The Abundant Life – February 20, 2025

Black History Month

Remembering The Rev. John Herbert Jones, Sr.

“Throughout the history of the Episcopal Church in the United States, Black Episcopalians have been perceived as a separate but equal group, a marginal group, or a ‘problem.’

The debate about Black Episcopalians came to a head in 1882, when a group of White clergy and lay leaders met in Sewanee, Tennessee for a conference. With the rise of Black Episcopal churches, White southerners began to fear that a Black clergyperson or bishop might lead White parishioners one day. They decided to separate Black parishioners from the White churches.

Black Episcopal leaders immediately resisted this measure. However, the southern dioceses moved independently to create ‘separate but equal’ colored conventions where Black congregations had limited power.

In response, Black Episcopalians sought to be understood as an integral part of the church, not as a separate group. From early in our history, Black Episcopalians have seen themselves as a corrective, working to help the church live into its mission of treating all people with dignity and respect. The Rev. John Herbert Jones is one of the early Black Episcopalians and grandfather of St. Paul in the Desert Parishioner Carolyn Roberson.”

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If you missed church last Sunday, we had a powerful moment regarding The Rev. John Herbert Jones, Sr. and his granddaughter Carolyn Roberson:

From Rev. Dan’s sermon: “I heard the phone ring a few years ago in the office. I picked up the phone and I heard the words of a woman. It turned out to be a Black woman’s voice. And she said, “I’m trying to find out information about my grandfather. He was an Episcopal priest in the South and I want to know more about him.” I love history and was thrilled a random stranger was trying to discover hers. So I ended up referring the woman to the Episcopal Archives in Austin, Texas and never thought twice about it. But for her, something had shifted. Suddenly, this woman started coming to church. On a regular basis. She had never been much of a church-going person before, but she was suddenly drawn to this Jesus character. He was nothing like what she had expected – the tame, meek, and mild Jesus of American Christianity was a far cry from the Jesus she was encountering in the Gospels and in the words and people of St. Paul in the Desert. We ended up following up on that first phone call conversation and it turned out the Episcopal Archives had found out some information about her grandfather. You can read more about the details of his story in the sheet in your bulletin. Who is the granddaughter– her name is Carolyn Roberson. She flew in from Phoenix, Arizona, where she now lives to be here today…

…Some folks have been asking, ‘Why does it say Granddaughter of the Rev. John Herbert Jones, Sr.’ under her name on the niche. Why does Carolyn get special treatment? Some of it has been from a place of genuine curiosity. Some of it has been from a place of scorn. Well, I can hear the voice of Sojourner Truth saying, ‘Ain’t I A Woman?’ Now you know. It is to acknowledge the history of racial injustice and to honor the legacy of her grandfather. It is to acknowledge that the church doesn’t always get it right, but God does. It is to acknowledge that Black Female Voices have more to say to us about who Jesus is than the White voices we often hear. It is to acknowledge that the hungry are filled now, but the rich have been sent away empty. It is to acknowledge that on that very threshold of heaven, in the columbarium’s city of the dead, a timeless truth: We may not see the blessing in our lifetime, my beloved siblings, but there is a reward in heaven for those who pure in heart…”

To hear the entire sermon, and to witness St. Paul’s offer a confession and a blessing of thanksgiving for the life and ministry of The Rev. John Herbert Jones, Sr. in a power procession, please click here:

Special thanks to everyone who celebrated in The Feast of Absalom Jones Jazz Mass last week!

Click to watch the entire service.

March with St. Paul’s in the Black History Month Parade on Saturday, February 22!

The Parade starts at 11:00 AM on Palm Canyon Drive in Downtown Palm Springs. As in years past, St. Paul’s will have a parade contingent. To march in the parade (or ride in a St. Paul’s parade car), and to proclaim that we believe in the dignity of every human being, sign up at the Welcome Table or call the Parish Office, 760.320.7488. Remember to wear your St. Paul’s t-shirt!

March 2^nd Eucharist Mini-Retreat!

From 1-3PM on Sunday, March 2^nd spend some time with The Revs and the Confirmation Class getting a glimpse of what happens during the liturgy of the Eucharist. Bring your questions and join us for a great afternoon. Sign up by clicking on the banner above!

Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras Potluck and Burying the Alleluias – Tuesday, March 4^th!

Join us in your Mardi Gras colors and beads, and bring a sweet or savory treat to share on Shrove Tuesday, March 4^th at 5PM! While the Parish Hall will still be under construction, we’ll enjoy our meal outside at tables in the columbarium. We eat at 5PM and then we burn the Great Fire (bring last year’s palm branches to burn—this is where we get the ashes for Ash Wednesday!). We will have a very brief liturgy where we “bury” the Alleluias and see the church transform to Lenten purple. Oh, and did we mention that we’ll have the Palm Springs Lions’ portable kitchen (the chuck wagon!) for our pancakes and sausages? You won’t want to miss this great event!

Ash Wednesday March 5th

Parish Hall Refresh Weekly Update

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

Restrooms: Demolition in the Restrooms has been completed. They are being prepared for installation of new floor and wall tiles. The doors to both Restrooms have been expanded to 36 inch width for enhanced accessibility in accordance with ADA guidelines. Selection of plumbing fixtures for the Restrooms is underway.

Lighting/Electrical: Wiring for new energy-efficient LED lighting in all rooms has been completed. Installation of new electrical outlets and data cabling for video conferencing capability is underway and will take a few more days.

Walls: Framing has been completed in preparation for drywalling. The task force has selected the sound-absorbing acoustic panels to be installed in the upper portion of the walls in the main hall – above the molding at approximately 8 feet high to the ceiling – and is sending its recommendation to the Vestry for approval on Sunday. (No panels will be installed on the beams or the ceiling.)

Spirituality for the Second Half of Life

Pocahontas Table Read

The Episcopal Church’s Immigration Toolkit

Shifting federal policy on immigration is already impacting people in all four of our counties. With this in mind, the Episcopal Church’s church-wide office routinely collects up-to-date immigration resources for congregations. Visit the Immigration Action Toolkit to find ways your congregation can help migrants, refugees, and asylum-seekers.

Click here for more information: 

Join Lent Madness

What is Lent Madness? Click here to find out:

Ed Walsh gives it a rave review, saying, “I’ve participated each Lent and found it fun, entertaining, spiritual, and educational. It gives you exposure to the vast diverse array of saints in the Episcopal Church.”

6 Ts Survey

Our survey tracking system shows that many parishioners started to fill out the survey but just didn’t have a chance to complete it (by typing in their name and email address and clicking the “Done” button at the end).  If you had to stop mid-way, please try again.  If you started the survey from an email link, you might find that you can pick up where you left off; others would just start anew, reminding yourself that it only takes 13-15 minutes to do at one sitting!  Thank you so much for your time — it will make a big difference!

As you heard about at the Annual Meeting we have a new tool to help connect parishioners to their passions and needs in the church and the wider community. Under the parish’s Strategic Plan Objectives One and Four, the 6 Ts Task force has developed a survey for all parishioners that we hope can bring us together to do more and for each other. The “Six Ts” refer to parishioners’ talents, testimony, time, temperament, treasure, and ties (relational networks).

It takes only 13-15 minutes (it’s been timed!) and you can do it easily on your computer, smartphone, or tablet (all connected to WiFi).

Here are the simple instructions to complete the survey:

1. Simply click on the banner at the top of this email and you will be able to fill out the survey.
2. Almost all the questions just ask you to check the boxes that apply to you, except for those at the end that ask you to fill in your contact information.
3. When you reach the end of the survey, be sure to click the “Done” button. If you do, you will receive a confirmation email that you have completed the survey.
4. Do NOT click any button asking you to complete another, different survey. It’s probably a marketing survey from Survey Monkey.
5. If you run into any issues, there will be a team of folks next to the Welcome Table on Sunday morning at both services to offer assistance.

The 6Ts survey is designed to benefit each parishioner and the church, too. By asking you about your interests, the survey can offer you more opportunities to connect with other like-minded parishioners in spiritual formation, ministry work, volunteer possibilities within the church and the community at large, and even recreational activities. By asking about your skills, the survey can help the Revs and our lay leaders identify ways that you might like to contribute to the church’s vitality and that are suited to your particular strengths and interests.

All of the information collected in the survey will be confidential; it will only be available to the clergy and laity authorized to review that information specific to their duties as employees or supervised volunteers. 

Thank you for helping us connect more regularly and more meaningfully with one another!

Annual Meeting Recap & Impact Report