For Sunday January 5, 2025
The Feast of The Epiphany – January 5th
Join us this Sunday as we celebrate the Epiphany! A visit from the Three Kings is in store, and you will be able to take home blessed chalk to bless your homes. Feel free to bring any sweets to share for coffee hour (King Cakes, anyone?)
Epiphany Spiritual Formation Class Opportunities
Sundays between services—Bill Hardwick+—The Mystical Gospel According to John: Reading John from the Middle—Jan. 5, 12, 19, Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23, March 2
For many years, the content and structure of John’s Gospel have puzzled modern scripture scholars who tried to read it using the laws of narrative discourse. Two contemporary theologians, however, have discovered a different way of reading the Fourth Gospel using the ancient laws of parallelism. This course will explore how this approach might lead us to a greater appreciation of the mystical vision of the Gospel’s author as well as to a better understanding of the mystical Christ whom he attempts to reveal.
Sundays between services—The Revs/Additional Clergy—Confirmation Class—Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23, March 2, 9, 16, 23—Culminating with the Bishop’s Visit on Sunday, March 30th
Are you worshiping with our community and are ready to take a further step into becoming an Episcopalian and/or deepening your faith in our tradition? This class will lead you through your own spiritual life story as well as through the history, theology, and worship of the Episcopal Church. It is an opportunity for you to grow spiritually in and through the community of faith at St. Paul’s.
- Have you been Baptized but never Confirmed? Then you are a candidate for the Confirmation which will be administered by the Bishop.
- Are you Confirmed in another denomination and want to become a member of the Episcopal Church? Then you are a candidate for Reception, whereby you will be received into the Episcopal Church by the Bishop.
- Are you already an Episcopalian and have been inactive and want to reconnect? Then you are a candidate for Reaffirmation, whereby you publicly reaffirm your intention in the faith and are blessed by the Bishop.
Mondays from 2-4PM—Dr. Joy Zavarich — Sacred Ground: Part 1—Jan. 27, Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24, and March 3.
Sacred Ground is part of Becoming Beloved Community, The Episcopal Church’s long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation, and justice in our personal lives, our ministries, and our society. Participants are invited to peel away the layers that have contributed to the challenges and divides of the present day.
Tuesdays from 3:30-5PM—Frank Dunn+—Masculine Spirituality Without Patriarchy—Jan 7, 14, 21, 28, Feb4, 11, 18, 25
Presentation and examination of some key masculine archetypes such as king, magician, warrior, lover, sage, grandfather, and Green Man exploring how men can build deeply Christian spiritual practices on such typical male identities, carving out fresh models independent of patriarchal structures and behaviors. This short course will be of interest to all who identify as male whether cisgender or transgender. The group would be enriched by the presence of women, too!
Wednesdays from 3:30-5PM—Joseph Casazza—Opera: Mathis der Maler (Matthias the Painter) by Paul Hindemith—Jan 8, 15, 22, 29
St. Paul the Hermit’s only appearance in opera is in Paul Hindemith’s Mathis der Maler. Written in 1935 and premiered in Zurich in 1938, this mostly fictional story of the last years of the life of the painter Matthias Gruenewald (16th century) has long been seen as a criticism of the Nazi regime in Germany. It is actually an exploration of the spiritual challenge of following your vocation in a tumultuous, suffering, divided world. Sung in German, with English subtitles, the opera is 3 hours long, but will be shown in parts, with an introduction to Matthias Gruenewald, the Isenheim altarpiece, St. Paul the Hermit and St. Anthony and with discussion.
Stand-Alone Saturday—Pete Smith—Baking for Community—Jan. 11 from 10AM-2PM
Food is love: making food together is a great way to get to know each other and to learn something new. We’ll spend half a day together learning to bake something related to each season of the church year. After a quick lunch, we’ll either take home what we’ve baked or give it away, depending on the session.
Celebration of Life Service Planned for Judi Miller-Steele
Faithful parishioner, and one-time Junior Warden Judi Miller-Steele died Thursday, July 11, 2024. A service honoring Judi will be held at St. Paul in the Desert, Saturday, January 4, 2025, at 11:00 AM. All are welcome to attend. Please join us in holding Judi, her partner Terri, and her other family and friends in your prayers.
Rest eternal grant to your servant, Judi, O Lord: And let light perpetual shine upon her. May her soul and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Rectors’ Discretionary Fund
The first Sunday of the month loose-plate offerings (i.e., general giving, not pledged giving) will be designated for the Rectors’ Discretionary Fund (sometimes referred to as “Benevolence.”) This fund provides the clergy a financial pool to draw from when unanticipated (and unbudgeted) spending requests arise. The traditional uses of the discretionary fund are to assist the poor of the community. Examples of appropriate discretionary spending for those in need include rent, utilities, medical bills, etc.
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.
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. Start off the New Year with our St. Paul Sisterhood! Sisters in Spirit women’s group will gather 4-6PM on Monday, January 6 at the home of Kathy Kilmer. She will supply drinks. Please bring an appetizer. RSVP to jwacker2001@yahoo.com
Bishop Co-Signs Join Statement on the Treatment of Migrants
Mercy Ministries Stocked and Ready for January 8th 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 8th. Please reach out to Ray Tackett (ertack6560@gmail.com) if you would like to volunteer for that distribution. Many thanks to St. Paul!
Laundry Love needs Volunteers
Laundry Love, a community ministry that “takes over a laundry mat” to pay for people to wash their clothes, served 44 guests and did 252 loads of laundry in December!! Would you like to help us serve our neighbors with this fantastic outreach? We are looking for volunteers to help with the January 15th Laundry Love date. Volunteers are asked to be on site at 5:45PM (1751 Sunrise Way) and laundry services go from 6-10PM. If you’d like to volunteer and serve, please contact one of the following people:
+ Ray Tackett at (503) 689-7361 or email ertack6560@gmail.com
+ Megan Goering at (760) 880-4917 email at megantics22@gmail.com
+ Tony McEwing at (323) 395-6955 email at tonymcewing56@gmail.com
St. Paul’s Hikers—Winter Hike on February 1, 2025!
Hello, St. Paul Hikers! This year’s Winter Hike will be on February 1, 2025, on the Chaparossa Springs Loop Trail in the Pioneertown Mountain Preserve near Yucca Valley. The trailhead is about 30-40 minutes from Palm Springs. The trail is 3.9 miles and cuts into the foothills of the dramatic Sawtooth Mountains on its way to the local Spring and is generally easy and well-maintained with a few modest climbs and descents (plus/minus app. 500 ft) and several patches of sandy soil or loose gravel.
The trail presents diverse scenery, from boulders and Joshua trees to sweeping views of the surrounding San Bernardino Mountains. Wildlife encounters, including local herds of bighorn sheep, are common. This is a great trail for a brisk hike on a Winter’s morning, with a decent chance of recent snow. Solid walking shoes with good traction are highly recommended for this hike.
As with all hikes in the desert, bring plenty of water, sunscreen, a hat to block out the sun, etc. Weather may be chilly, so dress in layers. Trekking poles or a stout walking stick may also be useful on this trip, even for more experienced hikers. Dogs are allowed on the trail but must be on a leash. We will meet at the trailhead at 8:30 a.m. sharp – driving directions and further details to follow.
On-line sign-up only—CLICK ON BANNER ABOVE. Do not hesitate to contact me directly with any questions. Chris Kelly: cwkelly615@verizon.net
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
Choir Rehearsals
We will use the schedule we have been using this past year: Sundays after the 10:30 AM postlude for 30-45 minutes, and Thursdays at 5:45 PM for 45-60 minutes. Singers choose which time is best for them. There is no expectation that you’ll attend both rehearsals, but you are certainly welcome to do so if you choose.
Everyone is welcome! Questions? Please contact Chuck Peery musicdirector@stpaulsps.org
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 Church in Wales, The Most Reverend Andy John, Archbishop of Wales.
For the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama, The Right Reverend Dr. Glenda S. Curry, Bishop.
For the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, The Right Reverend Dr. Susan Brown Snook, Bishop of San Diego. We offer prayers for each congregation in the Diocese, for the clergy and wardens, and for all disciples in Christ – as it is the first Sunday in The Year of Discipleship – with petitions for growth in Christian faith and deeper relationships with God and each other.
For those commended to our prayers: June Marguet, Tommy Anderson, Michael Marguet, Kevin Phua, Kirsten Taylor, Ray & Cheryl Kelley, Michael Parker, Carol Haws, Tim Harbin, Harry Nussbaum, Callie Lewis, Robin De Brier Phil & Lisa De Brier, Chris De Brier, Roger Allen, Vivian Dortch, RC Eckert, Marcia P., Cindy Fisher, Mark Fisher, 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: Cindy Ann Jiovani, Marsha Myers, Ruby Holland, Derrick Wash, Pete Conley, Reginald Vaughans, Roosevelt Scott, Pristell Hurst, Jr. Rest eternal grant to these, your servants, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon them. Amen.
For those with birthdays: January 6: Steven Holm, Isabel Reineke; January 7: Gary Gillespie, Gary Scott; January 8: George Holliday, Michael Spillane; January 9: Ed Walsh, Nathan DePetris; January 10: Stephen Holloway, Pat Ellerd, Gail Heitman; January 11: Wyatt Palmer.
Today’s Altar flowers are given to the Glory of God.
“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 January 12, the First Sunday after the Epiphany: The Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Upcoming Meetings & Events at St Paul’s
- Sunday, January 5 – 8:00 AM & 10:30 AM services – The Feast of the Epiphany (transferred)
- Monday, January 6 – 4:00-6:00 PM – St. Paul’s Sisters meeting at the home of Kathy Kilmer
- Tuesday, January 7 – 1:00 PM – Stewardship Committee meeting – Library
- Tuesday, January 7 – 2:00 PM – Book Club meeting – Parish Hall Conference Room
- Tuesday, January 7 – 3:30-5:00 PM – Masculine Spirituality Class – Library
- Wednesday, January 8 – 9:45 AM – Mercy Ministries clothing and sundries distribution – Colonnade
- Wednesday, January 8 – 3:30-5:00 PM – Opera Class – Library
- Wednesday, January 8 – 6:00 PM – Mid-week Eucharist – Come and rest
- Wednesday, January 8 – 6:30 PM – Latino Ministry – Library
- Thursday, January 9 – 1:00 PM – Campus Care Committee meeting – Library
- Thursday, January 9 – 5:45 PM – Choir – In the church
- Saturday, January 11 – 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM – Baking for Community Retreat – Parish Hall
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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