The Abundant Lite – January 31, 2013

From the Rector

Doctor, Cure Yourself!

This week we read the second half of the story we began last week. Jesus preached a sermon about how God was ready to bless the poor, those in debt, and those who were oppressed, saying that he was in some way the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy.

After the congregation comments that Jesus is indeed the son of their neighbor, he anticipates and articulates their agenda. “What is in it for us?”

Jesus presumes that they want him to do healings and miracles in his own back yard, as he has done for outlying communities. The people’s angry response shows he has confounded their limited expectations.

Isn’t it natural for people to think that the blessings that come from a Son of Nazareth, should particularly be lavished upon his own community? Don’t we see this in political changes around the world and even in the political fortunes of our own country. If my side “wins,” shouldn’t I profit and not those who “lost?” Jesus challenges their selfish gate-keeping.

In response, the people want to push him off a cliff, but he journeys on without harm.

What is the point for us.

Jesus is telling the people how to understand God’s abundant blessing, and that it is not what they expect! They assume that the patronage of God’s largesse should be concentrated on the family, congregation, and village. With Isaiah, Jesus targets the least, the last, and the lost – total outsiders – as the people God would delight in blessing.

We are invited to hear from Jesus that God does not give the “church” any priority over the “world.” First to be fed and first to be cleansed were outsiders and enemies. We are not to constrict God’s abundance.

God’s gracious invitation is not an either/or. There is an abundance for all. Jesus does not call us to get in line, he calls us to follow and to bless without boundaries.

Join our worship this weekend as we move “outside” to bless the world in Jesus’ name.

Fr. Andrew

Featured Scripture

     Luke 4:21-30

In the synagogue at Nazareth, Jesus read from the book of the prophet Isaiah, and began to say, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” He said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Doctor, cure yourself!’ And you will say, ‘Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.'” And he said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.” When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.
 

Episcopal Night at the San Diego Opera

‘Murder in the Cathedral’

Friday, April 5, at 7pm

Join Bishop Mathes and members from churches of the diocese for an evening of world-class opera and experience a 900-year old story of politics, intrigue, temptation and murder. Tickets purchased at a 20% discount include a backstage tour and a glamorous pre-opera reception. Visit the webpage www.sdopera.com/promo/offeredsd. For more information, pick up a flyer in the church office or contact Vanessa Dinning at 619.533.8047 or Vanessa.Dinning@sdopera.com.

Funeral Announcement

The Funeral for Jane Thompson will be held at St. Pauls on February 16 at 1:00 pm.

The Desert Convocation:

Building a Community of Conversation

Alice Parker – “Finding the Heart of the Song” is the all-day workshop that Ms. Parker (teacher, composer, conductor and long-time collaborator with Robert Shaw) will lead on Saturday, February 23rd,  beginning with registration check-in at 8:30am. The day will end with a service of songs and scriptures around 5:15pm and all singers and musicians are welcome to participate in this workshop. While singing Spirituals, Folk songs, Sacred songs, and Anthems, Ms. Parker will explore the relationship between lyrics and melody. Reservations are required by Friday, February 15th. The cost for the Saturday workshop is $15 ($12 students) and the first 100 attendees to reserve will receive lunch as well.

On Sunday, February 24th, she will give the “Sermon in Song” at our 10:30  service, and from 2-4pm she will give a short talk and answer your questions in a general session open to the public. Everyone is invited to share these special events with this iconic musical figure. Contact Nathan Ensign for reservations and more information at 760.320.7488 ext 225.

CONFIRMATION! Are you…?

• Are you worshiping with our community and are ready to take a further step into becoming an Episcopalian?
• Are you allready an Episcopalian and have been inactive and want to reconnect?
• Are you confirmed in another denomination and want to be received into the Episcopal Church?
• Are you interested in exploring your faith in the context of St. Paul’s community?

Then our Confirmation Program is for you!

This journey will lead you through your own spiritual life story as well as through the history, theology and worship of the Episcopal Church. It is an opportunity for you to grow spiritually in and through the community of faith at St. Paul’s. Following an orientation meeting on Thursday, February 21st, at 6:30pm in the Library, there will be weekly sessions on the Thursdays throughout Lent in preparation for Confirmation/Reception by Bishop Mathes on Sunday, April 21st.  Please RSVP your interest in attending by calling Susan at 760.320.7488 ext 227.

Bus Trip to the LA Science Museum

 
There will be a bus trip to the LA Science Museum to see Endeavor on Monday, March 18th. Tickets will be available on Sundays, February 3rd and 10th after both services. You may also buy tickets in the church office. We will leave from St Paul’s parking lot at 7:15am on a 48-passenger Cardiff fully-equipped luxury bus. After watching an IMAX 3D documentary on the repair of the Hubble telescope, we will see the Endeavor space ship. Lunch is on your own (the Museum has a number of restaurants), and you will have ample time to view other wonderful exhibits. We depart LA at 2:30 for the ride home. Complementary wine, soft drinks, and snacks will be served. $45 per person. Please join us! Sponsored by St. Paul’s Senior Ministry Committee.

Faith Building

“Sundays at 9:15”

In The Library

The Hebrew Scriptures – The Book of Genesis

02/03    Celtic Church/Tradition I, led by Rick Tinsley
02/10    Celtic Church/Tradition II, led by Rick Tinsley

“Tuesdays at 7”

In the Library

Faith & Reason Series: Anselm and Abelard, hosted by Jerry Di Noto & Craig Ewing

02/05  Aristotle Re-Discovered: Attractive or dangerous

           for the Church
02/12  Bonaventure: A wild journey of the mind—

           thinking God-like

Roy’s Desert Resource Center

Thanks For SOS Support

Parishioners at St. Paul in the Desert donated (through our SOS Fund) $2,000 for gift cards for Christmas and emergency needs of the homeless at Roy’s Desert Resource Center.  In addition, on-going donations to our SOS Fund for “sox and underwear” supported a $516 contribution for January needs.  That bought 116 pairs of sox, 82 T-shirts and 89 pairs of underwear!  All of this is in addition to donated items taken to the altar during Sunday services and desserts provided for our Monday dessert program.

– – –

Volunteers from St. Paul in the Desert  serve dessert to 70-100 homeless men, women and children at Roy’s every Monday evening. We also deliver socks and underwear purchased and placed in the “ROY’S” basket. Roy’s clients, who are  striving to get back into the main stream, deeply appreciate your efforts.

“A Welcoming, Empowering, Supportive”

Ministry!

Our mission statement calls us to be “a welcoming, empowering and supportive community.” We are currently forming a new ministry at St Pau’s to support that mission.  Volunteers are needed from all three services to donate approximately 90 minutes of their time per month.  That time is split into 3-30 minute segments: 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after the service you attend, once per month, to support the Welcoming Table located in the Narthex and another 30 minutes a month assisting with name badge organization.  If you are able to lend a hand, please contact Mike Funke at 760.-409.0986 or mike.funke@yahoo.com!

Help us live our mission statement!

The 2013 Budget has been revised.  Please read and reflect upon it.

Your Input Welcome

Your Vestry would like your input on the 2013 Budget. The Draft Budget is being evaluated and a copy is available here. Share your comments here.

Announcements

Need to Print a Copy of

The Abundant Lite?

Click here to receive a Printer Friendly (text only) version.

ACT NOW!

Sign the Pledge to Break the Cycle of Violence. Click here.

Emergency Update:

Hurricane Sandy

Episcopal Relief and Development is helping to meet the need.

Your help is urgently needed.

Click here to donate.

Ash

Wednesday

Services,

February 13th,

Noon

and

6pm.

A Newcomer’s Class

. . . is scheduled for Sunday, February 10th, at 7pm. This is your opportunity to discover more about St. Paul’s Church. Please contact Susan Jacob at 760.320.7488 ext 227 or susan.jacob@stpaulsps.org to register.

The Episcopal Church Women’s Valentine’s Luncheon

. . . will take place on Thursday, February 7th, at 11:30am in the parish hall. Please bring something special to you, be it a favorite artifact, a picture, or a special food. After lunch we will share personal memories about what we have brought. We will also discuss plans for the Annual Spaghetti Dinner on Saturday, March 2nd. Hostesses will beGini Bottomley, Ruth Kraus, Anna Secrist, and Barbara Villani. Please bring (except newcomers) a salad to serve 6 – 8, rolls, or dessert to share. Beverages are provided. For information, contact Barbara Villani at 760.322.3987.

Flowers in the church

Sign up in the binder on the entrance table in the Parish Hall for altar or narthex flowers for 2013.

We Need Volunteers

to assist with Name Badge organization.  Please contact Mike Funke at 760-409-0986 or: mike.funke@yahoo.com if you can help.

Holy Communion Service for

Local Care Facilities

Holy Communion will be hosted by the Nursing Home Ministry on the second Wednesday of each month at Windsor Court.  The next service will be February 13  at 10:15 am. Father Dick Merrill will preside and welcomes assistance from parishioners.

Come to Convention!

All people of the Diocese of San Diego are invited to attend the 39th Annual Diocesan Convention on Friday, February 8th, and Saturday, February 9th, at St. Margaret’s, Palm Desert. For information or to register, please visit:
www.edsd.org/diocon2013.
 

(Convention Volunteers Needed!  Help register guests for thje Gala Dinner from 5 – 6:30pm.  Call Susan at 760-320-7488 ext 227 to volunteer)

Daughters of the King

The DOK Annual Winter Tea is Sunday, February 17th, from 2- 4pm in Mission Hills. We ask for a donation of warm clothing for the Well in the Desert. Please join us to plan the tea and pray for our parish. Call Bonnie Stroock at 760.324.7949 for information.

Coffee Hour Celebration

Coffee Hour Hosts are: after the 8:00 service Bonnie Stroock and after the 10:30 service Barbara Villani, Diane Stielstra, and Jay & Ruth Martin.

Coffee Hour hosts are needed for the rest of 2013. To sign up to host a Coffee Hour, please use the binder on the entrance table in the Parish Hall. If you have questions, call Ray or Cheryl Kelley at 760.778.1725.

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.
 

Report Sexual Misconduct.

As part of our ongoing commitment to creating a safe haven for everyone, please remember 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 and to encourage all to report any misconduct. All reported incidents are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly and confidentially. If you believe you have experienced sexual misconduct of any kind, please contact the Rev. Canon Suzann V. Holding immediately: sholding@edsd.org

or 619-481-5452.

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.