Abundant Lite

June 25, 2009

Posted Dates in this document are in error; they should have read "June 25, 2009 for Sunday June 28th

The Abundant Lite June 18, 2009 For Sunday June 21st From The Rector St. Paul Uses the "A" Word! In the reading from 2nd Corinthians, the Apostle Paul uses the "A" word and theme with abandon. The word is one that is often heard around our parish and the theme is familiar. The word is Abundance, and the theme is Generosity. One of the resources I often use in preparing sermons is a Lutheran site called Working Preacher. The heading for this installment is, As soon as they say, "It's not about the money!" you know the money matters. [Read David Tiede's commentary here.] Walter Brueggeman, a prominent scholar of the Hebrew Scriptures reflects that preachers say many of the right things to promote a faithful understanding of stewardship in general and finances in particular, but congregations largely don't get it. [Read more here.] Money does matter in the general context of abundance, but money does not drive the interests of God's Mission. In Paul's letter, he is asking the churches he has responsibility for to contribute to the needs of the church in Jerusalem. This is more than a fund raising campaign. It is about a spiritual discipline for Christians and about an opportunity to participate in God's Mission of Reconciliation. As Tiede says in the article quoted above, This passage, however, is not a scold, but a joyful vision of God's abundant love and an invitation into our freedom to be generous. Money does matter to us, but it does not drive the vision we have for God's abundance. Our confidence in the generosity of God is the ground for our financial orientation. Either we act out of gratitude for God's gift of life and love, or we act out of fear and shame. Some people can and do experience poverty, yet act out of gratitude. In the same way, some people have plenty, yet act out of fear of scarcity. Each of these orientations forms the soul in a particular way. This is why, in the midst of tough times, we gather to celebrate, give thanks to God and for one another, and joyfully praise God for the gift of Jesus. Join us. Fr. Andrew Mother Stephanie will be on vacation in Georgia, Palm Springs, Chicago, Minnesota, and Washington DC until July 17th. We pray for her safe travel and refreshing recreation with her family and friends. Support Those in Need through The Bishop's Pentecost Appeal. Featured Scripture 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 (NRSV) As you excel in everything-- in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you-- so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking. I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others. For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. And in this matter I am giving my advice: it is appropriate for you who began last year not only to do something but even to desire to do something-- now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means. For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has-- not according to what one does not have. I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. As it is written, "The one who had much did not have too much,and the one who had little did not have too little." Links Be Informed: Anglican Communion The Episcopal Church Diocese of San Diego I Am Episcopalian Episcopal Life - OnlineNEW Make a Difference: Episcopal Relief and Development Episcopal Community Services Epis. Public Policy Network Global Reconciliation The Well in the Desert Dorcas House Think, Reflect, Pray: Our Bishop Blogs Daily Prayer The Episcopal Cafe Thinking Anglicans Theolog The Painted Prayerbook Listen to Sermons Housekeeping: Secure Giving and Statement Changes   Farewell It is with mixed emotions that I leave the employ of the Church of St. Paul in the Desert. I am excited, of course, to be the Vicar of St. Anthony in the Desert. I am also saddened to think that I will not see the many friends I have made here. To work in the office has been a ministry for me that has enhanced my priesthood rather than denigrated it. I have been involved in the process of making the worship services led by our clergy easy to follow and, hopefully, meaningful. I have had direct contact with many of you in the every day procedures that help to make the Church the Church, the Body of Christ, a community of Christians dedicated to "sharing the Abundant Life of Jesus Christ." I am grateful to Fr. Andrew and Mother Stephanie for allowing me to share in the ministry of St. Paul's. It is my hope that many of the things I have learned here will carry over into my new adventure on my life's journey. Thank you to all who have wished me well. God bless you. Fred Myers+ Worship Schedule All Services include Holy Communion Saturday Evening 4:00 p.m. Sunday Morning 8 a.m. Sunday Morning 10:30 a.m. Children Welcome in Worship Childcare is available on Sunday Mornings Rest In Peace Peggy Wilczak  3/21/31 - 5/29/09 Funeral Friday, June 26 at 10 am John Prince  12/7/25 - 5/8/09 Funeral Friday, June 26 at 2 pm Meghan Cook  4/14/75 - 6/21/09 The daughter of Tim and Judy O'Connell - Services Pending. Summer Sundays @ 9:15 Teach Us To Pray: A Six-Week Study on the Lord's Prayer Taking the Lord's Prayer clause by clause, Br. Michael-Gregory Norrie examines how this prayer - given by Jesus in response to a request from his disciples for guidance on how to pray - contains the very essence of Christian teaching. The series continues this Sunday at 9:15 a.m. in the Chapel in the Parish Hall.  Bring your Bibles!   Looking For Some Help Specific Ministries Need Ministers Administrative - We are reconfiguring our office staff and need some volunteers who are interested in Receptionist Duties. The work requires a good phone presence, welcoming attitude, and the ability to learn a complicated phone system. Reply here. Upcoming Events Daughters of The King request your prayers for a wonderful, spiritual Triennial Meeting in Anaheim, July 2 to 5.  Ladies interested in attending the final Worship Service with 3,000 people on the 5th, can see what our group is like at it's best and biggest. Call Bonnie Stroock if you would like to join us on the 5th.   324-7949 St. Paul's Campers Weekend in Idyllwild,  Aug. 21-23.  Planning meeting at 12:45 on July 26th in the chapel in the Parish Hall. Mission Statement God has invited us to share the Abundant Life of Jesus Christ, through the Church of St. Paul in the Desert, by serving Christ in others and by gathering to praise and thank God in worship. We are a Welcoming, Empowering, Supportive Community.

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June 18, 2009

The Abundant Lite June 18, 2009 For Sunday June 21st From The Rector General Convention 2009 part II The General Convention is not a retreat. It is not a renewal weekend like Cursillo or Faith Alive. It is a business meeting. It is the family gathering of the Episcopal Church of deputies, bishops, staff, average church members and leaders from across the United States and some 13 foreign countries. That family gathering centers around our worship together. The actual convention will have formal worship with Holy Communion at noon on most days. On Sunday the 12th of July the worship will be at 10 am and will have as many as 10,000 people worshiping together. In addition, our legislative days are marked by times of prayer and reflections shared by our chaplains. A little over a week ago one of the people responsible for planning the worship at General Convention this year, the Rev. Frank Wade, was a guest of our Diocesan Clergy. He led a program about transforming the way we understand Holy Scripture. Frank has been one of Mother Stephanie's professors in her time at Virginia Theological Seminary. You can read an interview of Frank by Forward Movement - about a book on marriage which he recently published. You can imagine the challenge of preparing worship that is representative of the breadth of our church, its practice, its music, its multiple languages, but which still has an integrity for itself as a worship service. I am always thrilled with amazing renditions of some of my favorites, I always pick up new favorites, and I usually enjoy at least one curiosity. In 1997, in Philadelphia, prior to the beginning of a servce, a local choir sang a version of the Gloria in Excelsis that was set to the music of the Flower Duet from the opera Lakme. The music was delightful, but hearing it as the Gloria was disconcerting. In the midst of this demanding legislature, I find that I am fed spiritually on a daily basis. Fr. Andrew Mother Stephanie will be on vacation in Georgia, Palm Springs, Chicago, Minnesota, and Washington DC until July 17th. We pray for her safe travel and refreshing recreation with her family and friends. Support Those in Need through The Bishop's Pentecost Appeal. Featured Scripture Mark 4:35-41 (NRSV) When evening had come, Jesus said to his disciples, "Let us go across to the other side." And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?" And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" Abundant Appreciation! Recently our month long celebration of lay ministries came to its finale' in a wonderful luncheon that was filled with good food, good fun, and excellent fellowship! A very special thank you goes out to the Abundant Living Action Team (ALAT), who sponsored the event, as well as to those wonderful souls who volunteered their time in talent to support the event---John Hampson, Ronn Ellenich, Taylor Baird, Roger Allen for serving and clean up, and Mike Carson and Ron Stiegerwalt for set-up, and also Ron Shepherd who supplied the sound. This celebratory luncheon recognized that all that we do  to serve Christ through our common mission at the Church of St. Paul in the Desert is made possible by everyone bringing their gifts of time, talent and treasure to the table. Thanks to ALAT - Gene Walker, Jan Heller, Jim Franklin, Ray & Cheryl Kelley, Bob Yeargan, and Mother Stephanie. In the coming weeks you will recieve a call from ALAT to confirm your information. Links Be Informed: Anglican Communion The Episcopal Church Diocese of San Diego I Am Episcopalian Make a Difference: Episcopal Relief and Development Episcopal Community Services Epis. Public Policy Network Global Reconciliation The Well in the Desert Dorcas House Think, Reflect, Pray: Our Bishop Blogs Daily Prayer The Episcopal Cafe Thinking Anglicans Theolog The Painted Prayerbook Listen to Sermons Housekeeping: Secure Giving and Statement Changes   Worship Schedule All Services include Holy Communion Saturday Evening 4:00 p.m. Sunday Morning 8 a.m. Sunday Morning 10:30 a.m. Children Welcome in Worship Rest In Peace Peggy Wilczak  3/21/31 - 5/29/09 Funeral Friday, June 26 at 10 am John Prince  12/7/25 - 5/8/09 Funeral Friday, June 26 at 2 pm Farewell It is with mixed emotions that I leave the employ of the Church of St. Paul in the Desert. I am excited, of course, to be the Vicar of St. Anthony in the Desert. I am also saddened to think that I will not see the many friends I have made here. To work in the office has been a ministry for me that has enhanced my priesthood rather than denigrated it. I have been involved in the process of making the worship services led by our clergy easy to follow and, hopefully, meaningful. I have had direct contact with many of you in the every day procedures that help to make the Church the Church, the Body of Christ, a community of Christians dedicated to "sharing the Abundant Life of Jesus Christ." I am grateful to Fr. Andrew and Mother Stephanie for allowing me to share in the ministry of St. Paul's. It is my hope that many of the things I have learned here will carry over into my new adventure on my life's journey. Thank you to all who have wished me well. God bless you. Fred Myers+ Summer Sundays @ 9:15 Teach Us To Pray: A Six-Week Study on the Lord's Prayer Taking the Lord's Prayer clause by clause, Br. Michael-Gregory Norrie examines how this prayer - given by Jesus in response to a request from his disciples for guidance on how to pray - contains the very essence of Christian teaching. The series continues this Sunday at 9:15 a.m. in the Chapel in the Parish Hall.  Bring your Bibles!   Looking For Some Help Specific Ministries Need Ministers Administrative - We are reconfiguring our office staff and need some volunteers who are interested in Receptionist Duties. The work requires a good phone presence, welcoming attitude, and the ability to learn a complicated phone system. Reply here. Upcoming Events Daughters of The King request your prayers for a wonderful, spiritual Triennial Meeting in Anaheim, July 2 to 5.  Ladies interested in attending the final Worship Service with 3,000 people on the 5th, can see what our group is like at it's best and biggest. Call Bonnie Stroock if you would like to join us on the 5th.   324-7949 St. Paul's Campers Weekend in Idyllwild,  Aug. 21-23.  Planning meeting at 12:45 on July 26th in the chapel in the Parish Hall. Patricia Riggins Ordained Deacon in Albuquerque, NM St. Michael and All Angels Bishop Mathes traveled to Albuquerque to ordain Patricia as a transitional Deacon. The preacher for the service, the Rev. Cynthia Briggs Kittredge, is also pictured. She is the New Testament Professor at the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest. You can read the Bishop's reflection on the experience here. Patricia will continue at St. Francis by the Lake, Canyon Lake, TX pursuing specific formation work as a deacon. Mission Statement God has invited us to share the Abundant Life of Jesus Christ, through the Church of St. Paul in the Desert, by serving Christ in others and by gathering to praise and thank God in worship. We are a Welcoming, Empowering, Supportive Community.

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June 11, 2009

The Abundant Lite June 11, 2009 For Sunday June 14th From The Rector General Convention 2009 The Episcopal Church meets in convention in about 4 weeks. The bishops and deputies will assemble in Anaheim for 9 1/2 official days of meetings. Those of us who have committee assignments generally have an extra 2 days that we need to be there for legislative committee meetings and hearings. I am something of a General Convention (GC) junkie. I like the work of the convention and I often, but not always, like the outcome. We have a chance to do the business of the Church, promote some of the unique qualities of the Church, and practice with one another how we believe God is leading us as a community of faith. Rather me than describe the schedule, I invite you to look at the latest version, here. You may wonder when we eat and sleep. However, this is the official schedule. The unofficial schedule has many other interest groups that will be meeting for a variety of reasons. The Episcopal Church Women will be meeting simultaneously with the GC and the Daughters of the King will have their national gathering immediately before. One of the greatest challenges is making sure that we deputies remember, and the church remembers that we are a people of faith first and foremost and we are called into service as a church to work with God on nothing less than the reconciliation of the world. And at the same time we process some 400-500 resolutions with excruciating parliamentary procedure. One of the first orders of business will be for us to begin our consideration of the 3 year budget of the Episcopal Church. This starts with hearings at which we first affirm our priorities for Mission, review the anticipated revenue, and reflect on the proposed spending plan. The appropriate committee will begin its deliberation and the budget will be presented for approval on the 8th day of the convention. In terms of volume, my committee, Prayerbook, Liturgy, and Music has the largest amount of paper to process. It looks like it will be more than 400 pages. We will be considering a large revision of Lesser Feasts and Fasts (familiar to mid-week worshipers). In addition, we will consider a collection of liturgies and prayers that have been requested to support women who have experienced a variety of loss associated with childbirth. Nathan will also be at GC for a significant portion. He will represent the Leadership Program for Musicians (LPM) and the Association of Anglican Musicians (AAM) in the Exhibition Hall. He will be traveling back and forth for his responsibilities. Fr. Andrew Mother Stephanie will be on vacation in Georgia, Palm Springs, Chicago, Minnesota, and Washington DC for the next 5 Sundays. We pray for her safe travel and refreshing recreation with her family and friends. Support Those in Need through The Bishop's Pentecost Appeal. Featured Scripture Mark 4:26-34 (NRSV) Jesus said, "The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come." He also said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade." With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples. Abundant Appreciation! Recently our month long celebration of lay ministries came to its finale' in a wonderful luncheon that was filled with good food, good fun, and excellent fellowship! A very special thank you goes out to the Abundant Living Action Team (ALAT), who sponsored the event, as well as to those wonderful souls who volunteered their time in talent to support the event---John Hampson, Ronn Ellenich, Taylor Baird, Roger Allen for serving and clean up, and Mike Carson and Ron Stiegerwalt for set-up, and also Ron Shepherd who supplied the sound. This celebratory luncheon recognized that all that we do  to serve Christ through our common mission at the Church of St. Paul in the Desert is made possible by everyone bringing their gifts of time, talent and treasure to the table. Thanks to ALAT - Gene Walker, Jan Heller, Jim Franklin, Ray & Cheryl Kelley, Bob Yeargan, and Mother Stephanie. In the coming weeks you will recieve a call from ALAT to confirm your information. Links Be Informed: Anglican Communion The Episcopal Church Diocese of San Diego I Am Episcopalian Make a Difference: Episcopal Relief and Development Episcopal Community Services Epis. Public Policy Network Global Reconciliation The Well in the Desert Dorcas House Think, Reflect, Pray: Our Bishop Blogs Daily Prayer The Episcopal Cafe Thinking Anglicans Theolog The Painted Prayerbook Listen to Sermons Housekeeping: Secure Giving and Statement Changes   Worship Schedule All Services include Holy Communion Saturday Evening 4:00 p.m. Sunday Morning 8 a.m. Sunday Morning 10:30 a.m. Children Welcome in Worship Recognition of Godly Play participants Wednesday Evening 6:00 p.m. An informal Holy Communion in the Library, with shared reflections. This Service will end for the summer on June 17th. Rest In Peace Peggy Wilczak  Her funeral will be Friday, June 26 at 10 am ST. PAUL MOVIE  NIGHTS FREE in the Parish Hall This Saturday! June 13, 7 PM West Side Story N.Y.Times: "cinema masterpiece" West Side Story (1961) starring Natalie Wood, Rita Moreno and many more. Winner of 10 Academy Awards. Chips or sodas available for 50 cents Summer Sundays @ 9:15 Teach Us To Pray: A Six-Week Study on the Lord's Prayer Taking the Lord's Prayer clause by clause, Br. Michael-Gregory Norrie examines how this prayer - given by Jesus in response to a request from his disciples for guidance on how to pray - contains the very essence of Christian teaching. The series continues this Sunday at 9:15 a.m. in the Chapel in the Parish Hall.  Bring your Bibles!   Looking For Some Help Specific Ministries Need Ministers Administrative- We are reconfiguring our office staff and need some volunteers who are experienced with working at computers, word processing (WordPerfect), and duplicators. The work to be done is on Tuesday-Thursday. Reply here. Thanks For Prayers and Casseroles Susan Green's Surgery a Success Susan wanted to thank the members of the Parish for all the wonderful care she has received during her knee replacement surgery. The rehabilitation has gone so well that she plans to have the other knee replaced on June 30th. She will be able to return to school in the fall with two strong knees. Please continue your prayers as her rehab turns to prehab in preparation for the right knee. Please keep Fr. Vern in your prayers as he continues his rehabilitation from his knee surgery as well. Divine Diners Summer Pot-Luck Celebration Great Fellowship - and Dinner! Thanks to Taylor Baird and Roger Allen for hosting this preview of the Fall Divine Diner program. Divine Diners are small groups of parishioners who take turns hosting dinners at their homes several times during the "season." It is open to the whole parish and more information will be forthcoming as we get closer to the fall. Patricia Riggins Ordained Deacon in Albuquerque, NM St. Michael and All Angels Bishop Mathes traveled to Albuquerque to ordain Patricia as a transitional Deacon. The preacher for the service, the Rev. Cynthia Briggs Kittredge, is also pictured. She is the New Testament Professor at the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest. You can read the Bishop's reflection on the experience here. Patricia will continue at St. Francis by the Lake, Canyon Lake, TX pursuing specific formation work as a deacon. Mission Statement God has invited us to share the Abundant Life of Jesus Christ, through the Church of St. Paul in the Desert, by serving Christ in others and by gathering to praise and thank God in worship. We are a Welcoming, Empowering, Supportive Community.

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June 4, 2009

The Abundant Lite Trinity Sunday June 4, 2009 For Sunday June 7th From The Rector Who will go for US? This is Trinity Sunday weekend. It is always the Sunday after Pentecost. It reminds us of a central belief of Christianity - 1 God in 3 persons. I won't try to do a heavy explanation of this core belief, but I will reflect briefly on it in relation to the reading from Isaiah. God exists in community. God created humankind in community. God calls the community of faith to service. "Whom shall I send and who will go for us?" This line gets us thinking about God existing in community. It is not enough to build our belief on, but already being Christian, it might pop up when we read the Hebrew Scriptures. It is reminiscent of the passage in Genesis when God creates them male and female in our image. John's gospel is very clear that Jesus is part of a community that connects him to the God who sent him, the believers who were given to him, and the Spirit who would continue that connection when he was physically out of the picture. As a result of all this, I am convinced that God does not deal with life or with us in isolation. That is, I don't believe that my primary connection with God is as the individual Andrew Green alone. I believe that the connection is with Andrew Green as part of the community of faith. It is more a matter of balance. The story of salvation is not primarily about God building a relationship with me, but with a community of which I am a part. I can see my individual story within that overarching story. In the same way, I am nervous about so articulating the persons of the Trinity individually, that they lose the context of their divine community. This weekend, join us as we praise the paradoxical mystery of God's Divine Community and support one another in our equally paradoxical Faith Community. Fr. Andrew Support Those in Need through The Bishop's Pentecost Appeal. Featured Scripture Isaiah 6:1-8 (NRSV) In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory. "The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. And I said: "Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!" Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: "Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out." Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I; send me!" Abundant Appreciation! Appreciation Luncheon This Sunday! This past Sunday our month long celebration of lay ministries came to its finale' in a wonderful luncheon that was filled with good food, good fun, and excellent fellowship! A very special thank you goes out to the Abundant Living Action Team (ALAT), who sponsored the event, as well as to those wonderful souls who volunteered their time in talent to support the event---John Hampson, Ronn Ellenich, Taylor Baird, Roger Allen for serving and clean up, and Mike Carson and Ron Stiegerwalt for set-up, and also Ron Shepherd who supplied the sound. This celebratory luncheon recognized that all that we do  to serve Christ through our common mission at the Church of St. Paul in the Desert is made possible by everyone bringing their gifts of time, talent and treasure to the table. Thanks to ALAT - Gene Walker, Jan Heller, Jim Franklin, Ray & Cheryl Kelley, Bob Yeargan, and Mother Stephanie. In the coming weeks you will recieve a call from ALAT to confirm your information. Links Be Informed: Anglican Communion The Episcopal Church Diocese of San Diego I Am Episcopalian Make a Difference: Episcopal Relief and Development Episcopal Community Services Epis. Public Policy Network Global Reconciliation The Well in the Desert Dorcas House Think, Reflect, Pray: Our Bishop Blogs Daily Prayer The Episcopal Cafe Thinking Anglicans Theolog The Painted Prayerbook Listen to Sermons Housekeeping: Secure Giving and Statement Changes   Upcoming Meetings June 8th at 6 pm at Sandy Allen's Daughters of the King June 10th at 1:30 pm in the Library Caring Ministry June 10th at 3 pm in the Library ALAT Worship Schedule All Services include Holy Communion Saturday Evening 4:00 p.m. Sunday Morning 8 a.m. Sunday Morning 10:30 a.m. Children Welcome in Worship Godly Play 10:30 a.m. Childcare also available on Sunday Morning Wednesday Evening 6:00 p.m. An informal Holy Communion in the Library, with shared reflections. This Service will end for the summer on June 17th. Rest In Peace Peggy Wilczak died this past week. Her funeral will be Friday, June 26 at 10 am ST. PAUL MOVIE  NIGHTS FREE in the Parish Hall Saturday, June 13, 7 PM --West Side Story N.Y.Times: "cinema masterpiece" West Side Story (1961) starring Natalie Wood, Rita Moreno and many more. Winner of 10 Academy Awards. Chips or sodas available for 50 cents Summer Sundays @ 9:15 Teach Us To Pray: A Six-Week Study on the Lord's Prayer Taking the Lord's Prayer clause by clause, Br. Michael-Gregory Norrie examines how this prayer - given by Jesus in response to a request from his disciples for guidance on how to pray - contains the very essence of Christian teaching. The series begins Sunday, June 7 at 9:15 a.m. in the Chapel in the Parish Hall.  Bring your Bibles!   Looking For Some Help Specific Ministries Need Ministers Coffee Hour Fun - Ray and Cheryl Kelley have gathered a group who want to take our Coffee Hour Fellowship to a new level. My Favorite Dish is the theme for hosts of our 8 and 10:30 Coffee Hours. If you want to join in the hosting fun, more information is available here. Communications and PR - One of the goals that our Vestry has adopted is to improve our internal and external communications at St. Paul in the Desert. Members who have experience in developing communication strategies are needed. Please reply here. There is need for people who will help develop the plan and be done, as well as people who are interested in implementing the plan. Divine Diners Summer Pot-Luck Celebration Saturday, June 6th at 6 pm Please join us for the kick-off planning pot-luck dinner of the 2009-10 Divine Diners Season: Saturday, June 6th at 6:00 p.m. at the home of Roger Allen and Taylor Baird, 861 E. Granvia Valmonte in Palm Springs. (One block south of Ruth Hardy Park) Bring: 1. Your favorite dish. 2. Several dates (September 2009 thru early 2010) that you will be willing to host your Divine Diners Group (8 people) at your home, in a park, at a restaurant, a clubhouse or wherever. The event may be dinner, brunch, or whatever. All events are pot-luck or "dutch." Singles, those with a small home or for any other reason, who would like to pair-up with another member of Divine Diners are welcome to do so. Call Taylor or Roger now at 760-832-8154 to acknowledge your intended participation at the Summer Celebration and throughout the 2009-10 Divine Diners Year. Vestry Goals From May Vestry Retreat On May 1-3 all members of the Vestry and our staff clergy had a retreat facilitated by Suzanne Foucault. We met in Ontario, CA and worked at building relationships, learning about the nuts and bolts of Vestry Leadership, and establishing goals for the parish. It was a time of work, play, and prayer. Here are the 5 Goals we will be organizing our work around: Assess long term maintenance and repair of capital facilities and projected costs, over next 30 years Develop a five-year plan for financing annual operations    Develop a program to increase the number of families with special emphasis on gay families with children Develop a comprehensive, effective communication plan resulting in a well-informed leadership, congregation, and community Develop a better system for identifying and connecting with guests and visitors Response to the Supreme Court's Decision Profound Disappointment May Become Call to Change After my own reading, listening to some talking heads, and personal reflection, Tuesday's decision to validate the process for putting Proposition 8 on the ballot was expected, but nevertheless profoundly disappointing to me. For many Gay and Lesbian people across the state and nation, as well as in our own parish the news was received as another sign of their status as second class citizens. I do not believe that this is the last word on the subject and I believe that a word of hope is needed. For me the bottom line is that Gay and Lesbian couples should have the same fundamental rights as "traditional" couples. This includes all the rights that come with marriage, including the right to describe themselves as MARRIED. My commitment to Civil Rights is not in conflict with my Christian Faith, but springs from my faith. When we rehearse our Baptismal Vows and promise to strive for justice and peace with all people and respect the dignity of every human being, I have learned to see the faces of all our people, not one group or another. When I promise to seek and serve Christ in others, I have learned to look to those who have been left on the margins. Our Mission Statement describes St. Paul's as a Welcoming, Empowering, Supportive Community. None of these thoughts should be a surprise to anyone in the parish. The care we offer to all people in our parish is not new. We have been blessing relationships for years and inviting all couples to strive for the holiness that comes from a vital relationship with Christ. Some believe that we go too far, and some not far enough. We can never out-do God in blessing one another. God gave Jesus as ultimate blessing. When we lift Jesus up, others are drawn to him and to us. How can we not bless with our prayer and encouragement, those whom God has blessed with the gift of Jesus? How can we not stand up for those whose fundamental rights are denied? I look forward to and will work tirelessly for a time when the civil rights of Gay and Lesbian people are secured and their access to all of the church's sacraments is not restricted by anything but God's invitation.   Faithfully, Andrew Green Mission Statement God has invited us to share the Abundant Life of Jesus Christ, through the Church of St. Paul in the Desert, by serving Christ in others and by gathering to praise and thank God in worship. We are a Welcoming, Empowering, Supportive Community.

St. Paul in the Desert | 125 W El Alameda | Palm Springs | CA | 92262

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