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The Abundant Life
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July 13, 2017 For Sunday, July 16th
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From the Rector
Sow Life
This week’s passage from Isaiah is part of a beautiful meditation from the 55th chapter about what gives life. Chosen to support the gospel reading, which also mentions a Sower, it says that just as rain and snow come from the sky to give life to soil and seed, so God’s word gives life to what God intends.
The verses before us offer a poetic and complex process for growing plants and giving life. The moisture from above makes the earth conceive and yield plants, which provide seeds for sowing, which then become bread for food. This poem invites us to think back, to retrace the process that leads to life.
Just as moisture from the sky is the catalyst for plant life, so God’s word is a catalyst for growth of human hearts. The poetic “water to seed to bread” is an analogy about God’s intent. The intent of the physical process is life. In the same way, God’s word indicates God’s intent, restoration of relationship and forgiveness of transgressions – life. “Let them return to the Lord so that he may have mercy on them, to our God, because he is generous with forgiveness.”
God’s word has brought about life – joined forever to his mercy – from the beginning. In our story of creation, God speaks the world into being and sows life. And God has invited us to be partners in fulfilling God’s intent, even with our limitations. “Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my plans than your plans.”
God’s plans surpass our own to be sure, but as we form ourselves more and more according to God’s ways and God’s word, we learn to be partners in sowing life. That partnership is practiced in our worship together, when we welcome one another and especially worshippers who are unfamiliar to us. The practice leads to sowing life with the people and situations we meet outside worship, when speak to forgive, when we speak for the voiceless, when we act to restore God’s beloved world. Join us.
Fr. Andrew
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Featured Scripture
Isaiah 55:6-13 (CEB)
Seek the Lord when he can still be found;
call him while he is yet near.
Let the wicked abandon their ways
and the sinful their schemes.
Let them return to the Lord so that he may have mercy on them,
to our God, because he is generous with forgiveness.
My plans aren’t your plans,
nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.
Just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways,
and my plans than your plans.
Just as the rain and the snow come down from the sky
and don’t return there without watering the earth,
making it conceive and yield plants
and providing seed to the sower and food to the eater,
so is my word that comes from my mouth;
it does not return to me empty.
Instead, it does what I want,
and accomplishes what I intend.
Yes, you will go out with celebration,
and you will be brought back in peace.
Even the mountains and the hills will burst into song before you;
all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
In place of the thorn the cypress will grow;
in place of the nettle the myrtle will grow.
This will attest to the Lord’s stature,
an enduring reminder that won’t be removed.
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Hospitality Ministry
Please join us in the Parish Hall after each Sunday service for coffee and refreshments.
Barry Hagenbuch & Robert Woods are sponsoring the coffee hour after the 8:00 service Sunday in celebration of Barry’s birthday.
Cheryl & Ray Kelley are sponsors for the coffee hour after the 10:30 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, August 9th at 10:15 am. The priest and the residents are always happy to have parishioners attend.
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Summer Parish Potluck
Please mark your calendar for August 10, 2017, for the summer parish potluck. Doors open in the parish hall at 5:30 with dinner at 6:00. Sign-up sheets will be in the narthex and parish hall about thirty days ahead of the event.
The Parish Life team would appreciate your input. We’ve hosted several activities and your feedback will help us plan future events. Would you like more entertainment options or perhaps simply enjoy great food and the company of others? Please email your thoughts and suggestions to FredERoss@comcast.net.
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FAITH BUILDING 2017
Sundays @ 9:15 am
AT ST. PAUL’S IN THE LIBRARY – The Episcopal Cafè
7/16 What Kind of Soil & Sower Are You? Reflection on Matt. 13:1-9
Led by Ron Geikow Read about it
7/23 The Gospel According to Annie – A Reflection on Romans 8: 12-25
Led by Rev. Canon David Caffrey Read about it
7/30 Nothing Can Separate Us: Reflection on Romans 8.26-39
Led by Gary Scott Read about it
8/6 A Transforming Transfiguration: Reflections on Luke 9:28-36.
Led by Gary Scott Read about it
8/13 Faith within the Chaos: Reflection on Matt. 14:22-33.
Led by Jerry Di Noto Read about it
8/20 There’s No Problem Bigger than God: Reflection on Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32.
Led by Alan Zimmerman Read about it
8/27 Building the Church of Christ: Reflection on Matt. 16:13-20.
Led by Audrey Spencer Read about it
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Tuesdays @ 7PM
AT ST. PAUL’S IN THE LIBRARY
No evening sessions during July & August. Sessions will resume September 5th.
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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 Thursday. Friday office hours are 9 am – 11:30 am through summer. 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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