~ the eSPIRE Newsletter ~
May 24, 2020
The Sunday After the Ascension
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No printed inSPIRE this week
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The church office is closed and all in-person church activities are cancelled through the duration of the present health crisis.
We will be offering worship online during this time.
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Click below to subscribe to our Vimeo and/or YouTube channel, where you may also go to join us for worship online.
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An email with printable Sunday bulletins will be coming later in the week.
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Dear St. Philip’s Family,
As we prepare to celebrate the Feast of the Ascension and our Lord’s departure into Heaven, I write to inform you of the upcoming departure of two of our staff members. Jolene Hethcox is leaving St. Philip’s to finish her doctoral degree and pursue a position in music education, and the Reverend Ryan Streett has accepted a call to be the Rector of Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Madison, Mississippi. Coming in the midst of the present COVID-19 pandemic, these two departures are particularly difficult. Jo and Ryan have been valued members of our ministry team and their contributions to St. Philip’s have been immense; we are very sorry to see them go! Hopefully conditions will improve so that we will be able to honor them in an appropriate way, but in the meantime, please feel free to reach out to them with your words of thanks and encouragement.
Every Blessing,
Jeff+
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I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
––Psalm 32:8
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Hello and Happy Birthday––Yet Again!
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Pictured above: Yesterday's staff meeting with "virtual choir" attempt #7! Usually Rachel Murphy is the one who leads the festivities, but since we were celebrating her
big day, the Rev. Andrew O'Dell stepped in to present the ceremonial birthday treat, which he didn't light for safety reasons, as it was an unopened crunchy granola bar. Then we had "our terrible birthday singing, like we always do" (as one staff member who will remain nameless put it), but Rachel gave us all a boost of confidence when she said afterwards, "That was a lot better than I thought it was going to be!"
In addition to going over business as usual during yesterday's staff meeting, we shared our personal ups and downs and unusual happenings of the past week. Chisolm Leonard told us about surprising two men when he spoke to them through an open window in the wall of the cemetery as they were renovating an adjacent Queen Street residence. In their startled state, they mistook him at first for an apparition––even though he didn't "have a sheet on or anything like that." In fact, he said, "I actually had on a blazer!" Soon-to-be birthday girl Rachel Murphy shared her excitement about
her husband Ian's new book, and several people shared their excitement about their long-awaited new 'dos (while others were still dealing with the "to dye or not to dye" question). General P.G.T. Beauregard Miller, a young Goldendoodle, didn't attend staff meeting, but we did hear that he, too, got a haircut. Albert Sinatra Andrews, an eight-week-old tuxedo kitten,
did attend staff meeting and made several helpful and spot-on comments, but they unfortunately went largely unnoticed, as he was usually on mute.
Our staff meetings are always a bright point in our week, even though the news we share with each other isn't always good. This week, two staff members shared the loss of loved ones, and another shared that her daughter had been involved in a frightening boating incident (but all involved were unhurt). Being able to share our grief, our troubles, and our fear with our coworkers, who are also dear friends, is an important piece of our lives always, but especially now as we remain largely in isolation. Do you have friends and loved ones in your life to talk to? Please respond to this email or fill out the questionnaire below to let us know how you're doing. Our clergy and staff, along with many members of our parish, are available and eager to help you in any way you might need. You may also call one of the priests directly; they would love to hear your voice!
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
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Tomato Plant Evangelism
by Steve Jarrett
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This spring I found a packet of tomato seeds in my desk drawer that was dated 2013. Someone had sent me the seeds in the mail as an advertisement for a survivor supply retailer. They were Heritage tomatoes of the Rutgers variety. Since my dad used to plant that kind every year, I decided to plant the seeds with very little thought that any of the "old" seeds would even sprout. I was not surprised that after a couple of weeks in the flat, I still saw nothing green.
Sometimes our hope and anticipation of things to come gives out before it should. At about the three-week point I saw a few little sprouts. I continued to water them, and to my surprise, they came up all over the flat.
I decided to transplant the small plants to bigger pots. With the application of some Miracle-Gro fertilizer and another couple of weeks, I ended up with about sixty tomato plants. After planting ten of them in our flower beds, I still had fifty, and we certainly didn’t need that many for our personal use.
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I’ve also been walking around the neighborhood about twice a day with our two dogs. Since we’ve been on COVID-19 lockdown there hasn't been much else to do. A lot of people in our neighborhood have been walking or riding bikes, and I decided that I’d try to see how many neighbors I could meet and how many names I could learn. One of our dogs is Scooter, who has only two legs that work and has his own cart with wheels. Everybody loves Scooter. He is a great ambassador. So people talk to me as I walk frequently. I decided that I’d see how many tomato plants I could give away. I’m now down to about ten. I’ve met about twenty-plus neighbors and know their names, and all it took was a few seeds that the Lord sprouted unexpectedly, some soil and water, and a few conversations.
Someone commented to me a couple of weeks ago that the Church wasn’t closed, it has been deployed. Having 17 years of sea duty on submarines, that makes a lot of sense to me.
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Preschool Summer Camp Registration is Open!
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We are pleased to announce the return of Preschool Camp for babies through age three! Two sessions will be offered this summer: June 22-26 and July 13-17 (campers must have been born after September 1, 2015).
The fee per child is $250, and campers do not have to be St. Philip's Preschool students to attend. Space is limited, with preference given for church members and for full-week camp attendance.
A note about safety: Cleaning is something we have always taken very seriously at St. Philip’s Preschool. We will clean and sanitize daily during camp, and we will also be using air purifiers. We would be happy to share our cleaning protocol with you upon request.
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A Prayer in a Time of Pandemic
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Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper. ––Jeremiah 29:7
Many were blessed by the Rev. Marc Boutan's message in his sermon on Sunday, and many, too, were particularly grateful for his closing prayer, which we've shared below.
Father, we thank you for making it possible for us to have a relationship with you, the Living God. Thank you that you are with us: you walk beside us and even carry us through the tough times, for you will not forsake us. Most of all, we thank you for sharing your life so intimately with us, that we are united to you as branches to the true Vine. We want to exercise that relationship and to be fruitful and let your blessing flow through us into our world. So we pray, Lord, for this broken world. We acknowledge that we are lost without you. We know that apart from you, we can do nothing. We ask you to save us, and so we ask you to destroy and remove the coronavirus from our world. We pray for your protection around each person and for healing of those infected. We pray for no subsequent waves of infection to come.
We pray for our nation to open safely and ask for a vigorous restart of our economy, and we pray for jobs to reopen for all people, for successful reemployment. We ask for your help for every situation of financial hardship. We pray that this pandemic will not result in a recession. We pray that you will give President Trump and his advisors, all people with political influence, wisdom to help us resume normal life, that we might be able to come close to each other again. We pray for wisdom for our bishop and for Jeff, our rector, in restarting our church community life.
We pray for healing of our political divisions. Use this crisis to call people to put their trust in you. Teach us the lessons we need to learn from this quarantine experience. We entrust ourselves to you, and we look to you, Father, to bring fruit from our prayers. We ask in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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Congratulations, Graduates!
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O Eternal God, bless all schools, colleges, and universities, that they may be lively centers for sound learning, new discovery, and the pursuit of wisdom; and grant that those who teach and those who learn may find you to be the source of all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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High School
Morgan Ravenel Anderson, James Island Charter High School,
attending Clemson University
Isabelle Naudain Boulware, The Asheville School,
attending Wofford College
Morgan Victoria Davis,
Ashley Hall,
attending the University of Georgia
Augusta Bevington Dixon,
James Island Charter High School,
attending Middlebury College
Frances Deas Folline,
Wando High School,
attending Clemson University
Jillian Rebecca Hethcox, Wando High School,
attending Wofford College
Louisa Rivers Kuhn, Porter-Gaud School,
attending Texas Christian University Honors College
John (Edward) Frampton Maybank III, Episcopal High School,
attending Sewanee: The University of the South
Margaret O'Kelley,
Ashley Hall,
attending
the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Lyles Ravenel Parsell,
Porter-Gaud School,
attending Wake Forest University
Will Phillips, Porter-Gaud School,
attending Clemson University
deRosset Thompson,
Ashley Hall,
attending the College of Charleston
Clarke Southall Wallace III,
Episcopal High School,
attending the University of Virginia
Hope Walters,
Virginia Episcopal School,
attending Wofford College
Joseph "Hubert" Wood, IV,
Episcopal High School,
attending
the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
College or Graduate School
Sarah Beth Clark, College of Charleston,
Bachelor of Arts in Arts Management
Margaret (Meg) Graham, Presbyterian College,
Bachelor of Science in Psychology, minor in Biology
Nancy Lilly Hagood,
Medical University of South Carolina,
Doctor of Medicine
George William Jilich, College of Charleston,
Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems
Caroline Hermena “Mena” Kerrison, Sewanee: The University of the South,
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, minor in Spanish
Madeline Louise Ana Kuhn, New York University,
Bachelor of Music in Music Business
Richard Perrin Moore, Jr., Savannah College of Art and Design,
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film and Television
Jeff Owens,
Millsaps College,
Bachelor of Business Administration
Alida Sinkler,
University of Georgia,
Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion, minor in Global Health
Elizabeth Cameron Smith, College of Charleston,
Master of Arts in Teaching (Elementary Education)
Bel Thompson,
Clemson University,
Bachelor of Science in Management and Marketing
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Last Call for Graduates! Do You Have a Loved One Graduating?
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If you or someone in your family is graduating this spring (or graduated in December), please submit the information at the link below.
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Online Offering: The Rector's Bible Study TOMORROW
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All are invited to join the Rev. Jeffrey S. Miller for the Rector's Bible Study online! Fix yourself a sandwich, grab your Bible and a seat on your couch, and click the link below a few minutes before noon tomorrow to join!
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Online Offering: The Rev. Brian McGreevy's "Screwtape Letters" Class TONIGHT
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The Rev. Brian McGreevy continues with his exploration of C.S. Lewis's "The Screwtape Letters" Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.! You may stream the class on our streaming site,
saintphilips.online.church, where you will be able to chat with others before and after class, or you may watch at your convenience
on YouTube beginning at the same time.
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Evenings With Experts: Q & A with Jeff Miller
The Historical Significance of the Battles of Antietam and Gettysburg
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Last Thursday, many St. Philippians enjoyed watching the Rev. Jeffrey S. Miller as he ventured from his usual subject matter and instead led an interactive session on the strategic, logistical, and political factors that led up to Lee’s decision to take his army across the Potomac River in early September 1862. Yes, the man we call "Rector" has a degree in history, worked for the National Parks Service at several historic sites before he went into ministry, and is in fact an expert on the Civil War! A link to the recording of the webinar, which was part of Connoisseurs Tours' "Evenings With Experts" series, is below.
Please note that this was not a St. Philip's event.
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Daily Devotions from the St. Philip's Clergy
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These reflections are posted to the news section of our website (
stphilipschurchsc.org/news
) Monday through Friday at 7:00 a.m., but you may also receive direct links to the videos by subscribing below.
Last Thursday,
the Rev. Brian McGreevy
looked at the imagery of the great hymn "At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing."
On Friday,
the Rev. Andrew O'Dell
reflected on moving forward faithfully. On Monday,
the Rev. Marc Boutan
shared his appreciation for the flavor of Celtic Christianity and delivered a tender rendition of "Be Thou My Vision." Yesterday,
the Rev. Ryan Streett
continued to help us cultivate a heart of worship, this time focusing on God's infinitude. Today, the Rev. Jeff Miller will be looking at Acts 16: what must a person do to be saved?
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Another Adorable-Chorister Break!
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Please enjoy another picture of Cherub and St. Nicholas choristers during their weekly Zoom rehearsal with Jean Breza and director Jo Hethcox.
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Would You Like Someone to Pray With You?
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To pray WITH someone:
Call Juanita Orvin, who will connect you with a prayer minister who will pray for your concerns over the phone.
To ask for prayer FOR someone:
Call Suzanne McCord, head of the prayer chain, and she will pass your request on to members of the chain.
Both options are always confidential.
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Never miss a sermon!
Click below to subscribe to our Sermons podcast.
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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!
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We pray for the sick: Kelsey Brockbank, Katie Burris, Gus Croome, Ed Dibble, Elizabeth Flowers, Robert Gould, Janet Hanger, Jonathan Hanger, Jane Jilich, Gene Lesesne, Joe Livesay, Kimbrough McEniry, Peter Moore, Sharon Nix, Benjamin Schools, and Lindsey Wing.
We grieve with and pray for
the family of Cheves McCord Smythe, who died on May 11.
We grieve with and pray for
Chase Wood and family on the death of her father, Frank Walton Avery, on May 16.
We grieve with and pray for
Jane McGreevy and family on the death of her mother, Linda Hollis Leary Whitney, on May 17.
We grieve with and pray for
Bill Thompson and Jane Jilich and families on the death of their sister-in-law, Becky Thompson, on May 18.
We pray for our expectant parents: Henslee and Van Elliott, Ralph and Anna Gray Baker, Torrey and Ryan Knapp.
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.
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Collect for
Sunday:
O Almighty God, whose blessed Son our Savior Jesus Christ ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things: Mercifully give us faith to perceive that, according to his promise, he abideth with his Church on earth, even unto the end of the ages; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
Readings for Sunday
:
- Psalm 110:1-5
- Acts 1:1-11
- Luke 24:50-53
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ST. PHILIP'S CHURCH
142 Church Street | Charleston, SC 29401
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