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The Abundant Life
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May 24, 2018 For Sunday, May 27th
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From the Rector
Availability
The Sunday after the day of Pentecost is Trinity Sunday. It is the only Feast Day that celebrates a Christian Doctrine rather than an event. It is ancient. Established in 828 C.E., it took 500 years to be established throughout western Christianity.
Our responsibility on this Sunday is not to generate the perfect explanation of the Holy Trinity or even to comprehend this divine mystery, but to celebrate and praise God. We will sing and pray about the Christian understanding of God. We will “acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity” and “worship the Unity” as our opening prayer will assert.
In our reading from Isaiah, we get a look at the prophet’s vision of the majesty of God. While this vision inspired awe, it also engendered fear. The more Isaiah saw, the more he felt unworthy or out of place. But he was not left out of place, the angel of God reached out and purified his unclean lips – forgave his sin. The vision was interactive and Isaiah experienced hospitality and restoration.
Then he listened and heard the Lord’s wondering, “Who will go for us.?” His response to the Lord’s wondering was amazing. He gave something back to this exalted Lord. He made himself available, “Here I am. Send me.”
What is so amazing to me is the collision of the two worlds in this vision. We might see God as lifted up or exalted and assume there is no interest in us, but we would be wrong. God is looking for us, wondering about the hope for justice in the world, about who might respond, and God is delighted when we are available. When we are available, when we are responsive to God’s wondering, we begin to experience a bit of that quality that is central to our understanding of the inner life of God – mutuality.
In our worship this weekend we will wonder about God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – Creator, Redeemer, and Life Giver. I hope we will listen to the welcome in God’s wondering, just who might be available. Join us.
Fr. Andrew
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Featured Scripture
Isaiah 6:1-8 Common English Bible (CEB)
In the year of King Uzziah’s death, I saw the Lord sitting on a high and exalted throne, the edges of his robe filling the temple. Winged creatures were stationed around him. Each had six wings: with two they veiled their faces, with two their feet, and with two they flew about.They shouted to each other, saying:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of heavenly forces!
All the earth is filled with God’s glory!”
The doorframe shook at the sound of their shouting, and the house was filled with smoke.
I said, “Mourn for me; I’m ruined! I’m a man with unclean lips, and I live among a people with unclean lips. Yet I’ve seen the king, the Lord of heavenly forces!”
Then one of the winged creatures flew to me, holding a glowing coal that he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips. Your guilt has departed, and your sin is removed.”
Then I heard the Lord’s voice saying, “Whom should I send, and who will go for us?”
I said, “I’m here; send me.”
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FAITH BUILDING
Sundays at 9:15 AM in the Library
The Episcopal Cafè
May
5/27 Adoption: Reflections on Romans 8:12-17.
June
6/3 When is the Sabbath anyway? Reflection on Deuteronomy 5:12-15
6/10 Look Beyond the Story- Reflection on Genesis 3: 8-15.
6/17 Riddles: A Reflection on Ezekiel 17: 22-24.
6/24 The Time is Now! Reflection on 2 Corinthians 6:1-13.
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Tuesdays — Accepting God’s Gift of Faith
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
May
5/29 Lectio Divina: A daily Way of Life.
Led by Audrey Spencer
June
How Can We Make Christian Decisions in the 21st Century: Applying Faith Tools in making difficult decisions on current issues
6/5 Baptismal Covenant. Led by Bro. John Charles
6/12 Scripture/Tradition/Reason. Led by Fr. David Caffrey
6/19 Via Media (The Middle Way). Led by Jerry Di Noto
6/26 Virtues. Led by Bro. John Charles & Audrey Spencer
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Women of St. Paul’s
 You are invited by your chapter of the Daughters of the King to explore DOK’s commitment to our parish in prayer, service and unique evangelism. We are beginning study sessions that will let you discern if our Rules of Prayer and Service may be your choice to deepen your spiritual life as a member of a lay women’s religious order; our disciplines support our small, serious but joyful community of like-minded women. Please call for further information if you are interested in such a ministry: Sharon Strong 760.285.8910 or Bonnie Stroock 760.799.9336.
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A Change in How To Send Us Mail
As of June 30th, we will no longer use a Post Office Box to receive mail. All mail should be sent to our street address where we will soon have a locked mailbox. Many parishioners have their pledge payment sent directly from their bank to the Post Office Box. If this is the case with your pledge payment, please notify your bank right away to begin using our street address, 125 W. El Alameda, Palm Springs, CA 92262.
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Hospitality Ministry
We hope you will join us for coffee and conversation in the Parish Hall after either service on Sunday.
Sunday’s Coffee Hour after the 8:00 service is sponsored by Jessica & Marcus Scott and Jeffrey and Marie Ratnam.
There are many upcoming opportunities for you to sponsor a Sunday Coffee Hour after either the 8:00 AM or 10:30 AM service. The sign-up notebook is on the table as you enter the Parish Hall.
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Potluck Dinner! May 24th
Thursday, May 24th – 5:00-6:45 PM in Parish Hall. Let’s gather to enjoy a pre-summer feast with our parish community. Sign-up sheets are in the Narthex and Parish Hall. You can also sign up by calling the office at 760.320.7488.
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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.” This is a single session class with Fr. Andrew. In this informal setting, you will have the opportunity to ask questions about St. Paul’s and learn how to become a member. The next session with Fr. Andrew will be Sunday, May 27th at 9:15 AM, in the Conference Room in the Parish Office.
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Communion at Windsor Court
 The next communion service at Windsor Court is Wednesday, June 13th at 10:15 am. The priest and the residents are always happy to have parishioners attend.
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Icon Writing Retreat
Icon Writing Workshop is a five-day (June 25th-29th) retreat instructed by Teresa Harrison, at St. Paul’s Cathedral, San Diego. Participants will learn the prayerful practice of painting or writing a Byzantine-style icon. The emphasis will be on the step by step process of painting an icon, using Jo Sonia acrylic paint and 23 carat gold leaf, as well as on the spiritual practice of allowing God to work in us and through us. The course per-person fee is $435 and includes all supplies, five full days of instruction, and lunch. To RSVP please contact Julie McMinn, jemcminn@gmail.com.
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The Parish Life Book Club
The Parish Life Book Club meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 1:00 PM in the Library and new members are always welcome. For July 3, 2018, Book Club has selected Exile by Richard North Patterson. A journey into the lethal politics of the Middle East, Exile is an intricate tale of betrayal and deception and a moving love story. Book Club is a group of people who enjoy reading and talking about the books they read. The Book Club will not convene in the months of June and August. For more information please contact Alan Zimmerman at alanzimmerman@icloud.com.
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St. Paul’s Camping Ministry
The weekend of July 13 – 15 this summer, our church campers are going up to Hurkey Creek campground near Lake Hemet. Cost is low, $10 a person, but so are the temperatures – 25 degrees cooler than in Palm Springs! Basic cabins are available at $100 and we plan to fish! Contact Bonnie Stroock to reserve – 760.324.7949
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Report Clergy 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 John Seitman, 858-793-4555 or Equilla Luke, 760-583-0485.
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Compassionate Care Task Force
Our diocesan task force on compassionate care for victims of clergy sexual misconduct seeks to connect with those who have experienced misconduct. If you have reported clergy sexual misconduct and have information about the reporting or post-reporting experience that could be helpful to their work, please refer to the task force members, all of whom are listed on the diocesan website: Task-Force. Information on how to report misconduct is available here.
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Church Office Hours
The Parish Office hours are changing for the summer. Beginning the week of Memorial Day, the Parish Office will be closed on Friday afternoons, beginning at 11:30 AM and will be unavailable for walk-in business. These hours will remain in place through the Labor Day weekend.
If 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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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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