The Abundant Life – April 14, 2023

Eastertide Formation Class

Starts Sunday, April 23, 9:00 AM, in the library

Please join the Rev. Dr. Bill Hardwick for The Way of the Mystic: the heart of Christian spirituality. At the core of the world’s major religions is a spiritual practice known as the Mystical tradition. Western religion has traditionally emphasized a belief structure based on doctrine and theological speculation; the Mystical tradition emphasizes a spiritual practice based on direct experience of the divine. Although it has never been the dominant influence in Christianity, the Mystical tradition passed down through the ages by the desert fathers and mothers, monastics, and theologians in every age has had a significant influence on both belief and practice in Christian spirituality. Many contemporary thinkers point to a revival of the Mystical tradition as the best way for the Christian church to respond to the challenges of the post-modern world. This class will examine the origins of the Mystical tradition and study how it played out in the life and writings of four of the great Christian mystics: Hildegard of Bingen, Meister Eckhart, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, and Dorothy Sölle.

The Rev. Dr. Bill Hardwick has been teaching Theology and Religious Studies for over 50 years. He has degrees in Theology and ministry from Iona University, the University of Notre Dame, the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, and Seabury-Western Theological Seminary. He has been studying mysticism since attending a seminar at the American Academy of Religion annual conference in the late 1960s.

Movie Night at St. Paul’s
Saturday, April 15 – 6:00 PM

Have fun, meet friends, and share a movie and popcorn with your fellow parishioners.  If you like, you can bring a pizza, a bucket of chicken, or just a snack, and have a great time in the Parish Hall at St. Paul in the Desert, April 15 at 6:00 PM. We will provide the drinks and popcorn; you create the fellowship. All are welcome, so invite your friends and neighbors.  See you there!

This month’s featured film is The Ghost and Mr. Chicken – Don Knotts stars as a timid typesetter who hasn’t a ghost of a chance of becoming a reporter – until he decides to solve a murder mystery and ends up spending a fright-filled night in a haunted house. Figuring the answers to the mystery lie in the old Simmons mansion, Luther Heggs (Knotts) visits the estate at the witching hour of midnight. Certain he’s seen a ghost, Luther writes a story which makes front page news – and brings on a libel suit from the mansion’s owner. When the trial judge orders an investigation – and no apparition appears – Luther is branded a fraud. That is, until he and his devoted girlfriend team up to uncover the mystery of the hauntings – and the true murderer – in this timeless comedy classic.

Arbor Day Cleanup at Oswit Canyon Land Trust

Join us Friday April 28, from 8:00 AM-10:00 AM as we help clean up the natural desert setting! Sign-up sheet is available in the Narthex. We will plan on meeting at St. Paul’s at 7:30AM and carpool over.

Latino Ministry

The Latino Ministry will meet Sunday, April 16 at 9:05 AM, in the Library, following the early service. Come join a discussion (in English) of how we will strive to attain our mission goals and objectives. This will also be a planning session for this year’s Cinco de Mayo celebration.

Contact Bonnie Stroock for more information, 760.799.9336.

Easter Safe Church Challenge

Parish Finances & Human Resources

Volunteers needed – to serve as members of our Parish Finance and Human Resources Committees. Have a background in finance or HR? Want to serve your church in this unique but necessary way? We need you! Please contact ASAP to offer your expertise. You can help  support these vital functions!

St. Paul’s Parish Life Camping Ministry – Save the Dates!

We are in the early planning stage for two camping trips in the not-too-distant future – one in Joshua Tree scheduled for May 18 – 20; the other in Idyllwild, July 18 – 20. More information will be published here as details are finalized. Stay tuned!

St. Paul’s Parish Life Hiking Club

Hello, St. Paul Hikers,

Thanks everyone for your feedback on our Spring 2023 hike dates.  Unfortunately, there’s a lot going on in our proposed hiking window and we have not been able to accommodate all scheduling issues.  We have, however, done our best to pick a date that works for what appears to be the largest group of people considering all the competing concerns.  Here are the confirmed details.  We will send around a final reminder the week before the hike just to make sure plans are firm and everyone’s in the loop.

Date: So . . . (drumroll) after some very comprehensive vetting of dates, church calendars, weather patterns, and input from many sides, we’ve selected APRIL 15, 2023, as the date for our next hike.  My very sincere apologies to all those who let us know they could not make that date – we really tried to find a few other consensus dates, but just could not seem to make anything work so close to Easter.  For those unable to make it, we’ll plan an extra-special Fall Hike just for you.

Destination/Trail: Our planned destination on APRIL 15, 2023, will be the Mastodon Peak Trail, near the Southern Gate to Joshua Tree National Park.  This trail, with its wild rock formations, wildflowers, abandoned mines and sweeping views of the Colorado Desert is a great introduction to the scenic and historical treasures of Southern Joshua Tree.  The trail is about 3 miles, has a few very modest elevation changes, is well-maintained and marked and is rated “easy-to-moderate” in most guidebooks.

Carpool/Park Passes: The Mastodon Peak Trail is located inside the “pay” area of the National Park, so our plan will be to meet in Palm Springs and then carpool to our destination with any willing drivers who have annual Joshua Tree or National Park passes.  If you have such a pass, can make the April 15, 2023, date and are willing to help us carpool everyone out to the site, please let Nancy Antonius or me know. It would be much appreciated.  The drive to the trailhead is a simple one (a straight shot down I-10) and usually takes 50 minutes to an hour. Driving directions will be supplied in advance of the hike to those who are assisting with the carpool.  It’ll be fun!

Meeting Time and Place: The trail is a popular one and we will try to get an early start to minimize crowds.  We will therefore meet at 8:00 AM in the parking lot area of St. Paul in the Desert Episcopal Church in Palm Springs, which is located at 125 West Alameda Street, Palm Springs, 92262.  PLEASE BE ON TIME or let us know if you are running late.  We WILL leave if we don’t hear from you (it’s happened).

What to Bring: It’s been hard to predict weather this year, but hikers should definitely prepare for the desert.  Accordingly, please wear solid and comfortable walking or hiking shoes with a rubber or similar soul for traction.  Dress comfortably for likely sunshine but bring an extra layer just in case.  You should carry sunscreen, a hat and plenty of water.  Trekking poles are not essential but can add stability to anyone who needs it.

Questions/Help: If you have any questions that aren’t answered here, please feel free to contact Nancy Antonius at or me at .

Chris Kelly

St. Paul’s T-Shirts Now Available

St. Paul’s T-Shirts have arrived! This blue apparel comes in M, L, and XL. It features the Church’s new logo on the back and the phrase, “We respect the dignity of every human being” on the front (part of our baptismal covenant). If you would like to purchase one, a booth will be set up at coffee hour. You can also pick one up by stopping by the office. The cost is $25 per shirt (the cost of materials + shipping – St. Paul’s is not making any money off of these).

EXACT CHANGE ONLY (by check or cash).

Author James Baldwin

St Paul’s Book Club

The next Book Club meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, at 1:00 PM via Zoom. Meeting information will follow later. For May, Book Club has selected two books by James Baldwin. Set in 1963 The Fire Next Time galvanized a nation and gave passionate voice to the emerging civil rights movement. Giovanni’s Room is set in a contemporary Paris of American expatriates, liaisons, and violence, and a young man finds himself caught between desire and conventional morality. New members are always welcome.

New members are always welcome at Book Club. For more information, please contact Alan Zimmerman at

Mid-week Services

You are invited to the church on Wednesday evenings at 6:00 PM each week for contemplative Eucharist/Evening Prayer.  The church will be open the hour prior (5:00-6:00 PM) for silent, personal prayer.

Come and rest.

Prayers of the Church

For the Anglican Communion, and for the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby; for the Anglican Church of Tanzania, The Right Reverend Dr. Maimbo William Mndolwa, Primate and Archbishop.

For the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, The Right Reverend Canon Paula E. Clark, Bishop.

For the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, The Right Reverend Dr. Susan Brown Snook, Bishop; for the clergy and people of St. James by-the-Sea, La Jolla; for those who are preparing for ordination.

For those commended to our prayers: Jamie Currie, Richard Leas, Terry Garrity, Paula Sturgeon, Jim Crumby, Rus Butler, Laurie Molello, Spencer and Connie, Ken Burris, Kurt Davis, Marilyn De Silva Currie, Ray Tackett, Susan Moseley, Don Chase, Ysna Satyan, Guy Patrick, Gary Scott, Forest Irons, Greg Gowdy, Amelia Grinstead, John Ketchum, AJ Miller, Tom Lutgen, Brian Nealy; pray for all those for whom no prayers have been said.

For those who have died: Bonnie Woods, Michael Peroni, Marge Horstman, Leslie Thomas, Thomas Roberts, Janet Howell, Fairy Lee Wiley.

Rest eternal grant to these, your servants, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

For those with birthdays: April 16: Larry Wilson; April 17: Bradley White, David Weir, Luca Reineke, April 18: Natasha Hemrajani; April 19: Elaine Martinkovic; April 21: Penelope Lamont, William Kennedy; April 22: Nick Bonnell, Michael Patino.

For those celebrating their anniversary: April 21: Helen & Thomas Amestoy.

For those for whom flowers have been donated: This week’s Altar Flowers are sponsored by Luis Valdez & Vern Marken, in memory of Vern’s mother, Helen Marken, on the 110^th anniversary of her birth, AND by George Tamer & Douglas Burton in memory of Rick Noll.

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 Weekly print deadline is Wednesday noon.

For next Sunday’s Lectionary readings, go to www.lectionarypage.net and click on April 23, 2023, The Third Sunday of Easter.

Upcoming Meetings & Events at St Paul’s

• Saturday, April 15 – The St. Paul’s Hiking Group Spring Hike in Joshua Tree National Park.
• Sunday, April 16 – 9:05 AM – Latino Ministry planning meeting – Library.
• Sundays, April 23 – May 21 – 9:00 AM – Eastertide Formation Cass – Library.
• Friday, April 28 – 7:30 AM – Abor Day Cleanup at Oswit Canyon Land Trust.
• Wednesday, May 17 – 6:00 PM – Ascension Day (transferred) – Choral Evensong.
• Sunday, May 28 – Pentecost / Whitsunday.
• Sunday, June 4 – Trinity Sunday.

St. Paul’s Social Justice Ministry Needs Warm Weather Clothing Donations

Now that spring has officially arrived, the Social Justice Ministry is seeking donations of new or gently used warm weather clothing to distribute to our needy neighbors. Hats, sun visors and other summer accessories are also appreciated. Please place your donated items in the collection “barrels” located in the narthex.

The Ministry thanks all who helped make this past winter’s coat drive such a major success. Your generosity surpassed all expectations.

Sunday Service LiveStreaming

We are livestreaming our 10:30 AM Sunday Eucharist every week. The livestream project was made possible through a generous gift from a “snowbird” member from Philadelphia who wintered in Palm Springs for many years and worshiped at St. Paul’s every Sunday. You can view the livestream on our Home Page, YouTube Channel, and Facebook Page.

Missed a service?  Or want to rewatch a liturgy? All our past services are available to watch either on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/StPaulintheDesert or on our Facebook timeline: https://www.facebook.com/stpaulinthedesert