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From The Rector
Where is the Prophet Sent?
Jesus has just read from the Prophet Isaiah in his hometown synagogue. This week, we begin our reading with a repeat of his sermon – an explanation of his relation to the Isaiah passage. The reading, he clarifies, is about God’s action of choosing a leader to bring relief to the poor, the broken, the oppressed and those burdened by debt. The sermon is straightforward: “Today, this scripture has been fulfilled just as you heard it.”
The hometown folks heard only what impressed them: Jesus is a popular leader who is a hometown man – isn’t his father from here? They attach to Jesus’ celebrity and its promise of enhancing their status. Jesus immediately moves to correct their mistaken understanding.
In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus goes out of his way to let the Nazareth folk know that he is not sent to his hometown to bestow prestige, but to challenge them with real understanding. He reminds them that God’s blessings have a purpose beyond prestige and power by reminding them of an insignificant foreign widow and a hated Syrian general. The crowd is angered by his rebuff, and becomes a lynch mobs from which Jesus calmly walks away.
We are left to focus on the stories of the widow and general. The prophet was sent to the widow in the neighboring region. She provided refuge for Elijah, and was then blessed with abundance for her and her son – who were a meal or two away from starvation. The Syrian general was sent to Elisha by a caring girl who had been captured. She knew that there was help for her master if only he would go to the prophet. The prophet did not even meet him, but gave him God’s blessing of healing.
The prophet is sent to the entitled and to the outsider, and blessings abound for both. The people of Jesus’ hometown saw themselves as entitled; they believed their connection to Jesus gave them special benefits. But Jesus calls the entitled to join him in reaching out – in living out their closeness – by sharing the Good News, healing, and liberation. The prophet is sent to the outsiders to bring them home to the gracious embrace of God. The prophet has harsh words for the entitled, and corrects their perceptions by an invitation to God’s real mission. To the outsiders – often characterized as hopeless – the prophet sends words of inclusion, of hope, of invitation to God’s real mission.
Jesus comes to us who are entitled and calls us to serve. He comes to us who are without hope, and calls us to believe. Jesus puts the two groups together to mutually bless one another and the world.
Week by week we gather and celebrate this prophetic vision lived out among us, and we praise God together. Join us.
Fr. Andrew
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Featured Scripture
Luke 4:21-30 (CEB)
He began to explain to them, “Today, this scripture has been fulfilled just as you heard it.”
Everyone was raving about Jesus, so impressed were they by the gracious words flowing from his lips. They said, “This is Joseph’s son, isn’t it?”
Then Jesus said to them, “Undoubtedly, you will quote this saying to me: ‘Doctor, heal yourself. Do here in your hometown what we’ve heard you did in Capernaum.’” He said, “I assure you that no prophet is welcome in the prophet’s hometown. And I can assure you that there were many widows in Israel during Elijah’s time, when it didn’t rain for three and a half years and there was a great food shortage in the land. Yet Elijah was sent to none of them but only to a widow in the city of Zarephath in the region of Sidon. There were also many persons with skin diseases in Israel during the time of the prophet Elisha, but none of them were cleansed. Instead, Naaman the Syrian was cleansed.”
When they heard this, everyone in the synagogue was filled with anger. They rose up and ran him out of town. They led him to the crest of the hill on which their town had been built so that they could throw him off the cliff. But he passed through the crowd and went on his way.
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Recognition for St. Paul’s Prayer Shawl Ministry:
 Fr. Andrew received this note from Ana Mostofi, at Eisenhower Medical Center: “On behalf of the administration and staff of Eisenhower Medical Center, we would like to thank you and the Prayer Shawl Ministry for the hand-made items donated for our Patient Holiday Gift Drive. The lovingly-made gifts brightened the day of many of our patients hospitalized on Christmas.” Congratulations and thanks to the members and benefactors of this ministry. Drop in and visit or join this group. They meet “almost” every Wednesday in the Parish Hall between 10 am and 1:00 pm. For information contact Barbara Villani, 760.799.1509 or just stop by on Wednesday!
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Donate Winter Coats
for the Needy
With a wet and cold El Nino Winter still expected, St. Paul’s Social Justice Committee needs your help collecting warm winter coats, sweaters, hats and gloves for our needy and homeless brothers and sisters. You can either bring your own used warm-weather gear or purchase a used outer garment at Goodwill, Angel’s View or Revivals – simply leave your items with the church ushers on Sunday or contact Chris Kelly at (760) 406-2978 to arrange a drop-off. Our target date for all collections is February 14, 2016. Your generosity will help many.
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Ushers, Altar Ministers and Altar Guild Member Training:
There will be hands-on training for Ushers, Altar Ministers (Acolytes, Chalice Bearers and Worship Coordinators) and Altar Guild members, on Saturday, February 6, 2016. The training will be delivered separately for each ministry: 9:00 am – Worship Coordinators; 10:30 am – Altar Ministers and Ushers; 1:30 pm – Altar Guild. We ask that all current and prospective members of theses ministries attend – even those who have extensive experience serving. And we also invite participation by those who simply want to learn more about these ministries. You may find one is just right for you! Please RSVP to the parish office (760.320.7488).
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Sunday Mornings at 9:15 AM
Episcopal Café in The Chapel
Check it out
January
1/31 NO SESSION This date – ANNUAL MEETING
February:
The Prophets: Then & Now.
Led by guest presenter Rev. Dean Lueking.
2/7 Then and Now – Perceiving the authentic from counterfeit.
2/14 Amos – Prophet to Society and contemporary examples.
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Tuesday Evenings at 7:00 PM
Faith Building – In the Library
February
2/2 Luke 9:51-62 Journey to Jerusalem: The Call to Discipleship.
Led by Br. John Charles.
2/9 Shrove Tuesday: Evening Prayer & Pancake Supper.
See LENT announcement for details.
2/16 & 2/23 Lenten Taize in the Church at 7:00 pm.
Lenten Taize continues on 3/1, 3/8 & 3/15.
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Thank You From Roy’s
We’ve been asked to pass along the gratitude of our homeless brothers and sisters and their children at Roy’s Desert Resource Center for your generous support of St. Paul’s annual Christmas gift card drive, which raised enough money to provide 80 Walmart gift cards of $25 for Roy’s residents this year. We hope everyone will help continue this good work in 2016 by donating baked goods and funds for new underwear, and by watching this space for other ways you can become engaged with those in need at Roy’s. Your help makes a real difference, and is genuinely appreciated. For more information, contact Chris Kelly – 760.406.2978.
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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.
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Announcements
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CHURCH
OFFICE HOURS
The church office is open Tuesday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm with a lunch break from 11:30 am until 1:00 pm.
Should you call on Monday when we are closed to the public, please leave a message. In case of an emergency, a priest will return your call.
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Annual Parish Meeting
Join us Sunday for the Annual Parish Meeting in the Parish Hall at 9:15 am. This is your opportunity to meet the new and returning Vestry members and to learn about the financial state of the parish. A brunch with quiche, pastries and fruit platters will be served. See you there!
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Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday services, with imposition of ashes, are scheduled for Wednesday, February 10th, at noon and 6 pm.
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LENT
Lent begins early this year. Join us in the Parish Hall on Shrove Tuesday, February 9th @ 6:00 pm for Evening Prayer and our annual Pancake Supper. Tickets for the supper are $5.00 each and are available for purchase following each worship service or at the parish office.
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Bishop’s Visitation
Bishop Mathes will visit St. Paul’s on December 3-4, 2016.
He will Preside and Preach at our worship and will offer Baptism and Confirmation.
The Inquirer’s Class will begin in early October.
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Giving Made Easier
St. Paul’s has a new system for online giving and we encourage you to use it (see the right hand column on this web page.)
If you have any questions, please contact the office. Our online system makes it easy to direct your donation to a specific fund.
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Next Taizè Services
Our next Taize service will be February 4th at 7:00 p.m. All are welcome to this quiet service of music and meditation. For more information, contact Nathan Ensign at 760-320-7488 x225.
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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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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 February 10th, at 10:15 am. The Presiding Priest always welcomes assistance from parishioners.
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COFFEE HOUR
Sunday’s Coffee Hours are superseded by the Annual Parish Meeting at 9:15 in the Parish Hall. However, please consider hosting an upcoming Coffee Hour. The sign-up book is on the table to your right as you enter the Parish Hall.
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PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY
The Prayer Shawl Ministry invites you to join our circle on
Wednesday’s from 10 am-1 pm in Hogarth Hall. Whether you wish to learn to knit or crochet or are an expert needleworker, we welcome you. Needles, hooks and yarn are provided. Please drop in to create and enjoy our prayerfully made creations.
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REPORT 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 incidents are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly and confidentially. If you believe you have experienced misconduct of any kind, please contact John Seitman, at jseitman@pacbell.net or 858-793-4426.
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A WELCOMING, EMPOWERING, SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY
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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