Racial Reconciliation Ministry Invites you to an Info Meeting Regarding UBE & Tribal Relations THIS Sat. Nov. 8 at 10AM

The Leaders of the Racial Justice Ministry invite you to an information meeting this Saturday, November 8^th at 10AM in the Yucca Room in the Parish Hall for great discussion and action towards discernment about St. Paul’s starting a chapter of UBE (Union of Black Episcopalians) AND conversation around Tribal Relations and how to be good neighbors (e.g. education, possible Land Acknowledgement, attending community tribal events, etc.) to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians.

Please join us this Saturday and bring your calendars!

For more information: https://ube.org and https://nahc.ca.gov/cp/tribal-atlas-pages/agua-caliente-band-of-cahuilla-indians/.

Clerk’s Corner: Update from the Last Vestry Meeting

Updates from the October 2025 Vestry Meeting 

 

• Each year each Episcopal parish in the diocese is asked to pledge a Common Life Share which supports the work of our bishop and diocese. The Vestry approved a 2026 pledge from The Church of St. Paul in the Desert in accordance with the diocesan requirements: 10.5% of net disposable income. While this may seem like a lot, the diocese is required to pledge 15% of its income to the national Episcopal Church, so we are really getting a deal! Unlike other denominations, the diocese does not support parishes, but parishes support dioceses. In turn, the diocese is able to support the national church, which has a host of programs we benefit from – including Sacred Ground. On a local level, the diocese is also able to support churches that are called missions (which are different from parishes). Missions tend to be small churches, often in impoverished rural or urban areas who would not be able to exist if they had to fully raise their own budget. The bishop is considered their rector, and the diocesan executive council is considered their vestry, but there usually is a priest who runs the day-to-day operations called a vicar and a bishop’s committee that acts like a vestry. One example of how our dollars go to support these missions is our sister church, St. John’s Episcopal Church in Indio. By giving to the Common Life Share, we are helping to fund their incredible feeding program that is helping hundreds of undocumented persons find food security. Thank you for your generosity as your dollars are helping to make a difference in the wider Coachella Valley! 

• The Church of St. Paul in the Desert routinely does an audit of all parish finances.  The 2024 audit is in process and is expected to be completed shortly.  

• The Vestry has been working to update the parish’s computer hardware and software. Steve Klinkerman, Campus Care Committee member and chair of the IT Task Force, reported that the task force has completed all hardware purchases. He also reported that St. Paul’s had qualified to receive a non-profit subscription for Microsoft 365, cutting software costs by 85%. The IT Task Force is now working on completing a SharePoint document management site. 

• The Campus Care Committee is considering ways to improve and expand the parish’s accessible parking for those with mobility concerns.                           

• The Vestry approved a Facilities Use License (Single Use) template. This is the first step in creating a procedural manual for all outside groups who will be using church facilities and sets forth all expectations the parish would have of anyone using the church. 

• The Vestry unanimously passed a resolution honoring Orin Ellingson for his many years of service as Volunteer Registrar.  

Coming Up 

• The Stewardship & Finance Committee ARE also hosting “Vision Forum,” a presentation on St. Paul’s finances, at 9:15AM on Sunday, November 16th in the Saguaro Room in the Parish Hall. If you would like to find out more about the nuts and bolts of how your generosity supports our mission, this forum is for you! 

• The Vestry Nominating Committee will also be sponsoring a Vestry Interest Day at 9:15AM on Sunday, November 23, 2025 in the Saguaro Room in the Parish Hall. If you are interested in serving on Vestry or want to find out more about what the Vestry is and does, please join us! 

• Please be praying for our Diocesan Convention delegates who are heading to St. Dunstan’s in San Diego this weekend! 

Respectfully submitted, 

Jack McLean 

Clerk 

Looking for a Simple Way to Serve? NEW Flower Ministry Kicks off Monday, November 17^th!

Each Sunday we offer beautiful flowers to the glory of God in worship, adorning our chancel and narthex. These flowers need a second life after services! YOU are invited to show up each Monday, beginning November 17^th, at 9AM to join with others in taking apart the flower arrangement and putting them into simple bouquets and small vases and delivering them to homebound parishioners and assisted living facilities. Here’s how you can help:

• Donate SMALL vases or jam jars (glass or plastic) in the marked basket near the Welcome Table.
• Show up on any Monday at 9AM (Nov. 17^th and after) and help arrange flowers in the sacristy.
• Show up on any Monday at 9AM (Nov. 17^th and after) and get a few arrangements and Flower Cards with parishioners’ addresses and deliver to home! (Easy drop offs at the door or left on the porch.)
• Pray for those delivering flowers, that they might offer and receive Christ in those deliveries.
• Reach out to our Flower Ministry Coordinator, Natalie Ousley, and let her know you’re interested (njousley@yahoo.com).

St. Paul’s Parishioner Featured in Pride Week Art Show

St.Paul’s parishioner, Michael Harbin, is part of a powerful new exhibit titled “The Last Hug”, debuting during Palm Springs Pride Week. The full show premieres at the Stephen Richard Baumbach Gallery, with special events and gallery hours:

Pre-Pride Gallery Hours

• Thursday, Nov. 6 · 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Friday, Nov. 7 · 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Pride Saturday Event

• Saturday, Nov. 8 · 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

To learn more visit: https://lasthug.art/the-project/the-story/

Save the date—SAFE CHURCH Training In-Person at St. Paul’s on Nov. 18^th!

In-Person Safe Church Training
November 18, 2025
9am-noon
The Church of St. Paul in the Desert,  125 West El Alameda, Palm Springs, CA 92262

“Safe Church Safe Communities” training is required by the Episcopal Church every three years. In our commitment to support as many people as possible in accessing the training, we have begun offering in-person training in addition to the training offered online. This in-person training meets the needs of those who are challenged by technology, or who would benefit from participating in community. Participants will receive training on ethical and theological expectations placed on church workers/volunteers, the impact of misconduct, and the Church’s commitment to creating spaces where individuals and families are secure and valued. Safe Church, Safe Communities training is required for all volunteer and employment positions throughout the diocese. It is the Church’s responsibility to ensure safety, integrity, and trust within its community.

In order to complete all the necessary aspects of the training and receive a certificate, you must attend the full training.

Register Here

Section 14 organization to mark settlement anniversary with summit

• The Palm Springs Section 14 Survivors organization will host a community summit Nov. 15 marking one year since the city of Palm Springs and survivors and descendants of Section 14 reached a $27 million reparative justice settlement addressing racially motivated displacement and property destruction.
• The free summit, titled “Healing, Accountability, and Moving Forward,” will begin at 10 a.m. at St. Paul in the Desert Church and include workshops on racial healing and trauma recovery, a town hall on the settlement’s implementation, and an interfaith service at 3 p.m. Registration is encouraged at this site.
• Bottom line: The settlement, announced in 2024, represents one of the largest municipal reparative justice agreements in U.S. history. “What was accomplished in Palm Springs has had ripple effects throughout the state of California and the nation,” said Areva Martin,  lead counsel for the group.This story originally appeared in the Nov. 4 edition of the Daily Briefing from The Palm Springs Post.

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 Reverend Dan, at revdan@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, The Most Reverend Dame Sarah Mullally, the Archbishop of Canterbury-designate; pray for the Church of the Province of West Africa, The Most Reverend Doctor Cyril Kobina Ben-Smith, Archbishop and Primate.

For the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma: The Right Reverend Poulson C. Reed, Bishop.

For the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, The Right Reverend Doctor Susan Brown Snook, Bishop; for Chaplains and ministries of the Armed Forces; for all Veterans of the Armed Services.

For those commended to our prayers: Natalie Ousley, Mark Pamperin, Bruce McLean, David, Smith, Greg, Sherry Reynolds, Jud Hoiseth, Tony & Pat Ellerd, Natalie Ousley, Vicky Boaz & Marty Turner, David Faull, Jessica Rodriguez, Crystal Gonzalez, Julia Anne Galperen, Troy Elder, Forest Irons, Reuben Hernnadez, Shaun Water, Patricia Valtier-Medina, René (Reno) Valtier, Rodney Binder, Sam Grewal & Family, Gabriel Georgia, Michael L. Marguet, Benjamin Carrillo, Jerry Brown, Fergus, Joan Anderson, Harry Lit, Lori Miller, Lucy Youngren, Bonnie Ong, RC Eckert, Gaile Eckert, Cheryl Kelley, Tish & Eliott Kahn, Hap Blaisdell, Terry Fabian, Pat, David Valenzuela, Chloe Grace Wilson Barton; pray for all those for whom no prayers have been said.

For those who have died: Bernward Boecker, Michael Fights, Mary Helen Kelly, Shirley Patton, Richard Klinkerman, Ben Clark, Gloria Stevens, Amy Kidder, Dan Anderson, Virginia Roberts, Robert Jay Williams, Johathan Relerford, Arthur Binns. 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 departed rest in peace.  Amen.

For those celebrating their anniversary: November 12: Drew Bizzaro & Paul Olingy; November 15: Scott Thacker & Keeman Wong.

For those with birthdays: November 9: Patrick Jarvis, Mick Welch; November 10: Steve Johnson; November 14: Tom O’Mara; November 15: Steve Innes

For those for whom flowers have been donated:Today’s Altar Flowers are sponsored by Nick Bonnell, in loving memory of his brother, Spike, who died November 12, 1966, in service to his country.

“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 November 16, The Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost.

Upcoming Meetings & Events at St Paul’s

• Saturday, November 8 — 4:00 PM Pride Mass & Vow Renewal — In the Church
• Sunday, November 9 – No Sunday services – Annual Pride Parade
• Monday, November 10 – Office Closed – Veteran’s Day
• Monday, November 10 – 2:00 PM – UNCLOBBER Bible Verses Class — Saguaro Room — Parish Hall
• Monday, November 10 – 4:00 PM – Ride Share Ministry Orientation — Saguaro Room — Parish Hall
• Tuesday, November 11 – 10:00 AM-12:00 PM – Patio Party — South Palm Springs
• Tuesday, November 11 – 2:00 PM – Book Club – Music Cottage
• Tuesday, November 11 – 3:00 PM – Veterans’ Day Parade – March with St. Paul’s
• Wednesday, November 12 – 1:30 PM – SPIT
• Wednesday, November 12 – 6:00 PM – Mid-week Eucharist. Come and rest
• Wednesday, November 12 – 6:30 PM – Annual Circle Supper Kickoff

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.

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 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/