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How Can These Things Be?
There are many things that can astonish. Some of them build and include, while some are destructive. The recent news is full of astonishments.
People taking the risk to demand civil rights and beginning the process of receiving them. Others making the same demands and are swept aside, for now. Earthquake and tsunami deliver devastation. In response, whole communities band together, support one another, and begin to reclaim their lives.
In this week’s Gospel, Nicodemus is astonished at Jesus’ invitation to be born from water and Spirit. “How can this be?” Nicodemus is a frightened seeker. He has heard of Jesus and wants to get closer. He probably has pigeon-holed Jesus as someone who can help him to incrementally come closer to God. He wants to know more.
Jesus turns his world over and astonishes him. “You must be born from above.” Start over. It is a new and unexpected path.”Let go and see where God’s Spirit takes you.”
I see some of myself in Nicodemus. I have invested lots of time, energy and resources in a particular pathway for connecting with God. I am willing to work at it and make sacrifices for it. Then God astonishes me. “Let go and see where the Spirit takes you.”
One of the privileges I have grown used to is control. I feel very much at home when I know what to expect and I get to make all the choices. The sacrifice God is asking of me is to let go of my sense of sure. God is asking me to replace it with astonishment.
It seems that I am not alone in my preference for control. This week in our worship, we will all be invited to make a new start. We will all be invited to be renewed by the Spirit. We will be invited on an adventure that will astonish us. At the 10:30 Sunday Morning Worship, Bp. Chilton will receive a class of seekers who are open to being astonished. One will be baptized, some will receive the empowering of the Spirit as she prays for them. All of us are invited to receive new life from God and embody that new life in our selves and our relationships.
Join us.
Fr. Andrew
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John 3:1-17
There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?
“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
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Special Invitation TONIGHT!
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Instructed Eucharist to Conclude Inquirer’s/Confirmation Class
Bp. Chilton and Brother Michael-Gregory invite the church to join the last session of the Confirmation Class, Tonight Thursday, March 17th at 7 p.m. in the Church’s Sanctuary.
Instructed Eucharist: A Special Invitation
Every member of the St. Paul’s family is invited to join the Confirmation class for the Instructed (also called Instructive) Eucharist on Thursday March 17th at 7 p.m. We will celebrate the Eucharist with commentary and explanation all through the liturgy. Even long-time Episcopalians tell us they learn something new when they experience the Eucharist this way.
Celebrate Your Fellow Parishioners – as they become Confirmed, Baptised, Reaffirmed or Received. Br. Michael-Gregory will be presenting the candidates at the 10:30 a.m. service this Sunday, March 20th. They are: Jerry Rickard, Jerome DiNito, Derek and Sandy Austin, Audrey SpencerMorris, Timothy Sharbaugh, Bruce Mills, George Peek, Tim Johnson, Andre’-Paul Chaussier, John Wilson, Christopher Brunette, Sandra Scardino, and Julee Collins.
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 Every Thursday during Lent, Fr. Andrew will be leading a new style of book study. There are two opportunities to participate each Thursday, at either noon or at 7:00 p.m. Please bring a sack lunch to the noon study.
The participants will read The Great Emergence by Phyllis Tickle…together! Ms. Tickle led the Diocesan Convention about 3 years ago. Her book is a description of the great changes that are taking place today in the currents of Christianity. Participants will read about new trends and challenges, and how the Episcopal Church is poised to meet them.
Instead of each of the participants purchasing a copy of the book, reading it at home, and coming together for a study; we will take turns reading the book and discussing it as a group. Each participant will read several pages and pass the book to the next participant, and so on. The reader or any other participant can stop the process for questions or reflections.
There are sign-up sheets in the Parish Hall or you can call the parish office at 760.320.7488 ext. 0.
You may also RSVP to andrew@stpaulsps.org.
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United Thank Offering
May In-Gathering begins April 2 & 3
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This year we are focused on Grace, Gratitude, Generosity, which is: Love for what we have, and Love for what we have been given, and Love for the God that gives it. United Thank Offering, often referred to as UTO, is a ministry of the Episcopal Church that provides a way for men, women, and children of the Episcopal Church to give daily thanks to God. Anglican and Episcopalian dioceses received over $2 million in grants in 2010 to distribute to almost 70 individual projects or churches. During our Fall In-Gathering the Church of St. Paul collected $2,312. Last year, the Los Angeles Diocese received a $10,000 grant to build a storage facility for non-perishable food and household items for Interfaith Refugee and Immigration services.
The women who had a dream so long ago and started this outreach gave us a challenge… and one that we must answer every day. What are you thankful for?
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 The theme for Lent, this year, is Adventurous Prayer. The next DOK meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 29th at 1:00 p.m., to be held in the condo behind the parish offices. Please join us as we pray, praise God, and think about our Lenten season. All women parishioners are invited to attend. For additional information call Bonnie Stroock at 760.324.7949.
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Spring Lunch Date for ECW
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A springtime luncheon is in the offing for the Episcopal Church Women on Wednesday, April 6, beginning at 11:30 a.m. with the regular business meeting. The salad luncheon follows at noon.
All women of the church are invited, and newcomers to the parish will be especially welcome. Those attending are asked to bring a favorite salad, rolls, or dessert to serve four; beverages will be provided. For additional information, please contact Bette Knutson, 760.416.5739.
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2nd Annual Stimulus Dinner and Silent Auction
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 Saturday, April 2nd at 6:00 p.m., the Vestry of St. Paul’s invites you to a an evening of fun and fellowship to help us close our budget gap. The $20 tickets are available after our worship services and at the Parish Office.
The Silent Auction will feature the services of Contour Dermatology, a week’s stay in New Orleans for Mardi Gras 2012, 2 tickets to Dinner in the Canyons on October 8, 2011, featuring Buffy St. Marie, and many more amazing items.
 We will also support this year’s Rex Run by Rex Comer. You may sponsor Rex as he runs in support of St. Paul. Rex will be at the dinner with a shirt for all the supporters to sign.
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2011 Pledges are still needed
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The primary means of financially supporting God’s mission and ministry at St. Paul’s is the personal pledge. It helps the parish leadership anticipate giving so that we can plan staffing and programs.
Pledge forms are available in church, at the Parish office, and on-line. You are invited to make a pledge and let our leadership know that you will be a partner in our ministries this year. Pledges can change if your circumstances change. In fact, we have invited those who have already pledged to raise theirs by $150 annually to fully fund our work this year.
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Maseno, North Kenya Missions
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Dr. Gerry Hardison and his wife Nancy, parishioners of All Souls’ Episcopal Church in Point Loma (the Diocese of San Diego) have been in Maseno, Kenya, since 2001, where Gerry is Medical Director of Maseno Mission Hospital and Nancy is Principal of St. Phillip’s Theological College.
Get a glimpse into the daily lives of these two dedicated missionaries and their work to combat a human crisis in Kenya, where HIV/AIDS is having a devastating impact: over 2 million people are living with the disease, which causes more than 100,000 deaths annually and has orphaned more than a million children.
Photos provided by Glen Noteboom are now displayed on the south wall bulletin board of the Parish Hall and wall display provided by Claire and Jerry McCleery.
Several parishioners have asked how to donate to this mission. There are now cards inprinted with the needed information on the bulletin board in the Parish Hall. Stop by and pick up a card.
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Desert SOS Dessert Ministry
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 Six volunteers joined Ministry Team Leader Hap Blaisdell at Roy’s Desert Resource Center to serve dessert at each of three dinner seatings Monday night. The group included Bishop Chilton Knudsen, Gordon Etheridge, Fred Crawford, Chuck Marx, Ron Shepherd and Hap Blaisdell.
With the snowbirds leaving the desert soon, the Desert SOS Dessert Ministry is in need of more parishioners to bring in desserts for this worthy cause. With the Center now operating at full residential capacity we are serving more dessert items. A great big THANK YOU to the providers this week, which were: Bonnie Stroock and the Family and Children’s Ministry, Mary Lou Feenstra and Fred Crawford.
Anyone interested in donating desserts for this Ministry can leave them in the Parish Hall kitchen before 4:00 p.m. any Monday. Packages should be labeled FOR S.O.S. Dessert suggestions include cake, cupcakes, ice cream bars, fruit, cheese.
Sign up sheets are posted in the Parish Hall. Questions? you can reach Hap at 760.323.5726.
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Camp Stevens, our diocesan camp and retreat center near Julian, provides a enriching summer camp program for children, teens, and a choir camp. At Camp Stevens, attendees are provided the experience to appreciate and care of one-another while deepening their love of God and God’s creation.
St. Paul in the Desert would like to enable a disadvantaged child the chance to experience the enrichment of Camp Stevens. We need to raise $500 to do this. Please place your donation in the green Camp Stevens box in the parish hall, or leave a check,in the box, or in the collection plate and mark it “Camp Stevens Child”.
Watch for updates, this spring, about interesting retreats and workshops that you can be part of in the beautiful natural world of Camp Stevens.
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Aid for Japan
 Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) is already on the ground ministering to the people of Japan in the wake of the disasters which have hit. You may make a donation to that ministry of the Episcopal Church by writing a check to St. Paul’s with Japan in the memo or by going to the ERD website at www.er-d.org to make an on-line donation.
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A Holy Communion Service will be held, Wednesday, March 23rd at 10:00 a.m. at Premiere Health Care, presided over by Fr. Fred Myers. Fr. Fred always welcomes assistance at Communion.
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Family & Children’s Ministry
Reminder
 Save the morning of March 19th to go hiking on the Lykken Trail. Call Bonnie 760.324.7949 if you would like information on the Family and Children’s Ministry.
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Coffee Hour
 The hosts for the 8:00 a.m. Coffee Hour are Robert Woods and Barry Hagenbuch.
The 2011 coffee hour sign-up sheets are posted on the north wall at Hogarth Hall. Find an empty slot and fill it with your name. For more information, call Ray Kelley at 760.778.1725.
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The Childrens Choir
 All children age 4 and above are welcome to participate in this group, learning singing skills and providing special music for the 10:30 service several times during the school year. For more information or questions please contact Nathan at 760.320.7488, ext. 225.
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Earn Money While Dining Out
fo r The Church of St. Paul. Whenever any St. Paul’s parishioners have breakfast, lunch or dinner at “The Old Creek House” in Palm Springs the restaurant will donate 10% of the total to The Church of St. Paul in the Desert. Simply sign your name and write in the name, “The Church of St. Paul in the Desert”, on your receipt. A check for the amount will be sent to St. Paul’s. The 10% does not include promotions or other discounts.
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Newcomers
Are you sure we have your contact information? If you haven’t received any of the latest mailings then we probably don’t have your mailing address. In January we will sending invites for you to join us in a series of Newcomer events that we believe you will find to be informative and enjoyable. We may not have your current address. If you feel this is the case, then please fill out the form in the pew pocket and place it in the plate, give to an usher or you may send your contact information by email to vjwinters@dc.rr.com.
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Bullies Not Welcome Here
At St. Paul in the Desert we want to welcome all worshipers to a place that is free of violence and bullying.
Physical, verbal or emotional violence against others or against oneself is not acceptable.
“It Gets Better” is a series of video messages to encourage Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, or Transgender youth and let them know that they are loved as they are.
“A Blessing for Those Who Are Bullied” was written by the Rt. Rev. Steven Charleston, a Bishop of the Episcopal Church.
It is not enough to say “NO” to bullies. It is important to stand up for people and to provide resources for those who have been the targets.
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