|
~ the eSPIRE Newsletter ~
May 19, 2024
The Day of Pentecost
| |
Wrapping up 2023-2024: Final Dates | |
|
Wednesdays Alive! service, supper, and C.S. Lewis class
TONIGHT, May 15, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Tonight's supper: Meatloaf
| |
|
The Rector's Bible Study ~ Romans: The Constitution of Christianity
TOMORROW, May 16 ~ noon in the Parish Hall
| |
|
Middle School Youth Group
Friday, May 17 (note date change) ~ 6:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall
Rising 6th-graders are invited to join us for a fall preview!
Sunday School and The Rector's Forum
Sunday, May 19 ~ 9:15 a.m. (Sunday School), 9:30 a.m. (Rector's Forum)
Note: Nursery and Children's Church during the 10:30 service are offered year-round!
High School Youth Group
Sunday, May 19 ~ 6:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall
| |
Tomorrow: Pop-Up Chamber Concert
11:00 a.m. in the church ~ harpsichord, violin, and oboe
Featuring the music of Bach, Rameau, and Handel
| |
Friday: Final Day of Diaper Drive
for Lowcountry Pregnancy Center (LPC)
| |
Drop diapers (sizes 4, 5, and 6 especially needed) and wipes off at the church office any day this week (open today and tomorrow 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or Friday 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.). | |
Saturday: May Saturday Serve at LPC
9:00–11:00 a.m. at LPC in North Charleston
| |
Come help us serve our friends and mission partners at Lowcountry Pregnancy Center! The May “Saturday Serve” will begin with a tour of the Center, followed by various opportunities to serve, including very light spring cleaning, knitting or crocheting baby blankets (or booties if you're able––please bring your own supplies), and unloading diapers collected from St. Philip’s diaper drive. (And it's your last opportunity to contribute to the diaper drive!) | |
Sunday: Senior Recognition Sunday!
High school, college, and grad school graduates will be listed in both Sunday bulletins, and high school seniors will be invited up for a blessing during the 10:30 service.
| |
Congratulations to Our Graduates!
O Eternal God, bless all schools, colleges, and universities, that they may be lively centers for sound learning, new discovery, and the pursuit of wisdom; and grant that those who teach and those who learn may find you to be the source of all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
| |
|
Shine the Light Campus Tours
Tuesday, May 21 ~ 6:00–7:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 9 ~ 4:00–5:30 p.m.
Join us for a campus tour on May 21 or June 9 to see firsthand the restoration projects already underway and funded by the Shine the Light Capital Campaign. During the tour, we will also stop at the State Street building, which will house our school's first classrooms. Drinks and bites will be served!
| |
|
Vacation Bible School (VBS)
June 17–20 ~ current 3K-5th-graders and volunteers (youth and adult)
Join us for a Jungle Journey through the Bible at St. Philip's Vacation Bible School (VBS) 2024! Our Good News Cruise begins in Genesis and ends in Revelation as we discuss why our God deserves all the glory forever (1 Timothy 1:17). Volunteers are also needed! Please register by June 1.
| |
|
Come Further Up, Come Further In
Monday, May 20 ~ 7:00 p.m.
Henry's on the Market
Prayer, teaching, discussion, and fellowship for men of all ages!
| |
|
Theology on Tuesdays
Tuesday, May 21 ~ 7:00 p.m.
Henry's on the Market
Conversations for young adults about life and God with Brian McGreevy and special guest Chip Edgar!
| |
|
Adult Confirmation with Bishop Edgar, preacher ~ reception to follow
Wednesday, May 22~ 6:00 p.m.
All are invited to witness the confirmation of our adult candidates next Wednesday!
| |
|
Lowcountry Fellowship of Christian Athletes All Abilities Sports Camp
Saturday, June 1~ Charleston Baptist Church
Join the FCA for their first ever All Abilities Camp! Campers with disabilities (ages 6-21) will get the opportunity to hear the gospel, fellowship together, eat lunch, try out a variety of adaptive sports (Paralympic and Special Olympic-style), and have fun! Volunteers 15+ needed!
| |
|
Summer Blood Drive
Tuesday, June 25~ noon to 6:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall
Eat a good breakfast and a nice, big lunch and come on down to St. Philip’s to give the gift of life––one unit of blood can save up to three lives!
| |
|
Momentum Gathers for a Classical Christian School at St. Philip’s
by Ben Hagood, Classical Christian School Planning Committee Chair
| |
The Rev. Jeff Miller’s special announcement and teaching on Sunday, May 5, were particularly exciting for those of us at St. Philip’s who have spent the last several years discussing, praying, hoping, and planning for a classical Christian school that is dedicated to raising up students as ambassadors of Christ steeped in traditional and classical learning.
Our journey began in the summer of 2021, when several St. Philippians attended a conference of a national association of classical Christian schools to learn more about this growing movement. They also toured the very successful Holy Trinity Classical Christian School in Beaufort, which opened its doors in 2012 under the direction of Jeff Miller, then the Rector of the Parish Church of St. Helena.
As the list of interested parishioners and friends grew to almost thirty, we held a meeting in April of 2022, and all who attended expressed serious interest in pursuing a new school. This informal group then invited the Rev. Chad Lawrence, founding headmaster of Holy Trinity Classical Christian School, to give a day of teaching at St. Philip’s. Inspired by Chad’s teaching, an ad hoc planning committee and a prayer committee were formed in the summer of 2022.
| | | |
|
God at Work in Uganda
by Fred Willis
Jayne and Tom Gurley, Tammy and Guv Gottshalk, Shaun Gillis, MD (Bozeman, MT), and Jean Chamberlain Froese, MD (Toronto, Canada), and I arrived in Mukono, Uganda, at midnight on Saturday, April 20. We stayed in guest quarters at Uganda Christian University (UCU), awakening on Sunday morning to a gentle rain. We made our way to a modern open-air pavilion on campus to attend an Anglican church service; we could hear the student choir and praise band as we began our walk there. We were greeted warmly by the congregants, pastors, and the Vice-Chancellor and his wife. We knew we were in for an exciting week, embraced by the Ugandans who love Christ and proudly profess their faith.
On Monday, our group divided between participation in the Save the Mothers program, which focuses on reducing fatalities during birth through prenatal care and education, and meetings with students and department heads at UCU. The business school, agriculture department, and members of the Alumni Association were among those we met. Each program offered at UCU teaches not only the course material, but how God works through each individual. During our tour of the UCU campus, we were struck by seeing each building emblazoned with a Scripture verse as a testimony to their mission as a Christian university.
| | | |
|
Workshop Leads To New Opportunities
by Robert Fortson
My wife and I attended the Discover Your Gifts For Ministry workshop held the first weekend in May. During an evening class on the first day and a morning and afternoon session on the second day, the workshop provided a biblical listing of spiritual gifts and what such gifts can contribute to any ministry. With the aid of a series of assessments, participants were able to discover how to best match their particular talents and passions with a specific ministry.
Andrew and Mims did their usual outstanding job of organizing and presenting the materials. Through videos, small-group discussions and Andrew’s well-seasoned leadership, step by step, we came to a better understanding of our God-given gifts and how best to employ them. As always, Andrew’s energy and enthusiasm were infectious and inspiring––especially so in such an intimate setting.
Even if you think you know where you are best suited to serve, the results of the workshop may surprise you and lead you to new opportunities for growth and service.
| | | |
|
Strong Start to Spring Diaper Drive
Sunday, May 12, was the first official collection day for our spring diaper drive for the Lowcountry Pregnancy Center, one of our home mission ministry partners, which provides life-affirming reproductive health and family services in a compassionate Christian environment.
Stay tuned for totals––we are still accepting donations in the church office this week, and more donations may come in from those who attend the May 18 Saturday Serve at LPC, where volunteers will take a tour and help with some light spring cleaning (and knit or crochet baby blankets or booties if they know how!).
| | | |
|
Parking Reminders
Church Services
Free parking is available for all worship services, weddings, and funerals in both our paved lot on the corner of Cumberland and Church Streets and in the parking garage directly across Cumberland street. When exiting the parking garage after a worship service, the gate will sometimes be left open; if it is not, you may speak to an attendant or press the “help” button on the ticket box by the gate and explain that you have attended a service at St. Philip’s. While the City of Charleston is usually lenient on Sunday mornings with the one-hour time limit in the residential parking areas around St. Philip’s, please note that you will receive a ticket if you park in an illegal spot. Be mindful of yellow lines (especially next to driveways), fire hydrants, yellow-painted curbs, etc.
Church Events and Meetings
For church events, free parking is generally available in our surface lot, no pass required, provided the "church parking only" sign is out. For small-group meetings or office visits, please stop by the front desk for a temporary pass before parking in the lot (pass or payment is required, as attendants check the lot frequently).
To avoid getting ticketed or booted, do not park in rector or clergy spaces, which are reserved at all times, and note hours on sign when parking in staff or teacher spots.
When parking on the street, please observe the posted time limits.
| | | |
Weekly Service Information | |
|
Midweek Morning Prayer
Wednesdays at 8:00 in the Chapel
| |
This Sunday's Service and Class Information | | |
|
The Rev. Jeffrey S. Miller, Rector, is preaching at our services of Holy Eucharist at 8:15 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sunday school for children of all ages begins at 9:15 a.m., and the Rector's Forum begins at 9:30 a.m. These are the final sessions of Sunday morning Christian formation before summer recess. | |
Don't Complain: He Shows Up When He's Needed | |
|
We know what you're thinking: If Charlie the Cemetery Guard Cat is on the St. Philip's payroll, why do we see him so infrequently?
That's a valid question. After all, it's not like his job is one that can be done remotely. But if it makes you feel any better, he's not a salaried employee. He's actually an independent contractor who comes to work only when he's really needed––he definitely doesn't game the system.
He was needed last night, of course, because the ECW event was supposed to take place on the Parish House lawn, which he's decided is in his purrview...oops, purview. Remember the Miller wedding he oversaw?
Alas, the downpour yesterday morning pushed the event indoors, because even though the evening turned out to be absolutely beautiful, that's not what the weather gurus said would happen, and the lawn was a sloppy mess anyway. So Charlie left the guarding to Benjamin Singleton and instead served as greeter for those who parked on the church-office end of the block.
If you follow St. Philip's on social media, you already knew that Charlie was on duty last night. But if this is news to you, why not take a minute right now to give us a follow so that you, too, can be among the first to hear about schedule changes, special events, and all the latest staff news?
| |
|
IMPORTANT DATES
May 15 ~ Final Wednesdays Alive! service, supper, class
May 16 ~ Pop-Up Chamber Concert (11:00 a.m.)
May 16 ~ Final Rector’s Bible Study
May 17~ Final Middle School Youth Group
May 18 ~ "Saturday Serve" for Lowcountry Pregnancy Center
May 19 ~ Graduating Senior Recognition Sunday, Final Sunday school, Final Rector's Forum, Final High School Youth Group
May 21 ~ Shine the Light campus tour (6:00 p.m.)
May 22 ~ Adult Confirmation (6:00 p.m.), reception to follow
May 25 ~ Lowcountry Sacred Harp Annual Singing (9:00 a.m.)
May 25 ~ Concert - Choral Artists of Southern Nevada
May 27 ~ Memorial Day (church office closed)
May 27 ~ Charleston Men's Chorus concert (4:00 p.m.)
June 9 ~ Shine the Light campus tour (4:00 p.m.)
June 17–20 ~ Vacation Bible School (VBS)
| |
Never miss a sermon!
Click below to subscribe to our Sermons podcast.
| |
|
We pray for the sick: Virginia Barnwell, Elizabeth Bowles, Diane Christensen, Karen Collins, Mary Forbes, Myron Harrington, Dana Heikes III, Marvin Kirkland, Rena Mack, John Macmurphy, LaVonne Marshall, Sarah Marshall, Paula McNamara, Eric Panizza, Lou Parker, Elise Mack Rivers, Sam Robinson, Barbara Sainsbury, Fran Sanders, Esther Spade, Pete Sperr, and Libby Wright.
We pray for our expectant parents: Sarah and Wyatt Baldwin, Olivia Hipp and Jon Black.
We pray for protection for those serving in the armed forces: Becca Baird, Janie Baird, Henry Clayton, David Daughtridge, Eric Gaines, Andrew Kane, Quin Kane, Horry Kerrison, Frazier Kulze, John Mason, Philip Middleton III, Jackson Miller, Edward Pritchard, Nathaniel Rollings, David Scott, and Asada Williams.
We pray for our home and world missions: Lowcountry Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Hope to Home, Lowcountry Pregnancy Center, Star Gospel Mission, 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:
Almighty God, who on this day didst open the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of thy Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, ever one God, world without end.
Readings for Sunday:
- Acts 2:1-21
- Psalm 104:24–35
- John 14:8-17
| |
|
|
ST. PHILIP'S CHURCH
142 Church Street | Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 722-7734, www.stphilipschurchsc.org
Church Office Hours
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday
8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Friday
| | | | |
