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As We Are One
When Jesus prays, we should watch out!
This is Jesus’ prayer for his disciples after his last meal with them. The language is often confusing for those of us who read it today and who are unfamiliar with the context of the time. Simply put, Jesus is rehearsing his relationship with God who sent him, his accomplishments on behalf of God, and his desire that the disciples would know and maintain the same closeness that he enjoyed with God.
It has all been about relationship.
From the beginning of the Gospel according to John, the relationship of Jesus and the Father has been established and disclosed. Jesus has used his relationship and his authority to restore relationships among the people he has encountered. Some have been a mixed bag. The man born blind, was excluded from synagogue and family after being unsuspectingly healed by Jesus. Actually, he was excluded when he would not turn on Jesus. Being excluded from one, Jesus offered him a new community with him.
In his prayer, Jesus asks that the disciples would be one, just as Jesus and his Father were one. He was very clear that he never doubted his unity with God, but that the disciples would have a learning curve. I believe that the unity he invoked was not a challenge to his followers, but a gift he promised. And I believe that it is a gift for his followers today, for us.
This gift of unity is not an achievement we have earned or can earn. It is not the reward for doing things right. It is God’s promise and gift. It is a visible sign of God’s other gift, love.
We live in God’s promise of love and unity. We also live in the reality of brokenness and apathy. Our work as Jesus’ followers is to live out the promise, to lift up the promise, in the face of our daily lives. Our worship this weekend is one of the places where we practice this. Serving the women, children and men at the Desert Resource Center or Well in the Desert is another way we practice this. We are practicing God’s promises as we wait to see all of them fulfilled.
Join us.
Fr. Andrew
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John 17:1-11
Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.
“I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. “
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Adult Faith Building – “Sundays at 9:15”
 Sunday, June 5th we conclude our study of “Anglican/Episcopal Tradition”—What it means and from whence we came? We shall again use a video presentation followed by discussion, to help us discover our origins and how we have developed as an on-going, growing community of faith. We may not answer all the questions; however, we may increase our ability to live comfortably with ambiguity. Led by the Rev. Canon Victoria Hatch. Show up, bring a friend!
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PLEASE NOTE!!!
No “Sunday’s at 9:15” class on June 12th!
Instead we’ll join the Church’s Pentecost Birthday Party!
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Adult Faith Building – “Sundays at 9:15”
 On June 19th, we’ll explore “The Story of St. Thomas.” Class begins with a DVD presentation led by Professor Amy-Jill Levine, of Vanderbilt University Divinity School. She points out that the “doubting Thomas” label is an unfortunate misnomer. She will also explore with us three ancient texts attributed to St. Thomas which are receiving lots of attention today. Following the DVD, the Rev. Dr. David E. Abernethy-Deppe will lead us in discussion.
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Adult Faith Building – “Sundays at 9:15”
On June 26th, the Rev. Canon Victoria Hatch will help us explore “The Story of Mary Magdalene.” Again, we begin with a DVD presentation by Professor Amy-Jill Levine, of Vanderbilt University Divinity School. There are many myths and legends about this interesting woman, including that she may have been Jesus’ lover or wife. We will also want to explore her extended conversation with the resurrected Jesus in which, according to the Gospel of John, she is commissioned to be the “apostle to the apostles.” Come and see!
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Adult Faith Building – “Thursdays at 7”
June 9-30, we will discuss the new book written by our Presiding Bishop, The Most Reverend Katherine Jefferts Schori, “The Heartbeat of God: Finding the Sacred in the Middle of Everything.” In this book, she explores the intersections of faith with the major issues of our day—poverty, climate change, the economy, health care. How does faith speak to those issues, and what is the faith response? This series will be facilitated by the Rev. Canon Victoria Hatch. You can get the book from Amazon, both in hard copy and as a downloadable to your Kindle or Nook. Join us for this interesting series.
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PLEASE NOTE!!!
No “Sundays at 9:15” class on July 3rd.
It’s the 4th of July Week-end!! Enjoy the Fireworks!
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Adult Faith Building – “Sundays at 9:15”
Beginning July 10th, The Rev. Rick Tinsley will lead a 4-week study of The Liturgy: Practicing the Presence of God.” We’ll discuss the details of The Liturgy: Where does it come from? Why do we do it that way? What does it mean? By better understanding the history, structure and meaning of Liturgy, we can enhance our worship experience. As we practice God’s presence using the Liturgy, we will become more aware of God’s presence as we go about our lives, sharing the Abundant Life, and serving Christ in others. Mark your calendars now!
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PLEASE NOTE!!!
“Thursdays at 7: will not be held during July and August.
“Thursdays at 7” will begin again in September, after Labor Day.
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Episcopal Relief and Development
Responds to Severe Storms and Tornadoes
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The severe storms and tornadoes that overwhelmed over seven mid-western states from Canada to Texas this week continue to disrupt the lives of all in the region. The death toll from the April torandoes reached over 300 across seven states, including 236 in Tuscalosa,Alabama alone. The Joplin tornado has brought the toll up to an additional 132 lives lost, 156 unaccounted for, with thousands that have been injured and most of the population now is homeless.
Episcopal Relief and Development has appealed for our support of the growing number of dioceses responding to those in distress. Help storm victims by donating to St. Paul’s indicating “storm relief” in the comments space.
Pray for those who are at risk or who have suffered losses, for the families of those who have died, and for the rescue and relief teams who are working to save lives and address immediate needs.
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Desert SOS Dessert Ministry
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St. Paul’s SOS Dessert Ministry
 We encourage our parishioners to get in the habit of buying an extra box of cookies, doughnuts, fruit, cheese or any other special treat when they do their weekly grocery shopping-and then donating it to Roy’s through our Dessert Ministry. This would assist us in providing dessert for the 90+ clients, many of them children, of Roy’s Desert Resource Center, every Monday evening. Parishioners can bring items to church on the weekend or deliver desserts before 4:00 p.m. on Monday. Place the perishable desserts in the Parish Hall refrigerator (labeled clearly “SOS”). Contact Hap for more information at 760.323.5726.
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Well In The Desert
Now Serves Lunch at St. Paul’s on Wednesdays
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The Well in the Desert has moved its meal service at St. Paul’s from Fridays to Wednesdays. In order to support the retail businesses in our neighborhood, we requested a change in the day of our meal service. Now a hot meal is served at St. Paul’s from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. every Wednesday.
The Well needs volunteers to carry out their services and they need financial support to provide them. You can call (760) 327-8577 to volunteer. If you want to contribute to the Well, just write “Well” in the memo portion of your check.
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The population of men, women and children being cared for at Roy’s Resource Center has increased 30% this year. These clients are in need of the basic necessities of life. The SOS Fund needs YOUR support to continue to help our homeless friends who are trying to break the cycle of homelessness. Each month $300.00 comes from the fund to provide undergarments, socks and other necessities. If you are interested in supporting this outreach ministry, drop a check in the collection plate. Make the check payable to: St. Paul’s, and in the memo area, write: SOS Fund.
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Notice – The Wednesday 6:00 p.m. Holy Communion service, held in the Library, has been closed for the summer.
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A Holy Communion Service
will be held, Wednesday, June 8th at 10:00 a.m. at Windsor Court presided over by Fr. Fred Myers. Fr. Fred always welcomes assistance at Communion.
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Coffee Hour
The hosts for the 8:00 a.m.
and the 10:30 a.m. Coffee Hours is the Vestry.
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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Special Pentecost
Coffee Hours
Sunday, June 12th
The Adult Faith Formation Committee will celebrate Pentecost, the birthday of the church, by providing cake after both services.
Family and Children’s Ministry will honor the children after the 10:30 service. Come enjoy a piece of cake and view the children’s art creations.
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Recognition Sunday,
June 12th
All children of St. Paul in the Desert are invited to attend the 10:30 service to be recognized and honored.
Following the service, the children will display their own art creations about what they enjoy most at our church.
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Ride Needed
We have had a request from one of our most long-term members at the Church of St Paul in Desert for a ride to the 10:30 am service on Sundays. She lives just northeast of the intersection of Indian Canyon and Racquet Club. If this is a ministry you feel called to, please contact Jonathan Abernethy-Deppe, Parish Administrator, at 760.320.7488 ext 224.
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The Bishop’s Appeal
The Bishop’s Appeal supports the mission of the diocese through gifts that are used for support of our ongoing programs and ministries: congregational support and development, leadership development, pastoral care, ministry development, and Christian formation. 100% of your gift goes to supporting our ministries. To make a gift, to the secure website at http://www.edsd.org or mail to: Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, 2728 Sixth Ave., San Diego, CA 92103.
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Report Sexual Misconduct
As part of our ongoing commitment to creating a safe haven for everyone, please be reminded that our diocese values the tenet of our baptismal covenant to “respect the dignity of every human being.” Part of the way we live into that is to train people in the prevention of sexual misconduct. Another part that goes hand-in-hand with training is reporting incidences of sexual misconduct. Our bishop, the Rt. Rev. James R. Mathes, takes reports seriously and investigates them thoroughly and confidentially. If you believe you have experienced sexual misconduct of any kind, please contact Bishop Mathes immediately: bishopmathes@edsd.org, 619-481-5450.
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NEWCOMERS
Are you receiving the latest mailings and the Abundant Lite weekly newsletter? If not, then we probably don’t have your correct mailing and/or email addresses. We want to make sure that you receive the invites to join us in a series of Newcomer events that we believe you will find to be informative and enjoyable. Please fill out the form in the pew pocket and place it in the plate, give it to an usher, or send your contact information by email to valerie.winters@stpaulsps.org.
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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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