The St. Philip's inSPIRE

January 22, 2020

Click the link below to read the St. Philip's eSPIRE, the email version of our weekly inSPIRE newsletter, which is packed with information about all that's going on in the life of our parish....

Keep Reading

Recipe for a Christian Life: Reflections on Canon J.John's Sermon

January 21, 2020 by Denise C. Pickford

I love to cook. Browsing through recipes and then preparing them for my family and friends is one of my favorite things to do. To me, I am showing my love for them by taking the time to follow each step and make the preparations for a wonderful meal as my gift to them––and, of course, when my children were younger, to ensure their proper physical growth and health. Is preparing nourishment in the form of food for our bodies any different from being nourished spiritually? We are not just a physical body; we have a spiritual body that must be fed as well. Without food and water, we would die. Without feeding our spiritual bodies or souls, we would become empty and begin searching for, in many instances, the wrong things to feed our hunger, which could never be satisfied with just earthly things. God wants to nourish our souls so that we may have the proper spiritual growth and health....

Keep Reading

Water Mission’s 2019 At A Glance: 600,000 People Received Safe Water, 4,700 Walked for Water, and Mo

January 21, 2020 by GUEST WRITER

If you prayed, volunteered your time, gave a gift, or supported Water Mission in other ways throughout the past year, then you helped us serve more than 600,000 people with safe water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions in 2019. Together, we were the hands and feet of Christ. We… • completed safe water projects in 182 communities and 20 countries, • provided desperately needed safe water to survivors of natural disasters, • traveled to rural areas around the world to install sustainable safe water and sanitation systems, • and helped refugees fleeing violence and persecution. ...

Keep Reading

The Gift of Love at Christmas

January 14, 2020 by Marsee Lee

Our family has purchased freshly cut Frasier fir Christmas trees from Wishon Tree Farm for several years. This year was no different. Our friends Faron and Ethan Atwood, a father and son from Sparta, NC, oversee this tree lot by the American Legion at 968 Folly Road every year....

Keep Reading

St. Philippians Help Provide Christmas Blessings

January 7, 2020 by Amey Warder, Home Missions Committee

With a heart for mission, the generous friends and family of St. Philip’s Church donated 315 gift cards this year! Teachers and families in need in our community were given these $25 gift cards that allowed them to decide how to spend their money. I am grateful and fueled by God’s guidance and devotion. ...

Keep Reading

It’s a Tradition!

January 7, 2020 by Staff Report

For many St. Philippians––as well as neighbors and visitors who worship with us annually––Christmas Eve is the most special day of the year because of the traditions we look forward to as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Christmas Pageant, the first of our three Christmas Eve services, is a time for the youngest members of our congregation to absorb the message of the Nativity as they themselves help deliver it....

Keep Reading

Gratitude for Gene Lesesne, God’s Humble Servant

November 19, 2019 by Marnie Kerrison, ECW Spiritual Advisor

If you were at the last ECW meeting in October, you may have heard me mention off the cuff that if we were to lose Gene Lesesne, the Tea Room could not go on. Gene is 82 years old, rides his bike almost daily 20 miles, was a Naval aviator, and flew for Pan Am Airlines as a commercial pilot until he went to teach at the Citadel in the PE department. He was married to Ann, who was a nurse instructor at Trident Tech until she was disabled by rheumatoid arthritis. He was her caregiver until her death just about five years ago. He has two daughters: Angela, who runs the preschool with Lee Moore here at St. Philip’s, and Jessica Martin, who attends and volunteered here as a Sunday school teacher for years. His first great-grand was recently baptized here. I do not know how long the Lesesne family has been attending St. Philip’s, but I know they have a legacy of serving quietly....

Keep Reading

C.S. Lewis Symposium: A Capsule Look

November 19, 2019 by Elizabeth Scott

On a recent November mid-week, a small group of St. Philippians traveled up to the glorious mountains of North Carolina to attend a much-touted (by our beloved priest and C.S. Lewis aficionado, Brian McGreevy ) C.S. Lewis symposium. The conference was a packed time filled with insights and sharing to encourage us and engage us on our Christian journey. People from 28 states, England, and Malta were drawn to the beautiful village of Montreat for this experience, officially titled “C.S. Lewis: Influence and Relevance Today.”...

Keep Reading

St. Philip's Youth "ReGenerate" at Camp St. Christopher

November 14, 2019 by Sarah Silcox, St. Philip's Youth Leader

Last weekend, high school students from across the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina came together for “ReGenerate,” a weekend retreat at Camp St. Christopher on Seabrook Island. The main verse for the weekend was Philippians 2:8-11, and our speaker, Nate Morgan Locke, a youth evangelist with Christianity Explored Ministries, talked about how sometimes we put on different hats (like different identities) when we are in different social scenes. He told us that as Christians, we should have the same integrity, rooted in Christ, in all of our social realms. Another strong point that he reminded us of is that we are never done growing in our relationship with Christ. There is always something that we can change and there are ways that we can continue to get closer and closer to Jesus!...

Keep Reading

The Violin: A Parable

November 12, 2019 by Gloria Avent

Once upon a time, there was a master violin maker whose greatest joy was to make the most beautiful violins in the world. With each new instrument that he created, he went to great effort and expense. When each was complete, he would spend many hours testing its limits by playing it as only he could. For he dearly loved each one. ...

Keep Reading

The Power of Prayer Right Now: Urgent Prayer Team Now Available

November 6, 2019 by Suzanne McCord

When my son was in a terrible car accident in 2011, his life was in the balance, and with one phone call, the St. Philip’s prayer chain was alerted and I was able to get many people praying fast. I believe that through these prayers and many more throughout his recovery, he was saved and is now healed. St. Philip’s has had a prayer chain for about the last twenty years, and many of us have taken great comfort in knowing that our situation is getting prayed over “right now.” But now we have a new and improved prayer chain....

Keep Reading

Unity in the Community: An Afternoon at St. John’s Chapel

November 5, 2019 by Frenchie Richards, Home Missions Committee

On November 2, St. John’s Chapel, a mission church of our diocese and one of St. Philip’s home mission partners, had its first community fundraising event. It was well attended and a huge success!unity...

Keep Reading

Did You Miss Kanuga This Year? Program Audio is Available!

November 5, 2019 by Staff Report

If you didn’t make it to this year’s parish retreat in the mountains of North Carolina, then you didn’t get to witness the joys of that weekend, among them the laughter at Friday’s social and sing-along, the hum of conversation as the bonds of our church family strengthened over each meal, and whatever happened at the hoedown that made the Millers and O’Dells react the way they did in the picture above. There’s good news, though: one joy that you missed, the Rev. Dr. Kendall Harmon’s program about prayer, is available on our “Other Classes and Offerings” podcast! You may also listen online at stphilipschurchsc.org/other-classes-and-offerings. ...

Keep Reading

LAMB’s Dinner Party With a Purpose: A Strong and Timely Word from Suzy McCall

November 5, 2019 by Susan C. Keller, LAMB Board Chair

The 10th annual LAMB Dinner Party With a Purpose on October 24th was a very blessed night in the Lord. Thank you to all who prayed and helped make that night a true gospel success. There were many St. Philippians who came out even though they had to pack for Kanuga! Thank you. The theme for the event was God’s charge to Joshua, “Be strong and courageous ...” ...

Keep Reading

Learning to Understand the Language of Music: Music Theory at St. Philip’s

October 29, 2019 by Todd Brown

Have you ever looked at a hymn, wondering about the lines, dots, and squiggly things on the page? Or wanted to know why the choir paused, increased volume, or changed pace? Well, I did. While I enjoyed making a joyful noise, aka singing, I found it difficult to sing an unfamiliar hymn. I wanted to participate more fully in worship by learning how to read music....

Keep Reading

Parish Retreat at Kanuga: Psalms of Thanksgiving

October 29, 2019

During Saturday’s program at Kanuga, the Rev. Dr. Kendall Harmon gave the St. Philippians in attendance a homework assignment: write a psalm of thanksgiving for a person, a place, or an event. Below are some of the psalms we wrote. ...

Keep Reading

Prayer Ministry at St. Philip's

September 25, 2019

Keep Reading

Hospitality Ministry: Welcome to St. Philip’s!

September 17, 2019 by Staff Report

September 15 was a joyous day at St. Philip’s: the anthems were glorious, the sermon was rousing, the bouncy house was hopping, and the BBQ was delicious and plentiful. Rally Sunday is a day that St. Philippians look forward to every year because it marks the return of Sunday School and the Rector’s Forum after what always seems like an endless summer. But Rally Sunday was a little different this year, because it was also the launch date of St. Philip’s new Hospitality Ministry....

Keep Reading

Let Me Hear Your Song

August 4, 2019 by Bill Haber, Canterbury Choir parent

When we moved to Charleston in 2010, we found a house on Church Street, a few short blocks from the church. Victoria turned three shortly afterward, and it was time to find a preschool. We found a spot for her at the little school at St. Philip’s, and we met Jo Hethcox, who invited Victoria to participate in the Cherub Choir. ...

Keep Reading

You Are Not Alone: We Are Here to Help You

July 24, 2019 by Karin O'Callaghan

Earlier this year, under the leadership of Deacon Gerry McCord, Kent Keller, and Tim Strickland, a St. Philip’s Disaster Relief Team (DRT) was created. There are about 20 parishioners on the founding committee. Our mission is to provide help, assistance, and hope to our parishioners and neighbors in times of extreme crisis. It is our plan to provide comfort and minor emergency repairs. Naturally, all volunteers are welcome!...

Keep Reading

Financial Peace University is Coming to St. Philip's!

July 18, 2019 by Staff Report

Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University is the class that helps you pay off debt, budget, save money, and give generously. Sit down with Tripp Hathaway and the Rev. Ryan Streett in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd and learn about debt snowballs, emergency funds, wealth-building, and more....

Keep Reading

St. Philip’s Church is on Instagram!

July 5, 2019 by Staff Report

Keep Reading

Resurrection Choir: Calling Anyone Who Enjoys Singing Hymns!

June 25, 2019 by Pat Gould

The Resurrection Choir is accepting new members! The presence of this choir makes a huge difference at funerals. No rehearsals, no anthems, no audition! Just lead the congregation in singing familiar hymns at parish funerals. Please contact Pat Gould at pgould@stphilipschurchsc.org or 843-364-9552....

Keep Reading

Do You Know of Someone Who is Hospitalized or Homebound?

June 25, 2019 by Staff Report

If you know of a parishioner who is sick, hospitalized, homebound, or otherwise in need of pastoral care or prayer, please call the church office at (843) 722-7734. ...

Keep Reading