In this first devotion of Advent, the Rev. Justin Hare encourages us to prepare our hearts for God with self-examination...
St. Philip's will be offering two services of Holy Communion on Christmas Eve. Because seating is limited, we will be conducting a lottery for both services (5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.). Both services will also be live-streamed. Read on for details and the link to register for the lottery, which opens Tuesday, December 1, at 9:00 a.m....
Join us for worship this Sunday, the First Sunday of Advent! The Reverend Brian K. McGreevy will be preaching; read on for in-person and online options....
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....
Prepare for the First Sunday of Advent by exploring another theologically rich hymn with the Rev. Brian McGreevy, "Wake, Awake, For Night is Flying." Fashioned after the words of the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13 and paired with a beautiful hymn tune that was later harmonized by J.S. Bach, this hymn displays Philipp Nicolai's great faith in God and hope for the future during an especially difficult time in Europe's history....
Join us for worship this Sunday, the Last Sunday after Pentecost: Christ the King! The Reverend Justin C. Hare will be preaching; read on for in-person and online options....
When life is a battle, the Rev. Jeff Miller tells us how we can find comfort from King David in Psalm 3....
“How should Christians understand the warning passages in the Bible? These passages are often hard to hear but can be even more difficult to understand for Christians. In this devotional, Justin examines what it means for a Christian to do what Hebrews 3:13 says: “But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”...
The Gospel of John could be described as God's love letter to the world, and the heart of the letter is in chapter 13: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” But what is “new” about this command, which sounds so similar to one of the Old Testament commandments?...
Join us for worship this Sunday, the Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost! The Reverend Jeffrey S. Miller, Rector, will be preaching; read on for in-person and online options....
Today, the Rev. Brian McGreevy shares the story of Isaac Watts, a prodigy who became perhaps the most prolific hymn writer of England, writing at least 750 hymns after his father, a minister, challenged him to make a change to church music. "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross," like all of Watts's hymns, is loaded with good theology, and it is an intensely personal hymn that...
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As you can imagine, a 300+ acre beachfront property like St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center needs to be well cared for. As you can also imagine, in the middle of a COVID world where the Barrier Island Environmental Educational program, summer camp, and other year-round event income abruptly stops, you are forced to make tough decisions. St. Christopher Camp and Con...
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While studying the book of 1 Corinthians, our men’s Bible study group became intrigued with the subject of spiritual gifts. Many voiced concerns that they did not understand what these were or if they actually possessed any spiritual gifts. The Reverend Andrew O’Dell graciously offered to conduct a workshop to explore this topic, and thanks to much effort on the part o...
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Today's devotion was recorded in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, and although several months have passed, many are still wondering in this ever-changing landscape: Are we safe? Using Matthew 10:16-31, the Rev. Justin Hare helps us to understand our fear, to actively seek wisdom, and to trust God, in whose hands we are safer than we could ever ...
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Many successful businessmen reach the peak of their church service when they assume the vaunted role of usher. This is not the men’s fault, of course — it is a tradition stretching back more than 2,000 years to when a little-known apostle named Fred served as the usher for the Last Supper, then slipped out before communion....
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"Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God." (Psalm 42:5,11; 43:5) God loves you, and even when you're going through difficult times of sadness, discouragement, or aimlessness, he never forgets you, and he never stops treasuring you...
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Join the Rev. Brian McGreevy to learn how the most unlikely hymn writer in history, John Newton, went from being "the most profane, obscene, and obnoxious young man" to being the ordained priest who penned the words to "Faith's Review and Expectations," the hymn we know now as "Amazing Grace."...
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Collect for the Commemoration of September 11: Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, and no strength known but the strength of love: We pray thee so mightily to shed and spread abroad thy Spirit, that all peoples and ranks may be gathered under one banner, of the Prince of Peace; as children of one God and Father of all; to...
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