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From The Rector
They Are Watching – Us.
As I reflect on this week’s Gospel reading, I am thinking of a dinner, although. not so much the dinner in the story. Jesus has been invited to a dinner at the home of a local leader, one of the folks whose invitation would indicate he was a peer. Could it be that he had “arrived”?
I am thinking of the recent Pot-Luck Dinner planned by our Parish Life Team. There was about a month of advertisement. Everyone was invited. Folks who were unsure of their ability to bring a dish were encouraged to come anyway. I was satisfied that 30 people had signed up. It was, after all, the middle of August in a swamp cooled Parish Hall. I was thrilled when more than 50 showed up. It told me that many people are hungry for social connections.
At the dinner where Jesus had been invited as a guest, it seemed that he was there more as a curiosity. “They were watching him closely.” As a guest, Jesus shared Gracious Leadership* with his fellow diners. He used the situation of being watched, to invite his fellow diners to become leaders in two ways. By practicing humility, they built relationship with their fellows who might respond positively to them. And by using their privilege in the community to invite a more diverse group of guests, they would build relationship and wellness within the whole community.
At our Pot-Luck, many people exercised the Jesus-like virtue of Gracious Leadership. Among them were the The Parish Life Team who provided the simple gift of name tags. Guests who attended to balancing the tables so that no one was left alone, folks who jumped to the task of adding tables and chairs, people who made sure that those who were unable to get their own plates were well cared for; all showed Gracious Leadership. And everyone got to know the others at table and wrote their hopes for additional fellowship or ministry.
Jesus reminded us that the more we attend to the margins of our community, the less we hold on to our place at the center, the more we will be Gracious Leaders who are building God’s heavenly community right here and now.
Our Pot-Luck is an extension of what we practice week by week when we gather at Jesus’ table in the midst of our worship together. All are welcome and there will always be enough. Join us as we learn from Jesus how to be Gracious Leaders who grow the wellness of our whole community.
Fr. Andrew
Gracious Leadership is a feature of the book, Holy Currencies by the Rev. Canon Eric Law. Eric is a priest of St. Paul’s.
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Featured Scripture
Luke 14:1, 7-14
On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely.
When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, `Give this person your place,’ and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, `Friend, move up higher’; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
He said also to the one who had invited him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
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Altar and Narthex (church lobby) 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.
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Sunday Mornings at 9:15 AM
Episcopal Café in The Library
Check it out
August
8/28 Message in a Bottle- God Paints Backwards.
Led by Audrey Spencer
September
9/4 The Religious Ring inside the Political Circus.
Led by Gary Scott
9/11 How Should WE Respond to “Evil”?
Led by Craig Ewing
9/18 Five Myths about Sharia Law.
Led by Rev. Canon Victoria Hatch
9/25 Who Do You Love?
Led by Alan Zimmerman
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Tuesday Evenings at 7:00 PM
Faith Building – In the Library
 There will be no Tuesday sessions in August.
When Tuesdays @ 7 pm returns in September, we will be reading and studying John Dominic Crossan’s book, “How to Read the Bible and Still Be a Christian: Struggling with Divine Violence from Genesis to Revelation.” The book is available on Amazon in paperback. The paperback edition costs $11; hardcopy is $22. It also available on Kindle for 14.99. Please call the office to reserve your space.
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Baked Goods and Fruit
for Roy’s
St. Paul’s Monday night outreach to the homeless men, women and children at Roy’s Desert Resource Center needs your support to help get through the summer doldrums. Home-made or store bought baked desserts, cakes and cookies, as well as fresh fruit, are urgently needed. Simply bring your donation to church on Saturday or Sunday and leave it with the ushers. Contact Chris Kelly at (760) 406-2978 for further information.
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Announcements
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CHURCH SUMMER
OFFICE HOURS
Effective May 31 through Sept 6, our summer office hours will be 9:00- 4:30 Tuesday through Thursday: and Friday 9:00 – noon.
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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Sunday Worship Childcare
Beginning Sunday September 4th, childcare will be available for both the 8:00 a.m. and the 10:30 a.m. services.
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HOLY COMMUNION
SERVICE FOR
LOCAL CARE FACILITIES
The next COMMUNION SERVICE at Windsor Court is scheduled for Wednesday, September 14th 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 Hour after the 10:30 service is sponsored by JoAnne Adair.
Coffee Hours are an important ministry of hospitality for both our members and guests. There are several Coffee Hours without sponsors throughout the year. Please consider signing up to be a host.
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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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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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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 incidences are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly and confidentially. If you believe you have experienced misconduct of any kind, please contact Mr. John Seitman, jseitman@pacbell.net, 858-793-4555 or the Rev. Janet Wheelock, jwheelock@edsd.org, 952-240-8067.
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