How does one describe an event like Mere Anglicanism? A few weeks ago, Lea Andrews asked if I’d write an article about my experience at the conference. Without giving it much thought, I agreed and didn’t think about it again until it was too late to back out. Had I truly understood the extraordinary lineup of speakers, their impressive bios, and the depth of their knowledge on C.S. Lewis and other theological matters, I would have been intimidated by the task and may have suggested someone else do it. In fact, by the time Jeff Miller was introducing the third speaker, the author of more than 100 books on everything from theology to Socrates, I decided to email a few fellow St. Philippians to contribute. The first response back was, “I will try ... but I was so overwhelmed it will be hard.” 



“Overwhelmed.” I think that is the best description of what occurred for most who had the privilege of attending the three-day event. It was, indeed, overwhelming, and I feel that my ability to convey a meaningful recap is totally inadequate. Everything from the extraordinary lectures, to the glorious worship services, to the gargantuan effort put forth by our clergy, staff, and parishioner volunteers, this was an overwhelming experience.  

Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19)

When we go to Uganda in East Africa, we will spend time at Uganda Christian University, and its Law School and Medical School, a Water Mission project, and a Save the Mothers initiative in a mother-baby-friendly hospital. Jesus will ignite your gifts and callings to disciple others in a developing third-world nation. 

Now is the time! You do not want to miss this opportunity. We have the answer to the world’s problems in Jesus Christ. Come and go with us! Let us rise up together and take our part in the Great Commission. Join us today at 4:30 p.m. in the Parlor, or call, text, or email and we will meet together for more information.

Tom Gurley: (330) 957-9191 or tgurley@manningwood.com 

Jayne Gurley: (330) 801-9460 or jayneegurley@gmail.com

St. Philip’s Preschool program is offered to the members of St. Philip’s Church and its surrounding community. This is one of the many ministries of the church provided to reach out to children with Christ’s love. The program introduces children to the church community and a Christian worldview. Parental participation is not only encouraged, but it is also crucial for the livelihood of this program. Enrollment for the 2023–2024 school year is now open. 

If you have questions about the preschool or the enrollment process, please email Angela Clark or Lee Moore or call the preschool office at 843-722-7610.

St. Philip’s Preschool offers a safe, loving, Christ-centered learning environment with a craft/activity-based curriculum for children ages three months through three years.

Connie and Jeff Rink in March 2020 during the last dental mission to Honduras 

The Rinks are taking a team of 10 people to LAMB in Honduras to offer dental services, and they have openings for volunteers to come along––no dental experience required! Team members will also have the opportunity to enter into the life at the LAMB Children’s Home, jump in to help with the children as well as experience the full scope of the beautiful ministries at LAMB. 

If you’re interested or would like more information about the mission, please stop by the info session this Sunday in the Parlor or contact the team through email.

Connie Rink: (jrink1@comcast.net)

Susan Keller: (susanckeller@knology.net)

*Note date change

About Dr. Paul Marshall, Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute's Center for Religious Freedom, Washington, D.C.:

Dr. Marshall is a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Institute for the Study of Religion at Baylor University; Senior Fellow at the Leimena Institute, Jakarta; and Visiting Professor at the Graduate School of Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic Univeristy, Jakarta, Indonesia.

He is the author of hundreds of articles translated in over 15 languages and more than 20 books including Persecuted: The Global Assault on Christians (2013, with Lela Gilbert, Nina Shea), Silenced: How Apostasy and Blasphemy Codes are Choking Freedom Worldwide (2011, with Nina Shea), and Their Blood Cries Out (1997).

With degrees from the University of Manchester and York University, he has held professorships at the University of Toronto and the Free University of Amsterdam.

All are invited to attend, and to have the opportunity to meet the cohort of participants in the 10th  Anglican Leadership Institute.

The 2023 Tea Room is coming up in just a couple of months! Stop by April 24–28 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for a lowcountry lunch: our famous okra soup, chicken salad sandwiches, ham biscuits, shrimp salad, and more! Listen to the live music and finish your meal with tea or coffee and a delicious homemade dessert.

After you eat, take a few minutes to browse our gift shop, conveniently located between our indoor and outdoor dining areas.

Would you like to help with Tea Room planning?

Contact Tea Room co-chairs Amanda Ayers and Hope Gamble at stphilipstearoom@gmail.com!

Camp Jubilee Registration Open Now!

TONIGHT: Wednesdays Alive!

TOMORROW: Rector's Bible Study

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

Scrabble Shenanigans in the Mere Anglicanism Speaker Hospitality Suite

If you're a hardcore board-game rule follower, you'll likely get a little bump in blood pressure from one of the above pictures––but let us invite you to avert your eyes, take off your rule-following hat, and put on your scholar-shenanigan-appreciation hat instead.

The Mere Anglicanism hospitality suite in the Hampton Inn, stocked by Angela Clark and Mims Weldon with Lowcountry goodies for our visiting speakers from across the pond (and places in the U.S. where people who have actually never seen a grit might live), also had a Scrabble board set up on a side table. Before long, a speaker (or speakers) had arranged some words on the board (rule followers, pretend you don't notice the proper nouns or any word longer than seven letters that could never have worked as an extension): "Narnia," "Lewis," "Beautiful," "Clive," "Longing," "Staples" ... you get the picture. Yes, even scholarly folks such as those we were blessed to have join us last week indulge in occasional silliness!

If you follow St. Philip's on Facebook and Instagram, then you already knew about the theme of the hospitality suite Scrabble board. But if you're just now hearing about it, don't you think you should take a moment to follow us so that you, too, can be among the first to hear about upcoming events, weather-related schedule updates, and occasional office (or Mere Anglicanism) shenanigans?

Important Dates

February 14 ~ ALI Lecture with Dr. Paul Marshall 

February 20 ~ President’s Day: church office closed 

February 21 ~ Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper (5:30 p.m.)

February 22 ~ Ash Wednesday (services at 8:00 a.m., noon, and 6:00 p.m.)

March 2–8 ~ Mission to Honduras (LAMB)

March 4 ~ Parish Oyster Roast

March 5 ~ Parish Annual Meeting and Lunch (12 noon) ~ no 8:15 service

March 19 ~ Family Fun and Bingo Night (5:00 p.m.)

March 25 ~ Walk for Water

April 9 ~ Easter Day

April 16 ~ Youth Confirmation Sunday

April 24-28 ~ Tea Room

April 28–29~ Southeastern Intentional Grandparenting Conference

June 19-22 ~ Vacation Bible School (VBS)

June 26–30 ~ GrandCamp 2023

We pray for the sick: Frances Alexander, Arthur Applegate, Tim Bass, Elizabeth Bowles, Tory Bowles, Karen Collins, Cullen Crowley, Mark Cumins, Sally Fayard, Elizabeth Flowers, Mary Forbes, Robert Gould, Susan Hemminger, Molly Hughes, Susan Keenan, Robert Kizer, Claudia Kolster, Thomas Legaré, Libby LeLand Puckette, Wes Lewis, Rena Mack, John Murray, Elaine Pendarvis, Eli Penn, Bill Phillipps, Valerie Rouillard, Fran Sanders, Pete Sperr, Margaret Swanson, Jenny White, and Lindsey Wing.

We grieve with and pray for Caroline Burns and family on the death of her brother-in-law, John Joseph Murray, on January 6.

We pray for our expectant parents: Kimbrell and Bruce Blackwood; Torrey and Ryan Knapp; Ainsley and Dominic Monda.

We pray for protection for Becca Baird, 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:

Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins and give us, we beseech thee, the liberty of that abundant life which thou hast manifested to us in thy Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Readings for Sunday:

• 1 Corinthians 2:1-16 
• Psalm 27 
• Matthew 5:13-20