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The Abundant Life
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April 6, 2017 For Sunday, April 9th
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From The Rector
Humble Leadership
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week for observant Christians. We move from our personal complications and resolves of Lent to watch Jesus begin his own resolve, and he begins with an act of humility. Jesus, the one coming in the name of God, is mounted on a donkey rather than on a war horse. A common perception of the first century and our own is that leaders need the pomp and perks of the office they hold or aspire to. Jesus presents a more complicated picture and invites us to continue our complicated Lenten reflections.
I have stood on the hill over which Jesus likely entered Jerusalem. Although developed and populated, it has a view of the Temple Mount and of the various headquarters and barracks of the Roman occupation. Imagine Jesus – receiving the cheers and honor of the crowd who are daring to hope – looking at the overwhelming power of religious and Imperial institutions which he has come to challenge.
He has come to teach, to heal, and to confront. The teaching and healing are themselves confrontation. The teaching confronted, not because of its novelty, but because of its reminder of the accountability of leadership and the importance of compassion. The healing confronted because it was a sign of authority.
Jesus entered the Holy City to speak truth to power. His entrance as well as his message and mission were complicated. Taking Jesus’ words to heart is just as complicated today.
Jesus recalled his people to a faith and compassion that would make a place for the weak and vulnerable. He reserved judgement for those with power who judged those without power. It is as difficult for us today to receive and act on this message. We hear Jesus call us to meet the needs of the outcast and we mobilize some of our resources and compassion to care for the homeless and needy. Yet, we insist on meeting their needs on our terms and often resent a seeming lack of gratitude, or the failure of our help to “fix” them. I personally experience this range of response. And I add a measure of judgement directed at them and myself.
Humble leadership is required in the complex world we live in and the complicated network of people with whom we interact. We need to listen when we hear challenging truths and build relationships with people who are outside our comfort zone.
Our weekly worship invites to a table where all are welcome. Join us as we learn the humility to live out the welcome that comes from God’s table.
Fr. Andrew
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Featured Scripture
Matthew 21:1-11 (NRSV)
When Jesus and his disciples had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.” This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, “Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”
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Palm Sunday
Blessing of Palms and Entry into Jerusalem
Saturday, April 8 – 4:00 pm
Sunday, April 9, 8:00 am and 10:30 am
Tuesday in Holy Week – April 11
The Service of Tenebrae – 7:00 pm
(Candles are extinguished and the darkness grows.)
Maundy Thursday – April 13
Supper – 5:45 pm
Foot Washing in Memorial Garden
Holy Communion – 7:00 pm (Childcare provided)
8:00 p.m.
Altar of Repose –
Watch with Jesus through the Night (sign up)
Good Friday – April 14
Good Friday Liturgy – St. John’s Passion – 12:00 p.m.
(Childcare provided at Noon service)
Stations of the Cross – 7:00 pm-Children welcome
Holy Saturday – April 15
The Great Vigil of Easter 8:00 p.m.
Baptism, The First Communion of Easter
Easter Day – April 16
Service and Music 7:00 a.m.
Family Service with Choir 9:00 am
Easter Egg Hunt 10:15 am
Festival Service with Choir 11:15 am
All Services are Holy Communion (Childcare provided at all services)
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Help Make Palm Crosses for Palm Sunday
The Altar Guild invites ALL to join them in Hogarth Hall on Saturday, April 8th at 9:00 am to make Palm Crosses for Palm Sunday. Children are welcome to participate as well. Making palm crosses is not a difficult skill to learn, and since we make about 500 of these crosses, as many hands as possible are welcome. Make this one of your Lenten contributions to our Parish. A light breakfast will be served and this is a great time for fellowship and to meet new people. There is a sign up sheet at Hogarth Hall. For more information contact Br. John Charles Westaway or Kathy Kilmer.
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Susan Green Ordination for Deacon Candidate
Susan is a candidate for ordination as a Deacon in the Episcopal Church. She has been in the discernment process for the last five years and studying at the Diocesan School for Ministry in San Diego for the last two years. We will charter a bus to leave St. Paul’s Palm Springs at 6:30 am on June 17th. The bus will arrive at the Cathedral in San Diego in time for the Ordination at 10:00 am. It will return at about 12:30 and arrive in Palm Springs at about 3:30 pm. The approximate cost for the transportation will be $30. Sign up today in the Parish Hall.
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Seven Weeks for Water 2017
According to the Christian tradition, Lent is a time to prepare for the celebration of the death and resurrection of Christ. During this period many people engage in fasting and practise moderation or self-denial in order to focus on repentance and consecrating oneself to God. While water has a strong spiritual significance in the Christian tradition as a gift of God, this scarce resource is threatened and denied to millions around the world.
The World Council of Churches Ecumenical Water Network (EWN) invites you to use this season of Lent to reflect on water. Since 2008, the EWN has been providing weekly theological reflections and other resources on water for the seven weeks of Lent and for World Water Day on 22 March.
Please click here to visit the article.
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Hospitality Ministry
Please join us in the Parish Hall after each Sunday service for coffee and refreshments.
Barry Hagenbuch and Robert Woods are sponsoring the coffee hour after
Sunday’s 8:00 am service.
Please consider signing up to be a Sunday Coffee Hour host.
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Communion at Windsor Court
 The next Communion Service at Windsor Court is Wednesday, April 12th at 10:15 am. The priest and the residents are always happy to have parishioners attend.
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Palm Springs Pride Parade
We are fast approaching our deadline for an organized, thoughtful participation in the Palm Springs Pride Parade. The team needs to be in place by April, A.K.A, QUICKLY. Please contact the Parish Office [760.320.7488] immediately if you want to help.
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Faith Building 2017
Sundays at 9:15 am in the Library – The Episcopal Cafè
4/9 Palm Sunday: No Session
4/16 Easter Sunday: No Session
4/23 John 20: 19-31 Touching faith – Led by Alan Zimmerman
Read about it
4/30 Divinely Blinded: Lessons from the Road to Emmaus – Led by Rev. Victoria Hatch
Read about it
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Tuesdays @ 7PM at St. Pauls in the Church
Ashes to Easter: A Gospel Journey through Lent
Evening Prayer and Lenten Reflection
4/11 Holy Week: No Session
4/18 –on Hope – Led by the Team
4/25 –on Countercultural Faith – Led by the Team
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Taizé Worship – Thursdays @ 7:00 pm
Enrich your Lenten experience in a quiet setting of candles, liturgical art, chants, personal reflection and prayer. Our next Taize Service is Thursday, April 6 at 7:00 pm. Everyone is welcome. Contact Nathan Ensign for more details at 760-320-7488 ext. 225.
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Don’t Forget Roy’s!
St. Paul’s continues the outreach to the homeless men, women and children at Roy’s Desert Resource Center. Your donations of homemade and store-bought baked goods help bring a cheerful weekly dessert service to Roy’s residents. Contact Chris Kelly, 760.406.2978, for more information.
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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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CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
Office Hours are 9 am – 4:30 pm Tuesday through Friday. The office is closed on Mondays.
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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Print a copy of The Abundant Life?
Click here
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Sunday Worship Childcare
Childcare is available for both the 8:00 a.m. and the 10:30 a.m. services.
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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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    The Church of St. Paul in the Desert
Local: 760.320.7488 // Fax: 760.416.2441
Email: clergy@stpaulsps.org Website: http://www.stpaulsps.org
125 West El Alameda
Palm Springs, California 92262
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