Attention everyone!  We have exciting news!

On Sunday, August 8th, at the 10:30 AM service, the Wardens and Vestry of the Church of St. Paul in the Desert will announce the name of our next Rector.

It has been 32 years since we have welcomed a new rector, and it will be a momentous time in the life of our parish. There will be a special Coffee Hour following the Eucharist where together we can celebrate this joyous announcement and the work of the Transition Committee and Vestry that has led us to this moment.

We look forward to meeting and welcoming new friends and parishioners in the years to come under the guidance of our new leadership. Each of you had a part in this selection by your participation in the CAT survey that took place early in our transition process. We hope you will all embrace the excitement of the vestry as we make this announcement and move forward together in the next chapter of our journey.

Revised COVID Protocol for Indoor Worship

Due to the recent spike in COVID cases in our area, Bishop Susan has issued this appeal to all clergy in our diocese.

Dear Clergy,

The Rt. Rev. Dr. Susan Brown Snook, Bishop
The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego

Jesus commands us to love our neighbors, which includes doing what we can to keep them and ourselves safe in a public health crisis. With regret, due to the spike in Covid cases in our area, I am asking you to reinstate mask-wearing for all (except while reading or preaching) for indoor worship in our diocese.

I have so enjoyed our brief respite from most restrictions in worship. Like all of you, I hoped and prayed that the drop in Covid cases we saw earlier in the summer would prove to be the end of the pandemic. Sadly, the choice of many people in our area to remain unvaccinated is allowing the pandemic to continue. Given the fact that children and some people with health conditions cannot yet be vaccinated, and that even vaccinated adults can catch breakthrough cases (albeit with far better outcomes than unvaccinated people), it seems that the responsible thing to do is keep ourselves safe with masking during indoor worship. I am saddened by the need to tighten restrictions once more, but this message comes after review of the concerning news of a Covid spike, and after discussion with members of our Public Health Task Force.

I ask you to join me in prayer that the current growth in cases is short-lived, and I ask you to urge your members to be vaccinated, for the sake of public health in our community. I hope we can remove the masking requirement soon. But for now, I believe that Jesus’ command to love our neighbor compels us to do what we can to protect our neighbors and our community from this disease. I am grateful to all of you for your leadership in this trying time.

In Christ,

The Rt. Rev. Dr. Susan Brown Snook, Bishop
The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego