The Abundant Life – December 12, 2024

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

Mark your calendars for a special Sunday: Gaudet Sunday (Pink Sunday), this Sunday 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?

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.

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

This is St. Paul’s Fourth year offering a Blue Christmas/Longest Night Interfaith Service. You might wonder what this service is. The Diocese offered a brief article on it with a good explanation:

“As the holiday season unfolds around us, with twinkling lights, joyous carols, and bustling festivities, many of us carry a quieter reality. For some, the holidays can feel like a long and dark season—a time when grief, loneliness, or struggles weigh heavier against the backdrop of celebration. For those who find the holiday season difficult, Blue Christmas services are a tender and reflective gathering where we bring pain, struggles, and hopes, finding solace in the promise of Christ. A Blue Christmas service acknowledges that not all hearts are merry and bright this time of year. It is a service of lament and healing that offers comfort and peace to those burdened by life’s many challenges.

The season of Advent is all about the expectation of coming joy, but for many, this waiting feels inauthentic. Perhaps they are grieving the loss of a loved one, facing the reality of a difficult diagnosis, or experiencing economic struggles. Maybe they are overwhelmed by the weight of the world’s injustices or isolated from loved ones. Blue Christmas provides a time to bring these realities to the altar, to name the weight we carry, and to lay them before God.

For me, sitting in a quiet sanctuary, surrounded by others who are also carrying burdens, I feel relief. The holiday season can be especially taxing emotionally, financially, and, at times, physically. This is the power of Blue Christmas; it is church for the weary, a place where the light of Christ shines warmly, even in the darkest night.

The Rev. Nina Bacas, Rector of St. Barholmew’s in Poway, said, “Not everyone can find joy at Christmas time. It’s difficult terrain for those who have suffered from loss, mental health crises, addiction, or other hardships. In response, the church invites all to come to the Blue Christmas Eucharist, where there is no need to mask feelings for the sake of social norms. Blue Christmas is a safe, peaceful space to experience Christ’s healing, acceptance, and love as we remember our losses and release our burdens to God.”

The readings, prayers, and hymns of a Blue Christmas reorient us toward the heart of the Christmas message. As we light candles in the darkness, we remember that Jesus came into a world much like ours—filled with suffering, division, and longing—and brought light, peace, and love. This service reminds us that God is not distant from our struggles but walks with us in them, offering healing and renewal.

For our neighbors, our parishioners, and even ourselves, Blue Christmas is a gift. It reminds us that even on the longest night, the light of Christ is never extinguished. It assures us that our pain is seen, our struggles matter, and our hope is secure in the Christ who came to live among us….” (https://edsd.org/news/blue-christmas/)

At St. Paul, we offer this service with our Interfaith neighbors, as we know the common human experience of grief and challenges are experiences not separated by faith traditions or belief systems. Our Blue Christmas service is an invitation to show up and be in tender community together.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Services!

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

CLASS THIS SUNDAY, DEC. 15 WILL RUN FROM 8:15-9:15AM TO ACCOMMODATE PINK SUNDAY’S SINGLE SERVICE AT 9:30AM.

THIS CLASS WILL TAKE THIS SUNDAY, DEC. 15^TH OFF BUT WILL RESUME FOR THE FINAL CLASS ON DEC. 22^ND

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.

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

St. Paul’s new Women’s Group (Sisters in Spirit—SIS) will meet the first Monday of each month to enjoy conversation and build community. Mark your calendars for Monday, January 6—time and location TBD. We hope you will join us, as we are looking forward to having lots more fun and friendship in 2025!

Mercy Ministries Stocked and Ready for January 8^th Distribution!

Thanks the generosity of St. Paul’s Holiday Open House Party attendees, the Mercy Ministries ended up with a donation of 26 large bags of warm winter clothing! We received approximately 100-120 sweatshirts and hoodies,  approximately 50-60 pairs of long pants, 30-40 pairs of sweatpants, and about a dozen walking shoes and men’s boxers. The Mercy Ministries stockroom is fully stocked! As such, we look forward to a distribution on January 8^th. Please reach out to Ray Tackett (ertack6560@gmail.com) if you would like to volunteer for that distribution. Many thanks to St. Paul!

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 Anglican Church of Tanzania, The Most Reverend Maimbo Mndolwa, Archbishop and Primate.

For the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, The Right Reverend E. Mark Stevenson, 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 St. Michael’s by-the-Sea, Carlsbad.

For those commended to our prayers: Roger Allen, Vivian Dortch, RC Eckert, Marcia P., Cindy Fisher, Mark Fisher, Brooke Wolford, Tom Tyrrell, Marilyn, Allyn, Ronald Woodward, Greg Barton, Julie, Arlene & Philip Fitzpatrick, Lori Miller, Terri Miller-Steele, 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: Pete Conley, Reginald Vaughans, Roosevelt Scott, Pristell Hurst, Jr., Marshall Martel, Cynthia Stallings, Kenneth Mayo, La Verne Wash. Rest eternal grant to these, your servants, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon them. Amen.

For those celebrating their anniversary: December 18: Steven Chacon & Felipe Rodriguez.

For those with birthdays: December 15: John Granet; December 16: Rosa Zingg, Charles Brockway; December 17: Gregory Schroeder; December 19: Shaun Olson; December 20: John Essell, Dave Moreno; December 21: Don Norris.

For those for whom flowers have been donated: Today’s Altar Flowers are sponsored by Gary Hiatt, in Loving memory of Fred Ross, AND BY John Granet, to commemorate his birthday (today, December 15).

“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 22, the Fourth Sunday of Advent.

Upcoming Meetings & Events at St Paul’s

• 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
• Sunday, December 22 – “Green” the Church for Christmas following the 10:30 AM service
• Sunday, December 22 – 1:00 PM – Vestry meeting – Library
• Tuesday, December 24 – 6:00 PM – Christmas Eve Family Service
• Tuesday, December 24 – 11:00 PM – Christmas Eve Midnight Mass (incense)
• Wednesday, December 25 – 10:30 AM – Christmas Day Mass

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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