October 2, 2026

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Praising God and giving thanks through word, sacrament, and song as the Body of Christ. Our clergy leadership and lay worship ministers lead us in joyous worship of Word and Sacrament. We are enlivened by the music of our St Philip's choirs and choral scholars under the Director of Music Ministry. Bill Rigot says: "Joy! That's what I see in the faces of the congregation when the choir sings, or in the faces of my friends when I serve them communion in their home, and it brings me joy as well." 

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!

• Sunday at 8:00 a.m. – During this season, we enjoy sharing the same Holy Eucharist, Rite II liturgy in our Sunday morning 8:00 a.m. spoken service as the 10:30 a.m. service.
• Echoes of Eden Book Discussion at 9:15 a.m. – see below.
• Coffee & Conversation at 9:15 a.m. – see below.
• Godly Play at 9:15 a.m. – Children ages 4 through 5th grade will be engaged in Godly Play. The Godly Play approach helps them explore their faith through story, gain religious language and enhance their spiritual experience through wonder and play. Godly Play meets in the education wing downstairs.
• Youth Sunday School at 9:15 a.m. – Middle and high school youth are invited to join us for Sunday School! We meet weekly in the education wing downstairs to discuss youth-led topics and what we can learn about them from the Bible.
• Children’s Church at 10:30 a.m. – On Sunday all children (K-5th grade) are invited to Children’s Church during the Liturgy of the Word in the 10:30 a.m. service. Children may be brought to the Sunday School room across from the Godly Play room (the youth classroom) before parents/grandparents go to church. Children will be taken to the church during the Peace and should join their family for communion.
• Sunday at 10:30 a.m. – Join us for Holy Eucharist, Rite II (with music) at our 10:30 a.m. service.
• Coffee Hour after the 10:30 a.m. service – All are invited and always welcome to join us in Miller Hall (our large upstairs meeting room) after the 10:30 a.m. service for juice or coffee and fellowship. This is a great chance to mingle, meet new people, or just relax with friends.

Mike and Kay Tiddy are offering a sharing of art and love as they prepare to move to Greenville. Artist Mike Tiddy is downsizing and gifting to our parishioners many of his creations!

Come to Miller Hall (our large upstairs meeting room) following both services on October 4^th and choose your gift! (Please note this art show is unavailable from 9:15-10:15 a.m. during our Coffee & Conversation class.)

Join us for this coming together to share Art, Cookies, Coffee, and Love. Offerings to the Children, Youth and Family fund are invited in appreciation for Mike’s gift. (Note: these offerings are not tax-deductible donations.)

This fall, Coffee & Conversation will explore spiritual practices for living out the Kingdom here and now—especially in a time of upheaval and change. Together, we’ll expand our understanding of practices such as unhurriedness, radical hospitality, downward mobility, and consider how they shape the way we move through the world. Coffee & Conversation meets at 9:15 a.m. in Miller Hall, our large upstairs meeting room.

Join us for a discussion of Craig Gralley’s new book, Echoes of Eden in Western North Carolina, exploring the story of the Johnstone settlers and the larger questions of belonging, community, and the people who have called these mountains home. Our first session will be Welcoming the Stranger: The Johnstone Settlers and Who Gets to “Belong”? The wealthy Johnstone settlers moved to our mountains in the 1850s. A decade later, their settlement was destroyed. Their experience raises a question that continues to resonate today: Who belongs here?

Our discussion takes place Sunday, October 4, 2026 | 9:15–10:15 a.m. YAC (our large downstairs meeting room).

This year marks the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi, making our annual celebration of his love for all of God's creation especially meaningful.



On Sunday, October 4, at 5:00 p.m., join us in the back parking lot of the church for our annual St. Francis Blessing of the Animals, followed by a Harvest Blessing at the Rice Street Community Garden.

**Rain Plan** IF rain interferes with our plans, we will have a Drive-Through Pet Blessing! Follow the signs/volunteer directions through the back gravel parking lot, and we will come to your car to bless your pet. (And, of course the cake will be provided for you to take with you!)



Bring your pets on a leash or in a carrier. If your pet would rather stay home, you are welcome to bring a photo so they can be included in the blessing. A brief service will be followed by an individual blessing for each animal. And, of course, there will be cake!

We'll also collect donations for Transylvania County Animal Services. Cash donations, as well as dog and cat food and toys, are welcome. Please make checks payable to Transylvania County Animal Services.

Come celebrate St. Francis, our animal companions, the harvest, and the beautiful world entrusted to our care!

Unable to attend? You can use our virtual pet blessing on our St. Philip's YouTube Channel!

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!

Our Fall collection is very popular—from clothing to art to holiday decor and kitchen items. Come see us! We’re open 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, Wednesday through Saturday.



Follow us on Facebook (The Shop of St. Philip's) to keep up with sales and special announcements.

Are you looking for ways to help support CrossTown, our interdenominational youth ministry? Please consider helping support our youth by signing up to provide dinner! Each week, about 15 middle and high school students gather for an evening of food, fun, and fellowship, and we would love to have two people help provide dinner each night that we meet at St. Philip’s.

A meal includes a main dish, a side, and a dessert and we ask that gluten-free and dairy-free options be available. Food should be dropped off in the YAC kitchen by 4:30 pm on Sunday afternoon. Sign up in Easel Alley outside the parish office or contact Abby for one of our fall dates: September 20, October 4 and 25, and November 1.

You can drop off your meal and head home, or stay for the evening and enjoy some time with our youth. Thank you so much for helping support our youth! 

Only two (2) tickets are available for the Bishop's Dinner on Saturday, October 17 from 5:30-7:30 in Miller Hall. Please be sure to purchase your ticket and reserve your seat if you'd like to be a part of this celebration!

Tickets may be purchased by contacting Carrie Anderson (carolinebcollins@yahoo.com or (205) 837-7150).

Please join us for a special worship opportunity on All Saints Day, November 1^st. Our Taizé service will be filled with the words of many Saints whose writings have survived the ages. Coupled with the contemplative Taizé chants, this will be a perfect way to honor and remember those known and unknown who have preceded us to the heavenly communion of saints. We will gather at 5:00 p.m. in Miller Hall, our large upstairs meeting room.

Be a part of something big! Book a donation appointment at our Red Cross Blood Drive at St. Philip’s on Monday, November 16, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. - 03:00 p.m. in Miller Hall, our large upstairs meeting room!

The Nominating Committee, composed of at-large members (Molly Tartt, Kathryn Polmanteer, and David Yeager) and the concluding Vestry Class (Gordon Murray, Peggy Bridges, and Jen Silva), are in the process of securing nominations for the Vestry Class of 2029. Anyone interested in suggesting a candidate (themselves or others) should contact a member of the Nominating Committee. Nominations must be in by Tuesday, November 24, 2026.

Tickets are now on sale for the 2026 Messiah Sing-Along at St. Philip's on Saturday, December 12 at 2:00 and 5:00 pm. Once again, professional soloists and a historically informed Baroque Orchestra will make these performances of the Christmas portion of Handel's oratorio a treasured part of the holiday season for the whole community.

In January 1998, The St. Philip's Vestry adopted a clear guiding principle: "Restoration prior to Renovation." By June of that year, critical structural work began on the church roof, foundation, bell tower, and exterior stone walls, successfully wrapping up before the year's end.

With the foundation secured, the focus shifted to the future. In January 1999, the Vestry appointed a study group - led by Jr. Warden Steve Womble alongside Fr. Rob Field, Rebecca Freeman, Beth Gash, Carolyn Pollie, Jo Pumphrey, Carol Tyson, and the Rev. Joe Weaver - to evaluate long-term interior renovations.

By 2000, growing attendance meant that weekly services were consistently at or beyond functional capacity. Recognizing the need for professional guidance, the Renovation Committee interviewed four design firms. In August 2000, the Vestry selected liturgical design architect Terry B. Eason of Eason & Farlow Design in Chapel Hill to create a comprehensive master plan.

Unveiled at the December 2001 annual meeting, the initial proposal featured a 16-foot extension of the rear wall, expanding seating capacity by 32 percent (from 147 to 192 seats, plus overflow). The plan sparked a wide spectrum of parish feedback; while many praised the beauty and wisdom of the design, others felt strongly about preserving the original footprint.

Interestingly, history was repeating itself. In 1926, architect Louis Asbury's original vision for St. Philip's had also called for a larger footprint, including 15 additional feet in the nave. Just as in 1926, financial realities guided the timeline. When pledge receipts dipped in late 2002, the Vestry prudently paused the capital campaign.

In June 2003, a newly convened renovations committee established updated parameters, deciding ultimately to keep all exterior walls intact. By June 2005, Eason & Farlow presented a revised plan focused entirely on interior improvements and historical preservation.

The updated vision addressed essential maintenance while increasing worship seating accessibility by 27 percent.

Key features included:

• Installing custom pews designed as precise replicas of the originals
• Refinishing the original flooring
• Reconfiguring choir seating and opening up the chapel arches
• Removing steps to the communion rail for seamless accessibility

Under the leadership of Senior Warden Gus Tucker, Junior Warden Jim Tyson, and Vestry Steering Committee representative Tom Penn, the parish moved forward. Bill and Ann Ives stepped up to co-chair the "Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow" capital campaign, setting an ambitious goal of $586,000. To further enhance accessibility, architect Sam Brewton submitted plans in 2006 for a $30,745 handicap-accessible chapel ramp, targeting completion for 2007.

Through thoughtful discernment, financial patience, and dedicated parish leadership, St. Philip's successfully honored its past while opening its doors wider for the generations to come.

Terry Decker, Holly Votaw, Gordon Murray, Abby Glass, Jann Mellman, Bob Wesneski, Jill Stewart, and a hard working committee (along with an outside consultant) have designed a new website and fresh logo for our parish. We hope this website represents our traditional but forward looking parish to the community while enhancing the ease of member use. Note that each ministry page highlights relevant calendar events! The "Giving" page and Grants page function the same with a new look. Our website is an ongoing project, so don't hesitate to let us know if you see something that needs to be edited or added.

Thank you for filling the Red Wagon with school supplies! Your generosity helped many local children start the school year with the supplies they need. Now Christian Social Concerns is asking for your help with another basic need: September is “Undie Sundays” at St. Philip’s!

Sharing House needs new underwear for children, women, and men, and The Children’s Center needs diapers and wipes. Please place your donations in the Red Wagon in the parish hall foyer. We’ll make sure they get to the agencies that need them. Thank you, thank you!

St. Philip’s Prayer Chain requests may be submitted directly to stp.prayers@gmail.com. Prayer for/from our parish members may be requested by full name, first name only, or anonymously. These prayers are confidential and are NOT put in the bulletin nor on the Sunday list. Please use this email ONLY for prayer requests and if you have an emergency. You may also call Daphne's cell (828-989-7877) and leave a confidential message. 

Healing prayer and holy anointing are now a regular part of our worship life at St. Philip’s. Rooted in the New Testament and carried through the Church’s tradition, this ministry offers prayer, the laying on of hands, and anointing with holy oil as signs of God’s presence, mercy, and healing grace.

You are invited to come forward for any need—physical, emotional, or spiritual: illness, anxiety, grief, major decisions, or simply a desire to rest in God’s care. All are welcome to receive these prayers and the healing love of Christ.

Read more to see a list of October birthdays and anniversaries for our parish.

Thank you for investing your treasure in the work and mission of St. Philip’s. Your gift supports our Growth in Faith – through an engaging array of spiritual, intergenerational, and educational offerings with an exciting focus on youth and children. Read more to explore donating.

The Season after Pentecost is the sixth and final season of the church year. This season, sometimes referred to as “ordinary time,” is the longest of the Church Year, lasting through summer and well into late autumn, ending with the coming of Advent. During the Season after Pentecost, we recount the stories of Jesus’ ministry, read and study passages from the Old Testament, and discuss letters written by disciples for members of the early church. The color for the Season after Pentecost is green, appropriate for the season of growth.

The Friends of the Transylvania County Library are holding their Annual Book Sale October 3-9 (closed Sunday), and I am writing to ask for your help in spreading the word. The sale is a great place for people in our community to find good, inexpensive books (religion, children’s books, etc.) movies, puzzles, and CDs, while supporting our public library. Since many faith communities in our area are involved in supporting local reading and literacy programs, we hope you might share this information with your members.

We also want you to know about our “Free After Three” program on the last day of the sale, Friday, October 9. Everyone is invited to take home any remaining books at the sale, free of charge.

Join author/spiritual mentor/St. Philips parishioner Renee Peterson Trudeau for a sacred pilgrimage to the ancient “thin veil” island of Iona, Scotland. This intimate retreat is limited in size and for women only. (September 23-29, 2027, Iona, Scotland

Almost full. Read more to learn more and register.)

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

Angela Patane, Maintenance Supervisor 

Bob Wesneski, Treasurer

Jill Stewart, Parish Administrator

Peggy Bridges (2026)

Gordon Murray (2026-Senior Warden)

Jen Silva (2026)

Lynn Adams (2027)

Fred Brown (2027)

Mike Wallace (2027-Junior Warden)

Jeff Ambrose (2028)

Frank Duckworth (2028)

Mike Dunham (2028)

Susan Winsor (Clerk)

Fr. James Martin, S.J., author of the book My Life with the Saints, shares his commentary on St. Francis of Assisi along with dramatic photos and artwork in this video excerpt of his DVD "Who Cares about the Saints?" Enjoy! (And, because we don't want to leave out the youngest who might not sit still through the video, here's a St. Francis coloring page to print out.)