The Abundant Life – January 4, 2018

The Abundant Life

January 4, 2018                                        For Sunday, January 7th

From the Rector

 

A Good Beginning

 

In our worship this week, we celebrate the Epiphany on Saturday evening, and on Sunday morning we remember the Baptism of Jesus. The reading I have selected complements the story of Jesus’ baptism.

 

For our first reflection of 2018, we start at the beginning – at the creation. “The earth was without shape or form, …” There was only darkness, the deep sea, and God’s presence in the wind sweeping over the waters.

 

This account of creation shows God transforming the dark void with his spoken word. And that first word was Light. “And so light appeared…” and God saw that it was good: the created world had begun. This account is also very personal. God’s wind is God’s breath and every word uttered holds the Spirit of God.

 

The act of creation is an expression of God’s delight, and as that joyful light encounters the formless earth, it sets the pattern for the world as God made it. It is all good. From the separation of the light and the darkness, to the gathering of the waters above and the waters below, to the abundance of life on land and sea, to the crafting of humanity in God’s image, it is all good.

 

And when Jesus was baptized and rose up from the water, he saw the heavens torn and heard that breath from creation – “I’m pleased with you my son”. This is Jesus’ good beginning of his mission to liberate, heal, and love.

 

Baptism is the invitation for us to have a good beginning again, to return to the place where God’s breath speaks to light and darkness and, again, makes all things new. I don’t remember mine at age two, but, parents and godparents were there remembering for me. Each time we witness a baptism, each time we read of Jesus’ baptism, or pronounce our Baptismal Covenant, we can imagine our joyful God saying – once again – “Let there be light”

 

Join us, as we imagine God’s delight and another good beginning.

 

Fr. Andrew

 

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Featured Scripture

Genesis 1:1-5Common English Bible (CEB)

When God began to create the heavens and the earth — the earth was without shape or form, it was dark over the deep sea, and God’s wind swept over the waters — God said, “Let there be light.” And so light appeared. God saw how good the light was. God separated the light from the darkness. God named the light Day and the darkness Night.

There was evening and there was morning: the first day.

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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. 

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Hospitality Ministry

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

Please consider sponsoring a coffee hour!

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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

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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 $360,241 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.

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Helpers Needed!

It will soon be time to take down the Christmas decorations. If you can help us out on Saturday, January 13th, please let us know by calling the office.

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“St. Paul’s 101” – Welcome!

If you want to join St. Paul’s or learn more about the parish, come to “St. Paul’s 101.”  The next single session class with Fr. Andrew is Sunday, January 21st, at 9:15 am in the Conference Room in the Parish Office.  In this informal setting, you will have the opportunity to ask questions about St. Paul’s and learn how to become a member. ​

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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.

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Next Taizé Service

Our next Taizé service will be Thursday, February 1st at 7:00 pm. 

“Church lights dim, dozens of candles flicker, beautifully chanted prayers, a time of silence. All help guide the soul to rest in God.” For more information, contact Nathan Ensign at 760.320.7488 x225.

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Parish Life Book Club

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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FAITH BUILDING

Sundays @ 9:15 am

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

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Tuesdays @ 7PM

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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?

Print a copy

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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