The Abundant Life – October 12, 2023

The Feast of St. Luke the Evangelist (transferred)
Celtic Healing Eucharist

Wednesday, October 18, 6:00 PM

Our Celtic worship is drawn from the liturgical traditions of Iona and Northumbria, and the music from Taize is contemplative, lively and haunting. The prayers for healing are at once earthy, holy, and inclusive. For the Feast of St. Luke, we will be hosting Julie Marner, Music Director at Good Samaritan Episcopal Church in San Diego. This is one way we can continue to build relationships with the diocesan parishes on the other side of the mountains! Join us.

Vestry Interest Day

Saturday October 21, 9:00 – 10:00 AM

Have you ever thought about being a member of the Vestry? Or have you ever wondered what Vestry does? Are you interested in understanding more about how decisions are made in our parish? Please join us for a special presentation from the Vestry about its mission and vision. We will meet in the main church building. Coffee and donuts will be provided. All questions welcome!

Praying as you Can – Not as you Can’t

Sundays 9:00 – 10:15 AM in the Library
October 22, 29; November 12, 19

An exploration of different prayer types and practices based on personality type and found in world religions.  Tapping into sources as diverse as the Bhagavad Gita, the Book of Job, the Tao Te Ching, St. Francis of Assisi and Mohammed we wil learn how each of us follows on of four Journeys: that of Unity, Devotion, Works or Hamony. We’ll learn why we prefer certain prayer forms and why others are more of a challenge.

Where & Who: St. Paul’s Library. Taught by Mother Deb Seles, qualified MBTI administrator (individual & team assessments in for-profit and non-profits). with questions!

Book: Four Spiritualities: Expressions of Self, Expressions of Spirit. Peter Tufts Richardson. Section I for 10/22.

Preparation: If you don’t know your MBTI type, you may want to go to: http://keys2cognition.com/explore.htm  to take a free inventory. Other inventory sources can be found here: https://millennial-grind.com/top-10-best-myers-briggs-tests/

Movie Night!

Saturday, October 21 – 6:30 PM – The Outdoor Theater

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 whatever seems to fit the occasion. Enjoy our outdoor theater (weather permitting) adjacent to the Parish Hall at St. Paul in the Desert. 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 COCO. Despite his family’s baffling, generations-old ban on music, Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector, and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history.    Set during Mexico’s Day of the Dead, the movie follows a young boy who finds himself trapped in the world of the dead—despite being still alive—as he reconciles with his family’s past.

Daughters of The King

In 2002, a Service of Institution was held to form the Mary in the Desert Chapter of the Order of the Daughters of the King at the Church of St. Paul in the Desert. The Chapter included members from St. Paul’s, St. Margaret’s in Palm Desert, and St. John’s in Indio. Several years later those churches instituted their own chapters and the Mary in the Desert Chapter remained for members of the Order at St. Paul’s. Our chapter is named in honor of our patron, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and members include Jo Anne Adair, Patty Kiker, Karen Nelson, Bonnie Stroock, and Teri Whitmer.

We are a group of Christian women who adopt a Rule of Life based on the promises of our Baptismal Covenant. We can never forget that prayer is the foundation from which our service grows, and we are honored to pray for our family, friends, parish, church, and the world at St. Paul’s for over twenty years. Membership in The Order is open to all women at every stage of life. No special spiritual attributes are needed to become a Daughter – only a sincere desire to draw nearer to God and to help others do the same. This fall we will be offering a period of preparation for any woman who would like to discern a calling to the Order of the Daughters of the King. Contact Patty Kiker, the Chapter’s President, at or 214.497.3034 or any of our members for more information.

Please keep the Daughters in your prayers, even as they continue to keep the laity, clergy, and weekly prayer list names in their daily prayers.

Interested in learning more about the Daughters of the King (DOK)?

You are invited to join us for noonday prayer and coffee/tea and snacks on Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at 2pm in the Church Library.

Please RSVP with

Church T-Shirts Available!

A new shipment of St. Paul’s T-shirts has arrived, and they are now available for purchase at $20 each (cash or check only). Available sizes: XXL, XL, L and M.

As we embark upon another annual parade season, we encourage all who represent St. Paul’s at community events to wear our parish logo attire. Look for the display/sales table located just outside the church on Sundays, between services. Or pick up your shirt(s) at the Parish Office during the week.

Desert AIDS Project Health Equity Walk

Saturday, October 28, 2023

7:00 AM, onsite registration; 7:30 AM, Urban Yoga; 9:00 AM, Walk kicks off.  The DAP Health and Wellness village will be open 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM.

St. Paul’s walkers will meet in front of the stage at 8:45 AM for group photos and any other group activities. To register early and make donations, go to https:/healthequitywalk.org/. Questions? Contact George Holliday at 760.534.1642.

Pride 5K Run & Walk

Saturday, November 4, 2023

Click here for more information: https://www.palmspringspriderun.com

LARK (Localized Anti-Racism Knowledge) Workshop

This EDSD grown two-day anti-racism workshop focuses on local history and populations and deals with local issues and stories. It will take place on October 27 (4-9 pm) & October 28 (9:30 am-4:30 pm) at St. Margaret’s, Palm Desert.  Registration fee is $25 (includes refreshments and lunches). Save the dates!

To find out more about LARK, click here: https://edsd.org/news/lark-localized-anti-racism-knowledge/

St Paul’s Book Club

The next Book Club meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at 2:00 PM via Zoom. Meeting information will follow later. For November, Book Club has selected Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. A scientist and single mother living in California in the 1960’s becomes a star on a TV cooking show.

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

Sunday’s Altar Flowers

“The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom . . .” Isaiah 35:1-2

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 to commemorate 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 dates(s) A donation of $95 for each altar flower sponsorship is suggested.

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 Kenya, The Most Reverend Dr. Jackson Ole Sapit, Archbishop and Primate.

For the Episcopal Diocese of Northwest Texas, The Right Reverend James Scott Mayer, Bishop.

For the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, The Right Reverend Dr. Susan Brown Snook, Bishop; for the clergy and people of St. Thomas of Canterbury, Temecula; for the children and teachers of St. Thomas Preschool.

For those commended to our prayers: Gail Medrano, Terry Garrity, Rus Butler, Joe Christopher, Kelly Barnard, Garrett Estrin, Teresa O’Steen, The Most Reverend Michael Curry, Marie Ratnam, Carolyn Scott, Phil Smith, Theo Goehring, Irvin Goehring, Heather S. Gordon, Bonnie Archer-Hatch, Timothy Overdurf, Jim Crumby, Ned Smith, Deborah Williams, Kenn Catterlin, Amelia Grinstead, Chloe Grace Wilson Barton, Marilyn De Silva Currie, Donald Chase, Greg Gowdy, Tom Lutgen; pray for all those for whom no prayers have been said.

For those who have died: Charles Stephen Jones, Barbara Foster, Steven Salk, Antone (A.J.) Miller, The Rev. Dr. Sonia Waters, Nancy Hales.

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: October 15: Rex Comer; October 16: Carlos Penafiel, Rodney Dickson; October 17: Leon Walker, David Faull; October 20: Mike Neill; October 21: Gayle Conley, Rick Roberts, Antonio Quaranta.

For those celebrating anniversaries: October 17: Arthur Rivera & Gregory Schroeder; October 18: Sally & Forest Irons.

For those for whom flowers have been donated: Today’s Altar Flowers are sponsored by Michelle Hathaway, to honor and celebrate the birthday of Genevieve Hathaway-Lopez. The flowers adorning the Narthex today are given by Mark Leggett, in loving memory of James T. Kyle, his husband and partner of 34 years.

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 October 22, 2023, The Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost.

Upcoming Meetings & Events at St Paul’s

• Tuesday, October 17 – 6:00 – 8:00 PM – Patio Party – South Palm Springs.
• Wednesday, October 18 – 1:00 PM – Sacred Circle – Library.
• Wednesday, October 18 – 6:00 PM – St. Luke the Evangelist (transferred) – Celtic Healing Eucharist.
• Thursday, October 19 – 3:30 PM – Interfaith Bible Study – Library.
• Saturday, October 21 – 9:00 – 10:30 AM – Vestry Interest Meeting – Library.
• Saturday, October 21 – 6:30 PM – Movie Night – “COCO” – Outdoor Theater.
• Tuesday, October 24 – 1:30 PM – DOK – Library.
• Tuesday, October 24 – 4:00 – 6:00 PM – Patio Party – Rancho Mirage.
• Wednesday, October 25 – 6:30 PM – Strategic Planning Team – Library.
• Thursday, October 26 – 3:30 PM – Interfaith Bible Study – Library.
• Saturday, October 28 – 8:00 AM – DAP Health Equity Walk – Meet in church parking lot.
• Sunday, October 29 – All Saints’ Day (transferred).

Bishop’s Statement on Renewed Violence in Israel

Sunday Service LiveStreaming

We are livestreaming our 10:30 AM Sunday Eucharist every week. 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

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