If you have not yet submitted a name to the nominating committee for consideration for the new class of Vestry members, please take some time right now to think of someone who might well serve our church in this leadership position. Read about the requirements and the nomination process in the letter from the wardens below.

Even though some aspects of the Advent and Christmas seasons will be different from what we're used to, one may be stronger and better than ever: the traditions and memories made at home.

St. Philip's Ministry to Children and Families has put together boxes full of memory-making potential: you can make cookies with the Nativity-scene cookie cutters, use the Scripture cards to make a garland, serenade the neighbors using your Christmas carol songsheet, and even put on an in-house Christmas pageant (or collaborate with friends or family on Zoom) using the abbreviated script. We have a limited number of kits available, so be sure to order yours today!

Coming soon: a special edition of the Tea Room dessert table, via a one-day-only bake sale on Friday, December 18 (time TBA)!

Now is the time for our volunteer bakers to step on up. We are happy to gather any baked goods of your choice and specialty, though we particularly covet as many homemade pecan pies as we can find. Items that can be prepared in advance and frozen are now being accepted at the church office, but you may also drop off fresh items the morning of the sale.

If you have questions or would like to volunteer to bake, please email Hope Gamble.

If you would like to make a contribution to the Christmas Flower Fund as a memorial or in thanksgiving for a loved one, please click the link below and submit your information by Wednesday, December 16, at 5:00 p.m. Forms are also available in the church office and in the narthex. After you complete the form, you may pay online through the My St. Philip's portal of our website, stphilipschurchsc.org, or you may drop off a check payable to St. Philip's Church at the church office or mail it to:

St. Philip's Church

Attn: Juli Garland

142 Church St.

Charleston, SC 29401

Reservations for this Sunday's services of Holy Communion at 8:15 and Morning Prayer at 10:30 open today at 9:00 a.m.

Childcare during the 10:30 service is now 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.

Since the start of pandemic, do you feel like your axe-throwing skills have gone downhill? Has the axe felt a little too heavy in your hands or is the blade simply not hitting where your eye is looking?

If you're somewhere around college-aged, step up your axe-throwing game with the Rev. Justin Hare and the College Fellowship crew! A career in axe-throwing is not guaranteed, but laughter, great food, and great discussions are. The group meets Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. (following the Wednesdays Alive! service at 5:30) in the Youth Room on the second floor of the Parish House (on the corner of Church and Cumberland Streets), and they occasionally mix it up with off-campus adventures. Questions? Contact Justin at jhare@stphilipschurchsc.org or (843) 478-3443.

Parishioners of all ages enjoyed a socially distanced but cozy evening under the stars watching "Christopher Robin" at the Family Movie Night on the Lawn at St. Philip’s on November 13. Boxed dinners of chicken nuggets and mac and cheese were a hit, as were the popcorn and Chef Connie Stahl's famous chocolate chip cookies. Officer Karen Nix served as photographer and gatekeeper as interested tourists peered in at the festivities. Keep an eye on your eSPIRE so you can be sure to join us for the next fun family activity!

Do you receive Fr. Brian's updates and weekly wrap-up emails? Click here to read the message and materials he sent to the class yesterday, and if you'd like to join his list, let him know!

If you follow us already, great! You're one of the first to hear about breaking news such as the latest items found in pews, on side tables, on the backs of toilets, and other interesting places. If you don't follow us and you have a Facebook or Instagram account ... well, why not? Click the buttons below to like or follow us now, and if any of the above items are yours, message us!

Last Thursday, the Rev. Jeff Miller told us how to look to Psalm 3 and find comfort from King David when life is a battle. Yesterday, the Rev. Brian McGreevy helped us prepare for the First Sunday of Advent with an exploration of the great hymn "Wake, Awake, For Night is Flying." Click the images above to watch!

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

December 6 ~ 20s and 30s Oyster Roast (Registration now closed)

We pray for the sick: Kelsey Brockbank, Katie Burris, Elizabeth Flowers, Mary Forbes, Brooks Goode, Robert Gould, Janet Hanger, Jonathan Hanger, Cecilia Hawkins, Mac Leppard, Joe Livesay, Connor Lowndes, Doug McAdams, Beverly Melvin, Elaine Pendarvis, Deborah Pollak, Harold Robling, Charles Truluck, Mike Walsh, Carolyn Warlick, Lindsey Wing, and Vereen Woodward.

We grieve with and pray for Clark Hanger and family on the death of his mother, Sudie Clark Hanger, on November 23.

We pray for protection for Becca Baird, Chris and Julia Beasley, Graham Blunt, Henry Clayton, Ben Colyer, David Daughtridge, Hayes Fair, George Hoefer, Andrew Kane, Horry Kerrison, Charles Kirkman, Frazier Kulze, John Mason, 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 10/40 Tribal Commission, for Water Mission and the Global Water Center, and for St. Jean Baptiste, our sister church, and the schools in Haiti.