The Abundant Life – March 17, 2023

Pink Sunday!

This Sunday we are celebrating a special “Pink” (Laetere) Sunday as Safety Sunday! Please join us at both our 8AM & 10:30AM services for an historic announcement that will impact the future of our church for many years to come. There will be a special townhall after the 10:30AM service to talk through the details. You won’t want to miss it!

Easter Safe Church Challenge

Legacy Society

Lent is a time when we are invited to ponder the end of our mortal journey. As a part of that, we are also invited to think about our legacy. St. Paul’s is starting a Legacy Society that will help all of us consider how our resources can continue to make a difference in the lives of others beyond the grave. You are invited to be a charter member. There is no minimum amount to join.

In order to be a part of Charter Membership in The Church of St. Paul in the Desert’s Legacy Society, your Legacy Gift Intention Form (check your email, the Legacy Table at coffee hour, or stop by the office) must be returned to the church office no later than March 15, 2023

Of course, you can still become a member of the legacy society after that date, but the opportunity to be a charter member will have closed. Once St. Paul’s has received your form, do mark your calendars for Sunday, March 26. You’ll receive an invitation in the mail with the details of the Charter Member Event.

Download the “My Legacy Gift Intention” Form

View The St. Paul Legacy Society Webpage

Music at St. Paul’s – Wednesday, March 22, 6:00 – The Feast of the Annunciation

Choral Solemn Evensong with Parish Sextet. William Smith, “Prices and Responses.” Ralph Vaughn Williams, “Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis” in C Major. Anthem: “Expectans Expectavi” by Charles Wood.

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!

Calling for Easter Egg Supplies!

We are looking to stuff eggs for our Easter egg hunt, as well as pass out eggs with our service information at our neighborhood event coming up. So we need you to help us spread the St. Paul’s love! Please bring any plastic eggs, toys or candy to fill them, or pre-stuffed eggs to the church before/by March 22 (next Wednesday). IMPORTANT: No chocolate please.

Movie Night at St. Paul’s

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, March 18 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 Chocolat, nominated for 5 Academy Awards including Best Picture.

When mysterious Vianne and her child arrive in a tranquil French town in the winter of 1959, no one could have imagined the impact that she and her spirited daughter would have on the community stubbornly rooted in tradition. Within days, she opens an unusual chocolate shop, across the square from the church. Her ability to perceive her customers’ desires and satisfy them with just the right confection, coaxes the villagers to abandon themselves to temptation – just as Lent begins.

Juliette Binoche, Johnny Depp, Lena Olin, Judi Dench

Lenten Offerings

• 

  Sunday class between services (9:15-10:15 AM) in library discussing Henri Nouwen’s book, The Way of the Heart, Desert Spirituality and Contemporary Ministry with Rev. Tom Clarke.

• Sunday class between services (9:15-10:15 AM) in Parish Hall on the Diaconate (What is a Deacon?) for those discerning a call and for those just curious with a variety of teachers.
• Tuesday evening class in library (5:00-7:30 PM) Opera Night: Resurrection in Erich Korngold’s Die tote Stadt (The Dead City)and Das Wunder der Heliane (The Miracle of Heliane) with teacher Joseph Casazza.
• Wednesday lunch class in library (11:00 AM-12:30 PM) on 30 Poems for Lent with teacher Ken Ballard.
• Wednesdays at 6:00 PMis our simple spoken mass. During Lent, we will be using Rite I. The church will be open for the hour prior (5:00-6:00 PM) for contemplative silent prayer.
• Wednesday evening class after Eucharist in the church (6:30-8:00 PM) on a Lenten Play: “Joan of Arc” with teachers Mick Welsh and Lou Armentrout.
• Mondays – Thursdays in Lent, log onto St. Paul’s Facebook page at 10:00 AM to join our Co-Rectors for Morning Prayer.
• Saturday, March 4 (9:00 AM-12:00 Noon) – Preparing for the End-of-Life morning retreat with Co-Rectors and several retired clergy.
• Schedule a time for Confession (see The Reconciliation of a Penitent).
• Join us in getting rid of stuff to make space (see #40BagsIn40Days).

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).

St Paul’s Book Club

The next Book Club meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at 1:00 PM, via Zoom.  Meeting information will follow later. For April, Book Club has selected The Sleeping Car Porter by Suzette Mayr. Set in 1929, this novel brings to life an important part of Black history in North America, from the perspective of a queer man living in a culture that renders him invisible in two ways. When a mudslide strands a train, Baxter, a Black sleeping car porter, must contend with the perils of white passengers, ghosts, and his secret love affair.

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

American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem (AFEDJ) 

This important mission of the Episcopal Church in the Holy Land is dedicated to raising financial support for schools, hospitals, and centers for children with disabilities in Palestine, Israel, Jordan and Lebanon. AFEDJ is a recipient of our annual Good Friday Offering. Learn more at or contact Michael Howard at

Mid-week Services

You are invited to the church on Wednesday evenings at 6:00 PM each week for contemplative Eucharist/Evening Prayer. During Lent, our Wednesday services will be Rite I.

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 Southern Africa, The Most Reverend Thabo Cecil Makgoba, Archbishop.

For the Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee, The Right Reverend John C. Bauerschmidt, Bishop.

For the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, The Right Reverend Dr. Susan Brown Snook, Bishop; for the clergy and people of St. John’s, Fallbrook.

Prayer for those affected by the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria – Comfort them, Lord, in this disaster. Be their rock when the earth refuses to stand still and shelter them under your wings when homes no longer exist. Embrace in your arms those who died so suddenly. Console the hearts of those who mourn and ease the pain of bodies on the brink of death. Lord, bring them comfort, strength, and renewed hope. Amen.

For those commended to our prayers: Guy Patrick, Gary Scott, Forest Irons, Greg Gowdy, Thomas Roberts, Amelia Grinstead, Gigi Noonan, Earl Dumler, Nikko, Tish & Elliot Kahn, Roddy Delson, Bonnie Woods, Irina & Gary Manata, Anna Gospodareva, Bob & Linda S., Gene Metzger, Brea Fyke, JoEllen Doering, Marge Horstman, President Jimmy Carter, Jessica Scott, Marie Ratnam, Bruce Berlage, Dick Cushing, Judy Roa, Lisa & Tony Porto, The family of Susan W., Teresa Ball, Joel Cutler, Paula Davis, Justin, Monique, Dirk Beach-Barrow, Matthew Patton, Ken Smithler,  John Ketchum, AJ Miller, Tom Lutgen, Brian Nealy; pray for all those for whom no prayers have been said.

For those who have died: Janet Howell, Fairy Lee Wiley, Robert Quirk, Beth Reed, Shirley Gilchrist, Willie B. Holland, Paul Goree, Dennis Barajas. 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: March 20: Patricia Thompson; March 21: Kristy Nugent, Bret Caton; March 22: Robert Woods; March 23: Mary Wyton, Sahanan Koompoo; March 24: Lee Chandrasena, Louis Thibault, Patty Kiker; March 25: Paul Martinkovic, Gary Johnson, Viola Whiting, Stan Deller, David Livingston.

For those celebrating anniversaries: March 19: Joanne & Roland Lampela; March 22: Dee Dee & Greg Barton.

During Lent the altar is not to be decorated with flowers.

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 March 26, 2023, The Fifth Sunday in Lent.

Upcoming Meetings & Events at St Paul’s

• Saturday, March 18 – 6:00 PM – Parish Hall – Movie Night – “Chocolat”
• Sunday, March 19 – LAETARE (“PINK”) SUNDAY & SAFETY SUNDAY!
• Monday, March 20 – 6:00 PM – Library – Finance Committee
• Wednesday, March 22 – 6:00 PM – The Feast of the Annunciation (transferred) – Choral Solemn Evensong
• Thursday, March 23 – 6:30 PM – Library – Vestry
• Sunday, March 26 – Between services – Legacy Sunday: What is your legacy?
• Sunday, March 26 – 12:00 – 2:00 PM – Library – “Last Call” – Come, check out books and discover!
• Wednesday, March 29 – 1:00 PM-2:30 PM – Library – Sacred Circle.
• Saturday, April 1 – 9:00 AM – Come decorate the church for Palm Sunday.
• Sunday, April 2 – The Sunday of the Passion – Palm Sunday.

Training Event March 29th

A recent law went into effect in California, it requires that all new (or upgraded) AED installations include “Stop the Bleed” kits. This is a unique law within California. Many lives were saved after the Boston Marathon Bombing from people using belts and neckties as tourniquets, many lives! A person can bleed to death within 3-5 minutes if an artery is severed, and a slip and fall with a knife in the kitchen can result in this type of injury.

This is at the CVDPN’s training location.  The class is only a couple of hours and you learn how to correctly apply tourniquets, and how to control bleeding with packing.

The Reconciliation of a Penitent: Remembering Confession in Lent

The Book of Common Prayer contains two orders of service for private confession, known officially as the Reconciliation of a Penitent. Making a private confession is a traditional and powerful spiritual practice, and the choice to confess or not confess to a priest is governed by the old adage: All may, some should, none must. This Lent, Rev. Jessie and Rev. Dan will be reserving time for hearing confessions and will be available by appointment. If you would like resources or help preparing for confession, or if you would like to set up a time for this sacrament, please email or

Reconciliation of a Penitent: What Is It and What Can I Expect if I Try It?

Here is an excerpt from the Rev. Hillary Raining’s book, Joy in Confession: Reclaiming Sacramental Reconciliation:

Reconciliation of a Penitent Explained

The theological explanation of reconciliation is both complicated and simple. At its heart, reconciliation is the very cornerstone of our faith—the love of God proclaimed in the forgiveness and healing offered to us by Jesus. We often hear the phrases “Jesus died for our sins” or “Jesus died to save you.” Yet, understanding how that forgiveness works in our day-to-day life can be difficult. The Rite of Reconciliation exists so that we can live into the forgiving action of Jesus as found in his Body, the community of the Church, and as people of God.

In the Episcopal tradition, Reconciliation of a Penitent (as defined in the Book of Common Prayer) it “is the rite in which those who repent of their sins may confess them to God in the presence of a priest, and receive the assurance of pardon and the grace of absolution.” It is often referred to as “private confession.”

Reconciliation invites us to leave our tombs (our sins and failings) and live the life God calls us to. Reconciliation means we become one again with our Lord and Savior—that we experience the Easter promise of new life. When people truly embrace and practice Reconciliation of a Penitent, they will be transformed—as will the world around them.

What to Expect When Making Confession

Although each location will be different according to your church’s traditions and the style of your confessor, here are some things that you can expect when you make a confession.

• Begin your journey to reconciliation with prayer and self-examination. Knowing that this opportunity is a call to grace and not a call to feel shame, ask God for clarity in those parts of your life that may need healing and change.
• When you feel the desire to seek reconciliation, call your church to make an appointment with your priest or make note of any previously scheduled times of confession that are posted in your church.
• The place where you make your confession will be confidential and sacred. Very few Episcopal churches have confessional booths; however, if yours does, simply enter and either sit or kneel as the priest takes her or his place on the other side of the screen. If your church does not have a booth, you will most likely be invited to kneel at the altar rail or meet with the priest in his or her office. The confessor may sit facing you or in such a way as to not make direct eye contact with you; this may make the moment more comfortable for you and is a sign that your confessor is listening deeply on behalf of God.
• Using one of the reconciliation rites from The Book of Common Prayer, you will confess your sins and ask God for forgiveness. Don’t worry if you can’t remember everything! God knows what is on your heart.
• The priest may offer pastoral conversation and some spiritual practices (such as a psalm, prayer, or hymn to be said or something to do) to offer as a sign of penitence and an act of thanksgiving.
• The priest will then absolve you from your sins and remind you of the wonders of God’s grace and forgiveness that you have received.
• Spend some time in prayer afterward to revel in the freedom and joy that God offers you in this pastoral gift of reconciliation.

The 40 Bags in 40 Days Challenge

Searching for a Lenten Practice that will have you looking at what you have, getting rid of what you don’t need, and creating literal space for God’s Spirit to flow and your home to be a place of resurrection?

Join us this Lent with the 40 Bags in 40 Days Challenge.

You determine the size of the bags, and going through each room, drawer, closet, and cupboard, each day collect the items you don’t need, don’t use, or have too much of and discard, recycle or find a new home for those items. Ask yourself, can I donate my unused clothing to those in need? Do I let food go to waste? Am I spending my money on new possessions when I am not using the ones I have or when I could be helping those in need?

While this might seem a different Lenten practice, Lent is a time of prayer, sacrifice, and self-denial. Getting a little uncomfortable is what Lent does, allowing us a time of confession, reconciliation, and new habits as we deepen our spiritual lives. Clearing out our space isn’t just the new ‘minimalist’ fad. We are called to be good stewards of our things and the more things we have, the more energy we take in keeping them up, and the less time we have to spend with those we love and with those we are called to serve. By using/having less and by being less wasteful, we can make more room for prayer and to hear God’s Voice.

Join us. #40bagsin40dayslentchallenge

1 Front porch/steps/yard

2 Entryway

3 Hall Closets

4 Kitchen drawers/cabinets

5 Under the kitchen sink

6 Pantry/refrigerator

7 Dining room table/shelves/drawers

8 Towels and linen closet/drawers

9 Bathroom closets/drawers/shelves

10 Under the bathroom sink

11 Toiletries/makeup

12 Cleaning supplies

13 Junk drawers

14 Living room shelves/cabinets

15 Family room shelves/cabinets

16 Master bedroom drawers/shelves

17 Bedroom closet

18 Guest room drawers/shelves

19 Guest room closet

20 Bookshelves

21 DVDs/VHS tapes

22 CDs/Records/Tapes

23 Jewelry/other accessories

24 Kids’ bedroom drawers/shelves

25 Kids’ bedroom closets

26 Dog/cat toys/blankets/etc.

27 Shoes/jackets/hats/scarves

28 Toys

29 Office desk

30 Office shelves/drawers/stacks

31 Craft room drawers/shelves

32 Craft room floor/piles

33 Christmas stuff

34 Other holiday stuff

35 Sports equipment

36 Laundry Room

37 Garage cabinets/shelves

38 Cars (center consoles, floor, trunks, glove compartments, etc.)

39 Back porch/yard

40 All piles of paper

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.

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

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