Preparing for Fall: A Week of Rest for Our Administrative Staff
For the week of August 10-14, the Church Office will be closed so administrative staff can take their much needed rest away.
The Pastoral Emergency number will still be available for those who need it (call the church at 760-320-7488 and dial 8 when prompted). The LGBTQ+ Ministry meeting will still take place on Monday the 10th at 12PM in the Saguaro Room. Our simple spoken Wednesday evening 6PM Eucharist will still happen. If you call the front desk, our parish administrator will return your non-emergency calls the following week. Your clergy will be hard at work this week preparing for the liturgical year, calendaring, and offering pastoral care.
Thank you for praying for our staff as they prepare for the fall.
Lost & Found Items will be near
Welcome Table in August
Left something behind at church? All Lost & Found items will be displayed near the Welcome Table on Sundays throughout August. Take a quick look before the end of the month—after August, any unclaimed items will be donated or discarded.
Stop by today to claim your stuff!
Share Your Teaching Gift: 2026–2027 Formation Classes
All proposals are due by August 10.
St. Paul’s invites proposals for the 2026–2027 Spiritual Formation program year. A recent May–June 2026 Spiritual Formation Survey (66 responses, ~25% of average Sunday attendance) showed strong appreciation for last year’s program’s diverse offerings, especially the quality of instructors, book-based and interfaith discussions, and small-group conversation. Respondents expressed interest in future offerings including New Testament studies, Episcopal history, prayer and meditation practices, spirituality and aging, psychology and spirituality, social justice, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and arts-based spirituality. While in-person learning remains most valued for community-building, participants also emphasized the need for accessible online and hybrid options, along with stronger technical support for these formats. Overall, the feedback encourages a continued broad mix of theological, spiritual, and justice-focused programming alongside more reliable hybrid learning support.
Last year we offered over 30 intentional spiritual formation opportunities and are hoping to offer a wide-range of options for this coming year.
Seeking a New Volunteer Treasurer
It has been my honor and pleasure to serve the past three years as the Treasurer and a Vestry member of the Church of St. Paul in the Desert. I have found this a wonderful way for me to give of my time and talent. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. Our by-laws state that I can only serve a three year term as Treasurer. While I will continue to serve on the Finance Committee and finish my last year of Vestry, I must look for a successor.
We are seeking a new volunteer Treasurer to oversee our parish’s financial health and manage the Episcopal Church canonical requirements. This vital leadership role involves partnering with the Co-Rectors, Parish Administrator, Bookkeeper and Vestry to guide our ministries, manage budgets, and ensure our resources are faithfully stewarded.
A Calling to Faithful Stewardship
In the Episcopal tradition, the role of a church Treasurer is much more than a standard secular accounting job; it is a vital ministry. The Treasurer acts as the chief financial steward for our congregation, ensuring that the financial resources entrusted to us are utilized ethically, transparently, and in direct alignment with our community’s mission and outreach goals.
Key Responsibilities
While our church retains a part-time Bookkeeper to manage day-to-day transaction entries, the Treasurer provides overarching strategic leadership. The core duties of this appointed Vestry position include:
- Budget Oversight: Collaborating with the Finance Committee and ministry leaders to draft and present the annual operating budget to the Vestry for approval.
- Financial Reporting: Presenting regular financial updates to the Vestry and congregation and ensuring compliance with all canonical and IRS reporting requirements.
- Internal Controls: Maintaining strong financial safeguards, which includes ensuring that all offerings and contributions are safely handled and accounted for.
- Asset Management: Overseeing bank accounts, managing cash flows, and working closely with our diocesan auditors.
The Finance Committee and staff will provide support for these responsibilities through the candidate’s delegation of these duties.
Who Are We Looking For?
We are searching for a faithful, detail-oriented individual with a background in finance, accounting, or business administration. Ideal candidates possess an understanding of The Episcopal Church operations and structures.
Most importantly, we need a collaborative leader who views their professional skills as a tangible way to serve the church. Because the Treasurer assists the Vestry in making informed, long-term decisions, strong communication skills and absolute confidentiality are mandatory.
How You Can Help
Finding the right person to steward our parish’s finances is a communal effort. We ask that everyone keep this search process in their prayers, asking for wisdom and discernment as our leadership seeks to fill this crucial position.
If you have a financial background and feel called to this ministry, or if you would like to nominate a fellow parishioner, please reach out to our Co-Rectors, Wardens, Treasurer or any member of the Vestry.
Together, we can ensure our parish remains financially stable and ready to do God’s work in our community.
–George Holliday, Treasurer
Flower Ministry
Each Monday, a small group of St. Paul’s parishioners gathers the flowers from Sunday worship, arranges them into bouquets, and delivers them to homebound parishioners or those who have experienced recent health challenges. These flowers are a tangible reminder that they are not alone, that they are deeply loved, and that this community holds them in prayer.
Perhaps you might feel called to join this small but meaningful ministry—we need you! If you’d like to learn more and see if this ministry might be right for you, please join us Mondays at 9:00 AM in the church office. You’ll receive a bouquet to deliver to someone in our community. Your presence truly makes a difference.
Upcoming Classes, Events & Services
Join St. Paul’s this Sunday for the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost Worship Service.
August 9, 2026 · 10:30 AM
We live livestream our 10:30 AM Sunday Eucharist every week. You can view the livestream on the Watch Live Page, YouTube Channel, and Facebook Page.
Missed a Service?
No problem! You can watch previous services anytime.
Visit our YouTube channel to explore past sermons and special events at your convenience.
Upcoming Funerals
Saturday, August 8 at 11:00 AM — Jo Anne Adair
Saturday, August 22 at 11:00 AM — Jude Hoiseth
Prayers of the Church
For the Anglican Communion: The Most Reverend Dame Sarah Mullally, The Archbishop of Canterbury; pray for the Episcopal Church.
For the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Indiana: The Right Reverend Doctor Douglas E. Sparks.
For the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego: The Right Reverend Doctor Susan Brown Snook, Bishop. For the clergy and people of: St. Andrew’s by-the-Sea, San Diego. The children and teachers of St. Andrew’s Preschool.
For those commended to our prayers: Bradley Oden Reed, Bill & Raylene Davis, Frances Boaz, Pat Marysia, Cathy Blas, Francis Blas, Jesse Blas, Tex Batson, Lane Moore, Nick Bonnell & Jeff Bonnell, Steve Pineda, Juan Zetina & Maria Badillo, Luis Valdez, Griff Linsenmayer, Br. John Charles Westaway, Mariah, Mitchell, Chaz Hitz, Savannah Mitchell, Bill Davis, Sheree Troy, Margi McGrath, Tony Santamaria, Bridgette, Kemper Dudley, Jennifer Wallmark, Kristopher C, George Barros, Lynda Goldsby Nolan, Robert Blum, Steven Tunnell, Georgia, Lori Miller, Steve Horstman, Leon Walker, David & Jen Moreno, Bill McMillan, Rex Comer, Kai C, The Rev. David Caffrey, Gaile Eckert, RC Eckert, Mick & Joan Dawson, Allan Coe & Rose Coslett, Michael Neil, Nesbit Hatch & Dennis Rexroad, Tom & Helen Amestoy. Pray for all those for whom no prayers have been said.
For those who have died: Barry Brunetti, Frank Asher, Bob Barrie, Jackie Schneidwind, Valerie Winters, Barb Steeves, Terry Williams, Jo Anne Adair, Jude Hoiseth; 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 departed rest in peace. Amen.
For those celebrating anniversaries: August 10: Glen Calvin & Sahanan Koompoo, August 13: Michael Schiefelbein & Steve Klinkerman.
For those with birthdays: August 9: Linda Krengel, August 12: Stephen Fabian, August 13: Mark Leggett, August 14: Amos Krahmer, August 15: Bob Richards, Thomas Amestoy, Teri Whitmer,
Dick Taylor.
Prayer List Update
We have recently taken time to review the names currently on our prayer list to ensure it remains current and meaningful. If you feel a name is missing, we warmly invite you to submit the names of those you would like us to include in prayer.
Please note that names will remain on the prayer list for four weeks. To be included in the weekly newsletter and printed materials, submissions must be received by 4:00 PM each Tuesday. Submissions received after the deadline will appear in the following week.
Thank you for helping us care for our community through prayer.
Prayer Request
Submit a name to our Prayer List, and our community will lift them up in prayer throughout the week.
Share your request and let us pray with you.
RequestCommunity & Outreach
Want to Get Involved?
St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church
Neighbors For Neighbors Volunteers Needed
Every fourth Thursday of the month, volunteers gather at approximately 7:30 AM to set-up, organize, bag and distribute food beginning at 9:30 AM to over 500 families from the greater Indio area. During summer months (June to September), food distribution will begin at 9:30 AM and continue thru 3 pm. These volunteers are vitally important to our outreach.
Please contact John Sanders at johnfsanders@mac.com to volunteer.
Want to Help Make St. Paul’s Campus & Buildings Better?
Have you ever been at church and noticed the same lightbulb has been out for weeks? Or reached for a handrail only to find it’s loose and wondered why it hasn’t been fixed? Maybe you’ve sat down in a pew and found the rack is missing cards, envelopes, or pens—and realized that unless someone reports it, no one knows it needs attention.
We invite you to use our Maintenance & Repair Request Form, available online.
If you see something on St. Paul’s campus that needs repairing, cleaning, sprucing up, or general attention, this form is the best and most effective way to make sure it gets addressed.
Submitting a request in real time allows:
Our sexton to handle day‑to‑day issues quickly
Our Campus Care Committee to track, prioritize, and plan for larger or ongoing needs
Your participation helps us stay organized, responsive, and good stewards of our sacred space.
The Episcopal Church’s
Immigration Toolkit
Shifting federal policy on immigration is already impacting people in all four of our counties. With this in mind, the Episcopal Church’s church-wide office routinely collects up-to-date immigration resources for congregations.
Visit the Immigration Action Toolkit to find ways your congregation can help migrants, refugees, and asylum-seekers.
The Episcopal Diocese of
San Diego’s Info
on Reporting Misconduct
The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego considers the reporting and investigation of misconduct to be of critical importance. Reporting enables the diocese to protect the complainant, the respondent, and the larger community. It also allows the diocese to assist with the spiritual, psychological, and emotional needs of all concerned during and after the report of misconduct. Please visit edsd.org/safe-church-safe-communities/reporting-misconduct/
Intake Officers:
Ms. Megan Callan, megan@mecallan.com
The Rev. Willy Crespo, frcrespo@gmail.com
Ms. Meredith Hardy, mlh8180@gmail.com
