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If You Choose
This week I am reflecting on our reading from Ecclesiasticus. It is from the Apocrypha, 10 books that appear in the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible. Don’t confuse it with Ecclesiates. Ecclesiasticus is a long treatise on wisdom and prudent living. One of my professors taught that it looked like a promotional brochure to attract students for the wisdom teacher. I chose it for our first reading this week and for my reflection because it reminds us of how we are agents of God’s work in the world.
“To act faithfully is a matter of your own choice.” This is an important part of who we are as part of God’s beloved creation – we get to choose. When one of our daughters was about 18, I asked her why she did something. She said, “Because I can.” She was empowered to choose and she did. As you can imagine, I was not always comfortable with those choices, but I wanted the act of choosing to be part of her growing into an adult.
God wants us to be adult believers: knowing who we are, to whom we belong, empowered by God to choose. All the choices are before us: “fire and water,” “life and death,” and many more not listed in today’s brief reading. Here the author lists only the major ones, such as life and death. But the life of being a follower of Jesus is made of numerous choices which train and prepare us for increasingly complex choices that require more mature judgment and responsibility.
Wisdom is not primarily about age. It is primarily about what we learn as we choose and how that learning draws us closer to God’s redemptive work in the world. Both positive and negative choices have consequences, and if we reflect on them as followers of Jesus I believe we will come closer to reflecting Jesus’ particular love for those who are pushed to the margins or lost.
I hope you will choose to join the community of faith to worship this weekend so that each of us might learn from God and one another, and prepare to choose life.
Fr. Andrew
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Matthew 5:21-37
Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, `You shall not murder’; and `whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, `You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
“You have heard that it was said, `You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.
“It was also said, `Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
“Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, `You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.’ But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let your word be `Yes, Yes’ or `No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.
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 Come to Convention! All are welcome and encouraged to attend the 40th Annual Diocesan Convention on Friday, February 21, and Saturday, February 22. This year’s gala dinner will be special because it kicks off the diocesan capital campaign, Build the Serving Church, and will serve as the 40th birthday party of the diocese. We have fun surprises planned! A festive Eucharist at St. Paul’s Cathedral is open to all. Convention is the biggest diocesan  event of the year. The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, will be our keynote speaker at the Diocesan Convention gala dinner. Bishop Jefferts Schori will bless the Episcopal Church Center in Ocean Beach as the new diocesan center. Come hear speakers, worship with other Episcopalians and take advantage of these opportunities. For times and locations visit: http://www.edsd.org/diocon2014. Contact Hannah Wilder with questions: hwilder@edsd.org, 619.481.5456.
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The Experience of Confirmation:
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Accepting God’s Gift of Faith
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Are you worshiping with our community and ready to take a further step into becoming an Episcopalian?
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Are you confirmed in another denomination and want to be received into the Episcopal Church?
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Are you already an Episcopalian and have been inactive and want to reconnect?
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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. Our first meeting will be on Sunday, February 23rd, at 5:30pm, here at St. Paul’s and will include dinner. Thereafter, there will be five weekly sessions, all including dinner, on Sundays during Lent in preparation for Confirmation/Reception by Bishop Mathes on Sunday, April 6th.
Please RSVP your interest in attending by signing up in the Parish Hall or by calling Susan Jacob at 760.320.7488 ext 227.
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Please Note:
Confirmation sponsors are needed for the upcoming confirmation class, beginning February 23rd. We are looking for individuals who would like to accompany our confirmands on their journey, during the process and after. A sponsor would meet occasionally with their confirmand for conversation, pray for them and touch base with them after they are confirmed. A brief organizational meeting will be held on Sunday, February 23 @ 4:30 in the Parish Hall, just before our first Confirmation Class. For information or to sign up, please call Br. John Charles Westaway in the Parish Office: 760.320.7488.
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“Sundays at 9:15”
In The Library
The Divine Feminine – Recovering the Feminine Face of God as we explore various spiritual traditions around the world, renewing and integrating our relationship with the Divine Feminine.
February 16 & 23
Led by Victoria Hatch and Audrey Spencermorris
The Twilight Zone: What Happened on That Mountain – a closer look at the Transfiguration.
March 2
Led by David Caffrey and Andrew Green.
Through Their Eyes:
A People’s View of the Global Church
The Rev. Dr. F. Dean Lueking, Pastor Emeritus, Grace Lutheran Church, River Forest, IL, interviewed more than 250 laity and clergy in 32 countries of 5 continents for his book. He will share their stories and his re-discovery of the global church as seen through their eyes.
March 9, 16, 23, and 30
Led by F. Dean Lueking –in person. The book is available for sale in the Parish Office for $20.
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“Tuesdays at 7”
In The Library
Old Testament – a continuation with Amy-Jill Levine on DVD; hosted by Jerry DiNoto and Craig Ewing
2/18 The Southern Kingdom
2/25 Babylonian Exile
Jesus and the Gospels – a continuation of the DVD series by Luke Timothy Johnson. Hosted by David Abernethy-Deppe.
3/04 Why Not “The Historical Jesus?”
3/11 The Starting Point – The Resurrection Experience
3/18 The Matsrix – Symbolic World of Greek and Jew
3/25 Parallels – Stories of Greek and Jewish Heroes
4/01 The Context – Jesus in the Memory of the Church
4/08 Earliest Stages – Paul and the Oral Tradition
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Roy’s Desert Resource Center
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Roy’s Desert Resource Center is an outreach of St. Paul’s that serves the homeless by providing clothing, special Monday night desserts and other volunteer services to one of the Coachella Valley’s largest transitional living facilities. You can help by contributing desserts, donating to the SOS fund, adding to the donation baskets in the Narthex or by joining our volunteers to assist our Monday evening outreach. Several new services are planned, and new volunteers are both needed and welcome. For more information, contact Hap Blaisdell at 760.323.5726 or Chris Kelly at 760.406.2978.
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As part of our ongoing commitment to creating a safe haven for everyone, our diocese trains people in the prevention of misconduct and encourages all to report misconduct. All reported incidents are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly and confidentially. If you believe you have experienced misconduct of any kind, please contact the John Seitman, at jseitman@pacbell.net or 858-793-4426.
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Bullying Behavior Not Welcome Here
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At St. Paul in the Desert we 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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“A Welcoming, Empowering, Supportive”
Ministry!
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Our mission statement calls us to be “a welcoming, empowering and supportive community.” We are currently forming a new ministry at St Paul’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!
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Episcopalians Against Gun Violence
. . . is an ad-hoc group of bishops, clergy and lay people disseminating information about Episcopalians who are working, collectively and individually, to curb gun violence. For further information, click here.
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Church Office Hours
Please observe that the office is not open for walk-ins on Mondays. If you call, please leave a message. In case of emergencies, a priest will return your call.
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Social Justice Wisdom:
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only Light can do that. Hate cannot not drive out hate; only Love can do that” – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The next Social Justice Ministry meeting will be held on Thursday, February 13 @ 7PM in the church Library.
Our discussion will be about “Systematic Oppression and the Roots of Fear”. Angela Alley, a motivational speaker, will our guest. Please just us for fun, fellowship and tasty treats.
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PLEDGE UPDATE
As of February 10th, 169 pledges for a projected income of $315,964 have been received for the ministry of St Paul in the Desert in 2014.
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SAVE THE DATE!
Please save the date of April 6th for Lunch with the Bishop after the 10:30 service! It’s an opportunity for us to get to hear from our Bishop, James Mathes. Details will follow at the beginning of March.
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A Taizé Service
. . . is held on the first Thursday of the month. Currently the service schedule is March 6th at 7:00 pm.
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The Annual Parish Spaghetti Dinner
and
ECW Bake Sale
. . . are on the horizon! It will held in the Parish Hall on Saturday, March 22nd from 5-7 PM. Tickets will go on Sale Sunday, February 23rd, after each worship service, and each Sunday thereafter through March 16th, and in the Parish Office until the event.
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For Epiphany, we are using the Sanctus and Agnus Dei from the Sewanee Mass by Malcolm Archer, English Church Musician, Conductor, Composer and Recital Organist. Since 2007, Archer is Director of Chapel Music at Winchester College in the heart of England, where he trains and conducts the Choristers and Chapel Choir. He also teaches organ and composition. He has a distinguished career in Cathedral music, which has taken him to posts at Norwich, Bristol, and Wells Cathedrals, as well as Director of Music at the famous St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.
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Holy Communion Service for
Local Care Facilities
Holy Communion at Windsor Court, 201 South Sunrise Way, Palm Springs, is hosted by the Nursing Home Ministry on the second Wednesday of the month, next, on March 12th, at 10:15am. The Presiding Priest always welcomes assistance from parishioners.
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Spiritual
Reflection
Retreat
at Camp Stevens!
Do you need a weekend of spiritual reflection and Christian company in a beautiful, natural setting? Camp Stevens in Julian offers the Gary Hall annual retreat for men and women on Feb. 28th – March 1st, as well as Women’s Retreat on March 28th -30th. For more information go to the website for Camp Stevens: www.campstevens.org/adult.
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Coffee Hour Celebration
The hosts after the 8:00 service are Ron & Rosanna Langley. After the 10:30 service, the hosts are Bryan Wannop & Frank Kajfes.
You may sign up to host a Coffee Hour by using the binder at the entrance to the Parish Hall. There are lots of opportunities in 2014. If you have questions, call Ray or Cheryl Kelley at 760.778.1725.
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Prayer Shawl Ministry
Bishop Mathes has invited us to create Prayer Flags to explore and express prayer through fabric, color, words, and thoughts. Prayer Flags are a universal symbol of peace, love, and compassion. They will be displayed at convention, February 21st & 22nd, and at dedication festivities for our first Diocesan Center. Prayer Shawl Ministry would appreciate offerings of embellishments for the flags, such as ribbons, buttons, fabric scraps, beads, fabric paint and permanent markers.
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THE CHILDREN’S CHOIR
. . .every Wednesday at 6pm in the Choir Room. All children age 4 and above are invited to participate in this activity learning musical skills while having fun and assisting in the congregation’s worship. For more information please contact Nathan Ensign at 760.320.7488 ext 225.
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Our Partnership
with
Katherine Finchy
Elementary School
. . . continues through our donations of classroom supplies. Please take a blue classroom supply wish list, available from the ushers, (or view and print), to use when you go shopping. Please place your donations in the basket marked “Katherine Finchy Elementary” located in the Narthex. You may also bring your purchased supplies to the Church Office during business hours. If you are unable to shop, but would like to help financially, please make your check out to “St. Paul in the Desert” and write “Katherine Finchy” on the memo line.
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At the
Church of St. Paul
in the Desert
. . . we welcome all worshipers to a place free of violence, bullying, and abuse. Physical, verbal or emotional violence against others or against oneself is not acceptable because of our understanding of what it means to follow Jesus. Please let Jesus’ command to love your neighbor as yourself be your guide.
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