~ the eSPIRE Newsletter ~
March 22, 2020
The Fourth Sunday in Lent
|
|
No printed inSPIRE this week
|
|
The church office will be closed and all church activities through March 31 have been cancelled per Bishop Lawrence's directive. Click the link below to read the Rector's update regarding this decision and for information about our plans for broadcasting Sunday's worship online. Further details will be emailed tomorrow.
|
|
While the church office is closed, the members of our clergy are available in the event of a pastoral emergency; please feel free to call them at the numbers listed below. If you know of a parishioner who may be in need of assistance, please reply to this email.
The Rev. Jeff Miller: (843) 812-0556
The Rev. Andrew O'Dell: (843) 639-9084
The Rev. Marc Boutan: (843) 737-1277
The Rev. Brian McGreevy: (843) 793-9830
The Rev. Ryan Streett: (843) 601-1120
|
|
Faithfulness in an Age of Pandemic
A Pastoral Letter from the Rt. Rev. Mark J. Lawrence,
Bishop of The Anglican Diocese of South Carolina
|
|
Greetings in the strong name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit in whose fellowship we, by the grace of God, are most richly blessed and favored to abide. Peace, hope and love in Christ Jesus!
As the coronavirus COVID-19 has increased its spread we have all received from local, state and national authorities ever more restricting guidelines for gatherings and social distancing. There is something hauntingly biblical as the guidelines have narrowed from 100 to 50 and now to 10 persons for public gatherings. And, of course, we remember St. Paul’s teaching, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.” (Romans 13:1)
In the 12 plus years I have been your bishop, I have known my share of joyous hours as well as those heavy of heart. These last few days since cancelling our Diocesan Convention have fallen in both categories. Giving a further directive to our clergy yesterday to cancel on-site worship services for the next two weeks has been troubling to them and to me. However, it has also been quite encouraging—alive with possibilities. As I talked with our rectors in the Charleston deanery and with the deans of our diocese yesterday, I was heartened as they shared ideas and ways they are pastoring and caring for their parishioners during this season. What a godly and sacrificial group of clergy serve our congregations. Throughout this week, I will continue to have conference calls with the clergy in our deaneries to share ideas for ministry and support.
The church down through the centuries has faced many crises. During the Yellow Fever outbreak in Philadelphia in 1793 Christian clergy and laity distinguished themselves in caring for sick; the plagues that visited London and other cities and towns of Europe during the Middle Ages and later, became the things that saints were made of. During wars and rumors of war, on battlefields and through bombing raids, the church continued to gather, lifting high the cross of Christ. Missionary doctors and nurses, military chaplains, parish clergy, nuns, and mendicants, like St. Francis embracing confidently the leprous, caring for the sick and dying, have been hallmarks of our history that we as believers rightly celebrate.
|
|
|
|
Would you like to keep up with what's going on in our diocese? Click the link below to subscribe to the diocesan newsletter, which is emailed every other week or whenever there's an important news item to share.
|
|
Understanding God's Presence: St. Philip's––St. Michael's 2020 Mission to LAMB
by Jeff and Connie Rink
|
|
Last Thursday, March 12, the jet landed in Charleston carrying our returning members of the St. Philip’s––St. Michael’s mission team to LAMB in Honduras. What a fantastic week! Mission accomplished: ninety dental patients treated––mostly children and some adult support staff––at the LAMB Children’s Home in San Buenaventura, and two buildings on site painted to completion. From an earthly perspective, the trip was a resounding success. It is, however, the spiritual blessings that each team member received that will remain with us forever.
The children at the home are all from the most challenged barrios of Tegucigalpa, all either abandoned or removed from dangerous situations at their homes. At the LAMB home, they are nurtured and cared for by an experienced staff, including a nurse and a psychologist. Here the kids can be kids. Laughter and love abounded in our interactions with the little residents. We shared play time, painted faces, made jewelry, had a hot dog cookout, sang songs, played soccer, and made new friendships.
|
|
Our team members agreed that a significant highlight of our time at the children’s home was the upside-down Sunday church service. Upside-down means that almost all of the duties of the service were performed by the children, not adults. It is truly amazing to see them in action. The music was glorious and spirit filled. Pastor Richard and his wife Lariza, immigrants from Cuba, provided our sermon. He spoke Spanish; she translated into English. Their preaching on the story of Nicodemus and being born again into the Kingdom of God was inspiring to all, and to see the children experiencing God’s love was transformative. Christ’s love and the Holy Spirit permeate every aspect of life at the home.
|
|
The Walk for Water Has Gone Virtual!
|
|
From Water Mission:
Amid uncertainties surrounding COVID-19, Water Mission has converted the 2020 Walk for Water into a
virtual walk.
What is a virtual walk? A virtual walk is a walk that takes place in multiple locations, and participants are united by a common purpose. You are encouraged to walk a 3-mile route in your neighborhood, around your office building, or in your local community, as you consider those who make that walk daily to retrieve water for their family. You can help generate awareness for the global water crisis by taking a photo in your walk shirt and posting it on social media.
Click the link below to join St. Philip's virtual team!
|
|
An Observation of John Dickson's "A Doubter's Guide to Christianity: A Defense of the Things All Christians Agree On"
by Irene Rowe
|
|
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect of this talk on a Wednesday evening in February at St. Philip’s, except that it would be relatively short and sweet. Really, the word “doubters” in the title caught my attention. I have many people in my life who question the Christian faith and some who claim to be atheists, so I attended hoping to pick up a few tools in defense of the faith that I love. I was not disappointed.
Listening to Dr. Dickson of Sydney deliver his carefully concise message, his humor woven throughout with his Strayan accent and lingo, I was delightfully entertained. He discussed what exactly the basis of our Christian faith is and proceeded to clarify and dissect the Apostles' Creed. Now, although I’ve been reciting the Creed since my youth, he explained some things I had never realized about the three fundamental beliefs in the Apostles' Creed that unify all Christians.
|
|
Volunteer Needs at Tricounty Family Ministries
|
|
Tricounty Family Ministries, one of St. Philip's Home Mission Partners, is looking for healthy volunteers under the age of 50 to help distribute groceries Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays through March 30. Click the link below to learn more.
|
|
Haiti Annual Feast Day Mission
June 24-29, 2020
|
|
We recently celebrated our 25-year partnership with our sister church, St. Jean Baptiste on the island of La Gonâve, Haiti, and this summer we plan once again to journey to be with our brothers and sisters in Christ, offering them encouragement through our mission of presence during their annual feast day celebration. Is God calling you to be a part of this year’s team? We encourage anyone with interest or questions to contact Gerry or Suzanne McCord. Please note that the information session scheduled for this Sunday has been cancelled.
I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. Psalm 57:9
|
|
Would you like to take another listen to Sunday's sermon? Or were you unable to join us on Sunday? Sermons, the Rector's Forum, and more are available on our website,
stphilipschurchsc.org/sermons-classes.
Accompanying slide presentations for certain classes are also available for download.
|
|
Never miss a sermon! Click below to subscribe to our Sermons podcast.
|
|
|
|
Membership Directory
Are you looking for a fellow parishioner's contact information? Our directory is online! Click the "My St. Philip's" button on our homepage,
stphilipschurchsc.org
, to log in or sign up for an account. And for easy access on your phone, download the Church Life app!
|
|
We pray for the sick: Walton Avery; Katie Burris; Ed Dibble; Elizabeth Flowers; Meredith Gale; Robert Gould; Nick Gudzan, Janet Hanger, Jonathan Hanger; Bobby Hood, Sr.; Jane Jilich; Barbara Lisle; Joe Livesay; Kimbrough McEniry; Peter Moore; Sharon Nix; Harold Patteson; Benjamin Schools, and Lindsey Wing.
We pray for our expectant parents:
Andy and Emily Yoho, Henslee and Van Elliott, Ralph and Anna Gray Baker.
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,
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 Committee.
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.
|
|
Collect for
the Fourth Sunday in Lent:
Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which giveth life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Readings for Sunday
:
- Ephesians 5:1-14
- Psalm 23
- John 9:1-38
|
|
|
ST. PHILIP'S CHURCH
142 Church Street | Charleston, SC 29401
|
|
Click
HERE
if you would like to opt out of receiving the printed mailing of the newsletter each week.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
