The Abundant Life – July 27, 2017

The Abundant Life

July 27, 2017                                             For Sunday, July 30th

From Jerry Di Noto

Leadership Development Coordinator

Solomon’s Choice

Solomon’s moving request ultimately was not for himself but for the benefit of others. He sought an understanding mind to govern and care for God’s people. He wanted the ability to discern between right and wrong. He recognized that a me attitude could not sustain the kingdom. He called himself “a little child,” one who does “not know how to go out or come in.” He was looking for divine direction, a relationship with God that would enrich and bless him and his kingdom.

As I reflect on Solomon’s request, what is it that I can request to move me beyond myself – to shift from a me attitude to a we attitude? Solomon chose a we attitude. He asked for a listening heart, a heart with ears, a heart that would hear the pain of the world, the needs of the people, and the voice of God. He did not ask for himself long life, riches, or even the defeat of his enemy and his request pleased the Lord. God’s pleasure established a bond that would bear fruit.

“Then Solomon awoke; it had been a dream.” Solomon’s waking was not the end of the dream. To the contrary, his awaking was the beginning of a new reality for him. He awoke to that new possibility, for himself and for the people. That reality and possibility would be realized every time Solomon choose we over me, every time he lived the dream. That reality can exist for us. It can exist every time we choose we over me in our lives, our relationships, our community and our world. That’s how Jesus lived his life, a life of we before me, a life of an understanding, forgiving and healing heart, one that was pleasing to his Father.

Our lives and our world desperately need to embrace this new reality and possibility. A reality which looks beyond the “me” and embraces one another in love, peace and charity. God has entrusted each of us with Solomon’s dream with its potential of a bond with God. We are called to make the dream a reality in our day to day lives.

Gathering together we affirm our faith; we pray for one another; we partake of the sustaining Bread of Life; we are empowered to spread the news of God’s all-embracing love and forgiveness. We are indeed commissioned to live the “we” with understanding hearts.

Jerry Di Noto

_____________________________________________

Featured Scripture

1 Kings 3:5-12

At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask what I should give you.” And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?”

It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you.”

________________________________________

Online Giving

If you donate to the Church of St. Paul through our on-line giving system, please check periodically to be sure that your account information is still current, including card expiration date, giving frequency and donation end date. If you have any questions, or need help updating your information, please call the office at 760-320-7488 and we will work with you to make sure the information is correct. 

_____________________________________________

Assistant Registrar

Rosanna Langley has been appointed as the Assistant Registrar for church records. She will be calling every member of the church to verify and collect information needed for our church records. She will not be asking for any information regarding your giving.

_____________________________________________

Hospitality Ministry

Please join us in the Parish Hall after each Sunday service for coffee and refreshments.

To celebrate their birthdays, Barbara Villani and Lena & John Granet are hosting both coffee hours Sunday with an Ice Cream Social! Be sure to stop by and join the fun and fellowship after the 8:00 and 10:30 services.​

 Please consider sponsoring a coffee hour this summer!

______________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________

Palm Springs Tram Walk About and Dinner

Come and enjoy some cool mountain air on August 8th  with the Camping group.  No tents,  but several dinner options are available.  Tram tickets cost $26. 4 PM to 7 or 7:30    Please contact Bonnie Stroock at bcstroock@aol.com

______________________________________________

Summer Parish Potluck 

Our next Parish Potluck will be August 10, 2017.  Please bring your favorite dish to the Parish Hall beginning at 5:30 with dinner at 6:00. The objective of the evening will be to have fun, relax and enjoy good food and great companionship. Sign-up sheets are in the back of the church and in the Parish Hall.

We will be forming new circle supper potluck groups for this Fall which will run October through December and then will re-group for another set of diners from January through March and beyond. Signup sheets will be passed around at the August Parish Potluck and will also be at the back of the church and in the Parish Hall until after Labor Day when the groups will be formed.

______________________________________________

Parish Life Book Club

The Parish Life Book Club (PLBC) will not meet in August. You’ll want to join them at their next meeting on Tuesday, September 5th at 1 pm in the Parish Library to discuss Martha Hall Kelly’s debut novel “Lilac Girls.” Here’s what Lisa See had to say in her NY Times review, “Inspired by actual events and real people, Martha Hall Kelly has woven together the stories of three women during World War II that reveal the bravery, cowardice, and cruelty of those days.”

______________________________________________

FAITH BUILDING 2017

Sundays @ 9:15 am

AT ST. PAUL’S IN THE LIBRARY – The Episcopal Cafè                        

______________________________________________

Tuesdays @ 7PM

____________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________

Print a copy of The Abundant Life?

Click here

______________________________________________

Sunday Worship Childcare
 
Childcare is available for both the 8:00 a.m. and the 10:30 a.m. services.

______________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________

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