For Sunday June 8, 2025
Mark your Calendar for Pentecost and the Ribbon-Cutting of the Refreshed Parish Hall—June 8th at 9:30AM!
Interfaith Prayer Vigil at St. Paul’s—June 25 at 6PM
Episcopal Public Policy Advocacy and Awareness Campaign: Summer 2025
In May, a group of our clergy, including both active and retired persons, spent a day examining how we might best support our siblings who call St. Paul in the Desert home during this time when the witness of Christians in support of democracy is urgent and critical. Out of our discernment came a decision. During the summer months in each issue of The Abundant Life, we will spotlight a specific issue which is a part of The Episcopal Church’s ministry of advocacy growing out of positions taken by our triennial General Conventions or made by our national Executive Council.
The aim of our “Campaign for Advocacy Awareness” is to learn:
- What advocacy means
- Why advocating for justice is an essential Christian practice
- What The Episcopal Church in the United States (“the national Church”) is doing to advocate for creation care; racial reconciliation; ending poverty; migration, refugees, and immigration; and human rights and peace-building
- How we as a parish, as small groups, and as individuals can choose wisely our witness, rooted in our Baptismal Covenant, to
- renounce evil, including the evil powers of this world that corrupt and destroy the children of God
- proclaim by word and action the Good News of God in Christ
- seek and serve Christ in all persons
- strive for peace and justice, respecting the dignity of all persons.
Translating these vows into action is answering the call to follow Jesus as our model, our exemplar, our Lord. Through even small actions, we learn with our Episcopal forebears over the centuries that we need be neither hesitant nor ashamed for advocating to extend God’s justice.
Uncover any part of the Christian Church’s history and you will find a checkerboard of good and evil, not too different from any organization, institution, or nation, nor—truth be told— any individual. Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson is often quoted as saying that there is more good than evil in the world, but only by a little bit. That “little bit” is where the victory is ultimately won for the Good. You don’t have to wait to check out the Church’s resources. You can register with the Office of Government Relations to receive action alerts, prayers, advocacy resources, resources for ending Holy Land conflict, and other aids: https://www.episcopalchurch.org/ministries/office-government-relations/. Starting this Pentecost, please prayerfully consider joining us this summer in living out our baptismal covenant as we seek to co-labor with the Spirit in the world.
Prayer Shawl Ministry
A prayer shawl is a shawl, often knitted or crocheted, created with the intention of providing comfort, solace, and a tangible expression of faith. It can be used as a physical reminder of prayer and as a source of peace and comfort for individuals in need. St. Paul’s had a thriving Prayer Shawl Ministry several years ago, but many of the members have passed away or disbanded during COVID. Barbara has had a vision to revitalize this important ministry.
Clergy bring prayer shawls with them to hospitals and homes for Eucharistic visits or unexpected emergencies or surgeries and we are almost out of them!
These shawls continue to comfort and bring peace to individuals and families, reminding them that they are connected to the larger church, that they are not forgotten, and that they are being prayed for. If you have the skill of crocheting or knitting and would like to make a prayer shawl for someone in the church, please reach out to LENA GRANET at 760-322-2179 or lorainehome@gmail.com. You can knit or crochet at home, or you can join the growing group—they WILL MEET AT LENA’S HOME ON THELAST FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH AT 11AM.
Choir Rehearsals
Beginning on Pentecost, choir rehearsals are on hiatus for the summer. We will have a “Prior Choir” on the first Sundays the month (July 6, August 3, and September 7.) On those Sundays we meet in the choir loft at 10 to learn an easy anthem for that day’s worship. We do not robe or sit up front, and everyone is welcome. Choir rehearsals on Thursday and Sunday will resume in September. Everyone is welcome! Questions? Please contact Chuck Peery musicdirector@stpaulsps.org
Like Libraries?
Our fabulous volunteer Librarian, Ben Palmer, will be moving and therefore will be unable to continue with his important work of managing our church library. Ben stands on the shoulders of Librarian Tom Lutgen, who began before him. Ben would love to have a few folks share in this fun and special volunteer ministry. If you would be interested in learning more, please reach out to revjessie@stpaulsps.org ASAP! In the meantime, keep Ben in your prayers, and we will offer a special blessing for him on Trinity Sunday, June 15th.
Rebuild Palm Springs Initiative Update
This past Sunday the loose plate offerings were designated toward the Rebuild Palm Springs Initiative. Local businesses are facing over half a million dollars in uninsured damages from the attack on the American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic. Most small businesses don’t carry terrorism insurance coverage. Our flower vendor, My Little Flower Shop, led by Gregory Goodman, is one of the local business owners leading the charge in this community-driven initiative. The Desert Business Association and Greater Palm Springs Pride are handling fund distribution. Thank you for giving $1,565 to support our neighbors in this time of need.
Sisters in Spirit Lunch Meet-up—June 19!
Any and ALL women of St. Paul’s are invited to meet on Thursday, June 19, 2025 at 11:30AM at Carl’s Jr. (Sunrise Way and Ramon Road) for lunch and fellowship. Any questions, reach out to Kitty: kieley@earthlink.net
Parish Camping Trip
St. Paul’s campers are invited to a trip to Idyllwild June 25 – 27. The cool mountain air and beautiful pine trees near this lovely village is a great place to camp—Riverside County Campground. Save the date and plan on joining. The shared dinner (for anyone who wants to drive up for the day to share a meal with the campers) is on Thursday, the 26th.
If you’re interested in camping or joining the dinner, click on the banner above or reach out to Bonnie Stroock, Camp Organizer (bcstroock@aol.com).
New Online Bible Course on the Parables of Jesus … for Smarties!
You’ve heard of The Bible for Dummies. Now, introducing The Bible … for Smarties! A chance to explore and learn about the Bible without dumbing it down. Going beyond your typical Bible Study, this seminar will be a university-level academic class focused on Nurturing Students towards a Nuanced, Critical Interpretation and Sophisticated Understanding of the Texts of the Bible. Dr. David Moseley will be the Instructor for this online Course about The Parables of Jesus in the Gospels. These strange beguiling stories are frequently misunderstood and mischaracterized, because we are liable to misunderstand the specific genre of literature and rhetoric that they belong to (they are not like Aesop’s Fables, easily reducible to a simple moral or lesson); and because too often the subversive and challenging messages of the parables have been domesticated and sanitized; and because we live in the 21st century in a democratic, affluent, relatively peaceful world, surrounded by complex technology … which is about as different a cultural context as can be imagined compared to the ancient Jewish world that Jesus and his followers belonged to as part of the Roman imperial occupation.
For more information, click on this LINK and email Dr. Moseley (drdavidmoseley@gmail.com). Dr. Moseley is happy to offer scholarships to anyone who would like to take the class but for whom the $150 cost is prohibitive. Please reach out to him directly.
Circle Suppers Wrap Up for the Season!
As we end the season for our Parish Life Circle Suppers, we hope you’ll schedule one last meal together before we break for the summer!
These groups have been around for a few years as a way to meet a few people, enjoy a meal together, and create community in a growing parish. Sometimes the groups hit it off, and other times they sort of fizzle out. And that’s OK. We all find ourselves in different seasons of our lives, needing different things. Next year, Circle Suppers will start later in the season to accommodate for our snowbirds so that they can jump in from the beginning and gain momentum! (And if you weren’t involved in a Circle Supper this year, grab a few pew mates this Sunday and share a meal.)
July Book Club
The next Book Club meeting will be held on July 1, 2025, at 2:00 PM. The meeting will be held in the Music Cottage on the church campus. For July, Book Club has selected Night Watch by Jayne Anne Phillips. In 1874, in the wake of the Civil War, erasure, trauma, and namelessness haunt civilians and veterans, renegades and wanderers, freedmen and runaways. This story is about a mother and daughter seeking refuge in the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in West Virginia. It is a brilliant portrait of family endurance against all odds.
New members are always welcome. For more information, please contact Alan Zimmerman at alanzimmerman@icloud.com
St. Paul’s Hiking Group – Historic Redlands Walking Tour
Saturday August 9, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Hiking Group Special Summer Event!! A morning walking tour of beautiful and historic Redlands! Join us for an informative and easy 2.5 mile stroll through the quaint Victorian neighborhoods and lovely tree-lined streets of one of Southern California’s most important and best-preserved citrus boomtowns. Bring good walking shoes, a hat and some sunscreen and plenty of water. Walk starts at 8:30 sharp, takes about two hours. Stay to shop or lunch with friends, or follow special directions the scenic “back way” to the desert through rolling hills and orange groves. Detailed info and updates will follow as date approaches.
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:
- Simply click on the banner at the top of this email and you will be able to fill out the survey.
- 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.
- 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.
- Do NOT click any button asking you to complete another, different survey. It’s probably a marketing survey from Survey Monkey.
- 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!
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 York, The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Stephen Cottrell, who is the acting Archbishop of Canterbury. Pray for The Anglican Church of Melanesia, The Most Reverend Leonard Dowea, Archbishop and Primate.
For the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan, The Right Reverend Dr. Bonnie A. Perry, Bishop.
For the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, The Right Reverend Dr. Susan Brown Snook, Bishop, the Standing Committee, and the Diocesan Staff; the Episcopal Church Center in Ocean Beach, its various ministries, and the people it serves.
For those commended to our prayers: Kristina Clark, Matthew Hempeck, Bob and Steven, Roger Parker, Roger Allen, Franklin Updike, Robby Robinson, Ramon Gueits, Ted Guice, Barb Steeves, Louise Betzler, Donald Hamilton, Mary Hamilton, Teri Whitmer, Ken Ballard, Raul Valdez, Patrick Jarvis, Wanda Carnes, Nicholas Ropac, Mary Stevenson, Marie Benjamin, Bonnie Ong, Karen Telles, Marcia Francois & Carmen Valles, Aaron Riviers, Daniel Schmidt, Andrew Herbach, Kathryn Briski, RC Eckert, Gaile Eckert, Cheryl Kelley, 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: Mary Crawford, Dorothy Walton, Patricia Armstrong, Calvin Moore, Princeton Vaughans, Leo Withers, Dennis Telles, Mary Ann Glass, Marilyn Williams, 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 celebrating anniversaries: June 8: Sharon & John Pick; June 11: Lyn & Mark Pease; June 12: Vern Marken & Luis Valdez, Stephen Dixon & Terry Jones.
For those with birthdays: June 8: James Panos; June 11: Mary Holmes, Kriste Petite, Rev. David Norgard; June 12: Alan Zimmerman; June 13: Terry Arnett, Will Tacchi; June 14: John Pick, William Casey.
For those for whom flowers have been donated: Today’s Altar Flowers are sponsored by Luis Valdez & Vern Marken, in Thanksgiving “for our 10th wedding anniversary” (June 12).
“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 June 15, Trinity Sunday.
Upcoming Meetings & Events at St Paul’s
- Monday, June 9 – 6:00-8:00 PM – Parables of Jesus Class – Online via Zoom
- Tuesday, June 10 – 1:00 PM – Peace, Justice, Mercy Ministry – Library
- Wednesday, June 11 – 6:00 PM – Mid-Week Eucharist – Come and rest
- Sunday, June 15 – 8:00 and 10:30 AM services – Trinity Sunday
- Monday, June 16 – 6:00-8:00 PM – Parables of Jesus Class – Online via Zoom
- Wednesday, June 18 – 4:00 PM – HR Committee meeting
- Wednesday, June 18 – 5:30 PM – Laundry Love
- Wednesday, June 18 – 6:00 Mid-Week Eucharist – Come and rest
- Wednesday, June 18 – 6:30 PM – Exec Committee meeting
- Wednesday, June 25th – 6:00PM – Interfaith Prayer Vigil for Immigrants, Refugees, & Asylum Seekers
Want to help make St. Paul’s Campus & Buildings Better?
Have you have had a moment where you were at church and you saw the same lightbulb has been out for weeks and no one has changed it? Or maybe you go to grab a railing to steady yourself and find that it’s really loose and wonder why it hasn’t been fixed? Or perhaps you’ve noticed that your pew rack is missing cards or envelopes or pens and you are reminded that no one can fill them unless someone knows they are empty?
We have a BRAND-NEW tool that anyone can use to help us make sure the campus is safe, stocked, and ready for worship and other campus activities! Welcome to the NEW St. Paul’s Maintenance/Repair Request Form found online. If YOU see something that needs repairing, cleaning, sprucing-up, etc. on St. Paul’s campus, this is THE way to ensure that we know about it. Scan the QR code below OR click on the Building & Grounds Maintenance/Repair Request Form. You will be able to fill out the form in real time, which will allow our sexton to address those issues and/or the Campus Care Committee to address any major campus issues. Help us stay organized and prioritized!
If you see something that needs repairing, cleaning, sprucing-up, etc. St. Paul’s campus, this is THE way to ensure that we know about it. Scan below to reach our Building & Grounds Maintenance/Repair Request Form.
Annual Meeting Recap & Impact Report
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!
Get “Social” with St. Paul’s!
Want to see daily pics about what’s happening at St. Paul’s? Be sure to like/follow us on Facebook and Instagram. And, subscribe to our YouTube channel to view our livestream and past services.
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.
Red Cards
Click to enlarge the images.
Episcopal Evangelism Society Pilgrimages to India and the Holy Land
Pilgrimage to India
November 7–24, 2025
Hosted by: The Rev. Koshy Mathews & The Rev. Troy Mendez
Group Number: 25035
Brochure & Registration: portal.myfaithjourneys.com
This journey follows the sacred path of St. Thomas the Apostle — to the very sites where he ministered and was martyred. Pilgrims will:
· Encounter ancient expressions of Christianity in India
· Meet vibrant local Christian communities in ministry
· Witness the interplay of ancient cultures in a contemporary context of peace and justice
Pilgrimage to the Holy Land
January 6–19, 2026
Led by: The Rev. Troy Mendez & The Rev. Canon Scott Gunn
Hosted in Israel/Palestine by: Canon Iyad Qumri
Group Number: 26006
Brochure & Registration: portal.myfaithjourneys.com
Pilgrims will:
· Follow in the literal footsteps of Jesus
· Sail on the Sea of Galilee
· Encounter courageous Christian communities in the Holy Land
· Return home with renewed faith, strengthened compassion, and a deeper understanding of our call to peace
The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego’s Info on Reporting Misconduct
Intake Officers:
Ms. Megan Callan, megan@mecallan.com
The Rev. Willy Crespo, frcrespo@gmail.com
Ms. Meredith Hardy, mlh8180@gmail.com
The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego considers the reporting and investigation of misconduct to be of critical importance. Reporting enables the diocese to protect the complainant, the respondent, and the larger community. It also allows the diocese to assist with the spiritual, psychological, and emotional needs of all concerned during and after the report of misconduct. Please visit edsd.org/safe-church-safe-communities/reporting-misconduct/
