For Sunday, August 2nd - Ninth Sunday After Pentecost
A Message from the Interim Rector
OF SCIENCE AND RELIGION
There is much in the news of science, and especially medical science, as we stagger as a country through a major pandemic. It recalls that old false conflict between science and religion.
It has been a common myth that somehow science and religion are enemies or incompatible, and it persists in some quarters of society and within certain faith traditions. This has been the cause of much unnecessary conflict and wasted energy to the detriment of us all – people of science and people of religious faith.
It is a false dichotomy. If we go back some five hundred years, we find that science and religion were, in fact, often on the same page. Some of the first scientific thinkers and researchers were religious and ordained persons. Even monastics! Gregor Mendel was a monk who is known as an early pioneer in the field of genetics, for example. Subsequent periods in history, for all kinds of reasons, saw a deterioration in this relationship. However, in modern times there is a new alliance emerging, especially with the new physics, quantum mechanics, and fresh understanding of the different ways these two fields engage the world.
Science and religion ask different questions and have different agendas. In the case of Creation, for example, the scientists ask how creation came about, be it biological, geological – or whatever. The theologian asks who did it, which is a very different concern. But there really is no conflict between the two. Scientific method simply observes and tries to understand the universe and how it works – a universe that was created by God. It (science) does not change it – it sees the universe for what it is in all its splendor and beauty.
Part of that incredible Creation is that of the human mind and our capacity to reason. From there, amazing things have come – from space exploration to medicine to engineering marvels. Healing is the business of medical science, and that happens to be one our Church’s sacraments. We believe that God heals and wants to make us well, with all the tools that are available to us. To follow good medical advice is something Christians are supposed to do. It is, in fact, faithful. I do not need to elaborate on the applicability of this to the current health crisis we are going through.
There was a wonderful Episcopal advertisement some years ago that went like this: “Christ died to save us from our sins; not our minds.” To use the gifts of wisdom and knowledge that we have inherited as created human beings is not only NOT against our spirituality, but is, in fact, one of the ways we glorify the very God we already worship.
Blessings,
Fr. David
The Rev. Canon David L. Caffrey
Book Club is Zooming!
The next Book Club meeting will be held Tuesday, August 4, 2020, at 1:00 PM, via Zoom; meeting logistics to follow.
For August, Book Club has selected Redhead by the Side of the Road: A Novel by Anne Tyler. This book is an intimate look into the heart and mind of a man who finds those around him just out of reach, a funny and compassionate story about seeing the world through new eyes.
New members are always welcome at Book Club meetings. For more information contact Alan Zimmerman at alanzimmerman@icloud.com.
Forward Day by Day
Our shipment of Forward Day by Day daily devotional booklets for August/September/October has arrived. Although St. Paul’s campus is not open for business due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you may pick up your copy of Day by Day at the Parish Office by appointment only between 9:00 AM and 4:30 PM, weekdays.
Please call the church (760.320.7488) to schedule a pick-up time/date that works for you and the church office staff.
Weekly Bible Sharing
With the Rev. Canon Eric H. F. Law
Thursday, August 6th
12:00 p.m.
Join via Zoom: Click here to join meeting.
Password: 085627
Or, join by phone: (408) 638-0968
Meeting ID: 101-690-960#
Password: 085627
Kaleidoscope Summer Online Institute
The Kaleidoscope Summer Online Institute starts August 3 and registration for each day is now available so participants can choose the days that are best for them.
Prayers of the Church
For the Anglican Communion, and for the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. Justin Welby; pray for the new Province of Alexandria, created from the former Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa in the Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East; pray for The Most Rev. Dr. Mouneer Hanna Anis, Archbishop of Alexandria and Bishop of Egypt.
For the Episcopal Diocese of Delaware, The Rt. Rev. Kevin S. Brown, Bishop.
For the Diocese of San Diego, The Rt. Rev. Susan Brown Snook, Bishop; pray for the clergy and people of All Souls’, San Diego; for the Young Adult Ministry in our diocese.
For our Parish in Transition: Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a rector for this parish, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (BCP p. 818)
For those commended to our prayers: Ivory Murrell, Irene Savannah, Evelyn Simpson, Jo Birdia Dauphine, Terri Miller-Steele, the family of Zachary & Carolyn Scott, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Glen Noteboom, Marie & Wayne Berkner, Joseph Bielanski, Betty Muhleck, Brian Nealy, Barbara Nussbaum, Norma Westaway; pray for our local front line workers in high contact/high risk jobs, for all families in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley, and for all those for whom no prayers have been said.
For those who have died: Donald Wells, Joseph LaPaglia, Tom Schott, Bobby Parker, Fines McDaniel, Hill Prayer, Maricela Hines, Natalie Lewis.
For those with Birthdays: August 2: Wayne Watson, Eileen Upton, Andrew Petras; August 3: Robert McElroy, Felipe Rodriguez; August 6: Terry Feckett, Dennis Bennett; August 8: Howard Wren.
For those celebrating their anniversaries: August 3: Stephen & Geoffrey Robards, Ed Walsh & Wayne Soucy.
Send us your Prayer Requests via email — You may request prayers, “For those commended to our prayers” or “For those who have died,” by sending requests to announcements@stpaulsps.org
For this Sunday’s Lectionary readings Click Here. From the calendar, select August 2nd.
Daughters of the King Prayer List Requests
St. Paul’s Order of the Daughters of the King chapter maintains a confidential prayer list, praying daily for our families, friends, congregation, and the world. If you would like to ask the Daughters to pray for you or someone else, email your requests to dokstpaulsps@gmail.com. Confidentiality of this list means that names on our list are not shared beyond our chapter members and Chaplain.
Questions? Contact Patty Kiker, 214.497.3034
Be informed – know your risk during COVID-19
We borrowed this risk chart from the Texas Medical Association. It is intended as a guide, prepared by physician experts, to help people make smart and educated choices of activities to pursue amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The chart was prepared by the TMA COVID-19 Task Force and the TMA Committee on Infectious Diseases. Please assume that participants in these activities are following currently recommended safety protocols when possible.
Click image to enlarge.
July 13, 2020
This outline was used first in March, 2019 during a Vestry retreat, and was revised in January, 2020, following much good work by St. Paul’s, and during the diocesan staff transition from The Rev. Dr. Laura Sheridan-Campbell, Director of Formation and Transition to The Rev. Canon Gwynn Lynch, new Canon to the Ordinary. Following the January 25 Transition Committee retreat, Canon Gwynn is guiding the leadership of St. Paul through the completion of their call of a new rector. This revised outline reflects progress to date, as well as revisions of the process moving forward. Dates are approximated and are subject to revision and adjustment as needed.
Phase I – Lay the Foundation
April 7, 2019: Departure of Andrew and Susan Green
May 2019: Interim Rector Called
November 2019: Search begins for Transition Committee
November 28, 2019: Committee Called
January 26, 2020: Committee Commissioned
December 2019: Budget for Call Process Established
Phase II – Embrace Transition
January 25, 2020: Transition Committee Retreat
February 2020: Communications Sub-Committee Established
March 2020: Selection of File-Sharing System
March 7, 2020: Listening Session #1
March 8, 2020: CAT Survey through March 28
May 1: Email Listening Session #2 through May 22
Phase III – Search Process
April 1 – June 30, 2020: Parish Profile and OTM Written
June 2020: Diocesan Business/HR Review
July 31, 2020: Parish Profile and OTM posting on Diocesan Website
August 1 – September 15, 2020: Applications Received
September 22-29, 2020: Discernment for Video Interviews
October 5-9, 2020: Video Interviews
October 12-16, 2020: Discernment for In-Person Interviews
October 21- November 11, 2020: Candidate Visits
November 12, 2020: List of Finalists presented to Vestry at Vestry Meeting
December 1, 2020: Senior Warden issues a Call
Phase IV– Thank Interim, Welcome Rector and begin new chapter
TBD: Final Details to begin Immediately after the Call is made
A Gift of Prayer for Transition from the Daughters of the King: Almighty and ever living God, hear our prayers for this parish family. You renewed us during Advent to receive Christ’s presence and You are preparing our parish for a renewed mission and vision. We thank you for the leadership of our interim rector, our Vestry and the members of our Transition Committee. We invite you, Holy Spirit, to guide and empower us and our Transition Committee as we begin the tasks of choosing a new rector for this parish. Grant that these servants become faithful companions to each other, to the vestry and to this Parish. We pray that you grant all of us the wisdom and discernment to choose a faithful pastor, who will help us continue to share the abundant life of Jesus Christ. This we pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Fraud Email Alert
A recurring threat to churches is email-based impersonation scams targeting key personnel. The scheme involves cybercriminals mimicking clergy or other staff through the use of phishing emails. Criminals typically pose as personnel in positions of authority and ask victims to perform money transfers, pay invoices, or to send the attacker sensitive data. Scammers will often manipulate the “from” email address and name so that it appears to be coming from someone you know.
Churches and dioceses across The Episcopal Church and across other denominations have been a target of these email impersonation attacks. Scammers use a free email account (such as Gmail) and register it with an impersonated name. They then send an email to an unsuspecting recipient asking for immediate help in order to get a task done (such as purchasing a gift card or wiring money). Attention to detail can be a lot of help in combating cases of impersonation. Users should check sender details carefully. Any suspicious email message should be investigated before replying. Also, proper attention should be given to the message content, including attachments and URLs.
While there is no way to stop these scams, you can minimize risk by taking these steps:
- Check the return email address. If the address doesn’t match the name of the sender, be wary.
- Never open attachments from unknown sources.
- Be wary of generically addressed emails like “Dear Friend” or Dear Customer.”
- If there are links in the email, hover over them without clicking on them. This will show where the link will actually take you.
- Be wary of email with grammatical or spelling errors in the text.
- Check the address at the bottom of the email. If it says ”Pastor Jim” and Jim never goes by “Pastor,” it’s fake.
Finally, if after all these steps it looks safe and the sender is asking for money or access to secure data, call the person directly to get verification.
Your best defense for this is to simply delete the email; do not click on any links or reply to the sender.
Episcopal News Service
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Report clergy misconduct
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 incidences are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly and confidentially. If you believe you have experienced misconduct of any kind, please contact John Seitman, 858-793-4555 or Equilla Luke, 760-583-0485.
Compassionate Care Task Force
Our diocesan task force on compassionate care for victims of clergy sexual misconduct seeks to connect with those who have experienced misconduct. If you have reported clergy sexual misconduct and have information about the reporting or post-reporting experience that could be helpful to their work, please refer to the task force members, all of whom are listed on the diocesan website: Task-Force. Information on how to report misconduct is available here.
Church Office Hours
Due to the COVID-19 health crisis, the Parish Office is closed to the public until further notice.
Office phone: 760.320.7488
If you call, please leave a message. In case of emergencies, a priest will return your call.
Bullying Behavior Not Welcome Here
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 because of our understanding of what it means to follow Jesus. Please let Jesus’ command to love your neighbor as yourself be your guide.
“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.
