Looking Forward
DOK Strategic Vision in Action
Earlier this year, the Order of the Daughters of the King Provincial Assembly VIII began a process of prayerful listening and discernment to shape its future strategic direction, building on the national Daughters of the King plan. As part of this
effort, our members were surveyed, a listening session was previously held with officers of the Diocese, and members and officers of the San Diego Diocesan Assembly met on Saturday, June 20th, at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in Poway to prayerfully envision the next steps of our journey. Representing St. Paul’s chapter, St. Mary in the Desert, were Patty Kiker and Bonnie Stroock.
We are thankful for the gift of The Order, which assists and supports us in our Christian journeys. It is our hope that the implementation of this plan will help us to draw nearer to God and reflect God’s love to others.
Strategic Plan Goals:
- Foster Community and Build Connection
- Inspire Spiritual Growth and Development
- Instill a Spirituality of Giving
- Nurture and Grow our Members
- Raise up and Mentor New Leaders
- Strengthen Our Call to Service and Evangelism
We ask for your prayers for our order and our chapter as we work to implement our goals in the future! If you would like to know more about the Order of the Daughters of the King, contact Patty Kiker at patty.kiker@gmail.com
Summer: A Season of Rest and Renewal
Dear Friends in Christ,
As we continue our journey through the long green season after Pentecost—what we often call Ordinary Time—we are invited into a different rhythm of faith. While the word “ordinary” may sound unremarkable, it comes from the idea of ordered time: a season for steady growth, faithful practice, and attentive living.
Summer also offers us an opportunity to embrace another biblical rhythm: Sabbath. From the beginning of creation, God established a pattern of work and rest, reminding us that our worth is not measured by our productivity. Sabbath is a holy gift that allows us to rest, recharge, renew, and reconnect with God, one another, and ourselves.
In that spirit, our parish enters a seasonal slowdown during July and August. Our staff and many of our key volunteers faithfully serve long hours throughout the year, and summer provides an important opportunity for renewal. We have already transitioned to a 2 service Sunday schedule. Beginning in July, with reduced staff as vacations are taken, church office hours will be Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. We remain committed to the ministries of the parish while also honoring the sacred need for rest and restoration.
As part of this seasonal rhythm, most committee and ministry meetings will pause during the summer months. This intentional break creates space for leaders and volunteers to rest while also allowing staff time to plan, prepare, and dream for the upcoming program year. While some activities slow down, important work continues behind the scenes. Our Vestry remains actively engaged in several significant projects that will help shape the future of our parish, and we look forward to sharing updates in upcoming newsletters. In addition, our Human Resources Committee is beginning the search process for our next staff position, an important step as we continue to strengthen our ministry and mission.
One important ministry never takes a summer break: pastoral care. While office hours and meeting schedules may be reduced, our commitment to caring for one another remains constant. If you or a loved one experiences illness, hospitalization, grief, or another pastoral need, please do not hesitate to contact the church. The Body of Christ is called to bear one another’s burdens in every season, and we remain committed to prayer, visitation, support, and accompaniment whenever needed.
Even as our pace changes, the life of our community continues. On Sunday, June 28, we will celebrate the ministry of Jonathan Faulks and give thanks for his faithful service during a year of significant growth and transition in our parish. On Wednesday, July 1 at 6:00 p.m., we will gather to commend our beloved sister Amelia Grinstead to God’s eternal care. Amelia was a longtime member of this parish and generously shared her gifts as a volunteer in the church office. We invite all who knew and loved her and even those who did not, but wish to pay their respects, to join us in prayer and remembrance.
Looking ahead to August, we will celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration on Wednesday, August 5, commemorating the revelation of Christ’s glory on the mountaintop before his disciples. This feast reminds us that moments of transformation and renewal often prepare us for faithful service in the world below. We will also host a four-week Sunday morning Faith 250 conversation series led by Rabbi David Lazar of Congregation Or Hamidbar and the Rev. Dr. Frank Dunn, retired Episcopal priest who spent a good portion of his vocation in Washington, D.C. Part of the national Faith250 initiative, this series will explore America’s founding ideals, civic values, and our hopes for the future through study and conversation across faith traditions. More details about the class will be shared in the coming weeks.
As summer unfolds, I encourage you to embrace the spiritual principle of Sabbath in whatever form it may take: time with family and friends, moments of quiet prayer, travel, recreation, or simply a slower pace. May this season refresh your spirit and deepen your awareness of God’s presence. Sabbath is ultimately an act of trust—a reminder that the Church belongs not to us, but to Christ, who continues to guide, sustain, and renew us in every season. Thank you for continuing to pray for us as we continue to pray for you.
Faithfully,
Rev. Jessie Thompson & Rev. Dan Kline
Co-Rectors
Celebrate the Ministry of Jonathan Faulks
Join us for Coffee Hour on Sunday, June 28 as we celebrate the ministry of Jonathan and give thanks for his faithful service during a year of meaningful growth and transition in our parish.
Come share in gratitude, fellowship, and joy as we recognize all that has been accomplished together.
A Note from Jonathan to the Parish
My friends,
Over the past ten months, I have had the absolute honor and privilege of being part of the incredible things happening here at the Church of St. Paul in the Desert. Serving as your full-time Director of Communications and Events has been a deeply meaningful chapter of my professional life, and I am profoundly grateful for the trust, creativity, collaboration, and kindness you have shared with me.
The past several weeks, I have been in conversation with our Co-Rectors, sharing that I have made the decision to step away from my full-time role, effective June 30, 2026. This decision was made thoughtfully and prayerfully, with deep care for the well-being of both the parish and myself.
I am happy to share that this transition is not a goodbye. In those same conversations, I offered—and the Co-Rectors and Vestry have accepted—my continued support in a new capacity. Beginning in July, I will serve the Church of St. Paul in the Desert as an external communications partner, supporting the parish from afar on a weekly basis. This arrangement allows me to continue offering my talents, skills, and creative vision while adapting to a new season of work and life.
On a personal note, the Church of St. Paul in the Desert has shown me—clearly and consistently—what it truly means to welcome all at the table. This parish lives its values with integrity, generosity, and love. I carry with me so many wonderful moments: sacred liturgies, joyful celebrations, quiet holy work behind the scenes, and countless conversations marked by grace. There is something genuinely special happening here, and it has been a gift to witness and be part of it. I am deeply thankful for the love and friendship I have found in this community, and I hope that the relationships we have built will continue to flourish in the years ahead.
I remain deeply invested in the mission, ministry, and storytelling of this parish. The Church of St. Paul in the Desert is a place where faith is lived boldly, community is nurtured intentionally, and beauty is embraced as a pathway to God.
Jonathan
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
July 4 and the Church:
Patriotism, Faith, and Public Life
June 30, 2026 — 3:00pm ET
As Independence Day approaches in the United States, many churches find themselves navigating complex questions about patriotism, national identity, civic responsibility, and Christian discipleship. How can congregations give thanks for the gifts and freedoms of their nation while remaining honest about its failures and unfinished work? What does faithful patriotism look like in a polarized age? And how can Christians engage public life without confusing love of country with devotion to the Gospel?
Join the Rt. Rev. Ann Ritonia, Episcopal Church Suffragan Bishop for Armed Forces and Federal Ministries, and the Rev. Canon Maurice Dyer, Canon for Armed Forces and Federal Ministries, for a thoughtful conversation exploring the relationship between faith and citizenship through the lens of Independence Day. Together, we’ll reflect on the history and meaning of July 4, the distinction between patriotism and nationalism, and the ways Christian communities can cultivate gratitude, humility, truth-telling, and hope in public life.
Drawing on Scripture, history, and the Church’s ongoing witness, we will consider how congregations can observe national holidays with both conviction and grace. We’ll explore questions of civic responsibility, public leadership, and what it means to seek the common good in a diverse democracy.
More than a conversation about a national holiday, this webinar is an invitation to consider how Christians can love their country without idolizing it, engage public life without being defined by partisan politics, and bear faithful witness to a hope that transcends every nation and generation.
Join St. Paul’s this Sunday for our Worship Service
The Fifth Sunday After Pentecost: Proper 8
The Holy Eucharist: Rite Two
June 28, 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.
The next Book Club meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at 2 PM
The Book Club will spend June and July reading the iconic book Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. There will be no July meeting. The next Book Club meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at 2 PM. The meeting will be held in the Yucca Room in the parish hall on the church campus. Journey to the dusty little town of Lonesome Dove, where retired Texas Rangers Augustus McCrae and Woodrow Call undertake a perilous cattle drive to the untamed plains of Montana. Along the way, they face danger, adventure, and an unforgettable cast of characters. Richly authentic and beautifully written, Lonesome Dove is a story of love, loss, and the unyielding spirit of the American West.
For more information, please contact Alan Zimmerman at alanzimmeran@icloud.com.
Upcoming Funerals
Saturday, June 27, at 11:00 AM — Ben Palmer
Wednesday, July 1, at 6:00 PM — Amelia Grinstead
Prayers of the Church
For the Anglican Communion: The Most Reverend Dame Sarah Mullally, The Archbishop of Canterbury; pray for The Anglican Church of Southern Africa.
For the Episcopal Diocese of Venezuela: The Right Reverend Orlando Guerrero Torres, Bishop.
For the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego: The Right Reverend Doctor Susan Brown Snook, Bishop. For the clergy and people of St. Paul in the Desert, Palm Springs.
For those commended to our prayers: Dick Burkett, Barbara Villani, Marla Mark, J. Martin Huber, Gaile Eckert, RC Eckert, David S., Nick K., Jim Rosenthal, Barry Brunetti, Karen Paddock, May Wallace, James Caraway, Mike Brunetti, Lou Armentrout, Janet Spiegel, Cynthia Lulo, Steve Horstman, JoAnne Adair, Leon Walker, Pablo Villagomez, Sheri Marchand, Juan Zetina, Maria Badillo, Jo Anne Adair, Terry Williams, Jon Kates, Laurence Wolfe, Jeff Bonnell, Karla Fuller, Jack Wehler, Irene Castillo, Latesa Anderson, Stefan Hill, Ed Iborg, Helen Zimmerman, Daniell Cornell & Family, Anna Marie Schaffer, Beverly Schaffer, Bridgette Oliver, David & Jen Moreno, Donna Depew, Clifford, Corrine, Sally Depew, Susan Cole, Carmen Vasquez, Diann Caddo, Maggie Dewitt, Ann Lonnie Tribble, Greg, Lynne, Paula & Bill, Diana Ruiz, Bill Davis, Gary Mercer, Cara Oliver, Bill McMillan, Steve Moore, Crystal Vines, Mary Barrett, Dorothy Clark, Linda Staunch, Matt Maestra, Florence Tobin, Sophie Buckiss, Don Hamilton, Mary Hamilton, Ronnie Simpson, John Lasher, Richard Ammon, Barb Steeves, Ellen Betzler, Rex Comer, Tom & Helen Amestoy, Warren Safely, The Rev. David Caffrey, Larry Stralow, Kai C., Kristopher C., Kevin Fleming, Mick & Joan Dawson, Allan Coe & Rose Coslett, Michael Neill, Nesbit Hatch & Dennis Rexroad, Lori Miller; pray for all those for whom no prayers have been said. pray for all those for whom no prayers have been said.
For those who have died: Leslee Lafrantz, Jerry Miles Bland, Jude Hoiseth, Dick Kleen, Willie Moore, John Hatton, Helen Cornell, Rodney Binder, Mellie Young, Ann Keith Nauman, Mel Parsons, Jean Gilraine-Hickson, Richard Tracz; 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: June 28: Roger Donnelly & Stephen Lisante, June 29: John Essell & Tempe Essell, The Rev. Dan Kline & The Rev. Jessie Thompson, July 3: Mark Berry & Daniel Schmidt.
For those with birthdays: June 29: Bruce McLean, July 1: Lydia Ealy-Zingg, Raffaele Alberto, Joseph Casazza, July 2: John Murren, July 3: Alex Finlay-Christensen, Shelia J. Brubaker, Alex Cherkas, Judy Taylor, July 4: Joel Cutler, Carolyn Etheridge.
For those for whom flowers have been donated: Sunday’s Altar Flowers are sponsored by the Family and Friends of Ben Palmer in memory of Bennett “Ben” Palmer.
“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
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 at the Welcome Table, or you can call the Parish Office at 760.320.7488 to reserve your sponsorship date(s).
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
