The Abundant Life – July 3, 2025

Summer Prior Choir – THIS SUNDAY, JULY 6!

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

Preaching Excellent Program Update from Intern Mike Mullins

My siblings, I was invited to the Preaching Excellence Program 2025, held May 26-30, which was sponsored by the Episcopal Preaching Foundation (EPF) as an all-expenses-paid participant. This program has been offered by EPF for 37 years. It was held at Roslyn Retreat Center in Richmond, VA. There were over 50 people who were nominated in their state dioceses from all over the USA, living together for 5 days in double dorm-style rooms. The participants were all seminarians and local formation students (as I am). My roomie was a seminary student from the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, TX.

We were exposed to a daily plenary session for all. Numerous workshops and breakout sessions were offered. We also were assigned a preaching group, of which there 9 PGs with 6 students each. We devoted two-a-day sessions where we received guidance from our professional preaching guide. We then preached one sermon each over three days. The sermons were brought from the seminary classroom, or parish, as in my case. Everyone had already delivered their sermon over the past few months in their home environments. We also had a workshop called “five-minute sermon”, where we were each given a Sunday Proper from the BCP and give 5 minutes to prepare, then present, a two-minute sermon. Most people in this group of 15 presented their sermons without notes, including me. Now we know we can create a sermon in an emergency!

I learned to address and overcome some common anxieties, which most of us bring to public speaking. When it comes to representing the Word of God, it adds a significantly deeper anxiety. We discussed and actively dealt with topics such as preaching in a trauma-fed situation, such as our recent Palm Springs bombing. We were encouraged to be creative in how we present a sermon, in phrasing, word choice  (to reflect sensitivity to one’s listeners), in body movement and gestures, as well as how to use the rostrum or preaching stand. In other words, preaching is a whole mind and body-body experience for the preacher. The goal is to convey the Spirit’s message more effectively to the listener. Being well prepared helps the preacher get out of the way of the Word from God reaching those with ears to hear.

I regard this experience as my official introduction to the practice of Episcopal preaching. To be invited to preach in your midst is a privilege beyond anything that might be earned. It is a clear and simple gift from God. I am deeply honored and sincerely grateful.

Michael Mullins, Postulant in Formation for Holy Orders

  Gay Men’s Bereavement Group Wraps Up First Session

This spring a quiet ministry has been going on for gay widowers in our parish. Building on the bereavement group that St. Paul’s held in 2023, we decided to try another group, but with a more specific focus. To help foster trust and intimacy, the group was invitation only and closed for the pilot session. There was also a window of when the death had occurred – men had to have lost someone in the last year and a half. Over the past 8 weeks, five men have met once a week for an hour and a half to do the deep work of processing their loss. With a mixture of seminars on therapeutic theories of grief, spiritual practice, guided discussions, and individual work outside of the group time, these folks have committed to honoring their beloved and moving towards healing. The power of the group was in each member’s ability to hold space for the others in the group, talk about their pain,  allow the wisdom of the group to nurture the souls of all in mourning, and help one another to navigate the most distressing time in their lives. At the last session, Rev. Dan was surprised to learn that no other group exists in the valley specifically for men who have lost their husbands (there are more general grief groups or even spousal grief groups, but none that is tailored to the unique experience of being a gay widower).

Here was one group member’s experience:

“A gay widower should consider joining a bereavement group at St. Paul’s because what would you do if you weren’t afraid? A gay widower, especially on older gay widower, is terrified. The family and friends support and comfort in place immediately after your partner’s death is fleeting. There will be periods when your mind is going to betray you. Your body is going to react negatively from the stress of your grief. You cannot and will not be able to rush through the grieving process. Join this group. Check your ego at the door. Just sit and listen. When you are ready to participate, participate. All of your fellow group members are in the same ‘club.’ Trust them. They are going to hear you. They are going to enlighten you. They are even going to cry with you. After several weeks the overwhelming heaviness in your heart will be just a little less heavy. The true healing process has begun.”

Another said:

“As gay men who have lost their partners, we share a special camaraderie. I am very grateful for Reverend Dan’s wisdom and guidance, as well as for my fellow widowers, who graciously opened their hearts and shared their stories. We laughed and we cried as we formed a loving, caring, and trusting bond that greatly helped me move forward with my own grief, more so than other resources that have helped me along this journey.  So much so, that I consider this group to be essential to my continued spiritual growth and understanding of the grieving experience.

Someone else reflected:

“I would say that for me the group has been a life-changer. The honesty, the depth, and the commitment where everyone is looking through the same lens has been simply profound. Rev. Dan’s leadership has helped all of us grow and understand the grief that has taken hold. I was reluctant at first but so glad that I had the opportunity to be a part of this. I am a better person because of it.”

After finishing this test-run, there was unanimous consensus among group members that this ministry should be expanded. The hope is to offer another 8-week session for gay widowers in Fall of 2025, with the hope that we would be able to offer these closed sessions once or twice per year. After that second session, we might have enough folks to consider an open/drop-in/ongoing group in early 2026 that would meet regularly for continued support. Please continue to pray that this ministry of healing can grow because there are so many who are grieving alone. Pray, as well, that we might be able to offer other types of bereavement groups for other folks in addition to gay widowers. If you are interested in becoming a part of the next 8-week session, please reach out to Rev. Dan at revdan@stpaulsps.org

We’re hiring a Parish Administrator & a Director of Communication & Events! Please share.

Please share this information with those you know that might be a good fit for St. Paul’s in these positions. Click on the link to read about the jobs, and PRAY with us for the right hire. In accordance with diocesan best practice, parishioners of the Church of St. Paul in the Desert will not be considered for this role.

A LETTER FROM THE BISHOP: SEEKING PEACE AMIDST LOCAL AND GLOBAL CONFLICT

“Beloved in Christ,

I am departing for a two-month sabbatical on July 4, returning on September 7. World and local events have led me to write to you now, with comments on three situations that have caused deep concern to me and others in our diocese. I will be praying for these situations, and for all of you, during my sabbatical…”

St. Paul’s Camping Trip a Success!

St. Paul’s folks enjoyed the camping trip this past week, and we had 10 for dinner on Thursday!! Here’s our card group and after-dinner compline. We had cool weather and we enjoyed great wildlife. Ten people joined in for an outstanding shared dinner and closing compline service around the campfire. Luckily we avoided the fire near Banning. All 4 new campers loved the time up near Idyllwild and we’ll plan a trip next year. We missed you! 

  Sisters In Spirit (SIS) Lunch Gathering!

Please mark your calendars as Sisters In Spirit (SIS) will meet on Thursday, July 24 at 11:30AM at the Denny’s on the corner of Vista Chino Road and Landau Blvd. (ALL women are invited to come and bring a baby pic and we’ll try to guess who is who!). Questions? Reach out to Kitty at kitty@earthlink.net

St. Luke’s Former Refugees Needing Cars

Several refugees recently resettled through RefugeeNet and St. Luke’s have just obtained their driver’s licenses and are hoping for help in acquiring cars. Might there be someone at St. Paul’s who has a car they would be willing to donate or sell at a discounted price to our former refugees? Please be in touch with Rev. Colin Mathewson with questions: colin@stlukesnorthpark.org, 619-977-8173.

Episcopal Church Immigration Updates

Join us every Tuesday at 1 pm ET for a 30-minute call on the changing landscape of U.S. immigration, refugee, and migration policy. Episcopal Migration Ministries will share updates and resources and will be joined by the Office of Government Relations and the Chief Legal Officer. Spanish interpretation will be available.