November 21, 2025

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8:00 am Holy Eucharist, Rite II (spoken)

9:15 am Adult Formation, Coffee & Conversation, Youth Sunday School, Godly Play, and Nursery

10:15 am Nursery for late service

10:30 am Holy Eucharist, Rite II, with music

11:45 am Coffee Hour

• “Everyone Needs Forgiveness” at 9:15 a.m. – Everyone needs forgiveness, but some people and actions test the limits of our ability and willingness to forgive. If you’ve ever struggled with whether or how to forgive someone or something, come join us in exploring myths and misconceptions about forgiveness, barriers to forgiveness, what it means to forgive “from the heart,” and steps in the journey to forgiveness. In Session 4, participants will explore practical strategies to relinquish anger and resentment and practice forgiveness in challenging situations and circumstances. The facilitator will provide handouts that will serve as a basis for discussion and activities. Adult Forum takes place in the YAC (our large downstairs meeting room) at 9:15 a.m.

• “Holy Encounters: Exploring Jesus' Way of Being in the World” at 9:15 a.m. – This autumn, the Coffee and Conversation team is facilitating conversation around Jesus’ way of being in the world as we explore the Sermon on the Mount together. Join us as we look to cultivate holy moments of encounter as individuals, in community, and in the world around us. Coffee & Conversation meets in Miller Hall, our large upstairs meeting room.

Join us in the church after the 10:30 a.m. service on Sunday, November 23, and help the Altar Guild “fluff” the Advent garland. The work is easy, and the fellowship is grand! 

The collect for Thanksgiving Day gives thanks to God the Father for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. It asks that we may be faithful stewards of God's great bounty, providing for our own necessities and the relief of all who are in need (BCP, p. 246). We will gather for a celebration of Holy Eucharist at 10:30 a.m. at St. Philip's on Wednesday, November 26, 2025. Please join us!

The Parish Office will be closed after 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 26, and on Thursday and Friday, November 27-28, 2025, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

• Thanksgiving is more than a meal— it is a sacred act of gratitude, reminding us that “thanksgiving” is both a practice and a way of life.
• Gratitude is more than a feeling—it is a way of seeing and responding to the world with warmth, generosity and joy.

Add a little crafting to your holiday by helping kids make Thanksgiving dice to use at family gatherings. Read more for instructions, and enjoy both the food and the fellowship!

Beginning Sunday, November 30, our 8:00 a.m. service will joyfully return to Rite I, and we’ll continue using this liturgy through the Easter season. If you love the beauty of traditional language and the quiet reverence of this service, come and join us as we enter the season with gratitude and grace. All are welcome!

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Advent is fast approaching, and I am excited to let you know that, starting Sunday, November 30, Elizabeth and I will be offering sacred anointing in the Chapel during communion at our 8 am and 10:30 am services.

In the holy scriptures, anointing with oil symbolized the marking of people and objects for God’s purposes. We find examples of anointing with oil in the anointing of the kings and priests of Israel (1 Sam 16; Exodus 30), the anointing of the sick (James 5:14), and anointing with the “oil of gladness” (Psalm 23:5; Isaiah 61:1-3). During Advent, anointing with oil takes on a poignant meaning as we, as Christians, prepare ourselves for the coming of our Messiah, which literally means “anointed one.” So, anointing during Advent can be an outward and visible sign that we are: setting ourselves apart from this physical world for our Lord’s arrival; preparing our hearts for the coming of our Lord by asking God to mend what is broken as we await our redemption in Christ Jesus; or celebrating the gladness that we know that our Messiah will indeed “come on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory”. Elizabeth and I hope this offering is a special gift as you prepare your heart and soul for Christ this Advent. – Brad Wilson

We’ll be using fresh greenery to make an Advent wreath to take home or share with someone. The Advent wreath helps us prepare for the coming of the Christ Child. Materials will be provided; sign up here in Realm or in Easel Alley outside the church office to reserve your materials.

• Light one candle each week and say a prayer.
• Slow down. Take a walk in nature.
• Sing. Be joyful.
• Be kind. Do something for someone else.
• Give thanks for God’s gift to us in Jesus.

Come upstairs to Miller Hall between services on Sunday, November 30 to make your wreath. Bring fresh greenery and clippers if you can. On Saturday, November 29, 2025, a tarp will be in the garden area outside the YAC for greenery donations to share with others. Questions? Contact Martha Mayberry (704-999-9383).

For our new friends, CrossTown is our combined youth group made up of middle and high schoolers from Bethel A Baptist Church, First United Methodist Church, Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, and St. Philip's Episcopal Church. Every Sunday we come together for fellowship, faith, and food with retreats, service projects, and other fun events throughout the year. Read more to see what we’re doing this week! 

Can you contribute one or more nativity scenes to display at the "No Room at the Inn" exhibit December 4-6? Online sign-ups are happening now: please sign up to let us know what you plan to bring. The link also has information about when to bring and pick up your creches. Thank you for helping us make this another wonderful year!

Our 2026 Giving Campaign continues. Please prayerfully consider your annual pledge in Moving FORWARD! with Grace and Generosity. Click here to view our Giving 2026 brochure, which shows how your generosity sustains our mission and ministry. If you need a pledge card, you can print one here or pick one up in the narthex, Miller Hall foyer, or Parish Office. Every pledge—large or small—makes a difference and helps our church plan faithfully for the year ahead. Thank you for your generosity and commitment to the life of St. Philip’s!

Our ECW thrift shop raises money for local charities. Shop with us each Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. The Shop is located at 219 S. Caldwell St. Follow us on Facebook (The Shop of St. Philip's) to keep up with sales and special announcements.

As St. Nicholas of Myra (the real St. Nick!) was the protector of children, we at St. Philip's have the marvelous opportunity of GIVING and CARING for the children in our community who are less fortunate. Over the coming weeks, you'll hear about St. Nicholas - but NOW is the time for us to FILL the Christmas Blessings Room at Sharing House. Wish List copies are available at the display in the Parish House foyer. Please leave your unwrapped gifts for Christian Social Concerns Committee to deliver each week!!

Click this link for Sharing House's Amazon wish list!

We especially need youth gifts & stocking stuffers!

***Please note: we will ALWAYS take your donations of food to our agencies who help our neighbors in need. Please feel free to leave them in the red wagon as well!***

St. Philip's will open its doors December 4-6 for the annual "No Room at the Inn" exhibit, a display of more than 100 beloved creches collected from around the world on loan from members and friends of the church.

Join us on Sunday, December 7, for a celebration of the Feast of St. Nicholas for dinner and a special (short) liturgy. We’ll meet in Miller Hall at 5:00 p.m. for a delicious dinner and fellowship - all ages are encouraged to attend (you’re asked for a donation to help cover food costs, if you are able). At 5:30 p.m., we’ll move to the church for a brief service to celebrate St. Nicholas - and we have it on good report that the good Bishop Nicholas will join us! We should finish by 6:15 p.m. To join the list for dinner, sign up here in Realm, in Easel Alley outside the parish office, or call/e-mail the parish office (828-884-3666/office@stphilipsbrevardnc.org).

The Annual Ladies’ Christmas Tea and general meeting will be 

Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. in Miller Hall.

Tickets are now on sale for the Messiah Sing-Along at St. Philip's on Saturday, December 13, with two performances at 2:00 and 5:00 p.m. Come be part of this holiday tradition as we welcome professional soloists and a historically informed Baroque orchestra to perform Handel's masterpiece together!

A counter is needed to count the offering on the second Sunday of each month. The count is done after the late morning service on Sunday. You will be paired with another parishioner and count once a month. If you are interested, please contact the receipts treasurer, at contributions@stphilipsbrevardnc.org or 883-4809.

To better support the growing administrative needs of the parish, we are adjusting our office hours. Beginning January 2026, the Parish Office will be open Monday–Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5 a.m., and Thursday–Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This change allows our Parish Administrator dedicated afternoon time on Thursdays and Fridays for focused work—helping us stay organized, responsive, and attentive to the many behind-the-scenes details that keep parish life running smoothly. Thank you for your understanding and support!

How can I live from my True Self? What do I need to do to feel a closer connection to the divine? What’s my purpose at this stage of my life? These are just some of the questions seekers ask of themselves. They grow from the desire to live a richer, fuller life. If these questions resonate with you, sessions with a spiritual director can be very valuable. The spiritual directors at St. Philip’s have the religious education, spiritual development training and personal life experiences needed to assist you in your quest. Spiritual Directors, along with the person, focus on the person’s daily life and sometimes their dreams to aid the person in finding the answers within themselves. Life is a journey of discovery. A spiritual director is a valuable companion to have by your side. For more information on spiritual direction or how to connect with a St. Philip’s spiritual director, contact Elizabeth (rector@stphilipsbrevardnc.org).

Hurricane Melissa struck southwestern Jamaica on October 29 with winds up to 185 mph—the strongest hurricane in Jamaica’s history and among the most powerful Atlantic storms ever recorded. Severe flooding, landslides, and storm surges have left most of the island without power, displaced thousands, and caused significant loss of life across Jamaica, Cuba, and Haiti. Our partners on the ground are assessing needs and coordinating relief efforts. Please keep those affected in your prayers and, if you’re able, support Episcopal Relief & Development’s Hurricane Relief Fund to help provide immediate and long-term assistance.

Thank you for investing your treasure in the work and mission of St. Philip’s. Your gift supports our Worship – in Word and Sacrament and music. Read more to explore donating.

This Sunday is known as the Feast of Christ the King, and certainly all of the lessons have images of kingship and rule, though not necessarily in expected forms. This Sunday stands at the end of the long season after Pentecost as a summing up of what we’ve learned about Jesus Christ, and as an introduction to Advent. The liturgical color is green for the last Sunday of the calendar year - until the second Sunday after the Epiphany in mid-January.

Join us for an interfaith community service of thanksgiving Tuesday, November 25, at 6:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalists of Transylvania County. Gather with neighbors from across Transylvania County to share in a spirit of gratitude and reflection.

An interfaith community choir will lead us in song. Singers from all congregations are warmly invited to participate with the UUTC choir for this special evening. Rehearsals will be held on the two Wednesdays before the service at 4:00 p.m. (please enter through the back door from the parking lot), and there will be a final warm-up at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 25—one hour before the service begins.

Advent is a time of waiting and anticipation, an opportunity to focus on the arrival of Jesus, God disguised as an infant. Consider attending an Advent Quiet Day, led by the Rev. Rob Field, Director of the Center for Spiritual Wisdom. Meet at Lutheridge Conference Center (28 Spruce Drive, Arden, NC 28704) for a half-day of reflection and renewal on Saturday, December 6, from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. This event is sponsored by Skyland and Brevard First UMCs. If you would like to carpool, please email veranita@brevardfumc.org.

The Transylvania Choral Society will present its winter concert on Thursday, December 11 at 7:30 p.m. at the Porter Center at Brevard College. Under the direction of Dr. David Gresham, the singers (including several from St. Philip's) will offer Antonio Vivaldi's masterpiece Gloria in D major followed by a selection of timeless Christmas carols sung by candlelight. Tickets are $22 and can be purchased at the door, from any TCS member, or at the link.

Join us each week at our services of Holy Eucharist!

• Sundays, 8:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite II (spoken)
• Sundays, 10:30 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite II (with music)
• Tuesdays, 2:00 p.m. – Holy Eucharist Rite II (College Walk Community Chapel)
• Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. – Holy Eucharist with Prayers for Healing (Chapel)

The Rev. Elizabeth Roles, Rector 

Abby Glass, Children, Youth, and Family Minister

Claire Sikes-Clark, Children's Ministry Associate

Dr. Brittnee Siemon, Director of Music Ministry \

Jackson Morton, Organist

Angela Patane, Maintenance Supervisor 

William Begg, Co-Treasurer, Receipts 

Bob Wesneski, Co-Treasurer, Disbursements 

Jill Stewart, Parish Administrator

Jo Buescher (2025)

Jann Mellman (2025)

David Yeager (2025-Senior Warden)

Peggy Bridges (2026)

Gordon Murray (2026)

Jen Silva (2026)

Lynn Adams (2027)

Fred Brown (2027)

Mike Wallace (2027-Junior Warden)

Susan Winsor (Clerk)

Looking for a royally good way to mark Christ the King? Read more for some great ideas to mark this Sunday!