Sunday, March 19th is dedicated to the Rector’s Discretionary Fund. Over the last year, there has been an increase in requests for general assistance from the church due to the pandemic. The Rector's Discretionary Fund gives the clergy a pool of funds to pull from when these un-anticipated requests arise. These requests may be for utilities, food, clothing, education, prescription, or any number of other needs. Thanks to the generosity of parishioners like you, we can help a neighbor keep lights on at home. St. Philip's annual budget does not include the Rector's Discretionary fund, as it as a separate account. Please donate generously to the Rector’s Discretionary Fund. 

Take a few minutes to watch this conversation between our soon-to-be Assistant Bishop, the Rt. Rev'd Gayle Harris, and me. I am so looking forward to working with her says Bishop E. Mark Stevenson.

Last Sunday, March 12th, was Girl Scout Sunday., which we observed during Girl Scout Week, an event recognizing the founding of Girl Scouts on March 12, 1912. We honor and thank the Girl Scouts in our congregation (Troop #49) who have the courage, confidence, and character to make the world a better place. Thank you to all the adult volunteers, who give of their time and talents to our Girl Scout troop.

It’s was also Girl Scout’s 111th birthday! We celebrated with a cake at fellowship hour and they share their achievements in Girl Scouts with us as they work towards earning their My Promise, My Faith pin. We had a glorious day together!

Thank you St. Philip's for your support!

We exceeded our cookie sale goal! Woo hoo!

2023 Pledges and General Giving

Pledges 

Our 2023 pledge drive has ended with success! Thank you to the 73 families, individuals, and organizations that helped us meet our $250,000 pledge goal. We sincerely appreciate your commitment to our church.  

General Giving 

General Giving includes both Pledge Giving and Non-pledge giving; some of our giver’s pledge and some do not. At last month’s annual meeting, we learned that 2023 General Giving will need to be $20,000 more than last year for us to do all the work we are called to do this year. Even though this may seem daunting, we will not be afraid.    

How can we increase our General Giving by an additional $20,000 in 2023? We can do it because our church is blessed to have over 150 individuals, families, and organizations that are regular givers. And if just 50 of our faithful givers increased their giving by $40 or MORE each month, we would have the additional $20,000 needed!  

Please consider increasing your pledge or giving beyond what you have already committed or planned and become one of the “Faithful Fifty”— those who will give from the overflow God provides. Your overflow giving will allow St. Philip’s to continue to pour love into God’s people and the community that we serve.   

Love requires us to provide and nurture life-giving, joyful ministries both inside and outside our parish walls. Click here to read the full letter.

Black family wellness Expo, Saturday, March 18th, from 9:00 am -3pm at St. Philip's Church. They will provided accurate and up-to-date health information to African Americans across the nation.

Lenten Devotional Studies with

Rev. Marlene E. Forrest

We had a wonderful Lenten Study last week with 13 wonderful folks joining in to talk about the Healing Marks of Jesus. Please join us Tuesday’s at 7pm on Zoom.

Our Discussion Schedule is as follows:

March 21: Devotions 22-28

March 28: Devotions 29-35

April 4: Devotions 36-40 and Wrap up

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89108198331

Dial by your location:  +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)  

Meeting ID: 891 0819 8331

St. Francis Food Pantry

We are currently not accepting any clothes at this time. Our St. Francis Pantry, which provides free food to some 65 families every other week, is earnestly in need of Canvass or plastic tote bags and Paper Grocery Bags.

Please ask for these items when you shop and bring them to church to help feed the hungry. Thanking you in advance, your St. Francis Food Pantry team.

Hi all,

I wanted to invite you to be part of something going on next month. We will host our second annual Gordon Wallace Day of Giving on April 19. Gordon was a quiet force for good here in Richmond’s East End and a leading founder of Anna Julia Cooper School.  On the Day of Giving, students will honor his leadership and kindness by creating care packages for ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation, spreading joy to kids battling cancer at VCU. 

We are asking for your support in providing care package items for this special event through a special Amazon Wishlist for this event. Our wishlist, which you can find here, will be up for the next two weeks (through March 27th). We would appreciate any contribution you can make and encourage you to spread the word!

AJC strives to be a place where people find and experience joy as much as possible - the kind of joy that comes from giving and receiving.  We hope our Day of Giving reveals to our students the joy of helping others. And we hope you know how much joy you bring to AJC.

Peace,

Katye

Our Contact Information

Anna Julia Cooper School

2100 N. 29th Street

Richmond, VA 23223

804-822-6610

http://www.ajcschool.org

Slave Trail Walking Tour

April Sat., April 1, and

Sat., April 15

If you did not have the chance to RSVP for April 15th, there are open registration slots for April 1st at 9:00am and a few registration slots left for April 15th at 9:00am.

St. Philip’s and St. Jame's parishioners are invited on April 1 and 15 for a walking tour of the slave trail from Manchester to Lumpkins Jail (about 2.1 miles). The Rev. Ben Campbell social justice advocate and author of Richmond’s Unhealed History will serve as the tour guide.

The 2.1 mile walk follows the route taken by enslaved people destined for the slave market, starting in Manchester and ending at Lumpkin’s Jail. After each walk we’ll gather for a lunch to discuss what we’ve just experienced. Afterwards we will go back to St. Jame's Church (April 1st) and St. Philip's Church (April 15th) for about an hour to share lunch and have discussion. 

There is a 25-person limit for each walk, and we will be partnering with St. Jame’s Church, so space is limited. Please sign up here https://doers.org/slave-walk-sign-up/  as soon as possible. Information about carpooling from the end point back to Manchester will follow.

There is no charge for the walk or for lunch.

For more information about the Slave Trail, see virginia.org/listing/richmond-slave-trail/226/

Ways to Donate to St. Philip's

Your financial gifts to St. Philip’s are of vital importance to support our ongoing ministries and our outreach to the most vulnerable among us. Please continue to offer your faithful gifts by:

Check - Send to PO Box 27492, Richmond VA 23261

Credit Card or Bank Account - Click here

Online Banking & Electronic checks - Set up payment with your bank

PayPal - Click here to donate or go to our website and click GIVE

Text - Text GIVE to (833) 959-2287

Sunday Services are held weekly at 8 and 10:30 am. 

The 10:30 service will continue to be livestreamed on Zoom, Facebook, and YouTube. Please note our new Zoom link for the 10:30 am service. Do not use the old expired link. Thank you.

A few guidelines:

• Masks are required to be worn by all.
• Bible study takes place at 9 am, immediately following the 8 am service, and will continue to serve those that call in.

If you have any further questions, please reach out to the office at (804) 321-1266 or office@stphilipsrva.org. We look forward to seeing you at St. Philip’s!

Prayer List

Please keep these members of our community in your prayers: 

Marc Albertson, Trey Bankhead, Jean Boone, Cynthia Bentley, Dan Bylsma, Shirley Brown, Sheila Carter, Janette Davis, Francis Dye, Mary Carter, Marilyn Chalmers, Alexander Corbett, Alice Flannigan, Joseph Flannigan, Eudora & Lewis Forrest, Marvis Hazel, Eva Hicks, Ester Hyatt, John Jenkins, Kevin Jiggetts, Francine L. Johnson, Alaina LaVonne, Mary Little, Steven Little, Barbara Lowe, Kay Mack, Christian Miller, Robinette Miller, Edmund Moore, Romaine Morgan, Lela Morris, Tonjia Philips, Tara Plummer, Hortense Powell, Henry Robinson, Brady Whaley, Clementine Washington, Louise White, and Cynthia Smith Williams. 

This Week at St. Philip's

Friday, March 17

Rev. Marlene's Sabbath

Saturday, March 18

9:00 a.m. Black Family Expo

11:00 a.m. James Neal's Memorial Service at March Funeral Home - Laburnum Chapel,2110 E. Laburnum Ave. Repast follows after the service next door at Ding David's Lodge.

1:00 p.m. James Neal's Committal Service at St. Paul's Memorial Chapel Cemetery, Christiana Highway, Lawrenceville, VA 23868

The Fourth Sunday in Lent, March 19; Rector's Discretionary Sunday

8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist/Rite I

10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist/Rite I; Indoor and Virtual Service

Monday, March 20

7:00 p.m. N.A. Meeting (Parish Hall)

Tuesday, March 21

7:00 p.m. Lenten Devotional Study with Rev. Marlene (Online)

Wednesday, March 22

12:00 Noon Circle of Love (Online)

Thursday, March 23

8:00 a.m. Food Pantry Set-up

6:00 p.m. Choir Rehearsal

6:30 p.m. Vestry Meeting

Friday, March 24

Rev. Marlene's Sabbath

9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Foood Pantry

Saturday, March 25

10:00 a.m. Vestry Retreat (Part II) at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Richmond

Sunday, March 26

The Fifth Sunday in Lent, March 26; Outreach Sunday

8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist/Rite I

10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist/Rite I; Indoor and Virtual Service

5:00 p.m. Baptism Class with Godparents (Online)

Rev. Marlene works Monday-Thursday. She can be reached by phone

(804) 356-8216 or email revmarlene@stphilipsrva.org.

THE PHYSICAL CHURCH OFFICE

OPEN HOURS

Monday - Thursday, 9 am - 4 pm

Friday, 9 am - 1 pm

If you have a pastoral care need or an emergency and cannot reach Rev. Marlene directly, contact the Senior Warden, Melissa Greene

(804) 658-7306 or click here to Email Sr. Warden

To schedule a meeting with Rev. Marlene, please call, email, or use this link:

Rev. Marlene E. Forrest, Rector

revmarlene@stphilipsrva.org

Diem Miller, Office Manager

office@stphilipsrva.org

MINISTER OF MUSIC: Dr. Willis L. Barnett

OFFICE MANAGER: Diem Miller

VERGER: Nathaniel Lewis

SEXTON: Richard LeTang