For Sunday June 2, 2024
An Episcopal Visitation is a bishop’s official pastoral visit to a congregation of the diocese. Canon law requires every diocesan bishop to visit every congregation in their diocese at least once every three years. Bishop Susan Brown Snook usually visits annually.
The canonical purposes of a visitation are for the bishop to examine the condition of the congregation, oversee the clergy, preach, confirm, preside at the eucharist, and examine parochial records. The BCP also assumes that the bishop’s visitation will be an occasion for baptism/confirmation, and that the bishop will preside.
We hope you’ll join us on June 2. The bishop will preside at the 8AM service, meet with Confirmands between services, preside at the 10:30AM service, and have a Q & A in the Parish Hall with a full lunch after the 10:30AM service, followed by a meeting with the clergy and Vestry. The loose plate offerings from both services will be designated for the Bishop’s Pastoral Needs Fund, along with any checks marked for that purpose. These funds allow the Bishop to make much needed contributions to assist people throughout the diocese and beyond.
Wear your blue St. Paul shirt!
Bishop’s Statement on Conflict in the Holy Lands
Click here to read Bishop Susan’s StatementCoffee Hour Thanks!
Special thanks to the Scott and Ratnum Family for the beautiful, purple-themed, delicious coffee hour this past Sunday honoring their beloved Kyara Scott.
Summer Camping Get-Away
St. Paul’s Campers invite you to join the group up in Idyllwild’s cool pine-scented forest. July 22-24, Riverside Co. Campground, site # 42-43, cost- just $20. Reserve with Bonnie Stroock – bcstroock@aol.com
Baptism June 9th
Join us next Sunday, June 9, at the 10:30AM service for the baptism of Baby Botolph!
Like to sing? Consider Joining Our Summer Prior Choir
On the first Sundays of July, August, and September, we are inviting you to be part of our Prior Choir, which will meet a half hour before the service (10 AM) on those Sundays and will sing an easy anthem during the service. This activity is open to anyone who is interested and willing to try it. You, your children, your grandchildren can all sing with us if you foresee that working. We will not wear robes or sit in the Chancel for the whole service. You’ll come up at the Peace, sing the Offertory, and return to your pews. It won’t be Bach or Beethoven, but it will be designed more for your success and enjoyment. This musical gift will add to the service and give everyone a fun opportunity to sing with us!
See you on July 7, August 4, and September 1!
Interested in Education for Ministry (EfM)?
Interested in a deeper dive into Episcopal spiritual formation? Consider signing up for EfM, a distance learning program for adult Christian formation through theological education and reflection offered by the Beecken Center of the School of Theology at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. Think of the education level as somewhere between Sunday School and seminary.
This proven program has helped hundreds of lay folks around the country grow in their faith and discern what ministry they may be called to as a baptized member of Christ’s church. If you are interested in finding out more, stop by the EfM table outside during coffee hour for the next two weeks or email Ray Tackett ertack6560@gmail.com. Click here to read more about EfM: https://edsd.org/news/education-for-ministry-fertile-ground-to-grow-your-faith-2/
June Book Club
The next Book Club meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at 2 PM via RingCentral. For June, Book Club has selected Yellowface by R. F. Kuang. White lies. Dark humor. Deadly consequences. Bestselling sensation Juniper Song is not who she says she is, she didn’t write the book she claims she wrote, and she is most certainly not Asian American—in this chilling and hilariously cutting novel. New members are always welcome. For more information, please contact Alan Zimmerman at alanzimmerman@icloud.com
Pizza & Poetry & Pride
Thursday June 27th, from 4 to 8 PM in the library
Come when you can and stay for as long as you want, which could very well be the entire 4 hours since the 25 poems by 25 LGBTQ poets – from the historical and quite dead Walt Whitman to the living, yet a killer of a poet, Danez Smith – will have us laughing, recounting past glories, confronting a few lingering regrets, pondering future possibilities, and sharing it all with old or new friends. Think of it as Happy Hour in a church.
You are welcome to bring beverages or even something healthier than pizza to share (the pizzas will be delivered around 6) though it’s not necessary. But please RSVP since space is limited. Questions? Or to reserve your place: Contact Ken at quitepositive@gmail.com
Forward Day by Day
The latest quarterly issue of Forward Day by Day has arrived and copies are available in the Narthex and Parish Office. St. Paul in the Desert supports your spiritual life beyond Sunday, and Forward Day by Day is a simple, but powerful way to begin engaging with a little hunk of scripture each day.
The daily reflections that follow the Bible verses are written by disciples, just like you, and share a wide range of lessions and thought-provoking messages. We commend it to you if you are looking for a daily prayer practice.
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
Fresh flowers at the altar honor God and add to the beauty of our worship. We are in need of altar flowers for several special celebratory Sundays coming up, including the Bishop’s visit! 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 is suggested.
Prayers of the Church
For the Anglican Communion, and for the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby; for Iglesia Anglicana de la Region Central de America (The Anglican Church in Central America), The Most Reverend Juan David Alvarado, Primate.
For the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut, The Right Reverend Jeffrey W. Mello, Bishop.
For the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, The Right Reverend Dr. Susan Brown Snook, Bishop; for The Church of St. Paul in the Desert, for Rev. Jessie and Rev. Dan, and for our parish lay leadership and ministries; for the City of Palm Springs and all civic leadership.
For Gun Violence Prevention
God of Justice, help us, your church, find our voice. Empower us to change this broken world and to protest the needless deaths caused by gun violence. Give us power to rise above our fear that nothing can be done and grant us the conviction to advocate for change. Amen. JUNE IS NATIONAL GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH.
For those commended to our prayers: Teresa O’Steen, Harry Nussbaum, Janice Linsenmayer, Roger Allen, the Dylan Prince family, Peter Smurthwaite, Jim Franklin, Dawn Alvarado, Kelly Barnard, Roberto Thais, Dennis Telles, Delores Swanson, Eliott Kahn, Kristen, Julie Duke, Joey Lim, Ned Smith, Merle McBee, Charice Mayer, Jared Mayer, Bonnie Ong, Robert Blackshear, Michael Marguet, June Marguet, Lisa Yegin, Michael Neill, Ronald Woodward, Andy Johnson, Terry Garrity, Rus Butler, Joe Christopher, Hap Blaisdell, David Valenzuela, Amelia Grinstead, Chloe Grace Wilson Barton, Marilyn De Silva Currie, Jamie Currie, Greg Gowdy, Tom Lutgen; pray for all those for whom no prayers have been said.
For those who have died: Woody Wood, Jerry O’Steen, Dylan Prince, David Duke, Charles Gossett, Betsy Westaway. 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 with birthdays: June 3: Cheryl Kelley, Wayne Soucy, Megan Goehring, Julie Galperon; June 4: Richard Patenaude, Mary Seger; June 5: Jim Redline, Jaidyn Arvizu-Fuller; June 6: Judi Miller-Steele; June 7: Leroy Potts, Chuck Coursey; June 8: Jim Panos.
For those celebrating their anniversary: June 8: Sharon & John Pick.
For those for whom flowers have been donated: Today’s Altar Flowers are sponsored by Ray Kelley, in thanksgiving for Cheryl Kelley’s birthday (June 3).
“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 9, The Third Sunday after Pentecost.
Upcoming Meetings & Events at St Paul’s
- Sunday, June 2 – Pentecost II – Bishop’s Visit – Reception following 10:30 Service – Q & A with the Bishop – Wear your St. Paul’s T-Shirt!
- Tuesday, June 4 – 2:00 PM – St. Paul’s Book Club – “Yellowface” by R. F. Kuang – Via RingCentral
- Wednesday, June 5 – 2:00 PM – Charles Gossett funeral service
- Thursday, June 6 – 1:00 PM – Campus Care Monthly Meeting – Library
- Sunday, June 9 – 10:30 AM service – Baptism of Botolph Boecke
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.
