There is something wonderful about coming back together.
This Sunday is Welcome Back Sunday at St. Paul in the Desert—a day when our snowbirds begin to arrive, our choir returns, ministries begin a new season, and we have the chance to see one another again after the rhythms and travels of summer. We will gather around the Eucharistic table, share a Brunch potluck meal, visit the Ministry Fair, and remember that church is not simply something we attend. Church is something we are together.
This week, our Eucharistic liturgy will include words from one of the earliest Christian documents outside of the New Testament called the Didache, a collection of teachings from the first generations of Christians. In its Eucharistic prayer, the Didache offers this beautiful image:
“As this broken bread was scattered over the mountains and gathered together became one, so may your Church be gathered from the ends of the earth…”
It is a remarkable prayer for Welcome Back Sunday. The bread has been scattered and is gathered again. And so have we.
In a sense, this Sunday’s Eucharist will itself be a little picture of our parish. The prayers and traditions of our early service, our 9AM service, and our later service will come together in one celebration—a kind of weaving together of the different ways we worship and experience St. Paul’s. The people who gather at different times, in different seasons, and with different rhythms are still one church.
But the Didache does not stop with the gathering. The bread is scattered so that it can be gathered; and the Church is gathered so that it can become something in the world. That is the rhythm of Christian life: gathered and scattered.
We gather on Sunday to be renewed in worship, strengthened by one another, and nourished at the table. Then we scatter again—to our homes and neighborhoods, our workplaces and families, our acts of service and advocacy, our friendships and our ordinary lives. We carry something of this gathered community with us.
That is also what makes the Ministry Fair such an important part of Welcome Back Sunday. There are many ways to become part of the life of St. Paul—not simply by attending, but by finding a place where your gifts, interests, questions, and hopes can meet the needs of our community. Some ministries happen here on campus. Others take us beyond these walls. All of them are ways of being the Church together. And there are other ways we gather, too.
Circle Suppers are an opportunity to gather around a table in a smaller group. These are intentional dinner groups that meet once a month, either in a parishioner’s home or at a restaurant, with the hosting rotating among the group. The purpose is simple: to get to know one another more deeply and build relationships that can be difficult to form on Sunday morning.
Patio Parties have a different purpose. Each fall, we gather in small groups for intentional listening and conversation about the life of St. Paul. What have we accomplished? What have we left undone? What are we noticing? And what might God be calling us into next? The groups are intentionally limited in size so that everyone has an opportunity to speak and listen.
One is primarily about building relationships. The other is about listening and discerning together. Both are ways of being gathered. And both remind us that the Church is more than Sunday morning.
So, welcome back. Welcome home. Welcome to those who are returning for the season, to those who have been here all summer, and to those who are joining us for the first time. This Sunday, we gather again.
And then, nourished by this community and by the bread of life, we will scatter once more—carrying the Spirit of St. Paul in the Desert with us into the world.
We’ve been getting ready for you, so Welcome Back!
Staff Retreat (with our office volunteer) to get ready for the year.
The Vestry and Co-Rectors were led by The Rev. Dr. David Norgard in a Mutual Ministry Review, reflecting on growth and looking towards continued health and priorities in our shared ministry.
We held two teacher trainings for all of the spiritual formation classes in the upcoming year.
Ushers and Welcome Teams trained to make sure all who enter are safe, greeted, and ready for worship.
Lectors training to help proclaim the scriptures in our shard worship.
Altar Guild and Altar Ministers trained in the sacristy and in the chancel for Sunday services.
Production Team did training to make sure the sound and the live streaming continue to improve our gathered worship for those in person and those worshiping online.
Working out IT solutions for staff and updating equipment and systems to prepare for smoother communications.
The face of a happy Senior Warden after the FINAL inspections were done for the kitchen, so we’re working on those kitchen SOPs for usage!
Organizing the Great Big Church Calendar with all of the ministries and committees and events for the year!
All of the Sunday Teams (ushers, Welcome Team members, lectors, altar guild, altar ministers, production team) came together for a training on safety and welcome, ending our time in gratitude for St. Paul’s and for YOU!
A Joyful Return: Celebrating Welcome Back Sunday
We shared a wonderful Welcome Back Sunday this week (and the rain didn’t stop us!). We welcomed back the choir and our snowbird chaplain, and we celebrated our diaconal intern, Samantha, setting the table for the first time as a candidate for Holy Orders!
We had a feast of a brunch potluck and a fabulous ministry fair! THANK YOU to everyone who helped make this day possible, and for the incredible staff who worked hard to welcome this community to a liturgical year of worship and learning and service. We are so glad you’re part of St. Paul’s!
A Wonderful Feast of St. Francis at St. Paul’s
What a wonderful Feast of St. Francis we had at St. Paul’s–with a Pet Mass on the Grass in the AM and a come-and-go Pet Blessing in the PM!
Special thanks to photographers Brian Blueskye, Bill LaVoie, and Oscar Partida (and check out his professional photography website: OscarPartida.com) for capturing the joy and love of our pets who remind us that we are beloved and made in Love. May we continue to treat all creatures as part of the Image of God, with dignity and wonder and care!
P.S See our Facebook or Instagram for additional pictures.
Blessing the Animals: Thank You for Your Generosity!
Thank you to everyone who donated to Palm Springs Animal Shelter on The Feast of St. Francis! How wonderful to care for all God’s creatures in very tangible ways.
Left to Right
Nancy Antonius, St Paul’s Parishioner
Ginny Foate, St Paul’s Parishioner & Secretary of the Board of Directors for Greater Palm Springs Animal Allies
Bonnie Synnestvedt-Birch, Volunteer Manager for the Palm Springs Animal Shelter
Johnathan Sotelo, Facilities Associate for the Palm Springs Animal Shelter
Interfaith Prayer Vigil at Adelanto Detention Center
by Bonnie Stroock, Racial Reconciliation Collaborative Leadership Team Member
On October 7th, 2026, over a hundred people gathered to pray, sing, and learn about the detainees suffering in this huge prison-like building. St. Paul had 8 members who carpooled to spend an hour and a half on a sunny day in Adelanto, near Bakersfield. The names of 13 latinos who had died after their time in the gruesome center were remembered. The speakers mentioned how having the “breadwinner” of the family get arrested put great stress on the families for funds, food, and emotional support. To work with lawyers for the men’s release, costs $30,000 to $50,000 and it takes at least half a year.
The Vigil was planned by the Catholic Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, Clue for Justice, and the Claremont United Church of God. ICE has been very active and cruel in arresting more than a thousand people this summer. We were thanked for attending and reminded that “across faith traditions compassion, dignity, and love is deserved for every human life.”
We were asked to help the detained community members by writing our Congress representatives to pass H.R.4696 and Senate bill 2468. We will be taking up a collection in the near future if you are looking to donate to support this effort. If you are considering a tangible way to support vulnerable folks in-person in the meantime, please consider volunteering at the monthly St. John’s Episcopal Church Food Distrubution this coming week or attending the St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church Immigration Policy & Constitutional Rights Workshop (information in the Community & Outreach section at the bottom of the newsletter). You can also attend the LARK training held at St. Paul’s in November.
Our Newly re-designed T-shirts
Fall Events and Parade season is upon us and you are invited to don your festive St. Paul’s t-shirt to share and welcome folks to St. Paul’s!
Show your St. Paul in the Desert pride! Newly redesigned T-shirts are available in the Parish Office Monday–Thursday, with a suggested donation of $20.
Upcoming Classes, Events & Services
Breathing Under Water: 12-Step Spirituality
This class is designed to help us share the abundant love of Jesus Christ. We invite participants to share their experience, strength, and hope in recovery, drawing meaningful connections between the 12 Steps and their personal Christian faith. By providing a supportive setting to explore this faith and hope, the class will simultaneously inspire members of our parish and offer a dedicated space to give thanks for our life experiences and ongoing recovery.
Led by The Rev. Bud Williams & Linda Castro
Sundays, Oct 18, 25 & Nov 1, 15, 22
9:45AM-10:45AM
Yucca Room, Parish Hall
Saints, Shrines, & Sacraments: Faith in England Before the Reformation
Why does church look and feel the way it does?
This course explores the development of the parish, sacraments, sacred spaces, and devotional practices in the Western Christian tradition, with particular attention to the medieval English church. Along the way, we’ll consider how the rituals and institutions of our pre-Reformation ancestors continue to shape contemporary parish life—and what looking backward might help us notice about our own experience of church.
Led by Dr. William Dohar
Sundays, Oct 18, 25, & Nov 1
9:45AM- 10:45AM
Saguaro Room, Parish Hall
Four Weeks with Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Sermon on the Mount
In a time when authoritarianism and fascism once again threaten democratic life, Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s The Cost of Discipleship offers a timeless spirituality for difficult times. Drawing on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, Bonhoeffer asks what it means to live with courage, truthfulness, compassion, nonviolence, and faithfulness when the world around us is being reshaped by fear and power. Join us for four weeks of conversation about what this ancient teaching might have to say to the church and to us today.
The Rev. Dr. Frank Dunn
Thursdays, Oct 22, 29 & Nov 5, 12
2:30PM-4:00PM
Yucca Room, Parish Hall
TRANSforming Hospitality: A Study of Luke 14
This four-week class will use the scriptural text of the Gospel According to St. Luke Chapter 14 to find real-world applications when looking for ways to offer hospitality and welcome to and from marginalized communities, especially our transgender siblings. Each week, a portion of the text will be used to examine how we as Christians are called to be inclusive of all of God’s children as our parish prepares to host TransGiving, the annual Thanksgiving Day community meal sponsored by the Transgender Health & Wellness Center. This class would be helpful for those in our congregation who are involved in radical hospitality or for those who are seeking ways to show Christ’s love to our siblings in the Transgender Community.
The class is required for anyone participating as a St. Paul in the Desert volunteer at the TransGiving event.
Led By The Rev. Dan Kline & Samantha Hirsch
Thursdays, Oct 29, & Nov 5, 12, 19
1PM-2:30PM
Saguaro Room, Parish Hall
Interested in Singing?
We would love to have you join us. You do not need to be a professional singer or have extensive musical experience. You simply need a willingness to sing, learn, and be part of a community. Our growing choir is always ready to welcome new voices.
During the choir season, we meet twice each week (choose to attend the one session per week that best fits with your schedule):
- Thursdays at 5:45 PM
- Sundays immediately following the last service
To learn more about the choir or find out how to join, visit the St. Paul’s Choir page.
The goal remains the same: to offer music that supports worship, encourages participation, reflects the breadth of our parish, and gives us many different ways to experience beauty, prayer, and praise.
LARK: Localized Anti-Racism Knowledge
Nov. 12 & 17 — TRAINING AT ST. PAUL’S!
Are you an altar minister, Vestry member, DOK, Welcome Team member, altar guild member, on any of the Standing Committees (Finance, Stewardship, Campus Care, Human Resources, Strategic Planning), volunteer at Laundry Love, teach any of the classes at St. Paul’s, leader of a ministry or committee, usher, lector, volunteer in any capacity, or just want to make the world a better place?
This training is for you!
Join LARK: Localized Anti-Racism Knowledge workshop that explores our region’s racial and ethnic history.
The workshop begins Thursday, November 12, from 1:00–5:30 p.m. on Zoom, followed by a full day on Tuesday, November 17, from 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. in person at the Church of St. Paul in the Desert, Palm Springs
(125 W El Alameda, Palm Springs) Both sessions are part of the same training and offer time for learning, reflection, conversation, and connection.
To learn more and to register for this training: https://edsd.org/lark/
ALL Ushers, Altar Guild Members, Altar Ministers, Lectors, Production Team Members,
Welcome Team Members, and Choir Members:
We are asking ALL SUNDAY TEAMS who haven’t attended yet to sign up for our second and final fall date for the “Sunday Teams Orientation & Training” session focused on SAFETY & WELCOME & TRAINING.”
The first hour we will all gather in the church and talk through areas of safety (e.g. how to prepare for the unexpected, including but not limited to where are the panic buttons and how to use them, where is the first aid kit, what happens when a challenging guest or parishioner needs help, how to create a safe environment during worship, how to welcome the most vulnerable in our midst, etc.). All persons who serve on Sunday should be part of helping us all keep eyes on keeping our worship space safe.
The second half we will go into separate team gatherings for trainings and updates (other than choir members, ALL Ushers, Altar Guild Members, Altar Ministers, Lectors, Production Team Members, and Welcome Team Members will need to stay for the training portion).
Please sign up so we can prepare for you by emailing revjessie@stpauldesert.church
Saturday, November 21 from 9AM -12noon
Thank you for helping us get ready for the fall, and helping new folks get oriented and trained to serve on your team. Please reach out with any questions.
Join St. Paul’s this Sunday for The Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost
October 18, 2026
We live livestream our 11 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, October 3 at 11:00AM – John Hampton
Prayers of the Church
For the Anglican Communion: The Most Reverend Dame Sarah Mullally, The Archbishop of Canterbury; pray for the Anglican Church of Canada.
For the Episcopal Diocese of Nebraska: The Right Reverend J. Scott Barker.
For the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego: The Right Reverend Doctor Susan Brown Snook, Bishop. Prayer for the Clergy and people of All Saints’, Vista.
For those commended to our prayers: Warren Safley and Jim Crumby, Anne Castro, Gary Smith, Jennifer Walker, Pat, Marysia, George, Don and Mary Hamilton, Jerry Reed, Sylvia Black, Patti Craine, Bill Cosper, Patricia Johnson, Jordan Hinds, Tex Batson, Phil Telford, Dnys Gillispie, Keith Blevins, Henny Struijk, Karen Paddock, Jeff Bonnell, Jonathan Brown, Susie Simpson, Carmen Vasquez, Luz Gallegos, Mariella, Clarissa, Tammy Noah, Thor Garrett, Averi Kayte Patrick, Carol Lindbladt, Vern Marken and Luis Valdes, Mark McMillan, Rev. Thomas J-P Pellaton, Father Robert McKay, Bill and Raylene Davis, Norman Shepherd Family, Steven Craik Family, Jay Wilson, Rocio Thibault, Jaime Velarde, Bill Smolka, Ruth Coleman, Lee Coleman and Lee Wash Jr., Chloe Grace Wilson Barton, Kristopher C, Tony Santamaria, 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: Barbara Eckhart, Frank Tysen, Ronnie Simpson, Fausto Portillo, Marianne Marino, Andy Lopez, Terry Rogers, Eric Lance, Nicole Vasquez, Kemper Dudley, Barbara Proctor, Paul Bruggeman, Norman Shepherd, Steven Craik, 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: October 20: Ken Jackson, M.D. & Lane Moore, October 23: John Mancini & Irene Mancini.
For those with birthdays: October 18: John Rauch, October 20: Mike Neill, October 21: Rick L. Roberts, October 22: Robby Robinson, David Coe, October 24: Louis Leonard Sanchez.
For those for whom flowers have been donated: Sunday’s Altar Flowers are sponsored Megan and Curtis Goehring in memory of their Daughter Ellie Claire on her 24th heavenly Birthday.
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.
Request
Rectors’ Discretionary Fund
The first Sunday of the month loose-plate offerings are designated for the Rectors’ Discretionary Fund (sometimes referred to as “Benevolence”). Checks may also be designated for the fund. This instrument of mercy provides the clergy a financial pool to draw upon when parishioners, individuals in the community, or other community organizations ask for help. The traditional use of the discretionary fund is to assist the poor of the community. Examples for those in need include rent, utilities, medical bills, etc. Thank you for your generosity!
Community & Outreach
Looking to Get Involved?
St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church
Neighbors For Neighbors Volunteers Needed
Every month volunteers gather to set-up, organize, bag and distribute food to over 500 families from the greater Indio area.
Below are confirmed dates and times:
October 22, 2026 — Volunteer Start Time: 7:30 AM
November 20, 2026 — Volunteer Start Time: 8:30 AM
December 17, 2026 — Volunteer Start Time: 9:30 AM
Interested in volunteering this week?
Email our new Director of Parish Life & Engagement – parishlife@stpauldesert.church — to let us know you’d like to help.
Online Prayer Service for Our Nation’s Elections Nov. 2
On the night before the midterm elections, join Bishop Susan Brown Snook and Episcopalians from across the Diocese of San Diego for an online service of prayer. Together, we will place our communities, our nation, and one another in God’s care, praying for wisdom, peace, compassion, and the well-being of all people. In a season that can bring uncertainty and division, this service offers space to turn our hearts toward God and remember the hope and unity we share in Jesus. All are welcome to join us online at 6 p.m. on November 2.
Palm Springs Police to Launch ‘PSPD Connect’ Program for Older Residents
The Palm Springs Police Department is launching a new program designed to help older and vulnerable residents stay safe and connected. PSPD Connect launches Oct. 19.The free, voluntary program provides scheduled wellness calls from police personnel or trained community volunteers. Participants can choose a call schedule that works for them. If a scheduled call is missed, the department has a process to check on the resident’s well-being. That could include contacting an emergency contact or requesting a welfare check. The program also connects residents with community resources and helps reduce social isolation. Residents interested in learning more can call the number (760) 323-8116 or email pspdconnect@palmspringsca.gov.
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. Betsy Vaughn, betsy.vaughn6@gmail.com
The Rev. Willy Crespo, frcrespo@gmail.com
Ms. Meredith Hardy, mlh8180@gmail.com
