The Abundant Life – December 28, 2017

The Abundant Life

Update-1/2/2018

From the Rector

 

May Your Time Be Full

 

Christmas always lasts for twelve days, and those days start just as the secular observance has reached its peak. On the Sunday after Christmas we are given the opportunity to shift from holiday busyness to fullness. We might reflect and ponder what the birth of Jesus means for us without the pressure of the holiday.

 

This portion of our weekly reading stands out to me: “But when the fullness of time had come, …” (Gal. 4:4a). The verse continues to describe the timing and significance of Jesus’ birth, the belief that in Jesus, people not of his lineage would share in his inheritance and familial relationship with God. Ultimately, by God’s invitation, that would include us and be an invitation to all.

 

This happened when the time was “full” or complete or ripe.

 

When I look forward to events in my own life or those of my family, I want to see them arrive quickly. I am aware of the passing of time and the ticking of the clock. Initially, I am focused on the length of time, but sometimes I begin to appreciate the quality of the time also. For example, after waiting for the birth of one of our children or grandchildren, when the baby is born, all the anxiety and anticipation I had experienced, becomes a fullness. The time is just right.

 

The sense of the fullness of time is a product of reflection, of setting aside time for pondering. As the Feast of Christmas continues, I wonder if we might ponder just one area of concern in our community or the world in light of the birth of Jesus and the invitation to all to be children of God, Jesus’ sisters and brothers.

 

I am not excited about a new set of New Year’s resolutions, but I am willing to invest some time pondering. I wonder what fullness we might experience in our sense of worship and our sense of community if we each might ponder together.

 

Join us.

 

Fr. Andrew

 

_____________________________________________

Featured Scripture

Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7 (NRSV)

Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.

________________________________________

MLK Day – Event and Volunteers!

St. Paul’s will be hosting Palm Springs’ annual Martin Luther King Day Celebration on Sunday, January 14, 2018, at 2:00 pm.  The program will include community speakers, exhibits, and refreshments, and all are encouraged to attend.  St. Paul’s Social Justice Committee is also seeking volunteers to serve as greeters, ushers, and helpers for this important event.  Please contact Chris Kelly at 760-406-2978 if you are interested in helping out. 

________________________________________

Bishop Katharine’s Christmas Message 2017

“Dear people of God in the Diocese of San Diego, we wish you a joyous and peace-filled Christmas. As you prepare to celebrate with your family and friends, I urge you to make a place in your heart for the Prince of Peace, that we might seek the world that God has dreamed of from before the beginning of all that is. Help to build a world where no one goes hungry, where all are housed, where each person can find justice, where we tend to our neighbors as we tend to our closest kin. Bless you in this season. Welcome Jesus in your heart. Help to make his good news present for all those around you. Peace-filled and joyous Christmas to you.”

Click Here to view Bishop Katherine’s Video message.

________________________________________

Hospitality Ministry

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

Please consider sponsoring a coffee hour!

_____________________________________________

Planning Our Future Together

We invite you to complete Landscape, an online survey that will help our diocese gauge the strength, vitality, and trends in our church today. The information gained from this assessment will be valuable in helping to build a profile of our diocese. The profile is one of the major means we have of introducing ourselves to clergy members who may wish to discern if they are called to be our fifth bishop.

OnDecember 3rd we asked you to go online by clicking on the link provided and tell us about your experiences in and priorities for our diocese. Each adult (16+) member of the household is asked to complete the survey for her/himself, even if there is only one email address for all members of the family. Please do not discuss the survey or your answers with others as this may influence their answers. We want to know what YOU are thinking. The deadline to complete the survey is Midnight, January 6th.

If you do not have access to the Internet or for some other reason wish to have a paper copy of the survey, please contact your clergy person or warden.

All answers are strictly anonymous. We have no way of matching any assessment to a particular person, so please feel free to candidly share your perceptions, opinions and experiences. The confidentiality of your responses is important. Our future together is dependent on your participation and your honest answers.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact the nominating committee via email: epost@edsd.org or via mail: 2083 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., San Diego, CA 92107.

Many thanks,

Bishop Nominating Committee

Take the Survey

Frequently Asked Questions         Biographies of Nominating Committee Members

Convention Presentation              Calendar of Key Milestones

_____________________________________________

Tax Note:

End of the year note: All contributions that are intended to count for 2017 must be received by December 31st. 

_____________________________________________

Help Us in Preparing for the 2018 Budget

The budget for 2018 is nearing completion. Only with your support can we sustain the ministries that define St. Paul in the Desert…our beautiful music, our compassionate outreach to the community and our devoted pastoral care. Our principal revenue each year comes from your pledges. Today we have $358,000 pledged of our $425,000 goal. If you haven’t already, won’t you pledge to St. Paul’s today so that we can move forward confidently into 2018 with a fully funded budget? There are pledge cards available in the pew rack or you can pledge online at our website by clicking here.

_____________________________________________

School for Ministry

The School for Ministry (SFM) is a theological training program for anyone interested in learning more about Hebrew Scriptures, Christian Scriptures, church history, liturgics, pastoral care, global Anglicanism and more. It is open to all adult learners: people considering ordained ministry, as well as people interested in deepening their knowledge and understanding of these topics. Auditing classes is welcomed and encouraged, as is visiting for one class to see how you like it.

The Spring 2018 semester begins on Saturday, January 13 and continues every Saturday until April 14.

For additional information, click here.

_____________________________________________

Help the Homeless this Christmas

With cold weather already upon us, St. Paul’s Social Justice Committee needs your help to raise $1,000 to buy blankets, gloves and other cold weather gear for our brothers and sisters on the street. Please consider making a generous donation to support this important outreach. Simply drop your check in the Sunday plate, or mail a check to the church address at the bottom of this page. Please write “Social Justice” in the memo line. Contact Chris Kelly (760.406.2978) with any questions.

______________________________________________

Parish Life Book Club

Concert!

Bon Appétit: A Musical Feast by French Baroque Harpsichord Masters! Ketil Haugsand, harpsichordist, now a resident of Cologne, Germany, will perform in concert, Sunday, January 7th at 4:00 pm in St. Paul’s Parish Hall. This program is the headline program for Desert Baroque’s Winter Festival 2018 “Fight, Flight and Fantasy,” and features music by the top harpsichord composers of the Eighteenth century including J.H. d’Anglebert, Louis Marchand, Jean-Philippe Rameau and Antoine Forqueray. Tickets are $25 general and $50 reserved, and a reception will follow to greet the artist and each other. 

Tickets can be purchased here. 

For more information on the Winter Festival, click here.

______________________________________________

Piano Concert

On Sunday, January 28th at 4:00 pm, we will present Craig Sheppard, pianist, in concert. Since 1993, Sheppard has been Professor of Piano at the University of Washington School of Music in Seattle and during his career, he has presented concerts throughout the world. His program will include works by Scarlatti, Beethoven, Chopin, and Debussy among others. A reception to greet our artist and one another will follow in the Parish Hall. This concert is presented thanks to a generous donation in memory of Ruth Kraus.

______________________________________________

Communion at Windsor Court

The next communion service at Windsor Court is Wednesday, January 10th at 10:15 am. The priest and the residents are always happy to have parishioners attend.

______________________________________________

Save The Date: Saturday, February 10, 2018

A Women’s Spiritual Retreat presented by the Daughters of the King at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church. For women from St. Margaret’s, St. Paul’s and St. John’s – limited to the first 50 attendees. We will focus on prayer, reflection, journaling, meditation, listening and worship. RSP to Robin Nugent at rpnenninger@gmail.com or call her at 513.673.9568. Registration closes on January 14, 2018.

______________________________________________

Save the Date – Bishop’s Visit – March 25, 2018 

The Rt. Rev. Katherine Jefferts Schori will preside at Baptisms/Confirmations/Receptions and Reaffirmations. Instructional preparation for candidates will include seven consecutive Sunday evening two-hour sessions beginning February 4th, 6-8PM through March 18th.  If you are interested in more information or wish to become a candidate or a sponsor, contact Jerry Di Noto at 760 320-7488 ex. 224 or Fr. Andrew at 760 320-7488 ex. 223.

_____________________________________________

FAITH BUILDING

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 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.

______________________________________________

Print a copy of The Abundant Life?

Print a copy

______________________________________________

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