome to this quiet service of music and meditation. For more information, contact Nathan Ensign at 760-320-7488 x225.
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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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HOLY COMMUNION
SERVICE FOR
LOCAL CARE FACILITIES
The next COMMUNION SERVICE at Windsor Court is also scheduled for Ash Wednesday, February 10th, at 10:15 am. The priest and residents always welcome parishioners to join in the worship. The priest will impose ashes in observance of Ash Wednesday for those attending this service.
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COFFEE HOUR
Sunday’s Coffee Hour after the 10:30 service is sponsored by the Children’s & Family Ministry. Please consider hosting an upcoming Coffee Hour. The sign-up book is on the table to your right as you enter the Parish Hall.
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PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY
The Prayer Shawl Ministry invites you to join our circle on
Wednesday’s from 10 am-1 pm 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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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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