For Sunday, February 20, 2022
The Absalom Jones Fund for Episcopal HBCUs
Our Presiding Bishop, the Most Rev. Michael Curry, invited us to support Historically Black Colleges and Universities by donating all the loose plate offerings from Sunday, February 13 (The Feast of Absalom Jones) to this important cause. St. Paul in the Desert collected $915 for this donation. Blessed Absalom Jones was the first Black person ordained an Episcopal priest.
Supporting our Healthcare Workers
This Valentine’s Day week, the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego is encouraging parishes to show their love and support for healthcare workers during the pandemic. As an act of solidarity with the Episcopal parishes of the Coachella Valley, we will be distributing cards with a message of encouragement for all healthcare workers and hospital staff. If you know someone who would benefit from this message of love, you can pick up a card to give to them in the narthex on Sunday.
Rectors’ Installation Reception – Update
The Installation Reception Committee is working diligently, planning the reception to follow the installation of our new co-rectors. For those who may not know, Rev. Dan and Rev. Jessie will be officially installed by our Diocesan Bishop, The Rev. Dr. Susan Brown Snook, on Saturday, February 26, at 4:00 PM (please see the invitation in the newsletter, our Facebook page and on our website). An outdoor reception will follow immediately after the service. The Committee has provided oversight for the event planning, and now we are asking for volunteers to help with the reception itself. We need people to set up prior to the event, to decorate, serve food and drinks and clean up. If you are available and willing to help, please send me an email note addressed to kmkcc@aol.com. I know many of you have verbally expressed your interest, but a note will help us keep the planning organized. So, when you respond, please provide your preferred email address, phone number and your volunteer task preference(s).
As expected, there are some unavoidable costs involved. Obviously, we want to have a very nice reception (we predict clergy from throughout the Diocese will attend, as well as some local dignitaries). We invite those who are able to make a monetary contribution to help underwrite some of these costs. Please write “Installation” on your checks, which may be placed in the collection plates at the services or sent to the office. Thank you to all for your help and your prayers as we strive to make this a momentous day in the life of our parish, while we embrace the excitement of where the Holy Spirit is leading us.
Kathy Kilmer
Junior Warden
Palm Springs Black History Parade is February 26
As in years past, The Church of St. Paul in the Desert will be represented by a contingent walking in the parade. President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month in 1976, and every American President since has designated February as Black History Month and endorsed a specific theme.
The theme for 2022 is “Black Health and Wellness” and explores Black scholars and medical practitioners in Western Medicine. If you would like to walk or ride with St. Paul’s contingent, please add your name to one of the the sign-up sheets you’ll find in the Narthex and the Parish Hall OR call the Parish Office (760.320.7488).
February is National Library Lovers Month
Did you know St. Paul’s has a library? Libraries have always been an important part of the Christian faith. The Bible is a library of 66 books and many early Christians kept the writings and accounts of their favorite saints in libraries!
As a way to introduce folks to the recently renovated library, the Library Ministry will be presenting “Last Call.” On the last Sunday of every month, the library will be open for parishioners to read and check out books with our state-of-the-art library system from 12PM to 2PM. February 27th is our first Last Call! For more information please contact Tom Lutgen, our Volunteer Librarian (tom.lutgen@gmail.com) or Ben Palmer, our Volunteer Library Assistant (palmerbd@att.net).
Mid-Week Contemplative Eucharists
Worship with us at a simple spoken mass (Eucharist) offered every Wednesday at 6:00 PM. The church will be open the hour prior (5-6:00 PM) for silent, socially distanced personal prayer. Come and rest.
Book Club continues to “Zoom”!
The next Book Club meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, at 1:00 PM via Zoom. Meeting access information will follow later. For March, Book Club has selected Intimacies by Katie Kitamura.
An interpreter comes to The Hague from New York to work at the International Court and is soon drawn into several personal dramas. When she’s asked to interpret for a former president accused of war crimes, she’s pulled into an explosive political controversy. A woman of quiet passion, she confronts power, love, and violence, personally and in her work at the Court. Looking for a place to call home, she must decide what she wants from her life.
New members are always welcome at Book Club. For more information, please contact Alan Zimmerman at alanzimmerman@icloud.com
Social Justice Ministry Distribution Event
The Social Justice Ministry will sponsor a Distribution event the last Wednesday of each month, set up in the colonnade outside the church. The next event is scheduled for February 23. Ministry volunteers will be on hand to give out sundries, clothing, backpacks, blankets – and so many other essentials – to our needy neighbors.
The ministry is always looking for additional volunteers to package and distribute these items so, if you can help, let us know. Thank you to all who have contributed financially or donated items for this project. If you would like to donate time and/or treasures, please contact Lena Granet at lgranet@protonmail.com
Coffee/Social Hour Hospitality
Our coffee hour has moved outdoors (to the covered Columbarium area). Due to the recent surge of the COVID-19 omicron variant, we want to minimize/eliminate unnecessary time indoors with masks off. All our hospitality procedures and protocols are subject to any CDC guidelines and mandates that Bishop Susan may put into place, depending on prevailing COVID conditions.
For those wishing to sponsor refreshments for a specific Sunday Coffee Hour, please call or stop by the Parish Office to sign up. You can also find the hospitality sign-up book in the Narthex and in the Parish Hall on Sunday mornings.
The Abundant Life E-List
If you are not a current subscriber to our weekly electronic newsletter, it’s easy to sign up. Just go to www.stpaulsps.org, scroll down to find “Join Our E-Mail List,” enter your email address – and you’re all set. You will receive the newsletter each week, usually on Fridays.
If the newsletter ends up in your spam/junk folder, simply add newsletter@stpaulsps.org to your email address book.
Are You Interested in Baptism or Confirmation?
Baptism is the foundation for all ministry in the church. Confirmation is confirming the promises we make at baptism and is when we express our connection with The Episcopal Church through the laying on of hands by a bishop. Are you interested in learning more? Reach out to revjessie@stpaulsps.org
Ushers needed!
We have reinstated our 8:00 AM worship services and are pleased with the enthusiastic turnout of our “Eight O’clock Regulars” and many new worshipers. For now, we will offer these as spoken services with no music; vaccination proof and masks are required.
WE STILL NEED USHER VOLUNTEERS! We’re looking for four teams of two people to cover one Sunday a month at 8:00 AM. We also need more volunteer ushers for the 10:30 service. If you think you can help, please contact Kathy Kilmer, Junior Warden, at kmkcc@aol.com
Sunday School is back in session after Winter Break
Sunday School classes for preschool through fifth grade have resumed and will meet (outdoors) every Sunday during the 10:30 AM service. We start the class in the church and are invited up front for a special children’s moment with our priests. Then we head outside to our Sunday School “classroom” on the library porch. We meet outside to be as protective as possible for everyone’s safety during the current pandemic.
You’re invited to join Sacred Circle
St. Paul’s Sacred Circle is a band of women who wish to deepen their spirituality and build community. We would be pleased to have you join us. Our Circle is open to all women in our Community. For information, please call Kaye Ball at 303.517.5321 or Summer Schoch at 619.804.2592
Prayers of the Church
For the Anglican Communion, and for the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby; for The Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and The Middle East, The Most Rev. Hosam Elias Naoum, Archbishop and Primate.
For the Episcopal Diocese of Taiwan, The Rt. Rev. Lennon Yuan-Jung Chang, Bishop.
For the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, The Rt. Rev. Dr. Susan Brown Snook, Bishop; for the clergy and people of St. Alban’s, El Cajon.
For those commended to our prayers: Nelson G., Jimmy, Fanny Levy, Davenport Family, Marna and Rick Hill, V. J. Hume, George Smith, Audrey Spencer, Ted, Guy Sands, Donald Hemstreet, Karen Nelson, Brian Nealy; pray for all those affected by COVID-19: heal those who are suffering, comfort those who grieve, and strengthen those who are caring for others; pray for all those for whom no prayers have been said.
For those who have died: Harold Logan, Leroy Cameron, Dennis Marguet, O. J. Porche, Tommy Paling, Peter Eck, Glenn Jenkins, Harry Howard, Ray Mickelson, Adele Berit.
For those with birthdays: February 20: Benjamin Lander; February 21: Ramon Gueits; February 25: Dee Dee Barton, Mark Pease, Cecilia Mendivil; February 26: Ray Kelley, Jay Wilson.
For those celebrating their anniversary: February 22: Mark McMillan & Bruce McLean.
Send us your Prayer Requests via email — You may request prayers, “For those commended to our prayers” or “For those who have died,” by sending requests to announcements@stpaulsps.org
For next Sunday’s Lectionary readings, go to www.stpaulsps.org, and click on “This Week’s Scriptures” in the Worship Services box. From the calendar, select February 27, The Last Sunday after the Epiphany.
Today’s Altar flowers are given to the glory of God, in thanksgiving for the legacy of Frederick Douglass, social reformer and abolitionist.
Sunday Service Livestreaming
We will be livestreaming our 10:30 AM Sunday Eucharist every week, going forward. The livestream project has been a one-year journey coming to St. Paul’s and was made possible through a generous gift from a “snowbird” member from Philadelphia who wintered in Palm Springs for many years and worshiped at St. Paul’s every Sunday. You can view the livestream on our Home Page, YouTube Channel, and Facebook Page.
Missed a service? Or want to rewatch a liturgy? All our past services are available to watch either on St. Paul’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/stpaulinthedesert or by subscribing to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/StPaulintheDesert
Daughters of the King Prayer List Requests
St. Paul’s Order of the Daughters of the King chapter maintains a confidential prayer list, praying daily for our families, friends, congregation, and the world. If you would like to ask the Daughters to pray for you or someone else, email your requests to dokstpaulsps@gmail.com. Confidentiality of this list means that names on our list are not shared beyond our chapter members and Chaplain.
Members of The Order of the Daughters of the King® are women who desire a closer walk with the Lord. We are Christian women, both lay and ordained, who are strengthened through the discipline of a Rule of Life, and supported through the companionship of our sisters. All women of St. Paul’s who seek deeper spiritual life and inspiration in prayer and Christian fellowship are invited to learn more about becoming a member. Our chapter meets on the fourth Tuesday of the month. Requests for additions to the confidential prayer list may be emailed to dokstpaulsps@gmail.com.
Contact: Patty Kiker
patty.kiker@gmail.com
Revised COVID Protocol for Indoor Worship
Due to the recent spike in COVID cases in our area, Bishop Susan has issued this appeal to all clergy in our diocese.
Dear Clergy,
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Susan Brown Snook, Bishop
The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego
Jesus commands us to love our neighbors, which includes doing what we can to keep them and ourselves safe in a public health crisis. With regret, due to the spike in Covid cases in our area, I am asking you to reinstate mask-wearing for all (except while reading or preaching) for indoor worship in our diocese.
I have so enjoyed our brief respite from most restrictions in worship. Like all of you, I hoped and prayed that the drop in Covid cases we saw earlier in the summer would prove to be the end of the pandemic. Sadly, the choice of many people in our area to remain unvaccinated is allowing the pandemic to continue. Given the fact that children and some people with health conditions cannot yet be vaccinated, and that even vaccinated adults can catch breakthrough cases (albeit with far better outcomes than unvaccinated people), it seems that the responsible thing to do is keep ourselves safe with masking during indoor worship. I am saddened by the need to tighten restrictions once more, but this message comes after review of the concerning news of a Covid spike, and after discussion with members of our Public Health Task Force.
I ask you to join me in prayer that the current growth in cases is short-lived, and I ask you to urge your members to be vaccinated, for the sake of public health in our community. I hope we can remove the masking requirement soon. But for now, I believe that Jesus’ command to love our neighbor compels us to do what we can to protect our neighbors and our community from this disease. I am grateful to all of you for your leadership in this trying time.
In Christ,
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Susan Brown Snook, Bishop
The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego
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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.
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.
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.
Fraud Email Alert
A recurring threat to churches is email-based impersonation scams targeting key personnel. The scheme involves cybercriminals mimicking clergy or other staff through the use of phishing emails. Criminals typically pose as personnel in positions of authority and ask victims to perform money transfers, pay invoices, or to send the attacker sensitive data. Scammers will often manipulate the “from” email address and name so that it appears to be coming from someone you know.
Churches and dioceses across The Episcopal Church and across other denominations have been a target of these email impersonation attacks. Scammers use a free email account (such as Gmail) and register it with an impersonated name. They then send an email to an unsuspecting recipient asking for immediate help in order to get a task done (such as purchasing a gift card or wiring money). Attention to detail can be a lot of help in combating cases of impersonation. Users should check sender details carefully. Any suspicious email message should be investigated before replying. Also, proper attention should be given to the message content, including attachments and URLs.
While there is no way to stop these scams, you can minimize risk by taking these steps:
- Check the return email address. If the address doesn’t match the name of the sender, be wary.
- Never open attachments from unknown sources.
- Be wary of generically addressed emails like “Dear Friend” or Dear Customer.”
- If there are links in the email, hover over them without clicking on them. This will show where the link will actually take you.
- Be wary of email with grammatical or spelling errors in the text.
- Check the address at the bottom of the email. If it says ”Pastor Jim” and Jim never goes by “Pastor,” it’s fake.
Finally, if after all these steps it looks safe and the sender is asking for money or access to secure data, call the person directly to get verification.
Your best defense for this is to simply delete the email; do not click on any links or reply to the sender.
