|
Calling Every Nation Under Heaven
Community is a challenge.
Diversity is a challenge.
Building a diverse community is our calling as Christians and it is a double challenge.
The very processes that build cohesion in the community, may be threatened by welcoming people who are different from “us.” Race, national origin, class, sexual orientation, and income are some of the “diversities” that have historically made a cohesive community difficult. This is nothing new.
We celebrate the Feast of Pentecost this week. The selection from the Acts of the Apostles we read anticipates this difficulty and responds with a challenge. The coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other believers happened to Jews at a Jewish festival in the Jewish capital. Two thousand years distant I might think this was a homogenous group. The scripture we read tells a different story.
It says that “there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem.” The diversity of this devout community is then articulated at length. This is the first explosion of diversity, the inclusion of non-Judean or non-Gallilean Jews. The next would come when the community struggled to include non-Jews.
What if this was not meant to be understood as a checklist of 1st century Judaism, but was a symbol of diversity greater than the apostles could imagine? (Thanks to Sermon Brainwave) This is important because it is God’s good news to the world, not mine. My list of possible diversities is limited by all the things that make me human. God’s vision is bigger.
At Pentecost we are reminded of God’s Holy Spirit that leads us to build community. We are also reminded that it is a community that is as diverse as every nation under heaven – more diverse than we can imagine. We are asked to use God’s imagination and practice the Spirit’s welcome.
Join us as the Spirit re-imagines us in worship.
Fr. Andrew
|
|
The Acts of the Apostles 2:1-8
When the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?
|
|
UTO Ingathering Day is May 27th
|
|
Think about your blessings and bring an offering for the special United Thankoffering baskets at Church. Through the UTO we learn to nurture the habit of giving thanks to God for special blessings by using little blue cardboard boxes to collect coins and bills. Through these offerings, the National UTO office grants requests by ministries at home and overseas for funds. A very colorful parade of UTO representatives from all the countries in the Anglican Communion will present their funds at the General Convention in Indianapolis in July.
|
|
Funeral Announcement – Stephen Keller
|
|
Celebration of the Life of Stephen Keller.
August 15, 1979 – May 5, 2012
On June 2, at 11 am there will be a service for Stephen.
Stephen first connected with St. Paul’s as a part of the SOS program on Friday Nights.
He was able to get into his own housing and became one who served others in need and who cared for his friends and for St. Paul’s.
He worshiped regularly and had a particular ministry of pruning and otherwise caring for the parish roses.
|
|
“Sundays at 9:15”
In The Library
May
5/27 The Synoptic Gospels: St. Luke–led by Jerry DiNoto
June
6/03 Augustine and the Classical World:
Romans and Vandals and Goths .. Oh My!
led by Craig Ewing
6/10 Augustine: The City of God:
You Want Eternity? Try Reading 1,000 Pages of Latin
led by Craig Ewing
6/17 Augustine: The Life and Death of Monica:
If It’s Not one Thing, It’s Your Mother
led by Craig Ewing
6/24 Augustine: On Time:
What do the Big and Little Hands Look Like from Inside the Clock?
led by Craig Ewing
August
Marcus Borg’s new book, Speaking Christian: Why Christian Words Have Lost Their Meaning and Power and How They Can Be Restored will be the focus of our August Sundays at 9:15 Adult Faith Formation classes led by Victoria Hatch. The book is available at http://www.amazon.com in paperback or Kindle edition. The Faith Formation Team encourages you to order it now and read it several times before the August classes begin. It’s one of Borg’s better books . . . and that’s saying a lot.”
|
|
“Thursdays At 7”
May
5/24 Buddism: The Path to Nirvana led by the Faith Formation Team
5/31 Buddism: The Buddhist Community, with the Dharmachakra Buddhist Center
June
6/07 Visual Journeying–led by Susan Green, this four-week course is designed to help us explore methods of prayer, listening and journaling to nourish and enhance our prayer life.
|
|
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.
|
|
The St. Paul Columbarium Niches are over 60% sold out. If you are interested in a specific niche, please do not wait to purchase it or reserve it. Deposits are required for all niche reservations. Please contact Jonathan Abernethy-Deppe, at 760.320.7488, ext. 224 for further information.
|
|
|
|
Prayer Shawl Ministry
. . . meets every Wednesday from 10 am – 1 pm in the Parish Hall. This peace-filled stitching circle gives members fulfillment and spiritual sustenance in creating prayer shawls to comfort those in need of prayer. For more details contact Valerie Ferguson at 760.799.5927, Barbara Hawkins Villani at 760.322.3987, or Audrey Spencermorris at 760.835.5506.
|
|
Coffee Hour
Coffee Hour hosts at 8:00 are Jessica & Marcus Scott, in memory of their daughter, Kyara, who died May 26, 2008; 10:30 host is John Westaway.
There are a number of openings for coffee hour hosts in the coming months. To sign up to host a Coffee Hour, please use the binder on the entrance table in the Parish Hall. If you have questions, please contact Ray or Cheryl Kelley at 760.778.1725.
|
|
Volunteers from St. Paul’s continue to serve dessert to between 70 and 100 homeless men, women and children at Roy’s every Monday evening. The desserts consist of baked goods and other goodies (store-bought or homemade) from our parishioners. As well, we deliver each month sox and undies purchased from our SOS Fund or placed in the SOS basket on Sunday. which is funded by special donations from parishioners. All of these efforts are deeply appreciated by these people who are earnestly striving to get back into the main stream.
If you would like to participate in this program, you can:
-
Sign up to Volunteer
-
Write a check to St. Pauls (marked for SOS Fund)
-
Bring new white socks and/or large underwear for the Basket
-
Place baked goods in the center section of the Fridge (again, marked For SOS)
Please call Hap Blaisdell at 760-323-5726 for additional information and ideas.
|
|
Sign Up for Flowers,
Coffee Hour and
Desert SOS
To make is easier for parishioners to sign-up for Flowers, Coffee Hours, and the Desert SOS Dessert Ministry, the sign-up sheets are in binders that are on the entrance table in the Parish Hall. The 2012 binders are filling fast, so if you have a special date that you want to commemorate, be sure to sign up early.
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
|
Write a comment: