About our speaker: David Gilbert grew up in St. Louis, MO, and graduated summa cum laude from Webster University with a degree in education. While teaching first grade at Porter-Gaud School, he volunteered as a youth leader at St. Philip's youth group for several years and was then called to become the full-time youth minister at St. Philip's in July 2006, a capacity in which he continues to serve faithfully today. David has had a remarkable spiritual journey where one of the key turning points occurred because someone invited him to a Christmas Eve service.

We have so many wonderful Advent traditions at St. Philip’s, and one of our favorites is of course the Advent Drop-In at the Rectory, where the eggnog freely flows and the top-hat wearing Andrew O’Dell helps the Millers warmly welcome the guests.

Much was wonderfully the same this year: the dining room table laden with deviled eggs, shrimp cocktail, meatballs, ham sandwiches, and other savory treats; the Williamsburg Della Robbia fruit display above the front door, the brightly lit Christmas trees on the first and second floors, and the beautiful decorations throughout the house (although Abraham Lincoln, who lives in the window by the landing going up to the second floor, was not wearing his Santa hat this year); and of course the sounds of conversation and laughter all around as our church family connections strengthened or took root.

There was new touch this year, one that was a frequent topic of conversation among the guests. “Have you seen the special Christmas tree?” they’d ask. “Oh, you’ll know it when you see it.” Indeed, the Imperial State Crown replica that was sitting atop the tree in the parlor was nearly impossible to miss, as were Paddington Bear and his friend Guardsman Bear, who hails from Harrod’s, resting comfortable underneath. A quick sweep of the ornaments––the numerous Royal Guard figurines and a heavy presence of the Union Jack––confirmed that this was indeed the tree in question: the “British” Christmas tree. 

Might we expect to add this gem to our list of what we look forward to at the annual Advent Drop-In? We’ll have to ask our gracious hosts, the Reverend and Mrs. Jeffrey S. Miller––but it surely doesn’t seem likely to be a one-and-done sort of thing. 

Pictured above: The Rev. Andrew O'Dell with Sarah and Frederick Stuhr, Tara and Grant Eversmann in front of the "British" Christmas tree, and our hosts, the Reverend and Mrs. Jeffrey S. Miller.

Lessons and Carols:

Join us for a beloved St. Philip’s tradition as we celebrate Lessons and Carols, wherein God’s plan of salvation is traced in Scripture and song from the creation of the world through the wondrous incarnation of Jesus Christ at Christmas. Based upon the service instituted at King’s College Cambridge in 1918 in the aftermath of World War I, this glorious time of worship full of joy and hope is not to be missed!

The Wassail Bowl Reception

Immediately following Lessons and Carols, please join us in the Parish Hall for our annual Wassail Bowl reception, where you may mingle with St. Philippian friends, family, newcomers, and guests while munching on refreshments. And of course there will be plenty of hot mulled cider––otherwise known as wassail––to go around!



Poinsettia Delivery

Every year at Christmastime, the St. Philip’s Compassion Committee provides poinsettias and cards to parishioners who are especially in our hearts. We need your help to get them delivered! As you’re leaving the Wassail Bowl, please go by the downstairs entryway of the Parish House and pick up a plant (or a few plants!) to deliver to someone who lives near you or on your route home. The poinsettias will be sorted by ZIP code and the cards will have complete addresses. Families who have lost loved ones this year are also welcome to pick up their own poinsettias.

Thursday, December 1: Seniors’ Excursion

The Seniors’ Excursion to Nights of a Thousand Candles at Brookgreen Gardens was nothing short of fantastic! The group traveled by coach to enjoy an early dinner in Pawleys Island before continuing on to Murrells Inlet to enjoy the incredible display of lights and candles.

Friday, December 2: Advent Luncheon

At the annual ECW Advent Luncheon, the ladies of St. Philip’s enjoyed a delicious Asian-inspired chicken salad prepared by Chef Connie Stahl and an inspiring talk by the Rev. Canon Ken Weldon, the former director of St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center and the current Canon for Camp Development at Camp Jubilee, a ministry of the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina. (More importantly, he is the father of Mims Weldon, the newest member of our staff team!)

Monday, December 5: Water Mission Workday

A note from Jennie Richardson, Home Missions Team Chair:

Several members of the Home Missions Team met at Water Mission on Monday for a workday, which entailed packing and shipping socks for the Water Mission National Walks Programs. What a blessing to be back in the Water Mission building to witness God’s work in progress. It is incredible to think about the lives all around the world they have saved and continue to save through the gift of water, but more importantly through spreading the message of the Gospel. 

Last Sunday, December 4, the Rt. Rev. Chip Edgar III, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina, served as cantor at St. Philip's service of Choral Evensong. Click the link below to watch!

Pictured left to right: Lowell Grosse, Barbara Spell, David Spell, the Rev. Andrew O’Dell, Stella Gadsden, Lois Kessler, Ray Kessler

The Rev. Andrew O’Dell and the rest of the clergy of St. Philip’s would like to extend a heartfelt “thank you” to our Foundations support team! They have truly “rolled out the red carpet” for our students this semester, and it is their ministry of hospitality that makes the class possible. We are grateful for their gift of time and service to the newcomers in our parish!

Answered Prayers (Thank You, Lord): 1. For the increase in visitors coming to our Sunday and Wednesday services and for prayer. 2. For Mims Weldon, the new member of our staff. 3. For the fun and successful evening at Brookgreen Gardens, and especially for Bill Christian and Kitty Mullins’s leadership.



Prayer Points: 1. For Bishop Chip Edgar, that he would have the wisdom needed to lead this diocese. 2. For our clergy and their families (adapted from the prayers of Dan Reiland, Executive Pastor of 12 Stone Church in Lawrenceville, GA): 

• For God’s favor, Holy Spirit power, and God’s anointing.
• For spiritual vitality, that their love of God and relationship with Jesus would remain close, real, and fresh.
• For their leadership, giving them strength of character, wisdom in decision-making, passion in preaching, and for the salvation of many people.
• That God would grant clear and inspiring vision along with direction and strategy to achieve the vision.
• For their families. Help them experience a deep and abiding love for each other. Pray for peace at home and protection from spiritual attacks.
• For their physical health. Give them stamina, energy, and clear thinking.

An update from Susan C. Keller, World Missions Committee Chair

Because of the donation from the Tea Room ministry and several generous gifts to World Mission, the World Missions Committee has been able to send donations to help with the food crisis in Rwanda, to support ministries working in Ukraine, and to add more funding and some support to an organization relocating Afghan Christians to Brazil––all in addition to our commitments to our World Mission partners. We are so grateful that our church has a heart for the world, for those dear ones in need as well as the persecuted church and unreached peoples. 

Star Gospel Mission is seeking volunteers to help serve our neighbors in need next week. For each 2.5-hour shift (10:00 a.m. to 12: 30 p.m. or 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.), we will need four “caseworkers” and two “greeters.” Caseworkers will attend a brief training and then distribute assistance to those who have made an appointment. Greeters will assist in welcoming scheduled clients, serving coffee and/or cocoa, and ensuring every person is encouraged that day. Sign up at the link below!

Questions? Contact Swain Marion, St. Philip’s Home Missions Team liaison to Star Gospel Mission: (843) 709-8131 or sbmarion3@gmail.com.

TONIGHT: Wednesdays Alive!

The Rev. William K. Christian III will be preaching this Sunday at our service of Holy Communion at 8:15 a.m. Our annual Lessons and Carols service will be at 10:30 a.m., followed by the Wassail Bowl.

Free Gift With Purchase Fires Up St. Philip's Staff

There was quite a commotion in the office yesterday afternoon when Rachel Murphy opened up the Solo Stove package that had just been delivered. Her squeals of delight were so heartfelt and so shrill that at least one person felt sure that one of Rachel's six siblings (the closest of which is in college in Steubenville, OH) had stopped in for a surprise visit.

Of course, the baby Solo Stove that came free with the boring, regular-sized Solo Stove (which you will be seeing at certain outdoor church events) drew a small crowd, as pretty much any miniature item tends to do (it's science, apparently), which is why both Dorothy Lancaster and Ben Singleton were in the reception area mid-task––one with an empty coffee cup and one with a hand truck––and how they ended up on the same route out (back stairwell via the first floor coffee station). So obviously it made sense for them to travel on together after they'd gotten their fill of oohing and ahhing over the new baby.

If you follow St. Philip's on Facebook and Instagram, then you already knew about yesterday's excitement. But if you're just now hearing about it, don't you think you should take a moment to follow us so that you, too, can be among the first to hear about upcoming events, weather-related schedule updates, and the adorable inanimate objects that make their way into the office?

Important Dates

December 11 ~ Final Sunday School, Rector’s Forum of 2022

December 11 ~ Lessons and Carols (10:30 a.m. service), Wassail Bowl (about 12 noon), and Poinsettia Delivery

December 11 ~ Charleston Men’s Chorus Christmas concert (4:00 p.m.)

December 12 ~ Christmas Pageant signup deadline

December 14 ~ Final Wednesdays Alive! of 2022 (no nursery available)

December 16 ~ Vestry nominations due (5:00 p.m.) 

December 16 & 18 ~ Final youth group of 2022 

December 24 ~ Christmas Eve services (4:30, 7:30, 10:30 p.m.)

December 25 ~ Christmas Day service (10:00 a.m.)

December 26–January 2 ~ Church office closed

January 26–28, 2023 ~ Mere Anglicanism Conference

June 7–18 ~ Holy Land Pilgrimage (waitlist available)

We pray for the sick: Arthur Applegate, Tim Bass, Elizabeth Bowles, Jean Carlton, Mimi Cathcart, Karen Collins, Mark Cumins, George Rawling Evans, Sally Fayard, Elizabeth Flowers, Mary Forbes, Zelphia Galantis, Robert Gould, Susan Hemminger, Molly Hughes, Susan Keenan, Robert Kizer, Libby LeLand Puckette, Ernie Long, Rena Mack, John Murray, Bill Phillipps, Valerie Rouillard, Fran Sanders, Pete Sperr, Margaret Swanson, Judy Vandiford, Jenny White, Lindsey Wing, and Harrison Woods.

We grieve with and pray for the family of Jennifer Byers McCloskey, who died on November 28.

We pray for our expectant parents: Boykin and Thomas Anderson, Kimbrell and Bruce Blackwood;  Ainsley and Dominic Monda.

We pray for protection for Becca Baird, Graham Blunt, Henry Clayton, Ben Colyer, David Daughtridge, Eric Gaines, Morgan and Mason Herring, Andrew Kane, Quin Kane, Horry Kerrison, Frazier Kulze, John Mason, Zach McFadden, Philip Middleton III, Jackson Miller, Edward Pritchard, Nathaniel Rollings, and David Scott.

We pray for our home and world missions: Star Gospel Mission, Lowcountry Pregnancy Center, Suzy McCall and LAMB, for the medical missions to Honduras, for ministry to victims of genocide and AIDS in Rwanda, for the Persecuted Church, for Anglican Frontier Missions, for Uganda Christian University Partners, for Water Mission and the Global Water Center, and for St. Jean Baptiste, our sister church, and the schools in Haiti.

Collect for Sunday:

Stir up thy power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let thy bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be honor and glory, world without end. Amen.

Readings for Sunday:

• James 5:7-20
• Psalm 146
• Matthew 11:2-11