Summer vacations are on the way out, and our fall offerings on the way in! We’ve got a lot of returning groups (which are always welcoming newcomers!) and some new ones starting up––read all about them in the 2024 Fall Discipleship Brochure arriving in your mailbox this week! Can’t wait? You can view the brochure online at the link below!

Rehearsals begin tomorrow for 4th–12th graders (Canterbury and St. David Choirs) and September 11 for those ages three through 3rd grade (Cherub, St. Nicholas, and St. Cecilia Choirs). All are welcome to join whether they are brand new to choral music or seasoned singers!

Women's Bible and book studies during choir rehearsals begin Wednesday, September 11, at 4:00 p.m. and Thursday, September 12, at 5:00 p.m. While these times may be especially convenient for choir moms, all women are welcome! Learn more at the link below, and if you're attending a Wednesday study, please remember to purchase your book ahead of time.

August 29

4th–12th-grade choir rehearsals

September 6

Middle School Youth Group

September 8

Children’s Sunday school and adult offerings, including Rector’s Forum

September 8

High School Youth Group

September 11

Wednesdays Alive! service, supper, C.S. Lewis class;

K3–3rd choir rehearsals

September 12

Rector’s Bible Study

The church office will be closed Labor Day, September 2. In the event of a pastoral emergency, please call or text the Rev. Bill Christian at (843) 327-0791.

Come Further Up, Come Further In

Monday, September 2~ 7:00 p.m. in the Whiskey Room at Henry's on the Market

Yes, this dedicated group of gentlemen is sticking to the 1st-and-3rd-Monday-of-the-month schedule and meeting on Labor Day! Men of all ages are invited for fellowship, prayer, teaching, and discussion. Questions? Contact Mark Finlay at the link below.

Theology on Tuesdays

Tuesday, September 3 ~ 7:00 p.m. in the Whiskey Room at Henry's on the Market

Young adults, come enjoy pizza (provided), beverages of your choice (cash bar––water provided), and some conversation about life and God––ask any questions you'd like anonymously through a texting app. Park for free in the church lot on the corner of Cumberland and Church Streets––and bring a friend!

Grandparents@Prayer Drop-In

Thursday, September 5~ 11:00–11:45 a.m. in the chapel

Drop by the chapel next Thursday to pray intentionally for your grandchildren! Resources are provided, and prayer team members are available to pray with you if you’d like. Drop-ins are the first Thursday of each month, September through May.

Youth Group

Middle school and high school

Youth group evenings start back up September 6 for the middle schoolers and September 8 for the high schoolers. Enjoy games, fellowship, a teaching, and a meal! All are welcome, whether members of our parish family or the surrounding community.

Rally Sunday

September 8 ~ Note: no 8:15 a.m. service on Rally Sunday

Join us for a celebratory day of fellowship and worship!

9:15 a.m.: Sunday school and nursery for children/youth 0–18

9:30 a.m.: The Rector's Forum with the Rev. Jeff Miller (Parish Hall, all adults, no registration)

9:30 a.m.: Foundations: A Journey of Faith with the Rev. Andrew O'Dell (Philadelphia Alley, adults, registration required)

9:30 a.m.: Chapel Hour with the Rev. Justin Hare (The Chapel of the Good Shepherd, young adults and parents of children/youth ages 0–18, registration appreciated for planning purposes)

10:30 a.m.: Worship (no 8:15 service on Rally Sunday)

Noon: Fellowship BBQ Lunch with kid-friendly options and activities (Parish Hall)

Monthly Men's Lunch

Wednesday, September 11 ~ Noon in the Parish Hall

All men of the community are invited to enjoy a delicious lunch and hear testimony from Dr. Malcolm Rhodes, fellow of the American Board of Pediatrics and former partner at Parkwood Pediatric Group.

Walk by Faith:

A Worship Service Dedicating the 2025 Walk for Water to the Lord

Thursday, September 19 ~ 9:30 a.m. at Water Mission headquarters in North Charleston

Join Water Mission and Christian leaders across Charleston for a special morning to worship, fellowship, and pray for the upcoming Walk for Water in March 2025.

September Saturday Serve: Star Gospel Mission

Saturday, September 21 ~ 9:00–11:00 a.m. or 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

Join the Home Missions Team for a day of service for our friends and mission partners at Star Gospel Mission! Volunteers will work together to clean, prep, and paint.

Fall Blood Drive

Tuesday, September 24 ~ 12 noon–6:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall

Come on down to St. Philip’s to give the gift of life––one unit of blood can save up to three lives!

Have You Heard the News?

Yes, St. Philip’s is planning to establish a classical Christian school, with the first classrooms to be located in an existing building on church-owned property on the corner of Cumberland and State Streets!

Right now the Classical Christian School Planning Committee is looking to hear from as many St. Philippians, friends, and neighbors as possible to help gauge community interest and understanding of classical Christian education––yes, even if you don’t have any kids or grandkids!

After you take this brief survey, feel free to pass it on to a friend! God bless you, and thank you for participating!

Parenting Fellowship: A Fun Way To Kick Off the New School Year

by the Rev. Justin C. Hare, Assistant for Young Adult and Family Ministry

School is back in session and so that meant another kickoff and another new year at St. Philip’s. On the afternoon of August 25, families joined together to enjoy some time with one another, catching up on their summer highlights as well as looking at what is on the horizon this new semester at St. Philip’s. There was great food, lots of laughter, and even some fun giveaway prizes for families. Everyone was able to hear from the various ministry staff about the things they were most excited about this year. Even Penn and Ben Hagood were able to join to give an update to interested families on the incredible progress and headway that the planning committee for St. Philip’s classical Christian school has that has over the summer. And what’s more, the children had a blast and went home with full tummies––which meant no dinner cleanup at home! 



We are excited for what the Lord has in store this year for St. Philip’s! See you on Rally Sunday!

Having Fun at Hope to Home Workday

submitted by the Home Missions Team

No matter what you enjoy, Hope to Home (H2H) ministries will find a volunteer job just for you! 



Are you new to St. Philip’s and hoping to meet others who have a heart for serving like you do? Ask Malcom Rhodes or David Wright how much fun they had refinishing a table and making furniture repairs during the August 13 workday! Ask Cheryl Drury, Darcy Drury, Caroline Falcone, Virginia Frances Teel, and Stephanie Reed how they enjoyed not only making kitchen kits but also fellowshipping with other folks from St Philip’s while serving. Ask Sandra Anderson how much she loved organizing towel sets as she chatted with H2H staff about which items they need to collect most during St. Philip’s upcoming H2H home goods drive in October.

Everyone in attendance was rewarded and refreshed in spirit, and praying together as a group was amazing as we thanked God for His amazing provisions that come just in time for each delivery to a family in need.

Consider bringing your family, Bible study group, or foyer group to enjoy one of these mornings of service––contact Stacey Daffin (Stacey.daffin@hopetohomesc.org) to coordinate a group project! And please put the H2H Saturday Serve on your calendar: October 12, 8:45 a.m.–12 noon.

But first, sign up for the September Saturday Serve at Star Gospel Mission––info below!

Andrew R. O'Dell is preaching at our services of Holy Eucharist at 8:15 a.m. and Holy Eucharist and Baptism at 10:30 a.m.  Sunday School and the Rector's Forum are in summer recess (resuming Rally Sunday, September 8). Nursery and children's church during the 10:30 service are available year-round.

It's almost fall at St. Philip's (which officially begins the Sunday after Labor Day because there's no way we're waiting for some "equinox")––and that means the church office is a flurry of activity. And that flurry has been particularly...furry this past week or so!

Charlie the cemetery guard cat worked to make sure the grounds were vermin-free last week––all except theTea Garden courtyard, which he says is outside his jurisdiction (he won't work in the Tea Garden until he's allowed to access it through the church office like the canine workers do). Anson, who's still figuring out her role in the office, came in yesterday looking much more prepared for a photoshoot than a shift on pest-control duty, but she nonetheless stepped into the courtyard to scare away any squirrels and birds and such that might be considering taking up residence before Confirmation Class gets going in just a week and a half!

And Monday, Beau Miller stopped in for a little National Dog Day celebration, and he selflessly allowed his dad/assistant to share the spotlight a little bit, as Monday was also Jeff Miller's birthday! What a good boy!!

If you follow St. Philip's on social media, you already knew about the recent furry flurry of activity. But if this is news to you, why not take a minute right meow to give us a follow so that you, too, can be among the first to hear about schedule changes, special events, and all the latest office helper news?

*Can you figure out what the ABCs are without a hint?

IMPORTANT DATES

September 2 ~ Labor Day (church office closed)

September 5~Grandparents@Prayer (11:00–11:45 a.m. in the chapel)

September 6 ~Middle School Youth Group begins (6:00 p.m.)

September 8 ~ Rally Sunday (Sunday school, Rector's Forum and other adult formation, 10:30 a.m. service only, lunch to follow)

September 8 ~High School Youth Group begins (6:00 p.m.)

September 11 ~ Monthly Men's Lunch (noon in the Parish Hall)

September 11 ~ Wednesdays Alive! service, supper, and class resumes (5:30 p.m.)

September 12 ~ Rector's Bible Study (noon in the Parish Hall)

September 12 ~ Rector's Bible Study (noon in the Parish Hall)

September 19 ~ Walk for Water 2025 Dedication Service

September 21 ~ Saturday Serve: Star Gospel Mission

September 24 ~ Fall blood drive (registration open)

We pray for the sick: Lisa Allis, Harold Arnold, Judith Carr, Noel Casey, Mary Forbes, Larry Fowler, Ricky Hanckel, Myron Harrington, Bob Huddleston, Kevin Kane, Charles Kennedy, Marvin Kirkland, LaVonne Marshall, Sarah Marshall, Judy Middleton, Pam Pate, Reed Patterson, Alice Stender Powell, Newton Quantz, Scott Tibbals Jr., Bill Wallace, Katie Edgar Willis.

We pray for our expectant parents: Lindsey and Corbin Fuller, Ruben and Katie Pérez-Phillips.

We grieve with and pray for Cyndy Applegate and family on the death of her mother, Dorothy Holsten Thompson, on August 22. 

We pray for protection for those serving in the armed forces: Becca Baird, Janie Baird, James Boyd, Henry Clayton, David Daughtridge, Eric Gaines, Andrew Kane, Quin Kane, Horry Kerrison, Frazier Kulze, John Mason, Philip Middleton III, Jackson Miller, Edward Pritchard, Nathaniel Rollings, David Scott, and Asada Williams.

We pray for our home and world missions: Lowcountry Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Hope to Home, Lowcountry Pregnancy Center, Star Gospel Mission, 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.

Collect for Sunday:

O Lord, we pray thee that thy grace may always prevent and follow us, and make us continually to be given to all good works; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Readings for Sunday:

• Deuteronomy 4:1-9
• Psalm 15
• Mark 7:1-23