~ the e-SPIRE Newsletter ~ October 1, 2017 ~ The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

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Honduran Medical Mission Partners Pray for St. Philip’s  by Dr. Patricia C. Holden The last Honduran medical mission trip was especially rewarding. Dr. Reyna Duran, a longtime Honduran partner with the St. Philip’s team, arranged for us to serve with the Pastors’ Association of Tegucigalpa. They had been praying for such an opportunity. They could identify the villages in greatest need. When we held a clinic in these selected locations, the pastors were there working with us.  In each clinic, the pastors set up a station at which people could hear the Gospel and be provided with a New Testament. Because each clinic was in a church and because the pastor of that church was present, both short-term and long-term spiritual follow-up could be arranged.  Prayer is an integral part of the St. Philip’s medical mission. At the end of every medical examination, the doctor asks the patients if it would be permissible to pray with them. But for the extremely rare exception, the patients are very receptive and very appreciative.  When Reyna was in Charleston a few weeks ago, she was so happy to visit St. Philip’s. She had wanted for years to thank St. Philippians for the powerful work that their support has made possible in her country. While she was here, I shared with her the TEC situation. After she returned to Honduras, Reyna sent this encouraging information: Every Saturday at 5:00 am, members of the Pastors’ Association of Tegucigalpa, along with other intercessors, go to El Picacho Hill to pray for Honduras. (There is on El Picacho Hill a gigantic statue of Christ.) Please let the pastors and brothers and sisters of St. Philip’s Church know that this group has added the TEC situation to their prayer list! These are serious men and women of prayer. We at St. Philip’s are blessed to have them pray faithfully for us every Saturday morning. They send these words to us— “May the Lord give you justice and keep you strong in His ministry and faithful to His word.”

Diocesan Men's Summit September 30 at St. Paul's Church, Summerville Join Bishop Mark Lawrence from 9:30 a.m. - noon at St. Paul’s Church for Men’s Summit II . He’ll be speaking about the Christian life and the heart. How our relationship with Christ affects all other relationships in our lives, those with family members, with co-workers, with friends as well as how we manage our lives - our work lives, our times of leisure. Come join with men from across the diocese to learn and grow with one another in Christ. To Register: Click HERE to visit the Diocesan website.

Fall 2017 Ministry Offerings Brochure The 2017 fall ministries brochure contains info about the Bible studies and Christian education opportunities available at St. Philip’s Church this fall. This brochure can be picked up in the church office, the Parish Hall, or in the church narthex. Click HERE to browse the brochure in flip-view from our website. Click HERE to view a printable PDF version of the brochure.

Children’s Ministry Worship Bags Children’s Worship Bags are offered for use during Sunday worship services. They are available on a first-come, first-served basis.  The worship bags are provided to enrich children’s experience during worship in the “big church” and to equip parents to help them better understand the Bible lesson and sermon. Here is what you will find in St. Philip’s Worship Bags:  • The Sunday Paper Junior , which provides a summary of the Gospel in simple drawings the children can color. On the back of The Sunday Paper Junior you’ll find a Note to Parents that provides some grown up theological reflection on the Gospel for the day.  • “My Sermon Notes” is designed specifically for older children so that they may engage with the Bible readings, sermon and service.  • A four-pack of Crayons that children may use to color.  • Chenille sticks to keep active fingers busy with little noise. Feel free to take home the contents of the worship bags. However, as you leave, please return the plastic worship bag to one of the wicker baskets in the back of the church.

Preston Hipp Tribute Book Your Forever Friend, a collection of stories and memories about Preston Hipp, as well as writings by Preston, is now available in paperback. The collection was compiled and edited by Pringle Franklin, whose blog, Living on Jesus Street, featured a series of stories by Preston during his cancer journey. Those who knew and loved Preston won’t want to miss this opportunity to learn more about his faith walk. Copies are available at Amazon for $14.50. Laura Wichmann Hipp has a limited number of copies available at a discount, so contact Laura via text, 843-708-2228, if you are interested. Copies of the book will also be available after church on Sunday.

Staff Update Dear fellow St. Philippians, A few weeks ago while at my daughter Rayna’s volleyball tournament, I was talking with a parent whom I’ve known for years. The conversation began with the usual chit-chat about our children, school, and sports, but after a few minutes, I was surprised when she asked if I would consider coming to work for her company CALIPSO, a web-based application that manages key aspects of academic and clinical education for speech-language pathology and audiology training programs. Although I had not been looking for a change in employment, I thought it would be wise at least to discuss and pray about the possibility with my husband, David. As a work-from-home position, this opportunity had the potential to give our family a much more flexible schedule, and across several weeks of discernment it became clear that God was leading me in this direction. And so it is with mixed emotions that I share that Friday, September 29, will be my last day serving as Director of Communications for St. Philip’s. It has been a blessing to serve on our parish staff in various capacities during these past three years. St. Philip’s is the church of my childhood, and I look forward to continuing to serve in the choir and to worshiping with each of you! Jordan W. Gilbert

Do you have a loved one that you would like added to our prayer list? Please provide their names by calling the church office, 843-722-7734 .

We pray for the sick: Debbie Anderson, Elaine Bonner, Barrett Brannen, Capers Cross, Sally Fine, Tracy Graudin, Ben Hagood, Bee Hamrick, Morgan Hathaway, Kelsey Lipscomb, Joe Livesay, Jim Lyons, Betty Owens, Alfred Pinckney, Kathy Ravenel, Benjamin Schools, Marie Stallworth, Michael Walsh, and Lindsay Wing. We pray for our expectant parents:  Chris and Dorothy Blalock, Zack and Larsen Spinelli, Ryan and Anna Streett. We pray for protection for:   Becca, Janie, and Wills Baird, Graham Blunt, Colby Broadwater IV, Ellis Domenech, George Hoefer, Edward Pritchard, and Stephen Wathen, serving in our Armed Forces. We pray for our home missions: Healing Farm, Biblical Family Center, International Seafarers Ministry. We pray for our world missions:  For Suzy  McCall and LAMB, for the medical missions to Honduras, for Martha Vetter's mission to victims of genocide and AIDS in Rwanda, for Water Mission, and for St. Jean Baptist, our sister church, and the schools in Haiti.

Congratulations to John and Sallie Robinson on the birth of their daughter, Mary Elisabeth Read Robinson, who was born Sept. 16.

Congratulations to Charles and Mary Baarcke on the birth of their son, Harrison Randolph Baarcke, who was born Sept. 25.

St. Philip's Regular Weekly Worship Services

The 17th Sunday after Pentecost Collect for the Day (October 1):  O God, who declarest thy almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Mercifully grant unto us such a measure of thy grace, that we, running to obtain thy promises, may be made partakers of thy heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  Lectionary Readings: Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32  Philippians 2:1-13  Matthew 21:23-32  Psalm 25:1-8

Sundays 8:15 a.m. – Holy Communion Rite I, in the Church 10:30 a.m. – Holy Communion Rite I, in the Church (on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Sundays)            10:30 a.m. – Morning Prayer Rite I, in the Church (on the 2nd and 4th Sundays) Wednesdays 8:00 a.m. – Morning Prayer, 1928 Prayer Book, in the Chapel 10:00 a.m. – Healing & Holy Communion Rite II, in the Church 5:30 p.m. – Wednesdays Alive! Holy Communion Rite II, in the Church Lay server schedules are sent out quarterly, one month prior to the start of each quarter. Click HERE to view the current fall schedule. If you are unable to serve, please make an effort to find a substitute, and let  Felicia Lescow  in the church office know who will be substituting for you.

Click HERE to view our dynamic church calendar, which is updated daily.

Click HERE to view this week's static calendar, as it appears in the printed version of the inSPIRE.

S T. P HILIP'S C HURCH 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

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