Dear St. Philip’s family,

On March 7th of 2021, we will hold our Annual Parish Meeting. During that meeting, we will elect the next “class” of leaders to serve on the Vestry. At our September meeting, the Vestry appointed Martha Freshley (Senior Warden), Todd Brown (Junior Warden), Reid Davis, Guv Gottshalk, Robby Marion, Connie Rink, Sam Robinson, and Bill Warlick to serve as a nominating committee.

The goal is for this to be a Spirit-led process, executed by the Vestry and blessed by the clergy. The challenges associated with COVID, particularly the reduced personal parishioner interaction, lead us to start the nomination process earlier than previous years. We encourage you to spend time in prayer concerning this matter, and allow the Lord to lay on your heart individuals that might well serve the church in this leadership position. We ask that you not contact the person regarding your nomination as the names submitted will be held in confidence by the committee. After committee review and prayer, qualified candidates will be contacted by the committee regarding their interest in serving.

October 18 marked the official launch of our livestream! Whether you joined us live in the sanctuary, live on YouTube, or later on in the evening on YouTube or Vimeo, we hope you had a blessed worship experience!

Those who are still worshipping from home may visit our YouTube channel Sunday morning or use this direct link to the video to watch the stream. The link will go live at 10:00 a.m., and the video itself will begin at about 10:25 with the prelude. The recording will remain available at the same link after the stream ends for viewing at your convenience, and it will also be uploaded to our Vimeo page later in the day.

Reservations for worship this Sunday (8:15 service of Holy Communion and 10:30 service of Morning Prayer) and childcare (10:30 only) open today at 9:00 a.m. You may register at the link below or call the church office at (843) 722-7734 to reserve space.

Our midweek, come-as-you-are service of Holy Communion is back beginning next Wednesday, October 28! While we won't be gathering for supper afterwards, we will be offering two class/fellowship options later in the evening––one via Zoom and one in person. The Rev. Brian McGreevy's new C.S. Lewis class, "Mere Christianity: Timely Truth for a Hurting World," will meet on Zoom at 7:15 p.m., while College Fellowship (for young adults college-aged and up), which has already begun meeting, will continue to meet in the Youth Room of the Parish House at 7:00 p.m.

2020 never ceases to change things around! After realizing that an in-person event was not feasible or advisable, our incredible staff at LAMB created an amazing virtual event. John and I were able to watch from our den and cast it up on the television just like we’ve been doing for our Sunday services since the “shut down” occurred. I did miss seeing people I only get to see during events like this and enjoying the fellowship time. This event provided the next best thing to being together!

The theme was that God opens doors that cannot be shut. LAMB is providing an "open door" for the people of Honduras with physical and spiritual provision, but also an "open door" for us to walk alongside and through with them. There were sweet glimpses of the children who, due to God’s grace and provision, are thriving in spite of the pandemic and lockdown. There were stirring testimonies of stateside people who love and support this ministry.

Lowcountry Pregnancy Center provides support to pregnant women in the lowcountry with free medical and other pregnancy-related services. To help mothers and fathers prepare, LPC offers parenting classes along with free baby items each month. Let's help our mission partner by stocking their shelves with diapers and wipes! Larger sizes (3, 4, and 5) are in greater demand.

Earlier this month, the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina held its annual convention online. Click the image above to watch the Rt. Rev. Mark J. Lawrence's address, and click the button below for more convention videos and a summary of the elections, reports, and other business.

In his address to the convention, Bishop Mark Lawrence reflected on lessons he’d learned from his predecessors, Bishops Temple, Allison and Salmon. With the last 12-15 months of his episcopacy remaining he asked, “What do I need to accomplish for the good of the Diocese? What do I need to give myself to? I’ve come to the conclusion I need to give myself, as much as I can, to the clergy of the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina….To the rectors, vicars, associates and curates: I want to double down on my prayers for you, your families and ministries and to spend as much time with you as I can fit into my calendar.” He spoke of trimming time spent on committees, boards and speaking engagements “which often draw you away from what your heart wants to do” to allow him to spend time with clergy.

From the Rev. Brian McGreevy: 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.

If you would like to begin reading the book, I would encourage you to get a copy and read one chapter aloud and then let that chapter "percolate" for a day or two before reading the next one. The chapters are short but packed, and it is easy to get lost if you read too much too quickly. Because the book was originally broadcast in serial format, reading one chapter at a time and doing so out loud will help you recapture the pace Lewis intended.

Questions about this webinar series or about Generations, the grandparents' ministry at St. Philip's? Contact Lynn Dayton at (843) 343-1001 or lland312@gmail.com.

All are invited to join in tomorrow as the Reverend Jeffrey S. Miller continues his study of the Gospel of Matthew on Zoom! Make yourself a sandwich, grab your Bible and a seat on your couch, and meet up with us on Zoom!

––Article XXVII “Of Baptism,” The Book of Common Prayer

Pandemic restrictions have kept our congregation from witnessing several recent baptisms, so we are sharing the happy news here! Let us welcome into Christ’s one holy catholic and apostolic Church this child who was recently baptized:

Son of Robert and Rachel Wynne

Do you have baptism news to share? Click here to email a picture to Lea Andrews.

Would you like to be a part of the team that prepares the glorious gifts to God that grace the altar each week? You're in luck––the ladies on the team want you to be a part of their team, too! No flower-arranging experience is necessary. Contact Sarah Stuhr at sarahstuhr@bellsouth.net or (843) 559-3342.

College-aged (and beyond!) St. Philippians and friends, join your peers and the Rev. Justin Hare for food and conversation tonight at 7:00––bring a pal! Call/text Justin at (843) 478-3443 or click below to email him if you have any questions.

Last Thursday, the Rev. Jeff Miller told us how to vote in November. Yesterday, the Rev. Justin Hare helped us understand how to "live into" one's baptism. 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

Start by following St. Philip's on Instagram and liking our page on Facebook. You'll receive lots of suggestions for connecting with other St. Philippians!

November 1, 2 ~ Diaper Drive for Lowcountry Pregnancy Center. (Drop-off at church office begins October 26)

November 7 ~ 13th Annual Lowcountry Walk for Life––Learn more.

We pray for the sick: Dotsy Boineau, Kelsey Brockbank, Carol Burk, Katie Burris, Brian Cook, Elizabeth Flowers, Mary Forbes, Abigail Golde, Robert Gould, Janet Hanger, Jonathan Hanger, Cecilia Hawkins, Dan Kohn, Mac Leppard, Joe Livesay, Doug McAdams, Deborah Pollak, Elaine Pendarvis, Harold Robling, Charles Truluck, Mike Walsh, and Lindsey Wing.

We grieve with and pray for Richard Moore and family on the death of his father, John Richard Moore, on October 16.

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 for St. Jean Baptiste, our sister church, and the schools in Haiti.