January 6, 2011

The Abundant Lite Thursday, January 6, 2011                                     For Sunday, January 9th From The Rector Then He Consented This little phrase popped out for me as I was studying this week’s gospel. “Then he consented.” Jesus came to John the Baptist and ask to be baptized, but John did not want to. Only after Jesus made the case, did John consent and baptize him. It was not automatic. It was not obvious. John agreed with Jesus and made the decision to baptize him. This is not the first decision made by others that impacted the life and ministry of Jesus. Think of Mary consenting to bear the child. Think of Joseph consenting to protect and raise the child as his own. Think of Zachariah consenting, after objection, to name his son John. (Jesus’ cousin and future Baptist.) It was not the last. Think of the leaders who consented to undermine Jesus. Think of Pilate who consented to crucify Jesus over his own reservations. Those of us who were baptized as infants did not give consent when we became Christian. Our parents and Sponsors did on our behalf. If, like me, you missed out, be at peace. There are more consents ahead. We remember Jesus’ baptism and John’s consent this Sunday. This remembrance reminds us that our gracious God is constantly giving us opportunities to consent - to be a partner with God for the renewal of our lives and the world. I guess God could do it without our cooperation and consent, but chooses not to. This week, say yes, consent to God’s invitation and worship. Consent to the invitation to share the Holy Communion and God’s very life. Consent to be God’s partner in living the Abundant Life. Join us this week. Fr. Andrew Featured Scripture Matthew 3:13-17 Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased." Bishop In Residence Program   1st Bishop In Residence The Rt. Rev. Chilton R. Knudsen, D.D. February 13 - March 27, 2011   In 2011 St. Paul in the Desert will begin to have a closer relationship with the Church beyond our walls. We are instituting a program of inviting notable leaders to be in residence here in the desert for a week or longer. Bishops, Scholars, Artists,  and Musicians are among the categories we are considering for this opportunity. The person would interact with the congregation and community and enjoy the hospitality of our Parish. The Rt. Rev. Chilton R. Kudsen, retired bishop of Maine, and her husband, Dr. Michael Knudsen, are the first participants in this program. Bishop Chilton will be the Chaplain for our Diocesan Convention in San Diego and will then be on our campus for the next 6 weeks. During her time with us, she will participate in worship as a presider and preacher, lead a diocesan Clergy Day, lead our Vestry Retreat, and engage in a variety of ministries with us and with the diocese. If you would like to learn more about Bishop Chilton, click here for a brief version of her resume. We look forward to welcoming the Knudsens to our Parish and community. Vestry Nominations The Vestry Nominating Committee is pleased to announce their nominations for election to the Vestry at the Annual Meeting, January 30, 2011 at 9:15 am. The first nominations are to fill unexpired terms. Each nominee is currently on the Vestry filling an unexpired term, and, if elected, would complete one full term. Roger Allen is nominated for a 1 year term. Glen Calvin is nominated for a 2 year term. The remaining nominees are for 3 year terms that would run from the Annual Meeting 2011 until the Annual Meeting 2014. Mary Lou Feenstra has lived in Palm Springs since 1974 with her husband and is now a grandmother and great-grandmother, as well as close mother to their two daughters. She is an attorney who retired in 1996. Since then, she has volunteered her services to CASA, the Literacy Program at the Palm Springs Library, and served on the Library Board. She joined St. Paul’s about 3 ½ years ago and is an Administrative Volunteer. Mike Funke moved to Palm Springs in 1999 when his job with an airline reservation system became virtual. He retired from Galileo in 2007, the same year he and his partner became members of The Church of Saint Paul in the Desert. He has served on the Abundant Living Action Team, and is a volunteer in the front office, reorganizes the name badges after Sunday services, and is trained in creating the Sunday Bulletins. John Westaway moved to Palm Springs part time in 2003 and full time in 2004 when he started attending St. Paul in the Desert. He joined the Parish in 2007 and was confirmed by Bishop Mathes in 2009. He has experience on the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Community Church -San Francisco in the '90's and early 2000's. John is in formation as an Associate Member of the Community of the Gospel. He is currently the Chair of the Abundant Living Action Team here at St. Paul's and is a volunteer in the church office, responsible for the liturgical portion of the service bulletin. He holds a BA in Spanish and Education and an MBA in Marketing and Management. Rosa Zingg is a cradle Episcopalian and has lived in the Desert for 10 years. She is trained as an Urban Planner and currently is a homemaker. She is married to Shannon Ealy and they have two children, Christopher and Lydia. She is involved with the Family and Children’s Ministry and Christmas Decorations at St. Paul’s. She volunteers with Desert Cities Young Marines, a youth organization combating gang involvement. Same-Gender Blessing Forum   THIS SUNDAY, January 9, 2011 at 4 p.m. Parish Hall The Vestry has been involved in a lengthy process of determining how St. Paul in the Desert will care for same-gender couples who desire to live in committed relationships. For at least a dozen years, those relationships have received blessings at our regular worship services. A Vestry team has been reflecting on the Diocese of San Diego’s Holiness in Relationships report, and Bishop Mathes’ Letter to Clergy for the last year. This team will present a brief report on the recommendations that they will make to the Vestry and hear from members of the Parish. The responsibility for solemnizing Holy Matrimony and Blessing Same-Gender relationships belongs to the clergy according to the canons (laws) of the Episcopal Church. The action of the Vestry will be advisory to the Rector and Assisting Clergy of St. Paul in the Desert. ECW Welcomes 2011   Plans are already underway for the always anticipated Spaghetti Dinner, ECW’s main fundraiser. The annual event will take place on Saturday, March 5th, and tickets will be available after services beginning in February. A special invitation to attend this event is especially extended to women new to the parish. Those attending should bring a salad to share, which serves four, rolls/bread, or a dessert. Beverages will be provided. No reservations are necessary, but anyone needing additional information about the event, can contact Bette Knutson, 760.416.5739. Hostesses for the January luncheon will be Marilyn Johnson and Jane Thompson.   Newcomer Class A Newcomer Class is scheduled for January 16th - from 6-8 p.m. The goal is to give Newcomer’s who are interested in becoming part of the Parish Community a chance to find out more about us, to get answers to questions they might have, and to have a clear path to joining and participating as members. Parish clergy will lead this session and be available. Invitation letters will be mailed closer to the date. If you are a newcomer and are interested in coming, you may call the parish office and sign up for the class, 760.320.7488, ext. 0. You may also fill out the new member form in the pew pocket and place it in the plate, give to an usher or you may send your contact information by email to vjwinters@dc.rr.com. Invitations were mailed out this week. If you have not received one, please complete the new member form and indicate that you are interested in “becoming a member”, and would like to come to the Newcomer’s Class. All Parish Potluck - happens the following weekend. With the new members as the guests of honor, an All Parish Potluck is scheduled for January 23rd, from 5-7 p.m. in Hogarth Hall to welcome our Newcomer’s to the Parish. It will be hosted by our Parish Leadership.  Pot Luck attendees need to RSVP. Sign up in the Parish Hall or call the parish office at 760.320.7488 ext. 0. Please indicate what you will bring to the potluck on the sign-up sheet or when you call in. DOK Annual Tea   The Daughters of the King Annual Tea is planned for January 16th - from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. The Tea will be held at the home of Bonnie Stroock in Mission Hills, Rancho Mirage. RSVP to Bonnie at 760.324.7949. This year we will have a collection for the homeless. Please bring your choice of canned goods and/or warm socks to the Tea. No other clothing please. The Daughters of the King members invite both St. Margaret's and St. Paul's members to join the members and enjoy a post-Christmas celebration. RSVP to Bonnie at 760.324.7949.   Pacific Lutheran University Wind Ensemble to Perform   St. Paul in the Desert will present this group of approx-imately 50 students on Friday, January, 28th at 7:00 p.m. There will be a reception after the concert to greet the artists.   The Pacific Lutheran University Wind Ensemble is comprised of the some of the best performers of wind and percussion instruments at the University and is recognized as one of the finest groups of its kind in the entire Northwest. Following the philosophy of a player pool, adopting flexible instrumentation according to the composer's intention, the full ensemble of approximately 50 players is a soloistic and technically proficient ensemble performing chamber music, selected transcriptions, concert and original full ensemble repertoire spanning five centuries. This group of approximately 50 students will need to be housed over night and served breakfast the next morning. They will also need to be transported back to St. Paul’s after breakfast for the next leg of their tour. If you can host 2 (or 4) students please let Nathan Ensign know at 760-320-7488 ext. 225. Host families will meet their guests at the reception. Around The Campus The last few weeks have seen lots of work being done on campus or needing to be done. The Fire Marshal has required us to add a fire suppression system to the stove. The Vestry has approved $3000.00 for this safety feature. We also replaced 8 sets of emergency exit lights in the church.   Our organ has had some electronic glitches this Christmas. Nathan lost the use of the pedal section just before the Caballeros Christmas Concert. Tom Graham is replacing switching sound boards to isolate the intermittent problem.   We lost a tree beside Blondon House in this week’s wind storm. We have been following a strategy of thinning our Mesquite trees so they do not blow over so easily. In a wind storm 2 years ago, we lost 3. Camp Stevens Child   Camp Stevens, our diocesan camp and retreat center near Julian, provides a enriching summer camp program for children, teens, and a choir camp. At Camp Stevens, attendees are provided the experience to appreciate and care of one-another while deepening their love of God and God's creation.   St. Paul in the Desert would like to enable a disadvantaged child the chance to experience the enrichment of Camp Stevens. We need to raise $500 to do this. Please place your donation in the green Camp Stevens box in the parish hall, or leave a check,in the box, or in the collection plate and mark it “Camp Stevens Child”.    Watch for updates, this spring, about interesting retreats and workshops that you can be part of in the beautiful natural world of Camp Stevens. Desert SOS Dessert Ministry   Dear Friends of Desert SOS - We ended 2010 on a very good note. Desserts being served to up to 90 men, women and children EVERY Monday night (often the only dessert of the week), making 90 bag lunches, helping out where needed with serving main dishes (they have only two people on their kitchen staff), $250 or more monthly in undies, sox and seasonal needs each month, and over  $1,100 in Christmas gift cards. Thank you so much for all you do!!! Providers, servers, donors to the SOS Fund...each of you. You are making a real difference in the lives of those less fortunate by showing them that someone cares. We plan to continue in 2011 based on our experience in 2010 and to add support where needed. We need a minimum of 4 volunteers "serving" at Desert SOS every Monday night. The sign-up sheets on the bulletin board on the north wall of the Parish Hall are key to making this happen efficiently. PLEASE use it so we don't have to waste time looking for volunteers when none are needed. And remember that I check the refrigerator for items marked "for SOS" in the Parish Hall kitchen every Monday at 5 PM before I (or the team leader) leave for SOS. For those of you wanting to drive out to the Roy's Desert Resource Center site, there is now a map on the bulletin board. It's not as far as it seems, but you can always carpool from St. Paul's. Lastly, welcome to all the new faces. And if there are any among you who feel you can no longer participate, just let me know by a return e-mail so I can delete your name from the roster. Again, my thanks for all your efforts...and thanks from all those we support, Hap Blaisdell     Worship Schedule All Services include Holy Communion Wednesday Evening 6:00 p.m. The Rev. Andrew Green - - - Saturday 4:00 p.m. Sermon-The Rev. Andrew Green - - - Sunday Morning 8:00 a.m. Sermon-The Rev. Andrew Green 10:30 a.m. Sermon-The Rev. Andrew Green - - - On Sundays Godly Play resumes January 9th in Parish Hall at 10:30 Children Welcome in Worship Childcare is available on Sunday Mornings Watch Sermons   View recent sermons and other video material on-line.   We post the sermons from Sunday's services on YouTube.  Our YouTube Channel is named stpaulinthedesert.     Click below to watch video from last Week:   Sunday's Sermon - 1/2/11   Announcements   Attention! Ministry Leaders   Just a reminder that the Annual Parish Meeting is scheduled for January 30th. Written reports for the Annual Parish Meeting will need to be submitted to Br. Michael-Gregory Norrie by January 20th for inclusion in the packets at the meeting. You may send your reports to him as an email attachment at ministry.stpauls@dc.rr.com or deliver them to the church office. If you have any questions, please call 760.320.7488, ext. 224.   A Holy Communion Service    Will be held, Wednesday, January 12th at 10:00 a.m. at Windsor Court presided over by Fr. Fred Myers. Fr. Fred always welcomes assistance at Communion. Recipients are extremely grateful that the Church of St. Paul provides this service for them.       Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration January 16, 2011 at 2 p.m.   St. Paul’s will again host the community for a Celebration of the life of Dr. King. Please come for the program and reception that begins at 2:00 p.m.. There will be speakers, music, and recognitions commemorating the work and legacy of Dr. King.   2011 Giving Envelopes   Are now available at the narthex for this weekend and the next. After which time they can be picked up in the parish offices during the work week, Tuesday - Friday.   Acknowledgements of November and December 2010 Special Gifts   Click here to view the document     Rest In Peace Ok Cha Lee-Mason January 9, 1929 - December 26, 2010 Lee Mason died in December at her Assisted Living Home near her family in Los Angeles. Her funeral will be at St. James, Los Angeles on Saturday, January 8th. The family can be reached at Lee’s Palm Springs address: 2320 E El Chorro Way, Palm Springs, CA 92264-8639   Family and Children’s Ministries Committee Will meet SUNDAY after the 10:30 a.m. service in the Godly Play Room to plan our winter schedule. See Bonnie for information.     Coffee Hour   The hosts for the 8:00 a.m.Coffee Hour are Barry Hagenbuch and Robert Woods. Join them in celebrating 30 years together. The 10:30 a.m. Coffee Hour is hosted by Bette Knutson, Harriet Yost, Beverly Zwach and Aaron Riviers. The 2011 coffee hour sign-up sheets are available NOW on the north wall at Hogarth Hall in their usual spot. Sign up to host. For more information on this ministry call Ray Kelley at 760.778.1725.     Father’s Heart Ranch to be Our Guests   This Sunday at the 10:30 a.m. service. The boys are coming to personally thank the congregation for the lovely gifts they received at Christmas from YOUR generosity. YOU know who you are. You earned your wings in the eyes of these boys. We are truly grateful to all our parishioners who participated in this ministry as well as the other at St. Paul’s during Christmas.     Inquirer's/Confirmation Class "I Will, With God's Help"   This class will be offered in February and run through March. This 6-week series, facilitated by Br. Michael-Gregory Norrie, is based upon the Baptismal Covenant from The Book of Common Prayer and encourages newcomers to the Episcopal Church, as well as longtime Episcopalians, to examine and share their own faith journeys. The course may lead to Confirmation for those who desire it during Bishop Chilton Knudson’s visit to St. Paul's on Sunday, March 20th.   The class meets from 7:00-8:30 p.m. on Thursdays, beginning February 10th. Please call the church office at 320-7488 x 0 to sign up.     Mid-Week Worship Break Wednesdays at 6 p.m.   Wednesday evening worship offers a break during the week. The Holy Communion service meets in the Library, reflects on a saint from our Church Calendar, all who wish can participate in the sermon, and it last 45 minutes.   As you can see in this picture, the only thing missing is you. Join in this informal worship opportunity.   Newcomers   Are you sure we have your contact information? If you haven’t received any of the latest mailings then we probably don’t have your mailing address. In January we will sending invites for you to join us in a series of Newcomer events that we believe you will find to be informative and enjoyable. We may not have your current address. If you feel this is the case, then please fill out the form in the pew pocket and place it in the plate, give to an usher or you may send your contact information by email to vjwinters@dc.rr.com.     Altar and Narthex Flowers   The New 2011 Altar and Narthex Flower Sign-up Sheets NOW AVAILABLE   The Altar and Narthex Flower Sign-up Sheets are Filling Fast- New altar and narthex flower request charts have been placed on the boards in the parish hall. Be sure to sign up for your special day of remembrance before it is taken.   The Church of St. Paul truly appreciates the flowers on the Altar and in the Narthex that are purchased to adorn the church by our generous parishioners.   We would also appreciate the flowers staying within the confines of the church grounds each week for additional church events and for visitors who visit our church to enjoy.   The vases that the flowers are placed in, often times, are personal property of our florist and he would like to retain those for use each week. Thank you for your consideration in this matter.     Earn Money While Dining Out   for The Church of St. Paul. Whenever any St. Paul's parishioners have breakfast, lunch or dinner at "The Old Creek House" in Palm Springs the restaurant will donate 10% of the total to The Church of St. Paul in the Desert.  Simply sign your name and write in the name, "The Church of St. Paul in the Desert", on your receipt.  A check for the amount will be sent to St. Paul's.  The 10% does not include promotions or other discounts.    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.   The Episcopal Cafe article on Cyber-bullying is available here. "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.   Contact Us The Church of St. Paul in the Desert -- -- -- 125 W El Alameda Palm Springs, CA 92262 -- -- -- Ph. 760.320.7488 Fax: 760.416.2441 E-Mail clergy@stpaulsps.org   Emergency Contacts Call the main switchboard, (760) 320-7488, during business hours: (Tues-Fri, 9:00-4:30 except during lunch, 11:30-1:00) After hours call, (760) 323-4028, to reach the Priest on Call when the church office is closed.   The Church of St. Paul in the Desert 125 West Alameda Palm Springs, CA 92262 (760) 320-7488 www.stpaulsps.org