The women of St. Philip’s enjoyed a fabulous evening at the Rectory, the home of the Rev. and Mrs. Jeffrey S. Miller, last Thursday, May 11. The weather was perfect––sunny and breezy––for the purpose, which turned out to be more than just mixing and mingling with church family.

Once everyone had had a chance to get something to drink, load up a plate with whichever goodies tickled their fancy––pimento cheese sandwiches, curried chicken salad croissants, smoked salmon, and spinach dip were among the delicious options––and chat and laugh for a good bit, ECW president Caroline Fitzgerald took to the microphone to address the group of about 100 women.

The “sneak attack,” as she laughingly framed it, was essentially a rallying cry for the women of the church and the ECW (Every Church Woman), who serve as the backbone for so many ministries of St. Philip’s. Our church is in an incredible season of growth, and for us to continue to flourish––in a time when other churches are faltering––we must engage and weave ourselves into its fabric. An infusion of fresh faces into groups such as the Flower Guild, Altar Guild, and Compassion Committee would revitalize these essential ministries and help ensure they will be here to support the next generation of parishioners. 

We’re going all in. Who’s with us?

O Eternal God, bless all schools, colleges, and universities, that they may be lively centers for sound learning, new discovery, and the pursuit of wisdom; and grant that those who teach and those who learn may find you to be the source of all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

High School

Megan Condon Anderson, James Island Charter High School, attending Wofford College 

Cecily Elizabeth Anderton, Homeschool, attending University of North Florida

Clementine Grace Anderton, Homeschool, attending Furman University

Logan Rhett Andrews, Porter-Gaud School, attending Middlebury College

Ginger Haviland Arnold, IMG Academy, attending Bowdoin College

Richard Harris Ayers, James Island Charter High School, attending Clemson University 

Reeves Bryant Bair, IV, James Island Charter High School, attending University of South Carolina 

Elizabeth Carson Batten, Porter-Gaud School, attending University of South Carolina

Lee Swinton Bearsch, Academic Magnet High School, attending Clemson University 

Carl Wilson Gaines Estridge, Covenant Christian Academy (Ft. Worth, TX), attending United States Air Force Academy

Elizabeth Gantt Folline, Lucy Beckham High School, attending University of South Carolina

Madeline Grace Gardner, Gardner Homeschool, attending Hillsdale College

Chandler Grace Ghegan, Academic Magnet High School, attending University of Virginia 

Peter Cordes Porcher Johnson, Lucy Beckham High School, attending College of Charleston

Clara Elizabeth Kennedy, James Island Charter High School, attending Clemson University 

Cora Elizabeth Miller, Porter-Gaud School, attending Samford University 

James Rogers Moore, Homeschool, undecided

Andrew James O’Dell, Porter-Gaud School, attending Furman University 

Emma Hollis Rohaley, Lucy Beckham High School, attending Wofford College 

William Ange Current Russler, Avon Old Farms School, attending High Point University 

Elizabeth Middleton Skoglund, Porter-Gaud School, attending Lehigh University 

Anne Brice Tibbals, Ashley Hall School, attending Sewanee: The University of the South 

Hannah Middleton Wallace, Porter-Gaud School, attending Trident Technical College 

Anna Hunter Woods, Porter-Gaud School, attending University of Alabama 

College or Graduate School

Alyssa Rae Corpuz, College of Charleston, Master of Public Administration

Robert McPherson Graham, Georgia College and State University, Bachelor of Arts in Business 

Lukas William Kokinakis, Clemson University, Bachelor of Science in Construction Science and Management 

Jane Kelly O’Shea, University of South Carolina Honors College, Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and Political Science

Catherine Corte Perry, University of South Carolina, Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, Minor in Spanish

Eugenia Elizabeth Settle, College of Charleston, Bachelor of Arts in Early Education 

Julianna Ashlyn Skoglund, University of Miami, Bachelor of Arts in Marine Science, International Relations, and Criminology 

Catherine Royall Wood, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Public Relations

During the 10:30 service this Sunday, May 21, our clergy will say a special prayer for all of our graduates, and our high school seniors will be invited up for a blessing. The names of all of our graduates will also appear in both service bulletins.

Note: If your graduate is not listed above, please submit his or her information by 8:30 a.m. tomorrow (Thursday) for inclusion in Sunday's bulletins. For corrections to information above, please email landrews@stphilipschurchsc.org.

Tea Room co-chair Amanda Ayers heads up for a turn at the microphone at last week's ECW Springtime Celebration.

Dear St. Philip’s Family,



After a year of planning, it is difficult to believe that the 2023 Tea Room has come and gone! Thank you, thank you, thank you for the gift of another year of service. It was a tremendous week, and St. Philip’s ministries are going to be incredibly blessed by your hard work and commitment to this enormous undertaking. The word “enormous” might not be large enough...

Seniors of St. Philip’s were invited on a special excursion and private tour of Millford Plantation in Sumter County on Friday, May 12. Accompanied by Jeff Miller, Bill Christian, and Brian McGreevy, about 40 of us set off from St. Philip’s in our very comfortable motor coach on a beautiful spring morning. The outing turned into an opportunity to visit two magnificent historic sites, and it fully lived up to expectations for fun and fellowship.

Do you find joy in sharing the love of Jesus Christ? Do you appreciate our beautiful church, her three centuries of faithful ministry and her symbolically meaningful architecture? Would you enjoy sharing our sanctuary with others? 

Then please come and join St. Philip’s Open Door Ministry, a ministry of Hospitality and Evangelism! As ministers, we represent Christ and His Church to the world, and, these days, the world is coming to Charleston! They come by train, plane, automobile, and cruise ship. Many, if not most, of them walk or ride past our doors in cars, buses, rickshaws and carriages. What a ministry opportunity we have to share our faith, within our own city and the walls of our own sanctuary.

Open Door Ministry provides hospitality by opening our great western doors and inviting people in. We do this on a daily basis, Monday through Friday, working in shifts from 10:00-4:00. We welcome anywhere from 150 to over 700 visitors a day through our doors. Visitors and locals alike are thrilled to find our doors open. We smile, we welcome them, and in the words of the apostle Philip, for whom our church is named, we say, “Come and see!” 

If I may, please allow me to share one Open Door story: One afternoon, a fellow walked in off the street. He was dressed in well worn khaki travel clothes, very casual with lots of pockets. He carried a camera and a travel book in his hand. Like many visitors, his eyes were focused forward up the aisle, toward the stained glass window and the high altar, and he didn’t really notice me at first. I greeted him in the narthex with the usual spiel, saying, “Welcome to St. Philip’s. Please feel free to come in and enjoy the church. You are welcome to take pictures. Please let me know if I can answer any questions.” He glanced over, nodded, and proceeded into the back of the sanctuary. He looked around for a minute or two, then returned and approached me in the narthex.

“Ok,” he said, “I have a question for you. What is the meaning of life?”

If you have questions or would like to join St. Philip’s Open Door Ministry, please contact Penn Hagood or Elizabeth Bowles.

A note to parents of current 5th graders: Your students are considered the senior class of VBS and as such get special privileges! They will meet together in their own small group and have special field trips. They are not "too old for VBS"! Don't let them miss out on this fun and enriching time of fellowship!

May 17: Final Wednesdays Alive! service and supper (no class tonight)

May 18: Final Rector’s Bible Study (noon in the Parish Hall)

May 21: Final Sunday School, Rector’s Forum

May 21: Final high school youth group (off-campus)

May 26: Final middle school youth group (rising 6th-graders, you’re invited Fridays in May for a fall preview!)

The Rev. Andrew R. O'Dell is preaching at our services of Holy Eucharist: Rite I at 8:15 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Follow St. Philip's on Social Media!

Important Dates

May 17 ~ Final Wednesdays Alive! service and supper (no class May 17)

May 18 ~ Final Rector’s Bible Study before summer recess

May 21 ~ Senior Recognition Sunday

May 21 ~ Final Sunday School, Rector's Forum before summer recess

May 21 ~ Final high school youth group (off-campus)

May 27 ~ Sacred Harp Shape Note Singing (10:00 a.m.) 

May 28 ~ "Recounting Rwanda" with the Rev. Justin Hare (9:30 a.m. in the Parish Hall)

May 29 ~ Charleston Men's Chorus Memorial Day Chorus

June 19-22 ~ Vacation Bible School (VBS)

June 26–30 ~ GrandCamp 2023

We pray for the sick: Johnny Anderson, Sallie Barrera, Tim Bass, Elizabeth Bowles, Tory Bowles, Diane Christensen, Karen Collins, Cullen Crowley, Sally Fayard, Mary Forbes, Dana Heikes III, Susan Hemminger, Susan Keenan, Marvin Kirkland, Robert Kizer, Thomas Legaré, Libby LeLand Puckette, Wes Lewis, Rena Mack, Rene Meyer, Elaine Pendarvis, Eli Penn, Bill Phillipps, Sally Rhett, Becky Riggs, Fran Sanders, Joanna Sparks, Pete Sperr, Margaret Swanson, Clark Thompson, Jenny White, and Lindsey Wing.

We grieve with and pray for Howell Morrison and family on the death of his grandson, Jenner Wood V, on May 13. 

We pray for our expectant parents: Sarah Beth and Devin Angel, Sallie and Sam Barrera, Kimbrell and Bruce Blackwood; Elizabeth and William Bryan; Ainsley and Dominic Monda; and Demontre and Minka Parish. 

We pray for protection for Becca Baird, Graham Blunt, Robert Cale III, Henry Clayton, 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, David Scott, and Joey Villeneuve.

We pray for our home and world missions: Lowcountry Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Lowcountry Pregnancy Center, Star Gospel Mission, 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 God, the King of glory, who hast exalted thine only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph unto thy kingdom in heaven: We beseech thee, leave us not comfortless, but send to us thine Holy Ghost to comfort us, and exalt us unto the same place whither our Savior Christ is gone before; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

Readings for Sunday:

• Acts 1:1-14
• Psalm 47
• John 17:1-11, 20-21