The Abundant Life – January 20, 2023

The Reverend Florence Li Tim-Oi

Reverend Florence was the first woman to be ordained to the priesthood in the Anglican Communion (January 25, 1944).  Born 5 May 1907, Hong Kong; Died 26 February 1992 (aged 84), Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  Venerated in the Episcopal Church (United States), and the Anglican Church of Canada.

In 2003, the Episcopal Church fixed 24 January as her feast day in Lesser Feasts and Fasts based on the eve of the anniversary of her ordination.  In 2007, the Anglican communion celebrated the centennial of her birth.  In 2018, she was made a permanent part of the Episcopal Church’s calendar of saints.  She is also memorialized in the calendar of the Anglican Church of Canada with a feast day on February 26, the anniversary of her death.

(adapted from Florence Li Tim-Oi – Wikipedia)

Mark your Calendars! – Sunday, January 29

The Feast of St. Paul the Hermit and the Annual Meeting of the Church of St. Paul in the Desert

The Church of St. Paul in the Desert presents the Feast of St. Paul the Hermit and the 84^th Annual Meeting, outdoors in the church parking lot following the 10:30 service.  (NOTE:  There will be only one service that Sunday.) Lunch will be provided. At the meeting, we’ll present our new photo Member Directory and review our “fresh off the presses” Strategic Plan. All of this, and so much more! (Rumor has it there’s a dunk tank in the mix.) You won’t want to miss this important gathering.

Upcoming Meetings & Events at St Paul’s

• Sunday, January 22 – 9:15 – 10:15 AM and 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM – Last Call in the library.
• Wednesday, January 25 – 10:00 AM – Social Justice Ministry will distribute clothes and sundries.
• Wednesday, January 25, 6:00 PM – End-of-year Vestry meeting and celebration (offsite).
• Sunday, January 29, 2023 – Feast of St. Paul the Hermit and our Annual Meeting – One service at 10:30 AM.
• Wednesday, February 1, Candlemas (Transferred) – 6:00 PM.
• Friday, February 3 – Desert Baroque concert – 7:00 PM – The Artists Center, Palm Desert.
• Sunday, February 12 – The Reverend Absalom Jones (Transferred) – First African American Priest (Episcopal).
• Tuesday, February 21 – Shrove Tuesday 5:00 – 7:00 PM.
• Wednesday, February 22 – Ash Wednesday (Imposition of Ashes at all services)

Movie Night – January 21

“RESPECT – The Queen of Soul,” with Jennifer Hudson

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, January 21 at 6:00 PM. We will provide the drinks and popcorn; you create the fellowship. All are welcome, so bring your friends and neighbors.  We’ll see you there!

Following the rise of Aretha Franklin’s career from a child singing in her father’s church choir to her international superstardom, RESPECT is the remarkable true story of the music icon’s journey to find her voice. The film follows the first two decades of Franklin’s life, from being born as a musical prodigy in an affluent African American family, the repercussions of losing her mother at age 10 to her arduous rise to international musical stardom, while enduring an abusive marriage, ultimately concluding with the recording of her influential live album Amazing Grace (1972).

St. Paul’s Library “Last Call!”

The Library Ministry at St. Paul presents “Last Call!” this Sunday, January 22. The Library will be open for one hour between services, and from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM, when parishioners can visit to browse and check out books. Questions? Please contact a Volunteer Librarian at ().

Area Homeless “Point-In-Time Count” January 25, 2023

We need your help in making Riverside County’s Point-In-Time Count (PIT) a success!

Each year, the Riverside County Continuum of Care (CoC) partners with cities to facilitate the federally mandated count of people experiencing homelessness throughout Riverside County. Information gathered from the count is valuable because it provides a snapshot of how many people experience sheltered and unsheltered homelessness on a single night. The data is used to demonstrate the need for federal and state funding, services, and resource planning, and to inform the community about homelessness.

The Homeless Point-in-Time Count reflects a snapshot of Riverside County’s homeless population. Obtaining an accurate count of people experiencing homelessness is critical to helping our communities attract the state and federal funding needed to address a growing public health crisis. Homelessness impacts families, individuals, and communities across Riverside County, and we recognize this is an issue that can best be addressed by working together.

Here’s how you can help:

• Volunteering: our hope is that you’ll help us identify individuals to help at our PIT count.

• • General Count
  • Youth Count

• Attend our virtual Community Planning Session: January 5, 2023

There is a real need for Volunteers to do the youth count as well…

The Homeless Youth Point-in-Time Count is a three-day annual event that allows the county to collect valuable information about the diverse experiences of runaway, unaccompanied homeless and unstably housed youth. Youth Count data provides critical updates on national and local progress towards preventing and ending youth homelessness.

Because of the nature of how youth (age 18 – 24) experience homelessness, we shift the count to a three-day event (January 25-27) from 2pm-8pm in stead the general count from 5:30AM – 9:30AM.

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.

Candlemas Celebration: The Presentation of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple (Transferred)

Wednesday, February 1, 6:00 PM

The feast of our Lord celebrated on February 2, also known as Candlemas. It commemorates the presentation of Jesus and the purification of Mary in the Jerusalem Temple forty days after Jesus’ birth. Come for the procession and the celebration of light! Bring your candles to be blessed.

Join us as we prepare for Holy Lent

Shrove Tuesday, February 21, 5:00 – 7:00 PM
Burning of the palms, burying of the alleluias, and pancake supper.

Ash Wednesday, February 22
The Imposition of Ashes will occur at all services.

Winter Coat Donations Needed

Now that cooler weather has arrived in the desert, the Social Justice Ministry is seeking donations of new or gently used winter coats and jackets to distribute to our needy neighbors. Winter hats, scarves and gloves are also appreciated. Remember, donated used clothing should first be dry cleaned. Please place your donated items in the collection “barrels” located in the narthex.

Desert Baroque Concert

Desert Baroque presents a program of music called “The Art of Time,” Friday, February 3, 7:00 PM – The Artists Center at the Galen, Palm Desert. Drawn from the treasures of the late Baroque in France, Italy and Germany, these works stand at the apex of musical development toward the end of an era of unrivaled expression. Tickets at www.eventbrite.com

St Paul’s Book Club

The next Book Club meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, at 1:00 PM via Zoom. Meeting information will follow later. For February, Book Club has selected Briefly, A Delicious Life by Nell Stevens. Charming, original, and emotionally moving, the novel follows an unconventional love triangle between George Sand, Fredrick Chopin, and Blanca, a 400-year-old ghost. A gorgeous and surprising exploration of artistry, desire, and life after death.

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

Prayers of the Church

For the Anglican Communion, and for the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby; for The Church of North India (United), The Most Reverend Bijaya Kumar Nayak, Moderator.

For the Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky, The Right Reverend, Terry Allen White, Bishop.

For the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, The Right Reverend Dr. Susan Brown Snook, Bishop; for the children, staff, and board of Vida Joven de México; for the growth of service in the diocese.

For those commended to our prayers: Chris Rogers, Griff Linsenmayer, John Ketchum, Tim Johnson, Bret Caton, Ken Smithers, George Dodge, Candace Rinette, Don Hamilton, Spencer, Connie, Betty Burris, Aaron Riviers, Joel Cutler, Mike Gorman, AJ Miller, Maryanne Struck, Teresa Ball, Richard Jones, Michael R., Al Wilder, Wilma, Steve, Brandon, Matthew, Jenni Foreman, Glena, Drew Blazier, Rex Comer, Gary Koch, Tom Lutgen, Brian Nealy; pray for all those for whom no prayers have been said.

For those who have died: Tom English, Shirley Harrison, Gordon Zentner, Harvey Trackman, Anthony Picozzi. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.  Amen.

For those with birthdays: January 22: Clinton Carbon; January 23: Andy Johnson; January 24: Ken Hendrickson, Peter Smurthwaite; January 26: Sandra Piccardi; January 27: Irene Gillespie, Michael Painter, Gary Smith; January 28: Lou Armentrout, Ken Ballard, Rick Gooch.

For those for whom flowers have been donated: This week’s Altar Flowers are sponsored by Blanche Mickelson, in loving memory of her husband of 62 years, Ray Allen Mickelson. “He was a beautiful light in my life and a friend to all.”

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 select January 29, 2023, the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany.

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

Episcopal Relief & Development

Episcopal Relief & Development is mobilizing with Anglican agencies and other partners to provide humanitarian assistance to people fleeing the violence in Ukraine. Working through the Action by Churches Together Alliance (ACT Alliance), Episcopal Relief & Development will provide cash, blankets, hygiene supplies and other needed assistance. Please pray for all those affected. To donate directly to Episcopal Relief & Development’s Ukraine Crisis Response Fund, visit  (https://support.episcopalrelief.org/).  If you prefer, you can donate through St. Paul’s Parish.  Be sure to designate “ERD Ukraine” on your check or cash envelope.

Episcopal News Services

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