The Georgia Boy Choir is coming to St. Philip’s next week! You won’t want to miss this opportunity to hear the beautiful sounds of this internationally known choir performing songs from their new album, “SOLACE–Post Tenebras Lux.” Learn more about the choir, which was established in 2009 under the baton of Artistic Director and Conductor David R. White, at the link below.

About the album: “SOLACE - Post Tenebras Lux” was conceived in lockdown, rehearsed and recorded under health guidelines, and released as we come out of the darkness of COVID-19. The album is our gift of beauty to the world. Songs of loss, fear, and farewell make way to songs of peace, hope, and love as the choristers of the Georgia Boy Choir take listeners on an emotional journey galvanized by the poignant year of 2020. Featuring Georgia Boy Choir favorites, choral classics, and recent compositions, the “SOLACE - Live Tour” is a consolation for all offered through our signature sound.

As I walked into the room, I couldn’t quite figure out why I was nervous. I am not bothered by needles. Shots and pricks ceased being terrifying when I was about seven. And I knew I would be in good hands.

I think it was hearing stories of people passing out that made me leery of just “the unknown.” I’d never passed out before in my life.

Flashback to two weeks earlier and I was preparing to preach on the woman with the flow of blood in Mark 5. In doing a quick word study of the word “blood” in the Bible, my heart began to feel urged to give my own blood at the Red Cross blood drive.

August 2-6: Drop-off at the church office available

August 6-8: South Carolina’s tax-free weekend

August 8: Main drive (donations accepted in church and office)

August 9-10: Final days to drop items at office

August 1: Hand out reminder cards 

August 8: Accept donations

August 14: Help with distribution at TFM

Theology On Tap is a twice-monthly gathering of young adults in Charleston who long for meaningful conversation about life and God. Tonight's discussion will be about rest: What is it and how do we do it? This topic will tie in nicely to our previous discussion on work and vocation (audio available below if you missed it). Questions are taken anonymously through a texting app.

Contact Justin Hare if you'd like more details: jhare@stphilipschurchsc.org or (854) 429-1937.

Not to be outdone by the younger set meeting every other week at Henry’s for Theology on Tap, I decided to be a bit creative, organizing an event I refer to as “High Tea and Theology.” Marianne Clare hosted this wonderful meet and greet at her lovely home in the Sandpiper Community of Mt. Pleasant. Several St. Philippians who live in Sandpiper or nearby enjoyed tea and sweet delicacies while engaging in a most delightful conversation that, although not entirely theological in nature, did include a rather stimulating discussion about the differences between ACNA (Anglican Church in North America) and other protestant denominations. We didn’t even notice that our high tea went well past its scheduled end time as we all were feeling like we were amongst old friends, even though some of us had just met; time truly does fly when you’re having fun!

I’m planning to organize another High Tea and Theology at Bishop Gadsden in the very near future for its dozen or so St. Philippian residents. Stay tuned for details!

I’ve overheard that question a number of times on the second floor of the Parish House. If you’ve been to Adult Forum, you may have seen them against the back wall. Well ... here’s the answer!

A number of years back, Suzy McCall was on a visit home to Charleston from the mission field in Honduras. She was told of the impending demolition of the Navy barracks and was offered the furniture in the building. But––it had to be removed quickly.

Jennie Simmons (from St. Andrew’s) and I went to see what was available. The person in charge unlocked the door and left us to our “inventory.” Keep in mind there was no longer any electricity in the four-story building. Anywhere without a window was quite dark. When we finished and got back outside, I said to Jennie, “Well, now that we are out, I can tell you that I was worried about finding a dead body in there!” Jennie replied, “Well, actually, I was more worried about finding a live one!”

July 9, 2021

As most of you have heard, on July 7th, the President of Haiti Jovenel Moise was assassinated in his home in Port-au-Prince and his wife injured. It is with great sadness that we share the news of his death. The President’s wife was flown to Miami for treatment. She is stable, but in critical condition, and we ask for your prayers for her recovery.

I have been in communication with the priest-in-charge on la Gonâve, Pere Jean Madoché Vil. He is very sad and worried about the future, and he asks that you continue to pray for the country of Haiti. Their concerns remain and grow larger as they await directives of the government. He prays, “God have mercy on the Country!”

Questions? Contact Pat Gould at pgould@stphilipschurchsc.org or (843) 364-9552.

The St. Philip’s Choir is journeying next summer to serve as the resident choir at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London the week of August 15–21, 2022, and all parishioners are invited to join us on this exciting adventure!

The cost per person is approximately $2,000, which covers hotel, breakfast each day, four dinners, and tour bus and guide (great sightseeing opportunities!)––and you will have plenty of time for theater and extra sightseeing (airfare is separate). Deposits of $250 are due by the end of August 2021.

For more information, please contact Pat at pgould@stphilipschurchsc.org or (843) 364-9552. Above all, please pray for all choir members as we embark on this great adventure!

We never know how bad the effects of a natural disaster will be, so we must prepare ahead of time. South Carolina Emergency Management Division has put together a comprehensive guide to show you how to prepare for an emergency and what to do when one is upon you. Take some time to look it over right now and take the steps necessary to keep you and your loved ones safe.

From Susan Alexander Yates: Looking for fun, creative ideas to do with your family this summer? Maybe you feel like ...

Have you been wondering where Gus the office helper has been the last several weeks? Well, he’s been working on getting tall enough to drink out of the toilet (check!), fast enough to catch his tail (check!), and cute enough to guilt folks into sharing their food (CHECK!). He’s still sticking his whole head into the water bowl, perhaps trying to drink water through his eyeballs, but he hasn’t mastered that yet.

So he took a break from his water bowl work last week and came by the office to check on the big printer, which he heard has been down since the lightning strike last month. He wasn’t able to fix the printer, unfortunately, but he took it upon himself to do some redecorating on the first floor. The blanket Felicia keeps under her desk for furry visitors would surely look better in the Parlor!

The next day, Gus’s more experienced big sister Carly, along with sexton-in-training Cecilia Walchesky’s housemate Windsor, stopped in to try to fix the printer, but the news was not good. It does indeed need to be replaced.

They didn’t make the trip for nothing, though, as there was plenty of other work to be done. Windsor checked inventory in the workroom, and she told us we’re doing an above-average job of keeping everything stocked––supply levels were generally good, but there was a surplus of binder clips and NO ice cream at all! We told her there is sometimes ice cream in the Tea Garden fridge, but she recommended keeping such an important item in a small freezer in the workroom.

Later that afternoon, more help arrived! Chief was there mainly to help Lee Moore and her daughter Lizzie stuff envelopes for a St. Philip’s Preschool mailing, but he took it upon himself to check the workroom supplies also, and he drew our attention to the shameful lack of turkey bacon.

If you follow St. Philip’s on social media, this is all old news to you. But if you didn’t know about this furry flurry of activity we had in the office last week, why don’t you take a moment to follow us now?

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

July 21~ Georgia Boy Choir concert (5:30 p.m.)

Aug. 3-6 ~ Children’s choir camp

Aug. 8 ~ School supply drive (for Tricounty Family Ministries)

Sep. 12 ~ Rally Sunday

We pray for the sick: Kay Bartlett, Kim Barnett, Sam Chesnutt, Sarah Clarkson, Gerry Dickinson, Sally Fayard, Elizabeth Flowers, Mary Forbes, James Gettys III, Robert Gould, Mary Anne Hanckel, Batson Hewitt, Claudia Kolster, Joe Livesay, Christine Lloyd, Connor Lowndes, Sarah Marshall, Brumby McLeod, Beverly Melvin, Olivia Palmer, Deborah Pollak, Fran Sanders, Jay Schrimpf, Richard Scott, Rose Tisdale, Carolyn Warlick, Lindsey Wing.

We grieve with and pray for the family of Margaret Deas “Punkie” Porcher, who died on July 6.

We grieve with and pray for Bryant Bair and family on the death of his father, Reeves Bryant Bair, Jr., on July 8.

We grieve with and pray for the family of Jonathan Hanger, who died on July 10.

We pray for our expectant parents: Jon and Olivia Hipp Black, Justin and Molly

Hare, William and Zippy Hood, 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, Morgan and Mason Herring, 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, for The Persecuted Church, and for St. Jean Baptiste, our sister church, and the schools in Haiti.