We are pleased and honored to welcome the Rt. Rev. Mark J. Lawrence, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina, as our preacher at both the 8:15 and 10:30 services this Sunday, April 11. The 10:30 service will be a service of Holy Communion instead of the regularly scheduled Morning Prayer.

This will be one of Bishop Lawrence's final visitations with us as he looks toward a period of time working with the bishop coadjutor ahead of his retirement.

Reservations for this Sunday's services of Holy Communion at 8:15 and 10:30 a.m. open today at 9:00 a.m. Childcare during the 10:30 service is available for infants and young people through age five, with limited capacities within each age group. You may register at the link below after first registering to attend the 10:30 service, or you may call the church office at (843) 722-7734 to reserve space.

Join us for a delicious lowcountry boil, plus roasted chicken, pimento mac and cheese, and green beans, all cooked up by Crazy Dutchman Catering, and beer, wine, and soft drinks. Throw in the lawn games, desserts, and fellowship with friends both old and new, and who could ask for a better way to spend a spring evening? Childcare is available by request during registration, and there is no charge for kiddos who would like a plate for themselves. Please register by 5:00 p.m. today so we know how many to plan for.

Christianity is not a private matter, and Easter is a message for everyone. All followers of Jesus have the same instructions given by the angel at Jesus' tomb: come, see, go, and tell.

Who would've guessed two years ago––when we were packed shoulder-to-shoulder into pews on Easter Day, barefaced, shaking hands and hugging at the Peace––that come Easter Day 2021, the simple possibility of being in our sanctuary to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior would fill us with such gratitude? Even though we couldn't seat everyone who wanted to attend the Easter services in person without compromising safety, the number we were able to accommodate was a huge blessing. And we hope that everyone who worshipped with us in person and online rejoiced with us and felt blessed by the experience. The Lord is Risen!

During the February 21 service, moments after our Rector asked us to pray for those in Ryan Streett’s parish who were still suffering from the blackouts that had hit the south-central part of our country, St. Philip’s had its own blackout. It felt as though God had put an exclamation point on the needs of our former assistant for pastoral care and his parishioners in Madison, Mississippi, several of whom, including Fr. Ryan and his family, had burst pipes and no heat in their homes. The church itself, Holy Trinity Anglican, had suffered the same effects––along with flooding––in the sanctuary and ministry center.

Our spring weather and blooming flowers followed that vast blackout, which had been caused by freezing temperatures for which they were not prepared. It is easy to forget the needs of others when we have it so good, yet how well we remember those who came to Charleston’s aid after Hurricane Hugo. Let us do the same for the people of Holy Trinity and help encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ.

I have jars of calamondin marmalade ready to give you when you stop by my house to drop off a tax-deductible donation check made out to Holy Trinity Anglican. The COVID-friendly basket of jars is on my breezy front porch at 194 Tradd, next door to the Coast Guard on the Ashley River end of the street as it curves around into the boulevard. I have mailed him two envelopes of checks already and hope to continue. Since we were unable during the pandemic to give him a proper farewell, as Jeff said, it is bound to be a great encouragement to him and his congregation to receive our goodwill in their time of need. I have two calamondin orange trees, one in the front and another in the back, from which I put up marmalade. Come while the supply lasts!

Laura Wichmann Hipp

194 Tradd St.

(843) 708-2228

It’s long been my intention to read my Bible regularly. Although it varies at times, I usually read from beginning to end at the daily pace the Lord indicates, noting the application of what seems significant through the practice of journaling. In this way, over the years, I’ve developed a comfortable familiarity with the Scriptures and a conversational relationship with the Holy Spirit.

Last August, while reading in II Peter 1, my journaling led to the composition of a prayer. At the time, I did not record any thoughts connecting the passage or the prayer to any particular circumstances. I saved it in my computer files and, basically, forgot about it.

Recently, I was sending something of a business nature in the mail to a son-in-law. As I prepared the mailing, I thought about a tricky employee situation he was dealing with at work, and I had a very strong impression that I should include the prayer I had written months ago, with this caveat, “I will pray this prayer over your employee every day for the next month.”

St. John's Chapel in Charleston's Eastside is a mission church of our diocese and one of St. Philip's home mission partners, and when Kent Keller was tapped by a member of our Vestry to help repair some handrails that had been infested with termites there, he knew just whom to call on to help him with the job. On Wednesday in Holy Week and on Good Friday, Keller and the Rev. Marc Boutan took their carpentry skills to Hanover St. and repaired three handrails on the front porch of the church and two on either side of the stairs leading up to the church. Both men were blessed by the experience, as surely the people of St. John's were blessed by their work. Thank you, gentlemen, for answering the call to serve!

The leaders. of the St. Philip's High School Youth Group are excited to announce the first beach evening of the year! This Monday, April 12, starting at 6:00 p.m., meet us at 13th St. East on Folly Beach. We will play games, have fellowship, and end the night by watching the sunset!

Note that this beach evening is for high-schoolers only. But middle-schoolers, stay tuned for information about your beach evening!

Questions? Email associate youth minister Sarah Silcox or call/text her at (843) 566-2805.

We are planning a St. Philip's parish workday at St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center on Saturday, May 1, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Lunch is provided!

Please sign up by Wednesday, April 28, so we know how many folks to plan for. Also, please bring gardening gloves and clippers for yourself if you have them handy!

Questions? Email Robby Marion or call (843) 296-4085.

St. Philip's is hosting a table at Lowcountry Pregnancy Center's annual fundraising banquet! If you would like to reserve a seat with us, please contact Jane McGreevy at (843) 793-9832 or janemcgreevy@yahoo.com. You may also reserve your own seat or table or watch online; click the link below to register or learn more!

About the event: Keynote speaker Dr. Anthony Levatino and his wife, former nurse Cecelia, share what it was like to perform over 1,200 abortions and the toll it took on their family. Their story of their conversion to pro-life has educated and motivated audiences throughout the world.

St. Philip's is looking for occasional help with our audio system during Sunday morning services, special services, and special events. Would you like to learn a new skill while serving your parish? Contact Florance Anderson at fanderson@stphilipschurchsc.org to learn more.

Mere Christianity began as a series of radio talks during the darkest days of World War II in England. Lewis was asked by the BBC to do the talks because so many people were living in fear and anxiety and were feeling that the world was crumbling around them, that "the wheels had come off the bus." Our culture today is beset with many of those same anxieties, albeit for different reasons. Lewis's broadcast talks were then edited by Lewis and published in book form as Mere Christianity. The book is still remarkably fresh today and serves as an encouragement to the believer, a winsome challenge to the doubter, and an effective apologetic for the unbeliever.

Do you receive Fr. Brian's updates and weekly wrap-up emails? Click here to read his last wrap-up email, and if you'd like to join his email list, let him know!

How have you fared the past couple of Thursdays without your Rector's Bible Study routine? We know you were missing your weekly dive into St. Paul's letter to the Philippians, but put the past behind and focus on tomorrow! See you (on Zoom) at noon!

Spotted on the sidewalk in front of the west door of the church on Wednesday in Holy Week was an unusually large (for downtown) slug. He appeared determined to make it to the 8:00 a.m. service, but he either had not yet set his watch to Daylight Saving Time or he got out of bed late, because he was arriving quite late. In our post, we exaggerated just how late he would've gotten to the door, however, as slugs can actually move between 30 and 150 feet per hour. We apologize for the careless guess, and we hope he did make his way down the sidewalk for the Maundy Thursday service.

If you follow St. Philip's on social media, this slug's journey is old news to you. But if you don't, be sure to give us a follow right now so you can be among the first to hear stories like these! You'll also hear about schedule updates, furry (or slimy ... or scaly) office visitors, and the latest on the sexton-in-training paycheck front. How about it?

Call Juanita Orvin, who will connect you with a prayer minister who will pray for your concerns over the phone.

juanitaorvin@gmail.com or (843) 884-4018

Call Suzanne McCord, head of the prayer chain, and she will pass your request on to members of the chain.

suzanne1959@gmail.com or (843) 224-1630

April 11 ~ Bishop's visitation

April 12 ~ High School Beach Night

April 18 ~ 20s-30s Lowcountry Boil (4:00-6:00 p.m. on the Parish House Lawn)

April 24 ~ Annual Women's Gathering (Christ Church, Mt. Pleasant)

May 1 ~ St. Philip's Workday at Camp St. Christopher

May 9 ~ Diaper drive for Lowcountry Pregnancy Center

We pray for the sick: Guy Bailey, Katie Burris, Harry Carr, Sam Chesnutt, Diane Christensen, Patty Cox, Jerry Craig, Sarah Fayard, Elizabeth Flowers, Mary Forbes, James Gettys III, Robert Gould, Steve Green, Harry Gregorie, Jr., Jonathan Hanger, Clark Johnson, Joe Livesay, Connor Lowndes, Beverly Melvin, Deborah Pollak, Ed Riggs, Fran Sanders, Rose Tisdale, Mike Walsh, Carolyn Warlick, Lindsey Wing, and Charlie Yoho.

We grieve with and pray for Grant and Tara Eversmann, parents of Patrick Eversmann, who died prenatally.

We pray for our expectant parents: Justin and Molly Hare, Tim and Liz Strickland.

We pray for protection for Becca Baird, Chris and Julia Beasley, Graham Blunt, Henry Clayton, Ben Colyer, David Daughtridge, Hayes Fair, Andrew Kane, Horry Kerrison, Charles Kirkman, Frazier Kulze, John Mason, Zach McFadden, Philip Middleton III, Jackson Miller, Ned Montgomery, Edward Pritchard, and David Scott serving in our Armed Forces.

We pray for our home missions: Star Gospel Mission, Tricounty Family Ministries, Lowcountry Pregnancy Center, St. John's Chapel, and the Open Door Ministry.

We pray for our world missions: For Suzy McCall and LAMB, for the medical missions to Honduras, for ministry to victims of genocide and AIDS in Rwanda, for Water Mission and the Global Water Center, and for St. Jean Baptiste, our sister church, and the schools in Haiti.