St. Philip’s officially moved back to all things pre-COVID when we returned to Kanuga in the mountains of North Carolina for our once-again annual parish retreat October 28–30!

It had been three years since we’d last gathered on the Lakeside Pavilion for fellowship; belted out songs around the piano in the Fireplace Lounge; sat in Balthis-Rodwell armed with our Bibles, notepads, and coffee as we listened to the program; gathered for compline in the Chapel of the Transfiguration; and wandered the leaf-covered paths around the cottages, perhaps getting drawn in by the sounds of laughter on a porch and stopping in for some lively conversation (and snacks––if you stumbled onto the right porch).

But we got right back into the swing of things on day one. There were a few differences from recent retreats (we didn’t have a square dance and some thought the meals weren’t quite as tasty, but our prayer teams were available and we got matching T-shirts in our welcome bags and sang “Free Bird” and “Brown-Eyed Girl” at the singalong!), but first-timers would have had no way of knowing, and Kanuga pros agreed that all but one of the differences were improvements (we all want to bring bingo back next year, right?).

Bishop Edgar’s teaching was accessible and at some points heartbreakingly honest. He spoke on hospitality, on why we live in a culture of fear of strangers and what we can do to move beyond that to practice biblical hospitality on a number of different levels. The bishop’s wife, Beth, stepped up from her front-row seat a number of times to help tell some of their stories (sometimes her side of their stories), and listening to the husband-wife banter made us feel like guests in their home in spite of our lecture-style seating.

Bishop Edgar’s talks were recorded, and they will be available soon on our website. We took lots of pictures, which you can view on our Facebook page at the link below.

Ten women from our parish spent the weekend of Oct. 21-23 at Camp St. Christopher for the annual retreat of the Women of the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina. Held every fall, the spirit-filled weekend draws women from various Anglican parishes in the Lowcountry and beyond. About 85 women came together to worship, sing, attend workshops and lectures, take nature walks, and enjoy great food and fellowship. 

St. Philip’s talented worship team provided the music, with Joanna Macmurphy leading the singing and playing the guitar, Georgia Bell jamming on the keyboard, and Pam Dixon playing the flute. Each of the three main sessions began with about 20 minutes of robust praise music. The St. Philip’s musicians took the ladies through old favorites and also taught them new songs. 

Joanna Macmurphy said she felt the weekend was a big success. “It’s been fun to see people from all over the diocese that I haven’t seen in such a long time and just to be in this special place,” she said. “I think God has really done a big work in a lot of people’s lives.”



The keynote speaker was the Rev. Dr. Sandi Kerner, chaplain and director of The Prayer Center at the camp. Kerner’s talks were based on John 16:33, comforting words shared by Jesus with his disciples shortly before his arrest. The repeated message of “take Heart, for I have overcome the world” reminded the women to turn all of their worries and concerns over to Jesus Christ. 

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Last Wednesday, October 26, eight St. Philippians visited the headquarters of Water Mission, one of St. Philip’s Home Missions ministry partners, to help set up for the 2023 Walk for Water Open House, which was hosted on the following day. 

“It was a wonderful morning of fellowship and service at Water Mission,” said Home Missions Team co-chair Jill Settle, who also shared that the volunteers folded and organized shirts for an upcoming conference in addition to setting up the conference room for the open house.

Water Mission Volunteer Coordinator Krista Clark sent a thank-you note to the Home Missions Team:

Hi St. Philip’s Team,

We had such a wonderful time with you at Water Mission this morning! The folded t-shirts and size organization looks absolutely beautiful! I know it will bless the baseball players and their wives at the Professional Athletes Conference this November. The multipurpose room also looks wonderful. We are excited to utilize the space to welcome business partners here tomorrow. We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with you in so many ways. May God continue to bless the works of your hands! I hope you enjoyed your lunch at River Front Park. See you again soon! 

Keep an eye on your inSPIRE for more Home Missions volunteer opportunities coming up soon!

“My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”––Isaiah 56:7

“The effective fervent prayers of a righteous man avails much.”––James 5:16a

Answered Prayers (Thank You, Lord):

1. For the new volunteers for the Open Door Ministry––they had over 700 people come through the doors last week.

2. For protection from Hurricane Ian, that it didn’t cause a lot of damage in our area.

3. For a wonderful reception for Pat Gould and Florance Anderson

4. For good representation from our church for New Wineskins Conference.

5. For excellent turnout for the Valerie Elliot Shepard ECW event.

6. For the success of Brian’s eye surgery.

7. For safe travel and for a refreshing weekend at Kanuga.

Prayer Points for the Bishops

1. For extra measure of wisdom for the Rt. Rev. Chip Edgar, our diocesan bishop, and the Rt. Rev. Ruth Woodliff-Stanley, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina. Pray they work together in the final decisions that still affect several of the churches.

The schedule: The coach will depart from the church at 2:00 p.m. and will return at 10:00 p.m. (updated time). Free parking for your vehicles will be available in the church lot. 

The cost: $185 per person. This includes bus fare, dinner at Hanser House Restaurant in Pawleys Island, and the entrance fee for Brookgreen Gardens. Call the church office at (843) 722-7734 or click the link below to register!

TONIGHT: Wednesdays Alive!

The Rev. Brian K. McGreevy will be preaching this Sunday at our services of Holy Communion at 8:15 and 10:30 a.m.

We got some interesting suggestions for Kanuga singalong songs when we solicited requests through Instagram a couple of weeks ago. More than one person suggested Free Bird, and one even claimed to have it on good authority that Jeff Miller is a huge Lynyrd Skynyrd fan.

Well, that rumor has unfortunately not yet been confirmed or denied. At the Friday evening singalong, after the crowd chanted "Free Bird!" over and over, Chris Walchesky obliged, but was our rector one of those gathered around the piano getting ready to belt out the chorus?

No, he was playing it cool over by the fireplace, chatting with someone else who was acting not to be excited to hear the plaintive opening notes. 

So ... Lynyrd Skynyrd fan yea or nay? We may never know.

If you follow St. Philip's on Facebook and Instagram, then you already knew about Father Jeff's potential Skynyrd fandom. But if this is the first you're hearing of it, don't you think you should take a moment right now to follow us so that you can be among the first to hear about upcoming events, weather-related schedule updates, and the musical tastes of our clergy?

Important Dates

November 5 ~ Lowcountry Walk for Life

November 6 ~ Choral Evensong with the choirs of St. Philip’s and Christ Church, Mt. Pleasant (5:00 p.m., fellowship to follow)

November 6 ~ All Saints’ Fellowship Brunch (noon)

November 8 ~ Theology on Tap

November 9 ~ Discover Your Gifts workshop begins (7:00 p.m., Philadelphia Alley)

November 23 ~ Church office closes at noon (reopens Monday at 8:30 a.m.)

November 24 ~ Thanksgiving service (9:00 a.m.)

November 27 ~ Sunday school in recess

December 1 ~ Seniors Excursion: “Nights of a Thousand Lights” at Brookgreen Gardens

January 26–28, 2023 ~ Mere Anglicanism Conference

June 7–18~ Holy Land Pilgrimage (waitlist available)

We pray for the sick: Arthur Applegate, Jean Carlton, Karen Collins, Lidia DiPaolo, George Rawling Evans, Sally Fayard, Elizabeth Flowers, Mary Forbes, Zelphia Galantis, Robert Gould, Susan Hemminger, Molly Hughes, Robert Johnson, Susan Keenan, Robert Kizer, Gene Martini, Nancy McGowan, John Murray, Marijane and Kenneth Nichols, Bill Phillipps, Libby LeLand Puckette, Valerie Rouillard, Fran Sanders, Sydney Severance, Pete Sperr, Margaret Swanson, Judy Vandiford, Jenny White, Lindsey Wing, and Harrison Woods.

We pray for our expectant parents: Boykin and Thomas Anderson; Carter and Foxy Foxworth.

We pray for protection for Becca Baird, Chris and Julia Beasley, Graham Blunt, Henry Clayton, Ben Colyer, David Daughtridge, Eric Gaines, Morgan and Mason Herring, Andrew Kane, Quin Kane, Horry Kerrison, Frazier Kulze, John Mason, Zach McFadden, Philip Middleton III, Jackson Miller, Edward Pritchard, Nathaniel Rollings, and David Scott.

We pray for our home and world missions: Star Gospel Mission, Lowcountry Pregnancy Center, Suzy McCall and LAMB, 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:

O Almighty God, who hast knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord: Grant us grace so to follow thy blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys which thou hast prepared for those who unfeignedly love thee; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

Readings for Sunday:

• Psalm 149 
• Ephesians 1:15-23
• Matthew 5:1-12