The Abundant Life – May 19, 2023

Parish Administrator Job Posting

We are hiring a new parish administrator. The Parish Administrator is a critical role at the Church of St. Paul in the Desert and serves as the central contact and hub for all church staff, parishioners, volunteers, visitors, vendors, and community partners. They must be well-organized, able to work independently and collaboratively, and be flexible in responding to the changing needs of the parish.

The Parish Administrator reports to the Co-Rectors, and manages two other staff members: a Sexton and Assistant Sexton. They work with the Co-Rectors in managing a team of office volunteers who will assist in the broad scope of this key role. As we grow into a program-sized church, our Parish Administrator will help us navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by the multiplication of mission endeavors, expansion of communication lines, and increasing complexity of day-to-day operations. Please click on the link below for further information. If you know someone who may be interested in applying, please forward the website link to them. Application Deadline: May 31^st, 2023.

Read the Parish Administrator Job Description

Easter Safe Church Challenge

Trinity Sunday is June 4

It is the feast that celebrates “the one and equal glory” of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  It is celebrated on the first Sunday after Pentecost.

Trinity Sunday is one of the seven principal feasts of the church year (BCP, p.15). Celebration of Trinity Sunday was approved for the western church by Pope John XXII in 1334.  This feast is associated with Thomas Becket (c. 1118-1170), who was consecrated bishop on Trinity Sunday, 1162.  His martyrdom may have influenced the popularity of the feast in England.

St. Paul’s Music Ministry Update

The final Sunday performance of St. Paul’s Mixed Ensemble prior to the summer break will be June 4, Trinity Sunday. Join us as we thank these singers for their many melodic contributions during the past several months and bid them farewell until fall.

Altar flower sponsorships

Fresh flowers at the altar honor God and add to the beauty of our worship.

If you would like to sponsor altar flowers for a future Sunday honoring a special person or event, you’ll find the sign-up book in the Narthex, or you can call the Parish Office at 760.320.7488 to reserve your sponsorship date(s). A donation of $95 for each altar flower sponsorship is suggested.

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 Movie Night

Friday, May 19, 7:30 PM

Share a movie and popcorn and have fun with your friends and neighbors.  If you like, bring a pizza, a bucket of chicken – or whatever sounds good – and relax in the Parish Hall at St. Paul in the Desert, Friday, May 19 at 7:30 PM. We will provide the drinks and popcorn; you create the fellowship. All are welcome, so invite anyone you think might enjoy St. Paul’s Movie Night.  See you there!

This month’s featured film is Heaven is for Real– Based on the #1 New York Times best-selling book, Heaven is for Real recounts the true story of a small-town father who must find the courage and conviction to share his son’s extraordinary, life-changing experience with the world. The film stars Greg Kinnear as Todd Burpo, the real-life father whose son Colton claims to have visited Heaven during a near-death experience. Colton shares the details of his amazing journey with childlike innocence and speaks mater-of-factly about things that happened before his birth – things he couldn’t possibly know. Told by Colton’s father, often in Colton’s own words, the disarmingly simple message is that heaven is a real place, Jesus really loves children, and to be ready – there is a coming last battle.

View the movie trailer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-ewaCVARtM.

St Paul’s Book Club

The next Book Club meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at 1:00 PM via Zoom.  Meeting information will follow later. For June, Book Club has selected Five Little Indians by Michelle Good.

This novel set in British Columbia is about five Indigenous children taken from their families when they are very small and sent to a remote, church-run residential school. With compassion and insight, Five Little Indians chronicles the desperate quest of these residential school survivors to come to terms with their past and, ultimately, find a way forward.

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

End of Season Circle Supper

Everyone who is currently participating in a Circle Supper Group is invited to attend the “End of Season Joint Circle Supper” at Billy Reed’s Restaurant, Palm Springs, Thursday, June 1, at 5:00 PM. Please RSVP to Nancy Antonius at by noon, Sunday, May 28.

Reservations are a MUST, and we will need to give the restaurant an exact headcount prior to the event. Questions? Do not hesitate to call Nancy at 760.656.4920, or text her at 516.353.2566.

“Summer Second Saturdays at Seven”
Concert Series

Although we will miss our talented and dedicated Mixed Ensemble this summer, we have planned other musical offerings for June, July, and August as part of our concert series. The second Saturday of each month, we will showcase a different musical presentation at 7:00 PM in the church, followed by a reception in the Parish Hall. Mark your calendars!

• Saturday, June 10, Douglas Graham, Tenor, A Medley of Vocal Favorites
• Saturday, July 8, The Boy’s Chorus of Tucson
• Saturday, August 12, Robert York Organ Recital

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

The Social Justice Ministry is seeking donations of new or gently used warm weather clothing and accessories to distribute to our needy neighbors. Please place your donated items in the collection containers located in the Narthex. Our volunteers distribute these items in the Columbarium colonnade the last Wednesday of each month.

If you would like to learn more about this important ministry, please contact Lena Granet 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 Church in the Province of the West Indies, The Most Reverend Dr. Howard Kingsley Ainsworth Gregory, Archbishop and Primate.

For the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan, The Right Reverend Dr. Bonnie A. Perry, Bishop.

For the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, The Right Reverend Dr. Susan Brown Snook, Bishop; for the clergy and people of St. Matthew’s, National City; for all military chaplains and all military ministries throughout the diocese.

For those commended to our prayers: John Ketchum, Betsy Westaway, Chloe Grace Wilson Barton, Rus Butler, Frank Kipe, Terry Garrity, Kylie Smith, Jenni Foreman, Kelly,  Amelia Grinstead, Susan & Bill B., Daniel & Cynthia K., Jenny K., Darcy Kelley, Don Willard, Frank Boeshart & Family, Cleo Stewart, Heather S. Gordon, Dee Jae, Cindy, Carla Emerson, Kelli Kay Roma, Lie, Kim, Mark, Stephen, Donna & Bruce, Jim, Jeff, the Ralph Humphrey Family, Magda & Gus Gonzales, Marna, Paula & Rick, Teresa Ball, John Rhodes, Marilyn De Silva Currie, Greg Gowdy, AJ Miller, Tom Lutgen, Brian Nealy; pray for all those for whom no prayers have been said. 

For those who have died: Daniel Engle, Bill Moran, Darlene Winkler, Ron Childers, Olivia Jackson, Billy Jackson, Carlotta Glover, Ralph Humphrey, Sylvester Bounds, Marcia Glover, Dennis DeLay.

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: May 21: Julee Collins; May 22: Jo Anne Adair; May 24: Woody Wood, Vern Marken; May 25: Maya Scott, Sarah Olson; May 27: James Crumby, Noel Arvizu.

For those celebrating anniversaries: May 22: Rose Coslett & Allan Coe; May 26: Greg Gowdy & Jack Balzer; May 27: Jessica & Marcus Scott, George Smith & John Chisholm.

For those for whom flowers have been donated: This week’s Altar Flowers are sponsored by Jessica and Marcus Scott, in loving memory of their daughter, Kyara.

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 May 28, 2023, The Day of Pentecost.

Upcoming Meetings & Events at St Paul’s

• Friday, May 19 – 7:30 PM – Movie Night – “Heaven is for Real” – Parish Hall
• Wednesday, May 24 – 6:30 PM – Library – (The new Sunday Vestry meeting schedule begins in August.)
• Sunday, May 28 – Pentecost / Whitsunday. Go all out by dressing in RED!
• Thursday, June 1 – 5:00 PM – Billy Reed’s Restaurant, Palm Springs – End of Season Circle Supper.
• Sunday, June 4 – Trinity Sunday.
• Saturday, June 10 – 7:00 PM – “Summer Second Saturdays at Seven” concert and reception.

Active Shooter Training

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