For Sunday July 28, 2024
Co-Rector’s General Convention Experience
What surprised you the most?
We were most surprised by how many people we knew from our time in The Episcopal Church. Having lived and ministered in four dioceses in different parts of the country, we ran into folks left and right whom we hadn’t seen in years! It was like a big family reunion. We had heard about how at other General Conventions you could feel the tension in the air. Nothing could have been further from the truth this year! There was nothing but joy and anticipation. Our Church has already weathered the storms of the 2000s around making progress in inclusion on human sexuality. The last GC was supposed to be in Baltimore, but ended up being online. Add in a nearly once in a decade vote on the Presiding Bishop, and there was a recipe for energy & excitement!
Summer Spiritual Formation:
The False White Gospel: Rejecting Christian Nationalism, Reclaiming True Faith, and Refounding Democracy
Join us Sundays in July for our study of “The False White Gospel,” by Jim Wallis. The class will be an overview of this text which asks, “What does white Christian nationalism mean to the Christian community?” Our focus will be on the six primary Scriptural verses that the author offers as guidance and support, to encourage and sustain us in our faith.
“Wallis rightly notes that the need for justice and equity is greater than ever and implores us to reclaim the Jesus of the Gospels in the face of white Christan nationalism that threatens our democracy, our faith, our common life.””(The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church.)
July 28, 2024 – 9:00 AM to 10:15 AM – Church Library – Led by Dr. Joy Zavarich.
50th Year Anniversary of Women’s Ordination
Back in January, we celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Philadelphia Eleven, the first women ordained to the priesthood in The Episcopal Church. Monday July 29th, on the Feast of Mary and Martha, marks the official date of that anniversary. Parishes around the country are celebrating this monumental milestone this coming Sunday. Click here to read more about the importance of this watershed moment in our church’s history:
Parish Life Circle Supper Ministry 2024-2025
“Circle Suppers” are gatherings of small groups of parishioners (usually no more than 10-12) who meet monthly to socialize – typically while sharing a meal. These “Suppers” often take place in members’ homes or local restaurants – but can happen anywhere that’s comfortable and conducive to relaxed conversation. Circle Supper gatherings have no assigned reading and no prescribed (or proscribed) topics of conversation. They are all about building friendships across a large parish where many people, new and old, see their fellow parishioners rarely, or not at all. The goal is to nurture friendships and have fun. Please pass the word to any of your friends and family who may want to join – full time residents and snowbirds alike.
Registration for this season’s Circle Supper program will be available on-line only and everyone who wants to join, both past participants and newcomers, must sign up. You may do so anytime between August 1 and September 1. The link to register will be live next week! There will be Kickoff Party on September 19th. More details TBA.
Add a Name to the Prayer List at St. Paul
Want to add someone’s name to the prayer list? Please call the Church Office or email our Registrar, Orin Ellingson, at registrar@stpaulsps.org with names. Prayers remain on the list for one month unless otherwise noted.
New? Moved? Updated your info? Birthday/Anniversary?
We are finalizing the Church Directory Updated Addendum and want to make sure your info is in there! If you want to make sure we have your email or phone or home updated, please call the Church Office or email our Registrar, Orin Ellingson, at registrar@stpaulsps.org with that information. ALSO, if you want your birthday and/or anniversary added to our weekly prayer list, please let us know! Thanks for helping us stay connected.
You are the perfect person to join Altar Guild!
We are calling anyone age 5 to 105 to consider joining the altar ministry! Altar service provides valuable assistance to clergy and the congregation throughout our worship. We have openings for both Altar Guild (those who set up before the service and clean up after), and Altar Ministers (those who serve on the altar and assist the Priests during the service).
Whether you are new to St. Paul or a long-term parishioner wanting to experience congregational worship on a different level, please consider joining this important ministry. It is a fun way for you to meet new people and learn more about worship. We will schedule training as soon as we know how many people are interested.
If you would like to sign up for Altar service, please contact either of the Altar Ministry Co-chairs, Kathy Kilmer (kmkcc@aol.com) or Br. John Westaway (brjohncharles@gmail.com).
Like to sing? Consider Joining Our Summer Prior Choir
On the first Sundays of August, and September, we are inviting you to be part of our Prior Choir, which will meet a half hour before the service (10 AM) on those Sundays and will sing an easy anthem during the service. This activity is open to anyone who is interested and willing to try it. You, your children, your grandchildren can all sing with us if you foresee that working. We will not wear robes or sit in the Chancel for the whole service. You’ll come up at the Peace, sing the Offertory, and return to your pews. It won’t be Bach or Beethoven, but it will be designed more for your success and enjoyment. This musical gift will add to the service and give everyone a fun opportunity to sing with us!
See you on August 4, and September 1!
August Book Club
The next Book Club meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, at 2:00 PM via video conference. Meeting details will be emailed prior to the meeting. For August, Book Club has selected The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters. When a four-year-old Mi’kmaq girl goes missing from the blueberry fields of Maine, it sparks a mystery that will haunt the survivors, unravel a family, and remain unsolved for nearly fifty years. This is a riveting novel about the search for truth, the shadow of trauma, and the persistence of love across time.
New members are always welcome. For more information, please contact Alan Zimmerman at alanzimmerman@icloud.com
St. Paul’s Social Justice Ministry Needs Summer Clothing Donations
The Social Justice Ministry is seeking donations of new or gently used warm weather clothing to distribute to our needy neighbors. Hats, sun visors and other summer accessories are also appreciated. Please place your donated items in the collection containers located in the Narthex.
Altar Flowers
“The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom . . .” Isaiah 35:1-2
Fresh flowers at the altar honor God and add to the beauty of our worship. We are in need of altar flowers for several special celebratory Sundays coming up, including the Bishop’s visit! If you would like to sponsor altar flowers for a future Sunday to commemorate a special person or event, you’ll find the sign-up book in the Narthex, or you can call the Parish Office at 760.320.7488 to reserve your sponsorship dates(s) A donation of $95 for each altar flower sponsorship is suggested.
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 Reverend Hosam Naoum, Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem.
For the Episcopal Diocese of Central New York, The Right Reverend Dr. DeDe Duncan-Probe, Bishop.
For the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, The Right Reverend Dr. Susan Brown Snook, Bishop of San Diego; for the clergy and people of All Souls’, San Diego.
For those commended to our prayers: Teri Whitmer, Andy Johnson, Michael Chacon, Leeandra Florez-Chacon, Ginger Bonnar, Curtis Ringness, Barry Ralph, Ronald Woodward, Mark Transue, Violet “Pat” Bobo, John Rauch, Jill & Robert Philbrook, Lori Miller, Michael Marguet, Lisa Yegin, June Marguet, Charla Blevins, The Kelley Family, David Hale, Harry Nussbaum, Judy Valone, Jim Bowe, Sally Fullerton, Kylie Smith, Nichole & Nick Kirchgessner, Br. John Westaway, Forest Irons, Garrett Estrin, Christy Stafford, Helen Cornell, Daniel Cornell, Hap Blaisdell, David Valenzuela, Amelia Grinstead, Chloe Grace Wilson Barton, Marilyn De Silva Currie, Greg Gowdy, Tom Lutgen; pray for all those for whom no prayers have been said.
For those who have died: Dawn Coffin, Judi Miller-Steele, Jim Gordon, Catalina Roa, Cory Comperatore, Gary Grant, Sandi Scardino, Betty Marken, Leone Zendle.
Rest eternal grant to these, your servants, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen.
For those with birthdays: July 28: Lena Granet, Darrell Thomas; July 29: Furman Moseley, Tim Stein-Steele, Tony Ellerd, Raymond Gordon; July 30: Barbara Hawkins Villani, Daniel Schmidt; July 31: Jim De Mersman, Rev. Dr. Thomas Clarke; August 1: Kathryn Briski, Michael Welden; August 2: Wayne Watson, Andrew Petras; August 3: Robert McElroy, Felipe Rodriguez.
For those celebrating anniversaries: July 29: Shannon Ealy & Rosa Zingg; August 1: Clinton Carbon & Carl Bellamy; August 3: Ed Walsh & Wayne Soucy.
For those for whom flowers have been donated – Today’s Altar Flowers are sponsored by Jeffrey Coates & Steven Holm, in loving memory of Fred Crawford, and to commemorate the 90th anniversary of his birth (August 1), AND BY Lucinda Hampson, in loving memory of Jeffrey John Hampson and Nancy Arnold. The flower display adorning the Narthex this weekend is sponsored by The Rev. Victoria T. Hatch & Shelia Brubaker “in thanksgiving for our commitment,” and to celebrate the birthday of Victoria’s brother, Nesbit.
“The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom . . .” Isaiah 35:1-2
If you would like to sponsor altar flowers for a future Sunday honoring a special person or event, you’ll find the sign-up book in the Narthex, or you can call the Parish Office at 760.320.7488 to reserve your sponsorship date(s).
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 registrar@stpaulsps.org. The weekly print deadline is Wednesday noon.
For next Sunday’s Lectionary readings, go to www.lectionarypage.net and click on August 4, The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost.
Upcoming Meetings & Events at St Paul’s
- Thursday, September 19 – Annual Circle Supper kickoff gathering (a time to meet your new group!) – Details to follow.
Stay Connected
Sunday Service LiveStreaming
We are livestreaming our 10:30 AM Sunday Eucharist every week. 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 our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/StPaulintheDesert or on our Facebook timeline: https://www.facebook.com/stpaulinthedesert
Join our E-Mail List
You’ll find this invitation on the front page and many pages throughout our website. It’s intended for anyone who wants to receive communications from St. Paul’s via email. This includes The Abundant Life weekly, online newsletter. If you haven’t already, sign up today!
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