For Sunday August 31, 2025
Episcopal Public Policy Advocacy and Awareness Campaign: Summer 2025
THIS WEEK’S ADVOCACY AREA: FOREIGN ASSISTANCE
Years ago, and long before our current crisis, the late President Jimmy Carter said, “A strong nation, like a strong person, can afford to be gentle, firm, thoughtful, and restrained. It can afford to offer a helping hand to others. It is a weak nation, like a weak person, that must behave with bluster and boasting and rashness and other signs of insecurity.”
If our worldview embraces the conviction that every one of us, regardless of any difference including religion, is part of God’s one human family, then a central component of our Christian vocation is to build the kingdom of God here on earth. This stands in contradiction of trying to make our nation “first” over and above everyone else.
Key Aspects of Episcopal Foreign Aid Policy
The Church supports foreign aid that promotes long-term, sustainable economic development, emphasizing environmental protection. They advocate for providing aid to those in need, including food and medical assistance. The Church has voiced strong support for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), expressing concern over cuts and freezes to its funding.
I encourage all of us to each out to our members of Congress about this critical issue today.
The Episcopal Public Policy Network makes this an easy thing to do.
Find out more at: www.episcopalchurch.org/ministries/office-government-relations/action-alerts/
Rev. Steve Huber
Office Closed Next Week
The Church Office will be closed THIS week (the week of September 1st) to accommodate preparations for new staff. If you have a pastoral emergency, please dial 760-320-7488, extension 8. All other matters will begin to be handled the following week.
Thank you for prayers during this exciting transition!
Free Books!
For the next few Sundays, stop by the library cart near the Welcome Table on Sunday mornings and peruse the stacks of books that we are giving away. We received several donations recently and have doubles of some books and are cleaning out others. Take as many books as you want (clean us out!).
Deacons-To-Be Retreat
Mike Mullins, St. Paul’s Diaconal Intern, and Ray Tackett, St. Paul’s Postulant, attended the West Coast Collaborative Deacon Retreat in Scotts Vally, CA Last Week.
“Let me tell you how much I enjoyed this past weekend. What a privilege to be with such a fantastic group of people and God’s Spirit upon us. True Joy! Plus, we kind of learned to sing a bit and standing behind the altar to set the table for the Priest was a bit intimidating as I physically touched, folded, unfolded and placed the cup and pieces of the Stack in their place. A deep sense of reverence and appreciation for Holy Things!”—Ray Tackett
“The West Coast Collaborative Deacon Retreat was a reminder of how vibrant and ‘not-cookie-cutter’ our church is. The people who are in formation to become vocational deacons are all charming and full of love for the Lord and respect for each other. The WCC process is forming true ministers, dedicated to showing God’s love to all with whom they come in contact!”—Mike Mullins
Deacon Class Offered Sundays in September
Deacons are often the forgotten order of clergy. Often viewed as JV priests, the deacon is an ancient order that is so much more! If you have ever wanted to find out more about what a deacon actually is/does or if you are curious about discerning a call to the diaconate, this is the class for you!
Nicene Creed Class Offered Sundays in September/October
Ever struggle with portions of the Nicene Creed? Ever wonder if you can even consider yourself a Christian because of it? If you’ve ever felt that way, you’re not alone! Come join us for an in-depth study of the Nicene Creed and discover how it may or may not fit into your spiritual life in the 21st Century. Questions & doubts more than welcome!
LAST Summer Prior Choir – SEPTEMBER 7th
Choir rehearsals are on hiatus for the summer. We will have a “Prior Choir” on the first Sundays the month (LAST ONE is 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
Save the date—SAFE CHURCH Training In-Person at St. Paul’s on Nov. 18th!
Join Presiding Bishop Rowe in Sacred Ground program year launch
Episcopalians and all interfaith partners are invited to join a fall program year launch event for Sacred Ground, the church’s 11-part film- and readings-based dialogue series on race, grounded in faith. Sacred Ground circles have grown exponentially in dioceses across the country since the program began in 2019.
Join on Zoom for a virtual conversation with Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe about the spiritual dimension of Sacred Ground. Hear what makes the program compelling and why the series continues to challenge participants to do the deep work of racial healing, reconciliation, and justice—in their own lives, within their ministries, and in society.
September Book Club
The next Book Club meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at 2:00 PM. The meeting will be held in the Music Cottage on the church campus. For September, Book Club has selected Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner. Creation Lake is a novel about a secret agent, a thirty-four-year-old American woman of ruthless tactics and clean beauty who is sent to do dirty work in France infiltrating an anarchist collective. This rendition of “noir” is taut and dazzling, a work of high art, high comedy, and unforgettable suspense.
New members are always welcome. For more information, please contact Alan Zimmerman at alanzimmerman@icloud.com.
Become a Guardian Angel for the Marsha P. Johnson LGBTQ+ Youth Drop-In Center
Section 14 The Untold Story on display at the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum Changing Gallery
Exhibition Title: Section 14 The Untold Story
Exhibition Dates: June 14, 2025 – May 31, 2026
Since time immemorial, the Agua Caliente people have called this land home. Many voices have commented and argued over the history and legacy of Section 14. Now, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians share our perspectives on this land and the Tribe’s continuing efforts to assert rightful sovereignty over it.
Section 14 The Untold Story unfolds around a central theater in the Museum’s Changing Gallery. In the newly-released 16-minute film at the center of the exhibition, Tribal Elders recall life on Section 14 and the struggles their families and their community endured. Around this powerful record, the exhibition presents documentary evidence, the facts of the matter drawn from local, state, and national archives: How private interests worked to take our land and deny our rights. How we fought to regain those rights and hold firmly onto our land and our culture.
INTERESTED IN JOINING THE REVS TO SEE THE SECTION 14 GALLERY IN THE FALL? STAY TUNED FOR A DATE.
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.
Click here to Register6 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 currently the acting Archbishop of Canterbury; pray for the Church of South India (United), The Right Reverend Paul Francis Ravichandran, Bishop.
For the Episcopal Diocese of Montana, The Right Reverend Martha Elizabeth Stebbins, Bishop.
For the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, The Right Reverend Doctor Susan Brown Snook, Bishop; for the clergy and people of St. Luke’s, San Diego; for Diocesan Institutions & Organizations, especially Episcopal Community Services, RefugeeNet, Vida Joven, and St. Paul’s Senior Services.
For those commended to our prayers: Marty Turner, Ed Walsh, Stuart Bader, Richard Klinkerman, the parents of Anthony Tarnoski, Steve and Michelle Tarnoski, and their extended family; pray for Don Hamilton, Michael Carmona, James Phillips, Brian Bishop, David Smith, Miguel Mattias, Amy Kidder, Mary Ann Lee, Ben Clark, Marla Mark, Lt. Lauren Moore, Lt. Thomas Moore, Veronica Pooh-Nash Poleate; Rian Watts, Tina McLemore, Carol Wright, Lori Miller, Jorge Santiago, Glas & Lidia, Lucy Youngren, Bonnie Ong, Roger Allen, 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; pray for all those for whom no prayers have been said.
For those who have died: Annie Belle Cheatham, Susan M. Patterson, John Edward Fischer, Verl Sproul, Anthony Tarnoski, Charlena Verrette, Beth Boyce, Mae Kaljian, and Dana Gunning. 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: September 1: Mary & Roy Seger; September 2: Diane & Andy Jessup.
For those with birthdays: September 3: Br. John Westaway, Steven Holston; September 4: Nat Wilburn; September 6: Jeffry Georgianni.
For those for whom flowers have been donated: Today’s Altar Flowers are sponsored by Clinton Carbon, in loving memory of his mother, Anna M. Carbon, and in thanksgiving for her birthday, AND BY Chuck Peery and Alan Glass, in thanksgiving for their 40th Anniversary.
“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 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 September 7, The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost.
Upcoming Meetings & Events at St Paul’s
- Sunday, August 31 – 8:00AM & 10:30AM – Pentecost XI
- Tuesday, September 2 – 2:00 PM – Book Club – Creation Lake – Music Cottage
- Sunday, September 7 – 10:00 AM – Prior Choir Practice
- Sunday, September 7 – 9:15-10:15 AM – What is A Deacon class – Parish Library
- Sunday, September 14 – 9:15-10:15 AM – Nicene Creed class – Parish Hall Yucca Room
- Saturday, September 20 – 10:00 AM-2:00 PM – Commission on Ministry: Day of Information
Notice!
The Church Office will be closed the week of September 1st to accommodate preparations for new staff. If you have a pastoral emergency, please dial 760-320-7488, extension 8. All other, non-emergency matters will be deferred to the following week. Thank you for prayers during this exciting transition!
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.
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/
