St. Paul’s Diaconal Intern Samantha Hirsch writes AND received a grant for Transgiving through the Episcopal Evangelization Society!
Read more about what is Transgiving, how to volunteer, and the class she’ll be co-teaching for ALL volunteers (and those curious about becoming more hospitable).
Dear Samantha,
Warm congratulations! I am pleased to let you know that your grant application has been approved by the EES Board.
We will be awarding $4,500 toward your project, Transgiving: Transforming Hospitality for All. The Board was deeply encouraged by your vision of extending Christ’s love and hospitality to transgender neighbors, particularly those who may not experience the welcome and belonging of family during Thanksgiving. We especially appreciated your intention to prepare the congregation through theological reflection on Christian hospitality and to build meaningful relationships with the transgender community. Your ministry offers a beautiful expression of our Baptismal Covenant’s call to respect the dignity of every human being.
I will also be giving you a call to share more about the Board’s enthusiasm for your work and to explain our decision regarding the award amount.
We look forward to accompanying you in this wonderful work.
In Christ’s peace,
Troy—
The Rev. Troy D. Mendez
he/him/his
Executive Director
Episcopal Evangelism Society
Transgiving: Transforming Hospitality for All
(Excerpts from Samantha’s grant)
What is Transgiving? This is a Thanksgiving meal for transgender people, many of whom do not have an accepting family of origin to welcome them to their own Thanksgiving table. By coming alongside an established community event held by the Transgender Health and Wellness Center, St. Paul’s makes a powerful statement that transgender people belong, that the Church can be part of their chosen family, and that Christian hospitality means standing alongside those who are too often marginalized. At a time when Christian nationalism too often distorts the witness of Christianity, Transgiving offers a different and deeper Gospel witness: there is a place at the table for everyone. It is also an opportunity for the parish to grow in evangelism through hospitality and includes training before and evaluation after the event.
Here’s Samantha at her last diaconal retreat.
The experiences I have had during my site placement as St. Paul’s has deepened my awareness of the rich diversity within LGBTQIA+ communities and the need for ongoing growth in radical welcoming and inclusion. In a mostly gay congregation, I see an opportunity to strengthen relationships with transgender people by creating intentional spaces of welcome, trust, and belonging. While many in the congregation have had firsthand experiences with exclusion, we are still called to grow in how we build on that knowledge when relating to others whose experiences may differ from our own.
This Transgiving dinner is more than a social event. While it will have a large component of fellowship and camaraderie, it also serves as a ministry of radical welcome and hospitality based on our Baptismal Covenant which calls us to honor the dignity of every human being. Sharing this meal becomes a way for all parties to engage in conversation, connection, and mutual recognition. It is a practical way to express that transgender people are not on the margins of the community but are full participants as beloved children of God.
Naturally, this work is also part of evangelizing as we will be sharing the good news of God’s love through our actions. When a congregation practices true welcome, it offers a living witness to the Gospel. My vision is of a church that reflects God’s kingdom by affirming that all of God’s people are equal in dignity, worth, and belovedness. Through this gathering, I hope to help create a space where transgender people experience genuine welcome and where the congregation grows in faith, compassion, and its commitment to justice and inclusion.
As a Diaconal student, I have had the opportunity to not only learn, but engage in servant leadership, pastoral care and community engagement at my site placement. I have learned that the work of a deacon is to act as a bridge between the church and the world. In this project, we will be able to build a bridge to our transgender siblings by creating a safe space that can encourage real relationships, conversations and true belonging. This is especially important for a marginalized group that often feels neither visible nor included.
There has been an ongoing dialog with the Transgender Health and Wellness Center, the organization with whom we are partnering for this event. They have toured St. Paul’s parish hall and are overjoyed at the prospect of holding the event in such a large space, as previously it was held in smaller facilities, such as people’s homes.
Since September 23rd, I have attended the planning meetings with the members of the Transgender Health and Wellness Center’s Transgiving Committee, representing St. Paul’s along with a member of the parish, a transgender woman, who is acting as a liaison between the two organizations.
I will also be teaching a 4-week class called “TRANSforming Hospitality: a Study of Luke 14” in preparation for the event. This class will be open to all parishioners, and required for those who will be volunteering at the event.
I am so very grateful for the vision of the Church of St. Paul’s LGBTQIA+ ministry to have decided to focus on the needs of the Transgender community last year before I was assigned as a diaconal intern. This vision has helped me learn so much about our Transgender siblings and I was so excited for this opportunity to partner with the Transgender Health and Wellness Center for their annual event. To be able to share the beautiful new parish hall and provide a safe, dignified and welcoming place for this community to share their Thanksgiving meal is truly amazing.
My hope is that new connections will be made for both the transgender guests and the parishioners at the Church of St. Paul in the Desert. I hope for our guests to feel welcomed, cherished, loved and bathed in the light of Christ and when they leave the event, they know there is one more place in the world where they can feel safe to be their authentic selves.
The class — TRANSforming:
A Study of Luke 14
As the Church of St. Paul in the Desert prepares to host the Transgender Health and Wellness Center’s annual Transgiving event, we are offering a class to study the text of Luke 14 and how Jesus teaches us that everyone, especially those in the margins, are beloved children of God who belong in the kingdom of heaven. During this four-week study, we will explore not only how we are called through our baptismal vows to seek and serve Christ in all people but how we can extend radical hospitality in preparing the table for those in our larger community. Come see what it means to be able to extend this hospitality to our Transgender siblings.
Classes begin on Thursday, October 29th at 1:00 pm in the Saguaro Room. Online access to the class is also available. Make sure you register by clicking the link below so that you can get sent the private video link for the class. Please contact Diaconal Intern Samantha Hirsch at intern@stpauldesert.church with any questions.
As we prepare for Pride in the Desert, we celebrate The Episcopal Church’s Full & Equal: 50 Years in Pursuit of a Promise
This September, parishioners Ed Walsh and Layla Alexia, joined hundreds of Episcopalians in Minneapolis, for The Episcopal Church’s celebration: Full & Equal: 50 Years in Pursuit of a Promise.
“LGBTQ+ clergy join Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe for a group photo after the conclusion of the conference’s Holy Eucharist on Sept. 5 at St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Photo: Via St. Mark’s Cathedral Facebook page”
Read More about the Gathering
Full & Equal gathering celebrates 50 years toward full inclusion, looks to future work
Attendees came to Minneapolis for reasons personal and historical
Full & Equal
50 Years in Pursuit of a Promise
Minneapolis September 3-5, 2026
Ed Walsh
Layla Alexia and I were fortunate to attend this three day long conference in Minneapolis. I was pleased to represent our parish and our diocese at the convention. Full and Equal: 50 years in Pursuit of a Promise was aptly titled for the pledge of the General Convention in Minneapolis in 1976, Resolution A069, that “homosexual persons are children of God who have full and equal claim with all other persons upon the love, acceptance, and pastoral concern and care of the church” has been incremental and has yet to be fully realized. The two articles below from the Episcopal News Service (ENS) offer a highlighted summary of the breath and depth of this most important conference and historical anniversary landmark.
It is my intention to give you a snapshot of my experience through the lens of a mature gay man and long time parishioner of St. Paul’s. With 200 registered participants from all over the Episcopal Church, it was a shock to meet people connected to St. Paul’s. At the registration desk, I met a volunteer from St. Marks Cathedral, Minneapolis who assisted with my registration. He and his partner bought a condo in Palm Springs last year and attended St. Paul’s when they were here. They plan to return next February. The next day I met a couple from San Jose who are regular part timers at St. Paul’s. A small world indeed. At a networking event, Layla and I had the opportunity to spend time visiting with Frank Eggers who was a long time parishioner and is a member of the Legacy Society at St Paul’s. He just moved back to Minneapolis to be near his sister and brother-in-law. He was pleased to reconnect with parishioners.
The conference had a backdrop of moving through challenges and hurtful situations along the rough and sometimes joyful road to full LGBTQIA+ inclusion. This theme could be found in the workshops, plenary sessions and closing Eucharist at the Cathedral.
I attended several sessions on the Moth Story Telling process. In small groups we were asked to identify a life event that created change and in pairs exchange our stories. I identified the pronouncement of marital vows with my husband Wayne at St. Richard’s in Lake Arrowhead. What a blessing to be married in the Episcopal Church during a Eucharistic liturgy. We felt different after that day 13 years ago with recognition and inclusion of who we are as members of Christ’s Church and now as a married couple. The blessing of our union did not come quickly after the 1976 resolution, and I have always acknowledged the advocacy leadership of Rev. Susan Russell and the Claim the Blessing movement which she led. In fact I spoke one year at the Pride Mass and wedding of a couple at St Paul’s and addressed the journey to the marriage of gay couples and credited the work of Rev. Susan Russell and Bishop Gene Robinson. Both are courageous advocates for the LGBTQIA+ community and Blessing of same sex unions. Given this, it was a gift to personally speak with both of them and record our meeting with pictures together. That personal connection at the conference was an unexpected bonus that warmed my heart and soul. At the dinner on Friday night, Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe presented Rev. Susan Russel with an award recognizing her long history of LGBTQ advocacy and leadership as a change agent.
I met a priest from Puerto Rico who was from a parish in Virginia but was also a chaplain to the international National Guard. He continues to spend periods of time in Puerto Rico with the National Guard. He shared the challenges of being a gay man and priest in Puerto Rico and also the hardships of Puerto Ricans experiencing a severe drought while still trying to recover from a hurricane that devastated their infrastructure. I could tell that he loved his vocation of priesthood and how he was making a difference as a gay man.
Conference sessions stressed addressing and acknowledging the hurt, pain and trauma of the past which is essential as we continue to move forward on the path of full universal inclusion and recognize that all are loved by God. Bishop Gene Robinson spoke about this and called on us all to support our trans sisters and brothers who are under attack like never before. Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe called on the Church to be supportive of the trans community especially during this time of unprecedented hate. Bottom line, we all need to continue moving forward together bathed in the love of God and supported and strengthened by our church.
The closing Eucharistic Celebration was by its very nature a visible sign of a loving community bound together in Christ who are fed for the journey and blessed to go forth together to make this world a better place for all of God’s children. We need to be proud of our parish as St. Paul’s stands out as a welcoming and supportive community and we continue to widen our net of welcome every day.
I encourage you to read the two articles from the Episcopal News Service and to read the amazing historical record of the step by step journey to full inclusion in the Episcopal Church.
Ed Walsh
Member, The Church of St. Paul in the Desert’s LGBTQ+ Ministry
Member, Episcopal Diocese of San Diego LGBTQIA+ Task Force
Layla Alexia
It was with great delight I was given a chance to attend the Full and Equal 50 years in Minneapolis. This was the first time I was part of an activity of the greater Episcopal church. The conference was focused on the struggle for LGBTQIA+ affirmation, historically and in the present day. The conference first covered on how at first ministry was focused mainly on mercy, and dealing with the pain associated with rejection from the church and later on the disaster of the aids crisis. They also covered efforts to later to create a the theological basis for inclusion, and steps to progress further. Direct comparisons were made to the progress of woman’s ordination and leadership in the episcopal church.
It is to be of note we were able to meet with Frank Eggers, a St. Paul’s parishioner who recently moved to be near family in Minneapolis. Frank was instrumental in starting a chapter of Integrity in Minneapolis in the early days. Integrity was formed in 1974 by Dr. Louie Crew. While LGBTQIA+ individuals began to be welcomed in the church starting in 1976, both ordination and marriage would be forbidden. It would be a long struggle for equality.
Ordination would come first, but with a long fight that sees victories and defeats. In 1989 Reverend Robert Williams would be ordained, but would be asked to not function as a priest or speak publicly shortly afterward. Other ordinations of gay individuals would be quietly dropped in the time afterward. In 1991 a report is issued suggesting the ordination of LGBTQIA+ individuals be left up to individual dioceses, which lead to an upswing of ordinations. By 1993 Integrity would state that more then 50 gay priests had been ordained, however the subject would remain quite controversial in the church as a whole. While Gene Robinson would be elected as the first gay bishop in 2003, it would not be until 2009 that the church passed a resolution making ordination of LGBTQIA+ individuals official, with additional clarifications in 2012.
Sacramental marriage would take longer. In 1988, that the church would bless homosexual couples, but this was not marriage. Claiming the Blessing was formed in 2002, a collaborative ministry involving a number of organizations including Integrity, Oasis, Beyond Inclusion, and the Episcopal Woman’s Caucus. Its goal was specifically to obtain approval for sacramental marriage in the 2003 General Convention, but would instead end up fighting backlash and attempts to turn the clock back on LGBTQIA+ equality in the Episcopal church. It would not be until 2012 that the general convention would adopted a resolution for the creation of liturgies of same sex unions. But it would not be until 2018 that a marriage resolution requiring access to sacramental marriage to same sex couples would be passed.
Additional panels covered the difficulties LGBTQIA+ individuals continue to face, including difficulty finding rector-ships, pay inequality, and other issues. Discussion of ministry focused towards transgender members was mentioned, including low key efforts to help transgender members relocate to more welcoming areas of the nation. Other panels covered theology and liturgy. Some time was spent discussing the Anglican Communion, set backs associated, and the way forward.
Near the end we had a wonderful meal, many inspiring speakers, and the next morning a beautiful mass at St Mark’s cathedral. This is the first time I had been in a cathedral of that style, and I found it to be an amazing experience.
I am immensely thankful for the privilege of being able to attend Full and Equal, 50 Years in Pursuit of a Promise.
With joy,
Layla Alexia
Leader, The Church of St. Paul in the Desert’s LGBTQ+ Ministry
Eucharistic Visitor Training
Nov. 12 (Last Training of 2026)
Eucharistic Visitors are licensed lay ministers who extend the Church’s sacramental life to those who are unable to attend worship in person. This online training prepares participants to serve with reverence, care, and pastoral sensitivity as they bring Holy Communion to parishioners in homes, hospitals, and care facilities. Clergy and lay leaders are invited to attend and discern this meaningful ministry of presence and connection.
For more information and to register:
Note: All persons interested in this most important ministry must have a meeting with Rev. Jessie. Please reach out to set one up: revjessie@stpauldesert.church
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
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/
Appeals Court Sides with The Episcopal Church, Interfaith Partners in Immigration Enforcement Lawsuit
Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe and House of Deputies President Julia Ayala Harris issued a joint statement Oct. 20 after the appellate court ruling was handed down.
“As faith leaders who have borne witness to the harm of ICE enforcement on our congregations — and the impact of immigration in one of our families — we give thanks to God for today’s milestone in our multifaith effort to protect religious freedom,” the presiding officers said. “In The Episcopal Church, we cannot truly be ourselves when some cannot freely worship with us. Civic engagement is an important way Christians can demonstrate love for our neighbors, and with this litigation, we are challenging unjust policies that fall short of respecting the dignity of all people.”
Click here to read the rest of the story:
Fall Color Hike to Oak Glen
Saturday, November 12, 2026 – Fall Color Hike to Oak Glen– An easy 1.5 mile loop trail through towering pines, lovely lakeshore and colorful autumn foliage in nearby Oak Glen, on of Southern California’s most beloved mountain stops. Dogs welcome, wildlife sightings common; enjoy fresh apple cider and cool mountain shade after the hike.
Specific meetup details will be sent to those who register.
Join St. Paul’s this Sunday for The Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost
October 25, 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 Eglise Anglicane du Rwanda.
For the Episcopal Church: The Most Right Reverend Sean W. Rowe.
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. Pray for the clergy and people of St. Paul’s, Yuma For migrants and all who minister to them: Lord Jesus, when you multiplied the loaves and fishes, you provided more than food for the body, you offered us the gift of yourself, the gift which satisfies every hunger and quenches every thirst! Your disciples were filled with fear and doubt, but you poured out your love and compassion on the migrant crowd, welcoming them as brothers and sisters. Amen
For those commended to our prayers: Tex Batson, Phil Telford, Onys Gillispie, John Grainger, Mick Welsh, Viktor Cheverich, Carlos Pelaitai, William Finlay, Juan Zetina and Maria Badillo, Myla Hendershot, Jim Downs, Anne Castro, Griff Linsenmayer, Warren Safley and Jim Crumby, Gary Smith, Jennifer Walker, Pat, Marysia, George, Don and Mary Hamilton, Jerry Reed, Sylvia Black, Patti Craine, Bill Cosper, Patricia Johnson, Jordan Hinds, 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, 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: Shirley Sagun, Barbara Eckhart, Frank Tysen, Ronnie Simpson, Fausto Portillo, Marianne Marino, Andy Lopez, Terry Rogers, Eric Lance, Nicole Vasquez, Kemper Dudley, Barbara Proctor. 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 27: Gary Price & Andrew Petras, October 30: Rafael Diaz & Brad Carter..
For those with birthdays: October 24: Louis Leonard Sanchez, Billy Stevens, October 25: Michael A. Leppen, October 27: The Rev. Dan Kline, Troy Elder, October 29: Edd Nazelrod-Woodward, Ferrell Tadlock, October 30: Bill Tanner, Edward McCann, October 31: Warren Safley, Keeman Wong.
For those for whom flowers have been donated: Sunday’s Altar Flowers are sponsored by Betty Sassano in loving memory of James and Helen Sassano, in honor of their 78th wedding anniversary. AND by Daniel Schmidt and Mark Berry in loving memory of their mothers, Katie Schmidt and Jean Hill Berry.
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:
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
