May 4, 2014

42695 Washington Street

St. John's Lutheran Church
Palm Desert, California

"Palm Desert is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, in the Coachella Valley, approximately 14 miles (23 km) east of Palm Springs and 122 miles (196 km) east of Los Angeles....A major center of growth in the Palm Springs area, Palm Desert is a popular retreat for "snowbirds" from colder climates (the Eastern and Northern United States, and Canada), who swell its population by an estimated 31,000 each winter." (Link 2)

Stand alone steeple to St. John's

"On January 13, 1963 St. John's held its first worship service in the recreation center of Palm Desert Country Club.  On July 18, 1963, St. John's was formally organized with 30 charter members.  Ground breaking services were held on Washington Street on November 24, 1963, on a site purchased by the "American Lutheran Church Board of Missions.  On February 9, 1964, a cornerstone laying ceremony was held." (REF.) Distinctive features of the church's exterior are the front cantilevered roof and the tall pyramidal free standing steeple topped by a simple cross. The steeple is called the "Symbol of Faith Tower". (REF.)

Entrance to Sanctuary

The entrance to the sanctuary is on the side of the building.  The doors are framed with rectangles of colored glass: red, green, yellow, clear, and opaque. 

The window above the double doors features a red glass rectangular outline of a cross. 

Stained glass windows at entrance to the Sanctuary

The sanctuary was built with blond laminated beams typical of the 1960's. It originally seated 175, but with expansion now seats 235. (REF.) The tall rectangular side windows reflect their colors of green, yellow, and red in the pale wood surface.  Dark wood ceiling rafters are also exposed.  However, when air conditioning was installed it necessitated an enclosing rectangular white box to be mounted most of the length of the center of the ceiling.

The cross above the altar is lit to give a double shadow.  It, therefore, presents not one, but a trinity of crosses for meditation. (Note photo below.)

Sanctuary

At the rear of the Sanctuary is a step-up balcony and the entrance to the Ministry Center.  The Ministry Center, built in 2012, includes meeting rooms and offices for the church staff.

Step-up balcony at rear of Sanctuary

The Fellowship Hall was a separate building behind the Sanctuary that was added to the property in 1994.  The Ministry Center now connects the Fellowship Hall to the Sanctuary. 

Portico to Fellowship Hall


Ministry Center

Visitors are welcome to the two worship services  held on Sunday mornings: traditional worship at 9:00 am and praise worship at 11:00 am.  

Photos: Taken in February 2014 by SW.

Reference: St. John's Cookbook donated by visitor from North Vancouver B.C.,

               Barbara Mayer.

Link 1: http://stjohnslutheranchurchpd.com/

Link 2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Desert,_California

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Prayer

God, be with the persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen

                                                                                                                      October 23, 2011

Peace Lutheran Church of Palm Desert

Peace Lutheran Church of Palm Desert
Palm Desert, California

"Peace Lutheran Church began as a Bible Study.  Fifteen people from different denominations gathered together to study the Word of God with no intention of starting a church.  However, as the Bible Study grew, they all felt the Lord was leading them to start a church.  It was voted that it would be a Lutheran Church with a Lutheran Doctrine.

"Peace Lutheran Church of the Desert was the name they had decided on.  The church became a member of the English District, Missouri Synod.  Lee Settgast became the first Pastor.  A  storefront on Country Club Drive in Palm Desert, California was rented and the first church service was held in June 1994.

                                                                   Sanctuary

"The first two years of Peace Lutheran were spent canvassing the community and spreading the word of our new church.  In October of 1996, after two years, Pastor Settgast received a call to be the Interim Pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Whittier, California.  In June 1997, Peace Lutheran called Norval Chilman to be their new Pastor.

                                                                     Foyer Tapestry

"Pastor Chilman, along with the approval of the church, began focusing on missions and missionaries instead of building and budgets.  Peace is one of the few Lutheran churches who do not own their own building but who have caught the vision of Matthew 24:14 where it says 'For the Gospel must be preached to all nations and then the end will come'.

                                                             Exterior Angel Sculpture

"Peace Lutheran (at 74200 Country Club Dr.) currently has 84 active members supporting several Missions with an annual budget of $27,600." (Link 1.)

The church is also involved in the Braille Ministry.  Large print Bibles are collated, stapled, and distributed to the vision impaired.

Peace Lutheran Church shares the building with the 7th Day Adventist Church. The 7th Day Adventist message of the three angels blowing trumpets (depicted in the exterior sculpture in the photo above) is to announce the return of Jesus. (Link 2.) 

Photos: Taken in 2010 by SW. 
Link 1: http://www.peacelutheranchurch.info/
Link 2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seventh-day_Adventist_eschatology

                                                                      ************

Prayer

God, be with the persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen (SW.)

                                                                                                                        October 16, 2011

St. Margaret's Episcopal Church

Palm Desert, California

The first St. Margaret's Episcopal Church began in 1962.  70 people formed the congregation when they met for the first Eucharist in 1964 at the Fairway Cafe on Highway 111.  Later the congregation paid $50 a month to meet at the Silver Spur recreation building. A  new church was consecrated in 1965 with master plans for a large church building  just about where the current sanctuary now stands. Additions were made in 1971.  In 1991 this building was converted into a Parish Hall with a stage and kitchen. (REF.)

A new church was planned and former President Gerald Ford participated in  the ground breaking.  "On 'St. Margaret’s Sunday', November 19, 1989, the new (current) sanctuary (at 47535 Highway 74, across the parking lot from the Palm Desert Community Presbyterian Church attended by President Eisenhower-see April 17, 2011 Blog Post) was consecrated..." (Link)

The first St. Francis statue was sculpted by Frances Rich, and stood in front of the church. In 1987  when the present sanctuary was dedicated it was moved to the north side of the patio and then in 1995 moved again to in front of the Nordstrom Campus of St. Margaret's Episcopal School.

The bell tower holds a C bell that was cast in 1908.

"While President of the United States, Gerald and Betty Ford attended services here. Later the Fords became Seasonal Members of St. Margaret’s," (Link.)and their daughter Susan was married there in 1979.  President and Mrs. Bush have also attended services. (REF.)

In 1994 St. Margaret's School opened its doors adjacent to the church.  The original attendance was 25 kindergarten and 1st grade students.  Today the school serves preschool, elementary, and middle school students.

Photos: Taken in 2010 by SW.

Link: http://www.stmargarets.org/
REFERENCE: "A Brief History" pamphlet available at the church. 
Note: For information about Palm Desert see Blog Post April 17, 2011.

**********

Prayer

God, be with the persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen (SW.)

                                                                                                                        April 17, 2011

Palm Desert Community Presbyterian Church

featuring Sanctuary window

Palm Desert Community Presbyterian Church
Palm Desert, California

Palm Desert Community Presbyterian Church was built in 1968 by  Berton Lamb and the Architects were Powell, Morgridge, Richards  Coghlan.   It is a modern cement building in southern Palm Desert at 47321 California State Highway 74 near El Paseo and at the base of Shadow Mountain. "President Eisenhower was the honorary building chairman as he attended and was a member for many years up until his death...

Eisenhower bust and side of Palm Desert Community Presbyterian Church

Bust of President Eisenhower on path in front of Palm Desert Community Presbyterian Church

There is a pew in the sanctuary dedicated to he (President Eisenhower) and his wife ...the stained glass window was placed there because of security concerns when he was in his pew...



Wayside Prayer Chapel

Wayside Prayer Chapel

At the parking lot entrance to the church is a Wayside Prayer Chapel which is a mini version of the sanctuary and at that location  where the President's limos parked when he was here." (e mail Floyd Vail)

Front entrance of Palm Desert Community Presbyterian Church

There seem to be many architectural references to skiing in the design of the building. The church itself seems shaped like a  giant cement  ski jump.  The photo above is of the back of the church with the center sanctuary window and framed by towering palm trees. At the  Wayside prayer chapel a large cross is featured on the side opposite the front entrance to the church. The chapel like the rear of the church is framed in tall palm trees. Between the chapel and the church entrance is a walk flanked with date palms. The roof from the entrance to the the rear of the sanctuary  is an extreme curved slope again reminiscence of that on a ski jump. Inside the large modern sanctuary the roof shape also reminds one of skiing.  This time it is the slope and bottom curve of each side of the ceiling which as it meets the side walls. Each side  is curved up like the tip of a ski. 

Sanctuary of Palm Desert Community Presbyterian Church



Traditional Sanctuary Services are held every Sunday at 8:30 and 10:15 am.

Thank you: To Floyd J. Vail for his e mail with information about the church.

Photos: Taken in February 2011 by SW.
Link: http://www.pdpresby.org/

Prayer

God, be with the persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen (SW.)