The Abundant Life – December 5, 2024

Pink Sunday In-Gathering & 85^th Anniversary
Sunday, Dec. 15 at 9:30AM!

Mark your calendars for a special Sunday: Gaudet Sunday (Pink Sunday), on December 15^th. We will have ONE SERVICE at 9:30AM to celebrate our Joy-Filled Generosity Pledge In-Gathering, followed by a Pink Party that Celebrates St. Paul’s 85^thAnniversary! Have you made your pledge and helped us reach our goal to plan for the life and ministry of St. Paul’s for 2025? You can click on the banner above and make your 2025 pledge today. Have you picked out your pink outfit for the day?

Calling ALL Festival of Lights Parade St. Paul’s Parking Lot “Greeters”
This Sat. Dec. 7 at 4:30PM

Join parishioners this Saturday, December 7^th at 4:30PM in St. Paul’s parking lot, as we welcome those who come to watch The Festival of Lights Parade in Palm Springs! This annual tradition has parade-watchers ending right at El Alameda near the church, and as such, many people come and park in our church lot. We’ve never charged for parking, but we’ve been missing an opportunity to welcome people to the church AND invite them to the upcoming Christmas services (and other wonderful holiday events). With many children, families, and visitors parking and walking to find a spot for the parade, YOU are invited to join the Sunday School teachers (who began this ministry of welcome last year) in greeting our guests.

We will set up tables on the two corners of Palm Canyon & El Alameda to hand out candy canes and fliers with our Christmas services. We need help in both setting up and taking down, as well as a couple of people at each table to greet people as they pass by and hand out the fliers and candy canes. Wear your St. Paul’s t-shirt (over a sweatshirt) and your name badge and show up at 4:30PM at the church to help. OR, reach out to Kathy Kilmer at kmkcc@aol.com for any questions or to RSVP.

Want to help decorate the church for Christmas?

You’re invited to a quick meeting after the 10:30AM service on Dec. 8^th at the front of the church with Michael and Will, to talk through decorating our sacred space for our Christmas Eve/Christmas services.

Advent Lessons and Carols—Sunday, December 8 at 3PM

Consider Carpooling

With the return of our wonderful snowbirds, we are finding our parking lot gets fuller quicker. (Not a bad problem to have!) Many parishioners have mobility issues that require them to be close to the door of the church, and so if the lot is full, they often head home, unable to make it to worship. Please consider parking farther away if you can do so, AND consider carpooling with a parishioner who lives near you. Use your church directory and find someone who lives close and give them a call. We have lots of parishioners without cars who could use a ride. If you are open to GIVING A RIDE to someone and need a suggestion, please reach out to revjessie@stpaulsps.org. If you are someone who NEEDS a ride, please reach out to revjessie@stpaulsps.org. Let’s make this Advent season one of compassion and sharing.

Two Great Advent Classes

Pick one of two great Sunday morning classes (held between services) to grow spiritually this Advent.

Spiritual Discernment Class, taught by The Rev. Dr. Louis Macateee
Seminary professor and author, Lewis Smedes, once wrote that discernment is “understanding what is going on underneath what is going on,” especially as it relates to our lives with God, as well as our roles in work, relationships , and as citizens of the world. However, how do we know that what we discern is “right”? These questions will shape the center of our discussion, study, prayerful grappling in this class.

For over 40 years, Rev. Louise Macatee served as a teacher, Chaplain, and Dir. of Counseling, and Parent Education at Campbell Hall, a K-12 Episcopal day school in Los Angeles. She has a B.A. in English from UCLS, MDiv and DMin from Fuller Theological Seminary, and MA in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University. Louise is an ordained Episcopal priest and a licensed Marriage and Family therapist. She lives in Palm Springs with her son, Jordan, and her dog, Buddy.

Science, Religion, and the Search for Meaning Class, taught by Bob Hettinger
Are religion and science partners in human endeavor, or has science made religion obsolete? Discuss a handful of quotes of theologians and scientists with different points of view – including atheism – but leading to the conclusion that religion and science are partners in human intellectual endeavor. Talk about the implications of theoretical physics in re-interpreting the real presence and the Trinitarian formula and other Christian doctrine. Demonstrate that science can be as mystical as religion.

Selections from two books:
The Great Partnership: Science, Religion, and the Search for Meaning by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. (selections)
Why I Am Not a Christian by Bertrand Russell (Selections)
In addition, there will be a handful of quotations from scientists and theologians with different, provocative viewpoints for discussion.
Also, two or three short YouTube videos 10 minutes or under describing in a picturesque
fashion with no equations about some of the latest radical ideas in theoretical physics and
parallels to theology.
And several jokes 😊

Bob Hettinger majored in religion and classics at Colorado College. Focused on Church history, comparative religions, western theology from the Middle Ages through the Reformation, and comparative religion. Translated from Latin letters between Reformers Cranmer, Melancthon, Calvin and Zwingli and wrote paper on Pan-Protestant council to counter the Council of Trent. Attended Harvard Divinity school for one year. Received an MBA from Northeastern and became a CPA. Have since acquired interests in linguistics, especially the differences between Indo-European and Sino-Tibetan languages and how they affect how we see religion and spirituality. Have also acquired an interest in quantum field theory and string theory. Have acquired deep appreciation for icons.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Mariachi Mass
Wed. Dec. 11^th at 6PM

Christmas Caroling & Spreading Joy at Local Assisted Living Facilities

Meet at the church parking lot on Saturday, December 14 at 1PM dressed in your holiday sweaters and scarves! We will carpool and head to one or two local assisted living facilities to sing carols and pass out holiday joy. This day is Rev. Jessie’s ordination anniversary, so it will be a great honor to share this day together, bringing the Light and Love of Christ into places where hope is needed. We should be done by 4PM. Please RSVP (revjessie@stpaulsps.org) so we print out enough caroling booklets.

Our St. Paul’s Holiday Office Open House party was a blast this past Tuesday!

Lots of good food, great people, laughter and conversation, and fun was had. Thank you to all who helped make the party happen and all who showed up and celebrated the joy of the season with this great community. And special thanks to all who brought clothing items for our Mercy Ministries! Through your generosity, we were able to collect over 100 sweatshirts and hoodies, 50 pairs of long pants, and 30 pairs of sweat pants, and a dozen walking shoes and men’s boxers. The Mercy Ministry Giving Closet is fully stocked! For more pictures, see Instagram and Facebook

St. Paul Sisters in Spirit (SIS)—What’s Coming in 2025!

St. Paul’s new Women’s Group (Sisters in Spirit—SIS) gathered on Monday, Dec. 2 at 849 for a lovely luncheon and lots of talk. Afterwards we did some SIS business. Here’s the latest: FUTURE MEETINGS – We agreed to meet the first Monday of each month to enjoy conversation and build community. The times for these regular Monday gatherings will fluctuate to offer schedule options for all. FUTURE OUTINGS – We will plan some fun activities (think hockey games, French music, live theater, etc.) and will share those as they unfold. We hope you will join us, as we are looking forward to having lots more fun and friendship in 2025!

Compassion Knows No Borders

Come! see! and experience! a compassionate humanitarian response to asylum seekers at the nearby USA border crossing at Calexico/Mexicali. Sponsored by Latino Ministry and the vibrant ministries of peace, justice, and mercy, join us along with Rev. Dan Kline and Rev. Lorenzo Lebrija and their reindeers for the day on Saturday, December 21st as we sojourn to the Cobina Posada Del Migrante, a shelter for 80-175 individuals and family members, in Mexicali. Fiesta de las Posadas will be celebrated with the residents! We’ll depart at 6:30 am sharp from the St. Paul’s parking lot and return approximately at 5:30 pm. A valid passport or passport card is required. Visit border-compassion.org for more detailed information about this vital and timely ministry. Information for our “crossover” and sign-up are available at the Welcome Table or by contacting Andrew Trofka at 323-786-2523 or email at andrewtrofka@gmail.com.

Blue Christmas/Longest Night Interfaith Service—Sat. Dec. 21 at 6PM

Comunidad De Luz: A Shelter for Women and Children

“Tijuana has long been a crossroads for migrants from rural areas of Mexico, including indigenous groups and impoverished farming communities. Every year, families from across the country arrive at the border, hoping to find better-paying jobs and a more secure way of life. Many also hold the dream of crossing into the United States, seeking to escape violence, corruption, and a lack of opportunity, but many find themselves stuck in Tijuana due to stringent U.S. immigration laws. In recent years, the scope of migration has broadened to include not only Mexicans but also people from nations such as Haiti, Venezuela, and various Central American countries, all seeking asylum and a better life…

Recognizing the critical need for comprehensive support, the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, in partnership with four other organizations, is working to establish a new shelter in southern Tijuana called Comunidad de Luz, or Community of Light. This shelter is designed to provide more than just temporary housing. It is a holistic, integrated residential program aimed at supporting migrant women, children, and orphans who have arrived in Tijuana from other parts of the world…”

To read more about the new shelter, click here: https://edsd.org/news/comunidad-de-luz-a-shelter-for-women-and-children/

Movie Night on Thursday, December 19^th at 6:30PM – The Bishop’s Wife 

A debonair angel comes to Earth to help an Episcopalian bishop and his wife in their quest to raise money for the new church.

January Book Club

The next Book Club meeting will be held on on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at 2:00 PM in St. Paul’s Parish Hall conference room. For January, Book Club has selected The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce. It is a novel of charm, humor, and profound insight into the thoughts and feelings buried deep within our hearts.

New members are always welcome. For more information, please contact Alan Zimmerman at alanzimmerman@icloud.com

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.

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

Altar flowers, also known as chancel flowers, are a Christian tradition of placing flowers in the chancel of a church to beautify the space and honor loved ones. In the Episcopal Church, altar flowers are often used to celebrate special occasions, such as birthdays, anniversaries, or the birth of a child. They can also be given in memory of a loved one or to honor a person.

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 (or $65 for narthex flower sponsorships) covers the flower shops fees.

Prayers of the Church

For the Anglican Communion, and for the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby; for the Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, The Most Reverend Justin Badi Arama, Archbishop and Primate.

For the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia, The Right Reverend Susan Bunton Haynes, 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 Church of the Good Shepherd, Bonita.

For those commended to our prayers: Marcia P., Cindy Fisher, Mark Fisher, Brooke Wolford, Tom Tyrrell, Marilyn, Allyn, Ronald Woodward, Greg Barton, Julie, Arlene & Philip Fitzpatrick, Helen Nickerson, Lori Miller, Terri Miller-Steele, Jimmy Wilburn, Jim Franklin, Don Devine, Terry Moran, Tish & Eliott Kahn, Hap Blaisdell, Terry Fabian, Pat, David Valenzuela, Amelia Grinstead, Chloe Grace Wilson Barton, Marilyn De Silva Currie, Tom Lutgen; pray for all those for whom no prayers have been said.

For those who have died: Reginald Vaughans, Roosevelt Scott, Pristell Hurst, Jr., Marshall Martel, Cynthia Stallings, Kenneth Mayo, La Verne Wash, McLeaman Legg, Rest eternal grant to these, your servants, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon them. Amen.

For those celebrating anniversaries: December 10: Alex Finlay-Christensen & Bill Finlay, Cheryl & Ray Kelley.

For those with birthdays: December 9: Kristoph Stein-Steele; December 11: Nancy Antonius, Martin Prew; December 14: John Hampton.

For those for whom flowers have been donated: Today’s Altar Flowers are sponsored by Nancy Antonius, in thanksgiving for “my St. Paul’s friends who have become family,” AND BY Steve Horstman & Leonard Sanchez, in thanksgiving for their 5^th wedding anniversary (December 7).

“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 December 15, the Third Sunday of Advent.

Upcoming Meetings & Events at St Paul’s

• Sunday, December 8 – 12:15 AM – Finance Committee meeting – Library
• Sunday, December 8 – 3:00 PM – Advent Lessons & Carols
• Wednesday, December 11 – 4:00-5:30 PM – The Path Ahead – Library
• Wednesday, December 11 – 6:00 PM – Our Lady of Guadalupe (transferred) Mariachi Mass
• Thursday, December 12 – 5:45 PM – Choir Rehearsal – In the Church
• Saturday, December 14 – 1:00-4:00 PM – Caroling & Holiday Cheer – Assisted Living Facilities
• Sunday, December 15 – 9:30 AM – Advent III (One Service) – “Pink Sunday” – Pink Party follows
• Wednesday, December 18 – 5:30 PM – Laundry Love
• Wednesday, December 18 – 6:00 PM – Midweek Eucharist – Come and rest
• Thursday, December 19 – 6:30 PM – Movie Night – “The Bishop’s Wife” – Parish Hall Theater
• Saturday, December 21- Border Compassion Migration visit
• Saturday, December 21 – 6:00 PM – Interfaith “Blue Christmas” Longest Night Service

Parish Office Holiday Schedule – The Parish Office will be closed from Christmas Eve through New Year’s Day, reopening with regular business hours, Thursday, January 2.

Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus Holiday Concert

Click for Tickets!

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

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