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The Abundant Life
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March 29, 2018 For Sunday, April 1st
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From the Rector
Hope While it is Still Dark
This week is a sacred time of preparation, a Holy Week of remembering Jesus from his entry into Jerusalem, through his emphasis on service at supper with his disciples, through his betrayal at the hands of those very disciples, through his confrontation with the Roman Governor, his death on a cross, and in the early morning darkness on the first day of the week – an empty tomb.
Mary Magdalene was faithful. She and other women attended Jesus during his ministry. She and the other Marys refused to abandon him at the cross. In the early darkness she comes to attend him in the stranger’s tomb.
Would Mary recognize her faithfulness as hope? Would she even consider hope at such a time – dark before daytime, dark in death?
On Palm Sunday Bp. Katharine described the Jesus who entered Jerusalem. He borrowed a colt or donkey for his version of a triumphal entry. He relied on borrowing – he did not have a place of his own to lay his head – and even his tomb would be borrowed. Bp. Katharine challenged us – in the face of tough circumstances and even overwhelming loss – to follow Jesus’ example and borrow – borrow some hope.
Mary borrowed hope in the earliest hours of that Easter morning. When nothing was brightly illuminated – when the only thing that was clear was the stone that was taken away – Mary borrowed hope from her faithfulness. How do I know she borrowed hope? Because she ran to her brothers and not away. And she returned to meet Jesus.
We practice faithfulness in our gathering and prayers. We practice faithfulness when we serve those in need and when we struggle to solve problems like homelessness. We practice faithfulness when we stand beside those who suffer and are humiliated, as Mary stood by Jesus. Borrow some hope from the faithfulness of sisters and brothers as they borrow hope from you.
The hope we borrow while it is still early, still dark, is the hope that will lead us to meet Jesus and to recognize his voice. Join us this Easter. Alleluia!
Fr. Andrew
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Featured Scripture
John 20:1-2 (CEB)
Early in the morning of the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. She ran to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they’ve put him.”
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FAITH BUILDING
Sundays at 9:15 AM in the Library
The Episcopal Cafè
April
4/8 Holding All Things in Common: Reflections on Acts 4:32-35 .
Led by Rev. Canon Victoria Hatch Read about it
4/15 Pop-In Jesus: Reflections on Luke 24:36-48.
Led by Ron Geikow Read about it
4/22 Real Love: A Reflection on 1 John 3: 16-24.
4/29 Abide in Love: A Reflection on 1st John 4:7-21.
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Tuesdays — Accepting God’s Gift of Faith
April
Tuesday @ 7PM at St. Margaret’s (Special Event)
4/3 Choosing Civility in the Abrahamic Tradition as a Spiritual Practice
Featured Speakers: Rabbi David Lazar, Rev. Lane Hensley, Jihad Turk
Tuesdays @ 7PM in Library: The Great 50 Days of Easter! This series will celebrate the 50 days of Easter incorporating elements of Lectio Divina, Hymns, and Baptismal Covenant
4/10 50 Days of Easter.
Facilitated by Rev. Canon Victoria Hatch
4/17 Lectio Divina: Easter Readings and Reflection.
Facilitated by Gary Scott.
4/24 The Music of Easter.
Facilitated by Rev. Canon David Caffrey
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Hospitality Ministry
Please join us in the Parish Hall after each Sunday service for coffee and refreshments.
Please consider hosting a coffee hour.
You may sign up at the West end of the Parish Hall.
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United Thank Offering
Thanks to your generosity, we were able to send a check for $931 as our parish contribution to this year’s United Thank Offering.
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Gun violence and prevention
Students across the nation are taking a stand against the alarming number of mass shootings in our nation and are challenging adults to work with them to reasonable and responsible gun regulations. Let’s support these students and demand that Congress enact effective and sensible legislations. Contact our elected representatives today.
Senator Dianne Feinstein: (202)224-3841, wwwfeinstein.senate.gov
Senator Kamala Harris: (202) 224 3553, wwwharris.senate.gov
Representative Dr. Raul Ruiz: (202) 225-5330,wwwruiz.house.gov
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Prayer to end Gun Violence: By the Rt. Rev. Stephen Lane
God of Justice, help us, your church, find our voice.
Empower us to change this broken world and to protest the needless deaths
caused by gun violence.
Give us power to rise above our fear that nothing can be done and grant us the conviction to advocate for change.
For your dream of love and harmony, Loving God,
Make us instruments of your peace.
All this we pray in the name of the One
who offered his life so that we might live,
Jesus the Christ.
Amen.
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Adult Literacy
St. Paul’s is reviving its plan to serve our community with an adult literacy program. Volunteers are needed to work one-on-one with adults who want to learn to read in English. Those interested in volunteer tutoring are invited to attend an orientation meeting on Saturday, April 7th at 9:30 AM in the Library in the office. Sign-up sheets are available in the Narthex and Parish Hall. No formal teaching experience is necessary. Volunteers will be required to complete the Diocesan “Safeguarding God’s People” training. For more information contact Sharon Strong at 760.285.8910.
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Maundy Thursday (March 29th)
Soup Supper is scheduled for 5:45PM in the Parish Hall. Foot Washing will follow in the Memorial Garden. Sign-up sheets are in the Narthex and Parish Hall, or you can call the office. Maundy Thursday Commemorates the Last Supper and the “Great Command” of serving others.
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Watch & Pray Through the Night
. . . of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday Morning. Altar of Repose will be in the Office Lobby. Sign-up sheet located ONLY in the Narthex or you can call the office (760) 320-7488.
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The Good Friday Offering
. . . is one way we in the Episcopal Church help to support the ongoing ministry of love and compassion carried out by our Anglican sisters and brothers throughout the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East.
The history of the Good Friday Offering reaches back to 1922 when, in the aftermath of World War I, The Episcopal Church sought to create new relationships with and among the Christians of the Middle East. From these initial efforts which focused on a combination of relief work and the improvement of ecumenical and Anglican relations, the Good Friday Offering was created.
Today, the Good Friday Offering is making a difference, whether funding an eye clinic in Aden or women’s programs, schools and medical services in the West Bank. Please consider participating in this effort.
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The Good Book Club
The Easter Season selection of the Good Book Club is the reading of Acts. There is no group study, but people are encouraged to continue on their own. The paced study with guided reflections is “A Journey through Acts,” with forward by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and edited by Marek P. Zabriskie. It is available online from www.forwardmovement.org.
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Holy Saturday Hike
The St. Paul’s Parish Life Hiking Group will mark March 2018 with a meditative hike along the Westside Loop in Black Rock Canyon, Joshua Tree National Park, on March 31, 2018 at 8:00 AM. Come join us as we prepare for Easter with a morning of Joshua trees, wildflowers and sweeping mountain vistas. Contact Chris Kelly cwkelly615@gmail.com for full information.
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Parish Life Book Club
. . . meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 1 PM in the Library and new members are always welcome. On April 3, 2018, Book Club has selected Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko. Ceremony is a profound and moving work of Native American literature. A World War II veteran of mixed ancestry is scarred by his experience as a prisoner of the Japanese and further wounded by the rejection he encounters from his people. Only by immersing himself in the Indian past can he begin to regain the peace that was taken from him. Book Club is a group of people who enjoy reading and talking about the books they read. For more information please contact Jan Wacker at jwacker2001@yahoo.com.
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The Couperin Dynasty
. . . a program of Baroque music by three generations of France’s immortal composers, will be presented by harpsichordist Margaret Irwin-Brandon on Sunday, April 8th at 4 PM in the Parish Hall. All are cordially invited to attend and a suggested donation of $20 is requested at the door. A reception will follow to greet the artist.
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Communion at Windsor Court
 The next communion service at Windsor Court is Wednesday, April 11th at 10:15 am. The priest and the residents are always happy to have parishioners attend.
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Next Taizé Service
Please note: our next Taizé service will be one week later than usual on Thursday April 12th at 7:00 pm.
“A Taize service is a time to be still within as we sit together and experience the love and power of the Holy Spirit.” All are welcome to worship through chant, meditation and silence. For more information, contact Nathan Ensign at 760.320.7488 x225.
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Ordination
The Assisting Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori will ordain Patricia Lynn Horkey and Paul Kelly Mahon to the Transitional Diaconate on Saturday, April 14th. You may recall that Patricia volunteered at St. Paul’s in July 2016. All are welcome to attend the ordination at St. Paul’s Cathedral, 2728 Sixth Ave., San Diego.
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Save the date: April 21st
On Saturday, April 21st, your DOK chapter will hold its annual retreat at Desert Journeys from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Women of St. Paul’s are invited to attend this day of celebration, study and fellowship. Stay tuned!
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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
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