Last week, the Vestry Nominating Committee announced the Vestry Class of 2025 nominees via an email to the parish. The nominees will be elected, God willing, during the parish annual meeting on March 6. Below are excerpts from each of the nominees' responses to a spiritual questionnaire.

W. Foster Gaillard: In light of my professional and legal background and my community service, together with my lifelong membership and past service to St. Philip’s, I believe that I have developed the skills, leadership qualities, and institutional knowledge over decades of service that could assist the Vestry going forward. St. Philip’s has always been a beacon of light in the Charleston community. It is my hope and prayer that we will successfully conclude the lengthy legal dispute with The Episcopal Church in 2022, and once that is behind us, it is my belief that the future possibilities of St. Philip’s are limitless and our beacon of light will shine brighter than ever. I would like to be a part of helping to make our future as bright as it can be, and to help St. Philip’s spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Penn Lilly Hagood: The gift of teaching allowed me to serve in the past by offering historical context and background for church leaders. This can be important when discerning next steps as the church moves forward in its mission of sharing the Gospel and standing firm for the faith. During my prior [Vestry] service, the Vestry was involved with the state and federal court lawsuits and the issuance of the 2017 SC Supreme Court opinions. As we move through the concluding chapters of these legal battles, Lord willing, we will keep our church home. But regardless of the final legal resolution, with God’s guidance, our congregation will need to make significant stewardship decisions about our resources, and we will need to continue prayerfully discerning God’s call on the strategic direction of the parish, both short term and long term. If the nominating committee discerns that my gifts may be useful in this coming time, it would be a privilege to serve as a member of the Vestry.

Langdon Hartsock: I have been at St. Philip’s for 25 years and I think the church is more vibrant than ever. We have a fabulous clergy, a growing congregation, terrific learning, and a beautiful and historic campus. I want, as a Vestry member, to preserve, grow, and prosper all these elements so that the Gospel can be proclaimed to a world desperate for truth, moral direction, and loving leadership in the name of Christ.

Jill Settle: About three years ago, I left the working world to take care of family responsibilities. This time is truly a gift that God has given me. What I now realize was that He was also calling me into a deeper relationship with Him. I have spent significant time in Scripture and in prayer. I continue to grow spiritually through reading God’s Word, prayer, and involvement in Bible studies and prayer groups.

We are so grateful to the Rt. Rev. Dr. Grant LeMarquand for joining us for Mission Sunday! Listen to his sermon, "God's Mission," and his Rector's Forum talk at the links below.

About Theology on Tap: Theology on Tap is a gathering for young adults in Charleston who long for meaningful conversation about life and God. We’ll be meeting again this Tuesday, March 1, at 7:00 in the Whiskey Room at Henry’s on the Market for drinks (cash bar), apps (provided), and conversation. Next week's topic will be "Mardi Gras: The Role of Celebration in the Christian Life." As always, we welcome your questions, which you can submit anonymously through a texting app. Free parking at the church parking lot is available.

Questions? Contact Richard Moore.

The Bible, God’s Word (John 1:1), as referred to by our Rector at the beginning of a recent Rector’s Forum, has been handed down by word of mouth as a collection of religious texts, writings, and scriptures sacred in Christianity, Judaism, and many other religions. It is written in the form of an anthology, a compilation of texts of a variety of forms that are all linked by the belief that they are the revelations inspired by God. The oldest extant copy of a complete Bible is an early 4th-century parchment preserved in the Vatican Library, and it is known as the Codex Vaticanus.

Who wrote the Bible? According to both Christian and Jewish history, the first five books and the Torah were written by Moses in about 1300 BC. Religious doctrine holds that God himself is the author or at least the inspiration for the entirety of the Bible. It was inscribed over a millennium-long sequence by various humble writers. But this is not why we should study the Bible. The Bible is a compilation of carefully chosen texts which millions and millions of people have read, studied, and used as the pathway for their lives, leading to a better eternal life which they cannot see except through a faith that has been received by grace.

Every day millions of people have to walk miles and miles just for water. Most of the time, the water they can find is contaminated and makes them sick. Water Mission, one of St. Philip’s world mission partners, is changing lives, one community at a time, through their sustainable safe water solutions.

Each dollar raised by this event is going to make an impact through a safe water community development project! We hope you’ll consider supporting our team by making a donation or registering to walk with us. 

Join us as we share our love of stage and screen through music. Charleston Men's Chorus offers a variety of repertoire, ranging from "New York, New York" to "Amazing Grace" and "How Great Thou Art" to the much-loved Theme from James Bond, among others. Tickets are available at the link below or from any member of the Chorus.

Please join us for the annual fundraising banquet of one of our home mission partners, Lowcountry Pregnancy Center! This is a great opportunity for fellowship and to learn more about LPC’s important ministry. If you would like to reserve a seat with us, please register by March 4.

About the event: Keynote speaker Ryan Bomberger is an Emmy Award-winning creative professional, international public speaker, author, and co-founder of RadianceFoundation.org, a life-affirming organization that illuminates that every human life has purpose. As the child of a powerful adoption story, Ryan has a unique perspective. He has spoken at hundreds of events all over the world, including a Law Students for Life event at Harvard University and the March for Life in Washington, D.C. We are in for a blessing! Register at the link below by March 4.

Questions? Contact Jennie Richardson at (843) 364-2912 or jmerr3975@aol.com.

We are pleased to offer once again Preschool Summer Camp for babies through age three! Two sessions are available (campers must have been born after September 1, 2018), and at each session, the children enjoy socializing while engaging in age-appropriate activities. Registration form is available at the link below.

Questions about the gift shop? Contact Helen Ravenel Hammond at (843) 425-6504 or helenrhammond@gmail.com.

Questions? Dorothy Lancaster: dlancaster@stphilipschurchsc.org or (854) 429-1940

Youth group is open to all 6th–12th-graders of St. Philip’s and the surrounding community. Plan to play hard and pray hard. Questions? Contact youth minister David Gilbert at dgilbert@stphilipschurchsc.org or (843) 708-3795.

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

Charlie the cemetery guard cat decided the perfect time to get paid for all of his recent hard work was last Thursday just a few minutes before noon, and the person he decided he should ask for payment was our rector, the Reverend Jeffrey S. Miller.

Well, if only Charlie didn't keep skipping out on our weekly staff meetings, when we go over all of the upcoming calendar items––then he would know that of course the rector would have been unable to offer any pets, because he was of course making his way to the Parish Hall for the Rector's Bible Study!

It was Charlie's lucky day, though, because Fr. Jeff did at least have time to poke his head back into the office and ask our administrative staff to take care of Charlie's pay. Happy to oblige, captain!

Sexton-in-Training Cecilia Walchesky, who recently added "Welcoming Committee" to her list of duties, also encountered a wee roadblock when she went to collect her regular payment––and then some––from Financial Administrator Juli Garland last week. Though her request for a raise was unsuccessful, she was still determined to prove herself indispensable (and raise-worthy), so yesterday she added "Courier" to her list when she swiftly and professionally delivered an important document from the Communication office to Chisolm Leonard, Parish Administrator. We anticipate she will use that success as further evidence that she is indeed most deserving of a raise.

If you follow St. Philip's on Instagram or Facebook, then you already knew about these paydays. If you don't, what are you waiting for? Don't you want to be the very first to hear about upcoming events, schedule changes, and the antics of our furry office and grounds helpers? If you don't follow us, take a minute to click below and give us a follow now!

Prayer appointments are available with trained prayer ministers for personal needs related to healing for physical, emotional, or spiritual needs. All meetings are confidential and can be arranged by contacting Juanita Orvin (juanitaorvin@gmail.com) or Frenchie Richards frichards7@aol.com.

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.

Mar. 1 ~ Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper (5:30-7:00 p.m.)

Mar. 1, Mar. 15 ~ Theology on Tap

Mar. 2 ~ Ash Wednesday (services at 8:00, noon, and 6:00 p.m.)

Mar. 6 ~ Parish Annual Meeting and Luncheon (no 8:15 service)

Mar. 9 ~ Monthly Men’s Lunch (12 noon in the Parish Hall)

Mar. 10 ~ ECW Spring Dinner (6:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall)

Mar. 13 ~ Guest preacher (Archbishop Foley Beach)

Mar. 13 ~ Charleston Men's Chorus Spring Concert (4:00 p.m. in the church)

Mar. 20 ~ Parish Oyster Roast (3:00 p.m., Wadmalaw Island)

Mar. 24 ~ Lowcountry Pregnancy Center Annual Banquet

Mar. 26 ~ Walk for Water (9:00 a.m., Riverfront Park)

Mar. 27 ~ Choral Evensong (5:00 p.m. in the church)

Apr. 24 ~ Youth Confirmation Sunday

May 2-6 ~ St. Philip’s Tea Room

June 6-10 ~ Preschool Summer Camp (session one)

June 13-16 ~ Vacation Bible School (VBS)

July 18-22 ~ Preschool Summer Camp (session two)

We pray for the sick: Arthur Applegate, Rachel Arentsen, Baby Avera, Janie Banks, Linda Dennis, Maffett Dowd, Sally Fayard, Elizabeth Flowers, Mary Forbes, Debbie Foster, Jayne Gurley, Mary Anne Hanckel, Dara Heikes, Susan Hemminger, Claudia Kolster, Fritz Lloyd, Lindsay Long, Connor Lowndes, Molly Margaret O’Quinn, Beverly Melvin, Marjorie Mengedoht, Zan Murphy, John Murray, Ulrika O’Neil, Valerie Rouillard, Fran Sanders, Jay Schrimpf, Richard Scott, Larry Scoville, Lynne Scoville, Pete Sperr, Jim Ueberroth, Lindsey Wing, and Vereen Woodward.

We pray for our expectant parents: Lauren and Allen Davis, Katie and Ruben Perez-Phillips, Lauren and Ashton Phillips.

We pray for protection for Becca Baird, Chris and Julia Beasley, Graham Blunt, Henry Clayton, Ben Colyer, David Daughtridge, Tripp Hathaway, 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 serving in our Armed Forces.

We pray for our home missions: Star Gospel Mission, Neighbors Together, Lowcountry Pregnancy Center, and St. John's Chapel.

We pray for our world missions: 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.