~ the eSPIRE Newsletter ~
February 14, 2021
The Last Sunday of Epiphany
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A letter from the Vestry Nominating Committee
The Vestry Nominating Committee was blessed to receive 15 nominations for the four openings we will have at the parish annual meeting on March 7th. The nominations were a diverse mix of women and men, representing a wide variety of ages and including members from many of our different lay ministries at St. Philip’s. The nominees were exceptionally qualified and all are beloved members of our church family.
Click below to continue reading the letter, which was emailed on Sunday, and to read about this year's nominees.
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New Rector's Bible Study Topic Begins Tomorrow:
St. Paul's Letter to the Philippians
Thursdays at noon on Zoom
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First-timers are always welcome at the Rector's Bible Study, but if you're someone who prefers to begin at the beginning, you're in luck! The Reverend Jeffrey S. Miller is beginning a brand-new topic at tomorrow's Bible study, so make yourself a little lunch, grab your Bible and a comfortable seat, and click the link below a little before noon tomorrow to join in the learning and fun!
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Subscribe to the podcast!
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Guest Speaker at Christ Church Mt. Pleasant:
The Reverend Jeffrey S. Miller
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Our Rector recently spoke as part of Christ Church Mount Pleasant's Epiphany-Lent Bible teaching series, "Jesus. Disciples. Scripture." He delivered his two-part talk, "Jesus, Teacher of the Kingdom of God," on January 27 and February 3, and both sessions are available for listening at the link below. Upcoming speakers in this series include the Rt. Rev. Mark Lawrence, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina; the Very Rev. Dr. John Barr, former dean of our diocese, and the Rev. Al Zadig, Rector of St. Michael's Church.
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Why I Tithe;
or, The Wedding Dress
by Susan C. Keller
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I began tithing sometime after college when I began my first job. Despite being a young believer, I understood that tithing was a way to show God how much I trusted Him to provide for me.
Then a speaker came to St. Philip’s in the mid-1980s whose message greatly impacted my thinking about giving. I was challenged not only to tithe, but to see everything I had as God’s and to realize what a blessing it would be to give more and more to the work of the Kingdom, in and out of the church. I decided then to start tithing my gross income ... which was a big step for me. Since that time, I have experienced the faithfulness of God in providing for me in some truly remarkable ways.
For example, when I was about 24, I went all over town hunting for a pair of white shoes for a party for my sister when she was getting married. By then I had gone back to school for nursing and had very little money. I searched in vain for something I could afford. I was leaving on Friday to go home to Columbia for the party. On Wednesday night, Martha Vetter, my roommate at the time, some other friends, and I were coming down the steps from our apartment on the third floor of 82 Rutledge Ave. On the landing in front of another apartment was a plastic trash bag. Out of the side of the bag was the tip of a shoe. A white shoe. A pair of size 7B Aigner brand new white flats to be exact! They were in that trash bag getting ready to go out to the street! Yep, I took them right then and there and said, “Thank you, Jesus!” I wore those shoes at the party and for many years after.
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Men, Register Today!
Wild at Heart Basic Bootcamp at Camp St. Christopher
February 25-28, 2021
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A man needs a deeper understanding of his masculine heart—and why God made him just like that. What if those deep desires in our hearts are telling us the truth, revealing to us the lives we were meant to live? A man must know he is powerful; he must know he has what it takes. The way we handle the heart is everything. Basic is not a retreat about the “seven things a man ought to do to be a nicer guy.” It is a four-day quest into the recovery of a man’s masculine soul, the release of a man’s heart—his passions and his true nature—all given him by God.
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Water Mission’s 15th Annual Walk for Water
March 20 at Riverfront Park OR location of your choice
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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. You may choose to walk at
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Calling all 5th- and 6th-Graders!
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St. Philip's Church will be launching a new Zoom Bible Study for students currently in the 5th and 6th grades! Led by Dr. John Kerrison, the group will meet virtually on Sunday mornings during Lent beginning February 21 at 9:15 a.m. Don't miss this opportunity to again gather with your friends to read and discuss the Bible. Click the link to register for the group.
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Children's Choir Rehearsals Resume in Two Weeks!
Wednesday rehearsals: Ages 3-3rd grade
Thursday rehearsals: 4th grade through high school
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All children ages three and up are invited to sing with the children's choirs of St. Philip's! This semester, since no Sunday School is available, our young singers will learn Bible songs and study the corresponding Bible stories. Come learn and sing with us as we look forward to our concert in the church in April! Rehearsals resume February 24 and February 25.
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Wednesday Afternoon Small-Group Study for Parents of Young Children
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Beginning February 24, parents of young children may meet in the Parlor (first floor of the Ministries Hall, the church office building) for a book study led by St. Cecilia parent Leah Simmons! The time is especially convenient for parents of young choristers, but all parents are welcome, and childcare is available for children not in choir––remember all children ages three through third grade are welcome and encouraged to sing on Wednesday afternoons! More information is forthcoming––stay tuned!
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Families, are you experiencing cabin fever? Pick up a Lent@Home kit! Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (February 17) and ends on Easter Day (April 4). It is a time of preparation and reflection as we consider all that Jesus sacrificed for us, and our Lent@Home kit will guide you and help you do just that. Each kit includes a curated selection of activities and resources for your family to use together at home during Lent.
Supplies are limited, so click the button below to reserve a free kit for your family! You may pick your kit up in the church office, or we can ship if you prefer ($6).
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St. Philip's Preschool 2021-2022 Registration
Now open to enrolled students and members of St. Philip's
~ Open enrollment begins February 15 ~
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St. Philip’s Preschool program is offered to the members of St. Philip’s Church and its surrounding community. This is one of the many ministries of the church provided to reach out to children with Christ’s love. The program introduces children to the church community and a Christian worldview. Parental participation is not only encouraged, but it is also crucial for the livelihood of this program. Early registration for the 2020-2021 school year is now open to currently enrolled students and members of St. Philip's; open enrollment begins February 15. Please click the button below to download and print the enrollment form.
If you have questions about the preschool or the enrollment process, please contact Angela Clark or Lee Moore at 843-722-7610 or lmoore@stphilipschurchsc.org.
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Sunday Worship information
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"No right, no wrong, no rules for me––I'm free." These words from a popular Disney song, which the Rev. Andrew O'Dell shared in his February 7 sermon, encompass the nonnegotiable priority of our culture today, a culture that says we should be free from any external expectations––including the authority of God. But what's the nonnegotiable priority of God?
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Reservations for In-Person Worship
Reservations for this Sunday's services of Holy Communion at 8:15 and Morning Prayer at 10:30 a.m. open today at 9:00 a.m.
Childcare during the 10:30 service is available for infants and young people through age five, with limited capacities within each age group. You may register at the link below after first registering to attend the 10:30 service, or you may call the church office at (843) 722-7734 to reserve space.
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Tonight at 7:15 p.m. on Zoom
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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.
Do you receive Fr. Brian's updates and weekly wrap-up emails? Click here to read his last wrap-up email, and if you'd like to join his email list, let him know!
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The church office will be closed and the cemetery will be not be open to visitors on Monday, February 15, in observance of Presidents' Day.
In the event of a pastoral emergency, please call or text the Rev. Bill Christian at (843) 327-0791.
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Do You Follow @st.philips.church?
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It was another week unfortunately free from friendly four-legged visitors, but we were quite fortunate in another way––it was the annual staff appreciation luncheon put on by the ladies of the St. Philip's ECW (Every Church Woman)! If you follow St. Philip's on social media, you already know all about our feast of BBQ, baked beans, colorful salads and fresh fruit, and desserts. So. Much. Dessert. Thank you to all the ladies of the ECW who prepared food, baked, and got everything set up! What a treat!
If you enjoy being among the first to know about lost and found items, schedule changes, furry visitors, derby pie, and other important news, take a minute to click the buttons below to like or follow St. Philip's now!
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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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Save the Date
February 15 ~ Presidents' Day (church office closed)
February 17 ~ Ash Wednesday (services at 12 noon and 5:30 p.m.)
February 25-28 ~ Men's Retreat (Wild at Heart Basic Bootcamp) at St. Christopher
March 7 ~ Annual Parish Meeting
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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: Katie Burris, Harry Carr, Elizabeth Colwell, Glenn Corley, Elizabeth Flowers, Mary Forbes, Edward Good, Brooks Goode, Robert Gould, Jonathan Hanger, Clark Johnson, Joe Livesay, Connor Lowndes, Beverly Melvin, Leon Patat III, Deborah Pollak, Edward Pritchard, Jr., Mike Walsh, Carolyn Warlick, Lindsey Wing, and Charlie Yoho.
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 Water Mission and the Global Water Center, and for St. Jean Baptiste, our sister church, and the schools in Haiti.
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Collect for Sunday:
O God, who before the passion of thy only-begotten Son didst reveal his glory upon the holy mount: Grant unto us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Readings for Sunday:
- 1 Kings 19:1-18
- Psalm 27
- Mark 9:2-9
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ST. PHILIP'S CHURCH
142 Church Street | Charleston, SC 29401
Church Office Hours
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday
8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Friday
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Click HERE if you would like to opt out of receiving the printed mailing of the newsletter when we resume our mailings.
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