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From the Rector
A Surprising Commandment
During the Sundays of Easter, in addition to reading Jesus’ resurrection appearances, we return to earlier parts of John’s Gospel to hear again the instructions Jesus had for his disciples. This week, we hear his command to love. The surprising part of this new commandment is the object of that love.
We can often see the world in pairs that seem like opposites – insiders and outsiders, rich and poor, friends and enemies, native born and immigrant. There is a common antipathy in the natural response to these pairings, but Jesus always calls us to see beyond the difference and reach across the line with caring respectful action. “Love your enemies” is an example. A faithful response, for the Christian, is the opposite of our “natural” response.
For a simple reason. All people are made in God’s image, and our spiritual maturity is built on our ability to discern that amazing fact. To practice this discernment is to follow Jesus’ command to love one another.
The surprise in this commandment is that it is not about insiders welcoming outsiders, it is about the followers of Jesus treating each other with respect, loyalty, sacrificial care – loving like Jesus loves.
This commandment is not given in a vacuum. Several verses before, Judas has shared from the common cup, taken the bread broken by Jesus, and dipped it in the wine. He ate his portion and left – to betray Jesus. In the next verse, Jesus lets Peter know that Peter is capable of betrayal, too. Later, we see Peter restored to love, and Peter empowered.
The disciples needed the commandment to love within the group, just like we need it. They needed it and we need it because rather than practice it with those close to us, we often just assume it. All of us know, on a feeling level, the difference between assumed love and declared love.
The love that Jesus commands of his followers is not a feeling, but a behavior. The word or words used in the Scriptures are words that primarily describe behavior in relationships. This is true of all loving relationships, but Jesus applies it to his closest followers. How will people know that you follow Jesus? Not because of your bumper sticker, confirmation certificate, nor political party affiliation. People will know we are Christians because we act with love, first, towards our brothers and sisters in the faith, then towards the rest of the world. Our actions will authentically treat others with the respect, loyalty, and sacrificial care that Jesus offered to all his disciples.
Join us as we consciously practice loving one another.
Fr. Andrew
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Featured Scripture
John 13:34-35 Common English Bible (CEB)
“I give you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other. This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other.”
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Guest Preacher on
Sunday, May 1st
 Rabbi David Lazar will be our guest preacher at the 8:00 am and 10:30 am services on May 1st.
Before coming to Temple Isaiah in June, 2015, Rabbi David Lazar served for more than two decades as a congregational rabbi and educator in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Stockholm. He has lived in Israel for most of his adult life, from 1975 until moving to Sweden in 2010, where he served as Rabbi of the Stockholm Jewish Community. He traversed the world of Orthodoxy and returned to his liberal Jewish roots, becoming a Conservative Rabbi in 1993. His wife, Sascha, is a nurse. They are the parents of five daughters, four living in Israel and the fifth in the San Francisco Bay Area. Their first grandchild was born in February, 2015.
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St. Paul’s Rodeo Invocation
 Fr. Andrew Green and Canon Victoria Hatch have been invited to offer an invocation during the Grand Entrance of the Palm Springs Hot Rodeo on May 7 and 8 in Banning. The competitive events will be from 9-5 and the Grand Entrance will be about noon each day. The Rodeo will be held an the A. C. Dysart Equestrian Center, 2101 W. Victory Ave., Banning, CA
Click here to see pictures from last year’s Rodeo.
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Altar and Narthex Flower Sponsorships
 Sponsoring flowers for the Altar or Narthex is a distinctive way to remember loved ones or commemorate special occasions, like birthdays and anniversaries. RESERVE YOUR SPECIAL DATE NOW by completing the sponsor sign-up form in the Flower Sponsorship Binder. You’ll find the binder on the table to your right as you enter the Parish Hall. Currently, the following dates are available for flower sponsorships: May 1, May 8, May 15 and May 22.
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Sunday Mornings at 9:15 AM
Episcopal Café in The Chapel
Check it out
April
4/24 Love One Another– John 13:31-35.
Facilitated by Br. John Charles
May
5/1 We Break This Bread.
Facilitated by Craig Ewing
5/8 Be Ardent in the Spirit.
Facilitated by Rev. Canon Victoria Hatch
5/15 The Mockingbird is the Pentecost Bird.
Facilitated by Jerry Lynch
5/22 Trinity Sunday -A Reflection.
Facilitated by Br. John Charles
5/29 Education for Ministry Program: Overview and Introduction
Presented by Alan Zimmerman
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Tuesday Evenings at 7:00 PM
Faith Building – In the Library
April
“Studying, Speaking and Singing the Psalms”
Presented by Rabbi David Lazar.
4/26 Psalm 30- Riding the Roller Coaster of Life
May
5/3 Education for Ministry Program: Overview and Introduction.
Presented by Alan Zimmerman
Education for Ministry (EfM) is a unique four-year distance learning certificate program in theological education based upon small-group study and practice. This international program has assisted more than 80,000 participants in discovering and nurturing their call to Christian service and bring them into conversation with their experiences of the world as they study, worship and engage in theological reflection together. On Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at 7 pm, Ms. Karla Lewis, an EfM mentor from St. Margaret’s will join us for Tuesdays @7 to discuss the EfM program in general and EfM opportunities at St. Margaret’s. For more information or questions, please call Alan Zimmerman.
5/10 Beads & Prayer I– Use of beads in prayer traditions.
Presented by Audrey Spencer
5/17 Beads & Prayer II– Use of beads in prayer traditions.
Presented by Audrey Spencer.
Please Note: In the Gospel of Luke, Led by Br. John Charles, Br. John respectfully requests that you [read] the scripture in advance of each session.
5/24 Luke 10: 25-37 – The Good Samaritan: A Way of Life
Led by Br. John Charles.
5/31 Luke 12:13-34 – The Dangers of Money
Led by Br. John Charles.
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Roy’s Still Needs YOU!
Just a reminder that St. Paul’s outreach to the homeless men, women and children at Roy’s Desert Resource Center continues through the summer months and needs your ongoing support. If you are a year-round resident of the desert, please continue to donate baked goods, fresh fruit and used clothing to this worthy cause. If you’re leaving us for the summer, take a moment to consider financial support for this important outreach before you go. Contact Chris Kelly(760) 406-2978 for more information.
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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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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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SERVING CHRIST IN OTHERS
Looking for new ways to put your faith into action? The St. Paul Social Justice Committee continues its important work on various fronts…including our continuing gun violence and safety initiative and our new “shower and service center” homeless outreach for the summer months. We’re working on a host of new social justice programs for the fall. We have ambitious goals and can use your ideas, your energy and your gifts. If you feel called to share Christ’s compassion and love please join us. Contact Chris Kelly (760) 406-2978 for further information.
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Our next Taizé service
. . . will be Thursday, May 5th at 7:00 p.m.
In a setting of icons, religious art and candles, this quiet service of chant and meditation has been a welcome respite for many during our busy work week.
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Save the Date!
St. Paul’s Campers
are planning a weekend trip to Idyllwild Co. Campground on July 15 to 17. Plan to come and escape the desert in the tall pines and mountain air of Mt. San Jacinto. Call Bonnie Stroock if you are interested in joining us. 760-324-7949
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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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HOLY COMMUNION
SERVICE FOR
LOCAL CARE FACILITIES
The next COMMUNION SERVICE at Windsor Court is scheduled for Wednesday, May 11th at 10:15 am. The priest and residents always welcome parishioners to join in the worship.
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Hospitality
Ministry
Please join us in the Parish Hall after each Sunday service for coffee and refreshments. Coffee Hours are an important ministry of hospitality for both our members and guests.
Sunday’s coffee hours are hosted by the Vestry.
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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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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